Columns

Women of Interest—Mona Louise Parsons

Mona Louise Parsons was the only Canadian female civilian to be imprisoned by the Nazis during the Second World War.  Parsons and a few of her closest friends formed a resistance group with the intention of hiding Allied airmen who had survived being shot down over Holland.  Parsons and her millionaire husband built a secret… Read more »

The Study Dude!—Become AU’s Top Science Influencer

You’re one of those gifted left-brain thinkers who wants to make a splash in the science world?  Well, look no further. You could become the next David Suzuki.  Believe it!  But first, consider what The Open University claims is your responsibility as a scientist: “As research scientists you have the opportunity to inspire others to… Read more »

Beats from the Basement—Janet Jackson

Album: janet. Artist: Janet Jackson Milica Markovic Every time I go to a wedding, the playlist mostly consists of 90s tunes.  It’s not surprising, since it was a time when the music industry was transitioning out of the power ballads, new wave experiments, and post-disco funk that dominated the 80s to genres that would take… Read more »

Dear Barb—Connecting Through Quarantine

Dear Barb: As a result of being in isolation for so long I believe we are probably all learning something about ourselves and our relationships.  The people I thought I would hear from I don’t, yet other people who rarely contacted me before the virus are checking in and making sure I am okay and… Read more »

Fly on the Wall—Springing Ahead and Looking Back

In spring we dust off our outdoor selves and, hopefully, gain new perspective on ourselves.  Everything appears differently in the bold light of the season and this illustrates the subjective nature of the act of seeing itself.  Take photo albums, for instance.  When I look at family picture books, aged and oxidised by the loving… Read more »

Porkpie Hat—The Gift of Conscience

Last week, I was speaking with a friend of mine, a professional artist, who has been staying and working for the past few months in Portugal.  She was telling me that, as news of the COVID-19 pandemic was gaining momentum, she and her partner had been traveling to a couple of larger metropolitan areas in… Read more »

The Creative Spark—Five Romantic Uses of Metaphors

I had a dream that I threw out my dreamland husband from my home.  We screamed and yelled, and he cried out, “I’ve been having an affair all along.”  He stole all the freezer grocery items and barged out the door.  In my dream, I couldn’t get him out of my life fast enough. But… Read more »

The Study Dude—Six Common Mistakes

You want a thesis that makes Mom and Dad beam?  A thesis that churns out multiple publications? A thesis you conveniently store on the guestroom bedside table?  All grad students want that quality—at first. But once the grind begins, some students stumble, lose focus, or just give up.  Let me reassure you, your thesis will… Read more »

Course Exam—BIOL 207 (Principles of Biology II)

BIOL 207 (Principles of Biology II) is the second of two introductory courses in general biology that prepare students for most senior-level biology courses offered at Athabasca University. This course is designed to help students learn more about the nature of life.  The main topics include the diversity of organisms, including fungi, plants, protists, animals,… Read more »