The proposed research project proposes to study how to best provide a student learning portal for children of age 8 to 13 years old. Such system requires to carefully reviewing the literature both in terms of designing for children, and in terms of interpreting the results of usability studies with children. Designing an effective student […]

Movement of sediment through landslide activities dominates sediment transport in headwater channels, and exerts a strong control on downstream channel morphology and aquatic habitat. Landslide and debris flow activity in headwater channels is controlled in part by the intensity of precipitation events. At Russell Creek Experimental Watershed on northern Vancouver Island, high resolution, remotely sensed […]

Steady increases in world population necessitate continued growth in staple food production, together with the production of dietary supplements such as vitamins. Chemical synthesis of supplement compounds is in many cases not commercially viable, and therefore alternative production methods must be sought. It has been shown that algae accumulate supplements, such as the high-value compound […]

This research project aims to investigate the potential of a Vancouver Island Model Forest. A model forest is a partnership-based process for working towards sustainable development of a forested landscape. We will arrange a stakeholder meeting to establish a common understanding of the concept and see if there is commitment from stakeholder groups to procees […]

Lime is an inorganic compound also known as Calcium Oxide. It is used as a coagulant (charged solid that helps remove smaller particles from water). It is also used as an acid neutralizer. The purpose of this research project is to quantify the use of lime for lime slurries and lime slaking applications. A lab […]

Biochar is charcoal that is used as a soil amendment to increase plant productivity and as a means of keeping carbon out of the atmosphere. Although a number of voluntary carbon standards allow for soil carbon projects to generate carbon offsets, no protocol has been developed for biochar. The overall objective of this research project […]

The focus of this research project is possibilities of increasing the capacity of overhead power transmission conductors using Carbon Nanotubes (CNT). Current constraints to existing transmission conductors include: (i) high resistivity of the reinforcing steel strands; (ii) energy loss in the form of heat generated from this inefficiency; and (iii) and thermal expansion and increases […]

Mavi Innovations is pursuing a prototype demonstration of its 20kW hydrokinetic turbine for generating electricity from river and tidal currents in Fall 2013. Demonstration of this new system includes the development of a control system to govern turbine operation, and of the power electronics to manage generated power and provide electricity to the grid. The […]

The Sorensen laboratory-based Childhood Cancer Research Program is specifically focused on elucidating the genetic and biological determinants of the metastatic process in childhood cancer. Metastatic disease remains the single most dominant driver of adverse outcome in most childhood cancers, particularly in childhood sarcomas. Cancer stem cells, malignant cells that share many characteristics with normal stem […]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, is characterized by chronic, relapsing, or progressive inflammation of the intestine. Canada has among the highest incidences and prevalence of IBD in the world with as many as 1 in 160 people with disease [1]. In ulcerative colitis, inflammation predominantly occurs in the epithelia cell […]

Accurate weather forecasts are extremely important when managing power production athydroelectric dams. BC Hydro uses weather forecasts to predict the amount of water flowing into reservoirs due to rainstorms and snowmelt. This project develops a system that improves these weather forecasts by correcting them based on how the forecasts performed in the past. The system […]

This research project will investigate local economic impacts resulting from municipal government procurement through locally-owned suppliers in comparison to procurement through national or multinational suppliers with local operations. The objective of the project is to determine a BC analysis to quanitify the economic impact of local purchasing decisions. Using the LM3 method, this research will […]