UBCO clinical instructors Dr. Jennifer Locke and Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis are hosting an event that will explain the best type of exercises that can improve a woman’s bladder control.

What: MEDTalks: Keeping the “P” in Physical Activity
Who: UBC Clinical Instructor and urologist Dr. Jennifer Locke and UBC Distinguished Professor Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis
When: Wednesday, June 5 from 7 to 8 pm
Venue: UBC Clinical Academic Campus in Kelowna General Hospital, 2312 Pandosy St. Virtual option also available.

Approximately 30 per cent of women experience bladder control problems. These issues can often be aggravated with strength training, in particular core and abdominal exercises.

However, pelvic floor physiotherapy is proven to effectively improve bladder control and mitigate these challenges.

UBC’s Southern Medical Program is inviting the public to learn from health experts about common bladder control problems and how exercise can help overcome these issues.

Dr. Jennifer Locke is a urologist based at Kelowna General Hospital and a Clinical Instructor with the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Urologic Sciences. Dr. Locke is a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She is also an Affiliate Clinician with UBC’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management.

Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. She is a Distinguished Professor at the UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences and UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Medicine where she holds the Reichwald Family Chair in Preventive Medicine. Dr. Martin Ginis is the Founding Director of UBC’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management and of the Canadian Disability Participation Project.

MEDTalks is a health education lecture series exploring current and emerging trends in medicine. Hosted by the Southern Medical Program at UBC Okanagan, researchers and health professionals share their insights and expertise.

The event is free and open to the public with in-person and virtual options available but registration is required.

To register or find out more details, visit: smp.med.ubc.ca/community-engagement/medtalks

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A team of engineering and science students from UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College brought home the Audience Choice Award for their creation of EMBR an autobot that can detect “zombie” fires.

While the images of last summer’s wildfires will stay with many people for a long time, it was that emergency that inspired a group of students to create a remote device that can detect smouldering embers.

Engineering and science students from UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College recently returned from Boston where they demonstrated the autobot they specifically designed to detect “zombie” or underground wildfires that can smoulder months after the danger has passed.

“Our team knew that wildfires were a serious issue, but they kind of felt distant—something that happened to others, never to us,” says Aziz Rakhimov, a third-year UBCO electrical engineering student and product lead. “That all changed last summer when a wildfire reached Kelowna, threatened our campus, and made us all leave our beloved city in a rush.”

Those fires inspired the UBCO HEAT Robotics team to create their Ember Mitigation Bot Responder (EMBR).

The autonomous robotic device uses a thermal camera, smoke sensor and a temperature probe, coupled with AI-driven analytics, to navigate through a variety of terrains, find concealed hotspots, report their exact location and provide a comprehensive approach to heat detection.

“Our direct encounter with the threat of wildfires ignited a realization within us,” says Rakhimov. “It wasn’t enough to be passive observers—we are engineers, thinkers, creators—there had to be something we could do.”

EMBR was entered in last month’s MassRobotics Form & Function Robotics Challenge which took place in Boston. One of the world’s leading student robotics development events, the competition brings together university teams from around the globe. This year’s was to create a robotics or automation project with a cutting-edge form that accomplishes an important real-world solution.

“We developed EMBR to combat the prominent issues that we face in British Columbia regarding wildfires,” says Rakhimov. “The recent wildfire season was catastrophic and our communities grappled with the trauma and damage to hundreds of homes. Particularly close was the McDougall Creek fire in West Kelowna, which rapidly spread to Kelowna where we live and go to school.”

As soon as they arrived the team immediately began to feel audience support. They ended up winning the Audience Choice Award—outperforming teams from MIT, Stanford, Tufts, Cornell, Carnegie and Harvard.

“It took a lot of amazing teamwork to build, refine and program the bot,” says team coordinator Jonathan Chin, a second-year mechanical engineering student at UBCO. “This project has been an incredible opportunity to put to work all we have learned in our program.”

The team had a lot of background support within the university and from external partners including West Coast Robotics Ltd., SOLIDWORKS, KF Aerospace and Okanagan College. UBCO’s School of Engineering, the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, AMD, Analog Devices and CubePilot were also co-sponsors.

