Innovative Projects Realized

Locating Trauma Through Resilience: Accessing Marginalized Narratives in a Global Pandemic

This 3-month project will be realized at Ryerson University in Toronto, under the supervision of Professor Irene Gammel. The project aims to contribute to the study of trauma by using resilience as an analytical lens. It will offer theoretical and context-informed understandings of marginalized narratives by drawing on my expertise in the arts, humanities and the political sciences. The project will, therefore, generate fresh theoretical understandings of trauma and resilience thinking; facilitate analysis and enrich awareness of marginalized narratives as cultural and literary responses to global pandemics; and enhance the capacity for interdisciplinary research and collaborations in the UK and Canada. The expected outcomes are as follows: a co-written journal article, a virtual network for postgraduates and early career researchers, and a series of creative outputs.

Design and Evaluation of Compact Nano-Enhanced LHTES for domestic heating radiators

Globally buildings are one of the sectors that consume the most energy. Thus, strategies and technologies are currently being developed to improve the energy efficiency of this sector and to work towards a low carbon economy. Latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTES) are a viable solution to improve the overall performance of renewable heating and electrification of heat systems. However, limitations such as the lack of proper design guidelines and cost have restricted the deployment of LHTES devices. The project aims to evaluate the use of nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCMs) in a compact LHTES to be fitted in commercially available domestic radiators to improve the overall efficiency of the conventional system. The gathered data will contribute to the development of design guideline LHTES systems.

Symbolic Model-Based Design of a Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Prototype Implementing Independent Wheel Torque Vectoring for Training an Advanced Driver Assistance System

There is a strong belief that autonomous vehicles will play a vital role in the future of the global transportation economy. There, however, exists many open challenges which need to be overcome to realize this future vision. One such challenge is the acceptance from the driver to relinquish full control of a vehicle and ultimately putting one’s safety in the hands of a computer. This foreseen inertia to change has prompted the development of a staged transition strategy by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with the extremes on a spectrum represented by i) no automation, to ii) fully autonomous vehicles. Potential Motors™ seeks to support this gradual transition by developing semi-autonomous vehicle technology that allows the driver to still be in control of bulk driving decisions while their Advanced Driver Assist System, RallyAI™, responds to events in the environment at a speed faster than any human could ever respond, augmenting the driver’s reaction time and ultimately making them safer. This project seeks to support Potential Motors™ in their mission, through developing an advanced computer simulation of a vehicle to test and train RallyAI™ to enable that safer future.

Les systèmes de partage de données et leurs architectures techniques

Le partage des données revêt aujourd’hui une importance majeure pour de nombreux secteurs de l’économie tout comme pour les grandes administrations et le monde de la recherche. Les attentes qui lui sont associées vont de la promotion de l’innovation et de la compétitivité en passant par l’amélioration des services publiques jusqu’au développement des connaissances. Les promesses qui lui sont attachées sont nombreuses: avènement d’une médecine plus personnalisée, meilleure saisie et capacité d’action sur le climat et ses variations, meilleure maîtrise de la propagation des virus, pour prendre quelques exemples tout droit sortis de l’actualité. Ce partage repose sur des systèmes informatiques, lesquels disposent d’architectures, dont les variations de forme (centralisées versus distribuées, par exemple) ont d’importantes implications sociales, politiques et économiques. C’est à l’examen approfondi de cette notion d’architecture que se dédie le projet de recherche, et partant de la perspective de ceux qui a priori en savent quelque chose: acteurs de terrain et/ou théoriciens de ces architectures.

Relation between biometrics and traumatic brain injury risk: developing a data analysis procedure for concussion risk assessment and management

This project will attempt to uncover more insights into the importance of certain biological, situational and environmental factors that contribute to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), especially in youth sports. By doing this, we hope to work towards better prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of concussions and other TBIs.

