Weyt-kp xwexwéytep. Shannon Wagner ren skwekwst.
Good morning. My name is Shannon Wagner, and I am the vice-president of research at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.
Today, I am here proudly representing small and mid-sized universities that are pushing the boundaries of knowledge to address regional, provincial and national research questions and priorities. We are proud of our vibrant campus life and our commitment to open learning, with nearly 29,000 students.
We are very proud to be guests on the traditional territory of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc for our first house in Kamloops and to T'exelc for our second house in Williams Lake, B.C. Our relationship with our host first nations guides us in our approach to all academic and research initiatives for our institution.
Our university, while deeply committed to teaching and learning, has carved a niche in research creation and dissemination. Now recognized among the top 50 research universities in Canada, TRU has shown notable growth and is second in our tier in research income. Our strategic research plan addresses key challenge areas that inform academic planning, which guides undergraduate, graduate and faculty education and research.
A flagship initiative at TRU is addressing the urgent need for research and education on wildfires. The establishment of the Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency, under the scientific leadership of world-renowned wildfire researcher Dr. Mike Flannigan, marked a significant step toward better understanding and managing the effects of wildfires. TRU and the Province of British Columbia have partnered in a first-of-its-kind initiative to create an ecosystem for wildfire studies, which includes a state-of-the-art building that will house all aspects of wildfires, from basic training through to advanced research, so that research-informed training is an expectation rather than a goal.
Equally important is our knowledge makers program, which empowers indigenous students to engage with and contribute to academic scholarship, offering them a platform to be heard and recognized on an international stage. Collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization showcased the power of indigenous knowledge in addressing global challenges like food security, further highlighting the impactful work done by our students and faculty.
These initiatives demonstrate the critical role small and mid-sized universities like TRU play in making a difference regionally, nationally and globally. The contribution of institutions like ours drives forward innovation, understanding and change. To support this ongoing and valuable work, beyond our endorsement of the ACCRU's recommendations, I propose several enhancements that would boost the contributions of small and mid-sized research institutions.
First, rethink funding models. Refocus the merit-based funding system to prioritize the quality and impact of research proposals by democratizing access to funding, while reducing emphasis on an applicant's previous research success. Perhaps this could also be accomplished by creating funding calls, beyond special calls for early career, targeted to those who have not been previously funded.
Second, level the research environment. Address disparities that give preference to applications from institutions where research infrastructure and ecosystems may be more plentiful, when those disparities do not present true barriers to successfully completing research.
Third, focus on regional needs. Regional needs and the unique strengths included in the relationships with community are not always the easiest factors to account for in existing funding calls. Valuing the unique strengths and relationships that researchers and institutions have with their communities will supercharge regional research ecosystems.
Fourth and finally, promote collaboration. Encourage and facilitate interinstitutional partnerships to tackle national and global challenges. Programs like the recent NSERC Lab2Market, which required interinstitutional partners for eligibility, are excellent models for how to bring together post-secondaries across Canada.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to present this morning. I look forward to your questions.