Projets novateurs réalisés

Global Matrix 5.0 on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents: helping “power the movement to get kids moving”

School-aged children and adolescents around the world are not moving enough to promote their best health and well-being. To deepen the knowledge about physical activity differences worldwide, share ideas for improvement, and inspire positive change, the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance runs an international initiative called the Global Matrix. Currently, teams of physical activity experts from 71 countries/jurisdictions collaborate with the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance to develop the fifth edition of the initiative – the Global Matrix 5.0 (2024-2026). The teams gather information in their countries and evaluate it through the lens of several indicators: overall physical activity, organized sport, physical fitness, and others. This project will help bring together all country findings, which will allow to explore current differences in children’s and adolescents’ physical activity levels and sources that influence physical activity across the nations. The intern will assist with keeping physical activity assessments consistent across all participating countries/jurisdictions, conduct global analyses, and contribute to disseminating Global Matrix findings to the scientific community and beyond. This internship will support the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance in advancing its long-term goal of informing and inspiring inclusive and healthy physical activity for children and adolescents across the globe.

Where Waters Meet: Sherryl Sewepagaham + Canadian Chamber Choir

Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars have called for music educators to decolonize and Indigenize their work (e.g., Prest & Goble, 2018; Robinson, 2019, 2020; Young, 2023). This Business Strategy Internship aims to support the decolonization of vocal practices and promote the Indigenization of music education. It builds on PI Sirek’s prior SSHRC-funded research and longstanding collaborations amongst Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, and Canadian Chamber Choir’s (Dr. Julia Davids) rich history of commissioning and collaborating with Indigenous artists through the Where Waters Meet (WWM) project (Canadian Chamber Choir, 2016). WWM commenced in 2016 and has included extensive collaborations with Indigenous artists and three residencies in Indigenous learning spaces.

The CCC, a 21-voice national professional choir in which PI Sirek is a singer, will work alongside JUNO-nominated and Vanier scholarship awardee Indigenous composer, singer, and educator Sherryl Sewepagaham (BMT, BEd, MEd, PhD student) to create a new choral work in real-time with ~70 children and ~50 youth in Nova Scotia, August 10-16, 2025 in partnership with the Nova Scotia Choral Federation. This BSI project is Phase 3 of an ongoing collaboration between the Canadian Chamber Choir (CCC) and Indigenous artist Sherryl Sewepagaham (Cree-Dene).

La rencontre des savoirs | Mobiliser les perspectives autochtones dans la recherche quantitative sur les changements climatiques par une méthodologie innovante

De manière générale, cette recherche vise à mieux comprendre comment les écotones forêt-lac de la forêt boréale sont importants et utilisés par les Innus du Nitassinan. Dans le sillage du projet Dialogues interculturels initié dans le cadre de l’exposition Voix autochtones d’aujourd’hui du Musée McCord Stewart, ce projet Mitacs entend plus précisément permettre l’exploration des façons de se connecter avec des partenaires autochtones pour le tissage et la mobilisation des connaissances. Cela se fera en abordant en filigrane la question de la vulnérabilité et de l’adaptation aux changements climatiques, lesquels pourraient modifier profondément la relation des peuples autochtones à leurs territoires traditionnels.

Afin de réaliser cette recherche, nous prévoyons nous rendre sur le territoire des Premières Nations en des lieux significatifs afin de rencontrer des gens, d’établir des liens avec des porteurs de savoir et d’entamer les échanges préliminaires afin de favoriser une contexte dialogique entre experts d’usage autochtones et experts universitaires. Les connaissances acquises à l’issue de ces rencontres seront par la suite documentées et valorisées de manière collaborative lors de différentes activités interactives.

