Tim Kenyon, Vice-President, Research, called 2019 “The Year of Research Productivity” at Brock University.

Kenyon, who hosted the annual Brock Research Celebration on Nov. 26, commemorated the work of the University’s researchers and scholars.

“I’d like to thank all of you for your persistence, hard work and passion,” he told the more than 100 faculty and staff attendees. “Your research and scholarship make a difference, both in our community and in the world around us.”

The Research Celebration honoured more than 200 researchers and scholars from all Faculties who received funded and non-funded awards over the past year.

Brock’s major research funding source comes from the federal government, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Other key sources of funding include the Canada Foundation for Innovation, FedDev; and Ontario Centres of Excellence, as well as private organizations.

Non-funded awards for research and scholarship include recognitions such as prizes for best journal article, being named editor of a journal and appointment to leadership in organizations, among others.

Kenyon took the opportunity to outline overall research achievements over the past year, including:

• Being ranked first out of 17 universities across Canada in its category for the number of health sciences publications produced from 2013 to 2017; second out of 11 universities in its category for social sciences and humanities publications; and fourth of 20 universities for natural sciences and engineering publications according to Research Infosource’s Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities 2019 report
• The representation of approximately two dozen Brock researchers in an international database of 100,000 of the most-cited scientists worldwide
• Receiving funding in the Tri-Agencies’ inaugural New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration competition, which saw only 157 grants awarded out of 1,315 eligible applications
• The expansion of Brock’s Canada Research Chairs allocation, consisting of 13 Chairs, to include Chairs from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• Award winners and finalists in Canada-wide student research video contests

Brock President Gervan Fearon said the “dedicated pursuit” of research has transformed the University’s physical makeup and sense of self-identity, helped communities become more livable, and boosted the global competitiveness of Canada’s industries.

“More important than changing the face of Brock, research enables the University to be an invaluable community resource that benefits thousands of households across Niagara and beyond,” said Fearon, adding that such a role “goes to the very core of Brock University’s purpose.”

“You are all making a difference in the name of Brock University — and I just want to tell you that this institution is very, very proud of you,” he said.