SMU Professor examines virus spread in Nova Scotia

Article by SMU Professor Dr. Yigit Aydede, published in Scientific Reports, examines virus spread in Nova Scotia

Dr. Yigit Aydede

Understanding how influenza and other viruses such as COVID-19 migrate from one community to the next is key to predicting where disease will spread and determining how to curtail its progress. A new article by Saint Mary’s University’s Dr. Yigit Aydede, and Jan Ditzen, Free University of Bolzano, Italy, published in Scientific Reports unveils a new methodology, one that may assist health officials to both predict where viruses will spread and target interventions to halt them.

“The COVID-19 pandemic put mapping at the forefront of both the general public’s and public health experts’ tracking of the outbreak. Dr. Aydede’s research demonstrates the essential role of spatial and temporal analysis when tracking and predicting outbreaks between and within communities.”

— Dr. Mathew Novak, Director, Wicked Problems Lab, Saint Mary’s University and Associate Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Studies

The study, Identifying the regional drivers of influenza-like illness in Nova Scotia, Canada, with dominance analysis - Scientific Reports, is hailed by the journal’s editors as the first epidemiological study of its kind because it combines data concerning geographical or spatial spread with temporal spread (incidents over time), as opposed to more common epidemiological studies which examine temporal spread alone. 

The research was only possible due to a unique set of circumstances: unparalleled access to unique provincial healthcare data, new methodology, and the use of machine learning.

“Research Nova Scotia was proud to support Dr. Aydede’s work through the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition,” says Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia. “Better understanding relationships between viral transmission rates, air quality, and social mobility will help inform public health decision making, optimize allocation of healthcare resources, and ultimately benefit Nova Scotians.”

The ideal circumstances for data collection arose in Nova Scotia during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. From March to July 2020, health officials asked Nova Scotians to report their symptoms to the province’s 811 telehealth system, where nurses painstakingly recorded and referred citizens reporting a minimum of four influenza-like symptoms. When the data was made available to researchers at Saint Mary’s University, they realized it was exceptional. Far more detailed than COVID-19 PCR tests which only confirm the presence or absence of disease, the symptom data from the 811 records reveals how viruses, in real-time, spread across Nova Scotia’s neighbourhoods and communities.

“This type of data that records symptoms as they arose, early in the pandemic, simply does not exist anywhere else in the world and is due to decisions taken by provincial health authorities that turned the Province of Nova Scotia, in effect, into a living laboratory,” says Dr. Aydede, Sobey Professorship in Economics and the study’s principal investigator. 

Dr. Mat Novak, Dr. Yigit Aydede and student, Kyle Morton BComm’23

The inability of scientists and health officials to predict where COVID-19 would strike was a key feature of the disease, one that remained a constant source of frustration throughout the pandemic. “We could watch the overall trajectory of the disease as the number of incidents rose and fell, and we understood the R factor (degree of virulence) but there was no ability to predict the spread of the disease on the ground,” says Dr. Aydede. “Thanks to the Nova Scotia COVID-19 Research Coalition and a grant from Research Nova Scotia we had an unbelievable data set that allowed us to look back at what occurred and identify the communities or locations that were driving the spread in Nova Scotia and further identify key socio-economic factors as well.” 

Dr. Aydede adapted algorithms recently developed for the finance industry to analyse economic ‘shock waves.’ “It is not always clear which features or factors are essential and which ones can be dropped without compromising predictive or statistical power,” says Dr. Aydede.  “Machine learning, particularly Tree-based methods such as the Random Forests algorithm used here, helps identify relevant predictors in large complex data sets with complex variables and factors.” 

The study analysed 112 Nova Scotian communities identified by postal codes and found that 18 communities were drivers of viral spread and then analysed 1,400 socio and economic factors, such home mortgage ownership, employment status and use of public transit that all coincided with the spread. 

“This important health-related study led by Dr. Aydede is a terrific example of many elements that allow our Saint Mary’s professors to establish research leadership in areas that may seem unexpected for our university,” says Dr. Adam Sarty, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. “By applying methods used in economics to health-related problems and drawing on the expertise of both his international colleagues and the technical data-visualization talents of our multi-disciplinary research lab at Saint Mary’s, Dr. Aydede was able to partner with Research Nova Scotia and the provincial health authority to illustrate the power of such interdisciplinary networking.” 

Want to learn more about Machine Learning? 

