Drs. Ruth Beatty and Pauline Sameshima Win Research and Innovation Week Awards

Congratulations to Dr. Ruth Beatty (Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, Orillia) and Dr. Pauline Sameshima (Canada Research Chair in Arts Integrated Research, Faculty of Education, Thunder Bay), who were granted Research and Innovation Week awards in recognition of the innovative ways they are conducting research to foster community connections.

Dr. Ruth Beatty: Community-Engaged Research Award
“Our goal has been to make math meaningful and relevant to First Nations and Métis students by creating explicit connections to their community, and to provide an opportunity for all students to experience culturally sustaining mathematics instruction.”

That’s how Dr. Ruth Beatty describes the First Nations and Métis Math Voices Project—a project for which she and colleague Colinda Clyne (Curriculum Leader for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education for the Upper Grand DSB) were awarded Lakehead’s Community-Engaged Research Award. This project sees research teams comprised of Anishinaabe and Métis leaders, artists, and educators working with non-Indigenous educators to explore the mathematics inherent in First Nations and Métis cultural practices. All elements of the research processes, from goal-setting to dissemination, are done in partnership with community. 

To date, capacity building outcomes of the First Nations and Métis Math Voices Project have included the Indigenous Education and Mathematics Conference (May 2019); co-presentations at provincial, national and international academic and practitioner conferences; successful grant applications; co-authored book chapters; and the incorporation of work into the mathematics curriculum and instruction course for preservice BEd students at the Orillia campus. The research team is also producing a culturally responsive math education webinar series.

Dr. Pauline Sameshima: Building Research Capacity Award

Dr. Pauline Sameshima’s award recognizes her work over the past years in transforming the University space—quite literally—through the establishment of six art gallery spaces on campus, as well as one virtual gallery. Known as GALLERIES@LAKEHEADU, the Galleries promote University wellness by enhancing the physical environment through aesthetic and intellectual enrichment.

Showcasing creative works of Lakehead researchers, students, and community artists, the galleries promote interdisciplinary research and social responsibility. Past exhibits have included projects relating to climate change, food sustainability, Indigenous knowledge, methamphetamine addiction, and dementia. The exhibitions are juried, engaging both community artists and academics and including international jurors and researchers.

“Current research attests to how innovating working spaces improve happiness, productivity and wellbeing,” Pauline explains. “The galleries are intentional means to mobilize research, develop partnerships across disciplines, share research across campus, invite mingling across communities, create university community engagement, and promote and celebrate Lakehead research.”

Pictured below left: Ruth Beatty with Colinda Clyne; right: Pauline Sameshima