Meet the IIU's Behavioural Science Fellow: Cathy Slavik

Cathy is a Behavioural Science Fellow at the Impact and Innovation Unit and Health Canada, researching ways to help Canadians quit tobacco through improved services and resources.

Prior to her work with Impact Canada, she was a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oregon, where she developed and tested health education tools aimed at increasing public awareness of environmental and health risks, such as wildfire smoke and radon, and motivating protective behaviours. She also spent several years as a researcher at the Occupational Cancer Research Centre based at Ontario Health, where she investigated spatial patterns in industrial pollutants and trends in occupational exposures and related disease.

Cathy has a PhD in Health & Geography from McMaster University, and a Master’s of Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Health from the University of Toronto.

What unique perspectives do you bring to this work, as someone entering the public service for the first time?

I bring a unique blend of interdisciplinary research knowledge and skills, particularly in population health, with a focus on environmental health and spatial health. My background also includes expertise in science communication and behavioural science, which allows me to effectively translate complex research into actionable insights for diverse audiences. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to work as a researcher for the provincial government in Ontario for several years, giving me a strong understanding of both academic research and practical government experience.

What attracted you to apply to the Fellowship program?

I was drawn to the Fellowship program because it aligns perfectly with my passion for applied research that delivers practical solutions to real-world problems. As a researcher in public health, I have always been deeply committed to work that promotes health and well-being at the population level, aiming to achieve meaningful benefits for all Canadians. I was also excited about the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded professionals to develop interventions that have a tangible impact on communities and populations, particularly in areas where health disparities exist.

In what way do you believe the application of behavioural science can effectively support Canada’s public health response?

It is estimated that one quarter of deaths in Canada are potentially avoidable. That’s massive! These deaths occur as a result of risks we can prevent, such as substance use, heart disease, and cancer. I believe behavioural science can play a crucial role in supporting Canada’s public health response by identifying and addressing numerous disease risk factors. By understanding the psychological, social, and environmental influences on individual and collective decision-making, we can design interventions that encourage healthier choices and empower people to reduce their risk of preventable diseases. For instance, behavioural science can inform strategies to reduce smoking, increase radon testing, or encourage healthy eating, all of which can directly decrease the disease burden associated with chronic conditions.

Can you share an outcome from your past research(es) that has made you proud?

During my Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Oregon, I led a study testing different air quality index infographics to examine whether some designs are better at motivating parents to take protective measures for their families during wildfire smoke events. In our experiment, 2,100 parents living on the west coast of the US and Canada were randomly assigned to view an infographic and subsequently reported their intentions to take smoke-safe actions (e.g., using an air purifier). The study results suggested that the smaller numbers used in the Canadian AQHI (1 to 10+) may be better at communicating risk and motivating protective behaviours than the US AQI’s larger numbers (0 to 500+). This has prompted some early discussions among researchers and professionals in the wildfire smoke field in the US to consider potential revisions to the AQI to improve public understanding and response to wildfire smoke.