iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 21/06/2025

Cheering on the Kingston Chestmates Dragon Boat Team today, competing this weekend in Vancouver, all the way from the waters of Lake Ontario! #ConcordPacificDragonBoatFestival #DragonBoatBC

Two boys cheer enthusiastically in front of a television showing an instant replay of a dragon boat race. The TV displays multiple dragon boats nearing the finish line, marked by coloured buoys. The boys stand in front of a modern fireplace, visibly excited as they support their mom’s team from home

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 14/05/2025

Excited to be offering some welcoming remarks at the annual Showcase of Teaching and Learning. This 15th annual event is the official kickoff to #QueensU Teaching and Learning month! Special thanks to those presenting and to the CTL staff who organized this event.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 12/05/2025

Congratulations to this year's cohort of ten 3M National Teaching Fellows! The 3MNTF has been described as the "superbowl" (don't ask how the metaphor works) of teaching awards here in Canada. www.stlhe.ca/award_winner...

stlhe.ca

2025 3M National Teaching Fellows – STLHE

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 09/05/2025

Cherry trees in flower on the #QueensU campus

Close-up of cherry blossoms in full bloom, with clusters of pale pink and white flowers covering the branches. A few green leaves are visible, and the background shows a concrete building partially obscured by the dense blossoms.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 06/05/2025

Chimney Swifts have returned to Kingston—first day I’m hearing their chortling calls overhead.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 03/05/2025

I was a regular runner until 2017, then injured my ankle and stopped. Eight weeks ago, I started again with the goal of running 5km comfortably. Today, I finished the program and met my goal. Ran 6km. The next goal: stay injury-free and keep it going—5km, three times a week will make me happy!

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 02/05/2025

From today: a cluster of hepatica / liverwort in full bloom.

A cluster of delicate purple Hepatica wildflowers in bloom, nestled among dry leaves and forest floor vegetation. The flowers have rounded petals and white stamens, and are surrounded by fuzzy stems and lobed green leaves.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 02/05/2025

Grateful to have taken a day for myself today, spending the morning in the glory of spring ephemerals and returning migrants (23 birds species) at Frontenac Provincial Park. ebird.org/checklist/S2...

A white man wearing a red Queen’s University cap, light blue shirt, and black backpack takes a selfie on a forest trail in Frontenac Provincial Park. The background features early spring trees with fresh green growth and a winding dirt path.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 01/05/2025

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining teacher candidates from our Faculty of Education at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre for the final class of their Environmental Education course. Excited to see how they’ll integrate what they’ve learned into their future classroom practice!

A group of students kneels along the edge of a clear, shallow lake under a blue sky, closely observing the water. They are gathered near a dock and shaded by tall pine trees, participating in an outdoor learning activity. A dog is seen swimming in the lake nearby.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 28/04/2025

Val Plumwood would like a word… (Environmental philosopher Plumwood wrote the essay *Being Prey* that argues the embodiment of humans not as separate, but as part of the more-than-human world, subject to its dangers)

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 28/04/2025

Trout Lilly and Bloodroot in flower; went looking for flowers yesterday without luck. That’s changed today! #SpringEphemerals

A close-up of a bright yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) blooming on the forest floor, surrounded by green mottled leaves and fallen logs in early spring sunlight.

A single white Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) flower with bright yellow stamens, standing among dry leaves and twigs in a woodland area, its large, veined leaf partially wrapping the stem.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 25/04/2025

Local park dripping with White-throated Sparrows this afternoon. Some giving short versions of their “sweet Canada” song

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 25/04/2025

Today's idle thought in #HigerEd: Fostering transparency, trust and literacy around a University's budget (not just balancing it) may be one of the most under-valued aspects of being a Provost? Best I've seen have taken the approach of an educator and looked to "teach" the University community.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 25/04/2025

Over many years, I had the opportunity to visit Whitehorse, Skagway, Haines Junction and Haines. As this article suggests, the connection between these Alaskan and Yukon communities can't be understated. thewalrus.ca/tariffs-are-...

thewalrus.ca

Tariffs Are Unravelling the Lifeline Between Yukon and Alaska | The Walrus

For one Northern community, the cost of friendship with Trump's America is too high

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 23/04/2025

Maybe one of the good things that comes with a cool spring is that the Bloodroot blooms will hold on a bit longer…

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Reposted by Gavan Watson, PhD

Ian Milligan @ianmilligan1.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

"At least one Ontario university has already told professors it expects to move hundreds of spaces in arts programs to STEM as a result of the announcement." Anybody in #onPSE have the scoop on which university this was? www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

thestar.com

Ford government boosts STEM education funding by $750M

Colleges and universities will receive a $750 million boost from the Ontario government for 20,500 spaces in science and engineering programs each year, helping fill — but not close —

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 20/04/2025

FOY Yellow-rumped Warbler, heard calling near Lake Ontario.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 19/04/2025

Erratum: *Took* the quick trip…

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 19/04/2025

Cold water and warm air made for a misty scene on the St. Lawrence this afternoon—the view from the Brockville waterfront. Tool the quick trip downstream from Kingston to pick up a maple sap bucket, lid and spile for youngest’s school project.

A large green cargo ship, the M/V Ragna, moves through a grey, mist-covered body of water under a heavily overcast sky. To the left in the distance, a small island is visible, covered with sparse, leafless or dead trees, creating a stark silhouette against the low-lying mist.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 19/04/2025

19°C and flying insects are out (like midges). In my local park, two Ruby-crowned Kinglets are busy fly catching from the reaches of a soft maple. Quiet enough to hear their beaks snapping together as they catch their prey.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 19/04/2025

Bird highlights from the last 24 hours: #FOY Osprey, Tree Swallow and White-throated Sparrow.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 18/04/2025

Hope that between sunrises on Signal Hill, what sounds like a promising iceberg season and the end of term, things are good with you and your family!

