Increasing attention is being paid to the pervasiveness and ubiquity of “fake news”, unverified sources feeding misinformation with the intention to push agendas and spread paranoia and fear. Now, more than ever, seeds of distrust and skepticism in science and medicine are being sown into the public. Many people often find themselves on one side or the other in the hotly debated topic of vaccinations, and many people find themselves teetering in the middle, unsure…

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Amid the continuous discourse of climate change denial and vaccine distrust, a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center based in Washington, D.C. found that, in general, the American public’s trust in science is actually rising. The majority of respondents believed that scientific research and medical innovations are making a positive impact on society and people’s quality of life. However, the study also found great disparities in the level of public trust on specific…

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Without mathematics and civil engineering, the construction of the CN Tower would not have been possible. Similarly, advances in biomedicine have significantly improved our quality of life and longevity, while technological prowess has empowered global business and connectivity. Moreover, epidemiologic data and environmental science are important drivers in the generation of effective and ethical governmental policies. Indeed, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are integrated into our community. As such, science misinformation can bring severe…

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“EDUCATION MUST NOT SIMPLY TEACH WORK – IT MUST TEACH LIFE.” – W. E. B. DU BOIS In this issue of IMMpress Magazine, we discuss the impetus for education and outreach in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As we head towards a new decade in the information age, we are more than ever faced with misinformation, fake news, and increasing group polarization via social media. Extremist political views fuel public distrust…

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  Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker, Chair, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto Just in time for some holiday reading, this latest issue of IMMpress Magazine is packed with several timely and important articles that address current concerns regarding the future of science education and outreach. The IMMpress editorial team have brought us featured articles on the demographic of STEM education and science outreach programs for KG-Gr12, including a comparison for different PhD programs, and a…

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Dr. Jen Gommerman received her PhD from the University of Toronto’s Department of Immunology under the supervision of Dr. Stuart Berger. Today, she is both a principal investigator,with her lab championing research in the field of multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disease, and the current associate chair of graduate studies for the Department of Immunology. We sat down with Dr. Gommerman to discuss her experiences and opinions of science communication. Few introductions in the Department of…

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What is a scientist? The term “scientist” receives the same treatment as many other career paths such as a lawyer or a doctor where the title is often associated with an omnipotent knowledge of the field itself. The word, science, manages to encapsulate an immense quantity of information over wide topics that exist today, while its Latin root, Scientia was given the simple meaning of knowledge.  In a majority of cases, peoples’ experiences with the sciences often take place in the introductory high school or university course. The general public does not need to understand what a scientist does, and therefore uses what information they have available to form a simple…

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The doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) was first introduced at Humboldt University in Berlin in 1810. Soon after, the degree spread to the USA in 1862 and to Canada in 1900. PhD’s were originally brought to fruition in order to strengthen research programs. Wilhelm von Humboldt, the pioneer of the PhD, reasoned that giving students formal supervision would ensure they become experts in their field. Since then, PhD’s have become commonplace worldwide.   However, the PhD experience can be vastly different for some doctoral candidates in North America compared to their international equivalents. As each…

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In 2015, responding to students’ interest in a graduate program that focuses on skill sets relevant for non-academic careers, Dr. Jennifer Gommerman, the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies for the Department of Immunology, launched a new program now known as the M.Sc. in Applied Immunology. Unlike many traditional graduate programs, the M.Sc. in Applied Immunology program focuses on developing skills in research without a thesis requirement. The program is designed to provide flexibility in elective course selection, allowing students to explore topics…

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