Check out the latest Lake Superior Living Labs Network (LSLLN) newsletter for updates on our recent activity and upcoming events. The LSLLN serves as a platform to connect academics and community groups to develop new partnerships and collaborative initiatives across the Lake Superior watershed. For more information visit www.livinglabsnetwork.org.
This month, CERAH has so many amazing events, learning opportunities and updates for you! If you are a future health or social care provider, there are a number of free events and educational opportunities coming up. Click here to access: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/CERAH-E-Blast---April-2024.html?soid....
Alicia Brink and Melissa Roberts representing their birch bark canoe named Bigwaji-waabigwan 'wildflower'. The digital screen loops photos of the full team in the creation process.
The Lakehead Arts Integrated Research (LAIR) Galleries 2024 juried exhibit is now available online.
View the full juried exhibit, which features a wide variety of creative pieces, at https://galleries.lakeheadu.ca/2024-exhibition.html.
Photos of the exhibits can be found at https://galleries.lakeheadu.ca/happenings.
For more information, please contact Dr. Pauline Sameshima at psameshima@lakeheadu.ca.
Aseel Hashim, Master of Public Health candidate and graduate research assistant in the Department of Health Sciences, recently founded BIPOC Outdoor Adventures at Lakehead University with a generous $5,500 grant from the Thunder Bay Community Foundation.
This innovative program aims to enhance accessibility to outdoor recreation for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students, addressing a need identified through a class research project demonstrating systemic barriers faced by BIPOC students in accessing outdoor spaces and activities.
“The research has consistently shown disparities in outdoor recreation participation rates among different racial and ethnic groups, with BIPOC individuals often experiencing limited access to outdoor environments due to various factors including socioeconomic status, historical marginalization, lack of representation and racism which has implications on overall mental and physical health,” Hashim says.
Her vision for the club is to foster community, break down systemic barriers, and create a space where every student feels empowered and welcomed to explore the outdoors.
The program was inspired by the BIPOC Outdoor Gear Library in Guelph, a space she was fortunate to engage with. “I saw and experienced firsthand the difference this program made in terms of access and fostering a comfortable and safe space for BIPOC folks to be in nature,” she says.
The substantial funding from the Community Foundation will fuel the program's initiatives, allowing for excursions that promise unforgettable experiences and valuable opportunities for participants. Hashim says the program will also incorporate knowledge sharing to educate and prevent injuries in the outdoors.
“The support from the Community Foundation is pivotal in unlocking these opportunities for BIPOC students at Lakehead to enjoy affordable and accessible outdoor recreation,” she explains. “I am beyond happy that the Community Foundation recognizes the need and sees the vision of this initiative, and I am so excited to see what this initiative will become!”
“We are excited to be able to support the BIPOC Outdoor Adventures program at Lakehead as it will promote diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation opportunities that might not otherwise be accessible to those students,” explains Athena Kreiner, CEO of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, who credits the Lakehead University Student Union for identifying the need and applying for the community grant. “I would also like to thank our donors that made this grant possible; they are creating a positive impact on the student experience at Lakehead University.”
Some of the outdoor adventures are being offered in partnership with the School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism (ORPT). "We are excited to support the inclusion of BIPOC students in outdoor activities in the Thunder Bay region,” says Dr. Julie Rosenthal, Assistant Director of the School of ORPT. “The outdoors offers so many benefits for mental and physical wellness, social interaction, nature and cultural appreciation, and academic excellence. We are thrilled to have been invited to contribute to this initiative, which gives students studying ORPT an opportunity to share their passion for the outdoors with other students at Lakehead."
Hashim would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Rosenthal and Dr. Leigh Potvin from ORPT, for their unwavering support and recognition of this initiative.
“With such dedicated allies and supporters, BIPOC Outdoor Adventures is poised to make a lasting impact and set a new standard for diversity and inclusion and promote mental and physical wellness by engaging in outdoor recreation at Lakehead.”
The Research and Innovation Bulletin is distributed weekly every Tuesday by the Office of Research Services and includes information on research funding opportunities, events and workshops and updates from our funding partners.
Checkout the latest version of our Bulletin, by clicking here.