Professor Aydede has just published his book for students of business and social science. Machine Learning Toolbox for Social Scientists | Applied Predictive An (taylorfrancis.com) 

About Scientific Reports 

Scientific Reports are open-access journals publishing original research from all areas of the natural sciences, psychology, medicine and engineering. It is the fifth most cited journal in the world and its editorial team, in partnership with an extensive network of peer reviewers, provides expert and constructive peer review. Scientific Reports is part of the Nature Portfolio.  

Keep It Social team promotes responsible consumption at Touchdown Atlantic

Members of the Keep It Social team at Touchdown Atlantic

The Saint Mary’s Keep It Social team recently made an appearance at the CFL’s Touchdown Atlantic event hosted at Saint Mary’s University at the end of July. Keep it Social is a student-led partnership with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) which promotes responsible consumption, personal choice and a culture of moderation on East Coast campuses. The Keep it Social campus teams work to empower students to reduce the risks of consumption and respect their individual limits.

Members from the Saint Mary’s Keep It Social team, Student Life Coordinator, Liv Brennan, Welcome Activities Coordinator, Toky Tajwar and Student Transitions Specialist, Emma Rota, alongside student volunteers, participated in the Touchdown Atlantic pre-game tailgate event to help share the Keep It Social message and support participants in having a safe and fun time. The team distributed mini Keep It Social footballs and noise makers, and even boasted a 360° photo booth, while reminding participants about safe consumption, hydrating and making the safe choices for their own limits.

The SMU Keep It Social team is available for training sessions and can be present during events where substances may be consumed. If you’re interested in booking the SMU Keep It Social Team, or would like to get involved, email student.life@smu.ca.

Keeping your SMU technology safe with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

As part of the continued effort to keep Saint Mary’s University’s computing environment and data secure, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is being implemented.  Faculty, staff and new students have already been enrolled.  Returning students will receive further communication at the beginning of the term.  MFA will provide an additional layer of protection for services such as email and network access.   

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and why are we implementing it? 

Also known as two-step verification, Multi-Factor Authentication adds an extra layer of protection to help prevent cyber threats even in cases where someone has stolen your password. Multi-Factor Authentication is a safe and simple way to protect your Microsoft 365 email and single sign-on account.  

What does it mean for you? 

Once MFA has been implemented for your M365 account, you will be asked to verify your identity every week through the input of an access code received from the Microsoft Authenticator app. You will also be prompted to authenticate your sign-in whenever you log-on using a new or different device. These extra steps will provide enhanced security for your accounts. These links provide more information on using the Microsoft Authenticator App and Multi-Factor Authentication

When will this be implemented?

Throughout the spring and summer, staff and faculty have been enrolled in MFA, and currently, more than 99% are using it to secure their accounts. We have also enabled MFA for new students, all incoming graduate and undergraduate students are using it as well.  For returning SMU students we will continue to communicate through the beginning of the term and will enable all of the accounts on September 20, 2023. 

Questions?

Please submit any questions to our support team at mfa@smu.ca and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.  You can also find answers to frequently asked questions and support documents on the Multi-Factor Authentication HUB. 

We ask for your patience and understanding as we step through best practices to ensure a smooth transition. Please stay tuned for further communications and updates on this project. 

Getting ready to celebrate Welcome Weeks at Saint Mary’s!

In just a couple of weeks, Saint Mary’s will be bursting with energy as students, staff and faculty make their way back to campus and new students prepare to begin their journey here. As we get ready for the excitement and bustle of Welcome Weeks, we want to highlight what’s open on campus and which events you’ll want to save the date for.

Move-in weekend

Move-in weekend starts on Saturday, September 2. There will be higher than normal volume coming from Robie St. and moving through the roundabout by the Loyola Residence entrance. Be sure to have your SMU campus map on hand to help navigate campus or find alternate driving and walking routes to avoid excess congestion. 

What’s open on campus during move-in weekend?

• C-Store (campus convenience store)
  Loyola Colonnade, through the Loyola Academic Complex (LA)
  September 2-5, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

• Tim Hortons
  Loyola Academic Complex (LA), en route to Loyola Residence
  September 2-5, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Dockside Dining Hall
  Loyola Residence (LR), down the hall from the Residence Information Desk
  September 2, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
  September 3-5, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

• Campus Bookstore
  O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre, 2nd floor
  September 2 and September 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Patrick Power Library (PPL)
  For hours, visit The Patrick Power Library

• SMUSA Information Desk (Bus Pass)
  O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre (SC), 1st floor (by the elevators)
  September 2-4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• The Homburg Centre for Health & Wellness (HC)
  September 2-3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
  September 4, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

All facilities and resources will resume regular operations beginning on September 5. SMU Dining locations, will resume regular operations beginning on September 6.