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 18/04/2025

Advance voting start today, and there’s already a line up at this Kingston and the Islands poll. Whether it’s today or April 28, get out and vote! #ItsOurVote #CdnPoli #Elxn45 #Elections101 #DemocracyChampions #VotingMatters #ReadyToVote

A yellow Elections Canada sign indicating the location of an advance polling station. The sign reads “Advance Poll – Lineup Starts Here” in both printed and handwritten text, and “Bureau de vote par anticipation” in French. The sign is displayed on a tripod stand in a public indoor space.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 15/04/2025

News of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) advising against "non-essential" US travel is being quickly amplified across my feed…

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 11/04/2025

Fascinating little case study how the planned use of AI at convocation (theoretically to correctly pronounce names) gets significant blow back because of the dehumanizing nature of what should be human celebration. #HigherEd

chronicle.com

Students Found Out AI Will Help Read Their Names at Commencement. Protest Ensued.

The University of North Georgia is the latest to turn to AI tech during graduation. Sources say students’ reactions offer a critical takeaway.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 07/04/2025

As the W25 exam period begins, I want to acknowledge the effort, focus, and resilience #QueensU students have shown this term. Wishing you clarity of thought and confidence in action over this final stretch of the term.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 06/04/2025

From what I understand, it’s most likely a remnant population post-Glaciation, with physical barriers (like the Ottawa River) limiting dispersion.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 06/04/2025

Spring continues—with Boreal Chorus Frogs now calling. These Chorus Frogs in the Kingston area are in their own geographically isolated population to the rest of the species in North America.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 04/04/2025

Had the pleasure of joining Mechmania to judge second year Smith Engineering students’ design & build culminating project this afternoon. Saw some amazing work! #QueensU #SmithEngineering

A large gymnasium filled with second-year engineering students participating in Mechmania 2, a culminating engineering project event at Queen’s University. Students are seated at tables, engaging with machines they’ve built and tested over the week. A group of facilitators in yellow “Mechmania” shirts stands at the front, observing and supporting the activity.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 01/04/2025

Looking forward to recognizing our #QueensU student athletes at this evening’s 2024 Colour Awards. A highlight will be presenting the Marion Ross and Jack Jarvis (Athlete of the Year) awards.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 01/04/2025

Congrats to this year’s Nossal winners—Drs. Albaugh and Dunton.

A digital slide showing Dr. Quinn Albaugh as an award recipient of the Kim Richard Nossal Undergraduate Teaching Award. Their photo appears on the left, and their credentials are listed on the right: Assistant Professor; B.A. and M.A., McGill University; M.A. and Ph.D., Princeton University. Their research focuses on Canadian Politics, Gender and Sexuality Politics, LGBTQ+ Politics, Political Behaviour, and qualitative, quantitative, and multi-method research.

A digital slide displaying Dr. Caroline Dunton as an award recipient of the Kim Richard Nossal Undergraduate Teaching Award. Her photo appears on the left, and her credentials are listed on the right: Skelton-Clark Post-Doctoral Fellow; PhD (Ottawa); MA (George Washington); MA (Ottawa); BKI (Waterloo). Her research focus is Canadian Politics.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 01/04/2025

Get the pleasure of joining the #QueensU Department of Political Studies—and their annual recognition of teaching excellence. Thanks to the Department Student Council and the leadership in the Department of Political Studies for their work underpinning this recognition.

A digital display screen showing a slide from Queen’s University Political Studies Department Student Council. The slide announces the Kim Richard Nossal Undergraduate Teaching Award, recognizing and celebrating teaching excellence. Logos for Queen’s University and Political Studies appear at the top. The date shown is Tuesday, April 1st, 2025.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 20/03/2025

First day of Spring and the neighbourhood Merlins are back.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 19/03/2025

Beautiful last day of Winter, and it’s a sea of spike ball on Tindall Field. #QueensU #YGK

A busy scene at Tindall Field, Queen’s University, with students engaging in various recreational activities. Some are playing sports, while others are sitting or standing in groups. The yellow goalpost stands prominently in the foreground, with a backdrop of residential houses and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 10/03/2025

Common Grackles just back here too. Not in great numbers yet. I’m ~400 km/275 miles North of you.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 10/03/2025

Noticed today: American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds back in the neighbourhood after their winter absence.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 10/03/2025

#QueensU has a labour disruption FAQ, answering questions like “will classes be cancelled”—in short, courses will continue with modification likely. Students will hear about specific plans for courses in their email or via onQ.

queensu.ca

Student Life and Academic Operations | Labour NewsDown arrow

Frequently Asked Questions The following provides general information for members of our campus community in the event of a labour disruption.

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 02/03/2025

It's the first turkey vulture sighting that unofficially launches spring here!

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Gavan Watson, PhD @gavan.ca · 01/03/2025

Was asked to go out and purchase snacks for kids’ choral concert:

A screenshot of a text message conversation between two people. One person suggests buying a 1.6 kg bag of pitted prunes, attaching a photo of the bag in a store. The recipient reacts with a thumbs-down emoji. The sender responds, calling prunes a “great kids snack,” and lists other items they are getting: 40 juice boxes, 54 Rice Krispie treats, 54 chips, and the 1.6 kg of prunes.

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