Welcome to Brainstorm for April 2017

Brainstorm, a special edition of YFile publishing on the first Friday of every month, showcases research and innovation at York University. It offers compelling and accessible, feature-length stories about the world-leading and policy relevant work of York’s academics and researchers across all disciplines and faculties, and encompasses both pure and applied research.

In the April 2017 issue, York University President Mamdouh Shoukri and Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Haché announce seven new York Research Chairs, each outstanding in their respective academic fields, bringing the grand total to 24. Research from York’s Sapna Sharma studies ice observations from medieval Japan and pre-Enlightenment Finland looking for drivers of long-term climatic changes. Humanities Professor Gail Vanstone joins forces with British counterparts to write a comprehensive and unconventional book on how the documentary film has been affected by the digital era. Research by Professor Gary Turner and others offers new insights into mini strokes that could lead to prevention, earlier diagnoses and improved health outcomes of Ontarians. York Environmentalist Sarah Flicker examines how a group of Indigenous youth leaders embraced leadership in the context of HIV prevention.

Launched in January 2017, Brainstorm is produced out of the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation in partnership with Communications & Public Affairs; overseen by Megan Mueller, manager, Research Communications; and edited by Jenny Pitt-Clark, the YFile editor.