DeFacto is featured on the back cover of Trent’s biennial Showcase publication. This segment of DeFacto appears in the Fall 2013 issue of Showcase: The Knowledge Mobilization Edition. View the complete publication at www.trentu.ca/showcase
Learning with Robots
What could be better for a nursing student than practicing on a real, live patient? How about practicing on a high-fidelity simulator that looks and acts like a real, live patient? That’s what Ph.D. student and professor of Nursing Jane Tyerman will be exploring when she begins simulation research with students enrolled in the B.Sc.N. program. The research, which begins January 2014, will focus on unresponsive patient scenarios.
The simulation will utilize human-like mannequins which can exhibit patient symptoms that can be remotely manipulated to respond to a student’s actions. “We’re allowing the student to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom, clinical, and lab into simulated, real-life experiences where there are no threats to the patient’s safety,” said Prof. Tyerman. “Using a simulator, a student can actively learn while we assess and discuss their actions and responses.”
Prof. Tyerman will be evaluating whether simulation improves the nursing students’ knowledge, self-confidence, and self-efficacy in dealing with unresponsive patient scenarios. The findings will be disseminated into the nursing curriculum. “The research will highlight which areas of theoretical content needs to be further enhanced, so students are knowledgeable and better-prepared to respond to these life-threatening situations,” Prof. Tyerman said.
Localizing Climate Change Impacts
What could the potential impacts of climate change look like for local infrastructure, industries and environment? Dr. Stephen Hill, associate professor of Environmental and Resource Studies, and graduate student Lynda Langford developed a research paper for the Peterborough region which helped to make the findings relevant to local policy-makers. It also identified barriers to action and suggested strategies for adaptation planning. The research was conducted on behalf of the Sustainable Peterborough Working Group on Climate Change which included local municipalities and health and environmental organizations. The project was funded by MITACS and members of the working group.
“Our objective was to take what academics already understand about climate change and make it real for local politicians and policy-makers,” says Professor Hill. “Partnering with the municipal working group helped to keep the research relevant to the local audience. As a result of the research, both the City and County of Peterborough are moving forward to develop a climate change action plan, and will use our research paper as a basis for obtaining further funding. This is a good example of conducting research in a way which mobilizes action.”
Rethinking Memory Loss
Alzheimer’s is a major disease that is of increasing concern as our population ages. But what if Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not diseases, but rather, a normal part of aging asks
Dr. Stephen Katz, professor of Sociology, who is researching Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) along with Dr. Kevin Peters (Psychology) and Dr. Peri Ballantyne (Sociology). Their three-year project is funded by CIHR.
“Studying people with MCI may help us learn more about the early development of Alzheimer’s, and assist in the creation of intervention strategies,” says Professor Katz. “But we also need to question the medicalization of memory loss, and its negativizing disease model of causes, affects, losses and treatments. Perhaps we should be talking about the ageing mind in a positive sense – what is gained, what changes, and how we cope with memory loss.”
Through focus groups and interviews, the researchers are giving a voice to patients, caregivers, doctors, professionals and experts, and are planning to share their research with professionals and public audiences at an upcoming symposium. “We hope such discovery can be useful to all stakeholders involved in healthcare for aging persons,” says Prof. Katz, “and we hope to communicate that MCI is part of a larger cultural focus on aging.”
Feeding our Food
Can smart use of manure, compost, worm castings, and other agricultural biowaste improve economic viability for agricultural producers and reduce environmental impacts? Dr. Mehdi Sharifi, assistant professor of Environmental and Resource Studies and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture thinks so. Professor Shafiri’s research focuses on improving the management of nitrogen and phosphorous in agricultural systems to advance environmental sustainability, protect the quality of soil and water, and increase economic returns for growers.
“Ecological-based nutrient management reduces excess nutrients in the environment which are susceptible to leaching to the ground water or runoff into rivers and water bodies. And by encouraging diversification of species in the system and less reliance on energy intensive practices, we can lower production costs and increase the chances of reasonable yield under climate change scenarios,” says Prof. Sharifi whose research is driven by the needs of both food consumers and producers.
By collaborating with industry partners, such as the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Prof. Sharifi is able to disseminate his findings to an audience who can use his work to improve the economic viability of the industry while meeting consumer demands. And interest in sustainable agricultural extends beyond food: Prof. Sharifi is currently working with an Ontario company to improve the growing of hemp and medical marijuana plants under controlled conditions.
Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.