Beyond Research

Coordinated Research Programs: Tackling Complex Problems

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss research funding organizations that are challenging the traditional status-quo to fill gaps in the system and support work that is uncertain, but if true, will lead to significant shifts and tackle big societal problems.

Research Nova Scotia and Speculative Technologies lead two different initiatives that fit under this umbrella of “coordinated research programs.” We explore the similarities and differences between their programs, the structures of them and the key players, the risks and challenges, as well as the strengths and possibilities.

Find the transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-coordinated-research-programs-tackling-complex-problems/

In Coordinated Research Programs: Tackling Complex Problems, we cover:

01:11 – Introducing our guests and their organizations: Speculative Technologies and Research Nova Scotia

02:32 – The “middle” space both these organizations are working in

08:10 – Some of the common challenges that comes with working in a less occupied space

11:52 – Different funding models

13:15 – Convergent Research’s Focused Research Organizations inspired Focused Research Investments (FRI)

16:22 – Research Nova Scotia’s FRI pitch

18:52 – Defining the value of FRIs

22:19 – The need for ideas that need investment to know if it’s even worth pursing

23:47 – Organizational and incentive structures

32:57 – Documenting lessons learned

Thank you to our guests:

Ben Reinhardt is the Founder and CEO of Speculative Technologies.

Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia.

Ben also has a podcast! Check out Idea Machines where he has conversations with experts in different innovation systems.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you liked this episode, check out our episodes Gaps & Opportunities in the Current Research System and Addressing the Gaps: Focused Research Investments.

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Partner & Challenge-Driven Research: The College Model

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0300

In this episode, we discuss a successful, but often overlooked, model for research: The College Model. Listen as we discuss the types of research projects colleges undertake, and how it differs from traditional university-based research. We also explore student involvement and
workforce preparation; the principles of partner- and challenge-driven research, serving the problem-solving needs of communities; as well as the stereotypes and barriers facing college research.

Find the transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-partner-amp-challenge-driven-research-the-college-model/

In Season 3, Episode 9 – Partner & Challenge-Driven Research: The College Model, we cover:

01:55 – Introducing our guests and their backgrounds with university and college research models
05:36 – The College Model of research and how it differs from the traditional university-based research model
10:17 – Structure of colleges that lends itself to challenge-driven, partner-driven, and applied research
13:54 – Business led R&D
15:54 – Challenges and barriers facing college research and accessibility of research funding
20:10 – Government, industry, and community interest in the college model of research
23:43 – College enrollment increases and the value of colleges
25:17 – Collaborative research relationships between colleges and universities
31:23 – Aspirations for the future

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Jeff Taylor is the Associate Vice President of Applied Research and Innovation at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC).
Pari Johnston is the President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Informing Supportive Environments for a Healthier Population

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0300

In this episode, we consider how our environments can help or hinder the health of our population and discuss research aimed to understand the environmental factors influencing population health. We also explore the broader implications of creating supportive environments for chronic disease prevention, contributing to the well-being of communities and society at large.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-informing-supportive-environments-for-a-healthier-population

In Season 3, Episode 8 – Informing Supportive Environments for a Healthier Population, we cover:

02:56 – High rates of chronic disease and the influence of our environments
04:16 – Dr. Kirk’s background and the research that led to the UpLift Partnership
12:39 – What is the UpLift Partnership
16:01 – An example of how the UpLift Partnership works and how community gets involved
21:47 – Broader impact on healthcare
22:42 – Broader teachings for youth
24:11 – Aspirations for the future

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Sara Kirk is a Professor of Health Promotion at Dalhousie University, Scientific Director of the Healthy Populations Institute, and co-lead on the UpLift Partnership.

Shali Manuel is a Youth Engagement Coordinator for the UpLift Partnership. The UpLift Partnership is co-led by Dr. Sara Kirk and Dr. Camille Hancock Friesen. It focuses on promoting youth-engaged leadership for a healthier Nova Scotia. They deliberately target rural schools, contributing to health equity in traditionally underserved communities and engage government departments and community partners to embed a health culture in schools and surrounding communities.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Addressing the Gaps: Focused Research Investments

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we continue our thought-provoking conversation with Stefan Leslie and Dr. Melissa Flagg. If you missed the last episode, Gaps; Opportunities in the Current Research System, you might want to listen to it first. It set the context for this discussion on a new initiative in Nova Scotia, Focused Research Investments (FRI).

Listen as we discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in reshaping the research landscape, with a particular emphasis on salient, collaborative research, community engagement, and the pursuit of impactful solutions for society – solutions that address immediate problems but also have applicability in other ways and areas.

We hope you enjoy the conclusion of this insightful discussion.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-addressing-the-gaps-focused-research-investments

In Season 3, Episode 7 – Addressing the Gaps: Focused Research Investments, we discuss:

01:10 – What are Focused Research Investments?
03:59 – Selecting and defining problems and outcomes
18:31 – The importance of collaborative and community-engaged research
23:06 – Key ingredients of Focused Research Investments and how they’re unique from other funding opportunities
29:30 – Challenges and opportunities inherent in reshaping the research landscape

Learn more about Focused Research Investments: https://researchns.ca/fri/

Thank you to our guests:
Dr. Melissa Flagg is the founder and president of Flagg Consulting LLC, a fellow at the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC), a visiting fellow at the Perry World House, and a senior advisor to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown
University. Prior to this, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research, responsible for policy and oversight of Defense Department science and technology programs. Dr. Flagg has served on numerous boards including the National Academy of Sciences Air
Force Studies Board and the Department of Commerce Emerging Technology Research Advisory Committee. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation. She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network, or MEOPAR, a national oceans research network. He has also worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and
the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Gaps & Opportunities in the Current Research System

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0400

This episode is a conversation between Dr. Melissa Flagg and Stefan Leslie that explores the challenges of tackling wicked and super wicked problems at both global and local scales, and the importance of understanding problems and the environments in which they exist.

