UNews - Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy

PUBlic Professor Series talk to examine the complexities of public policy and why it does and does not change

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:54:26 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge political scientist Dr. Lars Hallstrom is never lacking for material when studying the Alberta political landscape. Facing policy challenges that are increasingly recognized as complex and difficult to manage, many governments, at all levels, struggle with the demands such challenges may place upon them as institutions — and Alberta is no different.

Dr. Lars Hallstrom

On Thursday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge, Hallstrom will discuss why Alberta politics and policy are the way they are and why things change or why they stay the same in his PUBlic Professor Series talk — Political and Policy Innovation in Alberta: The More Things Change . . .?

Hallstrom says that long-standing patterns of single-party governments, tensions with other governments and perceptions of both who Albertans “are”, and what they “want” are not always aligned with more empirical realities. His talk examines that reality, and the implications for political and policy-based change in the province.

“I’ll be looking at these questions specifically in the context of Alberta and Albertan politics,” says Hallstrom. “We will discuss a combination of factors like culture, leadership, history and the role of Alberta in Canadian Confederation to try and understand why public policies in Alberta change and sometimes why they don’t.”

Hallstrom has held faculty positions at St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, and since 2021, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. He is currently the director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, and teaches courses on public policy, Albertan politics and research methods. He has a 25-plus year history of externally funded research and currently holds grants for projects that look at rural and Albertan populism, the political economy of rural development, rural refugees and immigration, and rural entrepreneurialism.

Hallstrom says policy innovation can be difficult for governments to implement.

“I’ll examine how and why Alberta struggles to create truly innovative policy, why “anti-politics” is a common refrain within the province, and how many “big” issues frustrate both policy-makers and the public.”

This is the fourth of six talks in the annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures which feature thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across the ULethbridge campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge but registration is required. For those who cannot attend, the talk will be available on the ULethbridge YouTube channel following the presentation.

See more at ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.

City Scholars program continues growth, expanding opportunities for ULethbridge students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:14:31 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students continue to make valuable contributions to the City of Lethbridge through applied studies projects thanks to a work-integrated-learning (WIL) partnership between the City and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy. Now in its second year, the partnership has grown to encompass a variety of projects, from studying the best practices of artificial intelligence on communications and public engagement, to exploring planning policy implementations related to the City’s Land Use Bylaw Renewal project, and assessing the economic, social and cultural impact of post-secondary students on the community.

Top row from left are Mick Jacobs, Wynonna Smith, Tobi Adeniyi Adebimpe (SAIT), Kes Soup, Morgan Resler, Brie Wilson, Lawrenz Decano, Sydney Whiting, Erica Gonzalez. Bottom row from left are Taylor Manns, Oluwanifemi Oladoye, Mercy Trinh, Hannah Laberge, Bryanne Wandler, Louisa Seitz.

This partnership is now one piece in the broader City Scholars program established by the city to promote a range of WIL opportunities for post-secondary students from both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and Lethbridge College. The City Scholars program successfully taps into the knowledge of students eager to put their course studies to work in an applicable setting while also allowing students to gain valuable skills working with a municipal government and solving real-world problems. It also creates pathways to future employment opportunities.

"The city is thrilled to be able to work with student talent across two world-class post-secondary institutions. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and college students bring new insights, diverse ways of knowing and learning, and creativity to support staff with applied research projects. The research that students complete helps ensure that we are designing and delivering programs, plans and services to meet the needs of our diverse community. As a college and university town, it is vital that we build bridges for students to be more engaged in the community," says Perry Stein, Partner Services Manager, City of Lethbridge.

Andrea Cuéllar, Associate Director of the Prentice Institute, notes that this second year of collaboration with the city has opened the doors to working with Lethbridge College.

"The first joint project will be a Policy Innovation Lab in May 2024. Under this novel WIL model, students from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the college will work together on the topic of urban food security to inform the city’s Land Use Bylaw renewal project," she says. “The Policy Innovation Lab puts into sharp relief how work integrated learning is not just about placing students in experiential opportunities, it is, importantly, about building impactful inter-institutional partnerships. High-quality WIL opportunities are bound to develop from that.”

