Exploring toxicity
U of O graduate students learn from each other at GSAÉD interdisciplinary conference
THE 13TH ANNUAL Graduate Students’ Association (GSAÉD) Interdisciplinary Conference brought together all of the graduate disciplines at the University of Ottawa Feb. 24–26 to discuss toxicity in various environments.
Among a variety of events the annual interdisciplinary conference featured 42 scheduled presentations of U of O graduate students’ research.
The theme of this year’s conference—which acts as a guide for students’ research—was “Toxicity,” loosely defined as anything producing negative or harmful effects within a given environment. The broad scope of the theme was designed to encourage various interpretations of the meaning of toxicity that would inspire students from many faculties to write papers. Papers discussed toxicity in the environment, interpersonal relationships, the media, and society in general, as well as different ways of theorizing or evaluating toxicity.
“This year we tried to make panels that were not formed of students presenting from the same field so as to broaden a little bit the theoretical approaches used,” explained Myriam Hebabi, former GSAÉD university affairs commissioner, who was responsible for planning most of the event. “As it is interdisciplinary, [it gives] students a chance to hear what other [research] is being done on campus.”
In addition to the papers presented by students, this year’s conference boasted other events related to the theme of toxicity. An expert research panel on safer injection sites convened on Feb. 24 and was followed by a wine and cheese. The panel consisted of Eugene Oscapella, founding member of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy and part-time professor of criminology at the U of O, and Dr. Lynne Leonard, social epidemiologist and assistant professor and research scientist in the department of epidemiology and community medicine, also at the U of O. On the final night of the conference, a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary Food Inc. was held, followed by a discussion with its director, Robert Kenner, and Canadian research experts on the agri-food industry. A closing party at Café Nostalgica marked the end of the conference on Feb. 26.
The main objective of the conference was to provide students with an opportunity to present their research, which is oftentimes directly related to their thesis or coursework at the U of O—as many bigger conferences held elsewhere that are of a similar nature are costly and limited in scope.
“The objective is to give grad students [at] the university a chance to present their research without having to pay lots of money to go abroad—to give them the opportunity to do so on campus,” said Hebabi. “It’s a great way to meet people as well.”
Dave Didiodato, first-year master’s student in philosophy, presented his work, “Toxicity as Toxic: Nietzsche, Multiculturalism, and the Affirmation of Life,” at this year’s conference.
Didiodato indicated a variety of reasons motivated his taking part in the conference.
“[It’s an opportunity] to meet fellow graduate students whom one might otherwise not meet, as well as learn about the research being done in various fields outside of one’s own,” Didiodato said in an email to the Fulcrum.
“Graduate studies can feel at times to be very academically ‘narrow,’ as there are [fewer] electives and fewer opportunities to undertake studies [or] courses in fields outside of one’s major or, even more narrowly, one’s thesis topic,” he continued. “Interdisciplinary conferences are a great means to learn about fellow students, their interests, and benefit from the fruits of their research.”
Despite the opportunities to gain experience in presenting and discussing work, as well as meeting with students from other faculties, Hebabi noted that it can be difficult to get students to participate.
“It is hard to get graduate students to participate in general. It’s one of those ongoing challenges for the members of [GSAÉD] to get students to come out to such events,” she said, noting that this did not detract from the overall success of the conference.
“I think it was relatively successful in terms of quality, but perhaps not in quantity—in terms of the number of students that came out—but I think that we had some really interesting discussions, and the feedback I’ve gotten from other panellists and participants leads me to think that they appreciated it.”
“It was a great experience, and I would encourage other graduate and undergraduate students to partake in this, and similar conferences, in the future,” Didiodato offered. “They provide a fantastic opportunity to learn from fellow students, share what you have learned, and participate in the academic and university community.”
