Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 46.21
Liaison Chris Gardner
Submission Date Aug. 23, 2022

STARS v2.2

Douglas College
IN-49: Innovation C

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 0.50
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Douglas College's Research Centres

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

At Douglas College, research is not considered in employee promotion or tenure decisions, which is why credits AC-9, AC-10, and AC-11 were not applicable as part of this submission.

Despite not being a research-based institution, a number of faculty have taken steps and considerable efforts to develop Research Centres at Douglas College, including Applied Research & Education, the Innovation Hub, iMPACTS, Menstrual Cycle Research Group and the Institute of urban ecology. These research centres mostly focus on social and environmental sustainability considerations.

While research centres would not be considered innovative at a typical research-based institution, we feel that this is a unique Program for a College such as Douglas, and felt it was worth highlighting through the IN credits as an area that Douglas is demonstrating leadership.

Research Centres at Douglas College are dedicated to advancing scholarly activity through community and institutional partnerships. Each Research Centre at the College is specialized in their field and provides students valuable learning experiences through practical applications of their findings.

Applied Research and Education
Applied Research and Education is a Douglas College initiative that takes a collaborative partnership-based approach to the design, development and delivery of high impact projects in a community setting. We solve real-world problems in real-world contexts to make positive and measurable impacts.

Douglas College students and faculty work together to develop and apply research-driven solutions to partner-identified opportunities.

We welcome proposals from organizations that are seeking research-based solutions to business or social problems. Proposals range from improving an operation for a commercial or community enterprise, to co-working a social impact project for a citizen-based group.

Partnerships are open to for-profit, government, non-government and not-for-profit organizations. Projects are selected on a case-by-case basis that takes into consideration fit, availability of expertise and project feasibility.

Innovation Hub
The Douglas College Innovation Hub is an applied research and innovation centre that provides dedicated access to specialized technology, equipment and expertise to local community partners and businesses. Our vision is to work with our community while offering practical experience for our students.

The Hub is equipped with dozens of state of the art technologies and programs including:
- 3D printers
- Engineering machine lab – parts manufacturing
(Laser-Jet Cutter, Waterjet, Lathe, CNC, Welder and more)
- Robotics Prototyping Lab
(Signal Generator, Voltmeter, Soldering and more)
- Computer-Aided Design Software (AutoCAD)
- Computer Game Design Software (Unity)
- Signal Processing Software (MATLAB)
- Technology and Human Performance Equipment (Forceplate, Accelerometers, Force gauges, heart rate monitors and more)

iMPACTS
Led by Dr. Shaheen Shariff, Project Director (Department of Integrated Studies in Education, Faculty of Education, McGill University), iMPACTS is a seven-year project to address sexual violence on university campuses across Canada and internationally. Douglas College has been a partner on the project since May 2018. This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) in the amount of $2.5 million. It is further supported by an additional $3.7 million of in kind and cash contributions from five McGill Faculties, the McGill Vice Principal (Research and Innovation), 24 educational institutions (universities and colleges), and 9 community partners.

The overarching goal of this project is to unearth, dismantle and prevent sexual violence within universities, and ultimately in society, through evidence-based research that will inform sustainable curriculum and policy change.

Douglas College Faculty team members and Student Research Assistants are actively involved in research, community outreach, and scholarly and creative knowledge mobilization. Our team works in collaboration and partnership with Douglas College Students’ Union, Student Affairs and Services, Marketing and Communications, Indigenous Student Services, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Menstrual Cycle Research
The Douglas College Menstrual Research Group was founded to carry out research into menstrual equity on post-secondary campuses. Following the conclusion of the post-secondary periods research project, the group dissolved.

The newly formed Menstrual Cycle Research Group (MCRG) seeks to expand on the initial vision for menstrual research at the College. The MCRG encompasses a broader scope of research topics related to social and political aspects of the menstrual cycle—from puberty, menstruation, and peri/menopause to menstrual equity in practice, policy, community activism, and much more.

Institute of Urban Ecology (IUE)
at the IUE, schools and community groups of all ages can book a free environmental education workshop adapted to follow the BC curriculum core competencies.

The IUE also host monthly free workshops on the last Monday of each month. These workshops are aimed at a more adult audience but anyone is welcome to join.

The IUE also undertakes a variety of research projects related to urban sustainability issues. Recent and current projects include: Biological Control of Greenhouse Pests, which is seeking to develop biological controls for greenhouse pests like aphids and tomato psyllids; Ground Beetles in Urban Habitat Fragments, where these beetles act as bioindicators of habitat health; and our Beetle Watch Citizen Science project, where people from all across BC can sign up to help us track the spread of a newly introduced beetle species from Europe.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://www.douglascollege.ca/about-douglas/learn-about-douglas/research-college/research-centres

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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