Every global crisis leaves behind two legacies. One is the visible, measurable toll it takes—lost lives, fractured systems, economic decline. The other is trickier to perceive: how well-prepared we were, and how effectively we communicated amidst chaos. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw firsthand that having accurate data and responsive policies wasn’t enough. What failed too often wasn’t just our infrastructure, but our ability to communicate well, build trust, and work across disciplines. These deficiencies were costly.

Ann-Elisabeth Samson sits down with Dr. Prativa Baral, a 2021 alumni scholar of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and Assistant Professor at McGill University. Dr. Baral's research intersects global health, crisis leadership, and the role of effective science communication. With experience advising the WHO, World Bank, and UN, and as co-founder of Let Science Connect, she unpacks what happens when misinformation flourishes and public trust falters, shedding light on why science communication is as critical as the data itself.

Resources

• Let Science Connect Website
• Canadian COVID-19 Immunity Task Force Website
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Website
• McGill University, Department of Global and Public Health Website
• Medicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) Website
• Your Local Epidemiologist by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina Website
• Learn more about Dr. Prativa Baral

Dr. Prativa Baral is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Public Health at McGill University and a Faculty Associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator, her work explores the intersection of global health, crisis leadership, and public trust. She has advised organizations including the WHO, World Bank, and United Nations on pandemic preparedness, health systems resilience, and misinformation.

Dr. Baral is the co-founder of Let Science Connect, an initiative equipping researchers to communicate clearly across disciplines and with the public. Her research focuses on building early warning systems, strengthening crisis leadership, and designing responsive public health infrastructures. A 2021 Scholar of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, she brings a systems-level approach to both science and policy—working to ensure societies aren’t just reacting to emergencies, but actively shaping their readiness.

Dr. Baral holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University, MPH from Columbia University and a BSC from McGill University. She is currently developing McGill’s Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab with Dr. Joanne Liu, former international president of Médecins Sans Frontières.

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There is power in the pen — and that’s a power that everyone with a platform must learn to wield responsibly. In regions where the radio is still the main media format, grassroots journalism becomes a force to be reckoned with. Moved one way, it can instigate conflict and inflame a region to war. But used correctly, ethical journalism can become a powerful force for peace, a bulwark against misinformation, polarization, and othering.

In this episode, host Ann-Elisabeth Samson talks with Dr. William Tayeebwa. Dr. Tayeebwa’s research draws on the body of work written by giants of peace journalism — Johan Galtung, Jake Lynch, Annabel McGoldrick, and Ross Howard — to create courses that promote ethical journalism within war-torn regions of Africa. Far from being an academic locked away in a university, he performs fieldwork that has reduced violence while elevating the standards of media giants in the country.

Resources

• UNESCO: Website
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD): Website
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA): Website
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID): Website
• “Peace Journalism” by Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick
• “Journalism in Conflict and Post-Conflict: Worldwide Perspectives” edited by Dr. William Tayeebwa and Rune Ottosen
• Uganda Radio Network: Website
• Renzori Media Development Foundation: Website

About Dr. William Tayeebwa

Dr. William Tayeebwa is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Communication at Makerere University and Managing Editor of Makerere University Press. A 2008 Trudeau Foundation Scholar, he holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Concordia University, where his research focused on peace journalism and the transformative role of community radio in post-conflict Uganda. With over two decades of experience across academia, civil society, and international organizations like UNESCO, NORAD, and the EU, Dr. Tayeebwa designs media training programs for journalists and influencers throughout Africa. His work spans conflict-sensitive reporting, climate change communication, refugee and migration coverage, and ethical media practices in an AI-driven era. From grassroots radio stations in the Great Lakes region to UN-backed broadcasts across Central Africa, his research investigates how media can shift public discourse from violence to reconciliation. Through both university teaching and hands-on fieldwork, he equips a new generation of journalists to center truth, peace, and justice in their storytelling.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Share it with friends, colleagues, or anyone curious about global challenges! https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/

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How do technologies shape the stories we tell? How do they influence the daily lives we share? Digital platforms and generative AI now play a big role in journalism. They affect how news is created and shared. This interplay raises critical questions about who controls these systems. It also impacts how communities connect and discuss shared issues. Understanding this dynamic is important to ensuring the media serves the public good and to help maintain open, inclusive dialogue in our society.

In this episode of From Research to Impact, we talk with Dr. Mike Ananny. He is a 2006 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar. He is also an associate professor of Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. Mike’s research dives into how digital infrastructures, algorithms, and AI shape journalism. He explores how these tools affect our daily lives. He also examines ways to make them better serve public interests. From designing tech-enhanced toys to advising on CBC/Radio-Canada’s future, Mike offers a unique view. He highlights the power and responsibility of those building media technologies.

Resources

• Explore the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s Website and Scholarship Program.
• Center on Generative AI and Society (at USC)
• Center of Science Technology and Public Life (at USC)
• Read “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder

About Dr. Mike Ananny

Dr. Mike Ananny is an Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School, with a courtesy appointment in Cinematic Arts. His research explores how digital infrastructures, algorithms, and generative AI shape journalism and even our daily lives. However, he emphasizes that these systems can better serve public interests. He co-directs the Media as Socio-Technical Systems collective and the AI for Media and Storytelling initiative at USC’s Center on Generative AI and Society, and serves on the steering committee of the Center of Science, Technology, and Public Life.

With a background in system design, Dr. Ananny has built technologies for community storytelling, from tech-enhanced toys at MIT’s Media Lab to participatory media projects in Europe. His work bridges technical innovation with cultural and ethical questions, influencing journalism’s response to emerging technologies. He is the author of Networked Press Freedom and co-editor of Bauhaus Futures, with contributions to outlets like The Atlantic, WIRED, and Harvard’s Nieman Lab.

