Mark my words

McGill University Alumni
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Updated Semiweekly

From the climate crisis, to the weakening of global democracies, to AI disruption in the workplace, hear from McGill's leading alumni and faculty tackling the world’s biggest challenges on Mark my words. A podcast for curious minds, powered by McGill University. To stream previous episodes and learn more about McGill, visit the McGill News website.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Are mRNA vaccines the future of cancer therapy?

    Clinical trial results have sparked real excitement about the potential of mRNA) vaccines to revolutionize cancer treatment – even in cancers that resist conventional therapies. Will these personalized vaccines be a gamechanger in cancer care? We sit down with Professor Thomas Duchaine and Dr. Ramy Saleh to talk about how mRNA cancer vaccines differ from existing cancer treatments, when they might become available to the wider public, and the leading research role that McGill University plays in this field. Featuring:  Thomas Duchaine Professor and Chair, Department of Biochemistry, McGill University  Full member, Goodman Cancer Institute Dr. Ramy Saleh, MedResident’18, MSc’20 Medical Director of Oncology Clinical Trials, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Recommendations:  Want to dig deeper? Here are a few suggestions from our guests: Follow the media coverage of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress being held in Madrid from October 23-27, 2026. Breaking Through: My Life in Science by Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó  To stream previous episodes and learn more about McGill, visit the McGill News website: https://mcgillnews.mcgill.ca/tag/podcasts/?utm_source=apple-spotify-pocketcasts&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mark-my-words&utm_content=s2-e3-cancer-podcast

  2. Sep 22

    Why is democracy in peril?

    The hallmarks of liberal democracy are in decline as autocrats gain popularity and power. How did this happen – and what can we do about it? We sit down with Gerald Butts and Prof. Dietlind Stolle to talk about the biggest threats to democracy today and how we can defend against them.  Featuring:  Gerald Butts, BA’93, MA’96, Chairman, Eurasia Group  Dietlind Stolle , James McGill Professor of Political Science at McGill University     Recommendations:  Want to dig deeper? We asked our guests to recommend some of their favourite resources on this topic.  The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt The Lives of Others dir. by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt  Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know by Erica Chenoweth To stream previous episodes and learn more about McGill, visit the McGill News website.

  3. Sep 9

    Are universities our secret weapon against the climate crisis?

    As sustainability challenges grow more complex and urgent, who will lead the search for solutions? In our season opener, we explore why meaningful progress requires collaboration across sectors, and how the future McGill Sustainability Park is poised to help lead the way. Featuring: Grégoire Baillargeon, BCL/ LLB’98, President, BMO Quebec Rees Kassen, PhD’01, Academic Director, McGill Sustainability Park Recommended Reading: Want to dig deeper? We asked our guests to recommend some of their favourite resources on this topic: Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now_ by John DoerrNot the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet_ by Hannah RitchieWhat We Owe the Future_ by William MacAskillThe Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future_ by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway To stream previous episodes and learn more about McGill, visit the McGill News website.

  4. 11/05/2025

    How can we fix Canada’s health care system?

    Health policy expert Amélie Quésnel-Vallée explains why health care in Canada feels like it is eroding, how we can make it more accessible and equitable, and why we should still be proud of our national health care system despite its challenges.

  5. 10/29/2025

    Freedom and justice in a polarized world

    Political Science professor Catherine Lu explores how we might reimagine foundational concepts such as freedom, human rights and global justice in an era marked by deepening political polarization and global unrest.

  6. 10/22/2025

    When governments use AI: what can go wrong (and right)?

    Professor Jennifer Raso, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law, delves deep into AI and how governments are using AI to make decisions, why regulation is so challenging, and the ways AI is changing the policies and politics that affect our lives.

  7. 10/15/2025

    Will the world run out of food?

    Learn how conflict, climate change and rural migration are converging to leave millions increasingly vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition – and what it will take to address one of the most urgent challenges of our time with Patrick Courtbaoui, Managing Director of McGill’s Gilliam Institute for Global Food Security.

  8. 10/08/2025

    Why great cities matter more than ever - for us and the earth

    In this episode, Professor Kevin Manaugh, Department of Geography and the Bieler School of Environment, talks about how urban design, transit access, and neighborhood planning can affect poverty and health. We also dive into how cities are tackling climate threats like fires and floods—and what we can all do to ensure our governments make the best decisions to build more resilient, livable communities.

  9. 10/01/2025

    How AI and data science are transforming the shopping experience

    From your local mall to your go-to online shop, Prof. Maxime Cohen, Academic Director of McGill’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management, talks about how retailers are leveraging the power of AI and predictive modeling to shape the way we spend our money –- and what it could mean for your next purchase.

  10. 09/24/2025

    Is a cure for cancer on the horizon?

    We’re joined by Professor John Stagg, Director of the Goodman Cancer Research Institute, to explore how scientists' understanding of cancer is evolving, how cutting-edge technologies are transforming research and treatment, and the exciting breakthroughs that might redefine how we understand, treat and even cure a variety of cancers.

  11. 09/11/2025

    When Climate Change Threatens Human Health

    From intensifying heat waves to the growing impact of wildfire smoke, Dr. Jill Baumgartner, Director of the McGill Centre for Climate Change and Health, explores how a warming planet is becoming a growing concern for public health – and what we can do about it.

  • 11 Episodes

About

From the climate crisis, to the weakening of global democracies, to AI disruption in the workplace, hear from McGill's leading alumni and faculty tackling the world’s biggest challenges on Mark my words. A podcast for curious minds, powered by McGill University. To stream previous episodes and learn more about McGill, visit the McGill News website.

Information

  • Creator
    McGill University Alumni
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © McGill University Alumni
  • Show Website
    Mark my words

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