On Tuesday, Apr. 9, the City Scholars Student Symposium was held at the Foster James Penny Building where many of the participating students were able to talk about their projects and showcase the results of their work experiences to a lively audience from the city, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the college:

Amy Cran, Taylor Manns and Sydney Whiting presented on WIL and labour market outcomes.
Lawrenz Decano, Rachelle Phillips, and Bryanne Wandler presented a tool to guide land development practices, which industry professionals can utilize, contextualize, and implement in their projects.
Erica Gonzalez presented on the Policy Innovation Lab, a novel WIL model that will explore urban food security through the lens of the Land Use Bylaw renewal project.
Mick Jacobs presented on WIL opportunities for fine arts students.
Hannah Laberge, Wezi Mutambo, Sydney Whiting and Brie Wilson presented on best practices to inform the Land Use Bylaw Renewal project.
Hannah Laberge and Brie Wilson presented on a tool that examines the effects of consolidating business and industrial districts to improve planning policy implementation.
Oluwanifemi Oladoye presented on AI-powered systems to streamline public feedback and to promote collaboration between city officials and residents.
Morgan Resler and Wynonna Smith presented on project management best practices with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Dhillon School of Business and Niitsitapi Centre of Excellence.
Louisa Seitz presented on current policies for asphalt-applied artworks with the City's Public Art Committee.
Kes Soup presented on the adoption of AI technology in public service settings.
Mercy Trinh presented a plan to facilitate inclusion in the City's hiring process, aligned with the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA).
Brie Wilson presented on best practices and recommendations required to redevelop Lethbridge's Chinatown, 2nd Ave S.

Collaborative Course Work Projects:

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students engaged in the Bridging Cultures class, exploring the application of a Two-Eyed Seeing for Both Ways Knowing approach to public realm enhancement and Indigenous traditional knowledge projects.
Lethbridge College students assessed the feasibility of using shipping containers to house local start-up businesses. Three other Lethbridge College cohorts brought together skill sets in architectural animation, interior design, immersive architecture and block modelling, to support ongoing City planning and design projects in the Civic Commons precinct.

At the end of the showcase, three of the students presented a panel in which they discussed their experiences learning at the city and developing new skills in a municipal government setting. These projects were made possible thanks to the support of Career Bridge and funding from the city, the Prentice Institute, Mitacs, the Niitsitapi Circle of Excellence in Work-Integrated-Learning, the Dhillon School of Business and the Faculty of Fine Arts.

ULethbridge students benefit from unique WIL partnership between Prentice Institute and City of Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:50:22 +0000

Since the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester, eight ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students participated in five applied studies projects as part of an emerging Work Integrated Learning (WIL) partnership between the City of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy.

The projects focused on a range of topics, which include formulating inclusive engagement processes for urban design projects, conducting a gap analysis of the City’s heritage program to assess the representation of the community’s diversity, supporting the development of project management tools for upcoming urban revitalization initiatives, researching the history of the Warehouse District as part of the City’s ongoing long-range planning work in that neighbourhood, and researching best practices for inclusive urban planning and policy making.

The students worked under the supervision of two City staff from the Opportunity Lethbridge and Planning and Design departments and benefited from the academic supervision of six Prentice Institute research affiliates and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty.

“There is an impressive knowledge base that exists in Lethbridge that the City of Lethbridge is excited to tap into through WIL projects such as the ones being showcased today,” says Perry Stein, Partner Services Manager with the City. “Working with post-secondary students and faculty allows us to access this knowledge not only to enhance our day-to-day work, but to get a better handle on the talent in the community. We hope that students will gain valuable skills working with us and see us as an employer of choice once they graduate.”

The students shared the following feedback about their experience participating in the applied studies projects:

It allowed for the development of skills beyond the classroom, such as public speaking and a better understanding of government processes.
The opportunity aided their ability to translate academic skills to business and policy work, working on tight deadlines and imagining possible career opportunities.
Students gained confidence with current skills and their ability to learn new competencies, including networking and working on a team.
The applied studies validated how valuable their academic studies are in the workplace.
It challenged students to think about how academic work might translate to a hands-on setting.

