The single most important factor in determining a star’s brightness, evolution and ultimate fate is its mass. For this reason, the determination of many intrinsic galaxy properties – including star formation rate – must assume an initial distribution of birth masses for stars. If we are to develop a general theory for star formation in […]

The proposed project will involve the development of a method to grow polymer brushes from a surface using oxygen tolerant controlled radical polymerization approaches. This method will allow for the growth of block copolymer brushes that can be used for the grafting of specialized monomer species capable of forming an efficient organic light emitting diode […]

This project will involve identifying, comparing and contrasting how different forestry practices affect grizzly bear habitat in BC. The research will involve examination of peer-reviewed scientific literature as well as NGO and government reports in order to categorize and explain how grizzlies respond to different management techniques. Key comparisons and concepts will then be applied […]

Organometal halide perovskites (ABX3, where A is an organic cation, B is a metal cation and X is the halide anion, such as MAPbI3, where MA is methyl ammonium) have experienced a great upsurge in research due to their excellent optical and electrical properties. For instance, the perovskite solar cells have already achieved a certified […]

As part of Envirosoil’s re-usable energy division in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, drilling fluid waste product will be re-purposed as a potentially viable fuel supplement and additive in other industrial processes. The proposed research would look into viable options for reusing this material in a way that is commercially beneficial to the current operations, while […]

The depletion of fossil fuels and the pollution associated with their processing has put modern society in an energy crisis. With increasing global demand for energy, it is imperative that we find clean energy alternatives to the hydrocarbon economy. Fuel cells provide a promising electrochemical approach to clean energy production, but still face challenges such […]

This project aims to cure plastics within wood to increase hardness and durability; because conventional curing methods (UV light or convection heating) are ineffective at penetrating wood new methods are being explored. Induction heating using magnetic nanoparticles is an experimental method that needs fine-tuning in order to potentially be scaled to industrial standards. The main […]

Development of energy storage has been identified as one of the most important features of our rapidly evolving energy grids. While the significance of flexibility it provides is well understood, commercialization remains non-trivial. Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) is founded on well-known scientific principles that have been combined and applied in a novel way. […]

In 2013, North America’s 1st ‘sustainable’ landscaping rating system will be launched: the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES: www.sustainablesites.org). A major component of this guideline is the preference for native plants because they are assumed to provide greater ‘ecosystem services’ than non-natives. However, to date no research has been conducted in North America that compares the […]

We study an interferometer where light is injected via a fixed number of input ports. Inside the interferometer, light coming from different ports interacts, generating non-trivial outputs. Simulation of the output is exponentially hard for a classical computer: validating the output cannot be done under realistic conditions. We seek to formulate a validation procedure, i.e. […]

The concept of artificial cells, or protocells, serves to provide researchers with deeper insights into primitive cellular functions and behaviours through the study of non-living cellular analogues. Protocells are synthetic, cell-like microcompartments designed to mimic key aspects of living cells. Recently, Dr. Pierangelo Gobbo made a remarkable step forward in this research field and utilized […]

La batterie lithium-ion pourrait occuper une place importante dans la transition énergétique à venir. Elle permettrait notamment d’équiper un nombre important de véhicule électrique. Cependant, son coût élevé et l’empreinte carbone importante liée à sa production diminue sa compétitivité. Afin d’améliorer ces deux aspects, la compagnie Nemaska Lithium propose une technologie novatrice pour produire de […]