---

Welcome Weeks key events

Welcome Weeks activities will run from September 2-15. These events are designed to introduce students to Saint Mary’s, learn about the campus, build connections in their program/faculty, find their supports and resources, and make friends. It’s also an excellent time for faculty and staff to get reacquainted with each other, make a lasting impact on new students, expand their own awareness of supports and resources and have some fun! Below are some of the key events that everyone will want to save the date for.

Husky Festival | September 4, 2-5 p.m.

Come out to the Quad for an afternoon full of fun! There will be games, inflatables, snacks and more. This is a great way to shake off the start of term nerves, make friends and enjoy some time away from screens before classes begin.

Service Expo | September 2-7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Key campus service providers will be set up to meet with students. Students can pick up their SMU ID, learn about the Student Health Plan, talk to advisors and learn about the various services and supports available. Just past the circulation desk of the Patrick Power Library, get all your questions answered. It's all here!

Academic Welcome Sessions | September 5

An opportunity for students, faculty and staff to meet within their respective faculties. This is a great opportunity to connect with peers, find out how to get involved within each program and start the academic term off on the right foot. Students - check your email for details.

• Faculty of Arts | September 5, 10 a.m.-noon

• Faculty of Science | September 5, 10 a.m.-noon

• Bachelor of Commerce | September 5, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Santamarian Ceremony | September 5, 3-4 p.m.

Saint Mary’s annual ceremony officially welcomes new students to SMU, inviting them to share in the core values of the Santamarian: academic integrity, the pursuit of knowledge, responsiveness to community needs, openness to change and concerns for a just and civil society. Hear from the University President and an alumni speaker.

Festival of Food | September 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Leave the lunch bag at home and have some cash ready. The Festival of Food is coming to campus and there will be all kinds of delicious food to taste, including Abhi’s Curry N’ More, Bud the Spud, Jamaica Lee’s, PBJ Eatery, and Drift coffee truck. Please note that a portion of the Inglis St. pay and display parking lot will be closed off to regular parking to accommodate the food trucks.

Husky Kickoff and Home Opener | September 15, 6-7 p.m.

It doesn’t feel like the academic term is in full swing until the Huskies play their first home game of the season. Get out your maroon and burgundy and meet us in the Quad for games, face painting, snacks and all kinds of energy to get everyone pumped up. Then head over to the field in time for the football game kick-off and take in the awesome atmosphere of the Friday night lights with your fellow Huskies. Get your Home Opener tickets here.

---

Find out more!

For information on Welcome Weeks activities, checklists, student resources and more, be sure to visit New to SMU, and don’t forget to register your favourite events and add them to your calendar! If you have questions, reach out to welcome.weeks@smu.ca.

Want to stay in the know all throughout the year? Be sure to follow @SMU_StudentLife and @SMUhalifax on social media.

Archaeology field school illuminates everyday life in ancient Roman villa

Students at Saint Mary’s University are helping to peel back layers of the past at a Roman villa dating back more than 2,000 years in central Italy. A vivid story from ancient history is emerging at the Villa of Titus excavation site in the Apennine mountains, about 70 kilometres northeast of Rome.

“Based on the artifacts recovered this year, it seems mostly likely that the building was residential,” says Dr. Myles McCallum, Associate Dean of Arts and co-director of the archaeological research project that is also home to a field school. “We found toiletry items such as bronze tweezers and spoons for applying makeup, bits of furniture one might find in a Roman house and lots of pottery used for cooking, all of which indicate a domestic use of the building.”

Eleven Saint Mary’s students and two alumni participated in the field school this May and June, along with six students and several researchers from McMaster University. Offered by the Ancient Studies program in our Department of Languages and Cultures, the study abroad opportunity launched in 2018 and also took place in 2019 and 2022. By working on an active research site, students learn the basics of environmental archaeology, excavation and artifacts analysis, and some even contribute to published research reports and articles.   

“These skills all build on each other. You dig things up physically, clean things off and take pictures and drawings of them to try and understand and identify them. You measure them, you fill out paperwork, you log information into a database,” says McCallum.

