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PAS building, room 2401
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 48246
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Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 45870
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The Conversation is an independent, open access source of news and views from the academic and research community in Canada and around the world. This page offers a compilation of articles published in The Conversation by Waterloo Arts scholars.
January 19, 2021
Nancy R. Buchan, University of South Carolina; Wendi L. Adair, University of Waterloo, and Xiao-Ping Chen, University of Washington
Two strategies can make videoconferencing as effective as meeting face to face, or even better.
January 11, 2021
Robert Danisch, University of Waterloo and William Keith, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
As the raid on the U.S. Capitol has shown, some kinds of rhetoric can set fire to the world — and it exists in Canada, too. Here's how to tamp it down and focus on positive forms of rhetoric.
January 7, 2021
Igor Grossmann, University of Waterloo
Despite the promising development of several COVID-19 vaccines, the pandemic will not be over soon. How then should we deal with pandemic endurance that will likely last for many more months?
December 15, 2020
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
Rereading Harry Potter during the COVID-19 pandemic means finding new ways of identifying with the characters, especially in the seventh book, where Harry finds himself struggling with isolation.
October 5, 2020
Robert Danisch, University of Waterloo
Because dramatic tension fuels attention, Trump's words work to generate tension, anxiety and conflict. We need to react with civility, care and calm to undo the cycle of attention and persuasion.
September 30, 2020
Chris Bauch, University of Waterloo; Brendon Phillips, University of Waterloo; Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo, and Madhur Anand, University of Guelph
Schools reopening during the current coronavirus pandemic need to calculate class sizes to prevent the spread of disease and minimize disruptions.
September 21, 2020
Vershawn Ashanti Young, University of Waterloo
Unlike the Hollywood hero he portrayed, Boseman created space for a kaleidoscope of Black masculinities and challenged the narrative that urban Black men are in need of saving.
September 20, 2020
Vershawn Ashanti Young, University of Waterloo
History professor Jessica Krug had built her life as a Black woman, but she was a white Jewish woman from Kansas. Her revelation raises questions about why some white people assume Black identities.
September 1, 2020
Robert Danisch, University of Waterloo and William Keith, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Politicians and law enforcement engage in uncivil behaviour that undermines democratic society. Civility is a pre-requisite for empathy, and is essential for difficult conversations.
September 1, 2020
Ian Milligan, University of Waterloo
Policymakers should mandate Canada's national library to archive the entire Canadian web domain so future reserachers can make sense of 2020 and ongoing responses to the pandemic.
August 28, 2020
Jennifer Saul, University of Waterloo
To fill a convention with blatant racism, as the Republicans did in 2016, is bad enough. But, after four years of racist policies, a convention filled with subtle racism is perhaps more dangerous.
August 20, 2020
Krystle Shore, University of Waterloo and Kathryn Henne, Australian National University
Amidst calls to defund the police, political leaders are increasing police budgets, arguing — incorrectly — that increasing police surveillance capacities will help provide accountability.
June 30, 2020
Kyla Tienhaara, Queen's University, Ontario; Amy Janzwood, University of Toronto, and Angela Carter, University of Waterloo
The oil and gas industry was in trouble before the pandemic hit, but now it faces potential collapse. A majority of Canadians want the federal government to invest in a 'green recovery.
June 28, 2020
Vershawn Ashanti Young, University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo sent out a statement that banned the use of the N-word on its campus, including classes. They did not consult Black faculty before doing so.
June 15, 2020
Katherine Bruce-Lockhart, University of Waterloo
The COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to think critically about the place of prisons in society and how and why prisoners have been released in the past. COVID-19 could spark systemic change.
May 21, 2020
Eva A. (Evalyna) Bogdan, University of Waterloo; Daniel Henstra, University of Waterloo, and Jason Thistlethwaite, University of Waterloo
Blaming flooding on an act of God wrongly absolves government and developers of their liability for poor decisions that unfairly burden taxpayers.
