Research Hubs
Henry House Archaeological Dig
Over the past few years, Trent student researchers and faculty have set out to understand a small piece of Oshawa from archaeological digs at Henry House, a local historical site, and on recently acquired properties on our own campus. The Ontario Archaeological Field School, hosted at the site, introduces students to various archaeological research methods – from field survey to excavation. Students also become familiar with equipment, learn about archaeological standards and guidelines, and acquire specific skills from bagging and tagging to cleaning and analyzing artifacts, mapping, and proper digging techniques.
Ka'Kabish Archaeological Research Lab
The Ka’kabish Archaeological Research Lab, which spans both the Durham GTA and Peterborough campuses, is part of the larger Ka’kabish Archaeological Research Project (KARP), which is centered on laboratory-based research of the material culture recovered during the course of excavations. KARP was founded in 2007 to study the ancient Maya city of Ka’kabish. Documenting these settlements is important for understanding the type of urban design employed at Ka’kabish and how the city functioned and thrived for 2,300 years.
Living Lab
Trent University Durham GTA is fast gaining a reputation for meaningful community-based research. Dr. Nancie Im-Bolter’s Living Lab, in collaboration with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, supports older adults who are experiencing chronic conditions associated with aging, including dementia. Through the Living Lab, student researchers can conduct research on aging and the conditions of aging in a real-world setting.
Language and Cognition Lab
For children, youth and adults with language impairments, communication is challenging. Under the leadership of Dr. Nancie Im-Bolter, researchers in the Language and Cognition Lab are focusing on the relationship between language and numeracy in early childhood and the relationship between language and reading; how language contributes to different aspects of social cognition, in particular theory of mind, in typical and atypical development; measuring executive function (i.e. inhibition, working memory, mental flexibility); and higher order language skills in children and adolescents.