2009-2008

News Release

REF NO.: 21

SUBJECT:

DATE: September 30, 2008

About 200 people from around the world will be in St. John’s next month to learn more about how to transfer and exchange information and  how to benefit society with two-way communication between researchers and research users.
The Knowledge in Motion 2008 conference is the first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador and one of the first of its kind in the world – an international conference exploring how universities and colleges mobilize knowledge to contribute to regional development.
Memorial University’s Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development has invited community members, government, researchers, students and industry to this unique conference, which includes topics such as how to identify opportunities and challenges to knowledge sharing, how to work with the media in connecting research to the community and how institutions in other countries are doing it, from Iceland and Ireland, to the U.S. and the Philippines.
“This conference is a coming together of leaders from all walks of life that are hungry to harness the power of knowledge,” explained Dr. Eddy Campbell, acting president of Memorial University. “We all hear about the knowledge economy and the role of higher education but the challenge is converting knowledge to action and that’s what this conference is about.”
There will be presenters from every province in Canada, and from Europe, the United States, Africa and Australia. Organizers are also taking some sessions on the road to Ferryland and Bell Island to highlight how universities and colleges connect with rural communities. The conference will host keynote speakers Dr. Sandra Nutley from the University of Edinburgh and Bob MacDonald from CBC’s Quirks and Quarks as well as a media panel with Doug Letto from CBC, Dawn Chafe of Atlantic Business Magazine and international freelance journalist Kelly Toughill.
 
Sessions include:
  •          Connecting research with health care
  •          Rural outreach models from across Canada, Iceland and Denmark
  •          The Quebec model for knowledge mobilization
  •          Improving K-12 education systems through technology and best practices
  •          Working with aboriginal communities
  •          Fostering business development and innovation through search      and development. 

 “We’ve attracted presidents and vice-presidents of the top research funders in Canada, as well as community leaders from our province, Canada and around the globe,” said Dr. Rob Greenwood, director of the Harris Centre. “There’s a panel of policy makers from here and abroad saying what they expect from institutions and sessions on business and entrepreneurship outreach as well as numerous sessions linking research on health care with achieving better public policy.”

Knowledge in Motion 2008 takes place from Oct.15-18 at the Fairmont Hotel. For more, visit http://www.knowledgeinmotion2008.ca.
 

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