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Baseball, Sports

As one former Expo enters the Hall, chances look slim for another

by Gabe Nisker on

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For only the fourth time in Baseball Hall of Fame history, members of the Baseball Writers Association of America elected four players to the Hall on Jan. 24, as Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Trevor Hoffman, and Vladimir Guerrero all found themselves on the right end of a phone call. Guerrero, one of three former Montreal Expos on the ballot, both pleased and disappointed Expos fans: He made it into the Hall, but subsequently chose to don a Los Angeles Angels cap on his plaque—becoming the first player from that storied franchise to do so.

Although Guerrero found his rightful place in the Hall of Fame, former Expos and Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker was not so fortunate. Even having received his highest-ever vote percentage on this ballot—at a shade over 34 per cent—time is running out for the Canadian-born outfielder to make it over the three-quarters of the vote barrier for admission to the Hall. Only two of his 10 years of eligibility remain, so Canadian baseball fans have already turned their attention to next year’s ballot, as they help to promote his cause.

Walker ranks among the Canadian greats: The first Canadian player to win Most Valuable Player in MLB history, he now holds the position of Team Canada hitting coach. His contributions to baseball have extended beyond his wonderful playing years and they merit recognition in the ultimate way. Yet, although Walker deserves his place in Cooperstown, his prospects look grim. With two years to go, the support that comes from here on out looks to be too little, too late for the Canadian outfielder, as he likely becomes yet another worthy candidate to fall victim to a stuffed ballot.

For one, Jay Jaffe, Sports Illustrated’s in-house Hall-of-Fame expert, noted that no eighth-year candidate with voting percentages that low has ever been elected. This includes the players elected under the previous voting system, which allowed them to remain on the ballot for up to 15 years. Even considering his well-rounded statistical case, Walker’s lack of writer support is no mystery.

With a troublingly small 10-vote limit, every voter finds ways to cut their ballot down. To do so, they lean on silly narratives that have nothing to do with the player’s actual baseball skills—sometimes keeping deserving players on the outside looking in. For Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, voters cite steroid use, even though Bud Selig—the commissioner of baseball who let steroid use run rampant under his watch—was elected into the Hall of Fame last year.

Walker’s narratives aren’t quite as simple. In a column dissecting Walker’s candidacy, Jaffe pointed out that Walker totalled over 72 Wins Above Replacement (WAR)—baseball’s go-to statistic to measure a player’s value. That mark is the 11th best by any right fielder in league history. All 10 ahead of him are Hall-of-Famers.

Instead, the old-school baseball community prefers “eye test” metrics and simple counting stats, both of which do not tell Walker’s full story. This means the tremendous value Walker added elsewhere—particularly his baserunning and defence, both accounted for in WAR—has gone unrecognized. Unfortunately, while the old-school community discounts the new-fangled numbers, the new-school community has trouble overcoming the Coors effect, an overblown theory that the high altitude and the thin air boost hitting statistics. On top of that, neither party takes a look at his extensive contributions to Canadian baseball.

Walker grew up wanting to play hockey, but his baseball success inspired many young Canadians to follow in his footsteps. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that Walker will find any more success on next year’s writer’s ballot than he did this time around.

Science & Technology

Arctic environments could yield clues about life on other planets

by Sihara Wickremasinghe on

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A research team led by Professor Lyle Whyte and post-doctoral fellow Jacqueline Goordial from McGill’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences has explored using low-cost, low-mass, and currently-available microbiological instruments to detect signs of life in astrobiological missions on other planets.

Published in the December 2017 issue of Frontiers in Microbiology, Whyte and Goordial’s study employed various devices, such as the MinION nucleic acid sequencer, to test for compounds that characterize life—specifically DNA and RNA—in one of Earth’s harshest climates: The Canadian High Arctic. The region’s permafrost, as well as the nutrient-poor soil found in the Arctic, are representational of the harsh environments found on celestial bodies like Mars, Europa, or Enceladus.

