Leading university researchers discuss What Matters Now at Kingston City Hall as part of travelling Research Matters series

How fruit flies can save billions in damage caused by mining, why history students should avoid the ‘Google Reflex’ when conducting research, and how to create new energy that’s essential to business – these topics will be in the spotlight as five top Ontario university researchers discuss “What Matters Now” in the final stop of this year’s Research Matters free speakers’ series.

Other topics include how to help scientists and Aboriginal communities understand each other when it comes to climate change and biodiversity, and how we can fight pollution with plants.

This public event concludes the series, which has made four other stops in communities across Ontario over the last six months.

“Research Matters highlights the tremendous breadth and value of university research being conducted right here in Ontario,” says Bonnie M. Patterson, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), which runs the series.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that university research changes lives, and we want the public to take as much pride in that accomplishment as our universities do.”

Hosted by public broadcaster Piya Chattopadhyay, the event will take place at Kingston City Hall’s Memorial Hall, Wednesday, May 21 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Those who can’t attend can watch a live stream online at http://yourontarioresearch.ca/events/wht-matters-now/live-webcast/.

In addition to giving short presentations, researchers will also answer questions from the audience and via social media. The researchers taking part include:

  • Warren Mabee, Queen’s University: Is waste a relative term?
  • Thomas Merrit, Laurentian University: Should mining companies be employing fruit flies?
  • Chris Furgal, Trent: How will Indigenous communities adapt to climate change?
  • Stephane Levesque, University of Ottawa: Why don’t students care about Canadian history?
  • Barbara Zeeb, Royal Military College: How can we fight pollution with plants?

University researchers are improving the health, happiness and richness of life for people around the world. Their work crosses all disciplines and not only changes lives but also is essential to helping government, businesses and communities make informed decisions.

Since last November, 25 researchers have explained their work at events in Hamilton, London, Thunder Bay, Toronto and Kingston, reaching hundreds of people, who attended, watched the webcast, or read about the research on the website.

The Research Matters campaign included a Virtual Scavenger Hunt in which more than a thousand people hunted online to find details of Ontario university research after receiving clues by email over 21 days.

A Curiosity Shop and Curiosity Cruiser are now touring the province to continue shining the spotlight on university research, and to keep Ontarians curious.

The Curiosity Shop is a touring pop-up booth that encourages passersby to fire off questions about anything that sparks their curiosity. The top questions from each event get answers in print or video format from university researchers.

The Curiosity Cruiser, which is traveling to festivals and other events all through the summer of 2014, puts obscure research-related objects on display and invites the public to guess what they are. Correct guesses win prizes. An Ontario researcher will explain via video what the item really is.

For more details on Research Matters, please check out www.yourontarioresearch.ca and follow @OntarioResearch on Twitter.

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COU is a membership organization of 21 publicly assisted universities in Ontario. It works closely with the provincial and federal governments to shape public policies that help universities deliver high-quality programs for students and advance the research and innovation that improves the social, cultural and economic well-being of Ontarians.

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For further information, please contact:

Wendy McCann
Director, Strategic Communications and Media Relations
416-979-2165 ext. 233
647-271-0825 (cell)
Email Wendy McCann