It's hard to remember a time when the COVID-19 pandemic wasn't dominating the news. You may have seen University of Waterloo researchers sharing their expertise in numerous online events and articles - and many of them are from Arts. With experts in economics, politics and public policy, education, equity, the history of medicine, psychology, finance, social media and misinformation (to name a few), it's been a busy time for our faculty!
While UWaterloo's COVID-19 expert panels, stories and media appearances could fill pages, here are a few highlights from Arts.
Beyond the Headlines: Responding to inequity in our post-COVID world
In July’s online event moderated by CBC Radio One’s Craig Norris, Arts researchers from Economics, Philosophy and History explored whether our post-COVID society may be more responsive or more divisive to systemic issues of equity.
Q and A with Experts: Psychology of kids physical distancing
Professor Heather Henderson, (Psychology) is an expert in developmental psychology. “I think isolation is difficult for children (and adults), but I do not think that our temporary need to spend time with others while maintaining safe social distancing is going to create a general risk to mental health.”
Read her comments on social distancing as kids head back to school.
Ask an Expert community lecture: Social media in quarantine
Professor Shana MacDonald (Communication Arts) says that increased social media use during the pandemic means people are creating dialogue and sharing their experiences in coping. It also enables the spread of misinformation and an increase in anxiety and fear – but we can protect ourselves against that.
Read about social media in quarantine and watch the online talk.
Ask an Expert community lecture: Quarantine boredom
Professor James Danckert (Psychology) spoke about his research findings on boredom and what experiencing boredom is really telling us about ourselves. “Boredom is not apathy and it’s not laziness. When we’re bored, we have a desire. We want to be engaged and doing something that matters to us.”
Read about quarantine boredom and watch the online talk.
Ask an Expert: Planning for retirement in uncertain times
Professor James Thompson (Accounting and Finance) spoke about how the pandemic lockdown of our economy will affect peoples’ long-term financial goals. Should we still be paying into our RRSPs? How do workers who are close to retirement adjust to this new world?
Read his tips for retirement planning and watch the online talk.
Q and A with Experts: Is a virtual Parliament good for our democracy?
Professor Emmett Macfarlane (Political Science) weighed in: “In one respect, it would have been beneficial if Parliament had fully embraced virtual tools during the pandemic. The government, to a degree, escapes full accountability by refusing to permit a regular sitting of Parliament with members empowered with their full range of privileges, including the capacity to introduce private member's bills and to vote remotely.”
Read the full Q&A about virtual parliament.
Feature photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