Instruments designed to detect alien life need to be able to identify it in small quantities and in nutrient-poor environments. Technologies that can only detect life in rich soils, for example, would not be effective on a planet like Mars.

For this reason, testing samples from areas generally thought to be uninhabitable by most life forms–like the Canadian High Arctic in Whyte and Goordial’s study–is important for one day being able to detect alien life on nutrient-poor planets. The team extracted samples from Arctic polygonal terrain permafrost—a type of patterned landscape which, coincidentally, is also found on Mars.

“This type of permafrost collected [polygon terrain] has dips in it and where you have these dips, you have ice wedges underneath the ground,” Isabelle Raymond-Bouchard, a postdoctoral researcher in microbiology in Whyte’s lab, told The McGill Tribune.

Raymond-Bouchard further explained why DNA and RNA are the best channels for detecting life. In contrast to many other molecules that are associated with living organisms, nucleic acids are only found in life forms.

“The instruments [currently used] on the [space] rovers are able to detect some organic molecules and maybe some amino acids but these can be created through abiotic processes,” Raymond-Bouchard said. “Just because you have those, it doesn’t mean you have life. That’s why we’re interested in looking at DNA and RNA; they are unambiguous signs you have life.”

Currently, nucleic acid sequencing units are huge, making them difficult to transport into space. However, smaller instruments, such as the Oxford Nanopore MinION for nucleic acid detection and sequencing, already exist and are an excellent alternative.

“[The MinION nucleic acid sequencer] is smaller than your cellphone in volume and weight,” said Ianina Altshuler, one of the authors of the study and a PhD candidate in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences at McGill. “We’re trying to push the limits of this technology to see what it can do.”

The team’s end goal is to create a life-detection platform small enough for use in outer space.

“The idea is that we can integrate different components, including the MinION sequencer, together into this platform that would be light, not too large, have low energy requirements and would fit on a space rover,” Raymond-Bouchard said.

The components of such a platform—such as nucleic acid extractors, isolators, and sequencers—could be swapped on and off the rover depending on the requirements of the mission.

At the moment, the individual experimental instruments of a platform like this would have to be used separately, due to intermediary steps that require human attention such as the tagging of extracted RNA before it can enter a sequencing machine. An automated system requiring only the input of a sample by a rover has yet to be developed. Such a system would allow nucleic acids to be detected onsite, rather than requiring a lab for analysis, saving both time and money and potentially accelerating progress in the search for alien life.

The team plans to go back to the Canadian High Arctic to test more samples using other miniature devices. Collecting samples from even harsher climates on Earth, like Antarctica, are a potential next step.

News

McGill recognized as number two school for efforts in sustainability

by Tali Zuckerman on

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McGill continues to hold the title of the second most sustainable university in Canada, as reported by Corporate Knights magazine, which rates organizations across the country by their sustainability. McGill earned a total score of 75 per cent on Oct. 30, which was based on 13 environmental indicators including the number of green building spaces on its campus and sustainable investments in its portfolio. McGill’s score was one per cent behind the University of Calgary and three per cent above Wilfrid Laurier University.

One of the most heavily-weighed factors in the ranking was food sustainability. As the magazine explains, buying locally reduces pollution from transportation. As McGill’s Food and Dining Services reports, at least 75 per cent of its produce is farmed locally during the summer, 50 per cent during the fall, and 25 per cent during the spring. McGill also became the first Canadian university to receive certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which identifies organizations that support sustainable fishing and fish farming practices.

McGill is also widely recognized for its initiatives in fair trade foods, another key element of the Corporate Knight’s ranking system. In February 2017, McGill was chosen out of 21 competing universities to receive the 2016 Fair Trade Canada Campus of the Year Award for its continued support for fair trade products and practices.

Fair trade practices refer to considering the environmental and social factors behind food production. Roddick Roast, McGill’s own coffee blend sourced from small fair trade farms in Mexico, is an example of this.

“Once you see a fair trade label on a product you know that it came from a fair trade certified farm and that the proper price was paid for it and that all the actions were properly audited,” Fair Trade Executive Director Julie Francoeur said. “It’s also a development tool, how do we generate impact over time in those communities?”

