Author: Ana

Thursday, March 5
5:00 PM
Room 7-146, MacEwan University
We invite you to join Strategies for Resistance Through Queer and Trans Joy and Solidarity on Thursday, March 5, at MacEwan University.

The theme for Pride Week 2026 is Queer Realities. Exploring the duality of joy and rage in the modern queer experience by asking, “What does it mean to be queer in the here and now?” The answer is as varied as those who inhabit 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and the potential is endless. Bringing together members of the trans community, the panel discussion will explore how to resist, thrive, honour joy, and build meaningful community in the present moment

Moderators:
Taymy Caso (they/she) Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Alberta and Director of the Intersectional Research, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Community Health Promotion (IREACH) Lab.
Alessio Ponzio (he/him) Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity at MacEwan University.

Presenters:
Florence Ashley (they/them) is a transfeminine jurist and bioethicist working as an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre.
Alex Marshall (she/her) is the Strategic Initiatives Officer for the College of Health Sciences at the University of Alberta.
Cheyenne Mihko Kihêw (they/them) is a Two-Spirit Indigi-queer artist and cultural worker from amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). They are a drag performer and former Director of E2S.
Danielle Peers (they/them) researchers and teaches about intersectional disability justice in sport, recreation and social movements in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. They also serve as the Academic Lead for Disability, Cultures and Access at the UofA.
Mickey Wilson (he/him) is a queer and trans activist, ecumenically ordained minister, and municipal councillor. He serves on the ministry team at Garneau-MacDougall United Church and chairs the Northern Spirit Regional Affirm Committee.

Secure your spot by visiting: showpass.com/strategiesforresistance

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Vivian Mushahwar on receiving the J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Excellence in Research, the most prestigious research award at the University of Alberta.

As Director of iSMART and ST Innovations, Dr. Mushahwar leads a large team of researchers, trainees, and collaborators working to develop innovative technologies that support mobility, recovery, and independence. Her research includes the development of advanced “smartwear” systems – integrated clothing technologies designed to assist with joint injury repair, posture, balance, arm movement, and even standing and walking.

The award caps an exceptional year of recognition for Dr. Mushahwar and her team. In 2025, she secured a $24-million federal grant to advance smartwear research and was named among the top 10 most productive authors in neuromodulation by the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. The same analysis also ranked the University of Alberta among the top 10 institutions globally in neuromodulation and spinal cord injury research.

The J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Excellence in Research recognizes faculty members whose work demonstrates significant academic and societal impact while embodying the University of Alberta’s values of access, community, and belonging. Two awards are presented annually across disciplines to honour outstanding researchers who set a standard of excellence for others.

Online & In-Person

Join us at 12:00 PM on February 13th online via Zoom or in-person at FAB 2-20 (Fine Arts Building) on the U of A campus. Registration is required for both virtual and in-person attendance. Zoom link available through registration.

For accessibility information, click here.

Free Lunch

If you are attending in-person and would like to enjoy our complimentary lunch, please fill out our lunch form. To keep our iSMART Talks green, we request that you please bring your own water bottle.

Please note that, unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate allergy-specific requests for this event. Selection and quantities are limited, and availability may vary throughout the event.

Meet your keynote speakers

Dr. Anastasia Elias
Dr. Anastasia Elias is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, where she also serves as Associate Dean of Research, Programs and Development. Since joining the Faculty of Engineering in 2008, her research has focused on engineering functional polymers, nanomaterials, and responsive composites, and on developing methods for patterning these materials on the micro- and nanoscale. She applies these materials and methods in applications ranging from wearable biosensors to food-safety monitoring. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and a postdoctoral fellowship at Canada’s National Institute for Nanotechnology, Anastasia is the recipient of awards including the APEGA Early Accomplishment Award, a McCalla Professorship, and a Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers, which she held at the Institute for Polymer Processing in Dresden, Germany. Anastasia is a founding member of the iSMART and leads the Sensors Team on the NFRF-T Smartwear Revolution Project.

Amir Mohamadi
Amir Mohamadi is a materials engineer and researcher in wearable and flexible electronics. He earned his undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Tehran, where he worked on NMC 532 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. He spent two years as a research assistant at Iran’s Condensed Matter National Laboratory, where he led a project on fiber-based supercapacitors and the development of conductive polymer-based strain sensors. In 2023, he joined the University of Alberta for his Master’s studies under the supervision of Dr. Elias, focusing on nanocomposite ink formulation and 3D printing for wearable, flexible sensing applications. After defending his Master’s in Fall 2025, he joined the NFRF research team as a research assistant, working on integrating printed wearable sensors into fabrics for body-motion tracking.

