Projets novateurs réalisés

Bilan de carbone dans les marais du barachois de Malbaie, Gaspésie

Les écosystèmes côtiers rendent des services écosystémiques importants dont la séquestration du carbone pour la lutte contre les changements climatiques. Dans le contexte de l’élévation du niveau marin, ces écosystèmes sont vulnérabilisés à la suite d’importantes pertes de superficies avec le recul des côtes. Le littoral de la côte du Golfe du Saint-Laurent vers la baie des Chaleurs est caractérisé par un ensemble de barachois à l’embouchure de plusieurs rivières qui protègent – encore à ce jour – les marais littoraux contre l’érosion côtière. Ces marais ont donc une grande valeur écologique qu’il importe de protéger. Le barachois de Malbaie qui est en partie la propriété de Conservation de la Nature – Québec fera l’objet d’un bilan net de carbone au cours de deux saisons de croissance (2024-2025) afin d’évaluer la capacité de cet écosystème à capter le carbone de l’atmosphère et à l’entreposer parmi les sédiments.

Improving the monitoring of submerged aquatic vegetation in optically complex fluvial ecosystems using optical satellite remote sensing

??Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) are important in aquatic ecosystems as they represent hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Earth observation technologies (EOT) constitute a cost-effective monitoring tool for environmental variables at large scales but their use in freshwater environmental monitoring remains limited because of the optical complexity of inland waters. This research develops and builds upon an innovative open-source machine learning and geographic object-based image analysis approach to characterize and map SAV. Associated field work performed near the Port of Montreal’s expansion site at Contrecoeur allows for research into how construction disturbances impact nutrients at the landscape level within the project and supports future SAV-related EOT developments. This research benefits the partner organization, Hatfield Consultants, in its work to develop EOT to support environmental variable monitoring in fluvial systems.

Établissement d’une culture d’excellence : mise en place d’une intervention au sein des entraîneurs d’athlètes en développement du Québec

Science du Sport Canada reconnaît l’importante influence des entraîneurs dans la création d’une culture d’excellence, centrée sur la performance et le bien-être des athlètes. Toutefois, la plupart des interventions se concentrent sur les contextes de haute performance, laissant les athlètes en développement insuffisamment étudiés. Cette étude documentera une intervention visant à instaurer une culture valorisant la santé mentale parmi les entraîneurs d’athlètes en développement et évaluera ses effets selon les perceptions des entraîneurs, des athlètes et de l’équipe de soutien intégré (ÉSI). Des entraîneurs participeront à quatre ateliers sur des sujets tels que la sécurité psychologique. Les impacts seront évalués par des sondages et des groupes de discussion impliquant les entraîneurs, les athlètes et l’ÉSI. Ce projet contribuera à comprendre la relation entre culture, performance et santé mentale et mènera à l’élaboration d’un plan d’action pour les athlètes en développement, favorisant ainsi un environnement optimal pour les futurs athlètes nationaux au Canada.

A microfluidic platform for clinical sperm selection

We propose to develop a microfluidic device that enables the selection of viable sperm directly from semen via a simple dip approach. The device will feature a chamber incorporating a porous membrane. The sperm selection method involves only two steps – users load the device with a semen sample and place the device in buffer. Motile sperm are selected as they migrate out from the device via the pores to the buffer. This approach enables the selection of viable sperm and provides a user-friendly operation that fits seamlessly within the clinical workflow. The proposed project will modernize and advance the technologies used for sperm selection in assisted reproduction.

Behavior of precast fiber-reinforced concrete tunnel segments reinforced with FRP bars under loads

In this project, three different phases including a series of structural tests on a novel full-scale precast fiber-reinforced tunnel lining segments reinforced with FRP composite materials are proposed. The three different phases include (1) Structural testing of novel precast concrete tunnel lining segments in the structural laboratory, University of Sherbrooke; (3) field implementation, application, and monitoring novel precast concrete lining segments in tunnel project; and the last phase (3) is finite element analysis to be conducted in order to optimize the design parameters concrete dimension and FRP reinforcement ratio for different load scenarios. Different parameters will be considered in the experimental program, (1) type and ratio of reinforcement; (2) concrete type and strength; (3) fiber dosage; and (4) shear reinforcement and closed ties. Also, the finite element analysis will be conducted (using Ansys software) for comparison with the experimental results. Parametric studies will also be undertaken to optimize the design of FRP reinforced concrete segments in order to improve their service life compared to those using steel reinforcing bars. The recommendations of this research project will be used to carry out pilot projects that will be carried out in collaboration with industrial partners.

Assessing the Impact of Environmental Contaminants on Canadian Killer Whale Health: A Metabolomic and Hormonal Perspective

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are harmful chemicals that threaten marine life and ecosystems worldwide, including majestic creatures like killer whales (Orcinus orca). Despite efforts like the Stockholm Convention treaty to control these pollutants, they persist in the environment and continue to harm wildlife. Killer whales, as top predators, face particular risks due to their position in the food chain and their limited ability to rid their bodies of these toxins.

Our research project focuses on understanding how POPs affect different groups, or ecotypes, of killer whales based on their diet and where they live. By studying samples from captive and wild killer whales using advanced scientific techniques, such as analyzing metabolites and hormones (like estrogen or cortisol), we aim to understand how these pollutants impact the health of these whales.

This work is crucial for developing targeted strategies to protect killer whale populations from the dangers of chemical pollution. For this project, I will collaborate with world-renowned experts in whale research and use cutting-edge tools to deep-dive into this issue and contribute to global efforts in conserving marine life and our oceans.

