If you missed the live event or want to revisit the presentations, now is the perfect opportunity to watch the recording of the 2025 Research Impact Canada (RIC) Engaged Scholarship Award webinar and be inspired by these remarkable projects!
This annual event shines a spotlight on exceptional scholars who are strengthening the connections between research and communities across Canada and internationally. This year’s awardees exemplify how engaged scholarship can drive meaningful change, foster partnerships, and inspire new ways of thinking.
During the live webinar, the four award winners presented their groundbreaking projects. Each presentation offered a glimpse into the dedication, creativity, and collaboration that bring engaged scholarship to life. From advancing and mobilizing Indigenous knowledge to addressing health inequities and supporting youth-led initiatives, the awardees demonstrated how research can be a force for good in society.
The webinar also included a Q&A session where attendees asked thoughtful questions about building authentic partnerships, sustaining impact, and navigating the challenges of collaborative research.
Engaged scholarship recognizes that knowledge doesn’t live only in universities—it emerges when researchers, practitioners, and community members work together to address real-world issues. The RIC Engaged Scholarship Award for Graduate Students celebrates this spirit of co-creation and shared learning.
Congratulations once again to this year’s winners!
- Katrina Leclerc (Doctorate) – Saint Paul University, Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Conflict Studies
Project: “Accessing Knowledge: Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Library”
- Reta Meng (Doctorate) – McMaster University, Department of Biology, Landscape Ecology
Project: “Mshiikenh Ganaawaabanjige: Weaving Anishinaabe Knowledge and Western Science for Freshwater Turtle Conservation”
- Sarah Demedeiros (Master’s) – University of Alberta, School of Public Health, Health Policy
Project: “Digital Storytelling for Intergenerational Health and Well-Being: A Decolonized Approach to Disseminating and Preserving Indigenous Elder Knowledge in Health Research”
- Rowan Harris (Master’s) – McMaster University, Department of Geography, School of Earth, Environment, and Society
Project: “Understanding Holistic Indicators of Goose Health around Arviat, Nunavu”