Pictured from left are Dr. Jian Deng, Dr. Pauline Sameshima, Dr. Florin Pendea, Dr. Andrew J. Dean, Dr. Charles Levkoe, and Mannila Sandhu. Dr. Deng and Dr. Levkoe received this year's Research Excellence Award, and Sandhu was the recipient of the Research Support Award.
February 29, 2024 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.
Lakehead University recognized exceptional students, faculty researchers, and partners during the annual Research and Innovation Awards of Excellence on Thursday, Feb. 29 in Thunder Bay.
The event, hosted by Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President of Research and Innovation, celebrated Lakehead’s significant contributions to research excellence, entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact.
“Each year we recognize the tremendous accomplishments of our student and faculty researchers,” he stated. “The impact of the work they do on- and off-campus can be felt locally and internationally and helps shape the reputation of Lakehead University as an institution dedicated to research excellence."
“Congratulations to all the winners on this well-deserved honour,” he added.
Two distinguished Lakehead professors were among this year’s honorees: Dr. Pauline Sameshima and Dr. Andrew J. Dean were recognized with the 2024 Distinguished Researcher Award.
Dr. Sameshima, an editor, curator, curriculum theorist, artist, and professor in the Faculty of Education, was recognized for her commitment to mobilizing learning across diverse audiences and fostering innovative university-community learning collaborations. Her contributions in the field have garnered previous recognition, including the 2022 Ontario Art Education Association's Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year Award, a 2022 Lakehead Teaching Innovation Award, and Lakehead's 2020 Building Research Capacity Award. She is also a member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada.
“I’m humbled by this honour,” said Dr. Sameshima. “I see the award as a big happy high five – a thank you cheer that is a two-way celebration. I think about telling my parents about the award. Whenever anyone thanked my dad, who passed away a year ago, he always said, “My pleasure!” To this award, I say “My pleasure!” because working at Lakehead is a pleasure.”
“I don’t think about changing societies but, because of technology, we affect more than we know,” she said. “The dedicated love we put into our work, whether it’s research for a scientific cure or a poem, goes through to the end product and is gifted to the receiver in a new form, like medicine or learning or emotion. In that way, research or anything we do affects the other.”
For Sameshima, this recognition is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of family, mentors, colleagues, her research teams, graduate students, and university staff.
“It is through research that better futures can be imagined. As we think, imagine, make, and share, we construct the society we hope for.”
Dr. Dean joined Lakehead University in 1999 after earning his PhD in mathematics following his undergraduate education at Lakehead University. He is currently a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
His primary field of study is closely related to the Elliott program for the classification of amenable C*-algebras. C*-algebras are mathematical objects that combine elements of algebra and analysis and are used in the study of operator theory, functional analysis, and quantum mechanics.
He has published numerous papers on this subject, and has supervised many students and post-docs, some of whom are now in academia.
“I want my students to develop skills that will allow them to thrive in whatever field they choose to work in, whether it is academic research or something else altogether,” he said, describing what he hopes to impart on students and society through teaching and research.
“Receiving the Distinguished Researcher Award is an honour,” Dr. Dean said. “I would like to thank my students, colleagues and coauthors, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for many years of support.”
A full list of the awards and recipients follows:
Distinguished Researcher Award
Dr. Andrew J. Dean, Department of Mathematics
Dr. Pauline Sameshima, Faculty of Education
Research Excellence Awards
NSERC Category
Dr. Jian Deng, Department of Civil Engineering
SSHRC Category
Dr. Charles Levkoe, Department of Health Sciences
Research Support Award
Mannila Sandhu, Quantitative Research Assistant, EPID @Work Institute
Building Research Capacity Award
Dr. Pedram Fatehi, Department of Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Stephen Kinrade, Department of Chemistry, for their project, “NMR for advanced research.”
Indigenous Partnership Research Award
Dr. Jian Deng, Department of Civil Engineering, and Marcus Hardy, Chief of Red Rock Indian Band, for their project, “Nipigon River landslides: monitoring, mechanisms, and mitigation.”