My goal is to raise awareness about the threats posed by pollution and empower communities to take action in safeguarding not just killer whales but also the delicate balance of marine ecosystems on which we all depend.

Enhancing Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Research In British Columbia’s Fraser Health: An Integrated Knowledge Translation Approach

This initiative aims to directly apply cutting-edge health research to improve care in long-term and assisted living facilities, bridging the gap between academic insights and practical healthcare delivery. Through a focused two-year project, facilitated by a Mitacs Business Strategy internship, we will embed a specialist intern to translate research findings into actionable improvements within these settings. The collaboration between Fraser Health Authority and Simon Fraser University is designed to not only raise the standard of care for residents but also enhance the Authority’s innovation capacity. By integrating the latest health research into everyday care practices, the project seeks to deliver advancements in patient-centred care, service quality, and the ability to innovatively address the evolving challenges of long-term and assisted living care environments.

LLM-Assisted Querying and Manipulation of Analytical Resources in Supply-Chain Management

In supply-chain management, organizations rely on a wide variety of structured and semi-structured analytical resources such as task flows and key performance indicators (KPIs) to plan, monitor, and adapt to changes. These resources undergo frequent review and adaptation, often necessitating queries and manipulations in numerous ways. Utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs), this project aims to develop a chatbot that enhances user experience and operational efficiency while querying and manipulating analytical resources in supply-chain management. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with Kinaxis, a world-leading provider of supply-chain management solutions. An important observation underlying the project is that analytical resources in supply-chain management are domain-specific models. Consequently, conversational AI solutions must consider the model-oriented nature of these resources to be able to properly interpret them. Central to the project is the exploration of the interaction between model-based design in supply-chain management and chatbot functions, as a way to enable prompt-driven creation, querying, and manipulation of supply-chain management resources. The results of the project hold the potential for substantial improvements for supply-chain businesses by enhancing their interaction with analytical resources, thus facilitating informed decision-making. By integrating the outcomes into Kinaxis’ solutions, the collaboration aims to provide even more intelligent..

Measuring Environmental Performance and Incorporating Social Sustainability into the Operations of Jefo Nutrition Inc. (Jefo).

Livestock production is the number one agricultural source of greenhouse gases worldwide. Research shows that livestock feed greatly contributes to greenhouse gases from meat, milk, and eggs, making up more than 70% of the total emissions. The information available to Jefo from a previous project with the same team shows that their feed additives can reduce the carbon footprint of feed supplied to livestock. With this information, this project will expand Jefo’s primary focus of improving livestock nutrition to find the right balance between greenhouse gas mitigation, feed cost, feed additives, and diet formula. Ultimately, this will help Jefo remain profitable while being socially and environmentally responsible.

Effet de la sclérose en plaques sur l’adaptation sensorimotrice : étude comportementale et électrophysiologique

Au Canada, plus de 90 000 personnes sont atteintes de la sclérose en plaques. Cette
maladie neurodégénérative et auto-immune, médiée par l’inflammation, touche le système
nerveux central. Les lésions, principalement de la matière blanche, sont à l’origine de
perturbations de la transmission de l’influx nerveux entre le système nerveux central et le
reste du corps. Les patients rencontrent des troubles sensorimoteurs et des difficultés dans
la planification et l’exécution de leurs mouvements. Toutefois, des incertitudes persistent
quant à l’intégrité des processus neuroplastiques qui supportent la réadaptation des fonctions
motrices chez ces patients. Ainsi, l’objectif de cette étude est d’investiguer les capacités
d’adaptation sensorimotrices des patients suite à l’introduction de perturbations
visuomotrices, ainsi que les mécanismes neuroplastiques qui les sous-tendent. Les résultats
pourraient permettre d’évaluer le niveau d’atteinte et de progression de la maladie, et donc
d’améliorer la prise en charge afin d’optimiser les fonctions motrices du membre supérieur.

Improving polymer-encapsulated nanoparticle assembly and delivery towards applications in agriculture, with positive environmental impact

Nanoparticles are objects on the scale of billionths of a meter, and their small size gives them properties that are scientifically interesting and commercially important. Vive Crop Protection has commercialized a technology in which they use a nanoparticle-enabled approach to enhance the delivery of agricultural pesticides. This project is about controlling the process of clumping nanoparticles together to form larger structures, on the micron scale (millionths of a meter); this makes them easier to handle. Profs McMillen and Goh work in synthetic biology and nanoscience (respectively), and will investigate ways of extending existing methods in two main ways: (1) Creating new forms of polymer-encapsulated nanoparticle (PENs), to control how they interact with each other and with biological cells; and (2) Engineering yeast to act as attachment scaffolds for the PENs, creating a more environmentally-friendly analog to functionalized beads can be used to grow self-replicating micron-scale attachment centres for the PENs.

Effects of Logging Practices on Floods and Droughts in the Sunshine Coast

Recent findings expose the concerning sensitivity of hydrologic and geomorphic function to clearcut logging. Water quality, fish habitat, downstream infrastructure, and human lives are all suffering due to clearcut practices and climate change. This study will explore for the first time the differences between the effect of clearcut logging and more ecosystem friendly logging practices on flood risk. These logging scenarios will be compared in the Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Ground-breaking, watershed-scale spatial modelling will then be done, depicting environmentally friendly, clearcut, and no logging scenarios. This will showcase the flood risk differences in effects of logging on floods and droughts. The partner has a long history of influencing policy around forest and water management. Together, we share common goals combining our research expertise with the partners communication skills and campaign work.