Brock University’s Building Better Research series has launched for the Fall Term with a full offering of learning opportunities designed to support faculty and student research practices.

A collaboration between the Brock University Library and the Office of Research Services, the professional development workshop series features noon-hour online workshops on a variety of topics, such as community engagement, knowledge mobilization and communication, data integrity and analysis, grants and government funding, and equity, diversity and inclusion in research.

The series also features learning streams, each comprised of a grouping of workshops with a similar theme. Examples include Indigenous research, research data management and systematic reviews.

Knowledge Mobilization Officer Jayne Morrish, who supports the co-ordination of the series along with Acting University Library Nicole Nolan, says the Building Better Research series has been uniquely designed to add value and directly align with researcher and student need.

“We know researchers and students are busy, so workshops feature topics the campus community is asking for, such as designing research studies and developing successful funding applications,” she says.

Morrish says workshops also link to key aspects of Brock’s Strategic Plan.

“Well-rounded topics support the goals of Brock as a whole, such as sessions that support authentically incorporating reconciliation and decolonization in research practice and workshops that support a unique student experience tied to transferable skills for obtaining a career after university.”

Nolan says Building Better Research draws upon expertise from across the campus community.

“We have an amazing wealth of knowledge right here at Brock,” she says. “The series leverages existing resources and skill sets at the University to promote better research.”

Examples of Brock knowledge experts leading workshops include Meaghan Rusnell, Associate Vice-President, Government, Community and International, who will speak about government funding and partnerships; Elizabeth Yates, Scholarly Communication Librarian, who will offer tips for evaluating journals when publishing; and Bradley Mclean, Associate Director, Innovation and Commercialization, and Iva Bruhova, Business Development Officer, who will discuss intellectual property and commercialization.

While nearly two dozen workshops are already planned for the Fall Term, there is always opportunity for more. If there is an area of need that is not addressed, researchers and students are invited to connect with Morrish and Nolan to suggest new topics or volunteer as a workshop leader/speaker if they have a relevant skill set they would like to share. Email jmorrish@brocku.ca or nnolan@brocku.ca

Upcoming Building Business Research workshops

• Media Relations 101
  Wednesday, Oct. 19 from noon to 1 p.m.
  Presented by Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, and Cathy Majtenyi, Research Communications/Media Relations Specialist
• So you want to do research with Indigenous Peoples? An introduction to wise practices
  Wednesday, Oct. 26, from noon to 1 p.m.
  Presented by Robyn Bourgeois, Acting Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement
• Mitacs
  Wednesday, Nov. 2 from noon to 1 p.m.
  Presented by Greg MacNeill, Mitacs Business Development Officer
• Digital Scholarship Services @ Brock Library
  Thursday, Nov. 10 from noon to 1 p.m.
  Presented by Tim Ribaric, Digital Scholarship Librarian
• Introduction to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
  Monday, Nov. 14 from noon to 1 p.m.
  Led by Syna Thakur, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Advisor

For a full listing of upcoming workshops, visit the Building Better Research website. Recordings of past sessions are archived on the Research Enterprise SharePoint site.