At USC, Dr. Ananny teaches courses on networked press, AI in media, and network publics, mentoring students across journalism, engineering, and cinematic arts. His interdisciplinary approach fosters critical thinking about technology’s role in storytelling and public discourse, preparing students to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Dr. Ananny holds a PhD from Stanford University, a master’s from MIT’s Media Lab, and was a postdoctoral scholar at Microsoft Research. He is a 2006 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar.

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Find out more about Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation at https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/

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How do the unseen gender norms, religion, and community shape the success of entrepreneurs, particularly those from marginalized groups? In a world that often celebrates the solo entrepreneur, the reality is that entrepreneurship is deeply embedded in social contexts that can either empower or hinder growth. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering inclusive economic progress globally.

In this episode of From Research to Impact, Dr. Kylie Heales, a 2021 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business, explores the intricate relationships between social norms, institutions, and entrepreneurship. Her research, spanning contexts from Tunisia to Haiti, reveals how cultural expectations influence entrepreneurial behavior and outcomes, particularly for women. By unpacking these dynamics, she uncovers pathways to foster true entrepreneurship success in even the most resource-scarce environments.

Resources

• Explore the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s Website and Scholarship Program.
• Visit the SEED Network website
• Desjardin International Development
• CFE Tunisia
• Center for Advancing Social Entrepreneurship (at Duke University)
• Learn more about Dr. Kylie Heales on her profile in the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

About Dr. Kylie Heales

Dr. Kylie Heales is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Miami University's Farmer School of Business where she researches the relationships between norms, institutions, and entrepreneurship, focusing on growth challenges for marginalized entrepreneurs globally. Her current research dives into how gender, religion, and community norms shape entrepreneurial success in diverse contexts - from Tunisia and Haiti, to centuries-old family businesses.

With a decade of hands-on experience, Dr Heales has achieved operational improvements for non-profits, startups, and Fortune 500 giants. She also co-founded a fintech venture and empowered entrepreneurs in Kenya and Zambia to scale their impact.

At Miami University's Farmer School of Business, Dr Heales's teaching approach is deeply rooted in research and real-world experience where she nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. Her classes are living labs where research meets hustle, equipping students to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape.

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Find out more about Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation at https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/

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What if your ability to age well depended not just on your medical history, but on whether you had a friend nearby, access to a grocery store, or a safe home? There’s more to being healthy in your elder years than having access to medical care. Our elder care system works well when it comes to addressing acute health problems — even life-threatening ones. But the question we may have failed to ask is this: how did it get that bad in the first place?

In this compelling episode of From Research to Impact, Dr. Jasmine Mah—a physician and scholar at the forefront of geriatric medicine—unpacks the deep connections between social vulnerability, frailty, and health outcomes in older adults. As Canada braces for a demographic shift with a surge in centenarians, Dr. Mah’s research offers urgent insights into how our systems are failing the elderly.

This episode is for anyone hoping to understand the nuances behind elder care. And it’s not just for the aging population: remember, it’s better to prevent medical issues than struggle to cure them.

About Dr. Jasmine Mah

Dr. Jasmine Mah is a geriatric medicine fellow at Dalhousie University and a 2021 Scholar of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. She earned her medical degree from the University of Ottawa and her PhD from Dalhousie University, focusing on the intersection of social vulnerability, frailty, and health outcomes in older adults.

Inspired by personal experiences with family aging, Dr. Mah is dedicated to transforming elder care in Canada. Her research advocates for integrating social and medical systems to improve quality of life for seniors, particularly in times of crisis and transition.

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Find out more about Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation at https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/

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How do global policies shape the health of communities, even when health isn’t their primary focus? What happens when nations under pressure, like through sanctions, turn adversity into innovation? These questions ripple through every corner of our interconnected world, touching lives in ways we might not immediately see. Health isn’t just a matter of medicine. It’s an outcome woven into the fabric of every decision we make, from development projects to international relations.

In this episode of From Research to Impact, host Ann Elisabeth Samson is joined by Robert Huish, a 2004 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar and associate professor at Dalhousie University, for a conversation that bridges personal experience with global impact. Robert’s journey offers a compelling lens on how sanctions shape healthcare systems, and how countries like Cuba respond with resilience and ingenuity. Robert brings a wealth of experience, spanning from the healthcare system in Cuba to human rights in North Korea, all rooted in a passion for social justice. This discussion invites us to reflect critically on these connections and imagine how we might act to bridge the gaps they reveal.

This conversation is for anyone curious about international development, health equity, or the power of human ingenuity under pressure. Learn how health intersects with policy and why investing in people can defy even the toughest odds, leaving you inspired to think bigger about the world’s challenges and your place in addressing them.

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! From Research to Impact is a podcast that encourages critical reflection and action from outstanding PhD students and others conducting cutting-edge research.

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review. Share it with friends, colleagues, or anyone curious about global challenges.

Find out more about Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation at https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/

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Can research change the world? From Research to Impact is a new podcast that goes beyond academia to explore bold ideas and real-world solutions. Hosted by strategic advisor Anna-Lizabeth Samson, each episode spotlights a past or present scholar from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation—brilliant thinkers who are tackling today’s most urgent challenges, from achieving net-zero emissions to reimagining health systems.

These aren’t just theories—they’re actionable ideas shaping Canada’s future and influencing global progress.

🔗 Learn more about the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation at trudeaufoundation.ca

🎙️ Episode One launches soon. Follow now so you don’t miss it.

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