“Congratulations to the EMBR team on this impressive result and on their continued dedication, hard work and innovative efforts to address this important issue,” says Dr. Will Hughes, Director of the School of Engineering. “We know wildfire response and resilience is a topic of deep importance to our region—and to the world—in the face of a changing environment. This project is an example of the many ways in which UBC can support and advance these efforts through our research, learning and teaching.”

Buffered by their achievement, the team plans to continue to refine their design and will look for additional funding for the project through government grants and industry partnerships.

“In the future, EMBR could use an onboard water system or alternative methods, such as smothering embers with cool soil,” he adds. “We will also be researching other features such as topographical data analysis and using swarm tactics to have multiple rovers working together to cover more ground.”

To learn more about EMBR including sponsorship and partnership opportunities, visit: linktr.ee/heatrobotics.

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UBCO researchers are urging the province to come up with a use management strategy for provincial parks due to concerns about overuse as the parks’ popularity, and BC’s population, continue to increase. Pictured: Saysutshun Provincial Park. Photo by Lyle Wilkinson on Unsplash.

The very thing that makes BC’s pristine provincial parks so popular—nature, serenity, wildlife, the great outdoors—may be in danger of irreparable damage as park use continues to grow alongside the province’s population.

In fact, UBC Okanagan researchers say finding a balance between ecological integrity and public enjoyment of provincial parks is a pressing issue that is likely to escalate with population growth and climate change.

Dr. Michael Noonan is head of UBCO’s Quantitative Ecology Lab in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science. His team’s latest research examines the future of BC’s bustling provincial park system and suggests that as the climate continues to warm, parks will feel the brunt of increased use.

“The problem isn’t going to go away,” he adds. “Parks will suffer from overcrowding, and there will be more human-wildlife conflict in these parks. We’re calling for better education that needs to start now, not in a few years.”

Dr. Noonan cautions that finding a balance between providing recreational opportunities and preserving a safe environment for wildlife will be challenging.

“Our provincial parks have a dual mandate,” he says. “They are areas for people to use for recreational purposes, but they’re also meant as protected places for wildlife. People will often use parks based on the weather—it’s a nice day; let’s get out for a hike. The warmer the weather, the busier these parks are going to get.”

Their study, published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, analyzed the daily usage of more than 249 BC provincial parks. The study’s lead author, undergraduate student Dayna Weststrate, says that management plans have already been implemented to control overuse in highly populated areas.

Crowds bring other potential issues, such as noisy parking lots, damage to sensitive off-trail areas, increased littering and more frequent encounters between visitors and wildlife.

Some parks already require a day-use permit to regulate the number of people allowed to access trails, picnic areas and lakes.

“We tend to be typically reactive with our parks, but I’m suggesting that now is the time we start planning for the future,” Weststrate says. “Instead of reacting to overcrowding when it happens, let’s plan for the future now.”

Along with concerns about heavier park use due to population growth, the study also points to another ramification of overuse—climate change will have ecological consequences that can affect park attendance.

As the climate continues to change, it is expected that wildlife will adjust the timing of their migration or reproduction patterns. This, in turn, may lead to changes in the busiest months for park usage. Such changes could have an impact on mating habits and the reproduction of several species.

Weststrate says the study is an opportunity for the province to start planning for the future sustainability of BC parks. She notes that if proper plans are not in place, climate change-driven increases in attendance and human-wildlife interactions risk the sustainability of nature-based tourism within BC’s protected areas.

“Some of the projections do seem bleak, but they are not yet set in stone,” she adds. “The future of BC’s parks depends upon our ability to maintain a healthy balance between tourism and conservation. Park managers should use these findings to plan for more visitors and avoid cases of human-wildlife conflict, ultimately sustaining the viability of nature-based tourism.”

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New UBCO research shows that hearing aids may help address the influence of hearing loss on physical activity.

As Canada’s population continues to age—people 65 years and older are part of the fastest-growing age group in Canada—researchers and health-care providers continue to look for ways to keep seniors as healthy as possible.

Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis, is the Director of UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management and a Professor with UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences. Dr. Martin Ginis recently worked with colleagues from Johns Hopkins University who led a study investigating the link between a senior’s hearing and their physical activity level.

