Innovative Projects Realized

Photon conversion via optomagnonic interaction within yttrium iron garnet

My current research at the University of Alberta focuses on the development of new quantum information systems. Specifically, my work aims to utilize the ferromagnetic resonances within a soft magnetic material yttrium iron garnet to achieve this goal. Currently, the University of Alberta has several groups working experimentally on magnetic materials similar to and including yttrium iron garnet; these include Dr. Davis and Dr. Freeman in the department of physics. Unfortunately, at this time there does not exist any dedicated theoretical groups focusing specifically on the physics of these magnetic materials at the University of Alberta. This research award would provide me with an opportunity to travel and work with Dr. Viola-Kusminskiy, a world expert on the theory describing these ferromagnetic materials.
An effective experiment relies heavily on input from theoretical physicists, not only to develop the experiments but to provide theoretical predictions of experimental outcomes and additionally to help analyze the results. The Globalink Research Award would provide me with the opportunity to develop these theoretical skills, skills that would be difficult to develop without collaboration opportunities such as this award. TBC

Amélioration de la performance en fatigue de l’alliage INC0718 avec du grenaillage à deux étapes

L’objectif est d’augmenter la vie du matériau en fatigue par traitement de surface. Le grenaillage consiste à bombarder la surface du matériau par des particules dures afin de générer des contraintes résiduelles. Par contre, le grenaillage conventionnel induit un mauvais fini de surface en raison de l’empreinte laissée par les particules. Par conséquent, le deuxième grenaillage serait fait avec des particules plus fines afin d’améliorer le fini de surface. L’équipe japonaise d’accueil est spécialiste dans l’utilisation du grenaillage en deux étapes, en particulier du grenaillage par microbilles (deuxième étape).

Afin de mener à bien le projet, l’étudiant devra faire les essais en fatigue sur des échantillons plats et cylindriques ayant subit différents tests. Par la suite, il sera nécessaire, d’évaluer les paramètres optimaux quant à la variation des microstructures et la variation des contraintes résiduelles.

Social Purpose Real Estate: Understanding Non-profit and Community Owned Real Estate

With some of the least affordable spaces in the country, Vancouver, parts of the Lower Mainland, Sea to Sky and the Victoria area are at risk of losing or compromising their non-profit and social enterprise organizations. This Internship, offered by the Social Purpose Real Estate Collaborative (SPRE) and Vancity Community Foundation, is intended to bolster the data and research available and contribute to a growing awareness of the situation and potential solutions. SPRE seeks to mitigate the impacts of the real estate market on non-profits and social enterprises. This Internship will help advance the knowledge and discourse, connect to the academic and non-profit community, and articulate the issues and solutions for community real estate in BC.

Analyzing the IMPACT of Mass Gatherings on Individuals and Local Communities

The Royal Columbian Emergency Physicians’ Association – Academic Group along with the Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group conduct research in mass gathering medicine that measures the local community burden incurred by MGM events and develops appropriate medical response planning and curricula for MGM events. This project focuses on further developing an existing MGM data registry, data model, and theoretical approach for analyzing the impact of MGM events using a retrospective and prospective cohort study design. The intern will work with partner and research mentors to refresh the literature review, assist in analysis of data, and review, validate, and extend data collection tools and processes. In addition, the intern will participate in MGM planning and events. The intern and partner organizations will develop experience and skills in conducting multidisciplinary research, literature reviews, and mixed modes of data collection and analysis, including statistical analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative data.

The Effect of CIB Lensing on CMB Lensing

The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is the oldest light we can observe. CMB observations have told us a lot about the universe, from the conditions in the early universe to how the universe will expand in the future. As CMB propagates towards us, its path is altered by the gravity of everything in between the CMB and us by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. By investigating this lensing, we can learn about the matter between us and the CMB. As CMB observations are becoming more accurate, it is becoming increasingly important to accurately model the lensing. CIB or Cosmic Infrared Background is one factor that affects CMB lensing, and it is also lensed. TO BE CONT’D

Dutch Green Farms: A systematic review of dementia care in the Netherlands

This project will be an in-depth Systematic Review of the current literature surrounding the topic of Dutch Green Care Farms. Dutch Green Care farms are a new, innovative approach to Dementia Care primarily in the Netherlands, which work to address a person-centered approach while maintaining and improving the functional abilities of residents with dementia through involving them in daily routines.These daily routines focus on the capabilities of the residents rather than the limitations and involve tasks such as walking, agriculture (for example gardening, feeding animals etc.), and plenty of outdoor activities to increase the physical activity of this vulnerable population. During this systematic review, we will address the literature gaps in this subject, that are a result of scarce research being done on Green Care Farms and will address how these farms may help to improve the quality of life of individuals living with dementia, while also comparing them to the traditional model of dementia care which is primarily focused and based on the medical model. TBC

E?tude des variations mille?naires des changements climatiques dans l’Arctique canadien de l’Est a? l’aide d’assemblages de diatome?es et d’isotopes stables

