Can you tell us a bit about the research you did through Mitacs Globalink that led to you winning the Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation – Undergraduate?

Marina and Professor Hawboldt are researching an alternative energy source to petroleum that recycles typically discarded natural resources, including forestry residue from sawmills and pulp and paper plants, as well as fish oil from fish processing plants.

Marina is investigating extraction methods to create high-quality fuel from these resources, and this fuel can then be used for cars or as a means to treat waste water.

It is this notion that drew Boyang to study Municipal and Environmental Engineering at China’s Harbin Institute of Technology.

After hearing about Mitacs from previous Globalink Research Interns and finding a project that paired perfectly with her academic background, Boyang could not resist the chance to come to Canada.

Under the guidance of Jesse Zhu, a professor at Western University’s Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Boyang is contributing to research on wastewater treatment technologies.

Mariana is working on a research project with Dr. Leila Farah from Ryerson University’s Department of Architectural Science. Her research project –The Inclusive City: Cultivating Toronto’s Social Fabric, One Garden at a Time – will see Mariana first researching neighbourhoods in Toronto to identify specific communities with crime-related issues, and then survey spaces where urban gardens could be incorporated. The next step will be to develop the design proposal, as well as a well-thought-out plan for implementation of the urban participatory gardens.

Because of this, scientists are always looking for new technologies to help them monitor ocean water quality and changes in pollution levels.  One way to determine water quality is by analyzing the distribution of light through the water, also known as ocean radiance.  It is this light that provides the basic energy for photosynthesis which supports aquatic life.

However, an accurate measurement of ocean radiance is difficult to achieve.

The networking workshop has helped boost his confidence in sharing his research outcomes.  “I am a social person naturally, but I lacked the formal training in how to act in a proper networking event.  Learning the little things, like carrying business cards, building a LinkedIn profile and simply how to approach a stranger and make small talk were all very beneficial, and the instructors were excellent.   Since I took the workshop, I have found that when I go to large events, I am better prepared to make meaningful connections with people in a natural way.”