Building the System: Follow-up, monitoring & adaptive management

Does impact assessment (IA) end when the license has been granted? While societal resources tend to focus on rigorous project approvals, what happens to the project, to the public and to the environment once approval is granted? Follow up and monitoring are often an afterthought for legislators, public servants and proponents. But they are critical to public confidence and to ensuring that proponents live up to their commitments in a rapidly changing world."This report draws from research funded by the Impact Assessment Agency as part of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Knowledge Mobilization Grant on Informing Best Practice in Environmental and Impact Assessment.

An investigation of the roles, relationships and experiences of part-time placement tutors in their supervision of student teachers on school placement

Initial teacher education represents the beginning of formal study for those who wish to pursue a career in teaching. The issue of teachers and teaching has become an important part of governmental policy in many countries, and the preparation of teachers has received much attention in recent years. Key to the preparation of future teachers is their experience of school placement; the opportunity afforded to them to gain real-life experience of teaching in a range of school settings. The student teacher, supported by the school-based cooperating teacher and the university-based placement tutor represent the school placement ‘triad’ (Macintyre and Morris 1980); the central figures in school placement. Many research studies have been conducted on the experiences and perspectives of student teachers and co-operating teachers. By comparison placement tutors, especially part-time placement tutors, have received considerably less attention. Yet this latter group of placement tutors are the mainstay of many initial teacher education programmes where fulltime staff, already stretched to capacity with teaching and research duties, are often unavailable to fulfil the role of placement tutor. The setting for this doctoral study was the final year school placement module of an undergraduate initial teacher education programme, in a university in the Republic of Ireland. The goal of the study was to explore the experiences, roles and relationships of part-time placement tutors in school placement. A multiple case study of six part-time placement tutors during a year of school placement was conducted. A tripartite theoretical framework using the constructs of Identity (Holland et al. 1998), Multimembership (Wenger 1998, 2009, 2010) and Third Space (Bhabha 1990; Zeichner 2010) was employed to inform the study. Data collection methods included individual interviews with the participants, observations of their practice and a researcher diary. Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006) was used to analyse the data. Three themes were identified in the data analysis. The findings in Theme One: Becoming a part-time placement tutor in initial teacher education indicate that part-time placement tutors come with a biography of ‘once a teacher’ which informs their practice. Commensurate with this fact, they continue to embrace a teacher identity in their role as teacher educators. Theme Two: The lived experiences of part-time placement tutors in initial teacher education provides substantial evidence that part-time placement tutors enact a multifaceted, complex and ‘dual role’ of both assessor and assistor (Slick 1998) for student teachers. The importance of induction to the role, access to ongoing continuing professional development and structured support, and the use of established assessment guidelines emerge as key elements necessary to facilitate part-time placement tutors to fulfil their roles effectively. The findings in Theme Two also offer significant insights into the challenges that part-time placement tutors encounter in the current informal university-school partnerships in initial teacher education. Despite this, the evidence demonstrates that part-time placement tutors are highly motivated, committed and supportive teacher educators who enjoy their role. Theme Three: Part-time placement tutors in the landscape of school placement reveal that part-time placement tutors operate on the fringes of two communities of practice, the school and university, acting as valuable liaisons between both communities. Findings on Third Space learning in this theme indicate that the prevailing school placement system does not support Third Space professional practices, though participants testify that introducing a Third Space in school placement would greatly assist student teachers in their journey of learning to teach. In addition, while part-time placement tutors enjoy positive professional relationships with student teachers and co-operating teachers, the landscape of school placement does not facilitate the formation of established relationships between part-time placement tutors and these other two members of the school placement triad. In light of the paucity of research on part-time placement tutors, this doctoral study is a unique and original addition to the field of teacher education. Furthermore, given the recent establishment of the School Placement Working Group in the Republic of Ireland in 2018 coupled with the subsequent publication of the Report and Action Plan of the School Placement Working Group (Teaching Council 2021a), the conclusions and recommendations of this study are timely and provide a significant contribution to policy, practice and future research directions regarding the role of part-time placement tutors in initial teacher education