Click Here to Register

HealthTech Forward 2026 is a technology showcase hosted by ST Innovations, featuring live demos, client success stories, and networking with industry, ecosystem partners, and government representatives.

Date: February 25, 2026, 10 AM – 12 PM
Location: Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation at the University of Alberta

Join us to celebrate health technology innovation and connect with collaborators across Alberta’s innovation community.

For more information and to register, click HERE.

In 2024, a transdisciplinary team from the University of Alberta received an award from the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund to co-create a project titled “Co-designing a Smartwear Revolution,” a complex, transdisciplinary 6-year research project that involves an iterative co-design process engaging multiple stakeholders, from various disciplinary and methodological backgrounds, as well as people with lived experiences.

The technology development of the project is led by the following 6 domains: Actuators/Fibres, Sensors, Power, Control/AI, Textile, and Biomechanics. Positions are available in all domains:

  • Textiles and Design Integration: Projects focus on designing and prototyping comfortable, serviceable smart garments by integrating sensors, actuators, and electronics directly into textile and garment structures for diverse user needs.
  • Actuators/Fibres: Projects develop and manufacture advanced smart fibres and soft actuators, optimizing materials, fabrication processes, and textile compatibility for reliable, scalable integration into garments.
  • Sensors: Projects create and validate textile-integrated wearable sensing technologies (e.g., pressure, strain, EMG, tilt) to monitor body motion and muscle activity.
  • Control & AI: Projects design modelling, control, and AI frameworks that estimate user intent and adapt garment assistance in real time through human–garment co-simulation and predictive control.
  • Power: Projects develop safe, high-energy-density, textile-compatible power systems, including solid-state batteries, wireless charging, and early-failure detection for wearable smart garments.
  • Biomechanics: Projects support all domains by quantifying human movement, muscle activity, and body variability to inform garment design, sensor placement, and evaluation of assistance effectiveness.

Work at the intersection of textiles, actuators, sensors, control & AI, power, biomechanics, and human-centred design to help shape the future of wearable assistive technologies – co-created with diverse stakeholders and people with lived experience.

Visit the link to apply via the interest form (rolling interviews): https://forms.gle/4zR5T3S8FDje9iAg9

Online & In-Person

Join us at 12:00 PM on December 12th online via Zoom or in-person at HEB 302/305 (Human Ecology Building) on the U of A campus. Registration is required for both virtual and in-person attendance. Zoom link available through registration.

 

Free Special Holiday Lunch

If you are attending in person and would like to enjoy our complimentary lunch, please fill out our lunch form. To keep our iSMART Talks green, we request that you please bring your own water bottle. Please note that, unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate gluten-free or other allergy-specific requests for this event. Selection and quantities are limited, and availability may vary throughout the event.

 

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

Dr. Taymy J. Caso, PhD, (they/sehe) is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Alberta and Director of the Intersectional Research, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Community Health Promotion (IREACH) Lab. Dr. Caso is the Vice-Director of Inclusion and Accessibility for the Institute of Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations (iSMART).

Prior to working at the UofA, Dr. Caso completed the Randi and Fred Ettner Postdoctoral Fellow in Transgender Health in the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health and maintains a research affiliation at the National Center for Gender Health. Dr. Caso holds degrees in counseling and clinical psychology from New York University and Columbia University, Teachers College. Their research focuses on minority health disparities, intersectionally, identity-based marginalization with LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities, gender and sexual fluidity, social determinants of health and legislative and public policy advocacy.

They hold several leadership roles, including Chair for the American Psychological Association’s Division 17: Society for Counseling Psychology’s Section for the Advocacy of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (SASOGD) and Co-Chair of the APA Task Force on Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults. Their advocacy work utilizes anti-oppressive and decolonizing pedagogies to deconstruct structural and systemic barriers to health equity and develop community-based interventions for underserved communities. They have been the recipient of several grants and awards, including: the Steven J. Scjochet Endowment Course Development and Enhancement, Postdoctoral Award in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Samuel Eshborn Award, Outstanding Research Contribution Award, Research and Scholarship Showcase Award, César Chávez/Clara Hale Community Outreach Award, Ronald McNair/Arturo Alfonso Schomburg Academic Excellence Award, and the Arthur B. Zankel Urban Fellowship. These awards recognize scholarship, service, advocacy, and activism that support and empower marginalized and underrepresented communities.

