The Human Factor puts the “social” in science.
Award winning journalist Cheryl Croucher explores the pressing issues of our times and how scientific inquiry into the natural, technical and social sciences leads to greater understanding and innovation in solving society’s problems.
The Human Factor introduces you to the researchers and innovators whose human ingenuity and inventive spirit contribute to the strength of our society and economy.
Cheryl Croucher, Porcupine Stone Productions
Cheryl Croucher has been working in media since the early 1970’s as a writer, broadcaster and producer, with a long history at both CBC and CKUA Radio. Cheryl hails from Edmonton, Alberta and graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Political Science and Sociology. As a journalist, Cheryl has covered both consumer and current affairs and was CBC Radio’s first environment commentator. At CKUA Radio, Cheryl co-produced EcoFile followed by the very popular program Heritage Trails, a daily series of 500 vignettes on Alberta history, and has hosted the series Aboriginal Pathways, now called Indigenous Pathways, since 2009. Through her company Porcupine Stone Productions, Cheryl developed two very successful independent web-based programs called Innovation Alberta and Innovation Anthology. Since 2001 she has produced almost 2000 episodes profiling Canadian ingenuity. In 2002 Cheryl received the prestigious Alberta Chamber of Resources Award for Excellence in Journalism and in 2009 an inaugural CIHR Journalism Fellowship. When she’s not engaged in journalistic or volunteer activities, you’ll find Cheryl in her garden tending her collection of David Austin roses.
Scott Franchuk, Riverdale Recorders
You’ll find Scott Franchuk’s name on the back of records by Corb Lund, Romi Mayes, Joe Nolan, Del Barber, 100 Mile House, Michael Rault, Mike Plume, Lucas Chiasson, Scenic Route to Alaska, the Mcdades, and about a hundred others. You’ll also hear his live concert recordings of artists like John Prine, kd Lang, Blue Rodeo, Mother Mother and dozens more being aired nationally on CBC and CKUA. Scott has toured throughout Canada, the US and the UK as a FOH mixer in venues of all sizes from small clubs to arenas and the mainstage of Glastonbury. Scott’s work has been nominated for two Juno Awards, a Polaris Prize, and has won multiple Western Canadian Music Awards and Edmonton Music Awards. He was also nominated for the 2019 Audio Engineering Award at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Scott is a 25 year veteran recording engineer, mastering engineer, producer and owner of the legendary Edmonton studio, Riverdale Recorders. Scott and Cheryl have collaborated since 1997.
Sue Hauke, Sue Hauke Design
Sue Hauke is an independent graphic designer with more than 25 years of agency and freelance experience, and has enjoyed collaborating with Porcupine Stone since 2002. She has worked with companies large and small, and has won awards for annual reports that she designed for some of Calgary’s major corporations. Sue’s collaborative personality and flair for the unusual have brought to life a range of strategy-based solutions for diverse clients requiring corporate communications, brand development, publications and exhibits and wayfinding. Sue is also a classically trained musician and was Principal Flute with the Calgary Civic Symphony for 27 years and has been a member of the Red Deer Symphony for 9 years. Among her musical and creative endeavours are playing the ukulele, painting and collage.
Joseph-Luis Carreon-Macedo, Simple Cloud Works
After obtaining a PhD in the UK, working on science research at the University of Alberta, and collaborating with multiple nonprofit organizations, Simple Cloud Works founder Joseph-Luis realized that his tech-geeky-social talents could be put to good use helping individuals and organizations get the most and the best of technology in their lives and work. Eventually, through the collaboration with other talented and passionate people Simple Cloud Works was born in 2011 and since then Joseph-Luis has created web solutions for international authors to promote their work, lawyers who want to highlight their services, organizations that provide membership plans, and businesses that want to better promote and sell their services and products. Among his other passions, Joseph-Luis has hold executive positions within Toastmasters, is a co-organizer of Board Leadership Edmonton, and enjoys coaching and practising archery at a recreational and competitive level for the Capital Region Archery Club.