A new staples industry? Complexity, governance and Canada's diamond mines

The discovery of indicator minerals in the Slave geological province began a staking and development rush that, in a little over a decade, saw Canada becoming one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds. An examination of the institutions surrounding the development of the first two diamond mines illustrates the complexities associated with mineral development. An emerging picture of a new approach to the northern staples-based economy reveals efforts to promote responsible economic development within a sound environmental framework. Furthermore, this approach necessarily involves the incorporation of a group of policy actors with agendas, needs, and requirements qualitatively different from those of traditional resource developers and producers. Thus the new diamond projects are proceeding in a way that is qualitatively different from historical practices that have governed staples based development in the mineral sector.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S144940350770102

Tissue Banking: Relationship with Blood Donor and Organ Donor Card Status

Understanding the relationships among altruistic health acts may serve to aid therapeutic research advances. In this paper, we report on the links between two such behaviours—donating blood and carrying an organ donor card—and willingness to donate urological tissue to a tissue bank. Reasons for the differential willingness to do so are examined in this paper. A systematic sample of 259 new and returning attendees at a tertiary urology referral clinic in Ireland completed a self-report questionnaire in an outpatient setting. In addition to demographic details, details of known diagnosis of malignancy and family history of cancer; attitudes to tissue donation for research purposes were gauged using a 5-point Likert scale. Both blood donors and organ donor card carriers were more likely to be willing to donate tissue for research purposes. Blood donors were more likely want to know their overall results in comparison to nonblood donors and want their samples to be used for nonprofit research. Our hypothesis that being a blood donor would be a better predictor to donate urological tissue than being an organ donor card carrier borne out by the trends reported above

Intermittent attendance at breast cancer screening

Background. To determine why women skip rounds and factors influencing return of previous non attenders (PNAs) to breast screening. Design and methods. Retrospective, quantitative, structured questionnaire posted to 2500 women. First PNAs did not attend their first screening appointment in 2007/2008 but then attended in 2010; First Controls first attended in 2010 without missed previous appointments. Women who attended screening in 2006 or earlier then skipped a round but returned in 2010 were Subsequent PNAs; Subsequent Controls attended all appointments.Results. More First Controls than First PNAs had family history of cancer (72.7% vs 63.2%; P=0.003); breast cancer (31.3% vs 24.8%; P=0.04). More PNAs lived rurally; more First PNAs had 3rd level education (33.2% vs 23.6%; P=0.002) and fewer had private insurance than First Controls (57.7% vs 64.8%; P=0.04). Excellent/good health was reported in First PNAs and First Controls (82.9% vs 83.2%), but fewer Subsequent PNAs than Subsequent Controls (72.7% vs 84.9%; P=0.000). Common considerations at time of missed appointment were had mammogram elsewhere (33% First PNA) and postponed to next round (16% First PNA, 18.8% Subsequent PNA). Considerations when returning to screening were similar for First PNAs and Subsequent PNAs: I am older (35.4%, 29.6%), I made sure I remembered (29%, 23.6%), could reschedule (17.6%, 20.6%), illness of more concern (16.5%, 19%). More First PNAs stated my family/friends advised (22.3% vs 15.2%) or my GP (12.6% vs 4.6%) advised me to attend, heard good things about BreastCheck (28.8% vs 13.6%).Conclusions. Intermittent attenders do not fit socio-demographic patterns of non-attenders; GP recommendation and word of mouth were important in women’s return to screening. Fear and anxiety seem to act as a screening facilitator rather than an inhibitor

Reenvisioning an Energy Strategy for Manitoba: Planning for 2030 and Beyond

On March 10, 2020 the Re-envisioning an Energy Strategy for Manitoba: Planning for 2030 and Beyond workshop was held at The University of Winnipeg. The purpose of the event was to initiate a discussion amongst Manitobans about energy in the province. In doing so, it brought together people with a variety of energy-based perspectives and interests, including consumers, researchers, students, Indigenous peoples, energy providers, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and members of the public interested in the future of energy use in Manitoba. This event was organized by The Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) Partnership, the Manitoba Branch of The Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC), The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), and Amanda Gelfant.Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES); Consumers' Association of Canada – Manitoba; Public Interest Law Centr

