The experience wasn鈥檛 what I expected. Academic timelines rarely align with community timelines. The impact of knowledge mobilization is hard to measure, so it’s hard to justify to busy campus and community partners. I found it challenging to identify the target audience for knowledge mobilization products. I also struggled to wrap my head around the complexity and breadth of the CFICE project.

But, I leave CFICE more passionate about the value of knowledge mobilization than when I started. I participated in C2UExpo, and met inspiring people who strive to make research more relevant and useful to those who need it. I researched knowledge mobilization in my undergraduate honours essay, where I studied SSHRC鈥檚 annual reports. And, I鈥檓 excited to continue learning about knowledge mobilization this fall as I start my master鈥檚 in communication at Simon Fraser University.

Each step along the path of knowledge mobilization is challenging. Sometimes even frustrating, slow, or uncertain. But I believe we can harness the power of research to support meaningful social change. And I know knowledge mobilization is a vital journey to take.

My name is Christine Ackerley, and I just started as an administrative research assistant for the CFICE Knowledge Mobilization Hub. I鈥檓 a fourth-year Journalism and Communications student at 杏吧原创 University. As a research assistant, my responsibilities include webinar support, web content management, strategic communications and supporting the Mobilization Committee of C2UExpo 2015.

I鈥檓 also working on a proposal for a series of news stories for CFICE. I’ll probably interview many of you in the CFICE community for stories and profiles!

I鈥檓 very excited to work with the CFICE team and learn more about knowledge mobilization practices.