They talk about gaps in the current research system, and how to experiment with different ways to support research. Melissa will talk about how important it is to understand the constraints that conditions what research should be done – and how that makes the research better. Stefan will explore the value of supporting research that solves problems but creates knowledge that is valuable in other circumstances or situations.

If you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to listen to part two of the discussion coming soon. In the next episode, we will explore a new proactive and accountable investment in research funding created to better serve our communities and address the challenges faced by society.

Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-gaps-and-opportunities-in-the-current-research-system

In Season 3, Episode 6 – Gaps & Opportunities in the Current Research System, we discuss:

09:15 – The research systems deviation toward the big, flashy, and novel
14:21 – Profit vs Production vs Prestige
21:12 – Research that solves problems and defining specific societal outcomes
39:42 – Discussing and envisioning a possible system to address some of the gaps

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Melissa Flagg is the founder and president of Flagg Consulting LLC, a fellow at the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC), a visiting fellow at the Perry World House, and a senior advisor to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) at Georgetown University. Prior to this, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research, responsible for policy and oversight of Defense Department science and technology programs. Dr. Flagg has served on numerous boards including the National Academy of Sciences Air Force Studies Board and the Department of Commerce Emerging Technology Research Advisory Committee. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Andrew W. Marshall Foundation. She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response Network, or MEOPAR, a national oceans research network. He has also worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Teaming Up to Manage Water

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we explore a deep relationship where a utility and researchers work in partnership to identify and work on a range of water research challenges in water quality, water treatment, and stormwater management.

Our guests, Dr. Graham Gagnon at Dalhousie University and Dr. Wendy Krosek at Halifax Water discuss how they work together, where future
water supply and treatment may lie, and the key ingredients to a successful collaboration, with Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia.

Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-teaming-up-to-manage-water

In Season 3, Episode 5 – Teaming Up to Manage Water, we cover:
03:30 – Understanding the research partnership
05:51 – Importance of water
06:46 – Challenges impacting water and the research need
12:15 – Key ingredients to a successful research partnership model
19:58 – The social dimension and how this work is useful outside of the utility system
24:15 – Future work
27:47 – The next generation

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Graham Gagnon is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering,
Director of the Centre for Water Resource Studies, and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Wendy Krkosek is the Water Quality Manager with Halifax Water.

Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Prescribing Wellness: The Evolution of Chronic Disease Management

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode we explore a critical issue - the alarming rates of chronic diseases, presenting challenges for both individuals and our broader healthcare system. Join us as we discuss how research becomes the catalyst for the evolution of healthcare practices, transforming our perspective on preventative medicine and chronic disease management.

Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-prescribing-wellness-the-evolution-of-chronic-disease-management

In Season 3, Episode 4 – Prescribing Wellness: The Evolution of Chronic Disease Management, we cover:

02:44 – Chronic disease rates and the challenges
03:42 - The research that started it all
08:30 – What is Exercise is Medicine
10:02 – Research impact for healthcare providers and patients
11:10 – People, places, and programs for individuals living with chronic disease
12:40 – Impact of physical activity and exercise on the healthcare system
14:43 – Research impact for individuals living with chronic diseases
17:47 – Next steps
19:48 – Impact on healthcare costs

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Jonathon Fowles is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Director of the Centre of Lifestyle Studies at Acadia University.

Joy Chiekwe is the General Manager of Health Management at the John W. Lindsay YMCA in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Provincial Lead for the LiveWell YMCA program.

Verna MacKinnon is an Operations Consultant with a focus on physical activity for Nova Scotia Health’s primary health care and chronic disease management provincial network.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:
Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Agricultural Resilience: The Blueberry Effect

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:20:38 -0400

On the surface, this episode may seem like a story about boosting blueberry production, but it’s a tale of how local research can shape not only an industry, but an entire sector. This work is addressing challenges facing all agriculture crops, like disease, pests, and climate change.

Find our transcript here: https://www.researchns.ca/beyondresearch-agricultural-resilience-the-blueberry-effect

In Season 3, Episode 3 – Agricultural Resilience: The Blueberry Effect, we cover:

(02:37) Challenges faced by the wild blueberry industry before hiring a specialized researcher
(4:59) How research has helped the industry understand and develop solutions to challenges, like pests and diseases
(11:52) Current challenges faced by growers
(17:09) Impacts of climate events on the crops
(20:25) How the blueberry research is relevant to other agricultural crops
(22:18) Impact beyond Nova Scotia’s borders
(24:19) Future of the industry

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. David Percival is a Professor at Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences.

Gary Brown has worked in the blueberry sector for more than 40 years. He currently does work with Millen Farms, a family-owned sustainable berry farm.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars.

