The event was co-hosted by three BHI teams: IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Social Justice); Indigenous Engagement; and Open Science. Over the course of the day, four panels featuring experts in these cross-cutting areas tackled the ethical and cultural considerations of conducting impactful research that supports all social groups in open science, Indigenous data sovereignty, and accessibility and inclusion.
The event was opened by an Indigenous blessing and smudging ceremony led by Elder Gilbert Whiteduck from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. This was followed by a panel session on open science in the Canadian and global landscape, and a session on Indigenous data sovereignty in urban communities. In the afternoon, sessions highlighted the significance of people living with disabilities and mental health, whether as patient-partners or researchers, and how to lead and participate in research, along with the ethical considerations required for brain-heart research to benefit all.
Together, these panels highlighted the challenges and opportunities to reimagine what the future of research looks like, emphasizing the importance of trust, ownership and co-development with equity deserving groups and with the Indigenous peoples of Canada. As part of the BHI’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility, the event also featured a live ASL interpreter for the duration of the event. The day concluded with a networking session so that participants could continue to build relationships across and beyond the BHI community.
A BHI trainee who attended the event recounted that it was valuable to hear different perspectives, particularly from those with lived experience.
“Many of the themes that were discussed are part of ongoing conversations in my thesis work as we aim to make it more generalizable and accessible; as such, I really appreciated hearing about these topics and others’ reflections on how best we can address these topics in research.”
- BHI Trainee, PhD student in epidemiology
This IDEAS event is another step in the BHI’s ongoing efforts to co-create a new model of transdisciplinary research—one that is inclusive and driven by a shared purpose.
If you missed the event, you can hear directly from some of the speakers on the BEaTS podcast.
