“Mitacs was crucial,” says Norman. “It’s been a terrific springboard for us that has allowed us to fund the development of the prototype, backed by the expertise of Dr. Ahmadi and his team."

Many of us use phone apps to manage daily habits such as meal planning, budgeting, and even tracking symptoms of chronic conditions. So what if a web-based app could help people struggling with addiction manage their condition and reduce their risk of overdose?

Canada is in the midst of a crisis. Drug overdose death tolls are rising, and the mounting health care costs of an opioid epidemic have proven that addiction is a multidimensional problem we cannot afford to ignore. Managing the crisis is also affected by public perception. The way we view drug users could significantly affect the way we, as a society, respond to this issue.

If you’ve used Google Maps, you’re relying on a computer algorithm to tell you where to go. But what if a recent collision is blocking your route and Google Maps doesn’t know? You might find yourself stuck, with no alternate route available.

This summer, Zikun Yang, a Mitacs intern from China, is helping researchers in Canada to develop a unique app that allows family and friends living geographically apart to share experiences in real time, despite the distance.

Canada is known for its environment: fresh air, mountains and a multitude of lakes and rivers. Our natural resources are an important part of our national identity. Protecting the quality of our water is crucial to supporting our urban infrastructure and the caring for the environment around us. That’s why Université Laval’s modelEAU research team are searching for ways to optimize urban wastewater treatment to reduce its impact on surrounding bodies of water.

Imagine you are adrift, without home or country. You arrive to a new land where you do not speak the language, understand the customs, or know where your next meal is coming from. Thousands of refugees in Canada find themselves in this situation every day.