You can also follow us on social:
Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast
X: @beyondrpodcast
Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Restorative Justice: Strengthening Communities Through Collaborative Research

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0300

Nova Scotians face a variety of harms and challenges at interpersonal, institutional, systemic, and societal level. Systemic racism, sexual harassment, institutional abuse, and accessibility are just some examples. Nova Scotians deserve and demand justice when they experience harm or when things go wrong in their communities. In this episode, we hear from a researcher of restorative justice and two community members who have established restorative justice practices to build safe, healthy, and inclusive communities.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-restorative-justice-strengthening-communities-through-collaborative-research/

In Season 3, Episode 2 – Restorative Justice: Strengthening Communities Through Collaborative Research, we cover:

04:30 – What is restorative justice?

07:26 – An example: How we respond in the youth criminal justice system

08:40 – The Restorative Research Innovation and Education lab

10:43 – An example: Restorative Public Inquiry into the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children

15:07 – An example: A school-wide restorative justice program

19:50 – Traditional structure of the school was actually setting us up for failure

22:55 – Outcomes of a school-wide restorative justice program

24:57 – Future aspirations

Thank you to our guests:

Richard Derible is a former Principal at Ecole St. Catherine’s Elementary School in Halifax and is currently the Executive Director of Restorative Initiatives at the Executive Council Office in Nova Scotia.

Jennifer Llewellyn is a Professor at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law, Chair in Restorative Justice, and Director of the Restorative Research, Innovation, and Education Lab.

Jake MacIsaac is the Assistant Director of Security Services at Dalhousie University and was previously a casework leader at Nova Scotia’s largest restorative justice community-based agency.

You can dive deeper into Jake MacIsaac’s insights on restorative justice, by tuning into the Disorienting Dilemma Podcast

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Research Improving Diagnostic Imaging in the ER

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 14:43:47 -0300

There are many challenges impacting a healthier population in Nova Scotia. Some of these include physician recruitment; access to primary care; an aging population; infrastructure, equipment, and facilities renewal; and increased costs for health care research and delivery. In this episode, our guests discuss their research in local emergency departments to help address some of these challenges while improving patient care.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-research-improving-diagnositc-imaging-in-the-er/

In Season 3, Episode 1 – Research Improving Diagnostic Imaging in the ER, we cover:

03:02 – Success and impact in healthcare requires partnerships

06:01 – What is an MRI and how does the new head-dedicated MRI differ?

08:33 – How can this MRI help solve challenges faced by healthcare? Example of stroke

09:57 – Partnership with Synaptive Medical

10:56 – Continued conversation on how this MRI could help solve challenges faced by healthcare

15:20 – Various research projects involving this technology

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Steven Beyea is an Innovation Strategy Advisor and Research Scientist at the IWK Health Centre and a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Adela Cora is the Undergraduate Medical Education Program Director for Diagnostic Radiology, and an active, practicing physician in the Neuroradiology section of the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Sports Research: Where are the Women?

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:04:33 -0300

Female athletes find they are at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts as the majority of sports research focuses on male athletes. In this episode we explore this gap in sports research. We will hear from a Registered Dietician and personal trainer, a member of Canada’s women’s national under-20 soccer team, an established sports nutrition researcher, as well as a local student researcher who is striving to help level the playing field.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-sports-research-where-are-the-women/

In Season 2, Episode 10 – Sports Research: Where are the Women, we cover:

04:17 – The sex data gap in sports nutrition research

09:06 – How the sex data gap can disadvantage female athletes

11:06 – Women’s menstrual cycles as an excuse to not include female participants in research

12:08 – Future aspirations: Fully addressing women’s needs in sport nutrition literature

12:50 – Considerations researchers need to give when gathering study participants

15:52 – Biggest sex data gap: The performance sector

18:14 – Registered Dietitian sees the sex data gap first hand

21:03 – Necessity of collaboration on various scales

Thank you to our guests:

Samantha Fisher is a fourth year Human Nutrition (Hons) student at St. Francis Xavier University and is a recent recipient of a Scotia Scholars Award for her research project “Investigating the Sex Data Gap in Sport Nutrition Research.”

Dr. Jennifer Jamieson is an Associate Professor of Human Nutrition at Saint Francis Xavier University. Dr. Jamieson is currently Samantha Fisher’s supervisor on her research project and previous professor of Mikaela Henderson.

Mikaela Henderson is a Registered Dietitian specializing in sports nutrition. Mikaela is the Team Dietitian for Saint Mary’s University varsity athletics, and she also has a private practice at Coastal Sports & Wellness.

Annika Leslie is a sophomore at West Virginia University. She is a defender for the WVU women’s varsity soccer team and member of Team Canada’s U20 women’s soccer team.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Virtual Reality and Health Care

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:07:19 -0300

Virtual Reality continues to be embraced by researchers, health care providers, and patients alike. Although the field is still relatively new, there seem to be more and more examples of virtual reality having a positive impact on health care delivery, treatment, and training both here at home and around the globe. In this episode we will explore examples of how research in the area of virtual reality could help address current gaps and in our healthcare system and improve patient care today and in the future.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-virtual-reality-health-care/

In Season 2, Episode 9 – Virtual Reality & Health Care, we cover:

03:11 – How virtual reality can be leveraged to support children with physical disability

06:32 – Mars VR Lab collaboration

09:15 – Benefits to using virtual reality technology in a youth rehabilitation context

11:48 – Better support training and use of a power wheelchair

13:43 – Virtual reality could potentially be used to improve or develop or elicit empathy in caregivers

22:04 – Exploring the interpersonal traits associated with a person’s willingness to work during the COVID 19 pandemic

27:11 – Does virtual reality have the potential to strengthen healthcare delivery?

