Innovative Projects Realized

Advancing Bio-materials Production Services

Bio-materials can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate a rapid transition to a bio-based
leconomy. Thus, developing novel and innovative technologies and products related to bio-materials sectors is crucial. This has
!resulted in extensive research into the development of biomaterials. Most research efforts have focused on materials selection,
‘fabrication, and optimization of bio-materials’ performance through experimentation, trial-and-error, and microstructural analysis. This proposed research project has been designed to advance bio-materials solutions for two of the most available natural materials,
cellulose and lignin. The project will focus on the following two main sub-research areas: (A) Production and characterization of
regenerated cellulose based structures using 3D printing; (B) Investigating 3D printing of lignin-based multifunctional materials that
are capable of shape memory effect. Findings will enable lnnoTech Alberta to develop and test the performance of these promising,
but currently undervalued, bio-materials without incurring high costs and will be able to deploy suitable biomaterial solutions efficiently
into the stream of commerce and highly significant to the Canadian service enterprise, agricultural, 3D printing, oil and gas, forestry,
constructions and plastics industries.

Automated Scanning Probe Fabrication for Atomic Scale Devices – Year two

With our increasing dependence on technology, the total energy consumption from electronic devices for computation is projected to surpass all other contributions. By creating atomic-scale devices at the fundamental limits in size and energy cost, we can reduce their overall energy consumption while increasing computational power. While proof of concept devices are already routinely created, a fully automated fabrication procedure is necessary to successfully merge this technology with current electronic manufacturing processes. By employing machine learning techniques, the successful implementation of a fully autonomous fabrication system will enable the high volume fabrication and development of these next generation atomic devices.

These machine learning techniques will rely on state-of-the-art unsupervised and reinforcement learning techniques which will be used for developing a fully self-sufficient,automated fabrication process of these atomic scale devices, as well as to optimize and enhance their design and operation.

Automated Scanning Probe Fabrication for Atomic Scale Devices

With our increasing dependence on technology, the total energy consumption from electronic devices for computation is projected to surpass all other contributions. By creating atomic-scale devices at the fundamental limits in size and energy cost, we can reduce their overall energy consumption while increasing computational power. While proof of concept devices are already routinely created, a fully automated fabrication procedure is necessary to successfully merge this technology with current electronic manufacturing processes. By employing machine learning techniques, the successful implementation of a fully autonomous fabrication system will enable the high volume fabrication and development of these next generation atomic devices.

These machine learning techniques will rely on state-of-the-art unsupervised and reinforcement learning techniques which will be used for developing a fully self-sufficient,automated fabrication process of these atomic scale devices, as well as to optimize and enhance their design and operation.

Modelling and optimization of catchment efficiency in coaxial laser cladding

This project will develop a general method to identify optimized parameters for laser cladding. The use of powder feed permits laser processes to be used for complex material systems, each with their own unique characteristics and behaviour. To identify suitable operating conditions, industrial practitioners rely heavily on historical experience with limited scientific basis and an unknown range of applicability. This project will study, in a scientific and systematic way, the relationship between catchment efficiency and the measurable and predictable characteristics of the laser beam and powder cloud. This project is a collaborative effort between the mathematical modelling expertise at the University of Alberta, and the industrial laser processing expertise at Apollo-Clad Laser Cladding. The results will be of immediate use to the partner company and will provide all Canadian laser operators with the enhanced understanding necessary to produce high quality products with minimal waste.

Audience engagement with the Aga Khan Museum’s Podcast Series This Being Human

Podcasting is a rapidly growing medium for reaching new audiences. Our research explores the impacts and outcomes of a new podcast series that seeks to bridge divides, dispel stereotypes, and expand public understanding of the diversity of the Muslim experience today and the issues and ideas that define Muslim art, culture and society globally. The 26-episode series, This Being Human, is sponsored by the Aga Khan Museum. It features internationally notable people and personalities doing extraordinary things. By analyzing the growing audience of the podcast series, this research helps to deepen the understanding of how podcast listening can induce engagement, dialogue and inclusivity.

Evaluation of the ICLR/TDI Basement Flood Risk Reduction Project

Flood damage to residential homes, particularly from basement flooding, causes significant damage to homes, hardship for homeowners, and is a major component of insurance claims in Canada. A number of programs have attempted to reduce basement flood risks yet the combinations of low risk perceptions by households, limited perceived private returns to investments, and a lack of collective action result in limited uptake, especially before significant flooding events occur. The ICLR/TDI Basement Flood Risk Reduction Project will target neighborhoods in risk-prone areas in the City of Calgary and for those that meet a set of eligibility criteria, will offer to provide home specific risk-reducing investments. The objective of this internship is to support an evaluation of these neighborhoods that will identify the factors that affect the likelihood of uptake of such investments and assess risk perceptions, and knowledge of flood risk and insurance, leading to improved protection of homeowners and reduction of losses.

