Politics
People
Navigating the highs and lows of making change
From taking part in high-stakes climate negotiations to weathering toxic online abuse, former federal cabinet minister Catherine McKenna, LLB’99, reflects on her life in politics and beyond in her recent book Run Like a Girl.
Society
All eyes on Venezuela
Juan Pablo Luna, the Diamond-Brown Chair in Democratic Studies in McGill’s Department of Political Science, delves into the ouster of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and the wider ramifications it holds for the region.
Culture
Holiday reading options
Looking for a good book or two to enjoy over the holidays? Here are some recent books by (or about) McGill grads for you to consider.
Culture
Looking for a holiday read?
The holidays are almost upon us and (hopefully) that means you’ll soon be able to spend some quality time with a good book or two. Here are some possibilities for you to consider – all written by McGill alums.
Society
‘A million dimensions of inequality’
In her podcast series In/Equality, Debra Thompson, an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Political Science, interviews leading academic experts about different aspects of inequality. She wants to ‘create shortcuts’ to provide her audience with nuanced and accessible information about complicated issues.
Society
Determined to give them back their names
Forensic scientist Cristina Cattaneo, BSc’87, heads up an effort in Italy to identify migrants who have perished in their attempts to reach Europe. “It’s important for the living, not just for the dignity of the dead.”
Society
A new face for Canada’s top justice job
Canada’s justice minister and attorney general Arif Virani on tackling online hate, the importance of diversity in the judiciary, and how kicking around a soccer ball can break through partisan divisions even in a deeply polarized Parliament.
Discovery
Exploring the roots of the war in Ukraine
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Maria Popova became one of the media’s most popular go-to experts for providing context for the conflict. The McGill associate professor of political science has a new book out that examines the factors that led to the war.
People
A leading advocate for responsible tech joins McGill
She has been on the cover of Time and U.S. president Joe Biden cited her during his State of the Union address last year. Now Frances Haugen is joining McGill’s Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy as its new senior-fellow-in-residence.
People
A minister for both the economy and English-speaking Quebecers
As Quebec’s finance minister, Eric Girard, BCom’89, already had a lot on his plate. Now, he has an additional responsibility – he’ll be trying to improve relations between his Coalition Avenir Québec government and the province’s anglophone community.
People
Astrophysicist is Canada’s rising star in election forecasting
It turns out that a degree in physics and a knack for mathematics comes in handy when you are analyzing polling data. Thanks to the accuracy of his electoral projections, Philippe J. Fournier, BSc’01, has become an in-demand political analyst.
Culture
Tracking the rise of white nationalism
Filmmaker Daniel Lombroso, BA’15, spent four years in the company of some of the most notorious figures in the U.S. alt-right as he chronicled the growing influence of white nationalism in his documentary White Noise. “This movement is having a huge impact on our politics.”