Finding Solutions | arch magazine

Man wearing virtual reality goggles and woman using tablet, old fashioned computer in background.

What if Instead of Living with Computers, We Lived in a Computer?

It’s a world where physical spaces and objects interact with technology. The computer is not a phone in your pocket or a screen on your desk. It’s all around you. That world is inevitable and researchers at UCalgary’s Programmable Reality Lab are helping to create it.

Next-Gen Islam

Many young first- and second-generation Canadian Muslims have an entirely different relationship to their religion than do their parents. A fascinating storytelling project illuminates how spirituality, expectations and community are shifting in this country’s youth-driven Islamic culture

When the Complaints Start Piling Up

An attention-seeking subset of the population has had the power to suck a disproportionate amount of time and resources out of health-care services. A new assessment tool is helping frontline staff diplomatically hold their ground.

When Nine Million Viewers Learn a Little More About Something Really Complicated

Sometimes, a five-minute animated video is what is needed to break through the information clutter and start our education around mental health. Anees Bahji collaborates with TED-Ed to create those videos, and they’ve reached millions of people.

A Lab Paving the Way for Better, Greener Roads

It’s all around us, but few of us pay much attention to the science behind the asphalt that makes up our walkways and roadways. A lab at the University of Calgary pays very close attention to the complexities of what the rest of us take for granted.

Everything I Know About Democracy, I Learned in Elementary School

With the current bleak outlook on global democracy, it’s crucial that our future leaders are capable of critical, empathetic dialogue. Education researchers say that starts when our kids open a book.

From Waste to Wealth

A student implements a black soldier fly biowaste treatment method in Tanzania that empowers women, and could positively impact human health and the environment

How a Computer Game Helps High School Students Prepare for University

The transition can be tough, especially for students with learning disabilities. A computer game makes the leap from high school to university a little easier with a fun, personalised learning experience.

As Demand for Counselling Skyrockets, This Clinic Finds Ways to Help Those Who Need It Most Urgently

UCalgary’s Psychology Clinic knows the answer is not one-size-fits all.

We Interrupt This Workday to Streak

Two educators explain why they introduced “wellness streaks” to their field-study curriculum and give tips on how to start one and keep it up.

How a Flat Sheet of Aluminum Becomes Sustainable 3D Furniture

The secret to strong, sustainable and easy to store furniture is curved-crease folding. The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary is using that technique to furnish revitalized gathering spaces in downtown Calgary.

Your Laptop Needs Rare Metals. These Students Have a Way to Get Them

A novel — and green — method can help meet growing demand for personal tech.