"The Prentice Institute seeks to provide an ongoing platform through which City staff, faculty and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ students can collaborate to address pressing issues in our city. Other cities in Canada, such as Kamloops, Vancouver and Toronto are benefiting tremendously from collaborations of this sort with universities, and in the process training the next generation of urban planners, policymakers and innovators. Universities, in turn, fulfill the potential to contribute directly, through their academic and research capacity, to their immediate communities,” says Andrea Cuéllar, Associate Director of the Prentice Institute. “We are aware, however, that access to WIL opportunities can be inequitable. Hence, jointly with the City, we provide student compensation to cover course registration and other costs, since ideally there should be no barriers to participating in these valuable opportunities.”

An event was held Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023 to showcase the completed student projects from the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

The City of Lethbridge, Prentice Institute and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge look forward to continuing to partner with students and faculty on future applied studies projects and to develop a broader WIL relationship.

For a more detailed overview of the students and projects, click here.

Poll shows rural Albertans opposed to provincial police force

caroline.zentner — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:47:07 +0000

An online survey in February delivered by Leger and sponsored by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) shows a distinct lack of support for the creation of a provincial police force among rural Albertans.

Dr. Lars Hallstrom

The survey gauged the public perception of policing and was particularly focused on rural Albertans. Created as part of a collaboration between the RMA, Dr. Lars Hallstrom, a political science professor from ULethbridge, and Dr. Tanya Trussler, a professor in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies at Mount Royal ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the survey asked respondents about their views of policing, crime and criminal justice. Some 1,470 participants completed the survey, which was designed to over sample rural residents.

The majority, approximately 54 per cent of respondents, disagreed with the idea of Alberta having its own police service. Only 23 per cent of respondents agreed that Alberta should have its own police service.

The majority of respondents reported having a high level of trust in the RCMP and felt police funding should be maintained. Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the police are doing a good or excellent job.

“At the end of the day, our priority is safe rural communities,” says RMA President Paul McLauchlin. “The RMA and its members support the work of the RCMP to address rural crime and don’t see any need for a fundamental change to how policing is delivered. The results of this survey show that individual rural Albertans share a similar view.” “The conclusions of this survey for rural Albertans are quite clear,” says Hallstrom. “Similar to the results of other recent polling, there is limited support for the removal of the existing police structure and replacing it with a provincial police force. Although there is some variation, depending on where people live in the province, the emphasis is really upon maintain and improve, not replace.”

Three quarters of rural Albertans who responded to the survey indicated they feel safe in their community. However, more than half also felt crime had increased in their community.

“These results are similar to national statistics, as most Canadians say they feel safe,” Hallstrom says. “While they do feel safe, close to 56 per cent indicated they felt crime in their communities was increasing. This also varies by region.”

While there was clear support for the current policing model, overall perceptions of the justice system were not favourable, with close to 79 per cent either agreeing or strongly agreeing that the court system is not hard enough on criminals. Close to three quarters of respondents agreed with the statement that the criminal courts are too lenient.

“Our focus is on improving policing, improving social services and improving the justice system to ensure that rural communities are safe and supported. This is a key target and manageable without the development of an Alberta Provincial Police Service,” says McLauchlin. “At this point we’d like to see the province re-direct the time, energy and money spent on pushing a provincial police service towards further enhancing social supports and the justice system.”

“Both rural and urban Albertans tend to have a positive view of police and feel they can be trusted, but this is not always universal nor consistent. Police are often the ‘first point of contact’ for citizens, and the larger judicial system and process can be quite complex,” said Hallstrom. “There are clearly areas for improvement, both from a practical and a policy standpoint, but there is really very little support for discarding what is already in place. When we factor in the well-documented costs associated with that approach, it’s pretty clear where public opinion lands.”

RMA values the partnership with ULethbridge in undertaking this type of polling in rural communities. Rural municipalities and residents want police services that are as responsive as possible and allow Albertans to feel safe in their homes. While the current model is not perfect, there has been a recent commitment on the part of the RCMP to prioritize rural safety, which has resulted in significant decreases in rural crime rates.

U of L appoints new director to the Prentice Institute

caroline.zentner — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 18:09:33 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is pleased to announce Dr. Lars Hallström has been appointed as the new director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy effective Jan. 1, 2021.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Hallström to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the Prentice Institute,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, vice-president (academic) and provost. “I got to know Lars when I was still at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and he’s a dedicated scholar and researcher whose expertise is well-suited to the Prentice Institute.”

Hallström is currently the inaugural director of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities, a joint program of the Augustana Faculty and the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. His background is in political science and he will be joining the U of L’s political science department as a faculty member. However, his primary duties will be with the Prentice Institute, which was established in 2009 following a $8.25 million gift from Alberta entrepreneur John Prentice. As a multi-disciplinary, cross-faculty institute, it is dedicated to researching the long-term effects of demographic, economic and social issues related to changes in world population patterns. Hallström follows in the footsteps of Dr. Susan McDaniel, a sociologist and the Prentice Institute’s first director, who served in the position until August 2019.

Dr. Trevor Harrison, interim director of the Prentice Institute, says Hallström brings with him many interdisciplinary strengths, including the fields of political science, demography, geography and sociology. His skills in these areas will allow him to build upon what has already been established at the Prentice Institute.

“He has an established record of both getting research grants and assisting others in getting grants,” says Harrison. “His research, especially in rural areas and economic development in rural areas, is going to be a real plus for the institute.”

Hallström sees a natural fit between his previous work and the mission of the Prentice Institute.

“The position at the Prentice Institute aligns with some of the different areas where my work has fallen in terms of intersectoral actions, how environment and social and health policy, for example, can all affect each other and maybe leverage positive change in ways that are not directly assumed,” says Hallström. “I am a political scientist by training, but my work is more broadly oriented towards public policy at different levels, including environmental health and social policy, questions of equity, social determinants of health, urban and rural economic development, youth and youth engagement and access to public health infrastructure.”

“Dr. Hallström brings extensive experience in leading a highly impactful research institute within a comprehensive university environment,” says Dr. Robert Wood, interim vice-president (research). “We look forward to the collaborative research and community engagement opportunities he will cultivate in his role as director of the Prentice Institute.”

After a year of university studies and playing rugby in the United Kingdom, Hallström obtained a BA with a major in political science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary in 1995 and completed a master’s and PhD in political science at Indiana’s Purdue ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. He began his academic career at St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Nova Scotia as a professor of political science and Canada Research Chair in Public Policy and Governance. Hallström joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta in 2009 and has been director of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities since then.

Hallström was born in Edmonton but his family, due to his father’s work in the oil industry, left Canada shortly after and he spent most of his childhood living in Europe and the United States before returning to Canada as a teen. Music was a central theme in his life as a youth and something he continues to pursue today.

“My dad was an amateur musician as a youth in northern Sweden,” says Hallström. “I went through the Royal Conservatory piano trajectory and started playing in bands, as many people do, in high school. For the last five years, I’ve been playing bass in a local band. It’s great fun, and we have a good time playing rock and roll and playing it loud.”

McDaniel among Alberta Venture's 50 Most Influential People

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:06:29 +0000

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge sociologist’s research into labour shortages in Canada led to some myth-busting that earned her a spot on Alberta Venture’s 50 Most Influential People for 2014.

Dr. Susan McDaniel was the principal investigator in a study that showed Canada is not facing a broad labour shortage.

Dr. Susan McDaniel, director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy and Canada Research Chair in Global Population and Life Course, was the principal investigator in a study that showed Canada is not facing a broad labour shortage, although some industries and regions are experiencing skills shortages.

The research, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, has received national attention and challenged accepted notions about labour shortages.

The article on McDaniel can be found at the Alberta Venture website.

McDaniel joins several other people with U of L connections who have made the list in previous years. In 2013, Dr. David Naylor (Physics and Astronomy) and Dr. Robert Sutherland (Neuroscience) were among the 50 most influential. President Emeritus Dr. Howard Tennant and U of L alumnus Ryan Johnson (Geography) were named in Alberta Venture’s 2012 most influential list.

Alberta Venture magazine creates the 50 Most Influential People list to acknowledge Albertans from all walks of life who have had uncommon influence on the province and beyond in the past year.

The complete list of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People for 2014 can be found here.

McDaniel appointed as Chair of CCA's Scientific Advisory Committee

trevor.kenney — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:27:22 +0000

The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has appointed ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge sociologist Dr. Susan A. McDaniel, FRSC, as Chair of its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

McDaniel, who previously served as vice Chair of the SAC, is the director of the U of L’s Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy and holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Global Population and Life Course. McDaniel has supported the Council for many years. As a member of the SAC she has worked to ensure expert panels and questions for assessment are multidisciplinary in nature, allowing for deeper insights and perspectives to come forward.

