Using Food Bank Client Data to Better Understand the Impacts of COVID-19 in Saskatoon

The SFBLC has been collecting detailed information on their clients and their socio-demographic and economics characteristics for more than five years. However, apart from collating overall summary numbers on things like user counts, which they report annually to Food Banks Canada, they largely lack the internal capacity to do a detailed analysis of this data and explore ways that it can inform their operations and planning.

Radiation Mapping from Aerial Data

The proposed project is focused on the development of software for accurate mapping of radiation levels on the ground using aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for data collection. The problem of accurate radiation mapping is crucial for handling emergency radiological incidents (e.g., on nuclear plants), monitoring national borders, operating nuclear mine sites, etc.

Geochemical implications of soil covers for oil sands sulfide tailings

Recent studies have highlighted the need to investigate potential for acid generation and metal(loid)s release froth treatment tailings generated at oil sands mining operations. In addition to residual hydrocarbons, froth treatment tailings contain minerals that make them geochemically distinct from sulfide-bearing tailings generated at metal-mining operations. The proposed research will integrate field studies, laboratory experiments, and modelling to investigate the geochemical implications of potential reclamation approaches for froth treatment tailings.

Development of New Infrared Spectroelectrochemical Products

Jackfish SEC is a Saskatoon-based, for-profit company that makes specialty scientific equipment for academic and industry researchers. These tools are all based on vibrational spectroelectrochemistry – the use of light to study the molecules participating in reactions at electrode surfaces. The company wishes to extend its product line by capitalizing on the fundamental work being developed in Professor Ian Burgess’ research group at the University of Saskatchewan. Specifically, the company is looking to develop new tools for studying reactions related to electroctalysis.

Assessing cumulative effects of development and climate change to inform land use planning in Yukon

The Yukon’s Northern Boreal Mountains region is under increasing pressure from human disturbance and climate change. Exploration of previously untapped natural resources is expanding in northern Canada, and northern ecosystems are thought to be more sensitive to climate stressors[1]. However, the cumulative effects of these co-occurring disturbances on wildlife populations, community structure, and habitat quality are not well understood and often only studied individually and at local scales.

Development of easy-to-prepare pulse-based meals for consumption by office workers to combat the negative health consequences of a sedentary work environment - Year two

The project will involve the development of seven “pulse-based” lunches, which are designed to be easy to prepare (i.e. “out of the package”) for people in a typical busy office work environment. Pulses include non-oil legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas, which are a major component of the Canadian agricultural industry and an environmentally sustainable crop (i.e. they require low greenhouse gas input). The post-doctoral applicant (Maryam Kazemi) helped develop a pulse recipe book from a previous clinical trial where pulses reduced risk factors (i.e.

Detailing the Life-History, Biology, and Population Ecology of Phorodon cannabis

Cannabis sativa is a plant grown used as industrial hemp, for CBD oil, and both medicinal and recreational cannabis (marijuana). Since production has historically been prohibited in Canada and the USA, little is known about insect pests of cannabis, including a species of aphid, the cannabis aphid (Phorodon cannabis). In order to develop effective management techniques, one first needs to generate an understanding of the insect’s basic biology. The proposed research will document the life-history and ecology of cannabis aphids in commercial fields and greenhouses.

An automated system to identify and extract key structural components in academic written texts or genres

To streamline knowledge acquisition, indexing, dissemination, and synthesis—especially important to the future of libraries—a fundamental understanding of knowledge storage and communication is required. In a textual body of knowledge, relevant qualities include layout and structure; headings, chapters, sections, and paragraphs; figures, tables, lists, captions, and illustrations; authorship information and references; and, most importantly, the relationship between these semantic components.

Numerical modeling of a novel bucking coil for time-domain electromagnetic geophysics

Geophysical electromagnetic techniques are used to scan the Earth’s subsurface and can be used to help find buried materials of economic, environmental and societal importance. They are especially widely used in mineral exploration. DIAS Geophysical is developing a new geophysical electromagnetic system that will be flown under a helicopter that should be more effective than previous generations of systems. In order to make best use of the system, it is important to reduce the noise at the sensor as much as possible using specialized coils.

Impact of early life nutrition on nutrient utilization, physiology, and health status of piglets

An improved knowledge of the interaction between birth weight and early-life nutrition is necessary to improve growth performance and health status of piglets. Studies will be conducted that examine the physiological differences between low and normal birth weight piglets, the impact of early-life nutrition on nutrient use and growth performance, and the impact of nursery diet on health status and ability to resist disease challenge.

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