Welcome to the January 2019 issue of Brainstorm

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 January 2019 issue

New research identifies protein that affects muscle health during exercise
A new study, led by a Canada Research Chair at York University, finds a protein that plays a key role in muscle health during exercise. This adds important new knowledge around the positive effects of exercise on muscle health.

Q&A with director of Tubman’s artists in residence, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale
In this exclusive interview with Brainstorm, Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, founder and artistic director of the world-renowned Nathaniel Dett Chorale, reflects on the past two decades of the chorale and discusses this group’s role as artists in residence at the Tubman Institute.

Canada’s residential school history includes state-sanctioned violence
A York U researcher challenges the image of residential schools as well-intentioned but misguided institutions. She illustrates, instead, that state-sanctioned violence was etched into the system’s foundational logic and operations from the very start.

Solo exhibition on identity and belonging, a powerful gift to visitors
Visual artist Andil Gosine assembles a non-sentimental and multilayered exhibition that reconsiders his immigration to Canada as a teenager and early encounters with racism. He skillfully interlaces this charged personal narrative with themes of both servitude and hope.

Workshop helps grad students use plain language when writing about research
Innovation York’s Knowledge Mobilization unit launched a pilot project with Glendon Campus and two Faculties to engage graduate students in clear language writing about research. Manager Michael Johnny plans to expand this successful pilot across campus in 2019-20.

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, senior manager, research communications; and edited by Jenny Pitt-Clark, YFile editor.