“You put it all together and it adds to that understanding of what life was like 2,000 years ago in a different part of the world. It engages every part of your brain, the frontal lobe big-picture stuff. So that’s a big deal for students because no matter what you do in life, you’re going to have to be able to pose questions and figure out how to answer them.”

The research follows a theory that the monumental two-storey structure was built in the first century BCE for the emperor Titus, who reined 79-81 CE during the Second Dynasty of the Roman Empire. As more of the intact brick walls emerge from the hillside, “we understand much more about the building’s overall plan, as a villa with a central courtyard on a large terrace,” says McCallum.

Researchers found evidence this year that the complex was occupied for about 120 years. They also discovered signs of a previous building at the site, which had an adjacent well and large garden area.

“So people were there for a few hundred years in the smaller building, then built something much bigger on top of it. We also know that the villa went out of use in the second century CE, but we’re not entirely sure why,” McCallum says.

The main goal of the project is to reconstruct the daily lives of the enslaved workers, the subaltern people who grew crops, made bricks and wine, pressed olives for oil and engaged in cleaning, building, mining, woodworking and metalworking. Much of their economic activity may have taken place in the building’s basement (cryptoporticus), which had a large storage room, a door where carts could load and unload, and possibly also living quarters.

“Next year, we’re going to expand our exploration of this basement area,” says McCallum. The first step will require heavy equipment to remove hundreds of tonnes of stone and earth that had collapsed into the lower level, and then students will have a chance to excavate.

“It’s interesting because we think we know a lot about slaves during the Roman Empire, but nobody wrote about them, at least not from a social-historical perspective. So archaeological evidence is really the only direct evidence we have of what their lives were like. As a focus of research, it’s pretty recent,” says McCallum.  

The villa sits high above the Velino Valley’s Lago di Paterno, a freshwater lake considered to be Italy’s geographical center and a once-sacred site connected to the goddess Vacuna. The University of London is conducting archaeobotanical research there with pollen coring, studying changes to the landscape and its flora and fauna over a 15,000-year period. “So that will be interesting, to tie in the human relationship with the landscape and environmental history too,” says McCallum.

Other notable finds have been oil lamps, bronze coins, glass perfume bottles, mosaic flooring and tiles, and transport amphorae (containers) that carried goods from as far as Spain and North Africa. Also intriguing is evidence of a ritual to seal off a well—including a silver mirror and a baby suckling pig, both sacrificed in hopes of a divine blessing for the house being built over the well.

The Villa of Titus project team also includes co-director Dr. Martin Beckmann of McMaster University and researchers from universities in Italy, the U.K. and the U.S. With support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Saint Mary’s is building on its existing strengths in archaeology research and education, deepening its cultural exchanges and academic connections with Italy’s museums, archaeologists and academic community.

“Experiential learning and study abroad opportunities are an important element of what we do in our program and in the Faculty of Arts,” says McCallum. “We’re working on developing more of these opportunities, and our students are embracing the chance to do this.”

Three other field schools took place in Italy this summer, including Sacred Space: Rome, from Ancient to Modern, offered by the Department for the Study of Religion, plus two in the Pisticci region, under a new dual stream Colonialism and Migration: Ancient and Modern field school:

• the SJCS Migrant Justice Field School, offered by the Department of Social Justice & Community Studies; and

• the Metaponto Archaeological Field School, led by Dr. Sveva Savelli and the Ancient Studies program for the second year in a row

---

Further reading

• Learn more about the Villa of Titus Archaeological Field School

• Ancient Studies at SMU

• Unearthing the story of Italy's Indigenous communities
  

Five tips for faculty and staff to support wellness

As we prepare for the fall 2023 academic term, we are mindful that changes in routines, increased noise and traffic throughout campus and a busier season can often mean challenging impacts to health and wellness.

To support faculty and staff through this transition, The Counselling Centre has developed five tips for looking after yourself this fall.  

1. Sleep 

A consistent sleep schedule will help you regulate your energy and emotions throughout the day. Keep up with your bedtime routines as much as possible, avoid caffeine and screens before bed and try to relax for a while before you turn out the lights. 

2. Healthy boundaries 

In the first few weeks of the term, you may be balancing many competing priorities (including those unplanned tasks that seem to pop up at the worst moments!). It’s important to be realistic with yourself about what you can accomplish, what you might need help with and what you simply can’t do. Set boundaries where you can and be compassionate with yourself and others. 

