Welcome to the Power Plant Sessions, the research security podcast produced by the Safeguarding Research Office (uab.ca/sro) at the University of Alberta to build research security capacity and knowledge institutionally, provincially, and nationally. Hosted by Jacqueline Littlewood and produced by Rachel Zukiwski-Pezim and Andrés Alvarez. Jeff Simon created our music and Renee Hart designed our original show art.
Publisher
Safeguarding Research Office, University of Alberta
Arctic Security and the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN)
In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer, discussing Arctic security, societal resilience and total defence, targeting by foreign adversaries, and the excellent work done by the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN).
9 Aug 2026
Transnational Repression in Canada
In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Sébastien Aubertin-Giguère, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the National and Cybersecurity Branch of Public Safety Canada. They spoke about transnational repression and its impact on Canada, particularly the way that it is manifesting on Canadian campuses. Also discussed was the Government of Canada’s response to this threat and how Canadians can increase our societal resilience.
8 Jun 2026
Australian Research Security
In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Dr. Brendan Walker-Munro, a research security expert and academic from Australia currently affiliated with Southern Cross University. We spoke about the Australian approach to research security, takeaways from some of his recent research, and safeguarding defence and dual-use research.
13 Apr 2026
Research Security Communications and Engagement
In this episode, host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to two communications professionals in the field of research security administration: Clayton Lewis, the Manager, Policy, Education & Outreach in Research Services at the University of Calgary and Education and Engagement Lead at the University of Alberta Safeguarding Research Office, Rachel Zukiwski-Pezim. We discussed the Canadian research security landscape through the lens of communications and engagement. Rachel and Clayton walked us through real-world dos and don'ts of engagement, what actually works, and how communities of practice are leveling up the way we communicate. It’s all about making complex security requirements accessible, meaningful, and—above all—comprehensive for the researchers advancing innovation and collaboration.
10 Feb 2026
State Threats and Universities: Case Studies from the United Kingdom
In this episode, Power Plant Sessions' host Jacqueline Littlewood spoke to Professor David McIlhaton, an expert in Protective Security and Resilience and one of the authors of a recently published report titled "State Threats and Universities - Case Studies from the from the United Kingdom."
We discussed the complex landscape of research security in the United Kingdom, exploring both the critical challenges and the opportunities for resilience in academia. We walked through several real-world case studies that reveal the varying methods of espionage targeting postsecondary education and considered why increased international collaboration on research security, government funding for research security, and culture change are essential for advancing research security and safeguarding research.
9 Dec 2025
Research Security at Colleges, Polytechnics, CÉGEPs, and Institutes
In this episode, Power Plant Sessions host Jacqueline Littlewood speaks to Peter Laffin at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and Dr. François Paradis, Dean of Applied Research at Lakeland College, about how their institutions specifically, and colleges, polytechnics, CÉGEPs and research institutes more generally, have been approaching research security and their unique challenges and opportunities.
21 Oct 2025
Identifying and Safeguarding Sensitive Research of Concern
In this episode, Power Plant Sessions host Jacqueline Littlewood speaks to Dr. Martha Crago, Chair of the Council of Canadian Academies’ panel on Balancing Research Security and Open Science for Dual-Use Research of Concern (and former Vice President, Research and Innovation) at McGill University and Dr. Kelly Cobey, panel member and Director, Metaresearch and Open Science Program, University of Ottawa Heart Institute about research security, open science, and how to identify and safeguard sensitive research of concern.
12 Aug 2025
Disinformation, research security, and the Canadian academic landscape
In this special extended episode, Power Plant Sessions host Jacqueline Littlewood speaks to experts Dr. Matthew Taylor and Dr. Timothy Caulfield about the relationship between research security and disinformation, their related research, emerging trends in this space, and the ways in which researchers in various domains might be impacted by disinformation. Also discussed are the particular risks associated with conducting research on the actors driving mis-and-disinformation.
10 Jun 2025
How History Affects the Relationship between Academia and the Intelligence Community in Research Security
Jacqueline Littlewood interviews Jessica Adam and Stephanie Carvin about the historical ties between academic institutions and intelligence agencies, which impacts contemporary research security protocols.
8 Apr 2025
Research Security Communities of Practice
On this episode of the Power Plant Sessions, host Jacqueline Littlewood focused on communities of practice for research security at the national, provincial, and international level and the role these play in capacity-building and safeguarding the research ecosystem. Our panel of experts for the show includes Justin Nankivell, Paul Jarrett, and Martha Wallace. Each of these expert individuals have played a critical role in establishing and advancing research security communities of practice in Canada.
4 Feb 2025
Connecting Research Security and Research Integrity for Modern Responsible Research
In our inaugural episode, Power Plant Sessions’ host Jacqueline Littlewood talks with two expert guests, Dr. Jason Acker, Associate Vice President Research Integrity Support and Professor, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Alberta, and Shawn McGuirk, Deputy Director at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), about the connections between research security and research integrity and what it means to be a Modern Responsible Researcher.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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