Building on last year’s successful debut the Office of the Vice-Principal (Research) is once again hosting a research showcase, “Powered by PechaKucha,” to highlight some of the work being conducted in the fields of social sciences, humanities and arts.

Each of the 10 faculty members will present their research through the PechaKucha 20x20 format – 20 slides for 20 seconds each – making for a fast-moving but informative presentation.

Each researcher will be discussing the work they’ve done, or propose to do, with grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Among those presenting is Ana Siljak, Associate Professor in the Department of History who specializes in in Russian and Eastern European history and was a 2009 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-fiction finalist for her book Angel of Vengeance: The “Girl Assassin,” the Governor of St. Petersburg, and Russia's Revolutionary World, which chronicled the life of Vera Zasulich, a Russian Marxist who murdered a powerful Russian Aristocrat and was put on trial for her crime in 1878.

At the PechaKucha event, Dr. Siljak will present her current research into the late Tsarist period. She knows that the format will also be an interesting challenge.

“The PechaKucha event is a difficult one, because it requires the researcher to think very carefully about the aspects of a research project that will resonate most with the audience,” she says. “My own presentation, entitled ‘The Art of Life: The Russian Silver Age, 1890-1917,’ will highlight some of the stories I will tell in the book that I am writing on my research.  I hope to inform my audience a bit – but mostly intrigue them and get them to think about a few big questions that my research puts out there, such as the role that art should play in modern society.”

Dr. Siljak is also a member of the Peer Research Consultant program where mid-career to senior faculty in the social sciences, humanities and arts with a high level of experience and knowledge of the grant application processes provide support for other faculty members.

Others presenting are:

• Heather Aldersey, School of Rehabilitation Therapy
• Arthur Cockfield, Faculty of Law
• Claire Davies, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
• Catherine Dhavernas, French Studies
• Warren Mabee, Geography and Planning
• Jeffrey Masuda, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies
• David McDonald, Global Development Studies
• Tandy Thomas, Smith School of Business
• Margaret Walker, School of Drama and Music

The PechaKucha event will be held at the University Club on Wednesday, April 13, from 4:40-6:30  pm and is open to all of the Queen’s community. Registration is recommended.  For more information, contact Yolande Chan or Kelly Blair-Matuk.