DATE Lab Chats: Meet Our New Lab Members
As the summer term comes to an end, we say goodbye to our co-op students Serena, Anushka & Natalie. Their contributions to lab projects were key to helping us prepare for our upcoming fall conferences & we are so thankful for all their hard work.
For this new fall semester, we want to introduce our two new co-op students! We sat down to chat with them and get to know them a bit better with fun questions.
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P.S for more info on our upcoming conferences take a look at the calendar here
Britny is a fourth-year co-op student double majoring in Human Biology and Health Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.
Britny Vaseekaran, co-op student
What is your role in the lab?
I work as a Research and Project Assistant for two projects in the lab: The Motion Based Technology Study and CIRCA-CA.
Describe your project!
The Motion Based Technology Study aims to provide non-pharmacological interventions using exergames for people with cognitive impairment to improve balance and prevent falls. While CIRCA-CA is an interactive technology used as a support to aid conversation between older adults with dementia and their caregivers by presenting generic images that can either allow the individual to reminisce or spark conversation.
Editor’s Note: Learn more about these projects here.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time I love going to the gym or playing volleyball, I also am an escape room enthusiast (especially the scary ones)!
If you could invite any scientist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be?
I would invite Rosalind Franklin to dinner to let her know that we now value her significant contributions to the discovery of the DNA double helix. I’d also love to know more about what it was like being one of the few women in STEM in her time.
What is your favourite science ‘fun fact’?
There is enough DNA in the average person's body to stretch from the Sun to Pluto and back... 17 times.
If you could attend a research conference anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would attend a conference in Switzerland.
What made you interested in dementia research?
I have always been interested in research that focuses on improving quality of life, thus, Dr. Astell’s lab stood out to me. There is still no cure for many cognitive impairments including dementia and alzheimer's, so I find that it’s very important to focus on interventions to maintain quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment, and this is what made me interested in joining the DATE lab and researching dementia!
What 3 key search words describe your projects?
MBT: cognitive impairment, technology, fall prevention
CIRCA-CA: dementia, caregivers, social interaction
Silmi is third-year co-op student majoring in Mental Health Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
What is your role in the lab?
Silmi Hirji, co-op student
[I am] a project and research assistant.
Describe your project!
CIRCA is an advanced conversational support tool for people living with Dementia as well as their caregivers. This is a great development, allowing individuals to spark conversation during times of social isolation such as Covid-19.
The MBT impact study focuses on exergame intervention on balance and movement confidence and its impact on cognition for people living with dementia!
Editor’s Note: MBT stands for motion-based technology and is part of PhD student Erica Dove’s thesis project. Learn more about these projects here.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym and reading! My favourite book is ‘a thousand splendid suns’
If you could invite any scientist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be?
John B. Watson
Editor’s note: John B Watson is a psychologist known for his work in the field of behaviourism
What is your favourite science ‘fun fact’?
Individuals who have Broca’s aphasia can still sing even though they can’t produce speech!
If you could attend a research conference anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Switzerland!
What made you interested in dementia research?
Through my cognitive neuroscience course that I took in my second year, I quickly discovered my passion for learning about cognition and human behaviour! I also love working with older adults as they often have amazing stories to tell.
What 3 key search words describe your projects?
CIRCA: dementia, conversational aid, online tool
MBT impact study: Balance confidence, exergames, dementia