Projets novateurs réalisés

Indigenous Clean Fuels Knowledge Transfer Project

The objective of the Indigenous Clean Fuels Knowledge Transfer Project is to increase clean fuels knowledge in Indigenous communities and businesses, and improve the public’s understanding of the measurement, monitoring, verification and data collection strategies for greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and standards used by government, industry and regulatory bodies.
Under this project, the Proponents (FNPA and PTRC) will develop an innovative, targeted Indigenous outreach, engagement and public education strategy focused on clean fuels knowledge in Indigenous communities, featuring facilitation of knowledge transfer among and between Indigenous communities and industry, including the development of post-secondary course materials, best practices guides, toolkits, and mentorship/internship opportunities that can serve as models for academic institutions and industrial partners.

The Proponent will also seek to improve both indigenous and the general public’s understanding of the measurement, monitoring, verification and data collection strategies used in supporting Canada’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and standards, as well as in the broader regulatory environment governing the energy and power generation sectors in Canada. Mentoring from both FNPA and the PTRC will help the two interns develop skills in identifying good options for cleaner fuels in First Nations, and also enhance their abilities to consult within their own communities.

JUMP Math Digital Resource Development

JUMP Math is an award-winning Canadian charity that believes everyone can be successful at mathematics and envisions a numerate and equitable society for all through mathematics education. The organization provides research-informed and curriculum-aligned resources and training that instill confidence and spark a life-long love of mathematics. As an organization, JUMP Math has 20 years of experience developing evidence-based student and teacher print and digital resources linked to Canadian and US curricula. In a variety of studies, including two randomized controlled trials, JUMP Math has produced significant improvements in students’ achievement and their attitudes toward math.

JUMP Math wants to build curriculum writing capacity in the field of mathematics education resources in order to meets its objectives of stronger student outcomes and greater human potential and wellbeing. Writing JUMP Math mathematics education materials is a specialized skill requiring a sound mathematics foundation, an understanding of the science of learning, and creativity to produce lively, meaningful, and effective content for any age or level of ability. As mathematics curricula change frequently to include relevant new topics (Financial Literacy and Coding components, for example) and to meet new cultural objectives (Indigenization of the mathematics program, for example), it is important to attract new people with diverse backgrounds to the field. This project will help JUMP Math to create a powerful new digital version of its program and a new process to efficiently create future digital and print editions of the program to meet evolving math curricula.

Intégration de l’outil de visualisation Cosma à l’éditeur de texte Stylo

L’objectif du projet Mitacs Globalink est d’intégrer l’outil de visualisation Cosma à l’éditeur de texte Stylo. La stagiaire sera la seule stagiaire affectée à cette tâche.
Cette intégration permettra un enrichissement des données des articles sur Stylo, pour les auteur·e·s comme pour les revues. Les auteur·e·s pourront valoriser les liens entre leurs propres textes, dans un prolongement de leurs propres activités de recherche en sciences humaines, et analyser et synthétiser leurs données de recherche de façon innovante et opérante. Les revues, quant à elles, pourront visualiser les références, les enjeux, les thématiques traversant l’ensemble de leur production, mais aussi des unités plus discrètes, comme les dossiers ou les articles eux-mêmes. Par exemple, l’identification rapide de thématiques permet concrètement une recherche plus efficace d’évaluateur·ices pour l’évaluation par les pairs, et la visualisation des références sur une année de production de la revue permet, de façon plus abstraite, de situer les articles dans l’actualité de leur propre champ d’études.

Induction Motor model parameter estimation from manufacturer data for use in electromagnetic transient programs

The project will investigate the use of non-linear optimization and heuristic methods such as Genetic algorithms to determine the parameters of commercial induction motors from available manufacturer data. The developed model will be simulated using electromagnetic transients simulation programs. A suitable objective function will be developed which penalizes deviation off the simulation results from manufacturers’ listed values. Parameters for the equivalent circuit will include the inductances and resistances and also the number of windings on the rotor. The optimization algorithm will then attempt to minimize the objective function so as to enforce minimal deviation between the simulated and stated performance. It is necessary because the available data is often incomplete and sometimes contradictory.
The intern will use this research as part of her M.Sc. thesis. The work is of high value to the industry partner RTDS Technologies, as many of their users are facing a problem with obtaining accurate simulation models from available data.

Co-operators : Classification de retranscription d’appels de services

Co-operators reçoit chaque jour près de 10000 appels de réclamation et de suivi de ces réclamations. Avec pour
finalité d’améliorer l’expérience client en allégeant la tâche des experts en sinistre, le but de ce projet est
d’identifier le motif d’un de chacun de ces appels d’un client en se basant sur la transcription de celui-ci. En
d’autres mots, on souhaite générer un très court texte explicatif présentant la raison d’appel du client pour déclarer
ou suivre un sinistre qui permettra de comprendre que la machine a bien compris la raison de l’appel. On propose
ensuite de classifier cet appel selon la charte établie par l’entreprise. Il s’agit de champs actuellement complétés
manuellement par l’expert en sinistre lors de chaque appel. L’identification de ces champs permettra ainsi de
valider l’information saisie par les agents de traitements afin d’assurer une qualité et une uniformité quant aux
données de réclamation tout en réduisant le temps de traitement dans les flux de travail.

