The objective of this project is to develop methodologies for automatically generating responses in a natural language to converse with humans. Responses directly generated from the question-answer database are inflexible and cannot meet users' needs. On one hand, the responses should take into account the previous utterances that can keep a conversation more active. On the other hand, the responses should be appropriate for the emotions conveyed in a conversation that can make a conversion more user-friendly.

A parallelized electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation tool for power system transients will be developed in this research to accelerate the internal computation process. An EMT simulator uses a highly detailed representation for the power systems components. Conventional EMT simulators typically execute sequentially on a single processor; and computational effort increases significantly with network size. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have massively parallel architecture and can accelerate EMT simulation. The investigator’s recent Ph.D.

The aim of The Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) is to help combat the spread of HIV by supporting, conducting, and sharing the best research possible. This project will involve a novel analysis incorporating focus groups with front-line service providers and key informants to help determine the factors that most influence the perception of HIV risk.

In this study, an advanced frequency scanning method is used to extract the frequency dependent network equivalent (FDNE) impedance characteristic of a power electronic subsystem such as an HVDC transmission system or FACTS device including its controls. This is achieved by simulating it in the time domain on an EMT program, and exposing it to an energy dispersed chirp disturbance which has a broad harmonic spectrum. The impedance (or admittance) of this subsystem at the given operating point can then be determined using a Discrete Fourier Transform.

WUSC is a non-profit organization in international development that works to provide education, employment, empowerment opportunities, which includes providing enhanced leadership and life skills opportunities for youth in Canada and internationally. This project will evaluate how two key programs at WUSC (Students Without Borders and the Student Refugee Program) contribute to the professional development of students volunteering in international development and; to identify the impact of WUSC's programs on its campus-based youth volunteers.

The proposed study will involve development and use of a survey tool to solicit responses from grade 6-9 youth across the province, and in-depth analysis of these data. The intern will help pilot the survey tool and make any necessary revisions to the tool prior to implementation. Upon launch of the tool, the intern will manage any user queries during the survey period. The student will conduct the initial quantitative analysis, and the detailed qualitative analysis, and will compose the final report with StFX academic supervisors and the principal investigator.

Social transformation requires a deep understanding of the cultural, economic and historical forces and flows that connect peoples, places, and world views, and of the difficulties of intervening in complex, dynamic systems. This research project uses the methodology of social cartography to map diverse (and potentially conflicting) interests, ambitions and orientations of socially engaged communities and initiatives supported by the Musagetes Foundation.

The intern will work with the project supervisors to develop an online tool to capture 15 key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect social and environment performance of co-operatives in Canada. The intern will attend focus meeting with the supervisors in order to identify the co-operative participants’ requirements. The intern will complete a systems mock-up and detailed user requirements document that will be approved by CEARC. An online web-based system will be developed to gather submitted data, produce benchmarks and functionality to create on-demand reports.

Experiences in early childhood are fundamental determinants of lifelong well-being. In this project, we will give voice to Aboriginal families and caregivers on what they believe is important to the well being of their young children. A methodology adopted from social psychology, called ‘echo’ enables the values and beliefs of the population of interest to be articulated. The population of interest is individuals working with or raising young Aboriginal children (ages 0-6 years) in the Greater Victoria Capital Region.