A global situation will affect the cost and availability of computer equipment over the next few years.
Key computer components are becoming harder to source and more expensive. This is mainly because large cloud and AI providers are purchasing equipment in increasing volumes, leaving less availability for others.
Industry leaders are warning that:
January 17, 2026 | Vincent Rigby was featured on the Canadian Global Affairs Institute's The Global Exchange podcast to discuss NATO and Canada's global security challenges. Rigby emphasized that strengthening Canada's capabilities, including NORAD modernization and Arctic operations, opens opportunities for collaboration with the United States. He noted the urgency of a former national security strategy, arguing that it has been 22 years since Canada last had one and that current global uncertainties make it more pressing than ever.
January 26, 2026 | Vincent Rigby joined CBC News to discuss the implications of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra's recent remarks on Canada's fighter jet procurement and the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD). Rigby described the remarks as "another off-the-cuff," noting that while they cannot be ignored, they should not be taken as a definitive statement on Canada-U.S. defence policy. NORAD remains a shared defence partnership, but political and operational decisions, such as whether to pursue Swedish Gripen or F-35s, can affect Canada's sovereignty.
January 27, 2026 | Vincent Rigby spoke on CBC News to analyze Canada's Arctic sovereignty amid growing concerns of U.S. intentions in the region. Rigby weighed in on the implications of the ICE (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort) Pact, noting its potential to affect control over the Northwest Passage and surrounding Arctic territories. He called for a two-track approach: continue cooperation where possible, while urgently strengthening its own Arctic military and surveillance capabilities.
The French government announced on Jan. 27 the rollout of its new videoconferencing platform, Visio. The domestically developed platform was created to replace U.S. tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams across all state services by 2027 as part of the French government’s broader push for digital sovereignty. Officials say the shift will also cut software licensing costs and strengthen security and confidentiality.
McGill experts are available to comment on this topic:
January 26, 2026 | MPP student Woyesa Worana wrote for the Policy Magazine on Ethiopia's rapidly shrinking civic space as the country approaches its June elections. He argued that the rollback of press freedom and civil society protections marks a sharp reversal from the optimism of the 2018 reforms. He further added that citizens are increasingly being excluded from decisions actively shaping their lives.
Premier événement francophone du Département de géographie à McGill!
Venez découvrir des recherches fascinantes présentées en français par nos profs, diplômé.e.s et étudiant.e.s. On aura même des petites sucreries pour terminer avec une belle réception!
Ouvert à toutes et à tous!
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First francophone event of the McGill Geography Department!
Join us to learn about fascinating research presented in French by our Profs, alumni and students. We will even have some sweet treats to finish up the event with a nice reception!
Congratulations to Dr. Bridget Andersen, who has received the Dr. Allie Vibert Douglas Astrophysics PhD Thesis Prize!
January 14, 2026 | Ruth Morgan, the 2024-25 TISPP visiting fellow, argues that trust between science and society depends on sustained, open dialogue. She highlights that knowledge is disruptive and uncertain, and that progress starts with asking better questions especially in an era of misinformation.
January 14, 2026 | Rees Kassen, Academic Director for McGill's new Sustainability Park and the director of TISPP. His article traces today’s tension around the post‑WWII “social contract” for publicly funded basic research (shaped by Vannevar Bush’s Science: The Endless Frontier). He argues the contract is straining as governments demand faster, more visible returns, even though long-run payoffs (like mRNA vaccines) show why basic research matters.
January 14, 2026 | Barbara Koremenos, the 23-24 McConnell Visiting Scholar at McGill's Max Bell School of Public Policy, argues that international scientific collaboration can build trust and help solve global problems, even amid geopolitical rivalry. She focuses on stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) research that represents a new frontier akin to the Antarctic Treaty in its ability to foster international scientific collaboration.
Karl Moore, Associate Professor (Prof.) of Strategy & Organization at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, argues that mental fitness is rapidly becoming a core leadership advantage. In his recent article, he highlights that leaders who are wellrested, physically prepared, and mentally regulated make clearer decisions and perform more effectively under pressure.
As US President Donald Trump threatened to take control of Greenland by any means necessary, European countries weighed a response. After decades of low levels of investment in their militaries, Europeans wouldn’t fare well in a head-to-head confrontation with an invading force from the United States. But collectively, Europe’s economy is huge, and they hold large numbers of US Treasury Bonds—the financial instrument through which the US government issues debt.
Generative AI is changing the way people work, but many organizations are still looking for ways to use it effectively. Organizations need to think about how they want to use AI, and what their level of risk appetite.
According to Study International, McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management is preparing graduates to thrive in a business landscape defined by data, speed, and global fluency.
