Lakehead University is celebrating research and innovation at the Orillia campus this week.
The 10th annual Research and Innovation Week at the campus puts the spotlight on important research being conducted and showcases the learning and work of talented students at Lakehead University.
Linda Rodenburg, the interim principal of the Orillia campus, says Lakehead University is celebrating "partnership and exceptional talent" that is represented by the university in the community.
"I think the Orillia campus has a unique culture of research and innovation," she said, noting that 52 per cent of Lakehead Orillia students are the first in their families to go onto post-secondary education.
"That means they come here with new ideas that challenge our ways of thinking," she said. "It gives us an opportunity to lean into doing things differently."
To mark the event this week, there will be workshops, student posters, oral presentations, and speaker panels on campus.
"I think the most important thing to me is that people really understand that Lakehead University in Simcoe County is at the heart of an eco-system of research and innovation," Rodenburg said. "It's allowing us to change the world nationally and internationally from this place."
Andrew Dean, vice president of research and innovation for Lakehead University, says the amount of research being done at the Orillia campus is underrated.
"Historically, some of the strengths of this university have been the social science, humanities, and community-based research," he said. "As the campus has matured and more research is being done, we are seeing research projects in all sorts of areas."
Dean says Lakehead University is "creating new knowledge" which he is "extremely proud" of.
"I think the university is creating a lot of exciting research opportunities," he said. "A lot of times that research has found ways to do things that make our society better."
Samantha Mitchell, a Master of Science and forestry student, says it's important for Lakehead University to have a week to celebrate research and innovation.
"We do the research and enjoy it, but it feels very behind the scenes when we don't share it," she said. "To share it with the community makes it feel real and it allows us to answer questions that we may not have thought of."
Mitchell was sharing two of her projects with fellow students on Tuesday morning in the Orsi Family Learning Commons.
"It's exciting to share my passion and interests," she said. "It's fun to know that other students may be interested in what I'm working on."
It is free to attend each Research and Innovation activity on campus this week and you can find a full schedule of events here.
"I hope anyone who is interested in research and what is happening in the community will come to experience this," Mitchell said. "Come learn and see new things."