 3. Self-care 

We all have different activities we do regularly that help us feel good, whether that’s getting out for a walk, journalling, painting, reading, going to the gym, meditating and more! During stressful times, it’s easy to let those activities slide and a couple of missed days can quickly turn into a couple weeks or more. Try to prioritize self-care activities where possible to help mitigate burnout and reduce stress. 

 4. Take care of your basic needs

Eat foods that make you feel good and provide you with energy. Move your body regularly to help regulate your mood. And remember to stay hydrated! If you need help figuring out nutrition that works for your needs, remember that BlueCross coverage includes dietician services. 

 5. Stress management strategies 

This is the time of year to practice those stress management strategies we hear about: break big tasks into small, manageable tasks; try to slow down situations if they become too intense; talk about what’s bothering you even if it won’t solve it. Remember, stress impacts all aspects of your well-being, including your emotions, your physical health and your behaviour. If you’re experiencing a particularly challenging moment, consider a grounding exercise like the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method or try a breathwork practice like box breathing. These strategies will help to slow your breathing, calm your mind and improve your focus.  

Want to take a deeper dive into supporting health and wellness? The Counselling Centre’s Mental Health Series will be returning in September. This four-part workshop series explores topics including how to identify and support a student in distress, coping strategies for anxiety and depression, how to talk about suicide with students, and international student mental health. Contact Counselling@smu.ca to be notified when the fall dates are finalized. 

For health and wellness tips, information, upcoming events and more, be sure to check out The Counselling Centre and sign up for the bi-weekly Healthy Minds Newsletter! Contact Counselling@smu.ca to be added to the email list. 

SMU hosts Provincial Sexual Violence and Harassment Investigation Training

The group of newly-trained Sexual Violence, Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying Investigator's include representatives from each of Nova's Scotia's ten universities and the Nova Scotia Community College.

As part of the work of the Nova Scotia Provincial Sexual Violence Prevention Committee (NSPSVPC) and the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (CONSUP), Saint Mary’s was proud to host the Internal Investigator’s Sexual Violence and Harassment training last month.  

The training is part of a multi-pronged approach to improving sexual violence and harassment prevention, response, and policy at Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions, as outlined in key documents that emerged through the work of the Nova Scotia Sexual Violence Strategy.

Representatives from each of the ten universities and Nova Scotia Community College attended the training, including Saint Mary’s Sexual Violence Advisor, the Director, Student Accessibility, Wellness and Success, the Human Resources Officer (OHS & Wellness) and the University Secretary and General Counsel, to learn how to facilitate fair and thorough investigations using reliable and respectful techniques in cases of sexual violence, harassment, discrimination and bullying. 

“Both the Changing the Culture of Acceptance: Recommendations to Address Sexual Violence of University Campuses report and the Development of Survivor-Centric Sexual Violence Policies and Responses report have shaped much of the work to prevent and respond to sexual violence on Nova Scotian campuses,” says Tom Brophy, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services. “The associated efforts to implement the recommendations and guidelines addressed within the reports have provided a strong foundation for improving institutional responses to sexual and gender-based violence within Nova Scotia.” 

Facilitated by Hill Advisory Services, the five-day intensive training included theory-based education and experiential learning related to conducting investigations, taking statements, preparing interviews and writing final reports. 

Lynn Cashen Basso, Director of Student Accessibility, Wellness, and Success (left) and Dee Dooley, Sexual Violence Advisor representing the Nova Scotia Provincial Sexual Violence Prevention Committee at the Investigator's Training, hosted at Saint Mary's University in July 2023.

SMU’s Sexual Violence Advisor, Dee Dooley, coordinated the training on behalf of the NSPSVPC. “It was wonderful to see this training come together,” says Dooley. “The training is based on the vision of a dedicated group of survivors, front-line staff, senior administrators, faculty and students who have been advocating for improved sexual and gender-based violence response on Nova Scotian campuses. A key component of this vision is ensuring institutions incorporate a transparent policy response and investigation process into post-secondary strategies,” elaborates Dooley. “This training is a crucial step in moving that forward.” 

The newly-trained investigators will participate in a Community of Practice group, coordinated by Dooley, where they will engage in continued training, networking and knowledge-sharing to support consistency in responses, which are rooted in best practices. 

For more information on related resources and initiatives at Saint Mary’s, visit the SMU Sexual Violence Support Centre. 

Assistive technologies available to the SMU community

July is Disability Pride Month, and, although it is not yet recognized by the Government of Canada, Saint Mary’s is pleased to take the opportunity to recognize and celebrate those within the SMU community who experience disability.  

