Two announcements made at Nipissing University on Monday regarding research at the post secondary institution.

Officials say they’ve developed a 5 year strategic plan on research.

President Dr. Mike Degagne says they’ve almost doubled the research funding at the university to near $13 million dollars in the last half dozen years.

He says research is important because it increases knowledge for students in a wide range of areas.

“We teach people how to get new information, analyze that information, market that information and communicate that information. We have a very comprehensive way of treating knowledge. And when you get out in industry people value that,” he says.

The other announcement is to have a research month every year in March starting this year.

Degagne says they’ll be holding a series events to highlight the research going on at the university.

Events will include an Undergraduate Research Conference, a Three Minute Thesis competition and an NU360 event featuring researchers presenting their research in 6 minutes.

Researcher David Zarifa says the community can benefit from the research being done.

“It may end up with partnerships where we can work with communities and community organizations that may not have the capacity to do their own research,” Zarifa says.

Filed under: Dr. Mike Degagne, Nipissing University, research