The Keynote: November 2023

Upcoming workshops

Introduction to Research Data Management - Thursday, November 23 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Not sure where to start with research data management? In this workshop you will learn about current best practice for research data management, how effective research data management relates to grants and funding, and how to get started on creating a research data management plan.

• Stay up to date on career opportunities and requests for proposals from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. 

• Applications are now open for the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Luise and Gerhard Herzberg Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship will be awarded annually to a recent PhD graduate who identifies as a woman and who has demonstrated research excellence. Candidates from any science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) discipline can submit a fellowship project for consideration. Apply by December 1, 2023.
  
  
• Visit our Funding opportunities page to view postdoc funding opportunities and application details.

• Nominations for the Student Leadership Awards opened on Monday, November 13. These awards acknowledge and celebrate students for their achievements and contributions, and for demonstrating excellence in leadership practices within the Ontario Tech community.

You can nominate a student for a Student Leadership Award in one or more of the following award categories:

• • Accountability (Ethics)
  • Community Building
  • Innovation
  • Respect

Or nominate a student for a President’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership:

• • The Undergraduate President’s Award
  • The Graduate President’s Award

The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 19.

• Join the Health Promotions team for Paint Night on Wednesday, November 15 in Shawenjigewining Hall, Mitch Frazer Atrium from 4 to 6 p.m. Art is a great outlet for stress and anxiety, and provides us with a great opportunity to make connections. At Paint Night, you're welcome to paint a flowerpot or canvas, enjoy some snacks and drinks, and visit the display created by our Peer Wellness Educators. Register in advance or drop in!
• With food prices rising, eating healthy on a budget can be tough. However, maintaining a balanced nutritious diet that includes fruits and vegetables doesn’t need to be expensive! Register to join Holistic Nutritionist Sylvia Emmorey an interactive seminar on Wednesday, November 15 from noon to 1 p.m., where she will provide practical tips for optimizing your nutritional consumption while on a tight budget.
• Join us for the Transferable Skills workshop virtually on Tuesday, November 28 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. You will learn why transferable skills are important, how to identify the transferable skills you have developed and how to communicate these skills on your resumé.
  
  
• The Career Centre and Devant have joined together to provide career supports for international students. Check out, and register for all the great workshops that are happening in November.
• Student Centred Spaces are running throughout the fall semester. Pride Space offers a safe place where 2SLGBTQ+ students and allies can unite, support each other and participate in fun activities. This safe gathering allows you to build connections, explore vital topics, and engage in fun activities. Our Trans and Non-Binary Student-Centered Space offers a unique opportunity for trans and non-binary students to connect and strengthen community bonds. Join us in fostering understanding, unity, and support this semester bi-weekly on Wednesdays until November 29.
• Bannocks and Books is back! The December book club feature is You Are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom, Ancestral Connection, and Animal Spirit Guidance by Asha Frost. Join us in-person, with the author, for the Sharing Circle on Monday, December 4 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. We will be serving Bannock! Register to secure your spot.
• Whether you’re an industry expert or simply passionate about technology and engineering, join us on Saturday, December 2 for STEM Hacks! This event gives students in grades 9 to 11 the opportunity to compete in an autonomous vehicle challenge. We're looking for students in Engineering, Science and Math related courses to be a judge, mentor or volunteer at the event. If you're interested, visit the mathstronauts website to sign up and learn more.
• Join us for Ted Talk Tuesdays! Come together with your fellow peers to watch and discuss a variety of Ted Talks on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. in Shawenjigewining Hall, Room 223. By attending, you’ll be able to:
  • Develop academic speaking and listening skills
  • Encourage critical thinking and speaking with confidence
  • Share ideas and opinions in a friendly and relaxed environment 
    
    
• Are you interested in meeting students from different cultures? Or looking to improve your English speaking and listening skills? You should attend Conversation Café! You can drop in on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Shawenjigewining Hall, Room 223 for the opportunity to meet other students and learn about other cultures. Learn more on the Conversation Café web page.
  
  
• Afternoons with SEE runs weekly on Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. in Shawenjigewining Hall, Room 210. All students are welcome to drop in and join the Student Engagement and Equity team to hang out, play games, meet others and enjoy refreshments.
  
  
• For the tenth semester, Student Mental Health Services has collaborated with Ontario Shores to offer the Recovery College program. Discover mental health, wellness and your passions with us. We blend lived experiences and professional expertise to empower you in managing challenges and pursuing your dreams. Learn more and register for a journey of hope, empowerment and meaningful connections.
  
  
• The Living Room Community Art Studio has partnered with our university to give you a creative break and enjoy some self-care. The Creative Wellness Hive is a chance for you to make and share art for free! If you see the blue bus on campus, stop by for some well-deserved fun and to learn more about our campus supports and services. Learn more.

• Your Liaison Librarian offers research supports in an array of areas including identifying and searching our wealth of electronic resources, data management strategies and research metrics, to name a few. Graduate and postdoctoral students should book an appointment for assistance.

• We offer support through the publishing cycle from beginning your research, to selecting journals for publication, to long-term preservation of your work. Learn how to deposit and access E-scholar, our institutional repository. Find out how we support open access publishing and article processing charges (APC) discount programs available. Interested in launching a journal? Our journal hosting program can help, and we’ll make sense of the complex predatory publishing landscape.

• Looking for a data set? Not sure how to plan for managing your research data?  We can help! We offer a range of data support services from sourcing and citing data sets to managing, disseminating, and archiving research data. The Library’s Borealis subscription is one way to fulfill the Tri Agency RDM requirements. And we can assist with identifying additional relevant OA repositories for your research.

• Respondus is offering free training webinars in November and December focused on educational technology use in higher education. Topics include proctoring exams with Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor, and creating online exams with Respondus 4. Check out the webinar list for the full schedule!
  
  
• Turnitin and related services will be briefly unavailable from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 18 due to scheduled maintenance. See the Turnitin status page for a full list of affected services.

• Always apply for OSAP. Many variables when assessing your OSAP and eligibility to receive funding could change every year. Also, make sure your Winter semester course load matches what's in your OSAP application—if not, this will delay the release of your second semester funding. Make updates with SAFA.