Another important factor in the ranking was how environmentally sustainable the structural design of buildings was. McGill scored well in this category because it has received the gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a certification based on a building’s resource efficiency and environmental quality. McGill’s Life Sciences Complex is the only university-owned laboratory in Quebec that has received the LEED gold certification from the Canada Green Building Council. The McGill Health Centre’s Glen site is also the first hospital in Quebec to receive a LEED gold certification. Carmen Lampron, director of the Life Sciences Complex, described how buildings that meet the LEED certification requirements have long-lasting, quality materials and healthier employees.

“Building a LEED building is more expensive than building a regular building, but over years you will gain in your costs for operation, [and you are being] a good citizen,” Carmen Lampron, director of the Life Sciences Complex, said.

McGill also sponsors numerous student-led environmental initiatives on campus through the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF). Launched in 2010, the SPF is one of the largest funds for sustainable projects in North America, awarding more than $5.5 million to over 170 projects thus far.

“What’s really unique [about the SPF] is that students become project managers,” Toby Davine, communications officer at the McGill Office of Sustainability, said. “Those students that apply to lead a project get to set the budget, they get to hire people, and see a project from start to finish which gives them a certain level of independence and autonomy. It’s really centered on student learning. [It] allows students to take what they learned in the classroom and apply it […] to something that they really care about.”

In an effort to improve its environmental performance, McGill launched its Climate and Sustainability Action Plan on Dec. 1. By the year 2040, McGill aims to become carbon neutral. With the current drive for environmental sustainability within the McGill community, Toby Davine believes that this is possible.

“I think that carbon neutrality is definitely a challenge, but if we weren’t challenging ourselves, there’s no point,” Davine said.

McGill, News

McGill holds forum to discuss inclusivity and respectful debate on campus

by Tianyu Zhang on

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On Jan. 24, the Principal’s Task Force on Respect and Inclusion in Campus Life held an open forum for students, faculty, and staff to voice their opinions and suggestions regarding campus inclusivity. The task force, which was announced in an email on Oct. 25 2017, is mandated to hold consultations with the McGill community and deliver a final report to the McGill Senate with recommendations about how to promote academic freedom and inclusiveness on campus.

The open forum was streamed online, and viewers were invited to provide their input to the task force’s administrators via email. It was divided into three main rounds of discussion: Defining campus inclusion, brainstorming methods of improving inclusion, and suggesting tangible plans for the administration.

 

Faculty and students’ attempt to define inclusion and respect

John Poliquin, staffing manager at McGill Human Resources, moderated the first discussion about the inclusivity of McGill’s environment. Laila Parsons, associate professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies, opened debate by criticizing the administration’s response to the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

“The BDS is a normal method of activism, [and] the University’s condemnation of the BDS exacerbated the tensions,” Parsons said.

Morley Kert, U2 Engineering, attended the first debate, and agreed that the discussion surrounding BDS on campus could be more inclusive.

“On one hand, I agree with the fact that McGill shouldn’t be condemning activism, but on the other hand, McGill should promote open forums like this so people who have different opinions can debate their ideas,” Kert said.

 

Suggestions for actionable plans to make campus more inclusive

Fatima Anjum, a Faculty of Law student, moderated the second discussion.

Kert shared their belief that McGill should continue to host one-on-one debates and open discussion events similar to the task force forum.

“Open debates and confrontations with people who have different views make us stronger and better prepared for the real world,” Kert said. “We are still young and developing, there is no need to take firm stances on our beliefs in this stage of our lives.”

The discussion shifted its focus toward the limits of free speech. Some audience members defended their right to speak freely, and criticized initiatives like Rez Projects—mandatory training workshops on diversity and inclusion for students living in McGill residences—for imposing restrictions on free speech. Others argued that unregulated freedom of speech harms minority students.

“There is a reason why we don’t invite people like Donald Trump or Jordan Peterson [to speak at McGill],” Arno Pedram, U3 Arts, said. “The level of debate needs to be limited when dealing with extremists, and the question of free speech always has to balance with [concerns about] security.”

