U of G News

ONLINE: SHINE Week - Psych Society x SIMHE Mental Health Conference
2021-03-20 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The Guelph Psychology Society (PS) and the Student Initiative for Mental Health Education (SIMHE) are University of Guelph organizations that have worked collaboratively to create an interactive and informative online conference. This full day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) event will focus on how our mental health has been impacted during this pandemic. These talks will validate the prevalence of struggles with anxiety, addiction, disordered eating and ADHD and will provide strategies to improve both your own behaviour and your friends’. Attendance is free and open to anyone!
Reserve your space by booking a ticket online.
See more SHINE Mental Well-Being Week events on GryphLife.

ONLINE: Arboretum Workshop - Spring Watercolour Landscapes at the Arboretum - Beginner
2021-03-22 19:00 - 21:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Join watercolour artist Candice Leyland and capture spring at the Arboretum in watercolour. You will learn several simple techniques in watercolour and put them together to create a lovely spring landscape.
This class is great for beginners! Reference photos will be provided.
Fee: $30 (plus HST) per person.

ONLINE: Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience (Spring) - Career Pathways in the Equine Industry
2021-03-23 09:00 - 10:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The University of Guelph is proud to partner with the Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience Spring Session, presenting four online discussions on agri-food.
The Career Pathways in the Equine Industry webinar will kick off the action at the Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience (RAVE) March 23 at 9 a.m. ET. Participants will learn about the newly launched EquineJobTrack.ca website connecting job seekers and employers in the equine industry.
Learn more online.

ONLINE: Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience (Spring) - Manomin Teachings
2021-03-23 13:00 - 13:45 | ImprovLab, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
The University of Guelph is proud to partner with the Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience Spring Session, presenting four online discussions on agri-food.
The Manomin Research Project aims to intensify Manomin (Zizania palustris) growth in environments altered by colonial settlement in ways that are responsive to Anishinaabe knowledge. There is a focus on crop restoration, cultural revitalization and treaty living. The transdisciplinary team is made up of individuals who believe in collaboration and knowledge sharing across disciplines and across cultures.

ONLINE: Garden Fundamentals with Robert Pavlis
2021-03-23 19:00 - 20:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The Arboretum’s Garden Fundamentals workshop will focus on ornamental gardens including trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and grasses. You will gain a good understanding of how these plants grow and their relationship with the soil. We’ll cover lots of practical topics such as planting, maintenance, plant selection, sun/shade requirements, and some top picks. This course is suitable for the beginner and intermediate gardener.
Week 1: Understanding soil
Week 2: Selecting the right soil for gardens, raised beds and containers
Week 3: Perennials
Week 4: Trees and shrubs
Week 5: Spring and summer bulbs
Week 6: Ornamental grasses and garden myths
Week 7: Weeds, pests and diseases
Robert Pavlis is a Master Gardener and garden writer who publishes two popular gardening blogs and has published several gardening books. He owns and operates a private botanical garden where he grows over 3,000 different varieties of plants.
Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person per session, or register for all seven sessions and get one free (i.e., $60 for all 7 instead of $70. You must sign up for all of them at once in a single transaction, not at different times to qualify for the discount.) Register early to ensure your spot!

ONLINE: Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience (Spring) - Preserving and Researching Ontario’s Agricultural History with Diaries
2021-03-24 10:00 - 10:30 | ImprovLab, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
The University of Guelph is proud to partner with the Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience Spring Session, presenting four online discussions on agri-food.
Join Catharine Wilson as she takes you on a virtual tour of the Rural Diary Archive. Here you can read, search and transcribe the writings of nearly 200 Ontario diarists spanning the years 1800-1960. As Founder and Director of the Archive, Cathy will talk about the collection and introduce you to some of the diarists.
The power of these old documents is their immediacy, their ability to transport you back into the daily lives of farm families and see how they really lived. Perhaps you, your local historical society or history class will be inspired to transcribe. Anyone can make a valuable contribution to research now and enjoy some time-travel at the same time.

