Education celebrates its new Research Hub!

Research has a new home at the Faculty of Education. In January, the Faculty opened a new Research Hub, a trio of collaborative research spaces nestled on the second floor of Duncan McArthur Hall that bring together faculty, graduate students, and community to support education research rooted in collaboration.   

The establishment of The Research Hub has been driven by Associate Dean, Research, Dr. Pamela Beach, with support from the Education Research Advisory Committee (ERAC). The Research Hub is designed to support both formal and informal research activities. Workshops, writing retreats, research talks, and training sessions have already started taking place, alongside quieter moments of shared work. The flexibility of the rooms, including movable furniture, adaptable layouts, and bookable access, allows it to respond to different needs, from small-group discussions to larger research events.  

Graduate students are expected to be among some of the most active users of The Research Hub. The space will host graduate writing retreats, research training sessions, and even be a space to practice presentations and defences. For many students, having a reliable, professional space to return to matters. “As a graduate student, it's hard to find a neutral space if you’re having collaborative research-based discussions” remarks ERAC member Jennifer Thompson. The Research Hub addresses this gap by offering a consistent, welcoming environment where relationships, partnerships, and collaborations can develop over time. Jennifer describes the vision for The Research Hub as “a launch pad for materials, ideas, and resources that can both mentally and physically make roots and connect research and community.”  

The availability of regular, consistent spaces to host research meetings and prepare for comprehensive exams and defenses is emphasized by ERAC member Mohamed Yusuf, “as a graduate researcher you want to find a regular place to be; it’s about having designated spaces.” The establishment of The Research Hub means that Education graduate students now have access to collaborative research spaces at Duncan MacArthur Hall to meet and work together. 

Community engagement is central to the future of the space. Community research partners have expressed a desire for a consistent, bookable location on campus where meetings can take place and materials can be left between sessions. Having a stable home matters, especially for ongoing collaborations. Associate Dean, Pamela Beach reflects on a recent community research event: “the biggest piece of feedback we received from our community partners was that they want a physical space for community engagement at Queen's… we hope The Research Hub will be the start of creating a wider ecosystem of community engagement.” The Research Hub is a response to this: a home for ideas, resources, and relationships that extend beyond the university. 

The Research Hub will also act as a research gallery with exhibition space for research creation and posters available to everyone in the Education community. If a community member has created a conference poster or a piece of research-inspired art, they can contact Pamela Beach for exhibition details. 

The Research Hub’s spaces are:  

Centre for Community Engagement and Social Change (room 233) 

This space is home to the Centre for Community Engagement and Social Change. When it’s not in use by the Centre this is a bookable research space for researchers, staff, students, and community members that can accommodate groups of up to 6-8. The space is equipped with a large screen for virtual access, as well as computer stations for research use.  

The Research Commons (room 232)  

The Research Commons is a larger space, designated as a bookable research space for a variety of activities, including research group meetings, community-related research events and workshops, data collection and analysis. There is also space here for creative research and poster displays.  

The Cognitive Lab (room 231) 

The Cognitive Lab is best suited for small groups (up to 4 or 5 people) and has eye-tracker equipment available (contact Pamela Beach to learn more about this equipment).  

For more information, visit the Research Hub page: The Research Hub 

For Education community members who would like to share their art or research posters in the space, please contact Associate Dean Research, Dr. Pamela Beach.