In recognizing the societal and institutional barriers that many face, the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility (FSC) has created a round-up of assistive technologies available campus-wide or directly through the FSC. These technologies can help reduce many barriers faced by those who experience cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities impacting certain mobility, and more. 

Notetaking is a vital part of academic and professional success. It allows people to retain and review information from lectures, discussions, meetings and more. The FSC has procured a number of assistive technologies to support those, particularly students, who may experience barriers in notetaking. 

Glean 

Glean is a web-based app designed to help students achieve their academic and personal goals through supported notetaking. The technology allows users to record lecture audio, import slides, add brief notes and highlight key points with simple clicks. It also creates a visual and interactive outline of notes to support reviewing content. 

Glean is designed to be simple, accessible and cognitive-friendly. It has a distraction-free interface that focuses on the content rather than the tool. It also has a transcription feature that converts audio recordings to text. Glean is currently available as a pilot program to students who have an academic accommodation to do with Notetaking Support. 

 Google Read and Write 

The FSC has also purchased a campus-wide license of Google Read and Write (R&W), which is a Chrome extension that provides assistive technology tools to support reading, writing and studying.  

 Some of the R&W features include: 

• Text-to-speech to hear words, passages or whole documents read aloud with dual color highlighting. 

• Speech-to-text to dictate words and create documents with the user’s voice. 

• Word prediction to suggest the current or next word as the user types. 

• Text and picture dictionaries to see the meaning of words explained with text or images. 

• Highlighters to collect and organize information from web pages or documents. 

• MP3 maker to convert text into audio files for listening on the go. 

• Spelling and grammar check to correct errors and improve writing quality. 

• Simplify and summarize to reduce the complexity and length of web pages or documents. 

Google Read and Write is available for Windows, Mac and Chrome OS devices. It can be used with Google Docs, PDFs, ePubs and other common file types in Google Drive. It is also compatible with screen readers. This extension is available for the entire Saint Mary’s community. Visit The Studio for Teaching and Learning to learn more about and access the extension download.  

Dragon 

Dragon is a speech recognition software that allows users to control their computer, create documents, send emails and search the web by using their voice. It is a form of assistive technology that can benefit people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or repetitive stress injuries that make typing difficult or impossible. 

Some of the features of Dragon include: 

• Fast and accurate transcription of up to 160 words per minute 

• Customization and personalization of vocabulary, commands, and preferences 

• Compatibility with popular applications, such as Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, and screen readers 

 The Dragon software is available on most of the computers in the FSC’s test and exam area and is available as an academic accommodation for students.  

 Kurzweil 3000 

Kurzweil is a company that provides assistive technology products and resources for students with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia or visual impairment. They also have supports for English language learners. The FSC has the Kurzweil 3000 software installed on all the exam and test computers, which offers features such as text-to-speech, word prediction and spell check. Kurzweil 3000 is currently available to students as an academic accommodation.   

Saint Mary’s is pleased to offer a number of resources and supports to students, faculty and staff to support various disabilities and reduce barriers, as well as resources for faculty and staff on how to implement accessibility best practices into their work.

For student-related accommodations and supports, visit the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility or, for those students already registered with the FSC, contact your Accessibility Advisor. For staff and faculty resources related to improving accessibility at Saint Mary’s, visit The Studio for Teaching and Learning. 

Touchdown Atlantic: what to expect on campus

Touchdown Atlantic will bring the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders to Huskies Stadium on Saturday, July 29! This exciting event is expected to draw more than 10,000 people to campus to enjoy the game and pre-game festivities, and viewers across the nation will tune in for the televised game.

The Saint Mary’s organizing team has been working diligently with the CFL and other partners to ensure a safe, enjoyable and smooth-run event.

Here’s what to expect on campus on July 28 and 29:

Friday, July 28

• Media load-in/out: Two TSN semi-trucks will park in the Homburg Lot at approximately 10 a.m. on Friday, July 28. They will travel via Gorsebrook Avenue into the Rice Lot and through to the Homburg Lot. The vehicles will leave by the same route on Sunday, July 30.

• A Youth Football Clinic will run from noon–2 p.m. at Huskies Stadium.

Saturday, July 29

• Pre-game entertainment and food trucks from 1:30–4:30 p.m.

• A flyover from a Canadian Armed Forces plane is planned for approximately 5:02–5:06 p.m. 

