A&S scholars sharing their expertise in the media

From the growing U.S. trade war to the need for better workplace support for mothers, experts from a range of disciplines across the Faculty of Arts & Science are sharing their expertise on a variety of issues in the media.

Here’s some of what they had to say this week.

February 14, 2025

• Lucan Ahmad Way of the Department of Political Science comments in O Globo on United States democracy under the second Trump administration.
• Mark Kingwell of the Department of Philosophy writes in the Toronto Star (paywall) about navigating emotional attraction at work.
• In the Toronto Star (paywall), Max Mishler of the Department of History, expresses his gratitude for his family’s flexibility during a snow day, highlighting the need for attentive childcare for those in important roles like nursing and paramedics.
• Research from Lanrick Bennett Jr. of School of Cities into how e‑bikes can be better integrated into Toronto is featured in the Toronto Star (paywall).

February 18, 2025

• Taylor Jackson of the Department of Political Science co-authors an article in hub about how Canada must adapt its foreign policy as the U.S. steps back from global leadership.
• Joseph Steinberg of the Department of Economics discusses in Financial Post Magazine the similarities between value-added taxes and general sales tax.
• Joseph Steinberg of the Department of Economics explains to CBC that a country’s trade deficit is not a result of trade policy but rather the low desire to save within the country and the strong global desire to invest there.
• Paul Bloom of the Department of Psychology says in Network Today that empathy could cause irrational and unfair political decisions.
• In Career Engine, Geoffrey Hinton of the Department of Computer Science criticizes U.S. vice president J.D. Vance’s speech at the Paris AI Action Summit.
• Geoffrey Hinton  of the Department of Computer Science warns in Sina about the dangers of ignoring the lack of regulation of AI.
• Nelson Wiseman of the Department of Political Science suggests in the Globe and Mail (paywall) that the Oshawa riding is an easy win for Doug Ford’s PCs, as the NDP is at a disadvantage and has raised less funds.
• A study by Miriam L. Diamond of the Department of Earth Sciences, finding that one in five products from Shein and Temu contained dangerous levels of PFAs and phthalates is featured in Elle.
• Patrick Watson of the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies writes in the Toronto Star (paywall) about Toronto police facing allegations of hypocrisy and double standards in handling cases of corruption within their ranks.
• In the Toronto Star (paywall), Matti Siemiatycki of the Department of Geography & Planning and director of the Infrastructure Institute, discusses the impact of changing market conditions on developers’ ability to sell condos.

February 19, 2025

• Ephraim Radner, a Professor Emeritus of Wycliffe College, states in World Magazine that animals were created first and people must take care of them.
• The Globe and Mail (paywall) features research by Joanna Pepin of the Department of Sociology revealing that 70 per cent of mothers will be the primary earners for their families at some point, highlighting the need for better workplace support for mothers.
• The book What I Mean to Say by Ian Williams of the Department of English is featured in Everything Zoomer as one of nine essential reads celebrating Black History Month.
• In the Weekly Voice, Joseph Steinberg of the Department of Economics comments that the U.S.’s trade deficit is tied to its strong global investment appeal.
• Research of Elaine Hoan and Geoff MacDonald of the Department of Psychology into single women’s happiness and life satisfaction is featured in Alimente.
• In the Hamilton Spectator (paywall), Matti Siemiatycki of the Department of Geography & Planning and director of the Infrastructure Institute argues that the Progressive Conservative party’s promises of transportation improvements, like widening the Queen Elizabeth Way, are a common strategy in re-election campaigns.
• In the Financial Post Magazine, Joseph Steinberg of the Department of Economics predicts that a trade war with U.S. president Trump could cause more damage to Canada’s GDP than the COVID lockdowns.

February 20, 2025

• Barbara Sherwood Lollar of the Department of Earth Sciences collaborates on a study, discovering ancient water deep in Ontario as featured in Detik.
• According to a School of Cities study featured in Google Maps Mania, Hong Kong has the best rail transport system in the world.
• Matti Siemiatycki of the Department of Geography & Planning and director of the Infrastructure Institute suggests in the Globe and Mail (paywall) that public-private partnerships (P3s) have not been as successful in the transit sector as they have been in other areas of social infrastructure.

February 21, 2025

• For CBC, Matti Siemiatycki discusses the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s five proposed areas of action they argue can help alleviate Toronto’s congestion.
• Dimitry Anastakis of the Department of History discusses in the National Post how U.S. president Trump’s 25 per cent auto tariffs might impact Canada.