Projets novateurs réalisés

Short-term effects of anthropogenic sediment additions on biogeochemical properties of the Fraser River Estuary

The Fraser River estuary tidal marsh is declining, and loss of this key habitat has wide ecosystem implications, from supporting juvenile salmon to migrating shorebirds. The Sturgeon Bank Sediment Enhancement Project is attempting to reverse this trend. This project will assess the short-term effects of anthropogenic sediment additions through assessment of biogeochemical and microalgal indicators.

Developing rheologocal models for bubble flow in complex fluids

This project aims to improve our understanding of bubble dynamics in complex, non-Newtonian fluids, which display elastic, viscous, and plastic behaviors. These materials can be found in processes like oil sand extraction and food processing. Current models, such as the Herschel-Bulkley and Bingham models, fail to account for long-term material changes caused by prior bubbles, which create preferential paths that subsequent bubbles follow. This research will develop a new elasto-viscoplastic (EVP) model that includes a time-dependent damage evolution term to capture these lasting effects. The model will be validated against experimental data and benchmarked using numerical simulations, providing more accurate predictions of bubble movement in real-world scenarios. These improvements will help industries better manage processes involving complex fluids, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions from tailing ponds and optimizing fluid flow in food and wastewater systems.

Water-Safe UV Curable Antimicrobials Nanoscale coatings for Plastics

Our research is focused on finding new ways to combat the spread of Hospital acquired infections (HAI’s) in hospitals and other institutional work places. Our research combines a new non-leaching chemical nanotechnology that forms a protective barrier to difficult surfaces and kills bacteria on contact. The nanocoatings are water based and fix readily to surfaces such as plastic by exposure to low UV radiation. These transparent nanocoatings are invisible to the naked eye but act as sentinels and avoid the formation of harmful bacterial colonies

Quantifying fusarium toxins in greenhouse-derived matrices

Canadian sweet peppers have become common in our grocery stores, providing us with year-round access to fresh produce. These are grown in greenhouses, but in the past two years, a mould, fusarium, has been found attacking greenhouse peppers across the world. The best weapon against this mould is clean water and early detection, but this early detection is done by looking for chemicals in the water and no Canadian lab has this capacity. This partnership between the SEF Centre for Horticultural Innovation, and the Trant Team at the University of Windsor combines genomic sequencing with chemistry to find better ways to detect moulds early, and to establish this tool into Canada so that we can protect our food, act fast, and reduce waste.

Analytical Techniques for Understanding and Enhancing Consumer Sustainability Behaviour

This research explores the factors influencing Generation Z and Millennial consumers’ engagement with sustainable fashion, particularly within collaborative consumption models. By applying machine learning techniques, the study segments consumers based on their sustainability behaviors and identifies key drivers and barriers, such as cost, quality, and environmental awareness. Clustering methods are also employed to uncover patterns in consumer preferences and brand attributes, enhancing market segmentation. Additionally, robust optimization techniques are used to improve the reliability of predictive models. The ultimate goal is to provide brands with insights to better align their marketing efforts with environmentally conscious values and foster a broader shift toward sustainability.

La motivation à réviser avec Évadigraphe

Ce projet de recherche vise à évaluer la motivation à réviser d’élèves du premier secondaire dans un contexte de dictées numériques et manuscrites. Les dictées numériques seront réalisées par l’entremise d’ÉvadiGraphe, qui est un outil numérique permettant la réalisation de dictées diagnostiques offrant une rétroaction simultanée et détaillée sur les types d’erreurs orthographiques. Le projet proposé a pour but de comparer la motivation à réviser d’élèves du premier cycle du secondaire dans trois conditions : 1) dans des classes où des dictées seront rédigées à la main, sans support numérique et avec la rétroaction habituelle de la personne enseignante, 2) dans des classes où des dictées diagnostiques seront réalisées à deux reprises avec ÉvadiGraphe et 3) dans des classes où, en plus des deux dictées diagnostiques, des dictées d’entraînement avec ÉvadiGraphe auront lieu régulièrement. Ce projet permettra de recueillir des données et de vérifier l’apport d’ÉvadiGraphe sur la motivation à réviser d’élèves du premier cycle du secondaire.

