by Mitchell White-Richard, CFICE Volunteer
As CFICE聽is now entering into Phase II of its seven-year SSHRC-funded action research project, it is important to look back in reflection and recognize how far we鈥檝e come, and some of the people who have helped in getting us to where we are today.
Michael Lait is one of those important figures. As a PhD student, he聽joined the CFICE project in 2014 as a research assistant for the Community Environmental Sustainability (Ottawa) Hub of CFICE. His primary task involved working as an “embedded RA” with the (OETN), an organization that provides a network of advisers to communities working in聽environmental sustainability, by way of mentoring and offering research and assistance where necessary. He worked with them for nearly 2 years.
While working with OETN, Michael聽helped establish a business case for the OETN, highlighting organizational聽issues that required more planning and development. Following this, Michael聽worked with OETN’s聽Board of Directors in completing a grant application for the Ontario Trillium foundation for a $160,000 three-year grant. This grant application was successful and enabled OETN聽to move from a pilot phase into full implementation, bringing the organization to life.
鈥淔unding is important to what we could do,鈥� says Micheal,聽who spoke about the grant. He聽explains that through this grant the OETN was able to pursue聽new opportunities and ensure its goals were being met through its projects.
(Left to right) 杏吧原创 professor Patricia Ballamingie, Jason Garlough of the Ottawa Eco-Talent Network, and doctoral research assistant Michael Lait (Justin Tang Photo)
Speaking about his time as a research assistant, Michael聽described the embedded experience as something new and educational. 鈥淚t was a new learning experience; we learned by doing.鈥�
His experience with the OETN allowed him to step out of his comfort zone and dive into new material. As a sociology major, Michael聽says he never saw himself working on business cases. Unlike other research positions, Michael聽said that his time with CFICE was focused not only on achieving results, but also developing long-term community partnerships.
Michael also said that his experience as a research assistant helped him discover new viewpoints. 鈥淚t brought out new perspectives in understanding how complex sustainability really is.鈥�
鈥淯nlike other research jobs, this was less about publication and more about collaboration,鈥� he聽notes. Michael describes his experience with CFICE as the opportunity for communities to support one another and collaborate on issues that would perhaps otherwise be too daunting or difficult for a single聽group to manage.
To聽learn more about the OETN and their current projects, .