Continuing to create collaborative opportunities between researchers and external stakeholders, the University of Lethbridge presents its third annual Community University Research Exchange (CURE) event on Mar. 20, 2015.
This free event is focused on bringing U of L researchers together with community members to initiate and support collaborative research relationships. Now in its third year, CURE is continuing to create valuable links between the community and the U of L.
“We want to ensure that the world-class work that is being conducted by our researchers has an opportunity to reach our community and, if appropriate, be utilized by community organizations, industry and the general public,” says Dr. Lesley Brown, the University’s interim vice-president (research). “The work we do at the U of L often responds to the needs of our local communities, the province and the country. CURE has proven to be very valuable in creating connections between our researchers and external partners.”
One such example of community involvement is the ongoing work of Lisa Doolittle of the U of L’s Faculty of Fine Arts. As the Teaching and Learning Research coordinator for the Art for Social Change project, a comprehensive five-year national research program that examines the effectiveness of using the arts as a means of community engagement and to encourage positive social change, Doolittle works closely with a number of community organizations and the general public at large. She uses activities associated with dance as a means to effect positive change.
“The arts bring people together. The arts do not separate people – they are communal activities and when communities come together, big things can happen,” says Doolittle, who has worked with people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and in partnership with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
The 2015 edition of CURE is currently accepting registrations for the Mar. 20, 2015 event. All community members or agencies are invited to attend or participate in this free event by developing short presentations describing research projects completed, in progress or being established. University researchers will present a poster session, take part in a networking lunch and deliver speed talks, all describing their community-based projects. All topics and disciplines of research are open for discussion.
For more information on CURE 2015, visit the Research Services website.
