GradCast heads to the Western Research Forum! Get a glimpse into Western's largest multidisciplinary graduate research conference as hosts Liam Clifford, Mohammad Zeraati, Riya Sidhu, & Mark Ambrogio conduct short interviews with attendees, presenters, and organizers. This year's conference featured over 60 different presentations from across Western's 11 faculties. See below for interview questions and timestamps.

Funding for the 39th Annual Western Research Forum was provided by Western's Society of Graduate Students (SOGS), Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, and the Academic Joint Fund, a partnership among Western Research, SOGS, and Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS).

Recorded on March 14, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Interview Questions & Timestamps

What’s the biggest takeaway from your presentation? What inspired you to pursue this research? What is the effect of your research on real life?

01:00 - Jeremias 02:57 - Caitlin 04:47 - Elisabeth 06:24 - Rafaela

How has presenting here helped you refine your ideas? What’s one skill that has helped you succeed in your research? What’s your best networking tip for first-time conference attendees?

07:37 - Sid 09:51 - Lauren 11:10 - Xavier 13:10 - Liam

Summarize your research in one sentence. What has been the highlight of the WRF? How has AI influenced your research?

14:36 - Chloe 15:49 - Saghar 16:34 - Reza 19:29 - Andrew 20:16 - Aranya 21:25 - Anthony 22:12 - Ashley 23:09 - Olivia

In his fourth time with us, Alex Mayhew joins his fellow office-mates in Western's Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS), hosts Mark Ambrogio and Meghan Voll, as he rapidly approaches the finish line. By the time this episode airs, Alex may officially have his PhD in Library and Information Science! Alex discusses what is involved in the final weeks of one's PhD, such as his forthcoming public lecture. He also shares the experience of receiving feedback from his students (in the Master of Library and Information Sciences program) to some of his ideas around Aging Justice. And how feedback is not always a bad thing.

Recorded on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio

Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

In the second episode of #GlobalGrads, hosts Liam Clifford and Anthony Cruz are joined by Eva Deligiannis — a MSc student in Neuroscience and the PSAC610 Communications Chair. Eva shares her background in research, her journey through activism, and highlights key contemporary developments affecting international students at Western.

Shifting from the personal to the political, the conversation explores Navitas — a private education company whose proposed international student pathway was previously rejected by the Western community. Eva breaks down what Navitas is, how the proposal could impact international student prospects, and how both the union and broader campus community are organising in response.

Tune in for insight on how institutional policy affects our international colleagues and how domestic students can show solidarity.

For updates on the matter, follow @stopcutsatwesternu and the union @PSAC610 on Instagram. You may find additional information on the local's and UWOFA's respective websites.

Recorded on April 8, 2025 Produced by Liam Clifford

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot