Research

Lorna Williams is pictured speaking at the First Peoples House on campus. She is presenting during an event celebrating Indigenous Language Revitalization in 2022.

Improving education through inquiry

With a focus on community-engaged practices, our research creates vital impact on the lives of individuals and society.

Welcome to the vibrant research community at the Faculty of Education, where innovation and inquiry converge to shape the future of education. As a member of the research community at UVic, you'll be immersed in a dynamic environment that fosters groundbreaking research, empowers aspiring educators and invites passionate individuals to explore the limitless possibilities of transformational learning.

Researchers in the Faculty of Education work across a diverse array of fields, including:

Psychology of teaching and learning
Community and place-based education
Lifelong learning, nonformal and family education
Kinesiology
Neuroeconomics and neurophysiology
Recreation and health education
Arts-based education
Leadership and applied psychology
Indigenous language revitalization
Indigenization of curriculum

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UVic researchers are global experts. You can use the search function to find an expert by faculty, department or keyword.

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Research projects & labs

Director: Dr. Ryan Rhodes

Dr. Ryan Rhodes, director of the BMed Lab

Behavioural Medicine Lab

Experts in the Behavioural Medicine Lab explore, produce and share innovative and socially relevant physical activity and health research.

Director: Dr. Onowa McIvor

Dr. Onowa McIvor pictured outdoors in 2023.

NEȾOLṈEW̱

NEȾOLṈEW̱ ‘one mind, one people’ is a research partnership between UVic and nine Indigenous partner communities across Canada.

Director: Dr. Sam Liu

A father and son walk through PKOLS forest as part of the Generation Health project.

Digital Health Lab

Experts in the Digital Health Lab conduct research in the domains of digital health, community physical activity and active living advocacy.

Director: Dr. Olav Krigolson

Theoretical & Applied Neuroscience Lab

Experts in the Theoretical & Applied Neuroscience Lab integrate the principles of neuroscience, psychology and economic theory.

Director: Dr. Kurt Smith

CHEERS Lab

Experts in the Cerebrovascular Health Exercise and Environmental Research Sciences (CHEERS) Laboratory use physical exercise to investigate brain health and aging. Email the lab.

Directors: Dr. Valerie Irvine & Dr. Allyson Hadwin

Closeup overhead shot of a student working on a laptop.

Technology Integration & Evaluation Lab

Experts in the Technology Integration and Evaluation Lab research the use of networked and computer‐mediated technologies in communication, teaching and learning.

10 years of Indigenous Language Revitilization

On April 3 & 4, 2023, the Indigenous Education department and Dr. Lorna Wanosts’a7 Williams, Chair of First People’s Culture Council, hosted an event at UVic to celebrate the past decade of research and work in the field of Indigenous Language Revitalization.

The following short film was premiered as part of the event. The 20-minute film was created by talented filmmakers Erynne Gilpin and KI Peruzzo looks back through 10 years of Indigenous Language Revitalization at UVic within the Vancouver Island language communities and seeks to explore hidden impacts from the perspectives of participants and former students.

Research stories

A portrait of Tahohtharatye Joe Brant on the UVic campus in Spring 2024.

Paving the way for Mohawk language revitalization

Tahohtharátye Joe Brant, a Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk language) advanced-proficiency speaker and language activist, is the first student to have completed a PhD in Indigenous Language Revitalization at UVic.

A portrait of Lisa Crowshoe on campus at UVic in Spring 2024.

Values-based language learning

Lisa Crowshoe, an educator and Niitsi’powahsin (Blackfoot language) activist, is the second student to have completed her PhD in Indigenous Language Revitalization at UVic. Her research explores a method for Blackfoot youth to improve their well-being while learning values-based Niitsi’powahsin.

Research support funds

The Faculty of Education administers this fund to support graduate students to make scholarly presentations, give artistic performances, or travel for research purposes to local (outside the CRD), provincial, national and international locations. The fund is administered through the Deans' Office.

Eligibility:
Applicants must be full or part-time Faculty of Education graduate students. EPHE and Counselling Psychology students will not be eligible for Travel Funding from the Faculty of Education for travel after May 1, 2025 when these units join UVic's new Faculty of Health.

Nature of travel:
Applicants must be conducting research related to their project, thesis, or dissertation, or making a significant contribution to an event, such as:

Presenting a paper, poster, artistic performance, or exhibit
Participating on a panel or in a roundtable discussion
Participating in a leadership role on a conference executive committee

Important dates:
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, however, funds will be disbursed on a first-come first-served basis until funding is spent. Receipts for reimbursement must be submitted on the following schedule:

15 January for travel/conference activity between 1 September and 31 December
15 May for travel/conference activity between 1 January and 30 April
15 September for travel/conference activity between 1 May and 31 August

Supporting documents:
All applications must be accompanied by:

An abstract or brief description of the research/conference activity
A copy of the event program where the applicant’s participation is indicated or a confirmation of acceptance of the proposed contribution to the conference/event

Award amounts and eligible expenses:
Awards are a maximum of $500. Graduate students may hold more than one Graduate Student Travel Fund award during their degree program, but total funding awarded will not exceed $500. Eligible expenses include conference fees (including online and hybrid events), transportation/mileage, accommodation, and meals.

Application signatures:
The applicant’s supervisor must sign the application. Their signature indicates recommendation for Travel Fund support and that the activity meets the scholarly standards and expectations that pertain within that discipline.

How to apply:
Please submit completed and signed applications to the Faculty of Education Research and Grants Facilitator (edresearch@uvic.ca; MAC A363).

Download an application form for the Graduate Student Travel Fund.

Note: Applications are currently suspended for this award.

The Research Engagement Fund supports faculty-led research or dissemination events/activities designed to engage participation within and/or beyond the Faculty of Education. The principal objective is to extend the reach and impact of faculty research and expertise.

Eligibility:
Applicants must demonstrate at least one of the following forms of engagement:
cross-unit (e.g., EPLS and IED), cross-faculty and/or external community engagement. Grants of up to $1000 are available to faculty members in the Faculty of Education at UVic. Priority will be given to requests for matching funds for external funding competitions that require or expect these contributions, such as SSHRC Connection Grants and SSHRC Partnership-stream Grants.

Important dates:
Applications may be submitted at any time; however, funds will be dispensed on a first-come first-served basis. Applicants are eligible to apply once per academic year: 1 July to 30 June. Events/activities must be completed within one year of the award date.

How to apply:
Please submit completed applications to the Faculty of Education Research and Grants Facilitator (edresearch@uvic.ca; MAC A363).

Download an application form for the Research Engagement Fund.