Using data from an American National Health and Aging Trends Study, the research team studied the association of hearing loss with activity level. More than 500 participants, with a mean age of 79 years, participated by wearing accelerometers for one week and self-reporting their vigorous physical activity and walking exercise for one month. The goal was to investigate the association between physical activity and hearing loss as well as physical activity and hearing aid use. The results were published recently in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A.

Dr. Martin Ginis explains why studies like this are necessary and the important link between hearing capacity and keeping active.

Why is it important to understand the relationship between physical activity and the ability to hear well?

Hearing loss is associated with frailty, poorer physical function and falls. Low levels of physical activity are also related to these health problems. There has been very little research on whether physical activity levels and hearing loss are related in older adults, and whether the use of hearing aids makes a difference.

If we can determine that link, then health-care providers can better support older adults in maintaining an active lifestyle and researchers can focus on studying the impact of hearing interventions.

What’s the connection?

There are several potential mechanisms through which hearing loss may contribute to physical inactivity. These include a decline in the perception of environmental auditory cues while moving about, a feeling of social isolation and increased allocation of cognitive resources for listening, leaving limited attention for simultaneous tasks.

Think about the places where older adults might go to do physical activity—to community centres, public swimming pools, for walks in their neighbourhoods. If their hearing is impaired, it is going to be difficult to interact with fitness leaders or staff in these public spaces, and it may even be frightening or dangerous to move about the community if you can’t hear what is going on around you. These factors will limit a person’s activity levels.

How did you gather your data for this study?

We used data collected from a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States. The participants had clinical-standard audiometric hearing testing and wore an accelerometer for one week to measure their physical activity levels. They also completed a couple of questions about their activity over the past month and provided information on their hearing-aid use.

What did the study determine?

We found that older adults with hearing loss did less physical activity than adults who could still hear well. As hearing loss increased, the number of minutes of physical activity performed each day decreased. The good news, however, was that among adults with hearing loss, those who used a hearing aid were more likely to report that they walked for exercise compared to those who did not use a hearing aid. These patterns held for both men and women in the study.

So, making use of a hearing aid can help keep hearing-impacted seniors more active?

Based on our findings, it seems that using a hearing aid may help to address the impact of hearing loss on physical activity. This makes sense. Hearing aid use may alleviate challenges associated with communicating with people in physical activity spaces—for instance, recreation centres and exercise programs—and reduce the cognitive processing demand in environments where the person needs to attend to auditory cues.

We hope our findings will encourage seniors to have their hearing checked on a routine basis, and if they are experiencing hearing loss, to use hearing aids. Better hearing is related to more time spent on physical activity. And physical activity has a wide range of health and function benefits for older adults.

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Dr. David Suzuki is hosting a livestreamed conversation sponsored by UBC’s Cluster of Research Excellence in Solar Energy for Net Zero.

What: A conversation with Dr. David Suzuki
Who: Renowned environmentalist, author, broadcaster and activist Dr. David Suzuki; members of the UBC Cluster of Research Excellence in Solar Energy for Net Zero
When: Thursday, April 4 at 3:45 pm
Venue: Livestreamed event

Is humanity at an ecological crossroad? How can each of us join the conversation and take steps toward a sustainable future?

Renowned environmentalist, author, broadcaster and activist Dr. David Suzuki will deliver a free talk on these topics at UBC Okanagan on Thursday, April 4.

Dr. Suzuki’s talk, titled Humanity at a Crossroad: Business as Usual or Transformation is presented by UBC’s Eminence Cluster of Research Excellence in Solar Energy for Net Zero, UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science and UBCO’s School of Engineering.

“Humanity has exceeded the capacity of the biosphere to sustain our species,” says Dr. Suzuki. “We have changed the chemistry of the atmosphere, the pH of the oceans and poisoned the soil. Already we are driving other species to extinction on such a scale that we, as the top predator on the planet, a voracious omnivore, are most vulnerable.”

Dr. Suzuki’s history with UBC spans more than 60 years. After earning his doctorate in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, he served as a professor in the genetics department at UBC from 1963 until his retirement in 2001. He now holds the title of UBC Professor Emeritus and was bestowed an Honorary Doctor of Science by the university in 2011.