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Jordan Sheriko is the Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Megan Brydon is a PACS Application Specialist at the IWK Health Centre.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Climate Change & Agriculture

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 04 May 2022 08:53:43 -0300

In this episode, we explore how resilient our land-based farms and farm-related businesses are to the impacts of global climate change, as well as solutions researchers and farmers are exploring to help improve our ability to adapt long-term. We hear from industry experts on how climate change is currently impacting our agri-food industry, what solutions are being implemented successfully, and discuss how we can best prepare for future climate-related challenges.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-climate-change-and-agriculture/

In Season 2, Episode 8 – Climate Change & Agriculture, we cover:

02:27 – Impact of climate change on pollinators

06:45 – How pollinators impact agriculture

09:34 – Opportunities to improve our agricultural resilience in the face of climate change

12:08 – Research opportunities

14:42 – Climate effects on pest cycle

16:44 – Current & future impacts on climate change on agriculture

18:19 – Recommendations for how to address the impacts of climate change

19:48 – What is carbon sequestration and what are cover crops, and how can they help?

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Alana Pindar is the Weston Family Visiting Professor in Ecosystem Health and Food Security, appointed at Cape Breton University. Dr. Pindar is an entomologist with an expertise in pollinators.

Rosalie Gillis-Madden is the On-Farm Climate Action Fund Technical Project Manager at Perennia Food and Agriculture. Rosalie is a resource to producers on all aspects of vegetable production.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Economic Growth Through Research

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 05:04:00 -0300

Research plays a vital role in creating economic growth, talent attraction, and youth retention. When properly executed, research investments also directly support provincial priorities. In this episode we explore the different ways research can create economic growth for both new and established companies. Listen as we discuss opportunities to further support research and innovation in local industries and institutions.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-economic-growth-through-research/

In Season 2, Episode 7 – Economic Growth Through Research, we cover:

02:05 – A look at innovation in the biomedical space

04:38 – Starts with asking the right question

05:05 – Research creating spin-off companies and economic benefit

07:45 – Necessity of partnerships: Academia and industry

09:36 – Problem definition stage

11:58 – Aspirations for the future

13:34 – Scientific process

14:51 – 6 key questions to understanding the problem hypothesis

19:03 – Problem facing start-ups

19:48 - Need for continuous research at all stages of the innovation pipeline

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Daniel Boyd is an Associate Professor in Dalhousie University’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Co Founder & Scientific Advisor at IR Scientific, and Co Founder of ABK Biomedical.

Matt Cooper is the Chief Innovation Officer at Volta, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Matt has been developing and marketing products for over 20 years, including being a Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Swept, an innovative software for commercial cleaning companies.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Making Food Secure

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Currently 4.4 million Canadians are living in food-insecure households and 1 in 6 households in Nova Scotia are food insecure. In this episode we hear from experts leading the way in research and response to food insecurity in Nova Scotia. Listen as we explore the concept of food security, the benefits of developing a food autonomy strategy, and research underway that can help us better understand and improve food security for all.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-making-food-secure/

In Season 2, Episode 6 – Making Food Secure, we cover:

01:40 – What is food security?

02:55 – Role of food banks

05:28 – Food safety and quality

06:52 – Food accessibility

08:08– Food affordability

11:22 – Proposed food autonomy strategy

15:45 – The local food paradox

18:47 – Consumer first thinking

19:45 – The role of research

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor and Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. He conducts research in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety.

Karen Theriault is the Director of Development and Communications at Feed Nova Scotia, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Predicted Sea Level Rise

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 12:27:24 -0400

Nova Scotia and its 13,300 km of coastline is home to many coastal communities. Of these communities, some are already facing the impacts of changing sea levels, storm surges and climate change firsthand. In this episode you’ll hear from leading researchers who are helping us better understand, plan, and prepare for rising sea levels in Nova Scotia. Listen as we explore how sea level rise has affected our province and propose collaborative approaches to mitigate the impacts on our communities, our industries, and our way of life.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-predicted-sea-level-rise/

In Season 2, Episode 5 – Predicted Sea Level Rise, we cover:

05:11 – What is geomatics and what’s the role of LIDAR technology?

08:39 – Benchmark storms from historic data

10:10 – How can we lessen the impacts of sea level rise?

12:06 – How is sea level rise impacting infrastructure and coastal communities?

16:26– Potential nature-based solutions

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Timothy Webster is the lead research scientist with Nova Scotia Community College’s Applied Geomatics Research Group, and a faculty member in remote sensing and GIS at NSCC’s Centre of Geographic Sciences.

