Curious Campus

Care, Language, and Human Connection with Ian Williams

In this episode, Professor Ian Williams joins us to discuss his CBC Massey Lectures, What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in Our Time. Williams explores the role that conversation plays in shaping how we relate to one another, from everyday social exchanges to difficult discussions about sensitive topics. We talk about the inspirations behind the lecture series, how conversations have evolved over time, and why care, listening, and curiosity are essential for meaningful dialogue.
Ian Williams is a Professor of English, director of the Creative Writing program and academic advisor for the Massey College William Southam Journalism Fellowship at the University of Toronto, where he also completed his PhD. Williams is the author of several acclaimed books of fiction, poetry and nonfiction. He is also a trustee for the Griffin Poetry Prize.

Bridging Science and Philosophy with Cory Lewis

In this episode, Professor Cory Lewis joins us to discuss his research on the generality of scientific models and his teaching, touching on experiential learning, AI, and some hands-on activities conducted in his class. Professor Lewis shares insights into the relationship between philosophers of science and scientists, bridging the gap between the humanities and STEM. We also touch on the courses he teaches, and the changes he foresees within the classroom due to AI and our relationships with one another as technology blurs who we truly interact with online.
Cory Lewis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, where he teaches at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. Cory Lewis received his PhD in 2017 from the IHPST. His research focuses mainly on generality and contingency in scientific theories.

Anushka Ataullahjan on Gender, Climate, and Health

In this episode, Professor Anushka Ataullahjan joins us to explore the gendered impact of climate change, with a focus on her recent research in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which was severely affected by the 2022 summer floods. Professor Ataullahjan shares insights into how these floods have affected women’s health and wellbeing, offering a deeper look into the intersection of climate, gender, and public health. We also discuss the cultural factors that shape health outcomes and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the research process on the ground.
Anushka Ataullahjan is an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University and an Assistant Professor (status-only) at the Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Professor Anushka Ataullahjan is a critical qualitative researcher whose research explores the health of women, children, and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, particularly Pakistan.

Referrals, Resumes, and Self-Presentation with Santiago Campero

In this episode, Professor Santiago Campero joins us in a discussion on the dynamics of hiring in the high-tech labour market. In these highly competitive fields, Santiago examines how factors such as social networks, status, and reputation influence opportunities for job seekers, particularly in industries where certain groups are underrepresented. It is a topic at the heart of his research, where he investigates labour market inequality and organizational behaviour. Today, he brings a thoughtful lens to how network referrals and self-presentation impact the hiring process in the high-tech labour market.
Santiago Campero is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources. His research focuses on labour market inequality and organizational dynamics, with a particular interest in the high-tech startup sector. Campero also taught at HEC Montréal and worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.

The Trouble about Talent with Joseph Baker

In this episode, Professor Joseph Baker joins us to explore the question: Is it time to retire ‘talent’ from discussions of athlete development?—a topic he also addresses in his paper of the same name. Though widely used in sports, talent is a vague and often misunderstood concept. Does our fixation on natural ability distract us from what truly supports the progression of both elite and novice athletes? Professor Baker unpacks the implications of relying on this notion in high-performance sport. Together, we examine how talented is defined, its role in athletic success, and the ongoing debate around its relevance in sports science.
Joseph Baker is a Professor of Sports Science at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. His research focuses on the optimal development of the human body, how one can achieve ultimate performance, and how someone can maintain that degree of performance. Baker is also the Tanenbaum Chair in Sport Science, Data Modelling and Sports Analytics at the University of Toronto, and is the Past President of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology.

Gym Goals and Social Roles with Kyle Ganson

In this episode, Professor Kyle Ganson joins us in discussing his research paper, ““Eat more protein, build more muscle”: A grounded theory study of muscle-building behaviors among Canadian adolescents and young adults.” He shares insights from interviews conducted with young adults, shedding light on the distinct phases they often go through in their muscle-building journeys. Through this conversation, we gain a deeper understanding of the individual experiences related to exercise, health, and the powerful influence of our social and cultural environments.
Kyle Ganson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. His research focuses on eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia, and muscle-building behaviours among adolescents and young adults, particularly boys and young men. Dr. Ganson has over 10 years of direct clinical social work practice experience and is the principal investigator of the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors.

Cosplay, Crowds, and Culture: The Comic-Con with Felan Parker

In this episode, Professor Felan Parker joins us in discussing his research project, “Swarming San Diego Comic-Con,” in which he and his research team conducted swarm ethnography at the 2023 Comic-Con. Through this discussion, we better understand the role the event plays in contemporary media pop culture, along with insights into the background to this research, the methodology employed and takeaways from the experience.
Felan Parker is an Associate Professor at St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, and a scholar of media industries and cultures specializing in games, digital media, and film. A scholar in creative media and its associated industries, his current research interests focus on the role of intermediaries like curators, critics, and community organizers in the cultural ecosystem of the game industry.
 
Resources:
Comic-Con Comics #1: a comic book based on the Swarming Comic-Con research project. Read about how conventions shape media industries and fan cultures! 
Attend Professor Parker's and his collaborators' presentation on this research at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival Libraries and Education Day on Friday, June 6, 2025.
 

Joshua Pilzer on Music and Lived Experience

In this episode, Professor Joshua Pilzer joins us in discussing his award-winning book, “Quietude: A Musical Anthropology of "Korea's Hiroshima” - winner of the Alan Merriam Prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology. Through this discussion, we better understand the human impact of the nuclear bombing and the “musical” features of so-called extra-musical practices like speech and everyday movement. We also touch on Professor Pilzer’s journey into ethnomusicology and to Korea.
Joshua D. Pilzer is a Professor of Ethnomusicology in the Faculty of Music, and an affiliate faculty of the Centre for the Study of Korea. His research focuses on the anthropology of music in modern Korea and Japan, women's musical worlds, and the relationships between music, survival, memory, traumatic experience, marginalisation, disability, public culture, mass media, social practice and identity.

Global Ties, Local Ripples with Harald Bathelt

In this episode, Professor Harald Bathelt joins us in discussing his article, “The nature, causes, and consequences of inter-regional inequality” along with research in “Creating Knowledge over Distance: The Role of Temporary Proximity,” “Global subsidiary linkages and cluster networks in a turbulent world,” and “Communities in the internationalization process”. Through this discussion, we gain insights into the research pertaining to interregional inequality while touching on the impact of globalization and knowledge sharing in an increasing internationalized world.
Harald Bathelt is a Professor in the University of Toronto’s Department of Geography & Planning and Zijiang Visiting Chair at East China Normal University. Bathelt’s research and teaching interests are in the areas of economic geography, political economy and methodology, specifically in the analysis of industrial clustering, knowledge generation/innovation over distance, regional impacts of national/international investments, and regional impacts of industrial/institutional change.

Decoding Climate Data: Steve Easterbrook on Modeling, Forecasting, and Solutions for a Changing World

In this episode, Professor Steve Easterbrook joins us in discussing his book, "Computing the Climate," where he shares what he learned during his time at renowned climate labs in Europe and the US, especially as a computer scientist trying to understand the software providing data and predictions on the climate. Through this discussion, we touch on the history of climate modelling, the difference between climate and weather forecasting, and solutions that exist to help communities navigate changing climate.Steve M. Easterbrook is Director of the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto, where he teaches courses on environmental decision-making, systems thinking, and climate literacy. He received a PhD in Computing from Imperial College London and served as lead scientist at NASA’s Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in West Virginia. Easterbrook has been a consultant for the European and Canadian Space Agencies, and a visiting scientist at many climate research labs in the United States and Europe.