What will life be like in 2030? University researchers give their insight

Oshawa, Ont. - Four researchers from local universities came together to share their visions of the future during a public event entitled Life in 2030: Discuss the future with those who are creating it. Hosted by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in collaboration with Carleton University, Trent University and Queen’s University, this is the third in a series of Research Matters discussions taking place across Ontario during the next few months.

“This event is an excellent way to showcase the tremendous research being conducted at universities across the province,” said UOIT President Tim McTiernan. “Connecting researchers and communities will continue the dialogue and form a better understanding of the importance of research, its contribution to innovation and how our lives are all better because of it.”

More than 120 people attended the event, held at the Regent Theatre in Oshawa, Ontario, to learn about some of the exciting research happening at the universities around them and the societal impact these projects will have. Following the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session, which included questions submitted via Twitter. The event was also broadcast live via webcast.

The four researchers that presented at the event were:

• Linda Duxbury, Carleton University, “Those with skills will own the workplace. Those without will be struggling.”
• Rena Upitis, Queen’s University, “Life will be so frantic that music making may be one of the few ways of staying sane.”
• Suresh Narine, Trent University, “Industrial materials will be universally affordable, and solve environmental problems rather than create them.”
• Carolyn McGregor, UOIT, “Every heartbeat and every breath will be analyzed for advanced critical care and better outcomes.”

The Research Matters campaign is a collaboration among Ontario’s 21 universities to find new way to tell stories about how research is changing lives. Ontario’s universities produce a steady stream of useful and fascinating research that transform how people live, work and play, across the province and around the world.

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