On April 9, 2022, the fifth Annual Quebec Undergraduate Security Conference (QUSC) took place at Bishop’s University, gathering undergraduate students from universities all around Canada, as well as high profile scholars and practitioners. This event offers the opportunity for undergraduate students to present their research to practitioners and scholars in the field of international security. The QUSC enables students to create a network of peers, professors, and experts in the field.
Organization
The Quebec Undergraduate Security Conference is organized by Bishop’s University and the Center for Security and Crisis Governance (CRITIC) and is supported by the International Security in Globalization Era project (ISGE) as well as the Network for Strategic Analysis (NSA). Organizers include Dr. Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, associate professor at Bishop’s University and non-resident fellow at the International Peace Institute in New York City, and Dr. Bruno Charbonneau, PhD at Queen’s University, and Director of CRITIC at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean.
Themes discussed
The 2022 QUSC edition focused on four themes:
- Climate and environment security
- Gender, peace, and security
- Globalization, technology, and international security
- The implications of COVID-19 on peace and security.
The experience
Leea Rebeca Ruta, Bishop’s student, presented an essay on how military troops of soldiers could be sent to climate change-affected areas to plant trees and corals before their return home as a nature-based therapy for PTSD. She explained: “The conference was divided into sections based on themes. After each panelist presented their piece, their assigned reader would talk a bit about the essay and give feedback on the writing. The audience would then have a discussion session to ask questions after all three or four panelists presented.” Prior to the conference, panelists write an essay which is then read by professors who can give constructive criticism. Ruta mentioned that a Royal Military College Saint-Jean professor read her essay, and his “background had no relation to climate conflicts so he said it was an interesting read.” She “enjoyed writing the essay and having someone I never met read it and criticize it,” which adds to the experience offered by the QUSC.
Takeaways from the conference
Ruta shared that she got to meet people from all around the world studying in Canada, including a cadet from her home country of Romania, and she got to listen to presentations from many other panelists including Bishop’s students. Moreover, the students from other universities had their transportation costs covered and received a stipend for their participation in the event.
The QUSC also offers the opportunity for students to meet with high-profile individuals in their field. The 2021 edition of this conference welcomed Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, as keynote speaker.
Lastly, Ruta added, “I think I would have enjoyed a two-day weekend full of conferences because I would have wanted to listen to the other presentations,” confirming the relevance of the event and supporting its success after five editions.
To learn more about the Quebec Undergraduate Security Conference, you can consult their official Twitter page @QUSConference or the official website https://www.isge.ca/undergraduate-security-conference/
The Campus 