A circular economy approach on the transformation of post industrial textile waste into materials for additive manufacturing and building insulation

This project aims to develop a circular economy approach by repurposing synthetic textile offcuts into filaments for additive manufacturing, and into fiber-based materials for building insulation. Additionally, the feasibility and environmental implications of this transformation must be evaluated to determine its sustainability.
The partner organization, Vestechpro (Quebec), a research center specializing in clothing and apparel, in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, seeks to develop a sustainable strategy for sustainable managing and repurposing their production textile waste. The project focuses on transforming synthetic textile waste into 3D printing materials to mitigate its environmental impact, divert it from landfills, extend its life, and provide an alternative to virgin plastics, thereby improving their sustainable practices. Complementing this effort, a parallel development led by Vestechpro and SEREX (Quebec) explores the mechanical fiberization of textile waste for its potential use as thermal insulation. Through an optimized shredding-defibration process, the project aims to produce recycled fibrous materials with properties potentially comparable to cellulose wadding.
By investigating the viability of converting synthetic textile waste into plastic-based materials, this project aims to promote more sustainable industrial practices and open new pathways for applications of recycled materials in the context of circular economy.

Fiber Optic Mesh Networks for Low-power Digital Optical Switching

This research explores the design, optimization, and demonstration of dense fiber optic mesh networks to enable low-power digital optical switching. Digital Optical switching by-passes the energy intensive OEO (optical-electrical-optical) conversion that surrounds the current CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) switching fabric due to the need for buffering, ADC/DAC (analog to digital conversion/ digital to analog conversion) at high signal line rate, and electronic MUX/DEMUX (multiplexing/ demultiplexing). This work investigates the design and physical implementation of optical mesh networks that connect distributed, scalable Banyan sub-switches implemented by silicon photonics micro-ring resonators. The focus will be on the management, control, maintenance and scalability in an industrial, commercial context.

Réconciliation interactionnelle et structurelle et perspectives de genre : centrer la communauté, la réflexivité et la responsabilité bienveillante, et analyser les avantages de cette méthodologie pour la justice transitionnelle

Le mouvement «Me too» a souligné l’urgence de lutter contre la violence faite aux femmes. Dans le cadre de mon projet postdoctoral à l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), sous la direction du professeur Duhaime, j’analyserai comment les mécanismes de justice transitionnelle (JT) peuvent contribuer à prévenir et à contrer cette violence. Un axe majeur de mes recherches portera sur le concept de justice transformatrice. Mon travail avec Afrique au Féminin, et plus particulièrement à la Maison Augustine, portera sur le thème: «Réconciliation interactionnelle et structurelle et perspectives de genre: centrer la communauté, la réflexivité et la responsabilité bienveillante, et analyser les bénéfices de cette méthodologie pour la justice transitionnelle.» Bien que cette organisation ne représente qu’une infime partie d’un enjeu plus vaste et plus complexe, mon engagement d’un an auprès de la Maison Augustine, un refuge pour femmes immigrantes victimes de violence conjugale, me permettra de mener une analyse intersectionnelle des causes et des conséquences de la violence directe et structurelle subie par les femmes accueillies par l’organisation. En outre, cette étude guidera mes efforts pour développer des solutions concrètes et durables alignées sur les principes de justice transformatrice pour ces femmes.

Intelligence Artificielle et Arpentage (IA2)

L’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle (IA) dans le domaine de l’arpentage révolutionnera la profession d’arpenteur-géomètre au Québec. Ce projet de recherche, en collaboration avec l’Ordre des Arpenteurs-Géomètres du Québec (OAGQ), explore comment l’IA peut optimiser les opérations professionnelles tout en respectant les cadres éthiques et légaux en vigueur. L’automatisation de tâches complexes telles que l’analyse de données géospatiales représente une opportunité importante, mais soulève aussi des enjeux liés à la responsabilité professionnelle et à la conformité réglementaire. Le projet vise à identifier les tâches clés pouvant bénéficier de l’IA, recenser les technologies pertinentes, et encadrer leur usage de manière responsable. L’objectif est de promouvoir une IA «capacitante» qui soutient les professionnels plutôt que de les remplacer, tout en assurant une intégration conforme aux exigences éthiques et juridiques. Pour l’OAGQ, ce virage technologique représente une occasion de renforcer l’encadrement de la profession, de stimuler la formation continue, d’assurer une responsabilisation accrue et de maintenir la protection du public dans un contexte de transformation numérique.

PROGRAMME POSTDOCTORAT ELEVATION – Quand le cinéma fait voyager : explorer découvrabilité et potentiel du ciné-tourisme au Québec

Les films et les séries ont le pouvoir de faire rêver… mais aussi de faire voyager. En mettant en scène des paysages spectaculaires ou des lieux emblématiques, les productions audiovisuelles peuvent susciter l’envie de découvrir une région «?vue à l’écran?». On passe de la curiosité à l’intention de visite. C’est le cas dans les Laurentides, un territoire québécois déjà prisé par les équipes de tournage.

