Red River College

3 www.rrc.ca/appliedresearch Saturday, February 22, 2014 A DECADE OF 2004-2014 • • • The resource RRC wanted to create had to be easily accessible and current. "We came up with the idea of creating an online resource that could be updated as new science emerged. We decided to make it multi-media, too, so it would be engaging, and because we'd had some experience with video production on two other projects." Dr. Fraser Mustard, a champion of spreading the word about the importance of early brain development, helped RRC find the right partners to make the idea a reality. In 2002, with funding from e Lawson Foundation, and in partnership with the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto, a resource-rich, multi-media website was born: e Science of Early Child Development (SECD). On this website (www.scienceofecd.com), Jamieson and her team gathered links to the latest research, interviews with experts in the field, videos demonstrating various aspects of early childhood development, and suggestions for discussion and further study that could be used in early childhood education classrooms. "From the beginning we imagined it as something that could be potentially useful globally," says Jamieson. "ere was an increasing interest in the subject, and though people couldn't afford books all over the world, people were going online in Internet cafes." It wasn't long before the World Bank saw the value in the resource and offered funding for an international edition of the website. is venture was soon recognized by the Aga Khan University and eventually received funding to expand internationalization from the Geneva based Aga Khan Foundation. For the team, this funding opened doors to the world. "e Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan had developed a post-graduate program in human development and had adopted the SECD as a core resource," says Jamieson. "I went over and taught and helped facilitate using our material as a resource. However, our examples of children's programs were not relevant to an international audience. We knew we needed different voices." e Aga Khan Foundation provided funds to make a contextualized version, and arranged opportunities for filming in Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, East Africa and other locations. Since then, the crew has also filmed in Bangladesh and Cuba. "What is satisfying for me is that we've done something that's useful to other people, and now they can take it from there," says Jamieson. "We've created a great learning experience. People can read, watch, reflect and learn from our resources or take one of our online courses. We are in our third Canadian edition and our second international edition and we're adding new information all the time." Recent funding from various partners guarantees that SECD will continue to benefit and reach out to those who work and research in this field in Canada and around the world. from red river College TO THE WORLD FIFTEEN yEARS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT. That's what the Early Childhood Education team at Red River College (RRC) decided in 2000 when they learned that the gap between scientific research and implementation was 15 years. They believed that people working with children in the front lines or training child care professionals should be able to access new research related to early brain development and its links to long-term learning and health outcomes while it was still new. "There was a burst in new science about early brain development and the long reach that early childhood had on a person's life," says Janet Jamieson, Research Chair, School of Health Sciences and Community Services, RRC. "New information about early brain development, the impact of genetics, and early experiences was growing quickly, but access to these resources for those working in the field was extremely limited." A Career of service & professional leadership honoured In October 2013, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Manitoba (APEGM) honoured Ray Hoemsen, P.Eng., with an Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his dedicated service to the engineering profession and voluntary service to APEGM. Throughout his career, Hoemsen, Director of Applied Research & Commercialization, has worked with industry, government, colleges and universities to the benefit of students, researchers, and Manitoba business. He has also volunteered his leadership skills to over 70 sports, community and professional organizations. "Ray has had an incredible career spanning over 35 years, and we are pleased to be able to grant him an Honorary Life Membership," said Dawn Nedohin-Macek, P.Eng., President, APEGM. "He is an inspiration to his students, faculty and fellow Professional Engineers." Ray hoemsen, FeC, p. eng., Director of Applied Research & Commercialization WestCaRD's Mission is to facilitate: • Technology Growth • Research & Development Projects • Specialized Workforce Development in the testing and propulsion sector. We Appreciate RRC For What You Do! Creating Technology Growth Opportunities www.rrc.ca/appliedresearch Janet Jamieson, Research Chair, school of health sciences and Community services with salman Ali, programme officer, Aga Khan education services, pakistan on a research mission in pakistan.

• Cover