Welcome to the October 2020 issue of ‘Brainstorm’

Brainstorm graphic

“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 October 2020 issue

Award-winning conductor speaks about the power of music in challenging times – Bonus video!
Hot on the heels of a JUNO win, York U’s Head of Choral Conducting sits down with Brainstorm to reflect on this remarkable accomplishment; muse about the future of the concert hall; and elaborate on the unique gift that choirs offer in the unsettling era of COVID.

Researchers find way to spot food spoilage, prevent waste, aid food security
A team of chemists have developed accurate, consumer-friendly methods of indicating whether food is safe for consumers. Sweeping ramifications address food security, waste prevention, consumer safety and even healthcare resources – that is, the prevention of hospital stays.

Grad student leads study on using AI to better assist in humanitarian crises
A PhD candidate launched a transdisciplinary study, with researchers from Harvard and the UN World Food Program, which looks at improving humanitarian needs assessments through a type of AI. He aims to build a new way of collecting data and a toolkit to aid an organization’s ability to respond to a crisis.

By and for local people: Grad student looks at energy through justice lens
Novel research from the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change considers sustainable energy through a community lens, underscoring the value of participation of local members through ownership and control of energy.

Study offers strategies to thwart unethical decisions by businesspeople
Comparing unethical decisions of Chinese and Canadian businesspeople, a research team unearths some social variations along the road to corruption. The findings, however, have wide-ranging, practical implications on how to prevent unscrupulous moves in any organization.

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 and Ashley Goodfellow Craig, YFile deputy editor.