By Chad Ingram

The U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research will holdits annual Celebration of Research at Fleming College in Haliburton onSaturday March 19.

The organization uses the resources of Trent Universityprofessors and students and those from other schools to carry outrural-focused research projects in the community.

“We actually get calls from all over the world” Jim Blakea co-chairman of the U-Links management board told Algonquin Highlandscouncilors when he and counterpart Larry Clarke paid them a visit Feb. 4.

Blake pointed to the uniqueness of the U-Links frameworksaying it was significant that the organization was located in HaliburtonCounty.

Since 1999 U-Links has developed an implemented some 250research project in co-operation with municipalities businesses andorganizations in the county.

Some examples include the shoreline classificationinitiative in concert with the Coalition of Haliburton County Property OwnerAssociations a trails network expansion study at Abbey Gardens work onfarmers’ market management approaches for the Haliburton County Farmers’ MarketAssociation and arena energy savings options and flood victim service andpolicy reviews for the Township of Minden Hills.

This year’s Celebration of Research will run from 1 to 4p.m. starting with a presentation from guest speaker and botanist BelindaGallagher who has served as head of horticulture at Hamilton’s Royal BotanicalGardens.

Following Gallagher’s talk there will be research posterpresentations with students on hand to explain their work.

There will also be delicious snacks.

U-Links receives the majority of its funding (70 per cent)from Trent University with the balance raised through community contributions.