ONLINE: Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals - A Conversation with Drs. Hal Herzog and Mike von Massow
2021-03-24 12:30 - 13:30 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals, a book by by Dr. Hal Herzog, professor emeritus, Western Carolina University will be discussed with Dr. Mike von Massow, associate professor in the department of food, agricultural and resource economics at the University of Guelph. This discussion will be a continuation of their podcast conversation, Confessions of a conflicted omnivore.
Herzog has been investigating the complex psychology of our interactions with other species for more than two decades. He is particularly interested in how people negotiate real-world ethical dilemmas, and he has studied animal activists, cockfighters, animal researchers and circus animal trainers. An award-winning teacher and researcher, he has written more than 100 articles and book chapters. His research has been published in journals such as Science, The American Psychologist, The Journal of the Royal Society, The American Scholar, New Scientist, Anthrozoös, BioScience, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Animal Behavior. His work has been covered by Newsweek, Slate, Salon, National Public Radio, Scientific American, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune and many other newspapers. In 2013, he was given the Distinguished Scholar Award by the International Society for Anthrozoology. Herzog is a professor of psychology at Western Carolina University and lives in the Smoky Mountains with his wife Mary Jean and their cat Tilly.
Von Massow is interested in how people think about food with recent work focusing on labeling, novel food products, animal welfare and antibiotic use. He is also active in the interdisciplinary Guelph Food Waste Research Project with Dr. Kate Parizeau. Von Massow’s research also considers the structure and performance of food value chains as they evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and other factors. Von Massow speaks frequently about food waste, animal welfare and other research projects. He has written for the Globe and Mail and other publications and is often quoted on radio and in the media. As a frequent blogger with a strong presence on broadcast, print and social media, von Massow helps contribute to the department’s ongoing efforts to mobilize research in a manner that helps to inform public policy and private strategy. Von Massow has also introduced his FoodFocus podcast to discuss issues of interest in the food space. Von Massow is a member of the steering committee for the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare.
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ONLINE: Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience (Spring) - Healthy Soil for a Healthy Climate
2021-03-24 15:00 - 15:30 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The University of Guelph is proud to partner with the Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience Spring Session, presenting four online discussions on agri-food.
What does soil have to do with climate change? Tune in to this panel discussion with University of Guelph agrometeorologist Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle, and farmer Brett Israel as they discuss how better soil management can capture CO2, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve our planet.

ONLINE: Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience (Spring) - Using social media to predict foodborne illnesses
2021-03-25 10:00 - 10:30 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The University of Guelph is proud to partner with the Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience Spring Session, presenting four online discussions on agri-food.
Join University of Guelph computer scientists Rozita Dara and Jeff Farber to learn about an internet-based surveillance system that monitors activities related to diseases on social media, sorts through that information, and provides a supplementary source of data for our officials. Previously, the team’s work focused on avian influenza, but in response to an immediate need, the researchers have pivoted to extend their framework to foodborne illnesses.

ONLINE: U of G Yoga Speaker Series 2021 with Dr. Praveen Saxena
2021-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Join us for the inaugural Yoga Speaker Series event where we explore the Yoga Philosophy and Practice: Relevance for the Individual and Society in a Contemporary World.
Our speakers will share their own long-term practice, how it affects their lives, and where they can enlighten us with yoga philosophy and its multi-dimensional application. The aim of this series is to create awareness beyond the Asana/Physical practice and delve deeper into the human psyche.
This Yoga Speaker Series is free to attend. If you can’t make the scheduled time, a recording will be posted after the event.
Join us March 25 to hear Dr. Praveen Saxena’s presentation on Yoga: The synergy of mind, meditation, and mental well-being. Dr. Praveen Saxena is a Professor of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph and is also director of the Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation. He researches the synergy of medicinal plants and traditional yoga and meditation practices. Don’t forget to bring your yoga mat!
You can find the full details, speaker bios, schedule and recordings on the U of G Yoga Speaker Series 2021 website.

March 25 – Praveen Saxena
April 8 – Hansa Ji Jayadeva
April 22 – Panel of all speakers

Join the Yoga Speaker Serries (https://zoom.us/j/95484128908) – all sessions will use the same link
Watch the speaker recordings on YouTube. Please share your experience with us and complete our feedback survey to help us to keep improving and providing meaningful programming to improve life.
This event is sponsored by Wellness@Work University of Guelph and is hosted by U of G Yoga and Meditation Collective.

