Innovative Projects Realized

Technology in the Classroom

The purpose of this study is to compare how China and Canada utilizes technology in the classroom. My interests lie in the effectiveness technology has in the foreign classroom and if Canada is preparing teachers enough to utilize technology to its fullest. I will be observing high school students and high school teachers in how they are interacting with devices such as cell phones, tablets, and smart-boards/overheads. This relationship will help me gain insight into possible advantages and disadvantages with technology use in the curriculum.

Shake-table testing of earthquake resilient tall building

The proposed project is to shake-table test a large-scale innovative structural building system which utilizes an outrigger in combination with a conventional reinforced concrete (RC) core-wall system. The outrigger reduces the bending moment demands on the RC core walls, allowing smaller cores, thereby resulting in significant savings in structural materials and increased useable space within the buildings. To further improve the seismic performance of the structure, innovative fuses are added to the outriggers to dissipate the earthquake energy. The specimen will be tested with different shaking intensities to ensure that all performance objectives of the system are met. The student will work with researchers from Tongji University in China to coordinate the specimen construction and testing. The results from these tests will validate the innovative structural system and ultimately lead to the design of higher performing buildings in Canada and worldwide.

Utilization of Creative Elements within an ESL Classroom

I would like to study the effects of creative elements in classrooms, I am specifically focusing on three streams of creativity; drama, visual art, and music. Through observations, I want to study if different ESL classroom educators use these creative elements in their lessons. If so, which strain do they use and does it aid or hinder the students’ learning process; if not, why has the educator refrained from doing so? I would like to study if the use of creativity raises the level of student engagement and comprehension skills. My aim for this project is to acknowledge the use of creativity internationally and its level of importance across the world. By observing what grasps the students engagement, future educators will be able to alter their lessons to ensure the success of every student in the classroom.

How does Chinese Middle School Curriculum portray Chinese Socialism?

My project is contextualized in Drs. Shijing Xu and Michael Connelly’s (2013-2020) SSHRC Partnership Grant Project, Canada-China Reciprocal Learning in Teacher Education and School Education. I will be exploring how political science curriculum in Chinese middle school portrays Chinese socialism. I will be auditing grade 7 and 8 political science classes in Chongqing, China, and auditing classes with teacher candidates at Southwest University who major in political science.
In general, Canadian perspectives and Chinese perspectives clash in their opinion of socialism in China. General perspectives of communism in China within Canada include stereotypical thinking. However, Canadian society, including academic institutions, should use the principle of charity when analyzing socialism in China. Using the principle of charity will allow for collaboration between Canada and China’s education sectors to flourish, even when ideas or general perspectives between China and Canada contrast. TO BE CONT’D

Wind turbine bearing fault diagnosis via doubly-fed induction generator electrical signals

Bearing failures are the leading failure factor in gearboxes and induction generators of any wind turbines. It is highly desired to detect the bearing faults at an early stage and repair or replace the faulted bearing to prevent catastrophic damages of the wind turbine generation system. In this project, we are going to develop advanced diagnostic methods and techniques for the implementation of induction generator electrical signals for bearing diagnosis. The diagnosis of bearing faults via generator electrical signals is a very promising method, because it does not require the installation of any additional sensors, and signals can be easily measured remotely. The accomplishment of the objectives outlined in this proposal will directly impact advancement in knowledge, research, and technology in bearing health condition monitoring in application to wind turbines. The realization of proposed approach will increase the reliability of wind turbines, reduce maintenance costs, and unplanned downtime.

Application of a novel pilot-scale bioreactor for wastewater treatment at a typical remote area in China

Current wastewater treatment facilities are relatively large and located in centralized populated areas. A major issue arises in an area such as Tianjin China because there are a number a small communities and villages located a great distance away from the centralized treatment plant within the city. Because of this, those villages require a transportation method that will remove their wastewater and bring it to the facility; some communities are in very remote areas where wastewater transportation is not possible. The proposed idea is the innovation of a small wastewater bio-reactor that can be centralized within smaller communities. The objectives of this project it to bring effective wastewater treatment to smaller populated areas, reduce the need of wastewater transportation and reduce the cost of wastewater treatment. TO BE CONT’D