More than Talking Heads?!? How do administrative tribunals hear from the public? A report prepared for the Consumers’ Association of Canada – Manitoba Branch

Consumers and the general public want a say in the decisions which affect them. However, access to meaningful engagement in regulatory decisions is uneven across jurisdictions, as well as across types of tribunals. Scholarship on this subject describes meaningful participation as that which is open to all, is based on reliable data, ensures transparency and accountability, ensures early & ongoing engagement, has potential for participant funding, and is based on the principles of natural justice. But what happens in actual practice? The purpose of this research was to explore how consumers have and can be involved in the decisions which affect them. Specifically, this research: (i) examined how different tribunals implement statutory requirements for public engagement across Canada (ii) explored methods, dynamics, and nature of public engagement programs and, (iii) identified tools for engaging the public

Empowering Churchill: Exploring energy security in northern Manitoba

To those living in Churchill, Manitoba, having power means much more than being able to turn on the lights. Using Churchill as a case study, we examine how local context can improve the suitability of energy security definitions for communities in northern Canada. Churchill is an isolated northern municipality with no road access but is connected to the electrical grid. Energy consumption data were collected from utility providers and organized into a community energy profile. Semi-structured interviews (n = 23) and a community workshop (n = 12) identified challenges, opportunities, and a vision for Churchill’s energy system. High per capita energy consumption, especially of transportation (jet fuel) and heat (electricity and propane) sources dominate Churchill’s energy profile. The reliance on air travel and need for heating are realities that define energy systems in the North. Participants expressed desire for increased use of renewables and improved energy efficiency. Churchill is reliant on external sources of power and there is a need for agency and local decision making. Jurisdictional realities and the community’s desire for consideration of local context mean energy security definitions should take a regional approach. Recognizing these findings, we propose a new definition of energy security that fits the circumstances and desires of Churchill and the North."This research was supported by the University of Winnipeg, the Northern Research Fund, the Northern Scientific Training Program, the Geography and Environmental Students’ Association, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada through the CASES partnership grant, and the Manitoba Public Interest Law Centre."https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/7505

Exploring the flow state in professional jump jockeys: Content and connecting analyses.

Research on flow in elite sport has largely focussed on traditional sports and has yet to consider the possibility of unique performance experiences in the case of horse-rider sports. This study sought to explore; (a) the conditions influencing the occurrence of flow; (b) the characteristics of flow; and (c) the connections between the conditions and characteristics of flow in horse racing jockeys. Ten full-time professional National Hunt (jump) jockeys (Mean age = 28.1; SD = 5.21) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring the flow state in horse racing. Data was analysed through an alternating process between content analysis (Colaizzi, 1978) and connecting analysis (Maxwell, 2012). The content analysis revealed that ten characteristics described the state of flow in jump jockeys, of which the optimal interaction with the horse has not emerged previously. Synchronisation of horse and jockey during flow experiences was characterised by communication, physiological and locomotive features. The optimal horse-jockey partnership involved the fusion of conditions pertaining independently to both the horse and jockey and was subsequently expressed through altered kinaesthetic sensations in the horse-rider relationship. Twelve facilitators, ten inhibitors and seven disruptors were identified as being influential to the state of flow in jockeys, with all three circumstances including a novel theme; the demeanour, performance and characteristics of the horse. The connecting analysis extracted 35 links between the conditions and characteristics of flow, through which confidence, concentration and the optimal interaction with the horse were highly influential. This study made two important contributions by characterising the experience of flow in the interspecies equine sport of horse racing and identifying the manner in which the facilitative factors influenced flow in jump jockeys. Additionally, results also alluded to elements of the autotelic personality in jockeys. Results are discussed in relation to previous research and recommendations for theoretical and research developments outlined