ONLINE: Arboretum Workshop - Virtual Constellation “Walk”
2021-03-25 19:00 - 20:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Learning the night sky is like getting to know a new neighborhood. At first, it may seem big and confusing, but as you strike out and become more and more familiar with prominent landmarks, the day comes when you realize that the neighborhood is no longer new. It’s home.
Join the Arboretum for monthly online sessions as we get to know the night sky a little better. Participants will be introduced to prominent stars and constellations, where to look for them and how the motions of planet Earth cause them to appear to shift from hour to hour and month to month. You will receive a downloadable star map to help you make your way through the stars. We’ll learn a half dozen or so constellations every month and you will be invited to discuss your observations with the group as we each get to know the neighborhood a little better.
Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person, per session.

ONLINE: Policy, Polity and Indigenous Health - Examining Political Determinants of Health
2021-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Policy, Polity and Indigenous Health: Examining Political Determinants of Health
Join us for this free webinar as noted Indigenous scholars and leaders discuss their work and research related to the policy and politics of Indigenous health.
Panelists:

Kiera Ladner – Professor, Department of Political Studies, University of Manitoba
Jonathan Dewar – Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Information Governance Centre
Dawn Sii-yaa-ilth-supt Smith – Assistant Professor, Indigenous Governance, University of Victoria

Moderator:

Joanne Moores – PhD Candidate and Moderator, Department of Political Science, University of Guelph

Supported by the University of Guelph Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund.

ONLINE: 25th Annual Project SOY Plus Finale
2021-03-26 12:00 - 15:00 | Ontario, Canada
You are invited to the 25th annual Project SOY Plus finale. This year’s event will take place using HopIn software on March 26 from noon to 3 p.m.
Project SOY (Sustainable Opportunities for You) Plus is celebrating its 25th year of providing students with a chance to express their innovative thinking into the development and marketing of plant-based products. Originally started in 1996 as Project SOY, participants were asked to put their minds together to innovate soybean-based products. The competition has now grown to include all plant-based products.
The program is open to any University of Guelph student from a diploma, undergraduate or graduate program. Students are asked to work in groups of five or fewer with a faculty advisor and then present their projects at the March 26 finale. Contestant entries are judged by industry representatives during the finale where cash rewards of $2,500, $1,000 and $500 will be awarded to first, second and third place winners, respectively, in three categories – diploma, undergraduate and graduate.
Using the online platform, HopIn, multiple presentations capturing the unique plant-based creations from students will be available for viewing. During this time, we encourage you to ask questions and learn more about these student innovations.
For more information, please visit www.projectsoy.ca or contact Loretta Higgins at soybeans@uoguelph.ca.
Register to watch the finale.
Event Timeline/Agenda:

Public viewing of projects – noon to 1:30 p.m.
Award presentation – 1:30 p.m.

ONLINE: Salmonella Syst-omics - Applying the One Health Approach for Improved Food Safety
2021-03-26 13:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
One Health Winter 2021 Seminar Series
Salmonella enterica is a bacterial zoonotic pathogen of global importance that cause approximately 80 million causes of foodborne illness each year.
A systematic approach to controlling salmonella in humans, animals and the environment has been developed using genomics-based approaches. This S will be discussed with examples of how it is being applied to reduce the burden and duration of foodborne salmonellosis. Presentation by Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College.

