Lakehead University is hosting its annual Research & Innovation Week on March 3 and 4, building on 60 years of faculty and student-led research with the theme of "Shaping the EvoLUtion: Our Next-Gen Transformative Research".
Poster presentations offer undergraduate and graduate student researchers the opportunity to showcase their projects to peers and the broader Lakehead community.
There are important events happening on campus that will be of interest for the community, including student poster presentations that showcase how the next generation of Lakehead talent is driving global change.
"We want people to see and experience how Lakehead University is making an impact in their community," explained Dr. Langis Roy, Vice-President Research and Innovation. "Every project, experiment, and study completed by our students and faculty leads to a real-world impact- whether it be locally or globally."
This year holds special significance for Dr. Roy. "I'm thrilled to participate in my first Research & Innovation Week to showcase how people here at Lakehead are solving important societal challenges through community partnerships. It's an honour to highlight the vital work of our faculty, students, and partners."
The community is invited to attend a variety of free events designed to highlight the significance of student and faculty expertise.
The events kick-off at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3 with opening ceremonies, followed by a keynote talk with Dr. Sarah Olutola: "Talking About Racism During Turbulent Times". Join Dr. Olutola, Associate Professor in the Department of English, for a frank discussion about how the current political climate necessitates a re-examination of how we think about racism and what we can do about it. This talk is a collaboration with the President's Public Lecture Series and #ITSTARTS.
Following the lecture, community members can browse crafts, artwork, and wares from Indigenous vendors and artists at the Indigenous Craft Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m in the Orsi Family Learning Commons in Simcoe Hall.
Then at 3 p.m., Dr. Sandra Jeppesen, Professor in the Media, Film & Communications program, will present the Distinguished Researcher Talk, "Counter-Mapping Borders in Crisis: Housing, Healthcare, and Migration" in OA 1033 in Simcoe Hall. Amidst the rise of global authoritarianism, Dr. Jeppesen explores how activists are reclaiming power by challenging traditional borders and the dominance of big data.
You'll be able to learn from the next generation of scholars at the Graduate Studies Conference on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Alumni Commons, the Faculty of Business Student Conference from 4 to 6 p.m., and the Sustainability Sciences Conference on Wednesday, March 4 at 10 a.m. in the Orsi Family Learning Commons.
Many of the events align with #ITSTARTS, a public awareness campaign designed to take proactive steps toward addressing racism and discrimination in Simcoe County. As a member of the Simcoe County Local Immigration Partnership Council and supporter of this annual initiative, Lakehead University encourages everyone to learn more about the campaign and other campus and community events happening throughout the month of March.
For a full list of Research & Innovation Week events, please visit www.lakeheadu.ca/ri.