“Dr. David Suzuki is an icon and a respected voice, not only in Canada but globally in the conversation about education and action in sustainability—from advancing solar energy technology to countless other areas of thinking, building and living greener,” says Dr. Will Hughes, Director of the School of Engineering. “We are honoured and excited to welcome Dr. Suzuki to campus to share his perspectives and dialogue with our community on topics that are addressed every day in UBC research, learning and teaching.”

The Solar Energy for Net Zero research cluster is one of the many ways UBC is advancing cutting-edge research on sustainable energy technologies. The team of interdisciplinary researchers is working closely with industry to meet the solar energy needs of communities today and into the future, explains Dr. Hughes.

People wishing to hear Dr. Suzuki’s talk can register for the live stream via the link available here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-conversation-with-dr-david-suzuki-tickets-812430841517

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Researchers have determined people recovering from a stroke can better self-manage their rehabilitation using a virtual program.

A stroke often impacts a person’s ability to move their lower body from the hips down to the feet.

This leads to diminished quality of life and mental health in addition to increased susceptibility to falls. But now, UBC Okanagan researchers are exploring new treatment methods to help bridge the service delivery gap, and recovery outcomes, for patients after a stroke.

“Shortened length of inpatient stays and continued challenges in transitioning back to the community—including poor access to continued stroke rehabilitation services—have resulted in substantial unmet recovery needs,” says Sarah Park, master’s student with the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM) based at UBC Okanagan. “This is especially true for lower extremity recovery. People can struggle to regain balance, stability and gait coordination for daily life activities and even proper ambulation.”

Dr. Brodie Sakakibara, CCDPM Investigator, recently led a national team of researchers, clinicians and people with lived experiences to evaluate the feasibility of a telerehabilitation program with aims to improve lower extremity recovery poststroke.

“More people are surviving a stroke and the need for accessible rehabilitation regardless of geographic location is increasingly important,” says Dr. Sakakibara. “This program harnesses technology, the expertise of clinical therapists and the motivation of individuals to improve stroke recovery.”

For the study, more than 32 participants, all who had experienced a stroke within the past 18 months, received eight telerehabilitation sessions via videoconference with a trained physical therapist. The research team focused their efforts on improving lower body mobility through standardized exercises combined with self-management supports.

“Overall, participants saw improvements in their mobility and strength, and made noticeable progress towards their rehabilitation goals,” says co-investigator Dr. Ada Tang, an Associate Professor with the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at McMaster University. “They also gained self-management skills to empower themselves and maintain their achievements moving forward.”

While many virtual rehabilitation programs developed out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, programs like this have demonstrated feasibility and increased accessibility to patients. Especially those living in rural and remote areas.

However, researchers have noted therapeutic benefits are not maintained if additional therapy is not sustained after the end of a formal program, explains Park, who was also lead author of the study. It is important to incorporate self-management skills in post-stroke rehabilitation interventions, which empower participants to continue exercising and maintain those benefits after the program ends.

“Overall, self-management programs aim to improve health outcomes by helping people adapt to their circumstances through newfound skills, which could prevent or offset some of the difficulties individuals face when discharged from care,” Park explains. “Virtual rehabilitation programs, with a level of self-management, can ultimately enhance the continuum of care for patients transitioning back into the community and help improve their overall quality of life.”

The study was published recently by the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal.

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UBCO expert says Canada should call for an all-out ban on nicotine pouches, regardless of the age of the user.

“Pop it in your mouth, tuck it under your upper lip and it tingles,” reads an Instagram ad for flavoured nicotine pouches. The pouches—approved for sale in Canada in July 2023—are seemingly marketed as a nicotine replacement therapy to help adults quit smoking.

But that’s not what Canada’s Minister of Health Mark Holland thinks. Last week he told the tobacco companies to “stay away from our kids” just before Health Canada issued a public advisory and a notice of intent to explore legislative and regulatory options to protect youth from these products.

In February of this year, the BC government introduced its own regulations, limiting the sale of nicotine pouches to pharmacies.

Dr. Laura Struik, an Assistant Professor in UBC Okanagan’s School of Nursing, researches the health behaviours of young people and has a particular focus on tobacco and nicotine use, including interventions to prevent youth uptake.

She goes a step further than the health minister, advocating for a total ban on these products—regardless of the age of the user—citing a lack of research on their health impacts and Canada’s treaty obligations.

