SAGE Community
A community taking shape. We are developing weekly, in-person open lab meetings where everyone interested in psychology, philosophy, science, and thoughtful conversation is welcome. The community will be centered primarily on UQAR students in Rimouski, while welcoming other interested participants. The day, time, location, and first meeting are still to be confirmed.
The aim is to connect like-minded people, learn from one another, and help ideas and information circulate. Social connection and peer learning are worthwhile outcomes in themselves. No research experience is required, and you can attend selectively, listen, or contribute without taking on a research role.
The community is also meant to be a mutual-help space where students and collaborators can support one another, share opportunities and skills, and create situations in which everyone benefits. This matters especially when formal lab capacity is limited: people can still build relationships, learn, contribute, and help one another move forward without waiting for a supervised research placement. I believe that simply belonging to a thoughtful, supportive group like this can be immensely helpful for personal and career development.
What could we bring to a meeting?
The program will reflect members’ interests. These are possibilities, not assignments; new topics and formats are welcome.
| Contribution | What it could look like |
|---|---|
| Book club | Introduce a book or short excerpt and discuss the questions it raises. |
| Scientific paper discussion | Explain a paper’s question, methods, findings, and limitations; compare interpretations together. |
| Research idea or brainstorming | Bring an early question, sketch a study, or explore a possible project with peers. |
| Previous or ongoing research | Present a course project, poster, thesis, or other work you are allowed to share. |
| Peer feedback | Request constructive comments on a draft paper, presentation, proposal, or other work, and offer feedback to others. |
| Graduate applications | Discuss a PhD or other graduate application, research statement, or proposed project; exchange peer feedback and experience. |
| Workshop or skill sharing | Propose a short activity on a method, tool, writing practice, or another topic members want to explore. |
| Opportunities and announcements | Share funding calls, scholarships, conferences, jobs, research opportunities, and useful resources, including their source and deadline. |
| Open conversation or guest talk | Suggest a psychology, philosophy, science, or related topic, or propose a speaker. |
| Hosting and coordination | Lead a session, welcome newcomers, help maintain the schedule, or coordinate an activity with other volunteers. |
Members are encouraged to take initiative and propose activities, workshops, and discussions. Leadership can be shared or rotated, with a clear, manageable commitment. Presenting or organizing is voluntary; listening and asking questions are equally welcome ways to participate.
Share only material you have permission to share. Peer feedback is informal and does not replace scientific supervision, official application advice, or approval to begin a lab project.
Open meetings, shaped by participants
These open lab meetings are for discussion, connection, and peer learning. They are distinct from the lab’s research working meetings, which focus on active projects and may involve confidential material.
Participants can suggest articles or topics and vote on what to read or discuss the following week. A simple show of hands or short poll is enough: coordinators can offer two or three suggestions, confirm a willing host, and circulate the selected reading ahead of time. Reading is encouraged, but newcomers can still join the conversation.
Coordinators can also help the community grow organically during the semester by preparing campus posters and sharing announcements through appropriate student and campus channels. Publicity should point to confirmed meeting details and make clear that everyone is welcome; organizing and promotion are voluntary contributions.
Prof. Rémi Thériault plans to participate and may offer occasional talks or advice. Participants will organize the gatherings so they can continue when he is absent. The group is a place for exchange, rather than a standing individual supervision appointment.
Stay connected
To join the SAGE Community announcement list, email labosage@uqar.ca and ask to be added. You will receive meeting topics, practical details, activities, and relevant funding and research opportunities.
To unsubscribe, simply email the same address and ask to be removed.
Community and research participation
Community membership can be a lasting destination in itself. It carries no research responsibilities. Members may be invited to selected appropriate lab presentations; confidential working meetings remain separate.
| Possibility | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Community member | Discussion, peer learning, announcements, and optional activities. |
| Project contributor | A separately agreed, bounded role in a real project, with suitable preparation, support, and supervision capacity. |
| Workstream lead | Explicit responsibility for part of an approved project, based on relevant expertise, readiness, and available capacity. |
| Graduate supervision applicant | A separate application, supervision decision, and academic admission process. |
These are different responsibilities, not ranks or automatic promotions. Members may propose projects among themselves, but a conversation does not create a SAGE project or commit the lab to supervision. Lab projects need explicit ownership, expertise, capacity, and approval.
Attendance and organizing do not guarantee research roles, authorship, recommendation letters, employment, or admission. You do not need to attend to apply for an available research opportunity. An existing application retains its own status and requires a separate response. For students in Prof. Thériault’s courses, participation or nonparticipation has no effect on grades.
Read about research opportunities and how we approach supervision capacity.