20th Annual Crossroads Interdisciplinary Health Research Conference

Story

Crossroads is a student-led and student-centered initiative that began within the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University and is now affiliated with the Healthy Populations Institute. Crossroads began with a focus on Nova Scotian students and has grown to welcome students from across Canada and beyond. This year’s conference will be the 20th Crossroads, which truly emphasizes its longevity and value to Dalhousie. Through Crossroads, we aim to provide the next generation of leaders and innovators in health and wellness research with a forum to gain valuable skills and experience in knowledge translation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and critical thinking through opportunities to share their research, network with peers and experts, and attend panel discussions, mini-courses, and keynote lectures. Conferences are often unaffordable for students, which leads to little diversity in the knowledge and experiences shared at these events. In order to provide a high-quality and low-barrier conference for students, we graciously rely on sponsors and donors.

Strategy

This year’s conference has a dedicated and skilled planning committee comprised of 13 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students within Dalhousie University’s School of Health and Human Performance, PhD in Health, Medicine, and Dentistry programs. Together, we organize the planning of all aspects of the conference, including budgeting; booking venues and catering; finding sponsors; planning the conference program; booking panelists, adjudicators, and keynote speakers; and reviewing abstracts. Last year, Crossroads received over 100 abstract submissions from Canadian post-secondary students located coast-to-coast. This year’s conference planning is coming together, with our theme ‘Moving Forward: Sustainable approaches for health’. We are asking for your financial support to ensure that Crossroads can achieve its mission and continue to thrive year after year.

Impact

Hosting a conference of this magnitude while providing a high-quality experience and low-barrier access is not possible without the support of sponsors and donors. Donations to Crossroads 2024 will primarily be allocated to venue and catering costs. We are also recognizing students and future leaders in interdisciplinary health research through the provision of an awards banquet. Your gift could support a student research award, recognizing the incredible contributions of students working in health research. Your contribution can help provide student attendees with valuable research, networking, and capacity building opportunities.

For more information about our conference and the work we’re doing, you can find us on Twitter, Instagram, or on our website. To register for the conference, please visit our registration page. We can also be reached by email at dalcihrc@dal.ca. To mail a cheque please send to the Office of Advancement, 6389 Coburg Road, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 2A5.