Innovative Projects Realized

From ‘salmon management’ to ‘salmon caretaking’: a collaborative, two-eyed seeing, rights-based approach to salmon conservation

Via a collaborative research project with the Dandzen Development Ltd. Partnership, we seek to improve conservation of ts’emen (sockeye) and jâs (Chinook) salmon along the Fraser and Chilko Rivers. The Gwets’en Nilt’i Pathway Agreement between the T?ilhqot’in Nations, the Government of Canada, and the Government of BC only considers the input from the T?ilhqot’in on salmon management when they are within T?ilhqot’in territory, although salmon spend most of their lives migrating between freshwater spawning grounds and the Pacific Ocean. There is an urgent need for a rights-based approach to salmon management that addresses threats to salmon throughout their life cycles, as well as to understand who benefits from the TNG’s stewardship of salmon rearing in their territories. Beginning in 2022, I will work with Dandzen and Dr. Andrea Reid at UBC to address these problems by (1) tracking who is catching T?ilhqot’in salmon and where; (2) identifying and calculating the cumulative effects of threats facing T?ilhqot’in salmon populations throughout their entire life cycles; and, (3) measuring salmon and ecosystem health in ways that recognizes relationships between people, culture, and salmon, and improves measurements of salmon biodiversity so that they are representative of T?ilhqot’in understandings.

Optimized lighting to increase THC yield and phytochemical uniformity in Cannabis sativa

Cannabinoid uniformity is paramount to cannabis product quality and marketability. The objective of this study is to compare and evaluate two overhead lighting strategies to maximize yield and THC content in cannabis plants. The experiment will be replicated three times. This study will benefit the partner organization by determining which lighting strategy is superior for increasing THC content in cannabis biomass in their production facility.

Influence du dopage ionique des résidus de bauxite dans le cadre du projet GéoDétox

Les résidus de bauxite sont des déchets générés en grande quantité lors de la production d’aluminium. Ils sont souvent déposés dans des bassins de sédimentation engendrant ainsi de sérieux impacts environnementaux et économiques. L’utilisation de ces déchets pas ou peu valorisés pour l’élaboration des produits à haute valeur ajoutée est encouragé par l’entreprise Rio Tinto qui vise à réduire son impact sur l’environnement. L’adsorption est une technique simple, efficace et rentable, mais dépend essentiellement de la qualité du matériau utilisé. Dans cette optique, le présent projet permet de vérifier l’efficacité des résidus de bauxite à éliminer des différents contaminants tel que les pesticides et les antibiotiques.

Caractérisation non-destructive d’un matériau composite bio-sourcé

Il existe peu de données publiées sur les propriétés des matériaux composites, notamment à cause de la complexité des essais à réaliser pour les caractériser, ce qui rend difficile la modélisation de leur comportement mécanique. Dans ce contexte, une méthode d’essai non destructive pourrait s’avérer particulièrement intéressante afin de caractériser les matériaux composites et d’en apprendre plus sur leur comportement complexe. Le projet proposé s’intéressera spécifiquement à utiliser l’essai de résonance par impact sur un matériau composite. Une modélisation numérique sera réalisée à partir des résultats des essais réalisés en laboratoire et dans l’objectif de simuler d’autres types de chargements. Enfin, des outils informatiques seront développés pour améliorer l’acquisition et le traitement des signaux expérimentaux ainsi que l’analyse de ceux-ci.

Using VHF telemetry to inform nest-site-selection of western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) in the Kootenay region of British Columbia

The purpose of this project is to study the behaviour of western painted turtles during the nesting season. These species are currently in decline in British Columbia due to urbanization and a loss of nesting habitat. In recent years, the construction of man-made nesting beaches has been widely used in an effort to help this species. These man-made nesting sites are meant to increase the amount of nesting habitat and therefore increase the likelihood of the nest to be successful Recent trends, however, have suggested that these man-made beaches may actually increase nest predation, and decrease the number of turtles that hatch the following year, since all of the nests are in one location. This study will assess the nesting behaviour of turtles in wetlands with and without man-made nesting beaches to determine if man-made nesting beaches are a good strategy for helping this animal.

Evaluation of phytochemicals bioavailability and antioxidant capacity in South African common indigenous foods

Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites that offer biological activity to prevent degeneration of different non-communicable diseases such as type-2 diabetes (Stroke), cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Indigenous food crops are rich source of phytochemicals such as phenolic acids and flavonoids which have demonstrated some biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-bacterial effect. This study aims to screen phytochemical profile in three indigenous food crops [Amaranthus species, Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and cowpea grain (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)]. Both untargeted and targeted metabolites profile analysis will be performed to identify the predominant bio-maker or analyte (s). Then the identified analytes will further be analysed for bioaccessibility in to the in vitro gastro-intestinal tract to observe digestion impact on phenolic compounds bioavailability. Three manuscripts in relation to polyphenol bioavailability are expected from this study.

