Many nonprofit organizations struggle to create compelling stories that inspire people to donate. This project aims to develop an AI-powered assistant that helps nonprofits improve their fundraising campaigns by using more empathetic and emotionally engaging language. Since people are more likely to donate when they feel a personal connection to a cause, this tool will […]

X-ray CT scanners and Magnetic Resonance Imaging have been described as the most important advances in medical technology in the last century. Further improvements in CT scanners will be possible with CZT photon counting detectors which are being implemented in next generation CT scanners. Improvements enabled by photon counting CZT detectors include faster imaging, meaning […]

The Aunte Indigenous Residency supports artists and writers whose practices embody contemporary and traditional forms of artistic expression located in Interior BC. The program will offer not only artists-in-residence programming, but also mentorship, skills and development training, entrepreneurship and mental health supports. The Aunte is committed to strengthening the Indigenous art sector by supporting artists […]

In collaboration with the BC Brain Injury Association (BCBIA), this research project aims to identify evidencebased strategies for recognizing and responding to overdose-induced brain injuries. By conducting a scoping review of existing literature, the project will identify best practices for screening, diagnosing, and treating hypoxic brain injuries resulting from non-fatal overdoses. The findings will help […]

The decline of Pacific salmon on the south and central coast of British Columbia has resulted in well-recognized economic, ecological, and cultural impacts. Numerous factors are considered to have contributed, including marine conditions, climate change, and changes to freshwater habitats. Forest harvesting is often considered to have altered freshwater habitats where salmon spawn and rear […]

Cancer treatments that stimulate the immune system, called immunotherapies, have shown promise in fighting cancer. However, the success of immunotherapy depends on many factors, including tumor’s metabolism and the surrounding environment—the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is a complex mix of different cell types, including those that support the tumor’s growth and others that fight […]

Coho Salmon use their ear bones, called otoliths, for hearing and balance. Sometimes, these ear bones can develop a deformity called vaterite, which results in severe hearing impairment. This deformity is significantly more common in salmon raised in hatcheries than those in the wild. Our project aims to determine what causes vateritic otoliths to form […]

The aim of this project is to develop a novel catalyst system for treatment of organic and nitrogen containing pollutants in wastewater generated by various industrial sectors. Development of such system is necessary as the discharge regulations are becoming increasingly restricted. The research focuses on electrode design and fabrication that treat toxic wastewater, with an […]

In recent years, the small-scale drones have gained a growing interest in industry and in academia since they are widely available and have many potential applications. The integration of intelligent camera into drone systems broadens the range of potential drone applications and enhances the performance of the drone. However, how to design and implement the […]

This project is geared towards the development of a cost-effective method to fabricate thin films of carbon materials, such as diamond. The idea is to use solution-based methods coupled to electrochemistry to produce the films. Avenues for the deposition of the film on surfaces of arbitrary shapes will also be explored. Carbon based thin films, […]

Grizzly bears are an iconic species and the focus of a growing eco-tourism industry in First Nations communities in coastal British Columbia, Canada. Monitoring the effects of eco-tourism and other human activities on bear population health is essential to establish practices that minimally influence bears. This project aims to investigate a novel, rapid approach for […]

Determining the distribution and abundance of species is a central requirement for making sustainable resource management decisions. Ecofish, in collaboration with the University of Victoria, would like to evaluate if environmental DNA (eDNA) methods can be used to reliably detect low density salmonid species in streams, with the objective of implementing eDNA as a defensible […]