menu_open Columnists

The Conversation

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

How Dolly Parton built a life and career on her own terms

How Dolly Parton built a life and career on her own terms

Dolly Parton’s chart history tells a pointed story of an artist who built her independence one song at a time.

previous day 3

The Conversation

Jada Watson

Many cities buried urban streams. Here’s how to bring them back

Many cities buried urban streams. Here’s how to bring them back

Stream daylighting can help manage stormwater, restore habitats and create greener, more walkable public spaces.

previous day 2

The Conversation

Luna Khirfan

Nepal’s catastrophic flood shows disaster preparedness must be a shared responsibility

Nepal’s catastrophic flood shows disaster preparedness must be a shared responsibility

What responsibilities do governments, researchers, humanitarian organizations, and corporations have for the conditions that repeatedly turn hazards...

previous day 0

The Conversation

Ranjan Datta

How AI‑powered policing is endangering the public’s trust in police

How AI‑powered policing is endangering the public’s trust in police

Growing concerns about police use of AI could erode the public’s perception of trust in the legal system.

previous day 2

The Conversation

Tandeep Sidhu

When skilled immigrants are overqualified, employers pay a price too

When skilled immigrants are overqualified, employers pay a price too

When the skills of new immigrants exceed the demands of their jobs, organizations may risk losing valued employees.

previous day 2

The Conversation

Kingsley Ivande

School phone bans are working in Toronto elementary schools — and failing in high schools

School phone bans are working in Toronto elementary schools — and failing in high schools

Results of a teacher survey suggest high schools would be better off adopting bell-to-bell restrictions with consistent phone storage protocols.

wednesday 1

The Conversation

Sachin Maharaj

Why teacher training is the overlooked route to a stronger special education system

Why teacher training is the overlooked route to a stronger special education system

While investing more money could play a hand in improving Ontario’s special education, improvements should begin with a critical look at teacher...

wednesday 2

The Conversation

Jordan Shurr

Canada walked away from a U.S. trade deal. What happens now?

Canada walked away from a U.S. trade deal. What happens now?

Ottawa’s decision to walk away may have been justified, but it is costly for an economy still heavily dependent on the U.S. market.

wednesday 1

The Conversation

Subhadip Ghosh

No safe tan: Why Canada’s sunburn problem keeps getting worse

No safe tan: Why Canada’s sunburn problem keeps getting worse

Addressing sun exposure misinformation, such as online tanning trends and sunscreen myths, is important, but effective advice about UV protection is...

wednesday 3

The Conversation

Ivan Litvinov

We discovered rare dinosaur tracks from the Coniacian age near Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia

We discovered rare dinosaur tracks from the Coniacian age near Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia

The tracks are the first to be found in Canada from this time period.

wednesday 3

The Conversation

Guy Plint

Early in your career? Here’s why you should start thinking about your pension now

Early in your career? Here’s why you should start thinking about your pension now

Retirement may feel distant in your 20s and 30s, but small, deliberate steps now can make a difference later.

25.08.2026 1

The Conversation

Ernest Biktimirov

Mark Carney’s defiance: Canada shows the world how to respond to Donald Trump’s threats

Mark Carney’s defiance: Canada shows the world how to respond to Donald Trump’s threats

Canada cannot match the U.S. economically, but it can make Donald Trump’s trade war politically costly as the U.S. heads toward midterm elections.

25.08.2026 3

The Conversation

Eric van Rythoven

Lunchbox labour is back — here’s how Canada’s new school food program can grow

Lunchbox labour is back — here’s how Canada’s new school food program can grow

Canada’s ambitious vision for improving access to school food needs to be bolstered by community collaboration and high-quality research.

25.08.2026 8

The Conversation

Jennifer Black

Vulnerability to wildfire smoke is in our genes, thanks to an evolutionary quirk

Vulnerability to wildfire smoke is in our genes, thanks to an evolutionary quirk

Mutations that occurred tens of thousands of years ago made humans uniquely sensitive to particulate air pollution.

25.08.2026 8

The Conversation

Dawn Me Bowdish

Singlehood can be an opportunity for personal growth — if you see it that way

Singlehood can be an opportunity for personal growth — if you see it that way

New research suggests seeing singlehood as an opportunity for growth can help people embrace new experiences and feel better about being single.

25.08.2026 7

The Conversation

Elina Moreno

Why some Chinese immigrants avoid signing contracts, and why blaming ‘culture’ misses the bigger picture

Why some Chinese immigrants avoid signing contracts, and why blaming ‘culture’ misses the bigger picture

The reluctance to use written legal documentation isn’t primarily rooted in Confucian values, as scholars have commonly argued. It’s a response to...