Dr. Patricia Manuel is a professor in the School of Planning at Dalhousie University, and conducts research in a range of areas including environmental planning with a focus on climate change adaptation planning and wetlands interpretation and management.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Real-Time Health Research

Research Nova Scotia — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 14:59:25 -0400

In health research, the voices of people outside of the research team – the patients, caregivers, families – may be lost. In this episode, you’ll hear from leading researchers who are expanding the traditional definition of a research team and designing research programs focused on making an immediate impact. Although COVID-19 continues to be a major health care disrupter, it has also given researchers the space and permission needed to think outside of the box, expedite research projects, and arrive at new ideas and solutions that will serve us well beyond the pandemic. Listen to learn how conducting health research in real-time can help improve care and outcomes for patients, caregivers, and families.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-real-time-health-research/

In Season 2, Episode 4 – Real Time Health Research, we cover:

02:52 – Research study addressing the needs of families with babies in the NICU during the COVID-19 pandemic

05:31 – Conducting research in real-time with all stakeholders included

07:12 – How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted families with babies in the NICU

08:33 – Research to improve outcomes for newborns in the NICU specifically related to pain, stress, and neurodevelopment

14:53– What is FAR UV-C light, and can it help protect residents of long-term care facilities?

20:12 – Involving residents, families, and staff in informing the research

22:43 – Future aspirations

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Kenneth Rockwood is a Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University, and a Senior Medical Director at the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

Dr. Marsha Campbell-Yeo is a certified neonatal nurse practitioner, an associate professor of Pediatrics, Psychology & Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, and a clinician scientist at the IWK Health Centre.

Stefan Leslie is the CEO of Research Nova Scotia, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Lisa Carr is an Infection Control Specialist at Northwood based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

The Power Of Play

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 15:48:51 -0300

As Canada continues to deal with effects of Covid-19, concerns over the critical importance of the early years and the impacts on kids are growing. In this episode you’ll hear from researchers specializing in children’s mental health and development, each who will share unique insights on the status of children and family’s mental health throughout the pandemic. Specifically, you’ll learn about a growing area of research that is proving to be a critical support for children and youth during this difficult time: the power of play.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-the-power-of-play/

In Season 2, Episode 3 – The Power of Play, we cover:

2:38 – Impact of COVID-19 on youth and children’s mental health and well-being

6:07 – Benefit of social interactions for mental, emotional, social, and physical health

08:22 – Supporting kids considered at risk or in vulnerable circumstances

10:34 – Continued research in early childhood development and mental health is critical

13:02– What is physical literacy and why is it important?

16:16 – Play deprivation and it’s impact

18:38 – Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on kids and their physical activity

19:55 – Loose parts play

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Alexa Bagnell is the Chief of Psychiatry at the IWK Health Centre, a pediatric hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Michelle Stone is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University, and lead researcher for Play Outside Nova Scotia.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Food Waste

Research Nova Scotia — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 09:33:15 -0300

Did you know that in Canada, roughly 50% of the food produced is lost or wasted? In the latest episode of the Beyond Research Podcast, we’re exploring the ways scientific advancements in nutrition and food science are helping the agri-food industry better manage this growing problem. Listen to learn how local researchers Dr. Darren Burke of Outcast Foods and Dr. Marcia English of St.FX are working directly with the people who produce our food to create new products and generate new markets using food waste and by-products.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-food-waste/

In Season 2, Episode 2 – Food Waste, we cover:

2:32 – Impact of food waste and food loss

3:27 – Why and how food waste and food loss happens

4:56 – How research can help solve the problem

12:59 – Upcycling food and utilizing the “misfit” or “outcast” produce

Thank you to our guests:

Dr. Marcia English is an Assistant Professor in Human Nutrition at St. Francis Xavier University where she leads the X Food Research Lab.

Dr. Darren Burke is the founder and CEO of Outcast Foods, the first patent-pending zero waste upcycling technology company that is actively reducing food waste.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Energy Poverty

Research Nova Scotia — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 10:35:25 -0300

We begin the new season by learning about the connection between world-leading technology development and an urgent – and often hidden – social crisis: energy poverty. In this episode, you’ll hear from the Mayor of Bridgewater, a small, rural town that is leading the charge on energy poverty, and two Nova Scotia researchers who are at the forefront of a global revolution in energy storage. Listen to learn how their work is intersecting to help meet our climate goals and help some of the more vulnerable members of our community.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-energy-poverty/

In Season 2, Episode 1 – Energy Poverty, we cover:

2:43 – What is energy poverty?

4:14 – An initiative to lift a town out of energy poverty: Energize Bridgewater

7:24 – Who is responsible for solving the problem?

8:24 – Renewable energy and energy storage through lithium-ion batteries

11:22 – An example of an energy storage project

12:44 – The move from fossil fuel use to green sources of energy

19:12 – Controlling your energy production: Solar fuels

21:32 – Reducing the costs

25:33 – Canada’s position toward an energy revolution

Thank you to our guests:

David Mitchell is the Mayor of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, a small town with a bold idea: move the entire community toward efficient, clean energy through its Energize Bridgewater initiative.

Dr. Jeff Dahn is a professor of physics and atmospheric science at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair.

Dr. Michael Freund is a Professor of Chemistry, the Harry Shirreff Chair of Chemical Research, and the Director of the Clean Technologies Institute at Dalhousie University.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Beyond Research Season 2 Trailer

Research Nova Scotia — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0300

Join us for season 2 of Beyond Research, where we will explore the ripple effect that research is having on our society at large. In each episode, we will bring you the story, beyond the research and introduce you to Canada-based researchers and community leaders whose work are intersecting in unexpected ways.

