Power Plant Sessions

Safeguarding Research Office, University of Alberta
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Welcome to the Power Plant Sessions, the research security podcast produced by the Safeguarding Research Office (uab.ca/sro) at the University of Alberta to build research security capacity and knowledge institutionally, provincially, and nationally. Hosted by Jacqueline Littlewood and produced by Rachel Zukiwski-Pezim and Andrés Alvarez. Jeff Simon created our music and Renee Hart designed our original show art.

Episodes

  1. Aug 9

    Transnational Repression in Canada

    In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Sébastien Aubertin-Giguère, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the National and Cybersecurity Branch of Public Safety Canada. They spoke about transnational repression and its impact on Canada, particularly the way that it is manifesting on Canadian campuses. Also discussed was the Government of Canada’s response to this threat and how Canadians can increase our societal resilience.

  2. Jun 8

    Australian Research Security

    In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Dr. Brendan Walker-Munro, a research security expert and academic from Australia currently affiliated with Southern Cross University. We spoke about the Australian approach to research security, takeaways from some of his recent research, and safeguarding defence and dual-use research.

  3. Apr 13

    Research Security Communications and Engagement

    In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to two communications professionals in the field of research security administration: Clayton Lewis, the Manager, Policy, Education & Outreach in Research Services at the University of Calgary and Education and Engagement Lead at the University of Alberta Safeguarding Research Office, Rachel Zukiwski-Pezim. We discussed the Canadian research security landscape through the lens of communications and engagement. Rachel and Clayton walked us through real-world dos and don'ts of engagement, what actually works, and how communities of practice are leveling up the way we communicate. It’s all about making complex security requirements accessible, meaningful, and—above all—comprehensive for the researchers advancing innovation and collaboration.

  4. Feb 10

    State Threats and Universities: Case Studies from the United Kingdom

    In this episode, Power Plant Sessions' host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Professor David McIlhaton, an expert in Protective Security and Resilience and one of the authors of a recently published report titled "State Threats and Universities - Case Studies from the from the United Kingdom."  We discussed the complex landscape of research security in the United Kingdom, exploring both the critical challenges and the opportunities for resilience in academia. We walked through several real-world case studies that reveal the varying methods of espionage targeting postsecondary education and considered why increased international collaboration on research security, government funding for research security, and culture change are essential for advancing research security and safeguarding research.

  5. 12/09/2025

    Research Security at Colleges, Polytechnics, CÉGEPs, and Institutes

    In this episode, Power Plant Sessions host Jacqueline Littlewood speaks to Peter Laffin at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and Dr. François Paradis, Dean of Applied Research at Lakeland College, about how their institutions specifically, and colleges, polytechnics, CÉGEPs and research institutes more generally, have been approaching research security and their unique challenges and opportunities.

  6. 10/21/2025

    Identifying and Safeguarding Sensitive Research of Concern

    In this episode, Power Plant Sessions host Jacqueline Littlewood speaks to Dr. Martha Crago, Chair of the Council of Canadian Academies’ panel on Balancing Research Security and Open Science for Dual-Use Research of Concern (and former Vice President, Research and Innovation) at McGill University and Dr. Kelly Cobey, panel member and Director, Metaresearch and Open Science Program, University of Ottawa Heart Institute about research security, open science, and how to identify and safeguard sensitive research of concern.

  7. 08/12/2025

    Disinformation, research security, and the Canadian academic landscape

    In this special extended episode, Power Plant Sessions host Jacqueline Littlewood speaks to experts Dr. Matthew Taylor and Dr. Timothy Caulfield about the relationship between research security and disinformation, their related research, emerging trends in this space, and the ways in which researchers in various domains might be impacted by disinformation. Also discussed are the particular risks associated with conducting research on the actors driving mis-and-disinformation.

  8. 06/10/2025

    How History Affects the Relationship between Academia and the Intelligence Community in Research Security

    In this episode, Power Plant Sessions’ host Jacqueline Littlewood talks with two expert guests from Carleton University: Jessica Adam, Director, Research Security Risk, and Stephanie Carvin, assistant professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. They discuss the historical relationship between academia and the intelligence community, and what this relationship means for research security in the modern context.

  9. 04/08/2025

    Research Security Communities of Practice

    On this episode of the Power Plant Sessions, host Jacqueline Littlewood focused on communities of practice for research security at the national, provincial, and international level and the role these play in capacity-building and safeguarding the research ecosystem. Our panel of experts for the show includes Justin Nankivell, Paul Jarrett, and Martha Wallace. Each of these expert individuals have played a critical role in establishing and advancing research security communities of practice in Canada.

  10. 02/04/2025

    Connecting Research Security and Research Integrity for Modern Responsible Research

    In our inaugural episode, Power Plant Sessions’ host Jacqueline Littlewood talks with two expert guests, Dr. Jason Acker, Associate Vice President Research Integrity Support and Professor, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Alberta, and Shawn McGuirk, Deputy Director at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), about the connections between research security and research integrity and what it means to be a Modern Responsible Researcher.

  • 10 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Power Plant Sessions, the research security podcast produced by the Safeguarding Research Office (uab.ca/sro) at the University of Alberta to build research security capacity and knowledge institutionally, provincially, and nationally. Hosted by Jacqueline Littlewood and produced by Rachel Zukiwski-Pezim and Andrés Alvarez. Jeff Simon created our music and Renee Hart designed our original show art.

Information

  • Creator
    Safeguarding Research Office, University of Alberta
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025
  • Show Website
    Power Plant Sessions