An orange tinted snowy owl in Michigan has baffled scientists with its orange colouring, CBC News reports. Experts say it could be a genetic mutation, an accident, or human mischief.

Ornithologist and Professor Emeritus at McGill, David Bird, expressed some doubts about the strange colouration being caused by genetics.

Published: 26 March 2025

Please join us in congratulating the 2025 winners of the Macdonald Campus Gold Key Awards, selected for their outstanding contributions, passion, and commitment to enriching student life on our campus. Read their stories below.

Published: 26 March 2025

As calls to bolster Canada’s economy intensify, the debate over pension fund strategies has gained national attention. In a Financial Post article, Professor Betermier highlights concerns over political interference in pension management and the potential long-term impact on investment strategies. He underscores the importance of maintaining pension funds’ independence to ensure strong, sustainable returns for retirees.

Published: 26 March 2025

With increasing market volatility, Professor Sebastien Betermier shares his advice on how Quebec investors can weather economic uncertainty. In an interview with the Motnreal Gazette, he emphasizes the importance of staying disciplined, avoiding panic and hasty decisions, and consulting a financial planner before making changes. Betermier highlights the risk of overreacting to short-term fluctuations in the market and advises to focus on long-term investment goals.

Published: 26 March 2025

Congratulations to Prof. Jeffrey Bergthorson on being granted a Tier 1 CRC in Carbon-Free Circular Fuels!

Read more: Eleven new or renewed Canada Research Chairs awarded to McGill

Published: 26 March 2025

Scientists argue the criteria we use for diagnosing autism may need revision

Without clear and effective biological tests for autism based on genes, brain or blood measurements, diagnosis today still largely depends on clinical assessment. The standard way of doing this is by observing how the individual fits the criteria for autism listed in gold standard manuals like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

Published: 26 March 2025

Howard Riggs was a dedicated, hard-working professor of math education. His work ethic was a product of his Prairie upbringing and his deep commitment to his students. He was hired by McGill to teach social studies, but was pressed into service as a math educator in the Department of Elementary Education, one of the units that eventually morphed into DISE.

Published: 26 March 2025

An analysis of digital health records using large language models (LLMs) is challenging a long-held belief about the clinical identifiers of autism.

A new study led by researchers at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of McGill University and Mila Quebec AI Institute found that social communication factors may not be as important in identifying the condition as previously believed.

Published: 26 March 2025

McGill University is hosting its annual Bravo Gala on Thursday, March 27, celebrating research excellence and recognizing faculty members and researchers who have received awards, memberships, and prizes over the past year.

McGill Desautels is proud to celebrate three distinguished faculty members among this year’s honourees:

Published: 25 March 2025

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop fighting in the Black Sea. The agreement would also cease strikes on energy infrastructures in both countries. It would be the first significant step toward a ceasefire, but it remains unclear how and when this limited truce would be implemented.

These McGill experts are available to comment on this topic:

Published: 25 March 2025

Free, online training program strengthens training and brings specialized care to communities across Quebec

A healthcare telementoring program housed at The Neuro and supported by the Transforming Autism Care Consortium (TACC) is expanding its reach after achieving designation as an ECHO Superhub. Under the direction of Julie Scorah, PhD, this milestone ensures that specialized knowledge reaches underserved communities.

Published: 25 March 2025

· There are no established protocols for nanoplastic detection within complex environmental matrices.

· Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of environmental nanoplastics is impeded by methodological constraints.

· Ariya's lab, namely Zi Wang, present a versatile platform evolved from matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS for airborne nano/microplastic research.

· The 3D-printed hollow-laser desorption/ionization (HoLDI) target enables efficient, high-throughput analysis of aerosols collected on simple substrates without pre/post-treatments.

Published: 25 March 2025

March 24, 2025 | With trust in journalism eroding, disinformation once fringe is now mainstream. Much of it is spreading on social media. Professor Taylor Owen says the online media environment in Canada is more fragile and vulnerable to manipulation than ever before. A dangerous situation at the best of times even more so during an election.

Published: 25 March 2025

La version française suit.

This message is sent on behalf of Cristiane Tinmouth, Associate Vice-President, Financial Services and Lara Pereira, Controller, Financial Services

Dear Colleagues,

Please see attached for the year-end memo to help orient your preparations for the close of Fiscal 2025. The memo is also available on the Financial Services website at the following link:

https://mcgill.ca/financialservices/gfm/schedules/yearend

Published: 25 March 2025

Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy in the U.S., raising concerns about the fate of genetic data of millions of customers who used its at-home DNA testing kits to learn about their ancestry and health risks.

Yann Joly, Director of the Centre of Genomics and Policy and Associate Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at McGill University is available to comment on this topic.

yann.joly [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)

Published: 25 March 2025

March 21, 2025 | Aengus Bridgman, director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory (MEO), explains what worries him about the information voters are getting online this election and how to make sure one doesn't get duped on a podcast The House with Catherine Cullen. Since the last election social media landscape has changed a lot since the online news act came into affect.

Published: 25 March 2025

March 21, 2025 | Professor Pearl Eliadis on banning of religious symbol in schools explains that the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause indicates it is aware the bill would not survive a Charter challenge. “This is a government trying to out-PQ the PQ,” Eliadis said, referring to the rival Parti Québécois and its focus on identity politics.

Published: 25 March 2025

March 20, 2025 | Professor Vincent Rigby spoke on the end of arctic exceptionalism on a podcast episode of Center for Strategic & International Studies. Climate change and the reduction in sea ice is opening new shipping routes, and making it easier to tap the arctic’s natural resource wealth, especially critical minerals.

Published: 25 March 2025

Congratulations to Professor Gwyn Campbell on recently being named as a Distinguished James McGill Professor. 

This award recognizes a late-career scholar's sustained scholarship of world-class caliber and international leadership.

We are delighted at this much-deserved recognition for all Prof. Campbell's achievements over many years!

Published: 24 March 2025

 

McGill University, DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

PhD Oral Defence of Mr. Gavin Barill

 

DATE: Monday, April 15, 2025

TIME / PLACE: Pre-Defence - 1:15 p.m. (Burnside Hall, Room 1234) ; Defence - 1:30 p.m. (Burnside Hall, Room 1025)

TITLE: Establishing Limit Theorems using Finite Difference Schemes

CHAIR: Prof. Niky Kamran

SUPERVISOR: Prof. Jessica Lin

INTERNAL MEMBER: Prof. Louigi Addario-Berry

Published: 24 March 2025