This past month the lab welcomed another new co-op students from UofT Scarborough. We sat down to chat with them and get to know them a bit better with fun questions.

Natalie Tam, Co-Op Student

Natalie is third-year co-op student studying neuroscience (systems and behavioural stream) at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

What is your role in the lab?

I am working as a project and research assistant in the lab. Currently, I am assisting with two projects: CIRCA-CA and MBT (Motion-Based Technology) Co-Design Study.

Describe your project!

CIRCA-CA is a multimedia scrapbook consisting of photos, videos, and audio from the 40s to the 80s. It is designed to help people with dementia recall their experiences from their younger years and facilitate conversations with caregivers and others who also have dementia.
The current phase of the MBT Co-Design Study is to look at how accessible are different kinds of motion-based games to people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

During my spare time, I usually explore the city with my friends to try out different restaurants or go to the movies. I also play sports such as table tennis, archery and martial arts. Street photography is also what I enjoy doing in my leisure time.

If you could invite any scientist (dead or alive) to dinner,
who would it be?

Albert Einstein. His general and special relativity theories are complicated yet fascinating. It changes how the scientific world defines gravity, space and time.

What is your favourite science ‘fun fact’?

The resolution of the human eye is 576 megapixels.

If you could attend a research conference anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Tokyo, Japan

What made you interested in dementia research?

Dementia is a common ageing problem yet we still don't fully understand it. It cannot be fully cured but we can reduce its impact on people who has dementia. Imagine that people with Alzheimer's disease are not able to remember recent events and are 'living in the past'. There is a large time gap between their memories and real-time, and they have to cope with the differences. I am interested in how can technology nowadays help people with dementia reduce their challenges in daily life.

What 3 key search words describe your projects?

Dementia, communication, exergame

DATE Lab Chats: Meet Our New Lab Member