Inaugural episode tackles generative AI in research, teaching, and academic life, featuring BU researchers from music theory, computer science, and philosophy.
Brandon University (BU) is announcing the launch of Illumination, a new research podcast hosted by Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President (Research & Graduate Studies). The podcast brings together BU researchers from across disciplines for open, roundtable-style conversations on a single shared topic each episode, creating a space where different ways of knowing intersect, challenge one another, and raise new questions.
The first episode, now available, focuses on generative artificial intelligence, what it is, what it can and cannot do, and what it means for the way we work, learn, and create. Dr. Ardelli is joined by three BU researchers who bring distinct and sometimes divergent perspectives to the conversation: Dr. Gretta Sayers, assistant professor of music theory in the School of Music; Dr. Gautam Srivastava, professor of computer science specializing in data security, privacy, and AI systems; and Dr. Roberto Limongi, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Writing Brain Laboratory, whose research uses AI both as a tool and as an object of study.
Together, they explore what it means to call AI “alien” or “collaborative” intelligence; how generative AI is already reshaping music, psychology, and computer science research; the tensions between embracing AI in the classroom and maintaining academic integrity; and what questions we are not yet asking enough, from data privacy and intellectual property to the future of open science.
“Illumination is built around a simple idea: that some of the most important questions we face don’t belong to any one field. They sit at the edges, between disciplines, between communities, between the work we do in the lab or the field and the world that work is meant to serve.”
- Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Host, Illumination
Unlike traditional academic presentations or debate formats, Illumination is designed as a space for genuine intellectual exchange. Participants are not asked to defend positions, but to contribute their perspectives, follow threads of curiosity, and think collectively across the boundaries of their fields. Each episode is guided by Dr. Ardelli and features a small group of researchers exploring a shared topic in depth.
Future episodes will explore topics such as Democratic and Community Resilience, Food and Water Security, and Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic. Illumination is available on the @BrandonUResearch YouTube channel. New episodes will be released on an ongoing basis.
Contact
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- vprgs@brandonu.ca
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About BU
Innovation, Investigation, and Inspiration drive research at Brandon University. Across disciplines, our researchers and students are asking bold questions, advancing discovery, and turning knowledge into real-world impact. From the lab to the community, research at Brandon University strengthens Manitoba and reaches beyond. Explore the stories shaping our future at BrandonU.ca.