On March 12, 2014, IC-IMPACTS hosted its 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the University of British Columbia. The event was attended by IC-IMPACTS staff, members of the Board and Research Management Committee, Network Researchers, and other significant members across Canada.
Students and professors of each IC-IMPACTS funded project were also invited to attend the event and showcase their research. Large research posters were prepared in advance by students, who then presented an overview of their research to the audience. “The presentations were fantastic,” said Dr. Nemy Banthia, Scientific Director of IC-IMPACTS. “For students who flew into Vancouver in the morning, they presented their work with a high level of professionalism and provided a great deal of insight into their projects.”
A keynote address from Dr. Nemy Banthia described the origins of IC-IMPACTS and how all the different areas of the organization fit together on a larger scope. Open networking sessions before and after the AGM allowed students to meet other researchers working on similar projects and to understand where their project fits in the bigger picture.
The AGM was followed by a closed session involving the students where they brainstormed methods of greater student engagement and collaboration. The event overall was a success with many attendees expressing interest for more frequent meetings of this nature to be held.
