What does receiving this award mean to you as a researcher? I am very grateful that the Psychology Association of Alberta recognizes the importance of public-facing research. To me, this both a meaningful acknowledgement and a reminder of the responsibility we have as researcher to ensure our work is accessible, relevant, and useful to the people it’s meant to serve. It reinforces the idea that research questions should come directly from concerns that I hear from families. Much of my work focuses on topics like parenting and screen time – issues that families are deeply invested in – so sharing findings in ways that can support them feel like an essential and meaningful part of the work.Translating research to the public has also helped me think about my work in more relatable ways. It’s improved my ability to present clearly and avoid jargon, which strengthens both my academic and public communication. What advice would you give researchers who want to expand community outreach and translate their research for the public? Start by listening to the community. When you give talks or presentations, ask people what their pressing questions are related to your topic. Effective research translation begins as a partnership with the community, not just a presentation to it. For example, when I speak with parents, I’m hearing their concerns about their teen’s social media and AI use, and as a result, I’ve added more questions on these topics to our youth surveys, so our research reflects what families want to learn more about. You can also pay attention to what’s trending in media coverage of your field to identify emerging public interests. It signals: this is what’s topical, that’s what’s of interest. It also helps to take a media training course. I did one with Sean Myers, Senior Communications Specialist in the Office of Advancement at the University of Calgary, and found it invaluable. The Conversation Canada is another great entry point because you’re supported by a journalist throughout the process. Outreach doesn’t dilute research rigor – it amplifies relevance. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your research? Seeing tangible impact. For example, after a community presentation, hearing parents say they’re going to apply what they learned is incredibly rewarding. We also try to close the research-to-practice gap by working directly with clinical teams. In one study, we found that children with fewer protective supports were more likely to drop out of trauma treatment. We collaborated with clinicians to adjust intake practices so that those risks could be identified and addressed early, which in turn improved treatment completion rates. Knowing that kind of change can shape lifelong outcomes is deeply rewarding. Public-facing work has also raised awareness of our research, which sometimes leads to policy-level engagement. For instance, my work on screen time led to an invitation to collaborate with the American Academy of Pediatrics on developing new screen time guidelines. What’s next for you? A lot of our recent media and community outreach work has evolved into projects focused on social innovation – developing and implementing creative, collaborative solutions to social challenges in sustainable and equitable ways. For example, our online COPE with Trauma resource (copewithtrauma.org) was created to support families who are on long waitlists for trauma treatment – sometimes waiting up to eight months. We partnered with clinicians, youth, and caregivers to co-design an online tool with psychoeducational videos and resources for affected families. Launched this past June, the site has already reached 500 registered users, which shows a real demand for accessible, evidence-based tools. This kind of work - turning scientific findings into practical resources for families in need - has been especially fulfilling. |
