Acadia University is one of Canada’s most highly regarded primarily undergraduate institutions. We create and nurture a strong culture of academic inquiry and innovation by building on the outstanding skills of our researchers, by maintaining a focus on our core research disciplines, by celebrating the importance of student research, and by facilitating a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to research initiatives. Our Strategic Research Plan uniquely identifies a strategic focus which reflects not only the international reach of many of our researchers and the impact of their work, but our local geography and peoples as well. This focus identifies our commitment to contribute to the betterment of the health and life circumstances of those who live in these regions, to the revitalization and development of their communities, and to the protection and sustainability of their environments and resources.
Acadia is keen to make our research resources available to industry for collaborative and contract research activities. We have many laboratories, research teams, formal research centres and institutes that work across disciplines, including the Acadia Institute for Data Analytics (AIDA), the Acadia Laboratory for AgriFood & Beverage (ALAB), the Centre for the Sensory Research of Food, the motion Lab for Applied Biomechanics (mLAB), the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research (ACER), the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, the Coastal Ecology Lab, the Chemical Analysis & Bioimaging Lab, and the Striped Bass Research Team. Our world-class research facilities include the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens (home of the Centre for Analytical Research on the Environment (CARE)) and the David Huestis Innovation Pavilion (hosting the Acadia Lab for Agri-food & Beverage (ALAB), the Food Formulation Lab, and the Acadia Agri-Tech Lab). We are a Nova Scotia leader in providing entrepreneurial resources and experiences for students and community alike. Our Rural Innovation Centre (RIC) has incubation space for 10 rural start-up companies and is home to Launchbox (Acadia’s student entrepreneur sandbox). Acadia also has a makerspace (Steamspace) outfitted with a variety of technologies (a digital humanities studio (3d scanner, sound and film recording/editing), equipment to materialize ideas (a variety of 3d printers, laser cutter, etc.), and other creative tools and materials) to support a wide range of innovative and creative ‘making’ activities.