The Canadian Knowledge Mobilization 100, a survey run by , asked respondents to rank the biggest influences of their knowledge mobilization practice. Phipps, who leads 91亚色鈥檚 Knowledge Mobilization Unit and , Canada鈥檚 knowledge mobilization network, topped the list.

Left: David Phipps

Also mentioned among the top influencers in Canada were Peter Levesque (Knowledge Mobilization Works), Melanie Barwick (Hospital for Sick Children), Ben Levin (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) and Gary Myers (KMbeing.com). 聽The survey collected responses from Jan. 5 to June 15, and results were released by Knowledge Mobilization Works on Monday.

鈥淜nowledge mobilization is a key element of 91亚色鈥檚 research outreach strategy,鈥� said Robert Hach茅, 91亚色鈥檚 vice-president research & innovation. 鈥淭hrough David鈥檚 efforts and leadership, 91亚色鈥檚 excellent reputation as a leading knowledge mobilization university in Canada continues to be strengthened.聽This recognition by his peers is well deserved.鈥�

91亚色 piloted institutional knowledge mobilization in 2005 under a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.聽Since then, 91亚色 has grown its knowledge mobilization collaboration with the University of Victoria to include the other four 搁别蝉别补谤肠丑滨尘辫补肠迟-搁茅蝉别补耻滨尘辫补肠迟搁别肠丑别谤肠丑别 universities: Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador, Universit茅 du Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al, University of Guelph and University of Saskatchewan.聽91亚色 also works closely with the United Way of 91亚色 Region to deliver knowledge mobilization services to the 91亚色 Region community, municipal and regional agencies.

Knowledge mobilization is a suite of services that connect university research and expertise to government and community agencies so that research can help these organizations make better informed decisions about public policy and social services. Knowledge mobilization is a process that results in social innovation.

鈥淜nowledge mobilization has become very important for Canada,鈥� said Steven Gaetz, professor in the Faculty of Education who leads both the and the . 鈥淒avid鈥檚 work and that of the knowledge mobilization unit is very helpful to those of us seeking to make research accessible to policy makers.鈥�

Levesque, president and CEO of Knowledge Mobilization Works, undertook the survey to obtain a snapshot of who people see as influential in their knowledge mobilization practice in Canada.

鈥淲e think that knowledge mobilization as a concept and as a practice is growing. We think that we have barely scratched the surface of understanding what influences knowledge mobilization practice,鈥� said Levesque.

Founded in January 2007, Knowledge Mobilization Works聽supports聽individuals and organizations to create incentives and infrastructure for knowledge mobilization.

For more information on 91亚色鈥檚 Knowledge Mobilization Unit contact , manager, Knowledge Mobilization at ext.聽88876.

To view the results of the survey, visit .

The post David Phipps and 91亚色's KMb Unit named Canada's biggest influencers appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Expand the definition of art as a health tool, and consider it as an essential link, as a bridge between those who heal and those who need healing. The art becomes a shared language, and if culture gets involved the artistic process becomes symbolic. It builds trust, which fosters communication, which lays the foundation for a discussion about, for example, preventing HIV

That's how art is used by Sarah Flicker, a professor in [the Faculty of Environmental Studies] at 91亚色, who studies HIV prevention in aboriginal communities across Canada and uses art to get the interest of young natives.

Flicker is one of three professors who will be a part of "Caf茅 Scientifique," a public roundtable of sorts that will consider how the arts are being used in health programs these days [organized by the ].

. . .

Flicker starts by telling me that aboriginals represent three per cent of Canada's population, but have nine per cent of HIV infections 鈥� and at a younger age. Flicker's project is to find ways of having a meaningful conversation about HIV with young natives. Problem is, some native communities are not interested in "traditional research methods." Enter art.

鈥淔rom theatre to photography to carving to hip-hop,鈥� she says, when I ask her what types of arts her project has employed. She adds throat singing to the list, and graffiti at the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve near Montreal.

鈥淯sing the arts in our particular project has been tremendously successful,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun, it鈥檚 participatory, it helps build pride and self-esteem. . . It really helps them relate to culture and tradition, in a way that鈥檚 non-threatening.鈥�

Using contemporary or traditional art forms 鈥� created by the young natives, with the guidance of artists brought in by the project 鈥� enhances recall of the health information, she says. It also builds skills, as the artists pass on their own knowledge and inspirations, and many young natives have their first opportunity to handle photographic equipment or real artist鈥檚 brushes.

鈥淲e were just astonished with the creativity we had unleashed,鈥� Flicker says, as the research visited reserves from B. C. to Atlantic Canada. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 incredible is how the themes have resonated from community to another.鈥�

They resonated so well that the art of some communities is used in others to get the health message across 鈥� such as a hip hop song composed by young natives in Kettle Creak, near Sarnia. Another group made a stop-motion film, using photography to show how HIV was affecting their community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 in their words that art is healing,鈥� Flicker says.

You can see the art of her project at takingaction4youth.org. The Caf茅 Scientifique will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at Mambo Nuevo Latino, 77 Clarence St. in the Byward Market. 鈥淭he idea is to make health research accessible to the public,鈥� Flicker says.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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