Co-production of an eHealth application to improve the identification and prediction of early life health risk and resilience

The project aims to progress the development of a cloud-based application that will help healthcare professionals to identify and predict exposures in early life that might affect the chances of their patients experiencing ill-health in later life. It will do this by incorporating the views, values and requirements of its intended users (and those who will be affected by it) in its development, as this has been shown to improve the chances of technology being adopted and used. This will consequently improve the chances of this application achieving its aims of improving communication between patients and caregivers, and of improving population health and reducing disease burden through more targeted interventions.

Software Engineering Framework for Users in Indigenous Communities

Technology is not neutral. Look at the keyboard it assumes right handedness. For example, the number pad and arrow keys are on the right. Similarly, the inherent biases of software computer programs are at best foreign entities and at worst tools of colonization when introduced to Indigenous communities. In line with CanadaCanada’s goals to promote reconciliation, Indigenous Friends Associ ation has developed multiple technology platforms and educational programs to support efforts to Indigenize technology.
A key goal of the current research is to develop an Indigenous Software Engineering Framework that respects Traditional Knowledge, Ind igenous languages, and storytelling traditions.

Mary Elebijo- Alacrity Foundation of BC

Alacrity Canada is taking steps to help and support portfolio companies and business partners to adjust and revise their strategies, considering the challenges caused by COVID-19. With the rapidly changing priorities in the World, carbon emissions and the fight against climate change becoming an important issue for all major companies and governments. BC and Canada are global leaders in Cleantech innovation and developments; Alacrity’s research on the business modeling of carbon offset credits and trading options will provide a better understanding for this market in the long run with better transparency.

External Vibration Stimulation Assisted Cyclic Solvent Injection Process for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery

Our proposed study will research on the combination of vibration stimulation with cyclic solvent injection to reveal the associated interaction mechanisms between solvent and heavy oil, and to determine the optimal vibration frequency for heavy oil displacement recovery at actual reservoir conditions. This research project mainly focuses on the experimental tests of sandpack flooding with associated data quantification and analyses. The effect of presence and absence of vibration stimulation on the solvent injection process for heavy oil mobilization and flow in the porous medium will be studied systematically. The research will provide industry an innovative, efficient and environment-friendly option of EOR for post-CHOP/CHOPS oil recovery process with application of vibration stimulation.

Marketing and Sales Coordinator / Business Development Associate

The business intern will help the sales and marketing team adjust to the post-covid-19 healthcare landscape by accelerating upstream marketing and beachhead qualification. In a highly competitive marketplace with rapidly shifting technological capabilities, financial strengths, and reimbursement structures, this acceleration will help us stay ahead of the competition in the crucial US market and further our pre-eminent position in the Canadian market.

Lead generation activities using tools such as LinkedIn, Apollo, and medical databases. Lead profiling and research. Sales and customer relationship management. Key account research and other upstream marketing support. Customer segment research. Competitive landscape research and reporting. Copy review and lead administration for targeted business development campaigns.

NATI

The project overview to be completed by the intern is researching best practices by conducting reviews of national and global technology associations and creating a membership database for the company. This will be completed by researching information of the current and potential members, and compiling this information into a database that will continuously be updated. This will help NATI prepare for growth and to organize information about their members.

Understanding the sources of atmospheric chlorine in a midcontinental megacity

Atmospheric oxidants are responsible for the degradation and ultimate removal of the vast majority of emissions into our atmosphere. A complete understanding of this chemistry is therefore essential if we are to develop effective and timely policies that address the pressing societal problems of air quality and climate change. Chlorine atoms are the least understood of these oxidants, and are currently not included in models that routinely forecast air quality and climate. However, work over the last decade suggests chlorine could be more important than previously thought. A major unanswered question is the source of chlorine in mid-continental regions, where models predict there to be very little. By contributing to an existing international measurement program looking at air quality in global megacities, this project will make measurements of key chlorine compounds in a mid-continental megacity (Toronto). This will provide vital data on the sources of chlorine in this important environment.