Research in Public Policy: Knowledge Translation for Academic Researchers
13 November 2025, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm EST
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Rotman Institute of Philosophy is hosting a research and policy panel exploring how academic research can meaningfully inform and shape public policy in Canada. In an era where complex social, technological, and environmental challenges require interdisciplinary approaches, the connection between research and policy is vital. Researchers must navigate the differing timelines, priorities, and expectations of academic and policy worlds, balancing scholarly rigor with the need for timely, actionable insights.
This event will feature a panel discussion with three Western University researchers whose work spans diverse disciplines and levels of government: Dr. Sunil Gurmukh (Faculty of Law), Dr. Carolyn McLeod (Department of Philosophy), and Dr. Maxwell Smith (School of Health Studies).
The panel will address questions such as: What makes research findings most likely to be adopted by policymakers? How can researchers build enduring relationships with decision-makers at various levels of government? And how can academic institutions better incentivize and support policy-engaged scholarship?
Join us for this engaging discussion on academic research in public policy – All are welcome! This event will be hosted in person and virtually – select option in registration to be e-mailed a Zoom link in advance.
This panel is part of a series in knowledge translation for academic researchers. A discussion on making your research relevant to policymakers, government officials, and the public.
Questions? Reach out! Contact moderator Adam Koberinski at akoberin@uwo.ca
Dr. Sunil Gurmukh
Sunil Gurmukh is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization) at Western Law, where he teaches courses on racial profiling in policing and hate speech. He has led initiatives such as the Hate Indicators: A Canadian Hate Crime Case Law Research Tool and the Hidden Racial Profiling Project. With over 13 years of experience as a human rights lawyer, Sunil has appeared before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. His work spans litigation, policy development, partnerships, and research addressing systemic discrimination.
Recognized nationally for his contributions, Sunil has received numerous awards, including Western University’s Young Alumni Award and Precedent Magazine’s Precedent Setter Award, and was named one of Canada’s top 25 most influential lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. Currently on leave from his role as Counsel at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, he previously served as a Staff Lawyer at the African Canadian Legal Clinic. Sunil’s career reflects a deep commitment to advancing equity and human rights through advocacy, education, and collaboration.
Dr. Carolyn McCleod
Carolyn McLeod is a professor of philosophy with expertise in applied ethics, feminist philosophy, and moral philosophy. Her research explores how moral concepts such as trust and conscience shape both personal decision-making and public institutions. She is particularly engaged with policy issues surrounding the formation and dissolution of families with children, and the dynamics of trust or distrust in public systems. Carolyn has contributed directly to public debate and policymaking in Canada, addressing topics such as conscientious objection in healthcare, public funding for in vitro fertilization, and improvements to adoption systems. From 2016 to 2019, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors for Ontario’s Adoptive Parents Association (now Interwoven Connections).
Her work is deeply informed by feminist philosophy, which guides her research, teaching, and policy engagement. Carolyn is committed to applying a feminist lens to the ethical challenges she studies and to mentoring emerging scholars in feminist philosophy and bioethics. In recognition of her scholarly achievements and contributions to Canadian public life, she was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2021 and a Distinguished University Professor at Western in 2024.
Dr. Maxwell Smith
Dr. Maxwell Smith is a bioethicist and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University, where he holds the CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Ethics and Health Emergencies. He also serves as Associate Director of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy and maintains cross-appointments in the Department of Philosophy, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health. Additionally, Dr. Smith is a faculty member of the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion and the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration.
His research focuses on public health ethics, with particular attention to infectious disease ethics and the responsibilities of governments and institutions to uphold health equity and social justice. Through his work, Dr. Smith examines the ethical dimensions of protecting and promoting population health, especially during health emergencies, and contributes to shaping policies that advance fairness and inclusion in public health systems.