 

Administration collects feedback from students

Assistant Professor David Theodore of Mcgill’s School of Architecture moderated the third discussion, during which students could directly communicate with faculty. Many participants requested for professors to provide their course syllabi before semesters begin to simplify the add/drop period.

The forum concluded with closing remarks by Nandini Ramanujam, executive director at the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.

“Many of you would like to have more of an enabling environment for inclusive, respective dialogue [and] conversations, looking in the eye, one-on-one conversations,” Ramanujam said. “We are all McGill, so we all have a responsibility to make McGill a better place. [But] of course the administration will take your comments and suggestions very seriously.”

The task force will continue to receive email suggestions on how to improve campus inclusivity until March 30.

McGill, News

New SSMU researcher being hired to investigate McGill military research

by Elijah Wenzel on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has begun the hiring process for a new staff position that will investigate and report on research into military technology carried out in McGill’s laboratories. The Harmful Military Technology Researcher will work for an hourly wage on average six hours a week reviewing documents related to military research conducted at the University. They will also deliver accessible reports to the student body on the topic.

“The Harmful Military Technology Researcher will analyze documents related to military research on campus, as obtained by students through Access to Information requests,” the job description reads. “They will be expected to compile summary results in order to inform future campaigns and popular education materials on these topics.”

SSMU is  mandated by its 2015 Policy for a Campus Free from Military Technology to oppose the development of military technology at McGill. The Policy obligates SSMU to oppose research into harmful military technology, and transparently consider its social responsibility when deciding research contracts. Vice-President (VP) External of SSMU, Connor Spencer, explained the role of the Researcher in an email to The McGill Tribune.

“This position was actually created by last year’s executive, but, from as far as we can see, [nobody] was never hired, or at least the research results were never collected,” Spencer wrote. “[The purpose of the position is] to figure out exactly what research is happening on campus in order to inform the students.”

Spencer referenced the importance of drawing attention to military research, as SSMU’s Policy for a Campus Free from Military Technology is set to expire in 2020.

“The VP University Affairs [Isabelle Oke] and I decided that it was important that we make sure that we have this research [on military technology at McGill] in order to inform a discussion amongst our members, as our policy is expiring and therefore will have to be brought to the next [General Assembly] to see if members want us to take a position again,” Spencer wrote.

Student opposition to military research is not unprecedented. In February 2016, a York University student group rallied at York’s Student Centre in protest of military research conducted on their campus.

At McGill, the student activist group Demilitarize McGill and similar movements have been pushing the University to divest from military research since the 1980s, according to the group’s website. McGill has been involved in research ranging from MK ULTRA’s drug and psychological experiments, to using powdered metals for energy, an experiment funded by Canada’s Department of Defense. Students less frequently use institutional channels like SSMU to voice their opposition to military research.

Chlöe Shahinian, U1 Arts, thinks the new SSMU position is a step in the right direction.

“If we want to be a university that is becoming increasingly conscious of our research and how that research can affect the world around us, I think that it is positive to have a position that will [investigate McGill’s research on] harmful military technology,” Shahinian said.

Others, like Brinton Wolever, U1 Management, worry that SSMU is overstepping its mandate.

“I don’t believe SSMU should be involved with external affairs,” Wolever said. “I also think it is a bit above a student union to declare what’s right and wrong as far as the use of military resources go.”

According to McGill Vice-President (Research and Innovation) Martha Crago, the administration recognizes SSMU’s right to create the position.

“The appropriateness of the new position […] is a question for SSMU, which is the body responsible for making this decision,” Crago wrote in an email to the Tribune.

Meanwhile, some staff have vocally supported such initiatives. Associate Professor Andrew Higgins of the Department of Mechanical Engineering conducts research in McGill’s Shock Wave Physics Group, which Demilitarize McGill describes as the university’s longest-standing military research lab. Higgins encourages efforts to promote an awareness of McGill’s research.

