May 28: Nathalie Des Rosiers writes…

So, it is over. Congress 2009 is fading into the web’s archives and our memories. I enjoyed this congress: the atmosphere on the campus, the special events full of promise, the random meetings with friends, acquaintances and students. Is Congress like the Cannes festival without “décolletés ” and shiny dresses, the long dresses and ? Is it the Olympics with less medals and less costs? In a way, it has similar features : it is a ”happening” where people go to get energized and stimulated in pursuing their work. It is a time and place to celebrate, to give prizes for best articles or best book. It is a gathering of national and international figures ready to question and debate the big issues of our time. It does have this celebratory aspect… but for modest academics. We are now focused on next year in Montreal at Concordia University to celebrate again the best that social sciences and humanities can offer.

Daniel Drolet writes…

Random thoughts as Congress winds up:

Congress is not a rock concert
Congress is an exciting event, but it’s not about the adrenaline – unless, perhaps, you’re really nervous about presenting. I was struck by the fact that while there were always people around, the event never felt busy or overwhelming. We’re so used to being entertained and stimulated visually that an event like this one – where glitz is not on the menu – can at first glance seem a tad quiet. But Congress is about the steak, not the sizzle. For example, one woman who listened to a talk by author and democracy activist Frances Moore Lappé – a presentation that received a standing ovation – described the talk as “life-changing.” I wonder how many people had similar experiences. (more…)

May 28: Nathalie Des Rosiers writes…

Another day at Congress – Listened to Justice Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Lecture on the necessity of human rights and the way in which we have failed to integrate the three lessons from World War II : – indifference as the gound for intolerance, – that we should be known not for what one stands for, but for one stands up for, and that we need to see the world through the eyes of the vulnerable. (more…)

Daniel Drolet writes…

A lot of the real work of Congress is taking place quietly, in the classrooms of Carleton University. That’s where many of the sessions are held. At those sessions, the academics at Congress present their latest work to colleagues in what is inevitably a real exchange of information. The topics, of course, can be very narrowly focused and therefore not necessarily of interest to the general public. On the other hand, the people who do attend these sessions are very interested – and very knowledgeable. (more…)

Daniel Drolet writes…

It’s early morning, 7:40, and Ottawa’s municipal bus system has delivered me to campus, right on time.

I’ve come to hear David Foot, a U of T economist, demographer and author, talk about workplace trends. (I imagine most people have heard about his book Boom, Bust and Echo.)

While the audience settles down to breakfast – scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese, fruit and of course coffee – he proceeds to tell us, in a very engaging way, about how the changing demographic structure of Canada’s population affects everything from university enrolment to careers. And how it’s possible, if you study demographics, to plan quite confidently for the future – and understand social trends today. (more…)

Daniel Drolet writes…

If you’re reading this blog then you must be interested in blogs.

But that doesn’t mean academics know much about them, or their uses in teaching.

So to find out more, I attended a session this morning called Academic Blogs: Connecting people and ideas. (The session was part of Career Corner, a regular feature of Congress 2009. There are several sessions a day focussed on career development.)

The session left me with two rather contradictory take-away messages: On the one hand, blogs can be useful in an academic environment – particularly for engaging students and encouraging debate. But on the other hand, how do you overcome the fact that they take up time and can contribute to information overload? (more…)

Daniel Drolet writes…

Friday May 22

Talking to passionate people is always stimulating. And after a couple of weeks interviewing professors and researchers presenting papers at Congress 09, I can certainly I’ve been stimulated. Arctic sovereignty. Visible minorities. Hockey. Hyperactivity. The economic crisis. Canada’s grocery industry … rarely have I encountered such an eclectic range of topics in one place. (more…)

Jeff Francom, Masters of Education student at Nipissing University, ON, writes…

As a college teacher, I have often advertised the value of extra education to my students. About 3 years ago, I decided to ‘eat my own cooking’, taking my own advice and returning to school, albeit part-time. 6 MEd courses and a couple of years later, I am completing my thesis and presenting my findings at the Graduate Student panel on Monday.

So here I am, an ‘old guy’ amongst youngsters, a man whose kids are nearly the same age as some of my peers in class, attending the Congress at my children’s university… kind of surreal. Being asked to present my findings should not make me nervous as I have been teaching college for 11 years now, yet the ‘newness’ of the experience is causing some butterflies. Not knowing how to take the last 6+ months of research and compress it into 10 minutes, being certain of what I have found but uncertain of the best way to present it, even considering if I take the O Train or drive to campus from my kids’ house… so many new variables to handle. (more…)