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(Wolfville, NS) -
A multi-disciplinary research team led by Acadia University
psychology professor Dr. Sonya Symons has been awarded funding to
develop facilities for studying the effects of technology on the
literacy, health and well-being of Canadians.
The $550,000 project
will enable the development of the Acadia Digital Culture
Observatory, a state-of-the-art facility to support research on the
interactions of people and communities with information and
communications technologies.
“This exciting
development will allow Acadia researchers and their community
colleagues to advance their research on how computer technology is
affecting people’s lives,” says Dr. Symons. “The Acadia Digital
Culture Observatory will promote research from many different
perspectives on how society has been and continues to be transformed
by technology.”
The Observatory will
be used by faculty and student researchers in many different
disciplines from the humanities to computer science. Educators and
psychologists will examine the impact of technology on reading,
writing, and learning processes, social scientists will examine
workplace health and productivity, and sociologists will study new
practices for the care of cultural heritage. The facilities will
also allow computer scientists to observe and test how people
interact with computer software.
“Acadia is delighted
with the success of our researchers and with the financial
assistance from government to support important research conducted
at undergraduate universities such as ours,” said Dr. Gail Dinter-Gottlieb,
President of Acadia University. “We anticipate valuable results from
this innovative research program as the Digital Culture Observatory
will build upon Acadia’s established technology culture.”
This spring, Dr.
Symons’ project received $259,444 from the Canada Foundation for
Innovation (CFI). In April, Nova Scotia Economic Development
contributed $194,583.
This financial support
was part of a national announcement made in March by the CFI. “The
CFI is a proud partner in this project that will enable researchers
to perform their cutting-edge multidisciplinary work right here in
Nova Scotia,” said Carmen Charette, Interim President and CEO of the
CFI.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent
corporation created in 1997 by the Government of Canada to fund
research infrastructure. The CFI’s mandate is to strengthen the
ability of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and
other non-profit institutions to carry out world-class research and
technology development that will benefit Canadians.
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