Deposition rate and solidification behavior of novel silicon bronze and aluminum consumables

Brazing and braze welding is like welding in that it joins metals using heat and filler metal but differs from welding in that the temperatures used are not hot enough to melt the base metal. The type of filler metal used during brazing and braze welding is significant because it directly impacts the strength and durability of the joint. The goal of the research is to study Lincoln Electric’s silicon bronze and aluminum filler metals to determine their solidification behaviors and deposition rate during braze welding. With a better understanding how their filler metal deposits and solidifies during braze welding, Lincoln Electric can decide on the best applications for their product and how to market it to industry.

The Whitehorse Food Bank’s Role in Improving Food Security in Yukon Communities

Food insecurity is a significant concern in Northern Canada, and the Whitehorse Food Bank was established in 2009 as a non-profit organization dedicated providing food to the hungry. Prior to COVID-19, all clients were required to come into the Food Bank to receive emergency food, whereas now the Food Bank is distributing food to communities. This was a significant, urgent shift in scope for the organization. The Whitehorse Food Bank has not yet evaluated how things are going as far as meeting community needs or to look for lessons learned from other organizations. This research project will review other rural and remote food banks in Canada and how they address the needs of communities in their service areas, and will include interviews with Yukon community representatives and clients to determine whether their needs are being met one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefit of the project to the Whitehorse Food Bank will be evidence-informed recommendations for how to best improve the community food program.

Effects of reducing the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio in milk replacer on intestinal health in neonatal calves

Dairy calves are generally fed whole milk or milk replacer during the first weeks of life. Compared with whole milk, milk replacer containing vegetable oils has a higher polyunsaturated fat content. More specifically, it is high in omega-6 and low in omega-3 fatty acids, making the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio ten times higher in milk replacer compared with whole milk. Omega-6 fatty acids are precursors for pro-inflammatory molecules and therefore, the hypothesis of this project is that milk replacers with high omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio may induce inflammation and compromise gut barrier function. The objective of this study is to evaluate effects of reducing omega-6 and increasing omega-3 fatty acids in milk replacer on intestinal health and inflammation in calves from birth up to 3 weeks of age. The results of this study will contribute to our knowledge regarding milk replacer formulations to improve dairy calf health on farm.

Design Assistant Tool for Switched Reluctance Motor Drives

Switched Reluctance Motors have gained considerable attention in various applications such as vehicle electrification due to its advantages such as simplicity, robustness, compactness, and low-cost. The proper, and efficient operation of the SRM triggers the requirement for an optimal motor drive design. Traditional converter design in power electronics has some limitations such as slow time to market, high development costs, and non-optimal final design, which is a major challenge for manufacturing in the industry. The main goal of this project is to facilitate the design of the SRM drive, and overcome the challenges regarding traditional inverter design by developing a platform that helps to the optimal design of a power converter for switch reluctance motors. The research will focus on multi-domain models and multi-objective optimization routines. Due to the high complexity of developing such a tool, the component models will include loss, thermal, cost, and power density aspects, and the optimization routine will aim to optimize the efficiency, power density, and cost of the motor drive.

Olivine slip system variation with strain rate and deformation conditions in large planetary bodies

Shock deformation is the common deformation type in the solar system, and olivine is one of the most abundant rock-forming minerals found in the planet’s basalts or mantle residuals. This project studied strained olivine under two distinctive deformation schemes, shock metamorphism and tectonism, by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). We will examine the subdomain misorientation induced by non-uniformly distributed strains from shock deformation. We will also focus on lattice preferred orientation to study unique olivine slip systems developed under different deformation schemes. The rock sample in this project covers a wide-range of meteorites from other large planetary bodies and terrestrial rocks from earth basalts and mantle xenoliths. It provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the mantle formation and the shock effects by using the earth samples as a comparison. The project will shed light on the current shock study and help people to probe the formation of the solar system.

MOM Cleaning

Lors de ce stage en stratégie marketing, j’occuperai le poste d’assistant marketing afin de travailler sur la mise en place de la nouvelle stratégie marketing digitale de la société. En effet, je vais reprendre les travaux du précédent stagiaire afin de poursuivre le développement de la présence en ligne de MOM Cleaning. Afin de répondre au mieux à ma mission lors de ce stage, je vais adopter différentes approches comme le Design thinking, le Lean startup et la méthode Agile. Plus précisément, voici une liste des activités prévues dans le cadre du projet :

• Travailler avec une agence pour réaliser la maquette de MVP (Minimum Viable Product) livrable à la fin du stage.
• Collaborer avec une nouvelle agence pour revoir la stratégie SEO (Search Engine Optimization) et du SEM (Search Engine Marketing) de la société.
• Mettre en place HubSpot, un logiciel de marketing automation et de CRM (Customer Relationship Management) en remplacement de SalesForce.
En menant une démarche marketing et scientifique rigoureuse de façon systématique, je souhaite participer à l’émancipation de l’entreprise.