Community Engaged Research Award
Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo, Faculty of Education, Dr. Gerardo Reyes, departments of Sustainability Sciences and Biology, and Katherine Killam from Camphill Communities Ontario
Innovation Award
Dr. Deborah Scharf and Dr. Amanda Maranzan from the Department of Psychology
Three-Minute Thesis
First Place: Madeline Fabiano, MSc Kinesiology (Supervisor: E. Pearson)
Second Place: KarLee Lefebvre, MSc Kinesiology (Supervisor: N. Ravanelli)
GRADflix Award
Tristen Brown, PhD Civil Engineering (Supervisor: A. Elshaer)
Graduate Studies Research Excellence Awards
Natural Sciences and Engineering Category
Sana Sharif, PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering (Supervisor: W. Ejaz)
Social Sciences and Humanities Category
Casey Oliver, PhD Clinical Psychology (Supervisor: D. Mazmanian)
Graduate Student Conference Poster Winners
Winner Engineering Category
Eduardo Reis, PhD Software Engineering (Supervisor: T. Akilan)
Winner NSERC Category
Nicholas Bel, PhD Biotechnology (Supervisor: N. Khaper)
Winner SSHRC Category
Crystal Hardy, PhD Health Sciences (Supervisor: R. Schiff and C. Mushquash)
Winner CIHR Category
Chiao-En Joanne Kao, PhD Clinical Psychology (Supervisor: D. Scharf)
Post-Doctoral Fellow Excellence Award
Dr. Yurii Shepelytskyi (Supervisor: M. Albert)
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Media: Please contact Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
February 22, 2024 – Orillia, Ont.
The spotlight will be on research, innovation and collaboration during Lakehead University’s 19th annual Research and Innovation Week, March 5 to 7, at the Orillia campus.
A venue for researchers to showcase their activity and expertise, Research & Innovation Week highlights the profound impact Lakehead faculty, graduate and undergraduate students have on our community and beyond through advancement of new perspectives and innovations.
“Research and Innovation Week is designed to elevate awareness of the university’s world-class research activity and expertise, create opportunities for collaboration, and recognize exceptional achievements,” explained Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “Through research and scholarly activity, we can improve every aspect of society.”
Various events are happening throughout the week including guest speakers, interactive exhibits and display, and research showcases.
On Tuesday, March 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. (as part of SDG Week Canada), Lakehead will host The Climate Baby Dilemma, a film screening and research panel hosted by Dr. Ellen Field, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education, Dr. Helle Møller, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, and Sidney Howlett, Master of Education student, that will discuss the emotional dimensions of climate change and climate justice. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/815837581167.
On Wednesday, March 6 at 1 p.m. in OA 2019, undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Sustainability Sciences will host It’s a Mossy World, a practical workshop and research showcase on bryophytes – true mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
That afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m., join us for an industry panel to discuss leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to support your business and drive success. This session is presented in partnership with the County of Simcoe, City of Barrie, City of Orillia, and Georgian College. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/811687177197.
And, on Thursday, March 7, students from the Media, Film and Communications program will present their annual showcase, Sandbox. From posters and multimedia to big-screen films, join us from 4 to 7 p.m. in Simcoe Hall.
Other highlights include faculty and student research poster presentations. The full schedule can be found at www.lakeheadu.ca/ri.
Events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required unless mentioned above. All events take place at the Lakehead Orillia campus at 500 University Ave. in Orillia.
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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Pictured above is Dr. Abdelhamid Tayebi
February 22, 2024 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
A Lakehead University professor has been named a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Dr. Abdelhamid Tayebi, from the Department of Electrical Engineering, has been selected for this international recognition from his peers for his innovative research and outstanding commitment to the engineering profession.
The IET Fellowship is the professional institution’s highest category of membership and is reserved only for those who have demonstrated recent significant achievements sustained at the highest levels in engineering, technology, or related disciplines.
“Being recognized as a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology by my peers is an incredible honor, one that fills me with deep gratitude," said Dr. Tayebi. "This recognition not only reflects personal achievement but also serves as a catalyst for further commitment to excellence in our field."
Dr. Tayebi received his Master of Science in Robotics from Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, and his PhD in Robotics and Automatic Control from Université de Picardie Jules Verne. He joined Lakehead University in 1999 where he is a professor and the founder of the Robotics and Automatic Control Laboratory.
