Research
Research Institute celebrates 18 years
The Institute of Child Care Research celebrated its 18th anniversary with ’18 Years 18 Stories’ event in the Riddel Hall
The Institute of Child Care Research (ICCR) has celebrated its 18th anniversary with a showcase event profiling 18 stories from the past, present and future of the centre.
Entitled ’18 Years 18 Stories’, the event took place in Riddel Hall and was officially opened by Professor James McElnay, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduates.
The first story of the event was presented by BBC broadcaster Mark Sidebottom. Entitled ICCR Past, Present and Future: Directors’ Perspectives, it consisted of an interview with the three women who have served as Institute Director since its foundation: Professor Dorota Iwaniec, Professor Rosemary Kilpatrick and Professor Geraldine Macdonald. All three spoke of the important and unique role the Institute plays in giving a voice to young people through research.
Dr Kathryn Higgins, Assistant Director of the Institute of Child Care Research, introduced two animated films illustrating the large longitudinal studies that ICCR has been conducting since the year 2000: the Belfast Youth Development Study and the Care Pathways and Outcomes Study. These short films were produced in partnership with Queen’s Media Services and featured visual representations of the studies’ key findings by local artist Patrick Sanders. The films can be now watched at http://www.youtube.com/user/Come2Queens
Professor John Pinkerton introduced the two further stories, conveying the partnerships that ICCR has developed over the years with policy-makers and frontline service providers. Contributions came from Christine Smyth of the Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety, and from Pip Jaffa of Parenting Northern Ireland.
The audience was then addressed by Rosemary Murray, CSM for Barnado’s Disabled Children and Young People’s Participation Project, and three young representatives of the Sixth Sense Group, Laura, Sam and Emmanuel, who explained the advisory role played by them and their peers in a landmark study of mental health among young persons with disabilities. Rosemary highlighted how participation and research go hand in hand; and the group described how quality research can empower young people and their advocates, particularly when their voices have not previously been heard.
The remaining thirteen stories were displayed in a large showcase, featuring ground-breaking findings both from primary research and systematic reviews, and representations of the innovative young person-centred methodologies developed within the ICCR. These were displayed alongside art work submitted to a recent ICCR art competition for children and young people. Awards from this competition were presented by Patrick Sanders to the young artists, who came with their parents and teachers.
The event drew a close with the “cutting of the birthday cake” by founding Director, Dorota Iwaniec and current Director, Geraldine Macdonald. Asked her wish for the future, Professor Iwaniec replied “18 more years of success and growth!”