The role of the SAC is to advise the Council’s board with respect to assessment topic selection, terms of reference and peer review. The members of the SAC are eminent representatives of the broad science community, drawing from the academic, business and non-governmental sectors. Membership reflects balance in terms of discipline, geography, gender and official language community.

The Council of Canadian Academies is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that began operation in 2005. The Council supports independent, science-based, expert assessments that inform public policy development in Canada.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dr. Dan Weeks says McDaniel’s appointment as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee speaks to the continued leadership role McDaniel plays not only within her respective field, but also across disciplines.

“Dr. McDaniel’s work has been critical for policy development across the globe. Her experience leading the Prentice Institute, as well as through her own research, makes her well-suited for this leadership role,” says Weeks.

The Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy focuses on research about the changing human population and its potential impacts on social and economic issues, and subsequently communicating its findings widely. The Prentice Institute collaborates with researchers in Canada and elsewhere to address some of the most difficult challenges of the next generation and beyond.

A copy of the Council’s news release regarding Dr. McDaniel’s appointment can be found at http://www.scienceadvice.ca/en/news.aspx?id=130.

McDaniel examining possible Canadian labour shortage and skills crisis

trevor.kenney — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:13:58 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher Dr. Susan McDaniel is examining whether or not an approaching labour shortage or skills crisis looms in Canada.

Dr. Susan McDaniel is the Canada Research Chair In Global Population & Life Course and a professor of sociology.

McDaniel, Canada Research Chair in Global Population and Life Course as well as the Prentice Research Chair in Global Population and Economy, has been awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Knowledge Synthesis Grant to examine scholarly evidence relating to the commonly voiced belief that Canada is experiencing, and will continue to experience, nationwide labour and skills shortages.

The findings of this critical study will undoubtedly feed into important policy decisions made by Canadian governments for years to come.

McDaniel, the project’s principal investigator, is working with other Alberta researchers (Dr. Lloyd Wong of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and Dr. Bonnie Watt-Malcolm of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta) in conducting a synthesis of the existing peer-reviewed literature, in order to answer a number of questions about the realities and the mythologies surrounding Canada’s aging workforce and labour and skills shortages.

The team is examining journal articles focusing on demographic change, immigration and skills development in Canada, in order to answer a number of key questions.

“We’re looking at whether the notion that an impending labour shortage is true or not true, and, in fact, it’s not true. There are labour shortages in certain pockets of the economy, there are cyclical labour shortages, but across the country there are not labour shortages, and the same thing applies to skills shortages. That’s what we’re finding as we move forward.”

The team will present its findings in a policy forum in Ottawa (Feb. 11-12) and anticipates publishing the knowledge synthesis later in 2014.

Vice-President (Research) Dr. Dan Weeks says the U of L is uniquely positioned to conduct important policy work, due to the capacity that exists within the Prentice Institute and because of world-class researchers such as McDaniel.

“Susan brings a wealth of experience in policy-relevant research to the project,” says Weeks. “She has advised governments around the world on policy and is widely published and cited as a leading authority on challenges related to demographically aging societies, among other areas of sociological inquiry. This work is absolutely critical as our communities grapple with how to manage significantly-changing demographics.”

The Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy is a multi-disciplinary, cross-faculty institute dedicated to researching the long-term global impacts of demographic, economic and social issues related to changes in world population patterns. Launched in 2009, the Prentice Institute collaborates with researchers in Canada and elsewhere to address some of the most difficult challenges of the next generation.

Kolb, McDaniel join list of Jubilee medalists

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:12:12 +0000

In late February, Dr. Bryan Kolb (Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience) and Dr. Susan McDaniel (Sociology, Director, Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy) received Jubilee Medals awarded by the Royal Society of Canada. Both Kolb and McDaniel are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC). This was the first visit to the U of L campus by Royal Society executive director Darren Gilmour and Royal Society President, Yolande Grisé.

