Ed Whitlock Award
Winner: Berkley Petersen
Berkley Petersen is a 4th year PhD candidate in the department of Psychology at Concordia University. Her doctoral research aims to investigate if a home-based online cognitive training intervention can improve older adults’ cognition, mobility, and multitasking abilities. This 6-week attention training program might help offset declining motor and cognitive systems and enable older adults to continue their everyday activities and leisure pursuits more safely and with less effort. Another part of her dissertation is dedicated to qualitative research to gain insights into the lived experiences of older adults who encounter a combination of sensory, motor, and cognitive challenges. Outside of research, Berkley is actively involved in the aging community as an avid curler at the Montreal West Curling Club. Engaging in sports with older adults has allowed her to develop a better understanding about the importance of leisure and active living as one grows older. As Berkley enters her final year of study, she is excited to share her dissertation results with the aging community to promote healthy and active aging.