A Comparison of Canadian and Chinese Historical Narrative Formation

I would like to study what history is emphasized in Chinese middle and high school classrooms. Through observation, I would like to see what elements of Chinese history are focused on, and in turn, how this may contribute to the Chinese identity. Compared to Canada, China has a rich history spanning thousands of years, yet it is highly unlikely that all events in China’s history can be covered within whatever limited time scheduled for history education. Understanding how educators select what to teach, and what not to teach, can provide a great deal of information to a student’s level of pride, patriotism and civic engagement. It would also provide insight as to the level of student engagement on specific subject matter. Do they take more interest on social history or military history? TO BE CONT’D

Design and Testing of a Novel System for In-Situ Die Lubrication

Stamping presses are widely used to make metal parts in the automotive industry. Currently,

lubrication for a die in a stamping press is applied to the whole sheet. Although this is the

industry standard, this approach has a problem. By the time the sheet exits the press, the

lubricant may have run out. This can result in defective parts. To correct this, it is proposed

to have lubrication nozzles built into the die so that lubricant is applied locally. Thus, the

objective is to design, test and implement a control system for automatic in-situ die

lubrication. A prototype die with lubricant injectors is available for test purposes.

Experiments are needed to identify the optimum conditions for delivery of the lubricant. In

order to optimize the controller, an intelligent (neuro-fuzzy) algorithm will be used. If the

project is successful, the immediate benefits are: 1) fewer defective parts, 2) reduced

consumption of lubricant and 3) a cleaner work environment.

Examining play based learning cross-culturally

I would like to study how play based learning is used and viewed in the Chinese school system, and how children learn through play in these conditions. Through observation I intend to examine classroom structures in the primary grades, kindergarten to grade 3, in Chinese school system, and observe how students learn through play from the beginning of their educational journey. The study will address the question: How is play based learning viewed and practiced in China in K-3 classes? In investigating this question, my research will look at the types of play that best support child development, for example dramatic play, cooperative or solitary play, artistic, outdoor, indoor, etc. Along with types of play, my research will ask the question, is teacher-directed play more effective than children’s free play environment? TO BE CONT’D

Drug loaded co-polymeric nanoparticles as targeted delivery systems: Preparation and evaluation

The research project deals with the development of a targeted drug delivery system for cancer treatment. This drug delivery system features the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as efficient carriers for cancer drugs. Current cancer therapy regularly involves the use of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells; however, chemotherapy affects normal healthy cells and patients may experience severe toxicities. Use of NPs have numerous advantages, including its abilities to prolong the drug’s time in blood circulation and to transport drugs to specific sites, and these can help reduce the harmful effects of chemotherapy. This project specifically analyzes the synthesis of drug loaded NPs by a method called microchannel technology. Then, synthesized products will be evaluated in laboratory or controlled experimental settings (in vitro) and under normal biological contexts (in vivo). TO BE CONT’D

Studying the Nature of Red Star-forming Galaxies using Observations of their Interstellar Medium from the JCMT

Observations of large numbers of galaxies in the universe have shown that the vast proportion of galaxies are either blue in colour and actively forming stars, or red in colour with little to no star formation. One goal of the study of galaxy formation is to establish any physical links between these types of galaxies. Since it is not possible for us to observe individual galaxies evolve in real time, we must infer their evolution by studying many galaxies with a range of properties. We will study a population of galaxies which are red in colour and yet actively forming stars, recently found in a recent study of Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. The study found that galaxies in this population, coined “red misfits,” are evolving from blue and star-forming to red and not star-forming. TO BE CONT’D

Quantification of antibiotic residues and nitrites in meat using paper-based microfluidic devices

Meat contamination is a severe public health risk and therefore the development of highly precise, rapid, and reliable monitoring devices are necessary. Chemical hazards in meat such as the presence of nitrites and antibiotic residues have potentially carcinogenic, toxic, and/or allergenic effects when exceeding threshold limits set by governing health agencies. Conventional methods to monitor meat contaminants are often laborious and require highly skilled personnel, making the quest for developing simpler and more cost-effective techniques for rapid monitoring to be critical. This research project focuses on developing a paper-based colorimetric microfluidic device that is capable of quantifying trace level of nitrite and antibiotic residues in meat with high specificity and reproducibility. Determination of the presence of nitrite and antibiotic residues in meat will be based upon a chromogenic reaction between these chemical hazards and chromogenic reagents on wax-printed filter paper. TO BE CONT’D