Faculty of Social Science at Western University

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From Academic Research to a National Public Resource

What happens when academic research, journalism, and data science come together with a shared goal of helping Canadians better understand politics?

A remarkable collaboration involving Western University researcher Dave Armstrong, Canada Research Chair in Political Methodology and Professor of Political Science, has helped transform a trusted election forecasting model into a permanent public resource for Canadians.

Working with Vox Pop Labs through a SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant, Armstrong contributed to the development and refinement of The Signal, an advanced election forecasting platform now permanently featured by the Toronto Star as part of its political coverage.

Originally launched during federal election campaigns, The Signal has evolved into a year-round forecasting platform that provides Canadians with continuously updated insights into the country's political landscape. The latest version was developed with an integral contribution from Armstrong and support from SSHRC funding.

Behind the scenes, the tool relies on sophisticated computational social science methods. Rather than simply averaging public opinion polls, The Signal uses a Bayesian dynamic forecasting model that learns from historical polling performance and election outcomes. It identifies and corrects for polling biases, updates forecasts as new information becomes available, and generates projections at the national, regional, and riding levels.

The project demonstrates the real-world impact of university research. It brings together academic expertise, public-service journalism, and innovative data science to make complex political information more accessible to everyday Canadians.

This collaboration is also a powerful example of knowledge mobilization in action, where research extends beyond the classroom and academic journals to create tools that inform public understanding and support democratic engagement.

Research supported by SSHRC is helping millions of Canadians access reliable, evidence-based political information, while showing how universities can contribute directly to conversations that matter across the country.

Explore The Signal and learn how research is helping shape public understanding of Canadian politics.

🔗 The Signal: https://www.thestar.com/interactives/canadian-federal-politics-election-forecast/article_1337f598-2b2e-4b63-b5ee-0e923c663892.html

Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories

When Noah Vanderhoeven began his journey in Western University’s Department of Political Science, he was searching for a program that would support both his academic interests and his long-term career goals. What he found was a community that encouraged innovation, collaboration, and meaningful research.

Now a PhD Candidate in Political Science, Noah has combined his passion for politics and sports with advanced research training to explore how these two worlds intersect. Along the way, he has developed valuable quantitative and mixed methods research skills, gained teaching experience, contributed to collaborative research projects, and built strong connections within the Western community.

“I was drawn to the Political Science department at Western for two reasons,” Noah explains. “First was the support from my PhD supervisor Dr. Amanda Friesen, who fully supported my interest in studying the intersection of sports and politics. Second was the depth and quality of the statistical training that Western Political Science’s graduate school offers.”

Beyond his academic work, Noah has also contributed to student life as co-chair of the Graduate Association of Political Science, helping organize events that brought graduate students together for professional development and community building.

Reflecting on his experience, Noah says the supportive environment within the department has played a major role in his growth as both a researcher and communicator. His story demonstrates how the Faculty of Social Science empowers students to pursue ambitious ideas while preparing for a wide range of future opportunities.

Read Noah Vanderhoeven’s inspiring story:
https://www.ssc.uwo.ca/meetourstars/celebrating_student_stories_noah_vanderhoeven.html

Ever wondered what it's like to live on campus?
The Western Launch Overnight Experience gives incoming students a chance to stay in residence, meet other future Mustangs, and experience campus life before September.

Save the dates:
📅 July 17-18
📅 July 24-25

Learn more:
https://launch.uwo.ca/overnight-experience/index.html

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A short conversation today can help make course enrolment much smoother tomorrow.

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🎓 Honouring Visionary Leadership at Spring Convocation 2026

This spring, Western proudly celebrated exceptional leaders whose work has transformed industries, inspired innovation and created opportunities for future generations. Among this year’s honorary degree recipients was Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, an internationally recognized technology executive, entrepreneur, investor and CEO of Xero.

Throughout a remarkable career spanning more than 25 years, Cassidy has helped build, scale and lead some of the world’s most influential companies, including Google, Amazon, StubHub and Yodlee. Her leadership has shaped the technology landscape while opening doors for countless innovators and entrepreneurs around the globe.

Beyond her achievements in business, Cassidy is widely recognized as a champion for diverse leadership and gender equity. Through her work as an executive, board member, investor and mentor, she has consistently advocated for creating opportunities where talent can thrive and new ideas can flourish.

Her impact extends across industries through service on the boards of major organizations such as Ericsson, Urban Outfitters, TripAdvisor and Upstart, as well as investments in groundbreaking companies spanning technology, consumer products and sports.

Cassidy is also the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Choose Possibility: Take Risks and Thrive (Even When You Fail), which encourages readers to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks and pursue opportunities with confidence and resilience.

As graduates prepare to embark on their own journeys, Cassidy’s story serves as a powerful reminder that success is built through curiosity, courage, perseverance and a willingness to embrace possibility.

Congratulations to Sukhinder Singh Cassidy on receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Western University.

✨ CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!

Years of hard work, determination and growth have led to this moment.

Today, we celebrate your achievements and all that lies ahead.

🎓 Class of 2026
💜 We are proud of you!

The Faculty of Social Science at Western University is proud to celebrate the recipients of the 2026 Equity and Diversity Social Science Doctoral Fellowship (EDSSDF), a fellowship that reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting excellence, inclusion, and representation in graduate education.

This important fellowship recognizes doctoral students whose academic achievements, research potential, and dedication to scholarly pursuits are helping shape a more inclusive future in research and higher education. The initiative prioritizes support for students from historically marginalized communities, including racialized, Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), LGBTQ2s+, and persons with disabilities.

Congratulations to our 2026 recipients:
• Nuamah Asafo Agyei – Geography & Environment
• Patrick Amoah – Sociology
• Fernando Chacon – Psychology
• Dami Solaja – Neuroscience

Each of these scholars brings unique perspectives, meaningful research interests, and a strong commitment to advancing knowledge in ways that matter to communities locally and globally. Their work reflects the strength of diverse voices in the social sciences and the impact of creating spaces where students can thrive academically and personally.

At the Faculty of Social Science, we believe that supporting emerging scholars from diverse backgrounds strengthens research, enriches learning environments, and contributes to more thoughtful and equitable communities.

Learn more about this year’s recipients: https://www.ssc.uwo.ca/graduate/awards/equity_and_diversity_social_science_doctoral_fellowship.html