April 20, 2020
Jennifer Mathers, Aberystwyth University and Veronica Kitchen, University of Waterloo
How politicians can benefit from a narrative of heroism.
April 7, 2020
Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, University of Waterloo and Joel Thiessen, Ambrose University
Will a pandemic cause more people to return to Christianity or will the closure of churches become permanent?
April 8, 2020
Andrew Bauer, University of Waterloo
The Canadian federal government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan includes tax-related measures. It's helpful to examine tax supports for individuals by considering the past, present and future.
March 5, 2020
Jennifer Saul, University of Waterloo
TERF is not a slur. Instead, we should use words that accurately describe how some feminists are actually anti-trans activists.
March 4, 2020
Alana Cattapan, University of Waterloo
Since an infant was found in a recycling bin last fall in Saskatoon, advocates have renewed their campaign for baby hatches, places mothers can leave newborns safely and anonymously.
January 22, 2020
Shana MacDonald, University of Waterloo
If we're ever to move past outmoded values of gender, race and class, we need to wish Prince Harry and Meghan Markle well — and challenge those who would prefer everything remains the same.
December 17, 2019
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
Marvel Comics is frequently referred to as “the house of ideas,” yet the idea of a queer superhero did not fully arrive at Marvel until the 1990s.
November 21, 2019
Ian Milligan, University of Waterloo
Put down the science brochures. If your high schooler really wants to be a history major, smile, knowing that they’re taking the first step to a deeper understanding of the world around them.
November 14, 2019
Joanne Wood, University of Waterloo and Kassandra Cortes, Wilfrid Laurier University
La recherche montre qu'interroger un partenaire peu sûr de lui au sujet de sa journée peut accroître la satisfaction de sa relation.
November 5, 2019
James M. Skidmore, University of Waterloo
Universities and colleges could eliminate textbook fees if they supported the creation of open educational resources.
October 31, 2019
Joanne Wood, University of Waterloo and Kassandra Cortes, Wilfrid Laurier University
Research shows that asking an insecure partner about their day can increase their relationship satisfaction.
September 22, 2019
Ashley Rose Mehlenbacher, University of Waterloo
Science communication online is important to the intellectual work of scientists.
September 8, 2019
Katherine White, University of Waterloo
Adults aren't the only language teachers: six-year-olds still produce sounds differently than adults, but toddlers are extremely good at understanding the speech of children six years and older.
August 19, 2019
Ian Milligan, University of Waterloo
As our societies lose paper trails and increasingly rely on digital information, historians, and their grasps of context, will become more important than ever.
August 11, 2019
Shannon Dea, University of Waterloo and Ted McCormick, Concordia University
A recent article in The Atlantic called for a "new science of progress" - this is dangerous and ignores the academic study of the history of human development.
July 23, 2019
Shannon Dea, University of Waterloo
A progressive city's new ordinance on gender-neutral language provokes a worldwide media storm.
July 17, 2019
Jackson A. Smith, University of Waterloo and Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo
It is possible for teenagers to be addicted to screen-time activities such as video gaming. It is also possible for parents to do something about it.
March 13, 2019
Anindya Sen, University of Waterloo
Canada's data deficit represents an absence of information; however, just as crucial is the deficit in the skills required to analyze collected data.
February 20, 2019
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
Our current golden age of TV storytelling is influenced by comic books, in particular, one writer: Chris Claremont pushed boundaries and gave audiences strong female leads and deeply involved dramas.
February 4, 2019
Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo
After the #me-too inspired Gillette ad, a male therapist says this year's Super Bowl ads were disappointingly mild. But let's not let that stop us from challenging each other.
January 28, 2019
Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo; Nicole Racine, University of Calgary, and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary
A new study in JAMA Pediatrics suggests higher levels of screen time at two and three years of age predict poorer child outcomes at three and five years, respectively.
January 13, 2019
Andrew Thompson, University of Waterloo
If left unchecked, invasions of privacy enabled by technology could put every human right at risk, and on a scale that would be truly terrifying.
