The world’s honeybee populations are declining: ravaged by a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder that kills entire hives with no warning. Up to 30 percent of the world’s food supply relies on honeybee pollination, yet scientists don’t yet know what causes the problem.

“When companies need to recall food due to a listeria outbreak, it costs a lot of money,” says Éric Biron, a professor at Université Laval. “At the same time, the loss associated with animal deaths caused by clostridium in livestock farming is estimated to be around $2 billion per year.”

Quebec-based OPAL-RT Technologies knows how to simulate new technology. They’re a leader in real-time computer simulations to support global manufacturers of vehicles, airplanes, and electric power infrastructure.

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.

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.