“As a signatory to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we’re obliged under this public health treaty to ensure any new nicotine products are less harmful than cigarettes, are efficacious smoking cessation aids and are only marketed towards adults.”

Other countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand and Norway have banned nicotine pouches for not sufficiently meeting these requirements.

“However, Canada is on its back foot as far as much needed research goes before these products should have been released to the market,” says Dr. Struik. “A ban is consistent with our commitment to this treaty, and for that matter, our commitment to the health of Canadians, especially our youth.”

Dr. Struik is available to provide expert commentary on the changing regulations on these new nicotine products and their potential health impacts.

Dr. Laura Struik (she/her)
Assistant Professor, UBC Okanagan School of Nursing
Tel: 250 864 7879
Email: laura.struik@ubc.ca
Language(s): English

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March is Embrace Aging Month and UBC Okanagan has a jampacked schedule of workshops and activities to help with a healthy transition along the journey of aging.

If anyone is looking for the secret to a long and healthy life, it might be found at one of UBC Okanagan’s upcoming Embrace Aging events.

An annual event for more than 10 years, each March, UBCO’s Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (IHLCDP) organizes a variety of events that promote tips and activities to encourage healthy aging.

One such event, a Zoom webinar on March 20, is titled The 10 Secrets of Aging. Participants will learn several tips and ideas for a healthy transition that can help embrace the journey of aging.

Dr. Jennifer Jakobi, Director of the IHLCDP and co-lead of UBCO’s Aging in Place Research Cluster, notes individuals who are 65 years and older are part of the fastest-growing age group in Canada. Over the next 20 years, the population of older adults is expected to grow by greater than 65 per cent.

“One goal of our research team is to support older adults to remain in their homes—safely and comfortably—by developing evidence-based, in-home self-management supports to maintain independence,” says Dr. Jakobi, a Professor with the School of Health and Exercise Sciences.

“When we think that this particular age group is part of the fastest-growing group in Canada today, we need to provide ample services and opportunity for older adults to have choices in where and how they want to age,” she explains. “Embrace Aging Month brings into focus the joy of aging and at the same time provides tips and ideas on how to navigate this phase of life.”

Throughout March there are a number of events for people to attend including webinars on a variety of subjects including estate planning, digital literacy, living with dementia, learning how electronic medical records and health portals work, as well as ending ageism and an introduction session on tarot cards.

Those looking for some physical activity can take part in a Bollywood-style dancing workshop, receive a 10-use punch card with local sponsor Global Fitness for functional aging fitness classes, try chair yoga, learn about electric bikes, attend mingle Mondays and even try out a bird watching session at Mission Creek.

“While Embrace Aging Month brings into focus the importance of supporting older adults in our communities, the sessions are for young and old alike,” adds Dr. Jakobi. “We have tried to think of something for just about everyone.”

Embrace Aging Month is organized by UBCO’s IHLCDP in partnership with Interior Savings and Interior Health. Events begin Friday, March 1 and all events are free and open to the public. For a full schedule and registration details, visit: okanaganembraceaging.com

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Hundreds of pieces of unique art will be the focus of attention during UBCO’s annual Art on the Line fundraising event in March.

What: Art on the Line Fundraiser and Gala
Who: Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies students, faculty and local artists,
When: Saturday, March 16 from 5:30 to 10 pm
Where: Engineering, Management and Education building, 1137 Alumni Avenue, UBC Okanagan, Kelowna
Cost: $200 per ticket, which admits two people and guarantees one piece of artwork. Day of entry admission, $10 at the door

It’s part auction, part fundraiser, part gala and part luck of the draw.

UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS), in association with the Visual Arts Course Union, once again presents the annual Art on the Line Fundraiser and Gala.

Taking place on Saturday, March 16, the 22nd annual Art on the Line event brings together the local arts community to celebrate the work of UBCO’s students, faculty, alumni and several artists practicing in the community.

The evening is an entertaining gala, where approximately 135 works of art are collected from local students, faculty and creators. The artwork is then raffled off to guests as the night progresses. Every guest will go home with a vibrant piece of donated art, explains event host and emcee, FCCS Visual Arts Instructor David Doody.