Post-Industrial Communities: Researching Our Past to Better Our Future

researchNS — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Cape Breton Island, now recognized for its natural landscapes and golf resorts, was once the industrial heartland of Atlantic Canada. By 2000, its coal and steel industries shut down resulting in a host of social and economic difficulties for the region. Learn why preserving the history of Cape Breton’s economic decline could help create a better future for postindustrial communities in Nova Scotia, Canada and beyond.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-post-industrial-communities-researching-our-past-to-better-our-future/

In Season 1, Episode 11 – Post-Industrial Communities: Researching Our Past to Better Our Future, we cover:

0:23 – Challenges facing post-industrial communities, like Cape Breton

2:47 – Deindustrialization

4:34 – Outcomes and goals of the research

8:05 – Digitalizing history for public consumption

8:50 – The importance of oral history and storytelling

12:49 – Post-industrial landscapes

13:47 – Various communities impacted by deindustrialization

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Lachlan MacKinnon is an Assistant Professor of History and Tier II Canada Research Chair in Post-Industrial Communities at Cape Breton University.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Aquatic Animal Tracking: The North Atlantic Right Whale

researchNS — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Coastal communities are increasingly having to better understand the marine environment, including balancing prosperous fisheries and endangered aquatic species. It’s estimated that more than 90% of large oceanic fish have disappeared since the 1950s due to over exploitation, habitat destruction, and a changing climate. Listen to learn how the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) became the world’s aquatic animal tracking network, deploying state-of-the-art ocean monitoring equipment around the world to inform conservation initiatives, including the protection of the North Atlantic Right Whale.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-aquatic-animal-tracking-the-north-atlantic-right-whale/

In Season 1, Episode 10 – Aquatic Animal Tracking: The North Atlantic Right Whale, we cover:

1:23 – What is the Ocean Tracking Network and what does it do?

4:02 – How are aquatic animals tracked?

9:45 – Importance of Right Whales, one of the most critically endangered species in the world

10:33 – Biggest threats to Right Whale’s existence

11:31 – Tracking to understand and prevent threats

15:35 – Public interest and engagement

19:04 – Tracking terrestrial vs. aquatic species

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Sara Iverson is the Scientific Director of the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) headquartered at Dalhousie University. OTN is a global monitoring network, providing the scientific foundation for sustainable oceans management.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Retraining the Brain: Neuroscience & Stroke Rehabilitation

researchNS — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0400

More than 50,000 Canadians suffer a stroke each year. Of those who survive, more than half will require ongoing assistance with daily activities due to cognitive deficits. Listen as Dr. Anne Sophie Champod, an associate professor of psychology at Acadia University, explains how her research team is working to develop more effective cognitive rehabilitation interventions, including a game called Peg-the-Mole, to improve recovery, independence, and quality of life for stroke patients.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-retraining-the-brain-neuroscience-and-rehabilitation/

In Season 1, Episode 9 – Retraining the Brain: Neuroscience & Stroke Rehabilitation, we cover:

1:14 – What is neuroscience?

3:01 – What is stroke and how does it impact the brain and body?

6:26 – Gap in stroke research

8:17 – What is spatial neglect

9:28 – Potential home treatment for spatial neglect: Peg the Mole

15:05 – Potential wider implementation in long term care facilities, healthcare, etc.

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Anne Sophie Champod is an associate professor of psychology at Acadia University and the co-director of the Acadia University Centre for Neuroscience and Cognitive Health. Her research team is working to develop more effective cognitive rehabilitation interventions, including a game called Peg-the-Mole, to improve recovery, independence, and quality of life for stroke patients.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Coding COVID-19: Computer Scientists Create Vaccination Strategies Using A.I.

researchNS — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Throughout the pandemic, front-line healthcare workers and public health officials have been taxed with making difficult decisions about where to expend their finite resources, like beds, test-kits, and eventually vaccines. Dr. James Hughes is an assistant professor in St. Francis Xavier University’s department of computer science. Listen as he explains how his research team is using artificial intelligence to help public health officials answer the question “Who should we vaccinate first?”

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-coding-covid19-computer-scientists-create-vaccination-strategies-using-ai/

In Season 1, Episode 8 – Coding COVID-19: Computer Scientists Create Vaccination Strategies Using A.I., we cover:

0:51 – How the COVID-19 pandemic shifted focus of applied AI work

3:59 – Using AI to discover and investigate new strategies for COVID-19 testing and treatment

5:56 – Where did this research fit with the announcement of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines

8:01 – How could this work be used in rolling out vaccines

12:36 – Can social networks be understood using AI?

15:43 – Differences between existing modelling and this modelling

19:30 – Next steps for the tool

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. James Hughes is an assistant professor in St. Francis Xavier University’s department of computer science. His research team is leading a study that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to select best strategies for COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment in Nova Scotian communities.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Testing the Wastewaters: Researchers Develop a Fast and Effective Method for Detecting SARS-CoV-2

researchNS — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 10:13:00 -0400

Since the on-set of the pandemic, researchers around the world in diverse fields of study have pivoted their work to support the fight against COVID-19. Dr. Amina Stoddart, an assistant professor in Dalhousie University’s department of civil and resource engineering and researcher at the Centre for Water Resources Studies, is no different. Listen as she explains how her research team is using their expertise in water treatment to design an ingenious method to detect the COVID-19 virus.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-testing-the-wastewaters-detecting-sars-cov-2/

In Season 1, Episode 7 – Testing the Wastewaters: Researchers Develop a Fast and Effective Method for Detecting SARS-CoV-2, we cover:

1:10 – What is the Centre for Water Resources Studies, and what does it do?

