Across the globe, Trent researchers are showcasing their commitments to making a difference – no matter their discipline. Read on to learn more about a few of our faculty research success stories. 

The Art of Evidence Based Storytelling 

As a National Geographic Society explorer and visual storyteller, Trent’s Dr. Neil Osborne – a professor in the School of the Environment – has had his photography featured in National Geographic and the Smithsonian Magazine. Through his work, Prof. Osborne aims to bridge the gap between storytelling and climate change science. Through his creative approach to knowledge mobilization, Prof. Osborne seeks to bear witness to the consequences of global warming through the power of photography. Prof. Osborne’s use of images in the classroom and beyond create an opportunity for students to see first-hand the complex problems faced by society, such as the urgency of the climate crisis, fostering real-world connections as part of environmental communication. 

Toward Disability and Migrant Justice in Home Care 

Dr. Mary Jean Hande, assistant professor of Sociology, has a particular interest in home care provided by immigrant workers. With support from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Engage Grant, Professor Hande is implementing a research project utilizing a community-based, community-driven process that will help direct and implement changes to the home care system. Through a partnership with the Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO) and Trent University’s Canada Research Chair, Dr. Bharati Sethi, Prof. Hande and her research team have ambition to build a pilot home care model with the intent to showcase how a system that meets the needs of immigrant home care workers and low-income, disabled and older people might function. 

Bringing History to Life 

On a mission to meticulously map the diverse array of structures that grace the grounds of Ka’kabish, an ancient Maya city in north-central Belize, Dr. Helen Haines, Trent University Durham GTA Anthropology professor, and her team of students have achieved outstanding results, revealing the existence of over 100 buildings, organized into 12 distinct groups. This discovery paints a vivid picture of Ka’kabish as a thriving metropolis that flourished for over two millennia – a testament to its significance in ancient Maya civilization. 

Innovative “Talking Textbook” Wins Awards 

A celebrated Trent online educational resource, Understanding Homelessness in Canada: From the Street to the Classroom, received awards from both the Online Learning Consortium and the Open Education Awards for Excellence for its innovative approach to educating a new generation of students about homelessness. A collaborative project involving individuals with lived experience of homelessness and key members of the research team, including Dr. Kristy Buccieri and Dr. Cyndi Gilmer, as well as expertise from Trent Online, the multidimensional approach ensures learners can choose a format that suits their preferences and learning styles. 

Can Wollastonite Revolutionize Agriculture? 

While wollastonite, composed of calcium and magnesium silicates, has already been used as an agricultural amendment to enrich soil nutrients and promote plant growth, School of the Environment professor and Canada Research Chair, Dr. Ian Power is leading a study to uncover its untapped potential to combat climate change and revolutionize agriculture. Prof. Power’s study aims to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) by applying wollastonite rock to agricultural fields, utilizing the Trent Research Farm as an ideal place to study wollastonite’s potential. Supported by Trent graduate and undergraduate students, this innovative research seeks to discover a novel method for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, while also enhancing soil health and crop production. 

Illuminating the Path of Innovative Research through SSHRC’s Ideas Lab 

Dr. Bharati Sethi, a distinguished researcher and Canada Research Chair in Care Work, Ethnicity, Race and Aging, was selected to participate in the first stage of a new initiative, the Imagining Canada’s Future (ICF) Ideas Lab. The Ideas Lab, led by the SSHRC, is a program to create research partnerships and projects, transcending disciplinary boundaries, sparking fresh research approaches, nurturing knowledge exchange, and setting the stage for future interdisciplinary ventures. Stemming from her passion for forging connections across diverse boundaries, Prof. Sethi sees the Ideas Lab as an opportunity to leverage work across traditional boundaries to tackle the complex challenges we face in our modern world. Under the theme of Global Health and Wellness for the 21st Century, a current initiative of the Ideas Lab underscores the notion that no single area of research can result in comprehensive solutions to these complex situations. 

What Can Polar Bears Tell Us About Climate Change? 

Dr. Paul Szpak, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Archaeology and director of the Trent Environmental Archaeology Lab and Water Quality Centre, is co-leading an international collaboration study with researchers from 11 institutions exploring how shifts in the environment in the last 20,000 years have impacted Arctic polar bear populations. Drawing on a wealth of data, including an impressive collection of polar bear skulls (some as old as 200 years), the research paints a holistic picture of polar bear evolution and its correlation with climate dynamics – offering insight into how these animals adapt to environmental changes while also serving as a warning about the potential harm climate change can have on their future. 

Enhancing Canada’s Care System for Indigenous Children 

Trent Durham GTA Child and Youth Studies course instructor Landy Anderson’s newly published book, The Foster Parent Survival Guide: How to Care for a Traumatized Child, brings an authentic, powerful, and informed approach to best supporting Indigenous children in the foster care system, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their cultural connection through their placement family. With a deep passion for this area of care, Prof. Anderson’s work advocates for a transformative approach to the foster care system – one that fosters healing and rejects complacency.