January 9, 2019
Edwin Ng, University of Waterloo and Carles Muntaner, University of Toronto
New research shows that female politicians spend more on health and education, improving the well-being of a population.
January 2, 2019
Amir Al-Azraki, University of Waterloo
Not just for would-be actors: Theatre of the Oppressed is a unique genre of drama education through which students learn how to analyze social problems and change typical outcomes.
January 1, 2019
Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary; Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo, and Rachel Eirich, University of Calgary
It's not too late for a New Year's resolution. If you're a parent - resolving to stop 'technofering' could be one of the most important things you do this year.
December 4, 2018
Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo
The psychological health of migrant children will be deeply impacted by their flight from gang violence, and the experience of crowded unhygienic conditions and tear gas at the U.S. border.
November 20, 2018
Tamara A. Small, University of Guelph and Anna Lennox Esselment, University of Waterloo
The creation of a new debate commission in Canada should ensure televised showdowns between party leaders amid federal election campaigns are transparent and a boon to democracy.
November 1, 2018
James M. Skidmore, University of Waterloo
Germany's long-time Angela Merkel era is coming to an end. But is it the end of one person’s dominance of the political scene, or does it forebode more fundamental changes to German society?
October 11, 2018
Dillon Thomas Browne, University of Waterloo
If the Ford-Kavanaugh saga had any positive impact, it at least clearly highlighted several lessons from traumatology and the complex consequences of traumatic events across society.
September 12, 2018
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
In the trailer for the new DC TV series, Robin answers 'F@#k Batman!' when the bad guys ask about the Caped Crusader. This is a hopeful move to necessary character changes in superhero storytelling.
September 4, 2018
Andrew Thompson, University of Waterloo
If the liberal international order is to survive, countries like Canada will need to defend international human rights law.
August 16, 2018
Vershawn Ashanti Young, University of Waterloo
BlacKkKlansman is more than a good story: it expertly weaves together comedy with serious drama to bring the story of past racism to illuminate our present day issues.
February 22, 2018
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
We may think of Harry Potter as escapist delight, but J.K. Rowling’s books also contain an extended theme that has more in common with King Lear than most English professors might care to admit.
December 13, 2017
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
Science fiction is a genre meant to imagine the future, but in the case of Star Wars, it also looks to the past—revisiting old imperialist battles.
November 23, 2017
J. Andrew Deman, University of Waterloo
The reviews are coming in pretty harsh for Justice League. If Superman is awesome and Batman is awesome and Wonder Woman is awesome, shouldn’t the three of them together be thrice as awesome?
September 20, 2017
James M. Skidmore, University of Waterloo
German elections are typically tame. Jockeying for power takes place later, in negotiations for a coalition government. Could the xenophobic Alternative for Germany form the opposition?
August 31, 2017
James M. Skidmore, University of Waterloo
The swastika, an ancient and innocent symbol in many cultures for hundreds of years, now represents racial hatred. Should the swastika be banned in North America as it is in Germany?
May 26, 2016
Bruce Muirhead, University of Waterloo
Government intervention in the crisis facing Australian dairy has opened the gates for suggestions of other types of regulation.
November 4, 2014
Kevin Harrigan, University of Waterloo and Dan Brown, University of Waterloo
A 2011 Massachusetts law allows for the expansion of gambling, including slot machines. That law is now on the November 2014 election ballot for potential repeal. This is a real opportunity for voters…
August 27, 2014
Derek Koehler, University of Waterloo
Take a moment to think of a task you wish to accomplish in the next three months. It should be something specific like clearing out your backyard, or completing an online course, so that you could judge…
Dean of Arts Office:
PAS building, room 2401
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 48246
Arts Undergraduate Office:
PAS building, room 2439
Tel 519 888-4567 ext. 45870
Information for faculty and staff
Arts computing support for students, faculty, and staff
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.