Autour des seuils – Coexistences intermédiales en contexte d’exposition

Ce projet de recherche se construit autour de l’exposition en tant qu’espace de création d’une signification collective entre les existences techniques et esthétiques des œuvres la composant. Une telle conception s’ancre dans l’horizon épistémique de l’intermédialité, une approche développée par le CRIalt à Montréal qui s’intéresse aux relations multiformes entre les médias. Deux seront les études de cas analysés : le premier est celui de la “Collection of images on the history of astronomy and astrology” (1930) au Planétarium d’Hambourg, et l’exposition “femmes volcans forêts torrents” au Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (2024). Ces deux expositions se caractérisent par la coexistence d’œuvres hétérogènes au niveau des techniques employées et des significations déployées afin de construire une pluralité des représentations autour du cosmos et autour du territoire québécois. Avec une perspective intermédiale, il est possible d’identifier dans ces expositions la construction d’un réseau épais et enchevêtré générant des nouveaux sens techniques. Ce projet de recherche prend la forme d’un article au titre provisoire de “Autour des seuils – Coexistences intermédiales en contexte d’exposition” et s’insère dans la recherche doctorale réalisée entre l’Université de Lausanne et la Sorbonne Nouvelle sur la notion de seuil en art contemporain.

Levels, determinants, and distribution of early childhood development in rural Uttar Pradesh, India

Early childhood development (ECD) is the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight young children’s development as a key contributor to the transformation that the world seeks to achieve by 2030. Designed by UNICEF and released in 2022, the ECDI2030 is a new, state-of-the-art, validated measure designed to assess quality ECD. Little is currently known about ECD in India, which hinders progress in narrowing the ECD gap between advantaged and disadvantaged social groups and geographies. This research will analyse data from a representative rural Indian sample using the ECDI2030. Results will help to inform evidence-based, targeted interventions to enhance equitable early childhood development.
The project has three objectives:
1. To describe the level of early childhood development in a representative rural Indian sample using the ECDI2030;
2. To identify the determinants of variations in ECD outcomes; including socioeconomic, demographic, and geographical (spatial patterning) determinants;
3. To share results with key stakeholders, contributing to understanding of the ECD situation, targeted interventions, and policy formulation.
To date, there are no published population-representative studies using the ECDI2030 from India, and none from any location applying advanced multilevel and geospatial methods to the ECDI2030.

An Advanced Translucent Housing with Electronic Feedback System for Pump Technology

Toyo Pumps is planning to develop a new generation of pumps with a viewing window in order to evaluate the maintenance timing. However, there are several challenges posed by application of allocating the viewing window that the company product developers must overcome. The University of British Columbia (UBC) has the expertise, equipment, 2D and 3D braiding facilities on composite structures and electronics. By combining the strength of Toyo Pumps and UBC, it is believed that this research project will reduce the design cycle time and improve the level of innovation.

Unveiling the Structure of Science: An Information-Theoretic Approach to Co-citation Analysis

The project “Unveiling the Structure of Science: An Information-Theoretic Approach to Co-citation Analysis” aims to advance our understanding of the interconnected landscape of scientific research by applying principles of information theory to co-citation networks. By identifying significant intellectual linkages across disciplines, countries, and institutions, this research seeks to illuminate the underlying patterns and dynamics that shape the evolution of scientific knowledge.

How spatial organization can promote the formation of complex objects

This research project, to be undertaken during a 4-month internship at Arizona State University, aims to develop an artificial chemistry system to investigate the influence of pore system topology on molecular complexity, using Assembly Theory as a measure. The project’s significance lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of Assembly Theory, with implications for various industrial sectors, including pharmaceuticals, materials science, synthetic biology, and environmental science. By linking the research to the origin of life, the project could provide insights into new methods of carbon fixation/sequestration, crucial for addressing climate change. The project will also strengthen Canada’s innovation capacity by fostering expertise in the Origin of Life and Assembly Theory, areas currently underrepresented in Canadian research. Furthermore, it will create collaboration opportunities within Canada, linking research conducted in Canadian organizations with the origin of life research at ASU, and benefiting public and private sector partnerships in fields such as artificial intelligence and drug discovery.

Evaluating an Anti-Racism Training for Healthcare Workers

Racism permeates and is upheld by institutions such as healthcare, with deleterious impacts for patients and
healthcare workers. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)–a regional health authority—has more than 29,000 workers
providing services to over 1.25 million people. They will be piloting an anti-racism training they created for workers
as part of their larger Anti-Racism Action Plan. Prior research has highlighted the importance of evaluating anti-racism
trainings. This project seeks to evaluate whether participating in an anti-racism training increases
participants’ knowledge and awareness of institutional racism, integration of skills (e.g., confidence to intervene
when witnessing racism), and feelings of workplace psychological safety immediately after the training and 8 weeks
later. Additionally, do participant characteristics such as race and baseline concerns about racism impact the
effectiveness? Results of this study will inform future iterations of the anti-racism training that will be used in the full
rollout. An effective anti-racism training has the potential to improve VCH’s workplace climate, increase retention
and promotion of racialized minorities, and better health outcomes for patients.

Planification de la production hydroélectrique à court terme à l’aide de l’apprentissage par renforcement

Ce projet vise à développer différents modèles d’algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique afin de planifier la production hydroélectrique à court terme. La résolution de ce problème permet d’obtenir les débits, les volumes et les turbines en marche pour toutes les centrales d’un système de production hydroélectrique. Ayant accès à plusieurs années de données historiques, celles-ci seront exploitées afin de développer un modèle d’apprentissage par renforcement afin de l’intégrer aux modèles d’optimisation couramment utilisés afin de résoudre le problème de planification à court terme. Le Canada produit 63% de son énergie par l’hydroélectricité tandis que cette valeur est de 99% au Québec. Le développement de nouvelles méthodologies permet de gérer les systèmes de production plus efficacement afin de produire le plus d’énergie possible avec la quantité d’eau disponible.