Research

Kinesiology Research: The Last Five Years

I was honoured to be named the Research Leadership Chair for Human Kinetics in 2006. As unsure as I was about what this position would have in store for me, I was excited about the prospects and gladly jumped in with both feet on behalf of the Faculty. As I look back now, I was sure of two things when I started: our undergraduate students really didn’t know what we did outside of teaching, and we had faculty and staff that were dedicated to research and were looking to engage and challenge our students more in this regard. We knew how important it was for us, and for them, to foster the research culture. Consequently, promotion and celebration of our research activities and accomplishments have become major focuses of my position. As highlighted by the 50 research posters presented at our fifth Annual Kinesiology Research Day on March 15th this year, over half of which were done by undergraduate students, things have worked out very well!!

We embarked on a journey together to teach our students more about research, in and out of the classroom. We incorporated research projects into course content and we linked learning outcomes with research projects that took us and our students to levels beyond what any of us hoped for. We also made research something that everyone saw and heard about every day by showing off research posters, banners, copies of research articles we have published, and making our research more visible, internally and externally, and accessible, on the web and in the community. The response to our representation at community-focused events such as the Research Showcase at the Mall and Science Rendezvous has been excellent and very well received. Our Distinguished Speaker Series has benefited over the last few years from strong local researchers and those that have had to travel from further afield, due in part to support provided through the leadership chair position I hold. Awards are now given out annually at Kinesiology Research Day and Scholar’s Night to recognize outstanding work and individuals at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate students are going to and presenting their own research at academic conferences and getting financial support from a recently implemented Kinesiology Undergraduate Student Conference Travel Fund, so they don’t have to worry about the cost of the trip and can focus on the experience. More and more undergraduate students are opting to do senior research projects with faculty and staff members through internships and individual studies. It is a huge testament to the content and delivery of the courses they take in our program that our students have learned that research is a viable, satisfying and door-opening endeavour that can develop skills and provide experiences that are not possible in the classroom environment. It also gives students the opportunity to cultivate relationships with motivated, talented, enthusiastic and encouraging members of Kinesiology that are invested in making a difference for them, our university and community.  By fostering the research culture as we have, we are even stronger than we were only five years ago.

None of the advancements we have made would have been possible over this time without significant investment and support from many people. Kinesiology is viewed very favourably on main campus and across our country as a well organized and dedicated group that works very well together. We continue to improve our standing within and outside the university through our investments in research and the support we provide on committees and in groups focused on advancing research. We offer a collegial environment and opportunities that are conducive to learning, and our students are experiencing the benefits of this more and more every year. Working together we have designed an excellent proposal for a PhD program that will undoubtedly allow us to make a unique contribution to research in Canada and assist in the training of research leaders of tomorrow.  

It is with great pride that I take stock of how far we have come in such a short time.  As far as we have come though, we have many goals yet to meet. Looking forward, a strategic research plan for the Faculty that is consistent with the university’s plan (currently being developed), will need to be written. I look forward to moving that process along in Kinesiology. We need to continue to secure research funding for our innovative work from conventional sources and learn about alternative means by which our work and students can be supported. Lastly, we need to further develop collaborations with colleagues on both local and national levels. Aligning ourselves more strategically with what the funding sources are making available is critical, without losing sight of the most important reason most of us do the research we do: to improve the lives of our fellow Canadians.

Sincerely,

David M. Andrews, PhD, CK
University of Windsor Research Leadership Chair
Faculty of Human Kinetics