• The game will run from 5–8:30 p.m. Any delays (e.g. due to weather) could extend this running time.  

Touchdown Atlantic event map. Click image to open online.

Security presence

• There will be security overseeing access to campus for the event, with security and police personnel at various entry points. Please refer to the event map to see which parts of campus will be closed off for the event (Gates 1-4).

• If you need to come to campus on Saturday, July 29, please complete this form so the organizing team can assist if needed.  

Access to stadium grounds

• Accreditation will be required on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 to access the fenced-in stadium grounds.

• Access to the stadium grounds for all, including volunteers, accredited pass holders and ticket holders, will be restricted to the four designated gates as indicated on the event map.

• Anyone entering the stadium grounds is subject to security screening before entering the designated gates (e.g. metal detector wand and bag check).

• If you are not a ticket holder and require access to the fenced area, you will need a Touchdown Atlantic credential. Please reach out to your department lead to inquire or email greg.knight@smu.ca.  

SMUfit facilities

• SMUfit facilities will be closed to the public from Friday, July 28 until Sunday, July 30. Re-opening on Monday, July 31 at 6 a.m.

Parking  

• Campus parking lots will be closed on Friday, July 28 at 9 p.m. and re-open Sunday, July 30 at 9 a.m.

• Permit holders for the underground parking lot are to be advised that access to this lot will be very challenging between noon and 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, due to pedestrian traffic.

• Rice Residence parking lot will be open for residence permit holders and conference overnight accommodations guests only. 

• Vehicles parked on campus without a CFL event pass may be towed.  

 Public/guest Wi-Fi

• SMU-Guest Wi-Fi will be deactivated on Saturday, July 29 and will be re-enabled on Sunday, July 30.

 Increased activity and noise

• Traffic in and around campus will be very heavy, and there will be increased noise and activity.

Increased light levels

• Due to broadcast/set-up requirements, lighting levels on the football field will be brighter (Level 2 – varsity game lights) and on until 12:05 a.m. on July 29 and 30.  

If you have any questions about the event and the above details, please contact Greg Knight (greg.knight@smu.ca) or Janelle McNulty (janelle.mcnulty@smu.ca) for assistance.
 
For more details about Touchdown Atlantic (e.g. additional game-day transit service information), please visit www.cfl.ca/tda23.

Volunteer opportunities are still available for game day, if interested, please register here.

Sobey School recognized again for positive impact on Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Region

The Sobey School of Business, the largest business school in Atlantic Canada and one of the top business schools in Canada, has received the Business School Impact System (BSIS) designation for a second time in recognition of its intellectual and social impact on Nova Scotia and beyond. 

 “We were advised today that we have again received the BSIS designation confirming that the Sobey School’s impact reaches far beyond its economic contribution and also influences the business and cultural life of the Atlantic Region,” says Saint Mary’s University President, Dr. Rob Summerby-Murray.

“Saint Mary’s University is known for our research that addresses real-world problems and for our strong partnerships with local businesses and communities. The BSIS designation demonstrates the role of the Sobey School in fulfilling these key strategic priorities for the University.” 

In 2016, the Sobey School was the first business school in North America to be awarded the BSIS label for its economic impact, and now is the only one to receive a second affirmation, this time for its intellectual and societal impact.  An international review team using a methodology developed by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), the leading international network in the field of management education, re-examined the business school over a three-year period (2020-2022).  

Sobey School professor Ather Akbari with students on the Halifax waterfront

“This BSIS reassessment has seen SSB confirm its position as a strong and highly visible business school, firmly embedded in the business and cultural life of the region. The impact demonstrated on the impact zone since the first BSIS  assessment in 2016 is compelling in terms of scope and ambition. The commitment of the leadership team, faculty and staff has ensured that the school continues to make significant impact gains across the intellectual and societal impact dimensions.”  BSIS Final Report, July 2023 

The BSIS external review is a comprehensive and multi-dimensional assessment process that evaluated a business school's impact on its region. Reviewers examined the Sobey School faculty’s scholarly publications and a pre-visit report and then conducted a campus visit in March 2023. In their Impact Report, reviewers noted key accomplishments related to intellectual impact.

• An impressive 94% of faculty are active researchers; 70 Sobey School faculty members have produced 223 journal papers in 173 different journals. 

• Research topics are based on regional problems with a national or global relevance.  

• Conferences profile the intellectual impact of the School with significant number of conference papers and presentations and two large academic conferences hosted on campus.  