25.08.2026 8

The Conversation

Qian Liu

Young Canadians aren’t drifting toward conservative and far‑right parties

Young Canadians aren’t drifting toward conservative and far‑right parties

The bigger movement in the data over the past quarter-century is at the other end of the age spectrum: A reliable base of older Conservative Party...

25.08.2026 7

The Conversation

Bradley Wood-Maclean

Women and racialized CEOs may outperform their peers because they face tougher barriers to the top

Women and racialized CEOs may outperform their peers because they face tougher barriers to the top

Women and racialized executives often outperform white men as CEOs. But that may say as much about the barriers they had to overcome to reach the top...

24.08.2026 8

The Conversation

Rahul Ravi

What Gen Z‑led uprisings across Asia reveal about the strengths and limitations of youth protest

What Gen Z‑led uprisings across Asia reveal about the strengths and limitations of youth protest

Youth-led protest movements across Asia have exposed underlying anger at corruption and blocked opportunity. But so far, only Nepal has managed to...

24.08.2026 7

The Conversation

Ashika Niraula

When to trust the experts? Follow these guidelines to evaluate science on any topic

When to trust the experts? Follow these guidelines to evaluate science on any topic

Science works through a process of revision. As consumers, we must learn how to evaluate how mature evidence is, and always remain flexible to new...

24.08.2026 6

The Conversation

Christopher Cotton

3 ways to improve Canada’s wildfire advisory capacity

3 ways to improve Canada’s wildfire advisory capacity

Producers often turn to online peer networks and experts when something goes wrong. However, online misinformation is drowning out the legitimate...

24.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Ataharul Chowdhury

Is Gad Saad building a culture‑war hero persona by distorting Canadian reality?

Is Gad Saad building a culture‑war hero persona by distorting Canadian reality?

Some Canadians may agree with Gad Saad’s portrayal of Canada a leftist, woke hellscape. But many don’t, making him a highly unreliable narrator on...

23.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Neil McLaughlin

Is Gad Saad is building a culture‑war hero persona by distorting Canadian reality?

Is Gad Saad is building a culture‑war hero persona by distorting Canadian reality?

Some Canadians may agree with Gad Saad’s portrayal of Canada a leftist, woke hellscape. But many don’t, making him a highly unreliable narrator on...

23.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Neil McLaughlin

Data centres and democratic decline could lead to more water conflict in the future

Data centres and democratic decline could lead to more water conflict in the future

To protect our planet’s waters, we need to better understand these new economic and technological factors that underlie disputes over water.

23.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Ryan Durante

The best time to think about your pension is before you need one

The best time to think about your pension is before you need one

Retirement may feel distant in your 20s and 30s, but small, deliberate steps now can make a difference later.

23.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Ernest Biktimirov

Alberta wants neutrality in classrooms, but what if ‘viewpoints’ are lived experience?

Alberta wants neutrality in classrooms, but what if ‘viewpoints’ are lived experience?

Difficult stories are not obstacles to democratic education. Learning how to communicate about them are conditions for it.

23.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Kevin Lopuck

The midlife clock is ticking: How we understand ‘time left’ can help us use it well

The midlife clock is ticking: How we understand ‘time left’ can help us use it well

Heightened awareness of having limited time left in life can spur people to become masters of their lime, or leave them feeling stuck or stifled with...

23.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Gail Low

Your high school friends may shape whether you become an entrepreneur decades later

Your high school friends may shape whether you become an entrepreneur decades later

Entrepreneurship is usually treated as an adult pursuit, but new research suggests the social influences that help shape who becomes an entrepreneur...

20.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Seok-Woo Kwon

France’s nuclear reactors are running hot and still keeping the lights on

France’s nuclear reactors are running hot and still keeping the lights on

As Canada develops new nuclear projects, some might worry that hotter weather could undermine nuclear reliability. However, France’s experience this...

20.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Michael Tadrous

What dandelions and bees can teach us about our responsibilities to the natural world

What dandelions and bees can teach us about our responsibilities to the natural world

In an early childhood program, everyday encounters remind participants that acknowledging land is something we live through relationships and...

20.08.2026 7

The Conversation

Louise Zimanyi

Book Talk: Q&A with a scholar on how everyday objects help fight gender‑based violence

Book Talk: Q&A with a scholar on how everyday objects help fight gender‑based violence

In her new book, media and technology academic Nicolette Little examines the impact of five Canadian grassroots multi-media projects.

20.08.2026 30

The Conversation

The Conversation Canada

What cannabis use really tells us about university students’ eating habits

What cannabis use really tells us about university students’ eating habits

Researchers surveyed more than 1,500 students at a large Canadian university to better understand the relationship between cannabis use and diet...

20.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Jamie Seabrook

Homebuyers are choosing homes with much higher carbon footprints than they realize

Homebuyers are choosing homes with much higher carbon footprints than they realize

Clearer information about energy costs could help home buyers make lower-carbon choices without requiring them to compromise on affordability, space...