Optimization of Biodegradable Soft Bait Fishing Lures from Natural Materials

There is an increase in reporting of angling activities linked to environmental pollution and exploitation. Soft plastic lures (SPLs) are a major pollution source arising from recreational angling. A small portion of SPLs currently commercially available are designed to be more environmentally friendly alternatives to PVC as they are biodegradable and are manufactured using natural and/or food-grade ingredients. Moreover, these natural lures can successfully degrade in water and are thus more likely to be passed through the digestive tracts of aquatic organisms. However, these lures also have disadvantages that limit their general acceptance by recreational anglers, and typically, to be commercially successful and generally accepted by recreational anglers, these alternatives must also display cohesive material strength, high flexibility, prey-like movement through the water column, and surface topology that mimics live bait. These natural lures must also be resilient enough to withstand repeated stress from water impacts during drag from a line or line castings, trollings and reeling. Lastly, the lures must also be non-perishable, retain plasticity, contain fish attractant and able to be stored for long-term in order to be accepted as commercially viable.

Good News Ventures Summer Application 2022

GNV is seeking an intern to assist with a project to improve and document the venture capital investment process. This includes outbound deal flow sourcing of early stage technology startups, evaluation of startups, due diligence and supporting investees. Furthermore, some supporting duties related to the investment process such as outreach communications within the venture capital ecosystem and with investors may be assigned.

Compliance and effectiveness monitoring of stream barrier remediations on salmonid bearing streams in British Columbia

Over 400,000 culvert stream crossings are present in British Columbia, with many acting as barriers to fish passage. The frequency of culverts on the landscape has made them the leading cause of linear stream habitat fragmentation for salmonids and a restoration priority. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the British Columbia Fish Passage Technical Working Group (FPTWG) and the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) have undertaken culvert remediation projects to rectify this issue and improve fish passage. Two styles of culvert remediation are employed: retrofits, placing weirs downstream and adding baffles into the structure, or full replacement with open bottom structures. However, as with many habitat restorations, post-construction compliance and effectiveness monitoring are rarely performed. We are undertaking a large-scale post-treatment assessment of previously remediated culverts in B.C. involving physical crossing and habitat assessments, and fish sampling, to assess construction compliance and biological effectiveness at remediated culverts. Our results will inform how well different remediation types have performed, their functional longevity, and the factors associated with remediation failure. These results will be used with geospatial analyses to determine the amount of upstream habitat, assessed as linear stream length, that has been made available to specific species, in BC through culvert remediations.

SimpTek UNB Catalyst- Promote a Digital Low Carbon Plan for NB Residential Consumers

The primary goal of this project is to identify, develop and promote a digital low carbon plan for NB residential consumers. This will encompass various economic opportunities for the province to take concrete actions to achieve its GHG emission targets by accelerating the reduction of GHG emissions of the existing housing stock as explored in more depth in question 2.1.e of this application.

We are able to accomplish this using data collected by our innovative algorithms which are trained based on the results of thousands of physical audits conducted per Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCAN’s) physical home energy audit standard HOT2000.

To provide a high-level view of the challenges we are facing: (1) there is a small percentage of homeowners who are engaged in the conversations around retrofitting/ decarbonizing their home, (2) the current, highly manual and complex process for homewoners to undertake energy retrofits, and (3) the inequitable access to programs for homewoners situated in rural/ remote communities. All of these challenges present barriers to expanding our business if we cannot effectively reach everyday homeowners – arguably our largest demographic.

ArtsLinkNB Catalyst Membership Development Project

ArtsLink Digital Transformation for Optimizing Membership Outreach and Social Media Mastery! ArtsLink NB is a member-based arts service organization, founded in 2009 to advance the arts in New Brunswick by linking and unifying artists and arts organizations and promoting their value. We represent New Brunswick artists of all disciplines from across the province.

We are seeking a dynamic and innovative team to conceptualize and actualize a large-scale membership development project.

Taxation Innovation – Commercial Cideries

The Cideries are a growing industry in Canada. Lack of access to basic market information is hindering the ability of small commercial cideries to understand competitors and to identify opportunities to work together to each other. Due to the relative newness of this industry in Canada, there are also inconsistencies in how provinces are approaching taxation. Through this MITACs project, Shuswap Cider Company LTD. hopes to more fully understand the size and structure of the BC Cider Industry (both land-based and commercial) as well as identify potential policy recommendations that would strengthen and support the industry to grow.