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Feb 14Liked by Joletta Belton

Though the first clinical trial was recorded in 1747 by Scottish physician James Lind, who found that oranges and lemons added to diet led to cure from scurvy in Royal Naval sailors. 20 May is international clinical research day as a result. (Combining my Scottish, medical, research, and naval backgrounds for that fact).

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Love that Blair! And that's the day before my birthday :)

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Feb 14·edited Feb 14Liked by Joletta Belton

Brilliant Jo. What a wonderful experience you had and your ideas for learning together are spot on! We can make so much more progress when we are collaborating and learning from each other, not being excluded because we are not considered worthy enough to be at the table. We are not being included as we should be and part of that is that we cannot afford the enormous cost of attending conferences. We need to keep up with current research too! I will add that this is not universal. Some people/orgs are very keen on including people with lived experience in many different areas of endeavour. Much love ❤️

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Thanks Mary! It's only taken me nearly a year to right about it...

I really started thinking about it again while working on my own PowerPoint presentations and thinking, wouldn't it be great to just have a chat with the folks in the room instead? To explore a particular issue from many angles and perspectives and ways of knowing, and see what comes of it? I always learn so much more when I'm discussing a topic with someone, rather than alone with my own thoughts and ponderings. Even when that topic is my own experiences!

Also, I just don't think the traditional conference format is all that great. People spend a lot of money to travel to and attend professional conferences, but most folks I know get more out of the time they spent with others there, discussing ideas, finding new collaborators, supporting and learning from one another, than they do during the presentations.

There's got to be a better way!

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Feb 14Liked by Joletta Belton

Exactly! It reminds me of something I was saying to someone a few days ago about Uni tutorials. I always felt that while sitting talking with others in my group, I learned as much, if not more than I did in a lecture!

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