Anthony Morgan
Event Moderator | Science Communicator and PhD researcher, Co-Founder of Science EverywhereAnthony Morgan is a television host, entrepreneur, game designer and Ph.D. researcher based in Toronto. To say he loves science is an understatement. He’s spent the last 20 years working in multiple fields across science communication to show people the power science has to transform human lives for the better. He began this journey as a host at the Ontario Science Centre sharing incredible science stories and experiences. Since then he’s worked with the likes of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Asap SCIENCE, Quirks & Quarks, boards and steering committees for national and local not-for-profits, Daily Planet, the Royal Ontario Museum, and multiple municipalities across Canada.
He holds an Honours B.Sc. in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour from McMaster University and a degree in Science Communication from Laurentian University. His Ph.D. work at Toronto Metropolitan University explores how we can reduce polarization to have better conversations around controversial science. That means you can regularly find him hosting a conversational pub game for curious people (something he calls “Freestyle Socials”) across the Greater Toronto Area through his company Science Everywhere.
Timothy Caulfield
Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta at University of AlbertaTimothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. He was the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy for over 20 years (2002 - 2023). His interdisciplinary research on topics like stem cells, genetics, research ethics, the public representations of science, and public health policy has allowed him to publish almost 400 academic articles. He has won numerous academic, science communication, and writing awards, and is a Member of the Order Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He contributes frequently to the popular press and is the author of two national bestsellers: The Cure for Everything: Untangling the Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness and Happiness (Penguin 2012) and Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash (Penguin 2015). His most recent book is Relax, Dammit!: A User’s Guide to the Age of Anxiety (Penguin Random House, 2020). Caulfield is also the co-founder of the science engagement initiative #ScienceUpFirst and has hosted and produced documentaries, including the award-winning TV show, A User’s Guide to Cheating Death, which has been shown in over 60 countries, including streaming on Netflix in North America.
Jen Gunter
OB/GYN and AuthorDr. Jen Gunter is an internationally bestselling author, obstetrician, and gynecologist with over three decades of experience. Her bestselling books, The Vagina Bible, The Menopause Manifesto, and Blood have been translated into 25 languages. She has a blog called The Vajenda, is the host of Jensplaining, a CBC/Amazon Prime video series that highlights the impact of medical misinformation, and is the recipient of the 2020 Media Award from The Menopause Society. Her TED Talk, “Why Can’t We Talk About Periods?” was the third most viewed TED Talk of 2020. She can be found online at www.thevajenda.com.
Melissa Lem
President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the EnvironmentDr. Melissa Lem is a Vancouver family physician who also works in rural and northern communities within Canada. President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Director of PaRx, Canada’s national nature prescription program powered by the BC Parks Foundation, she is an internationally recognized leader in the field of nature, biodiversity and health. She has also engaged in advocacy and policy work on a broad range of other issues, from climate change, air pollution and fossil fuel extraction to sustainable health care and low-carbon transportation.
As a widely published writer, climate change panellist on CBC Radio's Early Edition, in-house medical columnist for CBC TV Vancouver, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, one of her major priorities is knowledge translation. She is currently a co-investigator and advisor on two international nature prescription research projects (PANDA and RESONATE) with total funding of $10M+.
Dr. Lem was the inaugural winner of University College’s Young Alumni of Influence Award at the University of Toronto, recipient of a 2024 YWCA Women of Distinction Award and 2022 Adult Nature Inspiration Award from the Canadian Museum of Nature, and sits on the Advisory Committee of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Health and Well-being Specialist Group.
James Makokis
Family Physician, Indigenous Healthcare and Two-Spirit AdvocateDr. James Makokis is a highly respected two-spirit Cree physician from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Through a compassionate lens, Dr. Makokis blends Indigenous and Western medical practices, serving community in First Nation Community and transgender health focused practice in South Edmonton. In 2020 Dr. Makokis was named one of 30 most powerful physicians in the country by The Medical Post, but believes power is a concept that should be shared amongst others.
Dr. Makokis is a highly sought after for his knowledge by the media, and most recently appeared on the Marilyn Denis Show. Celebrated for his victory on the Amazing Race Canada with his husband, he champions resilience and cultural identity, further elevating his profile as a beacon of inspiration and representation. His extensive work, including his role as the inaugural Medical Director at Shkaabe Makwa and his position as an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta, underscores his profound commitment to healthcare and community empowerment.