Thinking Out Loud

Kimberley Manning studies social movements, policy reform and gender politics, drawing on research in rural Chinese villages and county archives. Among her findings is the critical role of family networks of support – of what she calls filial ties – to political life. But there is more to the story of family ties…..In this episode, she tells us about the complexity and importance of filial ties and the unexpected connection she found between transgender politics and Chinese political history.

We can't save everything - biologist Dylan Fraser tells us why and how eco-evo-gen (an combination of ecology, evolution and genetics) helps us rationalize where to focus conservation, for more effective conservation and management of natural populations and species. Is this a new Noah's Ark?

Physics can save lives - Francine Pelletier talks to researcher Claudine Gauthier about her work on vascular systems, and how the data she gathers can help us live healthier lives now and in our older age.

Climate researcher Damon Matthews tracks the rise in greenhouse gases, measuring the impact of global warming and trying to get people to listen to hard science. The time for debate has passed, now we have to figure out how we can avoid the nightmare scenarios presented in Hollywood movies by changing our habits. Matthews believes our future, in 2067 and beyond, depends on taking action ... now.

Universities play a key role in the economy and life of many cities - Edward Greenspon (CEO & President, Public Policy Forum) and Alan Shepard (President, Concordia University) talk about the changing landscape of learning and the role of universities in the city.

What is a walkable city? Why is this important for cities? Jeff Speck, city planner and urban designer, talks with Silvano De la Llata (Professor, Geography and Urban Planning, Concordia University) about thte walkable city and much more.

Data about transportation habits is key to planning our cities - Zachary Patterson (Canada Research Chair in Transportation-Land Use Linkages for Regional Sustainability) talks with Edward Greenspon (Public Policy Forum) about the mobile app he created that gathers information on how we travel.

Cybercrime can have dramatic implications for our cities and core infrastructure. Edward Greenspon (Public Policy Forum) talks with Mourad Debbabi (Information Systems Engineering, Concordia University) about cybersecurity, cyberforensics and what it means for cities.

Some of the work impacting our cities goes beyond the usual topics about urban life -– Edward Greenspon (Public Policy Forum) talks to Fenwick McKelvey about the Internet of things – the machines, bots, artificial intelligence, algorithms and what McKelvey calls demons - all shaping our daily life.)

What makes a city liveable? Carmela Cucuzzella (Research Chair in Integreated Design, Ecology and Sustainability for the Build Environment) talks with Edward Greenspon (Public Policy Forum) about the role of design and Collaboratoire – a design competition that engages the community, and the impact of design on a city's livability.

District 3 is one of the largest innovation hubs in Montreal – Xavier-Henri Hervé (Executive Director, D3) talks with Edward Greenspon (Public Policy Forum) about the role of incubators, accelerated business development and getting stuff done.

Polar Life, Kaleidoscope, Labyrinth - among the extraordinary multi-screen film projections at Expo 67, each groundbreaking and the subject of research - including work on finding the actual films. Monika Kin Gagnon and Janine Marchessault have been researching and in some cases recreating Expo 67's film legacy through their research group CINEMAexpo67.

In 1967 a group of women were selected to represent their countries at Expo 67 - the Expo 67 hostess had women front and centre as cultural ambassador/greeter. In this episode Monika Kin Gagnon speaks to Kaya Deckelbaum and Sara Riesman (former hostesses), and Aurora Wallace Professor of Media, Culture and Communication (NYU) about the hostesses, gender and Expo 67.

The Expo 67 minirail was more than just elevated transportation - it gave visitors novel views of the site and pavillion architecture not possible from the ground. David K. Ross speaks to Monika Kin Gagnon about his new film, As Sovereign as Love, that uses a drone camera to retrace the minirail routes. Come fly with us.

The Indians of Canada Pavillion at Expo 67 was important, with Indigenous peoples determining how they would be represented. Monika Gagnon speaks with Heather Igloliorte and John Moses about Indigenous art and expression and the role of Expo 67.

Childhood memories of Expo 67 — spending days on the islands, passport in hand, getting as many passport stamps as possible. François Morelli and Christine Mota share their memories of being young at expo67.

Cheryl Sim is one of the artists contributing to In Search of Expo 67. Sim talks with Monika Gagnon about her new work exploring women's identity through the theme of the famed Expo hostesses, and her family connection to Expo 67.

Design was a key element of expo67 - and it was everywhere. Join Monika Gagnon and guest Martin Racine for a conversation about design and the ambiguous modernism of Julien Hebert, the designer of the expo67 logo. Martin Racine is professor in Concordia's Department of Design and Computational Arts.

In this episode, join Monika Gagnon and Lesley Johnstone, the co-curators of In Search of Expo 67, an upcoming exhibition at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MAC). They'll provide the audience with an inside track on curating this exhibition. Opening June 21, In Search of Expo 67 will offer visitors new perspectives on some of the most innovative and experimental aspects of the Montreal World’s Fair. The exhibition is made possible in part by funding from Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts and its Office of the Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies.

Marking Expo 67's 50th anniversary, interviews with contemporary artists reimagining Montreal's iconic world's fair ... hosted by Monika Gagnon.