Welcome to the March 2022 issue of Innovatus

This month's issue of Innovatus highlights some of the transformative projects, initiatives and activities happening here in the Faculty of Education.

IN THE MEDIA: Children and the Russia/Ukraine Conflict

On Tuesday, March 16th, Associate Professor Aparna Mishra-Tarc was on the Mornings with Sue & Andy show to shed light on the conflict in Eastern Europe. Tarc spoke about the plight of the thousands of children fleeing Ukraine as Russian invaders continue their destructive campaign.

The Conversation: We need to pay attention to the experiences of children in Ukraine during the Russian invasion

All war is always war on children. As a vulnerable population, children’s lives are at the mercy of the adult community. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has threatened children’s lives and severed them from their everyday lives. Overnight, their lives have become unimaginable.

IN THE MEDIA: Black scientists won't stay in Canada without equitable research funding, experts say

The system for granting federal research funding in Canada fails to give Black scientists the support they need to optimize their work, professors and researchers say. Not providing that stability for researchers may result in a brain drain to other countries, says Lawrence Goodridge, who has worked in the U.S. and Canada. He said one common criterion for determining who gets grant funding in Canada is if a candidate demonstrates leadership or has received grants before.

York University launches report on progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals

York University is marking the United Nations International Day of Education theme of “Changing Course” with the release of a dynamic new report and website documenting its progress toward the United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Professor Susan Dion awarded 2021 F.E.L. Priestly Prize

Congratulations to Faculty of Education Professor and Associate Vice-President Indigenous initiatives Susan Dion (York University) and Jane Griffith (Ryerson University), on being awarded the prestigious 2021 F.E.L. Priestly Prize for their article “Narratives of Place and Relationship: Bev Sellar’s Memoir They Called Me Number One”. The award was presented by the Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English (ACCUTE).

The Conversation Canada - Schools need to step up to address Islamophobia

The inspiration for this article was born of frustration and heartache. It follows the murders of four intergenerational members of the Afzaal/Salman family that left a nine-year-old child injured and orphaned in London, Ont., on June 6, 2021.

In the media: Addressing Barriers Facing Black Youth

York University recently launched a new initiative with the aim of enhancing the representation of Black youth at universities across Canada. Professor Carl James, York's Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora in the Faculty of Education; and Aliya Clarke, an undergraduate student at McMaster University, join The Agenda's Steve Paikin to discuss the barriers faced by Black youth in high schools and how this initiative could address the inequities in the education system.

The Conversation Canada - Why children must be involved in research in the aftermath of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect the lives of children even after transmission of the virus is contained. And yet, not much is known about the long-term mental health effects of large-scale disease outbreaks, and experiences such as prolonged school closures and strict social distancing measures on children and youth.

In the media: TikTok says it's cracking down on dangerous challenges. Will it be enough?

Kate Tilleczek, an expert in youth and the digital age at Toronto’s York University, said it’s important to think about how much money TikTok makes when somebody clicks on these videos. “You leave [regulation] in the hands of folks who are making billions of dollars to do the right thing by kids, and I’m always thinking: ‘They’re not going to do that,’” she said.