1:33 – How the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the centre’s research

2:41 – Detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus: Wastewater surveillance

4:10 – Sewer systems in urban settings and how to determine where to sample from

5:21 – Wastewater gives insight into clinical case increases

8:49 – Partnership with Lumin Ultra

9:45 – Rapid tests for wastewater: Moving the lab to the sample location

12:19 – Potential application in rural areas and septic systems

13:35 – Targeted sewer shed sampling: Identifying areas connected to long term care facilities, universities, etc.

14:27 – Next steps and future aspirations

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Amina Stoddart is an assistant professor in Dalhousie University’s department of civil and resource engineering and researcher at the Centre for Water Resources Studies. Her research team is leading a project aimed at detecting the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in human wastewater, helping to identify the potential presence of the virus quickly and before it can spread.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Fighting COVID-19: How Public Health Measures Support Vaccine Research

researchNS — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 04:00:00 -0400

As the Director of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology and Primary Investigator of the Canadian Immunization Research Network, Dr. Scott Halperin is at the forefront of efforts to provide Canada with the national capacity to undertake vaccine and infectious disease research. In this episode of the Beyond Research podcast, you’ll hear how Scott and his team of over 130 investigators at 50 institutions are working on important COVID-19 research urgently needed by Canadians.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-fighting-covid19-how-public-health-measures-support-vaccine-research/

In Season 1, Episode 6 – Fighting COVID-19: How Public Health Measures Support Vaccine Research, we cover:

1:02 – Infectious diseases

2:00 – Canadian Centre for Vaccinology and the Canadian Immunization Research Network

5:04 – Vaccine competitiveness

5:51 – Importance of multiple vaccines

7:22 – Efficacy of public health measures and impact on various populations

11:35 – Vulnerable populations

13:07 – Interest in vaccine uptake

16:13 – Vaccine development timeline

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Scott Halperin is the Director of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology and Primary Investigator of the Canadian Immunization Research Network. His team of over 130 investigators at 50 institutions are working on important COVID-19 research urgently needed by Canadians.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

The Future of Aquaculture: Creating a Resilient Industry through Nutrition

researchNS — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0300

Aquaculture is growing rapidly and within the next decade, over half of the world’s seafood will be farmed. A major challenge in the industry is making sure that fish are provided with adequate nutrition to yield a healthy nutritional source for humans while ensuring minimal negative impacts on the environment.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-the-future-of-aquaculture-creating-a-resilient-industry-through-nutrition/

In Season 1, Episode 5 – The Future of Aquaculture: Creating a Resilient Industry Through Nutrition, we cover:

1:23 – What is aquaculture?

2:31 – Aquaculture Nutrition Lab

3:38 – Why nutrition is paramount

6:47 – Omega-3 long chain poly unsaturated fatty acids and its role

9:46 – Preliminary findings: Using microbial sources

10:54 – Impact of climate change on salmon

12:39 – Future research goals and aspirations

14:14 – Current state of aquaculture

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Stefanie Colombo is an assistant professor at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus and the Canada Research Chair in Aquaculture Nutrition. Her research team is working to discover novel solutions in nutrition to improve aquaculture and contribute toward healthier, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable farmed seafood.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Homegrown PPE: Chemists Team Up with Nova Scotia Forestry Industry

researchNS — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0300

N95 respirator masks are critical in the fight against COVID-19. Amid the pandemic, as borders began to close and global exports began to drop, Canadian healthcare workers were scrambling to secure an adequate supply of masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) to help keep them safe. In response, a team of Nova Scotian chemists got to work on a homegrown solution.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-homegrown-ppe-chemists-team-up-with-nova-scotia-forestry-industry/

In Season 1, Episode 4 – Homegrown PPE: Chemists Team Up with Nova Scotia Forestry Industry, we cover:

1:14 – Using a local material to produce N95 masks

2:46 – Potential to support broader forestry industry

4:57 – Partnership with Port Hawkesbury paper

5:48 – How different environments and pulping processes come into play

7:34 – Environmental benefit

9:08 – Potential additional applications for medical grade pulp

10:51 – Future research goals and aspirations

13:16 – Multidisciplinary work that brings multiple societal interests together

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Christa Brosseau is a professor of chemistry at Saint Mary’s University and Tier II Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Chemistry & Materials. Her research team is striving to meet the needs of front-line healthcare workers and support the struggling Nova Scotian pulp and paper industry, while developing an ecologically conscious product.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Beyond Breast is Best: Infant Feeding in Nova Scotia & Cambodia

researchNS — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0300

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August, not just to encourage breastfeeding, but to raise awareness of the different cultural and socio-economic challenges to breastfeeding that caregivers face world-wide. Nova Scotia has its own challenges. Nova Scotia has among the lowest breastfeeding rates in Canada, with less than one quarter of infants receiving Health Canada’s recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-beyond-breast-is-best-infant-feeding-in-nova-scotia-and-cambodia/

In Season 1, Episode 3 – Beyond Breast is Best: Infant Feeding in Nova Scotia & Cambodia, we cover:

