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Experts: AI and the future of work

aurelie.boucher@mcgill.ca — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:23:25 +0000

A new report by the Institut de la statistique du Québec estimates that, in 2024, 59 per cent of Quebec workers held a job with “high exposure to artificial intelligence (AI).”

Exposure to AI means occupations where AI can play a beneficial complementary role or occupations where tasks could be transformed or workers be replaced by AI.

These �鶹��ý��վ experts are available to comment:

Jennifer Welsh on Canada’s Soft Power Influence | CBC

admin — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:35:10 +0000

February 3, 2026 | Jennifer Welsh spoke to CBC Ideas on Canada’s role on the international stage. Prime Minister Mark Carney referred to the recent shift in international relations as a ‘rupture, not a transition’ in the world order. Canada is closely integrated with the United States, and integration can in some cases for middle powers can lead to economic coercion. Welsh discusses PM Carney’s speech and how Canada can exert its soft power influence on the world stage.

Expert: 2026 Winter Olympics

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:03:30 +0000

The 25th Winter Olympics will take place in Milan–Cortina, Italy, Feb. 6 to 22, drawing top athletes to one of the world’s most watched sporting events.

Dr. Bob Foxford is an Assistant Professor at �鶹��ý��վ and an Emergency and Sports Medicine Specialist at �鶹��ý��վ Health Centre. He has attended six Olympic Games as a Sports Medicine Specialist, including twice as Chief Medical Officer for Canada.

Pathological lying in teens is associated with executive function deficits, study indicates

aurelie.boucher@mcgill.ca — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:19:04 +0000

Teenagers who are pathological liars also tend to struggle with executive function deficits, such as poor memory or impulse control, researchers have found.

Vincent Rigby on Canada's Engagement with Greenland | Global News

admin — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:04:02 +0000

February 2, 2026 | Vincent Rigby joins Weekends with Ben O'Hara-Byrne to discuss Canada's decision to move forward with a presence in Greenland. Rigby argues this is an overdue step that reflects solidarity with Greenlanders and aligns with Canada's Arctic priorities. While questions have been raised about the timing and whether the decision is provocative, Rigby argues that Canada must strike a careful balance between continuing to work with the United States and standing on its own.

Experts: Psychotic disorders in youth and young adults

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:00:55 +0000

While overall rates of psychosis in Canada appear stable, there has been a sharp increase in diagnoses among adolescents and young adults, and they are receiving diagnoses at younger ages than did members of older generations, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Researchers suggest the trend may reflect a mix of factors, including improved early diagnosis and treatment and increasing consumption of psychoactive substances.

Night owl or early bird? Study finds sleep categories aren’t that simple

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:28:43 +0000

The familiar labels “night owl” and “early bird,” long used in sleep research, don’t fully capture the diversity of human internal clocks, a new study has found.

The �鶹��ý��վ-led study published in Nature Communications found the two sleep-wake patterns, called chronotypes, contain a total of five distinct biological subtypes, each associated with different patterns of behaviour and health.

Taylor Owen on Regulating Social Media for Kids | CBC Radio

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:06:59 +0000

January 29, 2026 | Speaking with CBC's The Current, Taylor Owen argued that banning social media for children under 14 is neither feasible or effective, despite growing concerns about the harms young people face online. While acknowledging serious risks, such as mental health impacts and exposure to age-inappropriate content, Owen emphasized that social media also provides real benefits for youth, much as it does for adults.

�鶹��ý��վ researchers create shapeshifting materials that could power the next generation of soft robots

claire.loewen@mcgill.ca — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:59:17 +0000

�鶹��ý��վ engineers have developed new ultra-thin materials that can be programmed to move, fold and reshape themselves, much like animated origami. They open the door to softer, safer and more adaptable robots that could be used in medical tools that gently move inside the body, wearable devices that change shape on the skin or smart packaging that reacts to its environment.

RNA therapy may be a solution for infant hydrocephalus

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:57:57 +0000

For the first time, drug targeting genetic mutation shown to have positive impact in mice models

Hydrocephalus is a life-threatening condition that occurs in about 1 in 1,000 newborns and is often treated with invasive surgery. Now, a new study offers hope of preventing hydrocephalus before it even occurs.

27th Annual Neuropsychology Day and Brenda Milner Lecture

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:22:49 +0000

The 27th Annual Neuropsychology Day and Brenda Milner Lecture honours the career and achievements of Professor Brenda Milner, an eminent cognitive neuroscientist and pioneer of the discipline of neuropsychology.

Hippocampus does more than store memories: it predicts rewards, study finds

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:46:45 +0000

A preclinical study published in Nature has found evidence that the hippocampus, the brain region that stores memory, also reorganizes memories to anticipate future outcomes.

Vincent Rigby on NATO and Canada’s National Security | CGAI

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:00:25 +0000

January 17, 2026 | Vincent Rigby was featured on the Canadian Global Affairs Institute's The Global Exchange podcast to discuss NATO and Canada's global security challenges. Rigby emphasized that strengthening Canada's capabilities, including NORAD modernization and Arctic operations, opens opportunities for collaboration with the United States. He noted the urgency of a former national security strategy, arguing that it has been 22 years since Canada last had one and that current global uncertainties make it more pressing than ever.

Vincent Rigby on NORAD and Canada's F-35 Decision | CBC News

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:24:31 +0000

January 26, 2026 | Vincent Rigby joined CBC News to discuss the implications of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra's recent remarks on Canada's fighter jet procurement and the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD). Rigby described the remarks as "another off-the-cuff," noting that while they cannot be ignored, they should not be taken as a definitive statement on Canada-U.S. defence policy. NORAD remains a shared defence partnership, but political and operational decisions, such as whether to pursue Swedish Gripen or F-35s, can affect Canada's sovereignty.

Vincent Rigby on Trump's Threats to the Arctic | CBC News

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:59:08 +0000

January 27, 2026 | Vincent Rigby spoke on CBC News to analyze Canada's Arctic sovereignty amid growing concerns of U.S. intentions in the region. Rigby weighed in on the implications of the ICE (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort) Pact, noting its potential to affect control over the Northwest Passage and surrounding Arctic territories. He called for a two-track approach: continue cooperation where possible, while urgently strengthening its own Arctic military and surveillance capabilities.