Chaque stade glaciaire modifie le paysage. Lorsque les glaces se retirent, le nouveau paysage émerge, le niveau marin augment et les eaux glaciomarines envahissent et submergent les anciens terrains glaciaires. Tracer la limite marine postglaciaire peut révéler d’importantes connectivités hydrologiques et des échanges entre les écosystèmes terrestres et marins qui ont eu lieu et qui pourront exister potentiellement dans le futur avec la fonte accrue des calottes et des glaces en Arctique. La région d’étude, le Nettilling fjord, est comprise entre le lac Nettilling et la baie Cumberland sur l’île de Baffin, Nunavut. Séquences sédimentaires ont été prélevés dans cinq lacs qui auront été envahis autrefois par les eaux glaciomarines. L’approche multi-proxy combinant la composition isotopique d’oxygène et l’assemblage de diatomées est utilisée afin de répondre aux objectifs spécifiques : (1) quand la glace s’est retirée (2) la durée de l’invasion glaciomarine et (3) l’origine des eaux glaciomarines. Le but de ce projet est d’étudier le rythme de changements postglaciaires et leur durée pour éventuellement intégrer ces résultats dans des modèles climatiques de prédiction pour l’Arctique canadien de l’Est.

Oil price prediction using dynamic multiresolution modeling

In this project, we will explore novel modeling methods to predict oil prices, based on a combination of machine learning methods with dynamic multiresolution analysis. The objective is to develop a software to better forecast oil prices. Oil is the world’s leading fuel, and its prices have a big impact on the global environment, the economy as well as oil exploration and exploitation activities. Oil price forecasts are very useful to relevant industries, governments, and many individuals. Many methods have been developed for predicting oil prices. However, it remains one of the most challenging forecasting problems due to the high volatility of prices. In this project, we will explore novel modeling methods to predict oil prices, based on a combination of machine learning methods with dynamic multiresolution analysis. To evaluate and validate this model, we will compare the resulting forecasts with some popular oil price prediction models.

Succès de recrutement de l’huître creuse du Pacifique, Crassostrea gigas, en lien avec les conditions trophiques, la qualité des larves et le délai de métamorphose.

D’importantes fluctuations spatio-temporelles du taux de recrutement naturel de l’huître creuse du Pacifique (Crassostrea gigas) sont observées dans la lagune de Thau en France, un site majeur de production d’huîtres, alors que la filière conchylicole méditerranéenne désire y développer sa propre activité de captage de naissain (juvénile). Nous suggérons que les variations spatiales de la ressource trophique expliqueraient en partie ces fluctuations et que le succès de métamorphose dépend de l’accumulation suffisante de réserves lipidiques par les larves. Une diminution de ces réserves énergétiques liée à un retard de la métamorphose pourrait causer un échec de la métamorphose et diminuer le succès de recrutement. Cette étude a pour objectif d’établir des liens entre le succès du recrutement de C. gigas en milieu naturel, le délai et la taille à la métamorphose, l’état des réserves énergétiques des larves pédivéligères et la qualité du réseau trophique en milieu lagunaire qui sont mal compris encore à ce jour. Elle tentera ainsi de répondre aux hypothèses stipulant que 1) les larves retardent leur métamorphose lorsque les conditions trophiques ne sont pas optimales et 2) les sites présentant les meilleurs taux de recrutement se caractérisent par des larves présentant de meilleures réserves énergétiques.

Toward a Cross-Cultural Ethics for Human-Caribou Engagement

This project will use ethnographic and community-based participatory research methods to develop a cross-cultural, community-driven ethical model for caribou research, management, and conservation in and around La Ronge, SK. The project will contribute to caribou work already underway between the partner organization, Prince Albert Model Forest (PAMF), and Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), e.g. collecting traditional ecological knowledge regarding woodland caribou to contribute to range planning. It is directly related to a PAMF objective, working effectively and meaningfully with Indigenous communities and organizations. The project will help to enhance PAMF’s relationship with LLRIB, reinforcing to the LLRIB community that their contributions to previous studies in this field have contributed to continuing protection for caribou populations – this may increase the community’s support of research. Lastly, this project will directly apply to other organizations and governments working with communities, which benefits the partners who are part of the PAMF board.

Data Analytics API and UI for Building Sensors

The project entails the creation of a program that will capture data from building sensors. It will analyze that data and predict future trends based on the data collected over a period of time. It will also graph data from sensors over a period of time. Currently both are done manually, take a significant amount of time and our prone to data enter errors. This will save time, money and give more accurate results for the partner organization.

Analyse, fabrication et validation d’une pièce d’aube de turbine hydraulique faite de matériaux innovants

L’hydroélectricité est une source renouvelable d’énergie qui compte pour 16% de de l’énergie produite mondialement. Au Canada, cette proportion grimpe à 60% représentant une capacité de 74 GW. Les besoins en énergie sont prévus augmenter d’ici 2025 notamment dû à :
1. Une volonté croissante de diminuer les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et de s’attaquer aux changements climatiques ;
2. Le besoin d’énergie renouvelable pour réduire l’empreinte environnementale tout en s’assurant que les besoins énergétiques sont comblés ;
3. La capacité unique de l’énergie hydroélectrique de fournir une source d’énergie renouvelable tout en s’adaptant aux besoins en puissance.
Dans ce projet, nous proposons d’intégrer des composantes bi-matériaux sur des composantes de turbines, qui composent le coeur des centrales, afin d’augmenter la longévité des machines. Ce projet développera, notamment, des solutions pour l’intégration des matériaux composites ou polymériques dans les turbines hydro-électriques.