Celebrating Research, Innovation and Creativity
Research Week at Laurentian University (March 23–27) is a week-long celebration of research that brings together students, faculty, staff, and partners from all disciplines. The week will highlight innovative, solutions-focused research making a difference in northern communities and beyond.
Attendees can explore poster sessions, graduate and faculty presentations, 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®), GRADflix, and the Research Illuminated Photo Competition, networking opportunities, professional headshots, and more.
Message from the Vice-President, Research
On behalf of the Office of the Vice-President, Research, and the 2026 Research Week Organizing Committee, I am pleased to invite you to celebrate the scholarship of our faculty, staff and students that will be showcased during Research Week. This annual event highlights the creativity, curiosity, and commitment of our researchers and community partners.
Throughout Research Week you will see scholarship closely aligned with the distinctive research strengths highlighted in our 2025-2030 Strategic Research Plan, along with and new and emerging areas that offer exciting opportunities for impact.
Research Week is an opportunity for our community to connect and find inspiration. I encourage you to attend sessions across various topics, engage in thoughtful conversations, and celebrate the achievements showcased throughout the week. This year’s Opening event, Northern Solutions, is taking place at Science North in the Vale Cavern and is open for anyone in the Sudbury community to attend. The program also includes returning signature events, the Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge, 5-Minute Research Insights, 3MT® and GRADFlix. The schedule also features a talk by the 2025 Research Excellence Award winner, Dr. Tammy Gaber, that you don’t want to miss. Researchers will also have an opportunity to share their passion for research in a new event, Research Illuminated Photo Competition. Research posters will also be on display in the Parker Atrium throughout the week. I invite you to review the full program for details on all the events, including award ceremonies.
Together, we are building a vibrant research culture that supports research, innovation and impact. As outlined in our Strategic Research Plan, Laurentian University aspires to shape a brighter future through research that drives innovation and enriches communities. Grab a colleague and come out to an event to show support for faculty, staff and students who are leading amazing discoveries right here in Northern Ontario.
Tammy Eger, PhD
Vice-President, Research
Prizes for Research Week Attendees
Attend Research Week events for a chance to win a prize!
Participants will be eligible to submit a ballot for every event they attend.
The prize draw will occur during the Research Week Closing ceremonies.
Participants will be eligible to submit a ballot for every event they attend.
The prize draw will occur during the Research Week Closing ceremonies.
Sponsorship and In-Kind Support
We extend our gratitude to the following partners and departments for their support:
Organizing Committee
A special thank you is extended to members of the 2025-2026 Research Week organizing committee:
Anastacia Chartrand (Chair), Ryan O’Donnell (Co-chair), Chantal Barriault, Hannah Breneol, Lise Carrière, Tammy Eger, Lisette Legault, Chris McTiernan, Andrée Noiseux, Michelle Reid,Gisele Roberts Stacy Sathaseevan, Chadrack Mbuilu Tsasa.
Anastacia Chartrand (Chair), Ryan O’Donnell (Co-chair), Chantal Barriault, Hannah Breneol, Lise Carrière, Tammy Eger, Lisette Legault, Chris McTiernan, Andrée Noiseux, Michelle Reid,Gisele Roberts Stacy Sathaseevan, Chadrack Mbuilu Tsasa.
Schedule
Monday, March 23
Pathways to Research for Undergraduate Students
- Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Location: Jim Fielding Innovation and Commercialization Space
Description: Are you curious about research and how it could shape your future?
Join us for an inspiring and informative session about the many paths available to get involved in research at Laurentian and beyond.
Whether you’re interested in doing an undergraduate thesis, contributing to a summer project, understanding opportunities for graduate school, or even wondering how you might get your research funded, this event is for you!
You’ll also hear from fellow students who are actively engaged in research, sharing their journeys and tips for success.
This session is a great place to bring your questions, connect with resources at Laurentian, and reflect on your future in research.
Northern Research Solutions (Opening Ceremony)
- Time: Evening
- Location: Science North - Vale Cavern
- RSVP link.
Description: Building on the success of Northern Med Talks and inspired by engaging, accessible science communication models, Northern Research Solutions will showcase the innovative, solutions-focused work happening across northern Ontario and beyond.
This event brings together the campus and community to spotlight research that addresses real challenges and creates meaningful, positive impact.
Poster Session
- Time: All Day
- Location: Parker Building - Atrium
- Description: Laurentian University students, faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and affiliated research partners will display research posters, which can be viewed at any time during the day.
Research Illuminated Photo Competition
- Time: All Day
- Description: This competition is an opportunity to highlight the visual dimension of your research, share your work with the community, and celebrate creativity across disciplines.
Tuesday, March 24
3-Minute Thesis (3MT®)
- Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
- Location: Jim Fielding Innovation and Commercialization Space
- Description: Laurentian graduate students will present their research to an audience of nonspecialized judges and attendees. Participants will have three minutes and one slide to convey their research and its broader societal implications during the 3MT® competition. Additionally, at the GRADflix event, students will creatively showcase their research in a 60-second video, slideshow, or animation format.