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling in British Columbia, Canada

The project, “Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling in British Columbia,” aims to evaluate the potential benefits of recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) in the region. As British Columbia increases its adoption of zero-emission vehicles, there is a growing need to address the environmental impacts of sourcing materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are essential for battery production. With the guidance of the host supervisor from the University of Tokyo, the intern will estimate the volume of recyclable lithium, cobalt, and nickel in retired batteries and assess the multiple environmental benefits of recycling compared to using raw materials for battery manufacturing. The findings will support enhanced decision-making for sustainable resource use and transport decarbonization in the context of British Columbia, benefiting both industry and government efforts in Canada and stakeholders from Japan. By strengthening academia-industry cooperation in battery recycling research and supporting international academic collaboration for the advancement of science, this project directly supports MITACS and JSPS’s commitment to advancing sustainability.

Walk with Me: Emotional and Physiological Impact of Legged Robot Companions

Robotic technology is starting to leave enclosed industrial spaces and research labs and enter human society and communities. However, the impact of robots on humans is not well understood, and this lack of understanding limits the safety and effectiveness of their deployment. The primary objective of this research project is to investigate the emotional and physiological responses of humans walking with legged robot companions. We will employ a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative gait analysis, physiological measurements, and questionnaires, to assess human behaviour. Both the home and host institutions have unique access to legged robots, expanding their research programs in human-robot interaction to multiple types of robot morphology and locomotor methods. In addition, cross-institution training and application of interdisciplinary analysis techniques, tools, and best practices will enable a more holistic assessment of human responses. This collaborative research project is vital towards advancing our understanding of human behaviour towards interactive machines and how to design and deploy these robots aligned with human-centred principles.

Multiple Pathways to Well-being: An Asymmetric Analysis of the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey

Engage Nova Scotia (ENS) leads the Quality of Life (QoL) Initiative in Nova Scotia (NS). In 2019, we asked ~13,000 Nova Scotians about 230-questions on their perceptions, feelings, and behaviors related to wellbeing. The results provided the largest single non-government dataset in Canada. We’re now preparing to do a novel analysis of the 2019 survey results to uncover new insights, as well as a follow-up survey in 2025 to check in on Nova Scotians and see how their wellbeing has changed, and what might be driving those changes. To accomplish this, we are seeking academic help to conduct a new analysis, provide advice on constructing the next iteration of the survey, and help build better data visualization tools which will be used by ENS and policy makers to help improve wellbeing for all Nova Scotians. By building on the lessons learned from the 2019 survey, we hope to use the follow-up data to help build positive change within communities.

Quantum-Hybridized Cloud Integration for Next-Generation Security and Performance

The main goal of this research endeavor is the development of a hybrid cloud infrastructure that incorporates quantum computing techniques into its design in order to increase the security, scalability, and level of usability of existing cloud computing systems. This specifically means integrating the more sophisticated aspects of quantum computing, such as quantum cryptography and quantum optimization algorithms, in order to tackle one of the main problems in cloud management and data security. Thus, the result will definitely be a more cyber-terrorism proof cloud architecture that is capable of processing larger sets of data placing itself ideally positioned in the market, especially for such industries as health care, banking and logistic.

Uncovering genetic interactions of the translesion synthesis pathway: targeting DNA repair mechanisms as a therapeutic strategy in cancer

This project investigates how different genes involved in DNA repair work together to keep cancer cells alive. We’re focusing on a specific process called translesion synthesis (TLS), which helps cells bypass damage in their DNA. By understanding these genetic interactions, we hope to identify new ways to target and kill cancer cells, especially those that have become resistant to standard treatments. This research will benefit both Canadian and Japanese research institutions by providing new insights into cancer biology, fostering international collaboration, and potentially leading to the development of new cancer therapies.

The Politics of Consent in United Nations Peace Operations

My research explores a key challenge in United Nations (UN) peace operations: maintaining reliable consent from host countries. Consent from the host government is crucial for the UN to operate effectively, but this support often fluctuates. Some countries initially welcome UN missions but later restrict their activities or withdraw consent, which can disrupt peace efforts and force missions to scale back or even close.

To address this, my project examines why host-state consent changes over time, the factors that influence this consent, and how the UN can respond to maintain cooperation. Focusing on three UN missions—in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic—I aim to answer three main questions: (1) How can we define and measure consent in peace operations? (2) What factors impact the reliability of host-state consent? (3) How does the UN adapt when consent weakens?

Understanding these dynamics is vital for improving UN peacekeeping effectiveness. By examining the factors that drive consent, this research can inform strategies to build stronger partnerships with host countries, ultimately leading to more effective, stable peace operations that better serve civilian populations.