ONLINE: Thinking Spaces with Dhruv Jani from Studio Oleomingus
2021-03-26 15:00 - 16:30 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Thinking Spaces: The Reading Group and Speaker Series is pleased to present “The Concentric Fictions of a Generous History: Hypertext and Other Annotations to Memory,” a talk by Dhruv Jani from Studio Oleomingus.
The event will take place on via Zoom. A moderated Q&A will follow the talk.
Register online.
With “The Concentric Fictions of a Generous History,” I want to try to weave together a sprawling argument about interactive fiction that spans across the legacy of colonialism, the bureaucratic tyranny of citizenship, and the relationship of individual identity and collective histories – into contemporary political protest and the role of hypertext in the enunciation of dissent. But most of all, I want to examine Interactive Fiction as an extension of folk-theatre where it may be possible to imagine the performance of disembodied and democratic identities without the burden of nationhood. I also want to argue why hypertext might be a precursor to a fundamental change in how bodies, sites, and territories are demarcated and how histories are recorded, making forms of hypertext (including videogames) a powerful but sparsely understood site for public discourse, protest, and reconciliation.
Dhruv Jani is the founder of a game and arts studio called Oleomingus. Studio Oleominugs practices at the intersection of post-colonial writing, speculative architecture and interactive fiction. They use games to study colonial power structures and the histories they occlude, as well as how hypertext might be used to pollute a single reductive record of the past or of a people.
The work of Studio Oleomingus is supported by the Serendipity Arts Foundation, Humble Bundle Inc. and The Irregular Corporation, and we are recipients of the AMAZE Humble Award 2020. Dhruv Jani has also been a resident at Khoj International Artists Association, and the recipient of an Arts Practice Grant from the India Foundation for the Arts. They have created and exhibited games at V&A London, G|39 Gallery in Cardiff, Somerset House London, Phoenix gallery Leicester, Jawahar Kala Kendra Jaipur, VideoGame Art Gallery Chicago, TENT Biennale – Kolkata, Eye Myth – Mumbai, Shenzhen New Media Arts Festival, WordPlay at Ontario, Overkill Festival, Netherlands, PAX EGX 2020 and Mild Rumpus 2018 and 2020 at the Game Developers Conference San Francisco.
https://oleomingus.com | https://twitter.com/studiooleomingu | https://www.instagram.com/studio.oleomingus
This event is being co-presented with the Canada India Research Centre for Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) and the Music Students’ Association’s 15th Annual Music Symposium.
As always, Thinking Spaces is free and open to all.

ONLINE: Virtual Campus Day
2021-03-27 12:00 - 16:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Attend our Virtual Spring Open House for prospective students and their families. The event includes academic and student service information sessions, opportunities to chat live with current students, staff and faculty, and a Live Virtual Tour Experience. To register and for more information, please visit admission.uoguelph.ca/campusday.

ONLINE: Arboretum Workshop - Spring Watercolour Landscapes at the Arboretum - Intermediate
2021-03-29 19:00 - 21:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Join Watercolour Artist Candice Leyland and capture spring in the Arboretum in watercolour. You will learn tips on mixing your own vibrant greens and how to create a light tilled expressive landscape.
This class is great for those with a bit of experience in watercolour. Reference photos will be provided.
Fee: $30 (plus HST) per person.

Gryphon Pizza Day in Support of Women's Athletics at U of G
2021-03-30 11:00 - 23:00 | Select Domino’s Pizza restaurants in Guelph
March 30 is the 3rd annual She’s Got Game Pizza Day sponsored by Domino’s Guelph at 304 Stone Rd.
On She’s Got Game Pizza Day, Domino’s donates half of select pizza sales to the She’s Got Game initiative, supporting women’s athletics scholarships at the University of Guelph.
Offer details

March 30 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Get one large Pizza for $7.99 (cheese or pepperoni only)
For every large cheese or pepperoni pizza sold, $4 will be donated to support women’s athletics scholarships and programs at the University of Guelph
Must pick up from the following locations only:
304 Stone Rd W. | (519) 837-3030
585 Eramosa Rd | (519) 836-3030
204 Silvercreek Pkwy N. | (519) 763-3030

Pre-Order
If you want to pre-order please email dominospizzaguelph@rogers.com before 5 p.m. on Monday, March 29. Provide your full name, phone number and time of pick-up and use code “Game”.

ONLINE: Ask the Gardener
2021-03-31 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Do you have a gardening question that you would love to ask Arboretum gardening staff? Join Cael Wishart, the Arboretum’s Gardener, for a free virtual session to get the answers about everything green and growing! The session will take place on Zoom. Pre-registration is required.
This program is free. Register early to ensure your spot!

ONLINE: Choosing to Challenge: A Conversation with Three Trailblazers
2021-03-31 16:00 - 17:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Join the Office of Diversity and Human Rights’ Associate Vice-President, Indira Naidoo-Harris on March 31 from 4 to 5 p.m. as she moderates an exciting panel discussion with three trailblazing women who Choose to Challenge in honour of International Women’s Day. Hear from former Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, former Canadian politician and Human Rights Activist, the Honourable Jean Augustine, and former Chief of the Six Nations and Indigenous and Human Rights Advocate, Ava Hill, as they engage in discussions about women-identifying individuals in leadership, barriers women face in positions of power, and how we can build equitable and inclusive communities for everyone.
Register online.

