R3 Talks line-up announced, with comedian James Mullinger as host

March 26th, 2018

FREDERICTON (N.B.) – The New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) is proud to announce the R3 Talks Innovations in Aging presenters and comedian James Mullinger as host. The R3 Talks will be held on April 10th, 2018 at the Fredericton Playhouse and will feature engaging talks from some of New Brunswick’s top researchers in aging, along with Mullinger, an award winning British comedy sensation who now calls New Brunswick home and is known for his Maritime pride.

“Combining comedy with a TED talk style research event is a great way to draw a crowd that might not otherwise be into research,” says the NBIF Director of Research Lindsay Bowman. “This event is for seniors, researchers, health professionals, and entrepreneurs. But we also wanted to bring in the public for a night of entertainment and laughs, and maybe have them leave feeling informed and hopeful about the advancements right here at home.”

Mullinger has appeared on CBC’s The Debators, won numerous comedy awards, and sold out shows across Canada, including Harbour Station in Saint John. This record breaking show was featured in the CBC documentary film ‘City On Fire‘ which has received exceptional reviews and ratings.

The R3 Talks are sponsored by the Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB) and kick-off the R3 Innovations in Aging multievent initiative with a short series of engaging talks delivered by three of New Brunswick’s top researchers in healthy aging:

Erik Scheme – Patient-Centered Technology
An ounce of prevention, a pound of cure, and the sustainability of healthcare: Can technology, machine learning, and a touch of humanity save us?

Suzanne Dupuis-Blanchard – Aging in Place
With the majority of seniors wanting to age at home, we require an efficient model of service delivery to ensure they are getting the services they need. Dr. Dupuis-Blanchard’s research explores the notion of nursing home personnel providing services to older adults living at home.

Kristi Allain – Curling and the Potential to Promote Interdependent Aging 
Dr. Allain will explore the beloved Canadian sport of curling and the meanings older people bring to their sports participation. This includes diving into how the various social pressures, such as media representations of athletes, affect how older adults see themselves.

The R3 Innovations in Aging event has been developed in collaboration between the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), the New Brunswick Social Policy Network (NBSPRN), and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF). The R3 mission is to spotlight innovative local research, unite researchers with the public and business community, and demonstrate the tremendous impact research can have on healthy aging in New Brunswick.

The R3 Talks are followed by the R3 Conference on April 11th and 12th, and ending with the R3 Gala on the evening of April 12th. During the Gala, five Research Innovation Awards finalists will be honored and three will be awarded $50k in NBIF research funding. In addition, one researcher will be awarded the $15K CBC Viewer’s Choice award that is now open for voting.

Tickets are currently available at www.R3event.ca with discounted senior and student pricing available. Specially-priced All Access tickets are also available for all three events.

About the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)
The NBIF is an independent non-profit corporation that specializes in venture capital and research investments. Dedicated to building innovation in our province, the NBIF delivers the resources and expertise required to achieve new opportunities, growth, and advancements that positively impact New Brunswick.

With over $85 million invested, plus $425 million more leveraged from other sources, the NBIF has helped to create over 106 companies and fund 470 applied research projects since its inception in 2003.  All of the NBIF’s investment returns go back into the Foundation to be re-invested in other startups and research initiatives.

Media contact:
Vanessa Matthews
Marketing Manager
Vanessa.Matthews@nbif.ca
506-452-8598