We respectfully acknowledge SFU is on unceded Coast Salish Territory; the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Kwikwetlem First Nations.
Welcome to the Culture and Development Lab, located at Simon Fraser University and directed by Dr. Tanya MacGillivray. We are a team of researchers interested in questions related to early social development and the role of experience. Our research is centred on the topic of Social Learning which encompasses research on social communication, early learning and imitation, attachment, parenting, and the role of formal education.
Since 2012, the Culture and Development lab has had two research laboratories – one on the SFU Burnaby Campus, and another on Tanna Island, in the generous host village of Lounikawek. Our team at the SFU lab works with partner organizations such as community recreation centres in the greater Vancouver area to engage parents and children in our research. Our team at Lounikawek assists us with all aspects of our research – from inception to write up – to communicating our results back to participants. We have not perfected this process, but we are improving little by little.
Recently, we have started the process of adding a third research site in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, where Dr. MacGillivray spent her formative years and currently resides with her family for part of the year. This field site to aimed to expand our knowledge beyond children living in urban settings.