Research Interests

The creation of new knowledge has its own value, but it is also driven by the researcher’s desire to make a difference in some way to the larger society. For that to happen, research results have to find their way to the people who can put them to use: policy makers, practitioners, the private sector, and the public. Knowledge mobilisation is the study and practice of research impact. My work in knowledge mobilisation (also called knowledge transfer, translation, exchange, and management) began as Director of Research Works! for child literacy (www.research-works.ca), a Community-University Research Alliance funded by SSHRC (http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/profiles_professors/KathleenBloom.html). As I expanded my work in knowledge transfer beyond the field of literacy, I co-founded the Canadian Centre for Knowledge Mobilisation (www.cckm.ca). With colleagues and students from across Canada, we create innovative and efficient tools, techniques, and products to bring information and research findings to stakeholders in health, education, and social services. At Knowledge Impact Strategies Consulting Ltd (www.kimpact.ca), we develop knowledge transfer services and products for organizations such as the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (www.cifar.ca), and the BC Health of Population Networks (www.msfhr.org). The growing need for professionals trained in knowledge transfer has led the Faculty of Arts to create graduate courses, research projects, and Canada's UW Science Shop (www.scienceshop.ca). This work is featured in my video interview for The Mark (www.themarknews.com/videos/468). The UW Science Shop is part of a global network (www.scienceshops.org) of students and faculty who donate their research skills to benefit local communities.

Selected Publications

• Bloom, K. (2009, Oct. 23). The Lavalife of Science. The Mark News. Retrieved from http://kimpact.ca/admin/sources/editor/assets/HillTimes.pdf; reprinted as: Bloom, K. (2009, Nov. 16). Key to robust innovation lies in effective matchmaking between scientists and stakeholders. The Hill Times, No.1014; p. 40.
• The University of Waterloo Science Shop, Research Works! for child literacy, & Knowledge Impact Strategies Consulting Ltd. (2009, December). English language instruction for post-secondary academic, employment, and social success: What the research says. Waterloo, ON. Authors.
• Bloom, K. (2008). The power of stakeholder leadership in knowledge transfer. http://kimpact.ca/admin/sources/editor/assets/StakeholderLeadership.pdf
• Penny-Light, T., Bloom, K., Buzza, D., Collins, B. J., Moos, B., & Carey, J. (2007). First steps in developing an online learning community to facilitate knowledge-sharing on early literacy issues. Language and Literacy, 9, 1-28.
• Bloom, K., Moos, B., Hachey, J. & Cressman, C. (2006). Research Guide to child care decision making. Systematic review and report to Canadian Council on Learning. http://www.cckm.ca/ChildCare/home.htm
• Johnston, J. C., Durieux-Smith, A. & Bloom, K. (2005). Teaching gestural signs to infants to advance child development: A review of the evidence. First Language, 25, 235-251.