• Local managers are enthusiastic about the professional development benefits they gain from collaboration with the Sobey School. 

• The School has demonstrable strength in developing and sustaining research partnerships with regional companies and organisations (32 over the past 3 years).  

The BSIS review team also noted that the School has a growing reputation for its societal impact through research and teaching as well as its own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives. Evidence of the School’s commitment to CSR includes: 

• 92% of business students receive instruction in CSR and sustainable development and have the opportunity to work with businesses. 

• The Sobey School is one of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) signatories since 2014 and PRME champions since 2020. 

• CSR and sustainability are attractive to actual and potential students.  

• There is wide evidence of activity mapping against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (teaching, research and engagement activities).  

• Societal research is growing in impact and visibility with 48 professors focused on societal research through four research groups.  

• Service learning is a clear differentiator for the school and its students. 

• Saint Mary’s University reduced carbon emissions by an impressive 40% in 2022 and is installing one of North America’s tallest solar arrays on its path to green energy production. 

“It is gratifying to receive external validation that our commitment to social responsibility and sustainability is a distinguishing hallmark for the Sobey School. We know that this differentiator attracts students, and helps faculty and students stay connected, says Acting Dean, Mark Raymond. “Service learning is now embedded in our renewed BComm Program – it’s another example of the School’s impact on business and society.” 

In 2016, a BSIS review found that the Sobey School had a financial and economic impact of $329 million on the Province of Nova Scotia. 

---

 About BSIS 

The Business School Impact System (BSIS) scheme is designed to determine the extent of a school’s impact on its local environment – the city or region in which it is located. The BSIS process is offered in collaboration between EFMD Global and FNEGE (Fondation Nationale pour l’Enseignement en Gestion des Entreprises), as a service to EFMD members in any part of the world. The impact of the business school is analysed based on the following seven areas of impact: financial, educational, business development impact as well as intellectual, societal, image, and impact within the impact zone selected by the school and its regional ecosystem. 

There are currently 63 schools across 19 countries that have received the BSIS label. 

Crunching the numbers: student-led project uses open data to improve the lives of Nova Scotians

Sobey School of Business Professor Dr. Matthew Boland and Master of Business Analytics students Tasneem Quazi and Rahul Kashyap.

Earlier this year, professor Matthew Boland and a team of graduate research assistants at Saint Mary’s University embarked on a new data analytics project. 

Armed with open data from the Nova Scotia government, the team had a simple but shared goal—to use that data to better the lives of Nova Scotians.

“It's really important to try to make some local impact” - Matthew Boland.

Boland is an accounting professor at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University. He created the project for his students in the Master of Business Analytics program to show the local importance of data analytics. 

“It's really important to try to make some local impact,” says Boland. “That's what this project was about for me and our students.” 

The inspiration for the project struck last year when Boland stumbled across the Nova Scotia Open Data Portal. This website was launched in 2016 to make government data more accessible to the public. It includes information on everything from crime statistics to Crown land in the province.

The website presented an opportunity for Boland, who specializes in advanced data analytics. Although the Open Data Portal is available for free to everyone, he knew most people wouldn’t have the time or resources needed to make sense of the data. 

He decided to bring the website to his students.

“I asked them to start looking through the data…and think about a research question that this data could answer that would be of interest to Nova Scotians,” says Boland, who is from Berwick in the Annapolis Valley. 

Boland invited the students to use that data to study topics of their choosing, so long as they related to the province. He also asked students to combine their data with other available data sets to find new insights into these topics. 

The resulting studies covered a range of issues. One used data on fishing and aquaculture to predict the migratory patterns of invasive fish species in the province. Another looked at the relationship between air pollution and rates of asthma in Nova Scotia counties. 

Boland says he hopes these studies will help lawmakers and regulators find new ways to safeguard health and well-being in the province—from protecting native fish to keeping the air clean.

The students plan to make their findings and methodologies available for free to the public. Those interested will be able to use the code the students created to analyze the data, allowing them to replicate the study. 

Boland’s project is happening amidst a larger push toward better data analytics solutions in the province. In March, the Nova Scotia government announced it would spend $25 million to expand healthcare data analytics and management programs at Saint Mary's.

Moving forward, Boland’s project will be formalized as a class offered to graduate students. He hopes it will inspire others to pursue their own research, using data analytics to better the world around them.

“If some of this someday could help inform regulation or just be one small piece to a larger puzzle that helps…I think that would be pretty awesome,” says Boland.