19.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Burak Gunay

Is Mark Carney’s ‘Canada Strong’ brand starting to wane? Blame brand politics if so

Is Mark Carney’s ‘Canada Strong’ brand starting to wane? Blame brand politics if so

Being seen as an effective crisis manager is central to Mark Carney’s political brand, but an emphasis on communication and symbolism in support of...

19.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Richard Nimijean

How we found a new transmissible cancer in bullhead catfish

How we found a new transmissible cancer in bullhead catfish

Researchers found that tumours on different catfish were genetically similar, indicating the fish were catching the cancer from each other.

19.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Julie Dragon

Why is Mark Carney’s ‘Canada Strong’ brand waning? Because brand politics is perilous

Why is Mark Carney’s ‘Canada Strong’ brand waning? Because brand politics is perilous

Being seen as an effective crisis manager is central to Mark Carney’s political brand, but an emphasis on communication and symbolism in support of...

19.08.2026 8

The Conversation

Richard Nimijean

Mark Carney’s ‘Canada Strong’ brand may be waning: Why brand politics can be so perilous

Mark Carney’s ‘Canada Strong’ brand may be waning: Why brand politics can be so perilous

Being seen as an effective crisis manager is central to Mark Carney’s political brand, but an emphasis on communication and symbolism in support of...

19.08.2026 6

The Conversation

Richard Nimijean

Why we give our cats, dogs and other pets social media accounts

Why we give our cats, dogs and other pets social media accounts

Often, when people talk about their pets, they are also talking about themselves — about the things they value and the experiences that shape who...

19.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Renata Roma

Street dogs: Why India can’t — and shouldn’t — evict its canines

Street dogs: Why India can’t — and shouldn’t — evict its canines

India’s street dogs — like urban coyotes in Canada — reveal how deeply human and animal worlds are intertwined.

19.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Mitu Sengupta

Students need more than AI skills — they need accountable AI literacy

Students need more than AI skills — they need accountable AI literacy

Beyond technical fluency, Canadian students need judgment to decide how to use AI and when it should not be used at all.

18.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Sibo Chen

Canada’s AI strategy needs educators who feel prepared, not just trained

Canada’s AI strategy needs educators who feel prepared, not just trained

A survey and workshop project is designed to help educators reflect on their comfort with genAI, assessment and educational practices and their fears...

18.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Lydia Scholle-Cotton

Jason Arday’s tragic death reveals the intense skepticism Black scholars face

Jason Arday’s tragic death reveals the intense skepticism Black scholars face

Black academics can mourn a young colleague while also anticipating the burden his case may place on scholars who may find their own qualifications...

18.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Cornel Grey

How we found Haida Gwaii’s first marbled murrelet nest in more than 30 years

How we found Haida Gwaii’s first marbled murrelet nest in more than 30 years

Facing pressures in both marine and terrestrial environments, the marbled murrelet is listed as threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.

18.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Sonya Pastran

Why are we so obsessed with true crime? Hint: It’s not just morbid curiosity

Why are we so obsessed with true crime? Hint: It’s not just morbid curiosity

True crime’s popularity can be explained by human psychological mechanisms and social needs.

18.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Michael Arntfield

What India’s ‘cockroach’ protests reveal about youth, solidarity and hope

What India’s ‘cockroach’ protests reveal about youth, solidarity and hope

The Cockroach Janta Party protests are significant not just as a reaction to one judge’s insult, but because the way the movement has organized...

17.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Alka Kumar

Why Canada is effectively shutting down its 70‑year peacekeeping legacy

Why Canada is effectively shutting down its 70‑year peacekeeping legacy

The Canadian Defence Department’s recent announcement that it’s scaling back peacekeeping missions marks the final step in the triumph of one...

17.08.2026 10

The Conversation

Eugene Lang

Ceuta’s border crisis is about geopolitics, not just migration

Ceuta’s border crisis is about geopolitics, not just migration

Why is a European border located on African soil? And why has the dispute about Ceuta and Spanish colonization remained unresolved for so long?

17.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Khaoula El Khalil

Can science museums help us talk about mental health?

Can science museums help us talk about mental health?

Across the world, science museums are beginning to join conversations and develop work about mental health.

17.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Ana Maria Navas Iannini

How weaving helped invent modern computing — and is shaping its future

Weaving is one of humanity’s oldest crafts, but its patterns helped inspire early computing. Today, textile makers are using conductive yarns and...

16.08.2026 20

The Conversation

Sara Nabil

When can your child stay home alone? Neuroscience suggests we’re asking the wrong question

Caregivers often seek a specific age that their child can be left home alone. However, the neuroscience of brain development suggests that readiness...

16.08.2026 30

The Conversation

Codie C. Lavoie