Knowledge democracy in action: opening space for diverse ways of knowing

June 03, 2022

Speaker

Marika Sandrelli - Knowledge Exchange Leader, Mental Health & Substance Use Services at Fraser Health

Knowledge democracy is about intentionally linking values of justice, fairness, and action to the process of creating, sharing, and using knowledge to honour the interrelationship of phenomena. Knowledge democracy in action:

  • acknowledges the importance of the existence of multiple epistemologies, or ways of knowing beyond more colonial and privileged knowledge systems
  • affirms that knowledge is both created and represented in multiple forms, including text, image, numbers, story, music, drama, activity, poetry, ceremony, and meditation
  • acts to decolonize knowledge and deepen democracy towards a just and healthier world
  • ensures open access for the sharing of knowledge, so that everyone who needs knowledge will have access to it.

This webinar will invite participants to examine their role in democratizing and decolonizing knowledge towards justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion — and ultimately better wellness outcomes for all citizens.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Define knowledge democracy and decolonization and recall specific examples to describe its use and application.
  • Summarize key moments in history that have influenced knowledge systems and discuss current factors influencing knowledge democratization.
  • Examine how knowledge democracy and decolonization leads to better health outcomes for all citizens.
  • Explore ways in which knowledge exchange can participate in knowledge democracy in action with the introduction of specific tools and methods.

Date/Time:

Friday, June 3 at Noon to 12:45 p.m. (PT)

Register now for the webinar 

NEW for 2022: KT Connects invites trainees to stick around after each webinar for a chance to explore their goals in KT with our esteemed guest speaker. This post-webinar session is exclusively for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who want to increase their understanding of how to incorporate KT into their research or who may be considering a career in KT. It is also an opportunity to connect with other trainees interested in KT.

Date/Time:

Friday, June 3 at 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. (PT)

Register here for the post-webinar trainee session

Resources

Upcoming webinar

Dr. Linda Li, Gayle Scarrow and Dr. Stirling Bryan

Date

February 28, 2025

Open science in health research: lessons learned and reflections on the path forward for B.C.

In 2024, KT Connects focused on open science — the practice of making scientific knowledge, resources and processes accessible to all with minimal barriers. Learn more.

Webinar summary

Friday, February 28 

12 – 1 p.m. PST 

Open science is transforming the way health research is conducted, shared and applied to real-world challenges. In this final session in KT Connects’ open science webinar series, we will highlight key insights from this past year’s webinars.

The session will begin with a summary of the lessons learned, including:

  • the nature and purpose of open science,
  • its role in more equitable research systems,
  • its connections to knowledge translation and community engagement research, and
  • opportunities and challenges for research funding and evaluation.

An expert roundtable and audience Q&A with health researchers, knowledge translation experts and funders will follow, exploring what these insights could mean for open science in B.C.

Learning objectives

After this webinar, the audience will be able to:

  1. Understand key themes and insights from the KT Connects open science webinar series and their relevance to B.C.’s health research system.
  2. Discuss the role of knowledge translation, engagement research, research funding and policy in advancing open science practices based on national and international frameworks and recommendations.
  3. Engage in discussion on how open science can create a more equitable and impactful health research system in B.C.

 

Speaker’s bio:

Dr. Linda Li is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia, holding the Harold Robinson/Arthritis Society Chair in Arthritic Diseases. She also serves as the Scientific Director for the BC SUPPORT Unit at Michael Smith Health Research BC and is a Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. Her research focuses on integrating digital tools, such as wearable technology and mobile apps, to support health professionals in promoting a healthy balance of physical activity and sleep for managing chronic diseases. Dr. Li has completed a Canada Research Chair in Patient-oriented Knowledge Translation and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Gayle Scarrow is the Director of Knowledge Translation at Michael Smith Health Research BC. In this role, she leads the development, implementation and evaluation of knowledge translation initiatives. Her aim is to bridge the gap between research evidence and health care practice. Her work focuses on facilitating the application of research findings to improve health outcomes and inform policy decisions.

Dr. Stirling Bryan is the Chief Scientific Officer at Michael Smith Health Research BC. He is a health economist with extensive experience engaging with health policy and decision-making. He began his career in the UK, holding positions at St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, Brunel University, and the University of Birmingham. In 2008, he joined the University of British Columbia as a Professor in the School of Population and Public Health and served as Director of the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation. Dr. Bryan is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and currently serves as President for the Canadian Association for Health Services & Policy Research.