Innovative Projects Realized

Development of Innovative Tools for Conducting Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment

All new infrastructure and natural resource projects being developed in Canada are required to undergo an Environmental Assessment. A key aspect of this regulatory process is the need to demonstrate that the activity will not adversely affect human or ecosystem health. It is through the science of human health and ecological risk assessment (HHERA) that these predictions are made. The science and toxicology of making these risk predictions more accurate continues to evolve at a rapid pace. At Intrinsik Environmental Sciences our MITACs interns will work closely with our professional staff to develop innovative tools to improve our knowledge and understanding of predicting how people and ecosystems interact with chemical releases. Specifically they will tackle the challenges of how chemical emissions from oil and gas development in British Columbia and Waste-to-Energy (WTE) municipal waste facilities across the country could affect the communities we live in.

Business Strategy Internship

The Business Development Internship position will include the following duties and activities: Researching and identifying potential corporate sponsors and partners and cultivating positive relationships with both existing and potential donors. Additionally, the role will consist of identifying and developing revenue generation opportunities by engaging with cross functional teams, interviewing potential clients and researching market trends. It will also involve assistance in executing the identified revenue generation opportunities and analyzing potential risks associated with entering into new donor partnerships. Furthermore, the intern will identify community and corporate opportunities that align with organizational objectives, strategize opportunities for donations with a view to optimize sponsor relationships, and develop and maintain database of corporate sponsors and partners. The intern will also complete other duties as required.

The benefit to the partner organization is an increase revenue streams, new corporate sponsorship opportunities, and updated market research. The intern will also cultivate relationships and assist in maintaining sponsor relationships that are sustainable.

Automation and Optimization of Steel Connections – RES0054367

This internship will focus on investigating potential applications for automated steel connection design software in the real-world context that incorporates all of the complexities that can be found in construction projects. Prior work has already developed a pilot program that links existing software design tools to advanced optimization software, enhancing the functionality with added programming where required to automate the connection design process according to parameters determined by the designer. During this internship, the student will apply these tools to real-world projects and determine their suitability for use, in addition to exposing weaknesses that require further research. The student will use the beta software to check for functionality, code compliance, and constructability/ease of fabrication based on the experience and feedback of the partner company’s engineers. Based on this feedback, the student will make changes or suggest changes to the research team to improve the tool. The lessons learned by all involved (student, partner, Steel Centre research group) will be invaluable inputs to enhancing the proper use of existing industry data, the development of software “learning” algorithms, and the outward-facing software interface.

Policy Analysis

Reporting to the Executive Director, Fort Saskatchewan & District Chamber of Commerce the student will be to accumulating and utilizing research data in order to make recommendations for platform policies for voters and candidates in the 2021 municipal election. The student will be connecting with the Fort Saskatchewan community through surveys, face-to-face, interaction and focus groups to obtain insight into the opinions and perceived outlook of the business owners and residents in the city in regard to economic priorities for the upcoming municipal election. The student will supplement primary research with secondary research into the past priorities of the municipal government and how it was received.
With the support of the Executive Director, the student will compile the information from the research into an economic update report and from there make recommendations for key messaging.

Alberta Chambers of Commerce

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for businesses to have a digital presence, whether e-commerce or social media. The project will grow small-medium businesses’ revenue and local chambers through an e-commerce marketplace and expand recruitment to and participation in Alberta Chambers of Commerce network value-add programs.

Alberta Chambers of Commerce

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for businesses to have a digital presence, whether e-commerce or social media. The project will grow small-medium businesses’ revenue and local chambers through an e-commerce marketplace and expand recruitment to and participation in Alberta Chambers of Commerce network value-add programs.

Hydrogen derived from renewables to power the Canadian mining sector

The purpose of this research is to determine the techno-economic feasibility of utilizing renewable energy to produce hydrogen for use in mine sites in Ontario to reduce their carbon intensity. As wind and solar electricity generation is intermittent, hydrogen has the flexibility as an on-demand fuel source, as well as an option for long-term storage. PNE Canada is a renewable energy generation company, the next step for their business would be to find energy storage options to maximize the energy generated from renewables. This research in utilizing hydrogen as energy storage and energy production vectors, will open more market segments for the company and further integrate their business model in providing reliable clean energy to Canada.
While this research focus is on industrial mine sites, this study has potential to be a blueprint for remote communities in Canada, or any location that is looking to become energy independent. For Northern Canada, communities that rely on diesel for heat and power generation, the cost of transporting the diesel has economic, environmental and social implications. These costs and problems will increase as world oil prices rise, carbon taxes increase, and the winter fuel shipping season decreases due to warming in Northern climates.

WCWRC Workshop Developer and Direct Client Support Provider

This project provides an opportunity for the student( myself) to develop casework skills by providing client-centred supports to newcomers including completing needs assessments and connecting them to appropriate services. By the end of the project, I will be expected to develop and facilitate workshop series for the community. The objective of the project aligns with my skill sets, personal experience and characteristics. I enjoy solving problems by using different tactics such as brainstorming and innovative thinking. In addition, my experience as a newcomer gives me the advantage of relating to the majority of newcomer women. This helps me to share my stories and experience with the women in order to connect and build trust. The workshop I will be expected to develop throughout the project’s lifecycle at the West Central Women’s Resource Center will remain with the organization to enhance the deliverability of their programs in the future.

Mitacs BSI-Student developer

GeoVald is in the process of developing an automated system to support faculty and students of a Learning Management System (LMS). As the result of COVID-19, it is important for GeoVald to work
with an intern that can assist in this development. The subsidized intern would not only be aiding GeoVald financially but would also be contributing to solving the challenges of remote learning, created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This internship will focus on leveraging users and system data to analyse and develop automation that provides faculty and student users of the platform with: – Course engagement information in real-time – Student participation patterns and analysis – Automated individualized student engagement tips – Automated interactive assessment development using course content – Automated learning plans based on student performance and course content – Automated and anonymous student benchmarking (based on student performance) – Course content analysis and key concept capture

Minimizing potential induced degradation in crystalline silicon based photovoltaic solar modules

The demand for photovoltaic solar modules has increased tremendously in recent years. Unfortunately, photovoltaic solar modules are prone to potential induced degradation, i.e., a decrease in the power delivered from such modules arising as a consequence of them operating continuously under high applied voltages. This project aims to design a protocol for the accelerated testing of solar modules; we want to speed-up or accelerate the aging of these solar modules in order to identify what materials and configurations in a solar module are less prone to potential induced degradation. We will then use this protocol for accelerated testing in order to systematically identify which materials and configurations are best. Finally, if time permits, the mechanisms of recovery from potential induced degradation are going to be identified, and the device implications of this will be explored. This project will equip our industrial partner, Silfab Ontario, with a strategic advantage over competitors.

Assessing the viability of using tiny homes to address housing insecurity in the Region of Waterloo

This research will use a test site to define best practices for siting, management, planning, and construction of Tiny Homes for the homeless, through a comprehensive review of existing precedents. In order to do this, the research responds to four questions about ‘Tiny Home’ communities for people experiencing homelessness. 1) Where should these communities be located in the urban region? 2) How should this housing be governed, managed, and maintained and by whom? 3) How should these homes be sited and serviced; what should be included in a self-contained unit, and what services should be shared between units to create a productive housing community? 4) How should this housing be manufactured to maximize social, environmental, and economic benefits?

Doepker Efficiency Strategy

Update engineering and process documentation for new product line (learn regulations, processes/procedures, engineering design standards, work in CAD and SolidWorks, assist in creating drawings, learn ERP systems, resolve on-floor production issues).