 

Click Here to Register

On November 18, 2025, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 9, invoking the notwithstanding clause to override and restrict the rights of trans and gender-diverse people throughout the province.

iSMART is committed to advancing inclusion, accessibility, and the well-being of all people through evidence-based research and practice. In this context, we are deeply concerned by the Government of Alberta’s use of the notwithstanding clause to shield several pieces of legislation from Charter scrutiny.

This marks the fourth use of the notwithstanding clause in recent weeks to limit or override rights in Alberta. Bill 9 prevents court review of Bills 26, 27, and 29 – legislation with significant implications for 2SLGBTQ+ children, youth, families, and cis women and girls in sports.

  • Bill 26 eliminates access to gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse youth under 16, despite medical evidence demonstrating the importance of timely, supportive, life-saving healthcare.
  • Bill 27 mandates the disclosure of any changes in a young person’s name, pronouns, or gender identity to parents or guardians, including nicknames, pronouns, coming out, and needing gender-affirming care. It also requires parental consent for educational content on gender identity, sexual orientation, and inclusive sex education.
  • Bill 29 restricts participation in girls’ and women’s sports to those who can prove they were assigned female at birth by producing a birth certificate. This denies trans women and girls opportunities to participate in sports and places an undue burden on cisgender girls and women to verify their sex at birth, while the requirement is not imposed on boys or men.

We support and stand in solidarity with statements from major healthcare and rights-based organizations, including the Alberta Medical Association, Egale Canada, and Skipping Stone, which reinforce our concerns about the serious risks posed by these laws.

Invoking the notwithstanding clause in this manner removes critical Charter protections for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and limits the ability of courts to uphold fundamental human rights. These measures also create uncertainty and concern for teachers, healthcare providers, and community members striving to provide safe, supportive, and inclusive environments for youth.

As an institute dedicated to advancing equitable health and social outcomes, iSMART supports policies and practices grounded in evidence, dignity, and human rights. We stand with community members, researchers, and practitioners who are calling attention to the serious impacts these legislative decisions will have on the well-being of vulnerable youth and the broader Alberta community.

 

 

Online & In-Person

Join us at 12:00 PM on November 14th online via Zoom or in-person at HEB 301/305 (Human Ecology Building) on the U of A campus. Registration is required for both virtual and in-person attendance. Zoom link available through registration.

Free Lunch

If you are attending in-person and would like to enjoy our complimentary lunch, please fill out our lunch form. To keep our iSMART Talks green, we request that you please bring your own water bottle.

About Dr. Keith Fenich

Dr. Keith Fenrich is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury in relation to the dynamic cellular interactions that occur after spinal cord injury; promoting functional recovery after spinal cord injury using pharmacological approaches in combination with rehabilitative training to enhance therapeutic neuroplasticity; and developing new methods and devices to better study and administer rehabilitative training after spinal cord injury. Dr. Fenrich has spun off 3 FT reach Inc.

 

Register Here

Join us at 12:00 PM on October 10th online via Zoom or in-person at HEB 301/305 (Human Ecology Building) on the U of A campus. Registration is required for both virtual and in-person attendance. Zoom link available through registration.

Dr. Brokoslaw Laschowski is a computational neuroscientist. He works as a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator at the University Health Network – the largest research hospital in Canada – and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, with appointments in Neuroscience and Mechanical Engineering. He also serves as the Director of the Computational Neuroscience Lab, a leading multidisciplinary research lab that explores the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. The long-term vision for his research is to build a computational understanding of the brain and human intelligence.

In this talk, Dr. Laschowski will present his research on developing new mathematical, computational, and machine learning models to reverse-engineer or decode the brain. Some examples include:

  1. Deep learning models to reverse-engineer the visual information processing mechanisms in the visual cortex
  2. Neural decoding algorithms to predict speech and motor behaviours from patterns of neural population activity
  3. Reinforcement learning models to reverse-engineer how neural computations in the motor cortex control and optimize human movement

If you are attending in person and would like to enjoy our complimentary lunch, please fill out our lunch form. To keep our iSMART Talks green, we request that you please bring your own water bottle.

REGISTER HERE