Birds and insects who are active at dusk and dawn rely on environmental cues, such as light, to forage. Whip-poor-will are one such bird, and they rely on flying insects that are active during the same periods for food. Which insects, however, is not well understood but is important to know for conservation efforts focused […]

The Phytoremediation Pilot Project is a collaborative effort between Aya Kitchens and Landscape Architect Pete North to create a buffer system that will stabilize soil contamination left by historic industrial activity at 1551 Catepillar Rd., Mississauga. The site borders the Little Etobicoke Creek, a tributary to the Etobicoke Creek and designated a Significant Natural Area, […]

The largest cost of raising chickens is feed, therefore maintaining chickens in an environment that supports proper nutrition is essential for productivity and profitability. However, nutrient absorption and gut adaptation to luminal inflammatory stress is challenging production efficiency as a consequence of the restriction on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) and anti-coccidial drugs. […]

Cell-based treatments for chronic metabolic disorders such as diabetes are poised to disrupt conventional treatments based on insulin administration through needles. These treatments involve transplanting cells that can provide the needed hormone or enzyme directly into the patients’ circulation, in principle for years and without human intervention. However, these transplanted cells need to be protected […]

Fungal pathogens of agriculturally significant crops pose a serious threat against global food security. This is exacerbated by the limited classes of fungicides that are commercially available for the farmers and the rapid emergence of resistance against the existing fungicides. Furthermore, resistance against agricultural fungicides can poses serious threat to human health as it can […]

Biocides are defined as substances used to control unwanted microorganisms. These substances can be used in paints and coatings to control the growth of microorganisms on different surfaces. However, uncontrolled application of biocides can lead to release of biocides from the painted surface and thus health and safety issues, growth of microorganisms after a short […]

Chitin is an abundant resource in the form of shell waste from food industry in Canada and the world. BOCO Bio-Nanotechnologies has currently the infrastructure in place for scalable extraction of chitin nanowhiskers (CNWs) from crab shells. CNWs are the crystalline form of chitin molecules, possessing high strength, stiffness and aspect ratio, making them an […]

With limited funding available, managers must prioritize which invasive species and which areas need to be managed. This project will involve finding out which sites and species need to be prioritized for management within the Greater Toronto Area. Through formal discussions with different stakeholders in the area and by using existing data (e.g. species distribution […]

The proposed research will investigate the inter-annual variability of evaporation rates of four different urban land use locations within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) – rooftop (impervious), industrial (partially impervious), residential (partially pervious), and grass field (pervious). There will be regularly scheduled meetings with TRCA representatives to enhance my technical proficiency, data analysis capabilities and […]

People with an amputation at the hip or pelvis have the most difficulty returning to walking because their artificial limb (prosthesis) must replace the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Current prosthetic hip technologies barely meet the person’s needs, leaving these amputees with few options. This project will build from current powered prosthetic knee technology (Össur […]

Alarming cost forecasts about climate change are spurring interest in investment in technologies for climate change mitigation. Investigations indicate there are already innovative technologies that could generate significant climate change mitigation; however, innovators are not receiving the funding they need for rapid and large-scale implementation. This research project is directed towards developing methods for attaining […]

This project will assist Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) and Fort Mckay First Nation bring a Suncor mine site back to its original ecological state and environmental functions. To best achieve this, Fort Mckay First Nation and Suncor will work together to ensure the new restored site will support the traditional practices of Fort Mckay First […]