1. Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG)
Bob Maher
Senior Research Scientist
Middleton, Nova Scotia
First Presented at the Pines Rural Knowledge Cluster (RKC) workshop in October 2005.
Revised September 2006.

2. What is Community? Geographic
Southwest Nova Scotia, e.g., the Rural Knowledge Cluster
Canada, e.g., Network Centre of Excellence
Global, e.g., climate change agenda
Thematic
Geographic service
Geomatics industry
Post-secondary education (universities, community colleges, industry training)

3. What is the role of Applied Research in Community Development ?
Economic – create jobs, $$$ into the community
Social – involvement in ideas/research tasks
Technology – access to equipment
Science – the ‘geographic view of the world’
Informatics – shared understanding of our environment and its processes

4. What is the current model at AGRG ?
History - started in January 2000
Six Research Scientists
Covers Hydrology, Climate, Biology, Health Science, Agriculture, Software Development, Geomatics
Six internships
2 Outreach Officers; 1 Business incubation Manager
Total: 25 staff and students

5. Senior Research Scientist
AGRG
Senior Research Scientist
Bob Maher
Chris Hopkinson
Heather Stewart
Roger Mosher
Tim Webster
David Colville
Hydrology LiDAR
Botany Wetlands
Software Development
Earth Sciences Remote Sensing
Climate & Landscape GIS
Jeff Wentzell
Randy Cochrane
Martin O’Hara
Sandra Kaiser
Environmental Health CIHR with Dal
NSERC Coordinator
Rural Knowledge Cluster
Laura Chasmer
Darren MacKinnon
Hydro-meteorology, LiDAR
Meteorological Instrumentation GIS

6. Annapolis Valley Campus
Jim Stanley
Principal
VP Business
Development
Digby
Lawrencetown
Middleton
Director
Applied Research
David Woolnough
AGRG

7. Key Questions
How does AGRG relate to a rural knowledge cluster in the western valley ?
What are we trying to achieve here today ?
Awareness
Feedback
Future network

8. Rural Secretariat project
NSCC – Applied Geomatics
College Boreal – value added forestry
College of the Rockies – Tourism
Funded by Rural Secretariat
Started in July 2005
2 ½ years
Bilingual
Focus is the western valley

9. Participatory Action Research
Standard research model
Group of university/government scientists determine the research agenda
Receive funding
Conduct research
Publish papers
Build expertise of the group

10. Participatory Action Research
PAR model
Research group meets the community
Identify needs
Develop proposal for funding
Conduct research with community involvement
Report back to the community
Publish papers, reports, newspaper articles
Build expertise at institution and in the community

11. Issues/Concerns
Who defines the applied research agenda for the educational institution ?
Academics
Community
Business
Who writes the proposals ?

12. How do we define Applied Research ?
Solve problems that are raised by the community ?
Analysis of existing circumstances
Advising on policy directions
Is part of the solution:
Empowering the public
Empowering government

13. Questions for this audience ?
Listen to the SIX presentations:
Are there technology opportunities ?
Are you interested in the applications ?
Are you interested in the science ?
Can you see innovations to our current model ?
Change the definition of Applied Research
Change the role of the Community College in the community
Suggestions for specific events or processes
Workshops
Demonstrations
Business opportunities
Books

14. Update September 2006 New Learning Model at AGRG - focus on internship
- focus on joint MSc. Degree
- less emphasis on Advanced Dipolma in Applied Geomatics Research
New Proposals
- GEOIDE: Air Quality and Rural Health
- GeoConnections: Online regional atlas for Sustainable Development
- CFS: Forestry Communities Program

15. Update September 2006 New Activities within RKC
- workshop at Université Sainte-Anne
- Community GIS
- involvement in Geo Connections proposal
Future Opportunities
- SSHRC Knowledge Cluster on Rural Community Research Network
- LIDAR university consortiums