Saltmarshes and coastal wetlands in Atlantic Canada are some of the habitats that have experienced the greatest decline in area over the past 400 years. Various organizations have monitored habitat change and bird use of these sites for decades, but no one has undertaken a comprehensive examination of changes in habitats or avian abundance, potential […]

Ocean industries hold many opportunities for employment for the future Nova Scotian work force. However, Nova Scotian junior high students have a poor understanding and a lack of interest in Nova Scotia’s available ocean careers. Ocean career education through online interactive games could increase Nova Scotian students’ interest in ocean careers. By having students try […]

Greenlight Analytical Inc. has developed a highly sophisticated device for spectrographic analysis of a variety of substances. There are various factors that make the application of this analysis complex. First, the results must be able to be used in high stakes situations (e.g. police inspection of suspected contraband, marijuana growers ensuring a product within narrow […]

Companies must not harm species at risk around their fixed infrastructure and need a way to detect and monitor at risk fish. However, a species at risk cannot be tagged and studied using conventional surgically implanted fish tracking technology. Innovasea is therefore developing a platform to monitor fish using a combination of sensors such as […]

Abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) has been recognized as a global threat to the marine environment. The use of modern materials in the fabrication of fishing gear mean that these do not biodegrade in the marine environment and can remain intact for decades. As a result, ALDFG can continue to catch and entangle […]

The conventional utility pole design methodologies used a decade or so ago produced poles that would be considered “safe” but in most cases they were not cost-effective solutions. This is because the resulting poles were usually over-designed, mainly due to several simplifying assumptions and incorporation of various rules-of-thumbs in the design procedures. Such design practices […]

The proposed research project will develop quantitative gas migration testing techniques and regulatory thresholds that address the complex nature of the multiple interacting variables that can confuse gas migration investigations. The study will focus on the development of in-situ field measurement technologies and instrumentation to characterize the variables that impact soil gas and isotope signatures […]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating musculoskeletal disease affecting approximately 1/3 of Canadians over the age of 25. Knee braces are often prescribed for OA patients to restore joint function and reduce pain in an attempt to avoid or delay knee replacement surgery. Most braces are designed to offload one side of the knee, however, more […]

The project involves analysis of issues leading to excess inventory in certain categories, designing and implementing a system that will optimize inventory.

In 2012, the American Eel were recommended by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to be upgraded to Threatened from Special Concern. American Eel are important to Aboriginal people, and recreational and commercial fishers. Research from a four-year-study (2009-2012) occurring in a near pristine watershed, looked at habitat selection and population […]

B. W BioEnergy Inc. produces wood chips and high-quality charcoal in a green process from renewable, low value, young brushes and woods through a process called torrefaction. During this process an organic component condensate is obtained as by-product, which is currently burned. The MITACS intern will analyze (qualitative and quantitative) the organic compounds in such […]

This project will support improvements to deer management in Nova Scotia. Improved management and conservation of Nova Scotia’s most important big game species supports wildlife habitat conservation by NS DNR, but is also of importance to the forestry industry, and stakeholders such as the NS Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and the Fur Institute of […]