“I feel it is entirely appropriate for students to examine the research ongoing at their university,” Higgins wrote in an email to the Tribune. “In fact, I welcome it.”

Higgins’ findings about shockwaves and high-speed combustion have often gained the attention of the Canadian Department of National Defense, though he has not conducted any research in partnership with a defense contractor.

“I have never been involved in weapons contracts,” Higgins wrote. “As for indirect or unintended consequences, this is an issue for all research. Almost all research can be harmful, and students should certainly be aware of the research on-going on their campus.”

Science & Technology

The science of “Black Mirror”

by Jiawen Wang on

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Charlie Brooker’s harrowing British sci-fi series Black Mirror returned to Netflix with six new episodes exploring multiple technologies of questionable ethics. From the digital uploading of human minds to predictive neuroscience technology, the show’s fourth season illuminated some frightening, futuristic concepts. But with real-life advancements in brain imaging, artificial intelligence, and computer processing, this future may not be all that far away. The McGill Tribune digs deep to decipher the science behind Black Mirror. Consider yourself warned: Minor season spoilers will follow.

VISUAL RECONSTRUCTION

Visual reconstruction, or the ability to reconstruct perceived images, was used by the mother in “Arkangel” to monitor her child and the officials in “Crocodile” to gather short clips of memory for investigations. Being able to “see” what another person sees with brain recordings is a relatively new, but rapidly-expanding, field of study for scientists in neuroimaging.

Most studies in image reconstruction so far have used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to read brain activity. FMRI relies on magnetic fields to detect changes in the blood flow within the brain. Increased blood flow to a certain region indicates that the region is more active.

With these fMRI readings, scientists use computer software to convert brain activity into reconstructed images. Using neural networks, these created images vary from person to person, and theoretically could be used to reconstruct memories and mental images.

In terms of its applicability, this method of scanning and processing has already been proven to work for simple letters, short video clips, and, yes, even human faces. While the results are impressive, they are miles behind the crisp, detailed reconstructions of the characters in Black Mirror. In these studies, unfortunately, the resolution of recreated images have all been low-quality.

Most of the aforementioned  studies have focused on the early visual cortex, the first region of the brain to receive visual information from the eyes. Recently, scientists have started using higher-level areas of the brain in fMRI scans. These areas are the latter parts of the visual pathway, and are related to more subjective experiences like memory, imagination, dreams, and face recognition.

MIND UPLOADING

Episodes like “USS Callister,” “Hang the DJ,” and “Black Museum” used technology to digitally upload human minds to computers. In “Black Museum,” for example, a museum owner reveals that the main attraction of his business is the hologram of a convicted criminal. His body, his mind, and his ability to feel pain remain digitally intact. Could such a thing as an uploadable human mind exist in the real world?

Accelerating advances in both brain imaging and computer simulations have led computer scientists and entrepreneurs like Ray Kurzweil to believe that the ability to live permanently in a simulation could become commonplace as soon as the year 2045. Others are skeptical.

Groups like the Allen Brain Atlas and The Blue Brain Project have studied and attempted to replicate the entire connectivity of rodent brains. Aptly called connectomes, these maps represent the specific way in which different brain regions are linked and how they interact with one another. However, even the brains of mice have proven difficult to recreate on the microscopic, cellular level, where many higher-level functions like cognition, consciousness, and behaviour are thought to emerge. A biologically-realistic recreation of the human brain won’t happen any time soon.

This hasn’t stopped scientists from using this brain imaging to run experiments on digital brains, albeit for less insidious purposes than in Black Mirror. Because the whole brain, with its 86 billion neurons, remains too complicated to replicate, neuroscientists are using computers to build simplified versions of the human brain with lower resolutions. They can then use these digital brains to study changes in cases of epilepsy or Alzheimer’s.

Despite being far-fetched at times, Black Mirror provides its viewers with cautionary tales of what could happen if the designers of a new technology were to completely disregard their ethical obligations. As technology advances in complexity and control, so must our self-awareness, and so must our humanity.

 

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