Mount Royal University

Indigenous-inspired hands-on capstone project in the Library’s Maker and Media Commons space allowed students to purposefully create their own meaningful sootsiman. 🪶 Building upon the Blackfoot tradition, the capstone project sees pupils create their own sootsiman, or decorated rawhide bag. The sootsiman becomes a personalized and unique keepsafe for accumulated knowledge about the world and oneself. The Library is a key partner, playing a supportive role in teaching and learning through its leading-edge spaces, support and equipment as a place for curricular enrichment for faculty and students. “The students came in with a wide range of experience, so they did a lot of sharing knowledge and helping each other as they created their sootsiman,” says Brenna Burwash, a collection service technician on the Maker Studio team. Learn more about how we incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing in our student experience: https://ow.ly/gK0050RgBHT

Today is the International Day of Human Space Flight! Did you know we have ties to human space flight here at MRU? 🚀 Dr. Nick Strzalkowski, is part of a team studying remedies that could help astronauts deal with skin sensitivity changes in participants spending 60 days in bed rest, to better understand the sensory adaptations that occur during space flight. "Nick's work in this area emphasizes the wide range of research that is happening at MRU. As we increase our research capabilities, the sky isn't even the limit for faculty and for our students,” said Dr. Jonathan Withey, Dean of Science and Technology. Learn more about how pillownauts are helping astronauts: https://ow.ly/N4O050RfbVs

Congratulations to Catherine Los, Mackenzie Reed, Andrea Ciaramella and Nomi Levin who placed 4th out of 16 talented teams in the HRC West Case Competition! The competition, which focuses on HR issues, took place in Victoria, BC, at the beginning of March. Our MRU team was coached by Matthew McLarnon, PhD., an associate professor at the Bissett School of Business. 📸: Tracey Scott Photography

I’m happy to announce that Melanie Rogers will step into the role of Vice-President, University Advancement at Mount Royal University starting June 3. Melanie is no stranger to Mount Royal, she previously led the University’s marketing and communications portfolio for seven years following a series of leadership roles. As Associate Vice-President of Marketing and Communications, she played a key role in the development of the strategic plan, oversaw the launch of several successful brand and marketing campaigns, and led the MRU crisis communication team through numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Melanie understands the Mount Royal vision and she is passionate about building relationships with internal and external audiences. Welcome back, Melanie.

Congratulations to the top five teams who competed at the Map the System MRU Campus Final today! We are so proud of the presentations and excited to announce our award winners and the team that will be moving on to the Canadian Final in May. The 2024 Award for Best Systems Map was awarded to Dana Dutton for their incredible work capturing the "Gen z Loneliness Epidemic". The 2024 Award for Best Presentation went to Ryan Davis, Ajmer Singh, Jacob Jungen, and Prabhdeep Tamber in recognition of their detailed presentation "Temporary Foreign Workers and Their Life in Canada." Linh Bui, Ally Phan, and Andrea Barlaan's work documenting the "Underemployment of Canadian Immigrants" wowed the judges and was recognized with not only the 2024 Best Research Award but also the Top MTS MRU Team Award. Linh, Ally, and Andrea will be moving on to the Canadian Final in May to represent Mount Royal University! Thank you to all 14 teams who completed submissions this year - marking the largest group of competitors on our campus, and to all the organizers, judges, and attendees who supported the students' journey. We also extend our gratitude to ATCO for their dedicated support for this program and being an amazing partner in systems thinking! Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post which will share more insights into our campus finalists and their research journeys, and register today to join us at the Canadian Final on Monday, May 27th at the Bella Concert Hall. Canadian Final Registration Page: https://lnkd.in/gqshAMtU Map the System MRU Webpage: mru.ca/MapTheSystem #MaptheSystem #SystemsThinking #SystemsMapping #StudentResearch

Dr. Julie Booke’s venture into community research was sparked by a radio segment on Hockey Calgary's respect program. Having already researched the impact education programs have on behavior, Booke recognized an opportunity to partner with Hockey Calgary and continue her work in that area. This also led to further work with bully prevention organization Dare to Care. From collaborating on textbook chapters to being a guest on podcasts, Booke's research is not only informing her classroom teachings, but also fostering tangible changes in sports communities. Read more about her work and the importance of tailoring research to community needs: https://ow.ly/BnVA50R8O5B #MRUresearch

Creaky knees and sore shoulders are often dismissed as part of the aging process, but for Dr. Breda Eubanks, PhD, they represent an opportunity to change health care for the better. Eubank’s research focuses on improving care for patients living with bone and joint conditions. She explains this means “helping the community to better find the right provider, the right treatment, within the right time frame, and with the right outcomes.” As part of her work, Eubank also participates in the Musculoskeletal Transformation Program, which is an initiative of the Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network of Alberta Health Services. Read more about the impact of her research and why community engagement is key to transforming patient care: https://ow.ly/87Xy50R7UzP #MRUresearch

Interested in pursuing a career in aviation or curious about how you can build on your current role? ✈️ Join us at MRU Aviation Day to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within the aviation industry. You’ll have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, gain valuable insights and take the next step in your aviation journey. 🗓️ May 4, 2024 ⏰ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 📍 MRU Springbank Campus (143 MacLaurin Drive, Springbank, AB) Learn more: mru.ca/aviationday

Through the transformative power of soil science, Dr. Mathew Swallow, PhD, is making a positive impact while educating the next generation of environmental stewards. Swallow's research delves into the intersection of soil health and land management practices. Collaborating closely with ranchers, farmers and agricultural producers, he explores how sustainable land management strategies can improve soil health and enhance overall environmental resilience. Going beyond academia, Swallow also engages in community-based projects to drive meaningful change. Through initiatives like Soil Camp, a trans-disciplinary project aimed at educating children about soil and their connection to the land, Swallow is bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world impact. Read more about his research and the full potential of soil science: https://ow.ly/XHB350R4qTi #MRUresearch

Congratulations to our students who participated in this year’s poster presentation event, and thank you to everyone who came by to learn about #MRUresearch! 🤓 Each year the top scoring presenters are awarded certificates in recognition of their achievement and go on to be featured in a profile discussing their research. Read about past award winners: https://ow.ly/3NKk50R3LBj #ResearchAndScholarshipDays2024 #UndergraduateResearch