The Academic Issue: A podcast by University Affairs
University Affairs is Canada’s leading magazine for and about the academic sector.
I created The Academic Issue podcast as part of a wider multimedia strategy to reinforce the magazine’s digital presence as it moves away from a print-centric publishing model. Through in-depth conversations with academics and subject-matter experts across the higher education landscape, The Academic Issue explores the pressing issues shaping Canadian academia today.
The Public Intellectual: A Conversation with Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker is a cognitive scientist and the author of nine books written for a general audience. Prolific in his writing and media appearances, he is among the most prominent public intellectuals to have emerged from Canada.
But what impact does a lifetime communicating with the public have on an academic? How is writing for a general audience different to writing for an academic one? And what role should the public intellectual play in today’s information age?
I speak with Steven in his office at Harvard University.
AI and Academia
Generative AI tools like Chat GPT have already sent shockwaves through the academic world, raising complex questions about academic integrity and the nature of learning. As AI and its applications continue to develop at a rapid pace, what will the technology mean for the future of higher education?
In this inaugural episode, I speak with Mark Daley, the first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer appointed at a Canadian university.
Mental Health and the Academic Life
Almost two thirds of Canadian academics experience mental health issues during their career. What is behind this?
I speak with Professor Kim Hellemans at Carleton University to explore the multiple pressures faced by today’s academic - including the often complex student-supervisor relationship.
What duty of pastoral care do faculty have for their students? Are some academics bearing more of the burden of student support than others? And what should faculty do to safeguard their wellbeing against the many strains of the academic life?