If asked, most people would associate “speed dating” with singles in a bar looking for Mr. or Ms. Right - or at least Mr. or Ms. 'Right now.'
But after the first-ever “Intellectual Speed Dating” event at the University of Ottawa, journalists and researchers in the city may never think of the trendy concept in the same way.
On July 22, seven researchers - Cristina Atance (psychology), Thomas Brabec (physics), Keith Fagnou (chemistry), Frances Pick (biology), Mark Salter (political studies), Michael Sawada (geography), and Joel Westheimer (education) - met with journalists from CJOH-TV, CBC Radio, Ottawa City magazine, the Globe and Mail, and the Canwest newspaper chain at the National Press Club.
As in a real speed date, the researchers moved from table to table, having five-minute chats with the journalists about their work.
“We created this event to give journalists an opportunity to meet some of the fascinating researchers and get a sense of their work without the pressures of getting a story done,” said Christel Binnie, strategic communications officer for the vice-rector, research.
So far, feedback from the event has been enthusiastic, and Rosa Harris-Adler, editor of Ottawa City magazine and a columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, devoted her July 25 column to it, saying: “Just in this small group alone, some of society's most significant problems were being addressed and some of science's biggest puzzles were on their way to being solved…It was a remarkable reminder of the talent we have in our midst…they exuded verve and flash and charisma…I suspect the other media participants also left the event with their heads spinning with fresh ideas and with new approaches to old ones.”
Plans are underway to make the event a regular one, alternating between French and English researchers and journalists, and even to “take it on the road,” said Bob LeDrew, media relations officer.
“We could quite easily take a group of researchers to Montréal, Toronto and beyond to give journalists there an opportunity to see the talent we have here.”
