the study of childhood in the newly established Institute for Child and Youth Studies, U of L research is multidisciplinary and relevant to today’s world issues. “The problems being addressed by U of L researchers are helping to create a better quality of life for local and global communities,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “While many factors have contributed to building this capacity, the exceptional work by current and former faculty has played a significant role in attracting additional worldleading researchers to the University, thereby expanding our research portfolio.” Where the University goes from here is the most exciting aspect, because as a teaching institution intent on training the next
THE U OF L HAS identified five THEMEs that set the stage to advance our national and international reputation of research excellence.
6
generation of researchers, the U of L is its own renewable knowledge resource. From a student perspective, this is great news. “When I first started at the U of L nearly 10 years ago, there wasn’t the breadth of formal opportunity for undergraduates to participate in research that there is today,” says Arthur. “However, what was the same then as it is today, was the commitment of faculty and staff to engage students in a meaningful way and to encourage students in their research endeavours. “When I look at what is now available to students and how the University continues to enhance those research opportunities, as an alumna I am extremely proud of my University. This recognition is richly deserved.”
Jennifer Arthur (BA ’07, MSc ’12)
CREATIVITY AND PERFORMANCE:
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT:
This research theme recognizes research at the intersection of art, culture and society. Our current capabilities in these contexts rest on outstanding intellectual, creative and performance activities of our cultural and literary critics and theorists, analysts and composers as well as our dramatists, visual artists, musicians, designers, producers, directors and digital media specialists who each provide constructs of social communication and aesthetic expression. This theme builds on the U of L’s strength in visual arts by incorporating traditional and emerging media, including digital and interactive media. Through collaborative efforts with other disciplines, research explores the connections of movement and performance, both athletic and artistic, and its implications on group identity and popular culture.
This research theme is built on a foundation of understanding the earth, its resources and its sustainability. The U of L has long focused on the issues of sustainability, development and globalization. Our current capacity stems from our work on water, fresh-water ecosystems, mountain and river hydrology and the overall sustainability of our environment, including the development of biofuels, bioenergy sources and new materials, such as biodegradable plastics. Our work on remote sensing and imaging, spectroscopy, chemical processes and structures, and water and environmental research will provide data and knowledge pertinent to the development of effective land and water management practices.
s am | s o u t h e r n A l b e r t a M ag az i n e | U n i v e r s i t y o f Le t h b r i d g e