ONLINE: Biological Science Career Night
2021-03-31 19:00 - 20:30 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Meet and network with U of G Biological Science alumni!
The evening will include a brief welcome and four concurrent breakout rooms featuring themed-based panels showcasing alumni working in various industries:

Animal Panel and Q&A
Environment Panel and Q&A
Health Care Panel and Q&A
Private Sector and Public Policy Panel and Q&A

Learn more online.

ONLINE: Return to Campus Town Hall
2021-04-01 12:00 - 13:30 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Over the last year, we have all missed the vibrancy of our on-campus experiences, and we are looking forward to resuming more in-person activities on our campuses this fall.
In fall 2021, we will see many classes delivered face-to-face, increased capacity in our residences, expanded on-campus service delivery, and more staff and faculty at all of our facilities. As we make these plans, we will continue to closely follow all public health regulations and put the safety of our community first.
To give you a better picture of what our return will look like, and to answer your questions, the executive team is hosting a Return to Campus Town Hall discussion.
Thursday, April 1
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams Live
Hosted by:

Dr. Charlotte Yates, president and vice-chancellor
Dr. Gwen Chapman, interim provost and vice-president (academic)
Dr. Malcolm Campbell, vice-president (research)
Daniel Atlin, vice-president (external)
Sharmilla Rasheed, vice-president (finance and operations)

We look forward to connecting with all of you soon.

ONLINE: Livestock From The Bullring - Jennifer Castle
2021-04-01 19:00 - 19:45 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
A presentation of the Central Student Association. Live streaming from The Bullring.
Jennifer Castle’s moon-suffused Monarch Season, “makes the case for listening as a revolutionary act of intimacy,” (Uncut).
Castle blends into the atmosphere of her piano and acoustic guitar, presenting her exceedingly intimate music as an inventive and subtly visceral experience.
Castle says that recently released album Monarch Season is meant to remind us to “cherish openly that which reflects off and onto [us].” It’s also a lesson, in its quiet and simple way, in how to give oneself over to changing tides, shifting moons, and the endless cycle of seasons that colour our lives.
Event supported by the Undergraduate Entertainment Media Fee.

ONLINE: Rental Housing Information Session
2021-04-05 13:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
This session is for students who are looking for rental housing in Guelph for the 2021-22 school year. Questions around where to find quality listings and roommates will be answered, and information about popular rental areas will be shared. This is an essential session to attend for the first-time Guelph student renter.

ONLINE: Senate Meeting
2021-04-05 16:00 | TBD – Check meeting package
Senate meetings are open to the public. Please e-mail univsec@uoguelph.ca to register.
For more information about the agenda, location and timing of the meeting please visit the Secretariat’s Governance Portal to access the agenda package.
Agenda packages are published approximately one week in advance of the meeting.

ONLINE: Grad Launch 2021
2021-04-06 | ImprovLab, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Join us for the Grad Launch 2021 virtual resource fair to help you prepare for graduation!
OPEN ALL DAY! Drop-in between 11:30 am. to 1 p.m. for our LIVE HOURS to chat with service representatives and find out what programs, services and benefits are available to you once you become a Guelph Grad.
Each attendee will have an opportunity to access information about OSAP repayment, how to access a career advisor after graduation and how to get involved with your alumni association.
Learn about:

Convocation
Perks of being a #GuelphGrad
Adulting
Graduate Studies
and more!

Everything you need to know as you transition from Gryph to Grad.
The best part? There will be TONS of prizes to be won! Registration is required to receive a link to the online event platform.
#ForeverAGryphon

ONLINE: Gryph-to-Grad: What's Next for Me?
2021-04-07 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
Graduation is an exciting time where you can celebrate completing years of hard work and study! But are you worried about what comes next?
Whether you have a plan in mind or are just considering your options, the Experiential Learning Hub’s Career Advising Team is here to help! In this Gryph-to-Grad: What’s next for Me? series, career advisors will be offering webinars and presentations to assist you in taking those next steps.

ONLINE: Provost Dialogue - Budget Update
2021-04-07 12:00 - 13:30 | ImprovLab, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
An invitation to faculty, staff and students to attend the Provost Dialogue: Budget Update
Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Dr. Gwen Chapman will host a public forum on the 2021-2022 Budget. This is an opportunity for the University community to ask questions regarding the current fiscal outlook.
Wednesday April 7, 2021
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Click to Join the Event
Important Information:

Join the live stream here. This is link will also be posted on the Provost website.
Attendees can ask questions using the moderated Q&A.
This presentation will be recorded and posted on the Provost website for those unable to attend.
If you have questions after the presentation, please email budget@uoguelph.ca.

