Trainee reflections from the Norman Bethune Symposium 2026
On April 15, 2026, the Centre for Blood Research hosted their 14th annual Norman Bethune Symposium. This symposium – which takes place both in-person in Vancouver with a live link also available for virtual viewers – is a key knowledge exchange event that gathers scientists, clinicians, healthcare professionals, and trainees to discuss advancements in the field of blood research. In this post, two conference participants share their reflections and takeaways as trainees studying in the lab of Canadian Blood Services’ adjunct scientist, Dr. Syed Qadri, at Ontario Tech University.
Cozy clinics and medical mazes: How design influences healthcare
Maria-Elizabeth Baeva takes a deep dive into how design influences healthcare in hospitals, from patients, to visitors, to doctors.
No Home for My Genome (Sequencing Apparatus): Special Considerations for Laboratory Design
What does it take to make a lab? From equipment to aesthetics, Maria Elizabeth-Baeva delves into considerations for laboratory design.
The mRNA vaccine: Success for COVID-19 and beyond
Erik Lamoureux explores the success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, and how they could be used for malaria, Ebola, and other diseases.
Pomegranate juice, or: what to say when science doesn’t have the answer
What should we say when science doesn’t have the answer? Author Maria-Elizabeth Baeva explores how we can balance scientific reason with human empathy when engaging with the public, especially in uncertain times.
Life Outside the Lab at the CBR
MSc student Kevin Gonzalez shares his experience as part of various CBR programs and committees, from his time in the Graduate Award Program, to the Health and Wellness Team, to the Outreach Committee.
The Tensegrity of Art and Science (Part 2): Why Art Needs Science
Some skeptics remain hesitant to include the arts under the umbrella of STEM, perhaps out of fear of shifting priorities from scientific domains or owing to perceived challenges in maintaining subject-specific standards. However, as writer Maria-Elizabeth Baeva demonstrates, these disciplines are reliant on each other, and scientific discovery has had significant influence on the arts.
The Tensegrity of Art and Science (Part 1): Why Science Needs Art
A science major might consider the arts to be intangible or abstract, whereas an art major might argue that the sciences are boring or uninspiring. Despite this tension, writer Maria-Elizabeth Baeva demonstrates how these two disciplines share commonalities, and most importantly, how they are reliant on each other.
Mixed Messages: Why Science Communication is More Important Than Ever During the Pandemic
As COVID-19 continues to pose a large threat to people’s lives and economies all around the world, it is crucial for new knowledge about the virus to be easily accessible to the public, and clear messaging by scientists is more important than ever.
The Nobel Prize Series Part 4: A Grand Finale
Beyond the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony and award, what happens after you win a Nobel Prize? In this last installment of the Nobel Prize series, we discuss the perks and problems that occur with winning this prestigious prize.