The PEAR Lab was delighted to collaborate with Ayona Jaswal, our summer high school co-op student, and her organization, The Kindness and Smile Zone, for a card-making activity during one of our lab meetings. Ayona shared her personal story and the vision behind The Kindness and Smile Zone, inspiring our team with her passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others. Together, our lab members created a collection of handmade cards designed to bring hope, encour

On July 22, 2026, PEAR Lab graduate student Abbigail Kinnear successfully defended her dissertation examining the refinement and validation of an Eating Disorder Behaviour Functions Measure! Abby has been a valued member of the PEAR Lab since 2019, and we are so excited to celebrate this accomplishment with her. We are incredibly grateful for all that she has contributed to the lab and wish her all the best as she heads to Toronto to complete her clinical residency! Written b

On July 19, 2026, the PEAR Lab had the opportunity to host a booth at the London Pride Parade! Our booth was a space to celebrate Pride, connect with the community, and share more about the work we do. We handed out free stickers, flags, wristbands, and candy to parade attendees, helping create a fun and welcoming environment. It was a wonderful opportunity to engage with the London community, spread some Pride, and share the work of the PEAR Lab with those attending the para

This past Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th, 2026 the PEAR Lab hosted a booth at Western's 8th Annual Science Rendezvous! Science Rendezvous is a national event that brings science into the community in a way that’s hands-on and accessible. Hosted annually in cities across Canada, Science Rendezvous creates space for researchers to connect directly with families and young learners. At our booth, we focused on simple, hands-on activities. Kids were invited to write down some

Graduate students at the PEAR Lab attended the Eating Disorders Association of Canada (EDAC) 8th biennial conference this past Monday and Tuesday (April 27-28, 2026), in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The talks were informative and memorable, the food was delicious, and the views of the harbour front were amazing. It was so nice to connect with colleagues, speak with and learn from individuals who have similar passions, and to meet our colleagues at the BEEP Lab from McGill University

Volume 2 Issue 1 (April 2026) Check out our most recent newsletter to see what we've been up to! Over the past year, we've been making great progress on our Longitudinal Reward Study in collaboration with the BEEP Lab @ McGill University! See our 'Participate Tab' to see what other studies we are currently recruiting for! Newsletter created by: Kylee Ayala, Sarina Khaleghi, and Avery Bender (In collaboration with Ariane Duguay, Adèle Gille, and Angela Gao from the BEEP Lab) W

The PEAR Lab was proudly represented at this year’s Psychology Honours Thesis Poster Day by Kira Cocco and Annalisa Simonetta, who showcased their outstanding work! Kira Cocco Honours Specialization in Psychology with a minor in Childhood & Youth Studies Kira joined The PEAR Lab in 2024! For her thesis, Kira used fMRI data to examine how neural responses differ between adolescent girls with and without eating disorders when they are anticipating evaluation from their peers, a

During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, the PEAR Lab hosted a campus booth in collaboration with the University Student Council Gender Equity and Health team, dedicated to promoting body appreciation and self-positivity. Students were invited to write one thing they love about their body, encouraging moments of reflection and self-compassion. At a second table, we also featured an Eating Disorder trivia wheel that helped bust common myths and spark meaningful conversations abo

Volume 1 Issue 1 (May 2025) Introducing The Reward Report: The PEAR Lab's official newsletter for our Longitudinal Reward Study! Newsletter created by: Shely Kagan and Taylor Breddy Written by Avery Bender