1:07 – MAMA Lab and what it does

3:05 – Responsive feeding

3:36 – Why Nova Scotia has some of the lowest numbers of breastfeeding moms in Canada

6:06 – Stigmas and socio-economic factors

6:52 – Breastfeeding supports for new parents

9:09 – How moms are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the supports available

12:31 – Cultural differences with breastfeeding recognized in a cross-cultural study

14:32 – Caregivers who are unable to breastfeed and infant feeding

17:02 – Supporting families to do what they want to do

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Kyly Whitfield is an Associate Professor of Applied Human Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University. Dr. Whitfield is the lead researcher of the Milk and Micronutrient Assessment Lab, also known as the MAMA Lab where her and her team are working on a cross-cultural analysis of breastfeeding in Nova Scotia and Cambodia that goes beyond “breast is best” to focus on the supports required to achieve optimal health in both mama and baby.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Growing Up: Early Childhood Education in Nova Scotia

researchNS — Thu, 21 May 2020 04:00:00 -0300

More than a quarter of Nova Scotian children are starting school with a developmental vulnerability. Due to a growing understanding that the early years of a child’s life set the foundation for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing, Nova Scotia has seen an increase in supports for early childhood education and research.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-growingup-early-childhood-education-in-nova-scotia/

In Season 1, Episode 2 – Growing Up: Early Childhood Education in Nova Scotia, we cover:

0:34 – Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre (ECCRC) and what it does

3:58 – Academic and government partnerships

6:14 – Shift to a publicly-funded pre-primary program

9:22 – Developmental vulnerabilities, the early development instrument (EDI), and supportive early childhood environments

13:34 – Nutrition in early childhood: Responsive feeding

20:32 – Impact of COVID-19 on families with young children

24:53 – Future research goals and aspirations

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac is the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Early Childhood: Diversity and Transitions and director of the Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre (ECCRC) at Mount Saint Vincent University. Her team of researchers are actively engaging policy makers, early childhood educators, and families across the province to enhance child wellbeing.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

Fighting COVID-19: Researchers Racing to Save Lives

researchNS — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 04:00:00 -0300

Due to the extraordinary nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significant health risks, and the considerable economic consequences already being felt around the world, we need to be nimble and act decisively to support urgent frontline research. Now more than ever, it’s important we unite around a common mission.

Find our transcript here: https://researchns.ca/beyondresearch-fighting-covid19-researchers-racing-to-save-lives/

In Season 1, Episode 1 – Fighting COVID-19: Researchers Racing the Save Lives, we cover:

1:14 – Visualizing the beginning of a global pandemic

3:43 – Availability of hospital beds amongst the pandemic and a potential test to help address the challenge

6:19 – What is a biomarker

6:56 – Delaying the spread

9:24 – Being prepared for infectious diseases and pandemics

11:12 – Importance of research funding

14:28 – How to support research efforts

15:59 – How past research on HIV and SARS prepared SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research

17:48 – A family endeavour

Thank you to our guest:

Dr. David Kelvin is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Kelvin is an infectious disease expert with an international research program that carries out studies around the world. His team of researchers is currently focused on COVID-19.

The Beyond Research Podcast is produced by Podstarter. It is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like this episode, be sure to hit the subscribe button and leave us five stars. You can also follow us on social:

Instagram: @beyondresearchpodcast

X: @beyondrpodcast

Facebook: Beyond Research Podcast

More context for the episode:

On March 17, 2020, Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia, visited Dr. David Kelvin at his Dalhousie University lab in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Kelvin is an infectious disease expert with an international research program that carries out studies around the world. His team of researchers is currently focused on COVID-19. Specifically, the goal of Dr. Kelvin’s research is to help healthcare professionals better determine which patients have the highest chances of developing a severe illness through the identification of biomarkers. If successful, this research would help give high-risk patients priority for hospitalizations and/or admission to intensive care units. Dr. Kelvin’s primary focus is developing a point-of-care device that in a very short period of time can designate which patients should go to hospital which in turn will help alleviate strain on our healthcare systems. The work will be conducted through the Canadian COVID-19 Research Network, which also includes researchers from China, Vietnam, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and the United States.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Kelvin talks about how research is leading the fight against COVID-19, what it’s like to be at the forefront of a medical crisis, how his team is searching for a better way to treat patients and is contributing to the quest for a vaccine, and how you can help.

Research Nova Scotia Contribution:

To further contribute to the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia’s efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak, Research Nova Scotia (RNS) will be contributing $600,000 in rapid response match funding from its Research Opportunities Fund to Dr. David Kelvin of Dalhousie University. Dr. Kelvin, along with his international network of research colleagues, are looking for a way to quickly identify the severity of the virus in those who test positive for COVID-19. RNS is joining the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s COVID-19 funding initiative, which has committed $1 million to the project, and the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) which made a recent gift of $250,000 to support the project.

“As we all know, this outbreak continues to evolve daily and Dr. Kelvin’s research could have a direct impact on patient outcomes, Leslie says. “Although these funds will have a positive impact on current research capacity, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure this world-class research can continue to thrive. We’re hoping this support from Research Nova Scotia will encourage other people, provinces, and countries to also contribute to this urgent research".

To learn more about Research Nova Scotia visit www.researchns.ca.