“Dr. Tayebi is an exceptional researcher who is highly-respected in his field across the world. This recognition from the IET places him at the very top of the engineering profession internationally, which is well-deserved and makes us all very proud,” said Dr. Janusz Kozinski, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a multidisciplinary professional engineering institution. The IET was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), dating back to 1871, and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE) dating back to 1884. It is now one of the world's largest engineering institutions with 154,000 members in 148 countries.
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Media: For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
February 13, 2024 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
The spotlight will be on research, innovation and collaboration during Lakehead University’s 19th annual Research & Innovation Week, February 24 to March 1.
A venue for researchers to showcase their activity and expertise, Research & Innovation Week highlights the profound impact Lakehead faculty and graduate and undergraduate students have on our community and beyond through advancement of new perspectives and innovations.
“Research & Innovation Week is designed to elevate awareness of the university’s world-class research activity and expertise, create opportunities for collaboration, and recognize exceptional achievements,” explained Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “Through research and scholarly activity, we can improve every aspect of society.”
Various events are happening throughout the week including guest speakers, interactive exhibits and displays, and research showcases.
On Saturday, Feb. 24, there will be a free public event at Goods & Co. Market on Red River Road. Drop by between 10 am and 4 pm to engage in hands-on research activities.
Then, on Monday, Feb. 26 at 12 pm, biologist, science journalist, author and TV host Dr. Dan Riskin will deliver a keynote address. In this hour-long talk, Riskin will delve into how individuals can learn and thrive in the new world of artificial intelligence. Registration is required.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 11 am in the CASES Atrium, Dr. Scott Hamilton will explore the complexities surrounding academic participation in the search for unmarked graves at Indian Residential Schools (IRS). Over the past decade, Dr. Hamilton has been involved in IRS investigations, first as a researcher with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and more recently as a resource person.
Also that afternoon, guest curator Mary Ann Beckwith will host a tour of Lakehead’s new juried and featured art in the CASES Building from 4 to 5:30 pm. Select exhibitors will be on hand to discuss their works.
On Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 10 am in the Faculty Lounge, the University will be hosting a showcase of researchers who will present highlights of their most innovative and impactful research endeavours – from science and technology to social sciences and humanities.
Speakers will include Dr. Abigale Sprakes from the School of Social Work; Dr. Abdulsalam Yassine from the Department of Software Engineering; Dr. Noah Phillips from the Department of Geology; Dr. Paul Cormier from Keewatinase – Department of Indigenous Education in the Faculty of Education; and many more.
Also on Wednesday, Dr. Amanda Diochon will dig into her work to improve land management outcomes for organic carbon stores and soil health, with a focus on northern soils - from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the University Centre (UC 1017).
On Thursday, Feb. 29 at 2 pm, Lakehead professor and director of EPID@Work Dr. Vicki Kristman will explore the factors impacting employee health and disability and offer solutions to help improve the overall work environment. Dr. Kristman’s talk will be held in the CASES Atrium.
Visit www.lakeheadu.ca/ri to register for events and for more information.
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Media: Please contact Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Everyone from the university community is invited to attend the opening night of two student art exhibitions at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. The Department of Visual Arts will be hosting the 39th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition and the Honours Student Thesis Exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Friday April 5 from 7 to 9 pm with a brief awards ceremony taking place at 7:30 pm.
Fifty-four students will be participating, with artworks represented in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, digital art and Indigenous art practices. These highly anticipated student art exhibitions will also be celebrating a 39-year partnership and collaboration between The Art Gallery and Lakehead University's Department of Visual Arts.
The Juried Exhibition will be on display from March 15 to April 28 and the Honours Exhibition will run from March 22 through May 5. The exhibit is open to the public.
This exhibit is sponsored by the Lakehead University Alumni Association. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is located at 1080 Keewatin Street, on the campus of Confederation College. Please visit the gallery website for more information about the exhibitions.
From left: Jillian Jurimae, The Raven (2024); Marie Gauthier, Nature vs Concrete (2023); Alyssa Angus, 215 (2023). Below: Lux Favreau, Grapefruit Still-Life (2024)
