Consistently ranked among the top research institutions in the country, the University of Lethbridge will celebrate everything research related March 7-12, 2016, with a full week of activities.

Spotlight: Illuminating Research will include six days of presentations, lectures, demonstrations and discussions, all focussing on the academic research being conducted at Alberta’s Destination University.

“There is a real vibrancy to the research culture here at the U of L and we’re excited to put together a week of activities that invite the community to come and take a look at what we are doing,” says University of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dr. Erasmus Okine.

Beginning with University Scholars Presentations on Monday, March 7, the week will include a speaker series event from the Centre for Oral History and Tradition, the fourth annual Community University Research Excellence (CURE), a Discovery Lecture Series, the annual 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) challenge and the 10th Annual Meeting of the Minds conference.

As well, the Images of Research photo competition will be on display and prizes awarded to the top images as voted on by a panel of judges and the community.

“It’s important that we continue to create opportunities for the community to see the world-class work that is being conducted here at the University,” says Okine. “These events also foster connections and create collaborative opportunities between our researchers and external partners, enabling the U of L to respond to the specific needs of our local communities, the province and the country.”

The University has consistently been placed among the country’s top undergraduate research institutions, recently ranking fourth in Research Infosource’s annual Research Universities of the Year rankings list. In 2012, the U of L was named Research University of the Year (Undergraduate).

Following is a list of events for Spotlight: Illuminating Research.

Monday, Mar. 7
-       University Scholars Presentations: A series of talks from researchers who are concluding their University Scholar research programs.

Tuesday, Mar. 8
-       Centre for Oral History and Tradition Speaker Series: Dr. Jodie Asselin (anthropology) presents Stories of Land and Life; environment and memory from northern Albertan farmers

Wednesday, Mar. 9
-       Community University Research Excellence (CURE) and Celebrating Research Excellence Reception: An annual free event that connects U of L researchers with community members to initiate and support collaborative research relationships. The event will also include a reception recognizing research excellence on the U of L campus.

Thursday, Mar. 10
-       Discovery Lecture Series: Educational psychologist Dr. Linda Elder presents The State of Critical Thinking in Human Societies Today.

Friday, Mar. 11
-       3-Minute Thesis (3MT)competition: Thesis-based graduate students are challenged to create a compelling presentation on their research and its significance in three minutes or less.

Saturday, Mar. 12
-       Meeting of the Minds Conference: This free event is organized by the U of L Graduate Students’ Association and sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies as a way to bring research to an external community audience.

Images of Research Competition: Sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Students’ Association, the competition invites graduate students involved in research to submit photos that represent their research, scholarly and artistic work.