5-Minute Research Insights
- Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm
- Location: FA-386 Executive Learning Centre
- Description: Laurentian University faculty members from various disciplines will share their research in 5 minutes. Come out and learn about the wide variety of research taking place at our institution. Light lunch will be provided. Dr. Chantal Barriault, Associate Professor in the School of Natural Sciences and Director of the Science Communication Graduate Program, will facilitate the session.
Celebration of Authors
- Time: 2:00 - 3:30 pm
- Location: Brenda Wallace Reading Room
- Description: The Office of Research and Innovation Services, and the Laurentian University Library & Archives, will be co-hosting an exhibit to celebrate Laurentian University–affiliated authors who have recently published scholarly or creative works.
Poster Session
- Time: All Day
- Location: Parker Building - Atrium
- Description: Laurentian University students, faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and affiliated research partners will display research posters, which can be viewed at any time during the day.
Research Illuminated Photo Competition
- Time: All Day
- Description: This competition is an opportunity to highlight the visual dimension of your research, share your work with the community, and celebrate creativity across disciplines.
Wednesday, March 25
5-Minute Research Insights
- Time: 9:00 - 10:30 am
- Location: Executive Learning Centre
- Description: Laurentian University faculty members from various disciplines will share their research in 5 minutes. Come out and learn about the wide variety of research taking place at our institution. Breakfast will be provided. Dr. Chantal Barriault, Associate Professor in the School of Natural Sciences and Director of the Science Communication Graduate Program, will facilitate the session.
16th Annual Graduate Research Symposium
- Time: 11:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Location: Parker Building, Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, P-107
- Description: Laurentian University Graduate Students will present their research and scholarship. Please see the Graduate Symposium program and/or website for a full list of speakers and topics. All members of the Laurentian University community are invited to attend.
Poster Session
- Time: All Day
- Location: Parker Building - Atrium
- Description: Laurentian University students, faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and affiliated research partners will display research posters, which can be viewed at any time during the day.
Research Illuminated Photo Competition
- Time: All Day
- Description: This competition is an opportunity to highlight the visual dimension of your research, share your work with the community, and celebrate creativity across disciplines.
REA talk - Tammy Gaber
- Time: All Day
- Location: McEwen School of Architecture
- Description: Winner of the 2024–2025 Laurentian University Research Excellence Award, Dr. Tammy Gaber, Full Professor and Director of the McEwen School of Architecture, will discuss her multi-SSHRC funded research and research-creation regarding the process of gathering primary data from site visits, interviews and archival work, which have so far resulted in an award-winning book, high-profile international exhibitions as well as various publications. Dr.Gaber will also discuss how the method and contents of her research were actively integrated into undergraduate and graduate courses at the McEwen School of Architecture with mentoring of students who participated in her international exhibitions.
Thursday, March 26
16th Annual Graduate Research Symposium
- Time: 9:00 - 11:30 am
- Location: Parker Building, Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, P-107
- Description: Laurentian University Graduate Students will present their research and scholarship. Please see the Graduate Symposium program and/or website for a full list of speakers and topics. All members of the Laurentian University community are invited to attend.
5-Min Research Insights
- Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm
- Location: Executive Learning Centre
- Description: Laurentian University faculty members from various disciplines will share their research in 5 minutes. Come out and learn about the wide variety of research taking place at our institution. Light lunch will be provided. Dr. Chantal Barriault, Associate Professor in the School of Natural Sciences and Director of the Science Communication Graduate Program, will facilitate the session.
16th Annual Graduate Research Symposium
- Time: 2:00 -4:30 pm
- Location: Parker Building, Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, P-107
- Description: Laurentian University Graduate Students will present their research and scholarship. Please see the Graduate Symposium program and/or website for a full list of speakers and topics. All members of the Laurentian University community are invited to attend.
GRADflix
- Time: Evening
- Location: Cliff Fielding Building, Jim Fielding Innovation and Commercialization Space, CF-201
- Description: Students will creatively showcase their research in a 60-second video, slide show, or animation format.
Poster Session
- Time: All Day
- Location: Parker Building - Atrium
- Description: Laurentian University students, faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and affiliated research partners will display research posters, which can be viewed at any time during the day.
Research Illuminated Photo Competition
- Time: All Day
- This competition is an opportunity to highlight the visual dimension of your research, share your work with the community, and celebrate creativity across disciplines.
Friday, March 27
Voyageurs Innovation Challenge
- Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
- Location: Cliff Fielding Building, Jim Fielding Innovation and Commercialization Space, CF-201
- Description: The Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge is a unique entrepreneurship competition featuring teams of faculty members and students pitching their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges for 1st and 2nd place prizes. Audience members will also cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Closing Ceremony
- Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Location: Cliff Fielding Building, Jim Fielding Innovation and Commercialization Space, CF-201
- Description: Join us for the Research Week 2026 Closing Ceremony as we recognize the achievements of our faculty and students. A light lunch will be provided. The following awards and honours will be presented:
- Best Graduate Student Symposium Presentation Awards
- 3MT® Awards
- GRADflix Awards
- Voyageurs’ Innovation Challenge, 1st and 2nd place and people’s choice awards
- Dr. Daniel Archambault Research Service Awards
- Laurentian University Research Excellence Award 2025-2026
- Research Illuminated Photo Competition