Ce projet de recherche postdoctorale explore comment les collaborations entre le milieu du tourisme et le cinéma peuvent un véritable levier de développement touristique pour la région. L’objectif? est de renforcer les liens entre les commissions du film (comme Film Laurentides) et les organismes de promotion touristique (comme Tourisme Laurentides) afin de créer des outils concrets?: circuits de visite, cartes interactives, guides de bonnes pratiques, indicateurs de retombées, etc.

À travers des entrevues, des observations et des analyses comparatives avec d’autres régions au Québec et à l’international, ce projet proposera des solutions concrètes pour mieux valoriser les tournages réalisés dans les Laurentides et en faire des vecteurs d’attractivité. Ce projet met le projecteur sur les liens entre culture et tourisme, pour imaginer des stratégies nouvelles au service des régions.

Life Cycle Assessment to Develop Lower Environmental Footprint Innovative Fire Extinguishers and Fertilizers

This project will focus on improving how we assess the environmental impact of new materials and technologies by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The goal is to help the partner organization make better decisions when developing or using innovative products, especially those aimed at reducing carbon emissions. By creating clear, science-based models and tools, the project will support the company’s efforts to meet sustainability goals, lower environmental risks, and stay ahead in a competitive market that values clean and green solutions.

Identifying novel gene regulatory networks that drive human hematopoietic stem cell expansion

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a critical treatment for over 30 serious diseases, including blood cancers and genetic disorders. It relies on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which regenerate the blood and immune systems. These cells can be collected from bone marrow, cord blood, or mobilized peripheral blood, and may come from the patient (autologous) or a donor (allogeneic). While autologous transplants have higher survival rates, they aren’t always possible. A major challenge is obtaining enough CD34+ stem cells for a successful transplant. Sometimes, one donor isn’t enough, and combining multiple donors raises the risk of complications like graft-versus-host disease. To address this, scientists are working on ways to expand stem cells outside the body before transplantation (ex vivo expansion). This proposal will decipher how a gene called ALKBH5 controls hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) expansion, and identify the underlying pathways the control HSC expansion and engraftment. This could improve safety and effectiveness, especially with smaller grafts.

Control of Varroa Mites in Saskatchewan Honeybee Populations

Varroa mites are one of the main causes in the decline of honey bee health across Canada. To keep mites under control, beekeepers rely on the use of miticides. Unfortunately this practice has led to miticide resistant mites which has resulted in the failure of mite control and high bee mortality (average 37.8% per year). A substantial change in mite control strategies must be developed in order to reduce bee mortality. The most sustainable approach is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy that is based on an effective and environmentally sensitive approach. This tactic relies on a combination of options including the use of genetic resistant bees. Varroa resistant bee stocks that provide a significant level of protection are becoming available. These resistant bees can play a key role in Varroa mite IPM while keeping bees healthy. The objective of the proposed project is to evaluate the differences and similarities between two-mite resistant bee stocks including Pol-Line descendant (Paradise) resistant stock developed by the USDA and “Saskatraz” bee stock to Saskatchewan local stock. Our assessments will determine suitability of these mite resistant stocks to be integrated into our local bees to enhance the IPM of varroa and maintain healthier bees.

Innovative Approaches in Addiction Recovery Research: Exploring Symptom Networks and Missing Data

Substance use disorders, like alcohol and cannabis disorder, affect millions of Canadians, harming their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Many people with substance use disorders also struggle with mental health issues like depression, making recovery more challenging. Traditionally, mental health disorders like substance use disorder are thought to directly cause their associated symptoms, but new approaches suggest the reverse; that symptoms cause the disorder. This study uses an innovative method called network analysis to explore how the symptoms of alcohol and cannabis use disorder are connected and how they overlap with depression. This study also examines why some people drop out of treatment programs and how losing data from these individuals can be problematic in addiction research. Through collaboration with Homewood Research Institute, this research aims to uncover symptom and treatment patterns that will enhance our understanding and treatment of addiction, benefiting both Homewood Health patients and addiction recovery programs on a broader scale.