ONLINE: What is holding up advancing agricultural advisory services?
2021-04-09 10:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE, Ontario, Canada
The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development is happy to bring together international and Ontario perspectives on “What’s holding up advancing agricultural advisory services?” In each of the three-part discussion series, several remarkable persons (international and Canadian scholars and practitioners) with diverse perspectives and backgrounds will join us to share their experiences with different aspects of agricultural advisory services and what we might do better for effective service delivery.
It is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to learn and contribute to the understanding of extension and advisory service in facilitating agricultural innovation and development processes in Ontario and beyond. Each part will feature various activities, such as panel and focus group discussions.
See the full description of the series . The first part of the series will focus on structure, coordination and collaboration of different stakeholders in emerging extension and advisory service delivery landscapes.
Read the speaker bios.

ONLINE: Thinking Spaces Speaker Series with Roger Dean
2021-04-09 17:00 - 18:30 | ImprovLab, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Thinking Spaces: The Reading Group and Speaker Series is pleased to present “AI and Improvisation: Virtual Improvisers, Virtual Pianos,” a talk by Roger Dean.
The event will take place on Friday, April 9, 2021, at 5 p.m. (ET) via Zoom (please note the slightly later-than-usual starting time). A moderated Q&A will follow the talk.
If you are interested in attending, please register online: uoguel.ph/RogerDean.
A Zoom link will be sent the day before the event.
Description from Roger Dean: I have engaged with computer-interactive improvisation since it became financially and practically accessible on desktop and portable computers, notably with the advent of the programming platform MAX, from 1992 or so onwards. MAX permits coding almost any kind of algorithmic process, and together with its later complements MSP and Jitter, allows analysis of incoming audio and visual data to be part of the algorithms. Such algorithms allow numerous unpredictable elements, that, a little like human collaborators, permit surprise, error, erasure and a variety of other inter-musician stimuli. Thus improvising solo together with a computer can sometimes mimic aspects of duetting with another improviser.
AI, or more specifically machine learning, is a very different process from normal musical algorithms, in part because it depends on the machine gaining prior knowledge of some corpus of work instead of depending on a user formulated algorithm. However, a trained musical machine, such as I aim to make my own Deep Improviser, can be manipulated by a user, but can also function autonomously, and like older algorithms, take note of musical or other inputs. I am exploring generative AI machine learning for purposes of both composition and improvisation, but more generally, in order to investigate a space of possibilities that is outside my normal contexts (i.e. outside both the contexts I provide myself, and those provided by collaborators). While this field, and particularly my own machines, have a long way to go (and indeed the Australian Research Council funded project I have is only approaching its half way point), I hope to point to some of the interesting outcomes and possibilities.
Roger Dean is a composer/improviser, and since 2007 a research professor in music cognition and computation at the MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University. His research folds into his creative work, currently particularly by means of deep learning computational models for music generation.
He founded and directs the sound and intermedia creative ensemble austraLYSIS, which has appeared in 30 countries. He has performed as bassist, pianist, piano accompanist and laptop computer artist in many contexts, from the Academy of Ancient Music and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, to the London Sinfonietta, and from Graham Collier Music to duetting with Derek Bailey and Evan Parker, and performing with leading improvisers particularly from Europe and Australia.
About 70 commercial recordings and numerous online digital intermedia pieces represent his creative work, and he has published more than 300 journal articles. Current research concerns improvisation and computational creativity, affect, roles of acoustic intensity and timbre, and rhythm generation and perception. With Hazel Smith and Will Luers, he won the 2018 international Robert Coover prize for a work of electronic literature. Currently austraLYSIS is preparing a duo album, of sound and intermedia, featuring diverse pairings: such as human/computer, human/environment, text/improviser, image/improviser.
Prior to 2007, he was a full professor of biochemistry in the UK, foundation CEO/Director of the Heart Research Institute, Sydney, researching on atherosclerosis, and then Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra.
As always, Thinking Spaces is free and open to all.
