New film highlights college's diverse interdisciplinary research

How do we study the universe through mathematics?

How does language work?

How can psychedelic science shape our understanding of health and wellness?

Do insects think? Or, more specifically, are they conscious?

Those are just some of the fascinating topics being explored by researchers in the College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

A new video called Thinking highlights the diverse interdisciplinary research underway at the college—the largest on the USask campus, with more than 300 faculty in 21 departments. In the film, the work of 14 faculty members from the sciences, humanities, social sciences and fine arts is highlighted through a series of two-minute talks.

The video was created because faculty and staff within the College of Arts and Science wanted a novel way to share and talk with each other about research, scholarly and artistic work. For the film, professors were asked to consider the theme of “thinking”—a topic that crosses many boundaries and academic disciplines.

The 40-minute film was shot and produced by college webmaster Allain Esquivel. It premiered during a “collaboration collider” event held at the Neatby-Timlin Theatre on Jan. 22.

At the event, faculty members and staff enjoyed popcorn while watching the film and learning more about their colleagues’ work and research interests. New themes are already emerging for similar future events that will be centred on research, scholarly and artistic work, with an eye to connecting with other colleges and units across campus and beyond.

The working group for the film project was comprised of professors Ron Borowsky, Jon Bath, Erika Dyck and Regan Mandryk, as well as Allain Esquivel and Andrea Wasylow, the college's director of planning and communications. Borowsky and Wasylow co-led the project, which is part of the college's SMART+P initiative (Science Meets Arts Plus Public).

The Thinking video can now be viewed on YouTube. More information about the College of Arts and Science’s research can be viewed online.

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