The surge in data-intensive machine learning (ML) applications necessitates effective incentives for data owners (DOs) to contribute data and train ML models collaboratively. The decision to participate in collaboration depends on the balance between utility gains and privacy loss. This project focuses on federated learning (FL), where DOs participate in collaborative learning without sharing raw […]

The aim of the proposed research is to develop renewable textiles from agricultural residues. The project will use an alternative process, proposed by Earth Protex, for converting primarily wheat straw into a wood pulp like material while minimizing the losses during the process. The pulp will undergo further chemical treatment under mild conditions before being […]

Currently, green ammonia is produced using a process that combines green hydrogen and nitrogen. There’s a newer method called Direct Ammonia Synthesis (DAS) that can be better because it can produce green ammonia directly, without going through the extra steps of producing green hydrogen and then combining it with nitrogen. This could save a lot […]

Driving automation is becoming increasingly available with the advancement in sensors and computational power. The next generation, i.e., conditional automation, allows drivers to engage in other activities like sleeping. If the system cannot operate in certain conditions due to limitations, the driver is required to takeover vehicle control. However, sleepy drivers might not be fit […]

The “Engineering Design of Aquaponics System Towards Food Security and Food Sovereignty in Bella Bella, BC” Mitacs Internship project is an important component of the ongoing larger project: “Cultivating Resilience: Aquaponics for Food Security and Wellness.” This project is funded by the New Relationships Trust not-for-profit corporation through their food security and sovereignty funding program. […]

Wind energy technology plays a crucial role in the global strategy for a green transition, with a significant acceleration in deploying new wind power plants being essential to meet global CO2 reduction targets. In this context, research in numerical simulation can provide the renewable energy sector with reliable tools for new wind farm design, land […]

Drinking Water Treatment Plants commonly employ filtration as one step in a multibarrier approach to ensuring safe drinking water is provided to Canadians. Filter bed maintenance includes various cleaning strategies including backwashing of filters to remove accumulated particles and contaminants. This project, working with the City of Ottawa, is aimed at mapping backwash protocols to […]

The use of electric fields to enhance or better control boiling heat transfer, particularly in microgravity conditions, has been identified for several decades by various space agencies. Two-phase heat transfer is an efficient way of transporting high heat flow densities. They are used in many thermal management systems, such as heat pipes, which were first […]

This research is motivated by a critical need for novel devices and technologies to harvest and store “lost” thermal energy energy at a time when societies around the world are facing surging energy demand. Solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) are attractive solutions as they have a relatively high thermal capacity because of the latent heat of […]

Plastic waste is a global environmental priority for our generation. Many countries, including Canada, have introduced ambitious “zero-plastic waste” policies to move towards a circular plastic economy. The goal of this collaborative project is to develop novel degradable polymers sourced from bio-sourced materials. Polymers are made of repeating units linked by strong carbon-carbon covalent bonds. […]

The construction industry, accounting for a substantial 35% of waste and 40% of global carbon emissions, faces the imperative of transitioning to sustainable practices to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 amidst escalating population growth and housing demands. 3D Construction Printing (3DCP) emerges as a viable solution, capable of reducing the carbon footprint by utilizing low-carbon […]

In Canada, water security challenges include environmental degradation, water pollution, and climate change impacts. Utilizing constructed wetlands (CWs) for wastewater treatment addresses these issues by offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution. It helps mitigate pollution, conserve water resources, and adapt to changing environmental conditions, fostering long-term sustainability. However, given the uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of […]