On Oct. 11, more than 100 researchers from AV俱乐部 and the of Canada (NRC) 鈥� the Government of Canada鈥檚 largest research organization 鈥� gathered on campus to highlight research links between the organizations and discuss opportunities for expanding collaboration in the future.
This was the first time in recent memory that the NRC, which works to advance knowledge and technology development, support business innovation and fulfill government mandates, has partnered with a Canadian university to host a research symposium.
The half-day event included panels on food, algae and health, and featured a mix of NRC and AV俱乐部 researchers. These researchers had the opportunity to discuss their work (which ranged from advancing potato farming to responding to harmful algae blooms to the treatment of breast cancer), provide examples of where they had collaborated in the past and discuss opportunities for expanded relationships in the future. They also shared how using NRC facilities can take AV俱乐部 research projects further and allow researchers to explore areas they otherwise wouldn鈥檛.
鈥淭here are always gaps,鈥� said Paola Marcato, associate professor in AV俱乐部鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 do everything in your own lab, so you need to be able to access resources.鈥�
The event concluded with a panel discussion that was moderated by Graham Gagnon, associate vice-president research at AV俱乐部, and included Alice Aiken, vice-president research and innovation at AV俱乐部, and Denise Leblanc, NRC鈥檚 director general for Canada鈥檚 Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre. While sharing their takeaways for the day, Leblanc suggested that while the NRC had been previously focused on industrially focused research, the organization is re-focusing on collaborative research with academia an important driver. Leblanc also said the NRC will continue to work to improve access for AV俱乐部 researchers.
Denise Leblanc (left) and Alice Aiken.
When asked whether AV俱乐部 and the NRC would co-host more research symposiums in the future, both Leblanc and Dr. AIken answered with a resounding yes.
鈥淥ur president, Richard Florizone, often says that 鈥榥obody does anything alone,鈥欌�� said Dr. Aiken. 鈥淭he key to success with anything is collaboration. It鈥檚 through collaboration that we make our work known. This is just the beginning.鈥