�鶹��Ƶ

Finding My Community - Lupin 

The Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum (CKF) is my  favourite conference-style event, and  did not disappoint. The first CKF I attended was in Montreal eleven years ago. I had felt alone in my knowledge mobilization efforts. There, I finally found my people! 

Over the past decade, some things have remained the same. Knomo (the Knowledge Mobilization Gnome) still makes an appearance, breakout sessions are dynamic and interactive, and the keynote speakers continue to inspire and challenge attendees. The biggest change I noticed this year was the depth of experience in the room. The questions were thoughtful and sophisticated, and the conversations reflected a nuanced understanding of knowledge mobilization, grounded in both practice and science. 

Connected to CKF26 was the 20th anniversary celebration of , the RIC Annual Meeting, and announcement of the Peter Levesque Award winner (congratulations to SFU's !). Eleven years after finding my people at CKF, I am more optimistic than ever about the future of knowledge mobilization. 

Growing Through Research – Sophie

This June, I returned to the , the conference at which I did my first ever conference presentation in 2024. When I say I “did my first ever conference presentation” at INKE 2024, I really mean that my colleague, Ali Moore, presented on our scoping review on reporting knowledge mobilization in CVs for tenure and promotion–and I spoke to maybe one slide.  

I was a research assistant (and still a graduate student), scared, had never done any type of systematic review (and to be honest still wasn’t totally sure what a was). When I was brought back onto the project in 2025, I was excited to bring my extra years of knowledge gained to the project, and to finally find out what a scoping review really is (hehe).  

When we presented at this year in Montreal, Ali and I presented on an (almost) even number of slides. I am grateful that as a staff member in the KM Hub, I can work on projects that build my research skills. Staying connected to research keeps me inspired and I hope to continue working on projects like these.

Sharing a New KM Model – Tiffany

In July, I attended my first CKF in Toronto. Through my KM Specialist role with the , I support a national research portfolio on climate-smart agri-food systems funded by . CKF gave me the chance to share what it looks like when KM is intentionally built into a large research investment, and I loved talking with fellow knowledge mobilizers about AG ACt’s model. Many were hearing about this kind of KM infrastructure for the first time, and their curiosity and encouragement made the conversations especially meaningful.

I left feeling proud of the work our team has been shaping together. During the poster reception, we received the Best Poster Presentation award, which felt like a collective celebration of our early lessons learned. If interested, I encourage you to view our digital version of the poster !

Science Rooted in Land – Cassidy 

I support the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in (CORR), a learning constellation of four Indigenous communities from around the world that uplift one another through the process of reclaiming land, language and culture. 

In May, I got to join a small group from the constellation to present at the in Waterloo, Ontario. We shared the story of how we came together to form our constellation and what it means to each of us – demonstrating a relational approach to Indigenous science. We listened to stories of Indigenous scholars who refused to be pushed into the humanities, insisting that Indigenous knowledge belongs in science. With topics spanning everything from astronomy to STEM pedagogy, I was struck by the significance of place and the specificity of science that arises from particular landscapes. I left thinking about the relationships with people and land that drive our work.

Where Health Meets Place – Emily

In July, I had the pleasure of attending the in Toronto, Ontario. Medical geography (commonly referred to as health geography) is a lively sub-discipline of geography that focuses on how health and health care systems depend on spaces and places – in short, how where you live, work and play influences your health. In line with this overarching theme, this year’s conference explored a diverse range of topics including global health, health care systems and innovation, infectious and chronic diseases, gender and health, and much more.

As part of the meeting, I was invited to speak at a panel session on communicating research to non-academic audiences. In my role at �鶹��ƵKnowledge Link, we collaborate frequently with policy makers to gather and present evidence related to a variety of health issues, so I was thrilled to bring this lens to the conversation. My fellow panelists, who hail from public health, community health, and NGO organizations, brought their own perspectives, making for an interesting and interdisciplinary discussion. Key takeaways that we universally agreed on were the critical need for effective knowledge mobilization strategies that bridge research and policy and build public trust in science to, ultimately, create change.