“The artworks donated will be on display and promoted for hundreds of local art collectors to view with anticipation,” says Doody. “We encourage the community to join us for this exciting evening of local art, beer and wine, live entertainment and of course great conversation.”

Matthew Kenney, a fourth-year Bachelor of Media Studies student and one of the event organizers, explains the drama to the evening. Each guest selects a piece of donated work that they would like to take home. However, no one knows until their ticket is pulled which piece of art they will have the opportunity of actually claiming as their own.

“Connecting over art is one of my favourite things in life,” says Kenny. “Art on the Line is in the amazing position of being able to connect emerging and practicing artists with members of the community. It’s something we do not take for granted and work hard to create meaningful relationships between the artists and art enthusiasts of the Okanagan, thus in turn further developing its creative arts culture.”

Proceeds from the event support UBCO visual arts student exhibitions like the fourth-year show, the visiting artist program, opportunities for travel grants and exhibitions, as well as local charity Third Space, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health services and counselling to young people in the Okanagan.

“We are proud to be including submissions from our Bachelor of Fine Arts and our Bachelor of Media Studies students, faculty, alumni and local artists,” adds Kenney. “This varied collection makes it the widest variety of works shown within any previous Art on the Line event.”

Art on the Line tickets are $200 for two people to enter and the ticket guarantees one piece of artwork. People who would like to attend and view the exhibition but not take home a piece of art can purchase a ticket at the door for $10.

Organizers are also accepting submissions of 2D and 3D artwork for the event. Submission forms, event tickets and more details can be found at: fccs.ok.ubc.ca/artontheline

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Wendy Wong, UBC Okanagan Professor of Political Science.

Every time a person opens an app, gives a thumbs up to a social media post or interacts digitally, data about them is collected and updated.

Digital data is everywhere and is constantly being modified and used to create algorithms that can impact what lands on our digital platforms. Do we have control over personal data? Should we be worried about who is collecting and using it?

And what role does artificial intelligence play in all of this?

UBC Okanagan’s Wendy H. Wong is a Professor and Principal’s Research Chair in Political Science and an expert on personal data. Her latest book, We the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age has been shortlisted for the 2024 Lionel Gelber Prize—an international award for the best non-fiction book in international affairs written in English. The prize, issued by the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, was founded in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber and seeks to deepen public debate on significant international issues.

Dr. Wong’s book, the lone Canadian selection and one of five contenders this year, explores how technology companies play a pivotal role in governing our lives by leveraging the countless amounts of personal data generated in our everyday interactions online.

While AI is now a common term and people have adapted and embraced tools like ChatGPT, changes seem to take place daily. But should people be concerned? Or accept that, even if we try to protect it, our data is being mined and AI is part now of our everyday lives?

Your book focuses on understanding how big tech companies are mining, storing and profiting from our data. Why is this so important?

We have to start understanding the role that private corporations play in the governance of our everyday lives. We interact daily with platforms that are not subject to the same responsibilities as governments. Yet, we are often more than happy to, or at least, more comfortable with, ceding access to data about us to corporations than to the state.

I think it is time we’re more skeptical about how these data are treated. This is not to say corporations are bad. But we don’t tend to think of them or hold them accountable in the same way we do governments, which must protect and enforce human rights.

Should we be concerned about how quickly AI has been integrated into education, health care and general society?

AI is a shiny new technology. And we’re trying to integrate it when we don’t understand that the human data that powers AI doesn’t go away easily—it’s sticky. Data’s stickiness affects us in our everyday activities—it’s time policymakers and technology creators reckon with how AI changes humanity through the human rights values of autonomy, dignity, equality and community. We’re all stakeholders in data, and we need to explicitly acknowledge not just how data affects us, but how we can influence data creation.

We the Data is the only Canadian book to make this list for a Canadian book prize. Is that significant?

It’s particularly nice to represent Canadian authors and Canadian scholarship. This prize is open to all English language books on international affairs, so the field is quite large. I think it’s important that views from Canada are present in debates on global politics because we have so much to offer policymakers and the public.

Were you surprised by this prestigious nomination?

You never write a book thinking it’s going to be recognized by an international jury as a contender for a major award! It took a day for me to let it sink in. It is truly a wonderful affirmation of how centrally we need to discuss human rights when we consider AI and data about human beings.

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