In addition to Kolb and McDaniel, a number of U of L faculty members have also recently received Jubilee medals, among them Dr. Peter McCormick (Political Science), Dr. Reg Bibby (Sociology), Dr. Dayna Daniels (Women and Gender Studies), Dr. Rick Mrazek (Education), Tanya Harnett (Fine Arts/Native American Studies) and U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. A complete list of medal recipients to date is available on the Government of Alberta website: alberta.ca/diamondjubileemedal.cfm

New Canada Research Chair at Prentice Institute

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:08:04 +0000

Dr. Susan McDaniel, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Sociology professor and director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, has been named a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Global Population and Economy, the first Tier 1 CRC in social sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

The seven-year, renewable appointment comes with more than $1.4 million, which will support the Prentice Institute's ever-increasing research capacity.

The funding helps McDaniel and her research colleagues look beyond numbers, and dig deeper into the complex issues that face people over the course of their lives, such as aging, income inequalities, access to health care, how global issues affect people and policies that take aging and population shifts into consideration.

"This is an outstanding announcement for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and for Dr. McDaniel and her research teams," says Dr. Dan Weeks, the U of L's Vice-President, Research.

In total, 253 newly awarded or renewed Canada Research Chairs at 56 Canadian degree-granting post-secondary institutions are being awarded $203.9 million to undertake new research.

This federal investment allows Canadian institutions to strengthen their position as global leaders in research and development, bringing greater economic opportunities for Canadians.

"Susan has done an excellent job of putting the Prentice Institute on a trajectory that will make it a world-recognized centre. She has attracted a significant number of researchers to the Institute as research associates, which in turn has built up our graduate student component. With this new funding, Dr. McDaniel and her colleagues will be able to significantly expand on the Prentice Institute's mandate to look into population issues world-wide."

There are three areas McDaniel – and her expanding world-wide group of researchers – is examining through what she describes as 'life-course research': comparisons between Canadian and other population groups, initially in the United States; the government-supported policy steps countries such as Japan and Korea have taken to manage the challenges of an aging population; and the concept of age itself, and how factors such as economic conditions, lack of healthcare or being a refugee from a war-torn country can have on your life expectancy.

"The life course research concept has several principles, among them that you need to follow a person through their life to get a solid picture of how they are affected by a variety of influences," says McDaniel.

"We are following individuals across time because at each point in your life course, you are existing in a context in a society. For example, if a person graduates from high school or university at a time when the economy is not healthy, they might have trouble finding a job. A whole group of people may be disadvantaged over a long period because of that one moment in time."

By comparison, McDaniel says that a person who benefits from a strong economy may land a better job, have better educational opportunities and also have a longer life expectancy.

McDaniel adds that some people may be disadvantaged at the beginning of their lives, and may be continually disadvantaged as they age, compounding the disadvantages they face as they grow older.

"We are expanding on research where we looked at Americans aged 45-64 over a 14-year period, and a similar group of Canadians over a 16-year period, and found that income inequalities make a huge difference for their prospects in their later years, " says McDaniel.

The key difference between Canadians and Americans is that Canadians have lesser inequality, primarily because of social policies such as public health insurance, but also better risk insurance such as employment insurance.

As well, McDaniel is examining how government policy has changed the way people live in countries where aging and significant population change is normal, such as in Japan and Korea, two countries with very different challenges.

"Japan is the 'oldest' country in the world, while Korea has a relatively young population now but it will age very quickly," says McDaniel said. "What we are finding is that innovations are unexpected. Both Korea and Japan have instituted publicly-funded long term care insurance. When speaking to the Koreans about why they implemented it at this time, the response was that they could afford it now while the population is young, as opposed to being unable to afford it later."

The other issue McDaniel hopes to tackle as part of her research is to change the fundamental notion of 'age' from a number to a concept that takes a whole host of lifestyle experiences into consideration, among them health, education, economic circumstances, and other factors.

"You need to look at age differently based on what happens to a person during their life. A person in a risky or blue-collar occupation might age differently than someone in a less dangerous or physically demanding job," she says. "We need to have a flexible definition of what is 'old', because this research, while not yet fully completed, is important in policy development."

Keeping a finger on the pulse of these world-wide indicators is keeping McDaniel and her teams constantly busy. The new and ongoing research projects will ultimately wind up as journal articles or become parts of four books currently in process.

To date, the effort involves researchers from Canada, the United States, Japan, Korea, Italy and Africa, in addition to the regular complement of faculty members currently at the U of L or who are being recruited to join the Prentice Institute as research associates, guest lecturers, or visiting professors.

UNews - Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy

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