From the impacts of a nursing shortage to how science can help clean up some very big human-made messes, MacEwan faculty and students ask (and answer) a huge range of questions in their research.

Whether they receive federal funding or use MacEwan’s internal research grants, every project ultimately connects back to MacEwan students – from faculty embedding their work into their teaching or engaging student researchers to help them find the answers they’re looking for. 

Here are just a few of the most-read research stories from 2024.

How does a shortage of nurses affect the health-care system, patients and nurses themselves?

Faculty of Nursing Associate Professor Lisa McKendrick-Calder and assistant professors Tanya Heuver and Leanne Topola teamed up to look at the impact of a global nursing shortage. They discussed job dissatisfaction, safety and safeguards, and why a shortage of nurses matters. Here’s what they had to say. 

How can science help clean up human-made messes?

Humans are creating more waste than ever – fast fashion and tossing out our leftovers are some of the most significant contributors to pollution. As a species, we’re messy. Managing that impact – and cleaning up our messes – is no small task. But many MacEwan profs are taking up the challenge. Dr. Roland Lee, Dr. Janice Kenney, Dr. Matthew Ross and Dr. Joshua Miller share their research into innovative ways we can use science to help tidy up the planet in this feature article.  

How can the city improve parking ban notifications?

Bachelor of Design student Lauren Beatty worked with the City of Edmonton on her DESN 410 capstone project to improve messaging about when residents need to move their vehicles and where they can safely park when seasonal parking bans occur. Read more.

Should you add a dog photo to your dating profile?

When Maron Demecillo, Bachelor of Science ’23, noticed that cute dog photos trumped his friend’s usual preferences when it came to online dating app profiles, it sparked an idea for his Psychology Honours thesis. Working with Dr. Eric Legge, Demecillo looked at whether dogs had a positive effect on the amount of likes a profile received. See what he discovered.

How does stress impact 911 responders?

Public safety communicators – 911 operators, call-takers, dispatchers and tactical support communicators – gather crucial information from people who are in distress. It’s a demanding job that requires a high level of skill and resilience, but occupational health and safety in this field, especially the mental health and wellness of those in this line of work, tends to be overlooked. MacEwan Public Safety and Justice Studies professors Tim Williams and Douglas Johnson are teaming up with researchers from the University of Winnipeg and Memorial University to change that. Read more about their project.

Did the Ridley Scott film Napoleon hit the mark?

Dr. Kelly Summers wasn’t as interested in what may have been made up in the film but rather what it left out. The Department of Humanities assistant professor explores the film’s historical accuracy (or lack thereof) from several perspectives in this piece published in The Conversation Canada.

Games and archaeology?

Bachelor of Arts grad Alana Whitson teamed up with Dr. Katie Biittner on a project to examine archaeogaming (the archaeological study of video games) focusing on queerness. See what they found.

What would make it easier for seniors to stay in their homes? 

The answer? Bridge the gap between existing tools and those who need them. New alum Kendrea Sicotte and her business partners and friends Samantha Gardner and Rehma Khan brought their idea for LifeTech Care to the Healthcare for Aging Canadians Student Innovation Challenge, a competition sponsored by TECHNATION and NorQuest College that awards grants and cash prizes for innovative projects that support seniors. See why they took first place.

Is “mommy wine culture” damaging?

If you fit a particular demographic, you don’t have to scroll far in your social media feeds to find some version of “mommy needs her wine” or “mommy juice” narratives. Those memes and jokes were especially easy to find during the pandemic, says Dr. Emilene Reisdorfer. The nursing professor looked at her feed through a new lens and wondered how they impacted women's parenting through a pandemic. See what she discovered.   

Why are middle-class Nigerians desperate to leave the country?

In 2022, 70 per cent of Nigerians aged 18-35 surveyed by the African Polling Institute reported they would relocate if given the opportunity, a marked jump from 39 per cent across all age groups in 2019. Moreover, the number of passports newly issued or renewed almost doubled, from one million in 2021 to 1.9 million in 2022. Dr. Jing Jing Liu, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, Economics and Political Science, looked at why in this piece published by The Conversation Canada.

What does end-of-life look like in an Indigenous context? 

Terri Cardinal’s research has always centred on ceremony and healing practices, but when it came time to narrow her focus, she chose to begin at the end. The decision to centre her PhD research on Indigenous end-of-life practices, MacEwan University’s associate vice-president of Indigenous initiatives and engagement told the Office of Research Services Research Recast(ed) podcast, was deeply personal and based on having experienced multiple losses in a short period.  

Is economic growth good for our health?

In asking that question, Dr. Andrew Patterson, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, looked at whether the economic growth for business extends to individuals – particularly when it comes to population health. Here’s what he had to say in a piece published by The Conversation Canada.