Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg would be an unfamiliar name even two years ago. Since 2018, however, the 18-yearold Swedish activist has gained tremendous global attention for her fight against climate change. She started the school strike for climate movement, which granted momentum through tremendous recognition and support from young people around the globe. She gave speeches at the UN Climate Action Summit, was featured on the Time Magazine cover as the Person of the…

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Surrealism originated in the late 1910s as an artistic movement that sought to unleash the expression of the subconscious and irrational mind. Artists of this movement painted illogical compositions, sometimes depicting creatures out of everyday objects or unexpectedly breaking natural laws — scenes that can only be found in a dream. Salvador Dalí was one of the most renowned artists of Surrealism and is the author of the iconic artwork named The Persistence of Memory.…

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“ ADULTS KEEP SAYING WE OWE IT TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE, TO GIVE THEM HOPE, BUT I DON’T WANT YOUR HOPE. I WANT YOU TO PANIC. I WANT YOU TO ACT AS IF THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, BECAUSE IT IS.” – GRETA THUNBERG There are many reasons why Greta Thunberg took over the global media in 2019, but it was her candid words, full of frustration and brutal honesty, that inspired the younger generation…

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Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker, Chair, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto I trust that IMMpress Magazine’s first issue of Volume 8 reaches you in good health and doing well, as we social distance and shelter in place. IMMpress starts its eighth year by highlighting the existential threat and dread that climate change can cause our graduate students. This issue provides a powerful and insightful set of articles on how climate change is affecting our thinking…

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Dr. Anh Tran completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Prof. Tania Watts’ laboratory, where she investigated the role of microRNAs in T cell survival. Currently, she holds the title of Research Officer at the National Research Council (NRC) Canada located in Ottawa, Ontario. Anh shares with us her transition from academia to the NRC and her involvement in viral vaccine development with the government. Viruses are a component of our ecosystems. They can be transmitted to…

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As we enter 2020 and look at the past decade, it is obvious the world is changing. The 2010s held the hottest years on record, severe storms and an ever-rising ocean. However, this was coupled with an increased awareness of climate change. The era of social media has shown that grassroots movements like the global climate strike can mobilize millions of people. There is landmark support for environmental non-profit organizations, which demonstrates a global understanding…

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Introduction The average temperature on the planet has risen almost 1°C since the late 19th century, with the majority of the warming occurring in the past 40 years. This seemingly small change has manifested due to the decrease in size of Antarctica’s ice sheets, retreat of glaciers around the world, rising sea levels and an increased frequency of extreme weather events. While climate change is a natural and continuous process, human activities have drastically accelerated…

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Beyond Meat has led a movement for creating plant-based meats to satisfy the ‘meat craving’ for those wishing to reduce or opt out of animal product use. The company, founded in 2009, went public in May with the best-performing public option in recent history. The website for Beyond Meat boasts their new, plant-based patty that “looks, cooks, and satisfies like beef without GMOs, soy, or gluten.” However, is this new era of animal-free meat really…

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The World Health Organization (WHO) cites climate change as “the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.” Direct effects include respiratory complications from increasing allergens and air pollution, greater exposure to pathogens from contaminated water and food supplies, and injuries and illness resulting from severe weather. The physical effects on our communities are palpable, but the mental health impacts are often unacknowledged and overlooked. In addition to clinically recognized disorders, people experience “eco-anxiety”,…

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