Looking to the future: Digital behaviour post-pandemic
Written by: Brittney Durston
We sat down with Nathan Ng, site director at PIMS Lethbridge, to chat about the research opportunities we see emerging as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nathan’s enthusiasm for the opportunities that remote lectures, seminars and conferences can provide is inspiring. It was a natural fit having Nathan chair PIMS’ Digital Collaboration Committee (DCC). One goal of the DCC is to provide advanced level courses through the PIMS network in an online setting.
A frequent problem Nathan reflects on is lower enrollment in graduate level courses. Graduate courses tend to be small and if there are fewer than 10 students, we may not be able to run the course using the traditional in-person format. However, through PIMS’ robust network, the magic of the Internet and Nathan’s guidance, we have the ability to connect experts with a larger group of students. This enables the effective sharing of specialized knowledge, thus moving research forward collaboratively.
Nathan excitedly shares that PIMS recently put out a call for graduate level courses that could be disseminated in an online format. We have received a handful of high-quality submissions, and see this as a mechanism to move research forward through the sharing of expert knowledge in accessible format. Geography is no longer a barrier to connecting with experts from different institutions to create high quality courses, seminars and conferences, accessible online. For example, students at PIMS Canadian member universities that are interested in: Data-Driven Models in Finance: Risk Forecasting and Algorithmic Trading, Graph Theory, Mathematical Modeling of Complex Fluids and Optimal Transport + X, can now learn more about these subject areas through PIMS Canadian member universities and the Western Deans Agreement.
Another goal of PIMS’ Digital Collaboration Committee is to provide early mentorship to students through the sharing of expert knowledge. With faculty looking to establish collaborative research groups and stronger connections with highly trained graduate and PhD students, research will continue to move forward through increased remote collaborations. One thing we’ve noticed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is increased opportunities for mentorship and networking within the mathematical sciences. With online collaborations becoming increasingly common, enriching the educational experience within the mathematical sciences will strengthen the output of research. This further supports research in the mathematical sciences through the development of group collaborations and the establishment of research groups.
Not only are geographical barriers removed through remote collaborations, but the planet wins too. Nathan recalls a study by Seth Wynes and Simon Donner (UBC, Geography department) which highlights the significant carbon footprint of air travel amongst academic institutions. With environmental ethics and implications weighing heavily on those who use air travel to attend conferences, collaborate with colleagues and conduct research, online collaborations win again. It is no longer necessary to board a plane to connect with the University of Lethbridge. Experts, collaborators and students can meet virtually, with platforms like Zoom acting as an equalizer, levelling the playing field through cost, technology and access.
Nathan reviewed the various platforms that brings users together virtually and because of its easy to use features and accessibility, Zoom showcased itself as a top choice. But, what if your seminar is in a room and you want to film it? The cost can be surprisingly high if you want to use your IT department and the quality may be poor if using just an iPhone. How about utilizing student talent? Nathan recruited two students from the Faculty of Fine Arts, brothers Jacob and Aaron Nalder to film his Number Theory and Combinatorics seminar. They had both the expertise and access to equipment needed to produce a high-quality video suitable for sharing online, while gaining valuable experience. The seminars are then posted to MathTube, increasing access to mathematical expertise while advancing research through remote connections.
PIMS’ commitment to mathematical excellence and moving research forward has enabled us to look towards the future of accessible research tools and remote collaborations. This will increase the sharing of specialized subject matter and enrich the learning experience for students, as well as provide additional networking and mentorship opportunities while advancing research and reducing our carbon footprint.
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