Innovative Projects Realized

Mobile neuroergonomics- about the interaction of walking and visual information processing

Composting anaerobic digestate

The interest in organic waste treatment has increased a lot in the recent years. Among the treatment technologies, anaerobic digestion (AD) has gained a significant role in municipal solid waste management due to its energy recovery benefits. Digestate is the solid material produced from the biodegradation of organic waste during anaerobic digestion process. Management of a high volume of digestate is one of the challenges in AD technology. The digestate can be mixed with the organic waste and then applied to the composting process. Co-composting of digestate with organic waste can shorten the composting times. However, the digestate: fresh organics ratio and the digestate stability are the two critical parameters that should be determined when applying anaerobic and aerobic processes sequentially. The main objective of this study is to identify the digestate effects on composting facility by determining its optimum amount and stability when co-composting with fresh organic waste.
This project helps organics processing system at Waste Management Services to optimize its current process. By improving the rate of composting, the composting capacity throughput could be increased and energy requirements for aeration during the composting process will be also decreased, dramatically.

Assembly and Characterization of the Water Electrolyzer Cell with Varying Configurations

Development of an electrochemical key step for pharmaceutical relevant substances

Reconstruction of Cosmic Ray Air Showers with the Square Kilometre Array

Membrane bioreactors for energy and resource recovery, and water reclamation

This project focuses on improving membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems to make wastewater treatment more efficient and sustainable. MBRs combine biological treatment with membrane filtration to remove contaminants and produce clean water while recovering energy and valuable resources from wastewater. As global energy use rises and fossil fuels increasingly harm the environment, this research aims to transform wastewater from a waste product into a source of energy and nutrients. Our objective is to use various MBR reactors to enhance water reclamation, energy production, and nutrient recovery. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and boosting treatment efficiency, the project also contributes to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and protecting public health. The expected outcomes include the development of more sustainable and cost-effective treatment processes. Improved MBR systems can generate reclaimed water that meets strict quality standards for non-potable uses like irrigation and industrial applications, thereby reducing pressure on freshwater resources. Additionally, recovering nutrients from wastewater can create value-added products for agriculture or industry, supporting a circular economy. Overall, this project will equip participating institutions with innovative techniques for sustainable water management and resource recovery, setting a new standard in wastewater treatment technology with lasting positive impacts on both the environment and industry.

Identifying new enzyme catalysts for complete biosynthesis of anticancer drug vinblastine

This project focuses on identifying novel enzyme catalysts to complete the biosynthesis of vinblastine, a potent anticancer alkaloid, by sourcing them from diverse plant species that produce dimeric indole alkaloids similar to vinblastine. Vinblastine, a member of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) family, is naturally derived from Catharanthus roseus. While its biosynthetic pathway, consisting of over 30 enzymatic steps, has been extensively studied, several key steps remain unresolved, limiting the feasibility of fully reconstructing its biosynthesis in heterologous systems.

The primary objective of this research is to screen and biochemically characterize novel enzyme catalysts from multiple species within the Gentianales order to evaluate their potential for completing vinblastine biosynthesis. This involves identifying and testing enzymes with enhanced efficiency, specificity, expression, and stability from a curated candidate gene dataset. Additionally, metabolomic analysis will be conducted on both in vitro and in vivo enzyme products to verify and evaluate tandem enzymatic catalysis for vinblastine biosynthesis.

By leveraging the combined expertise in plant specialized metabolism, biochemistry, and enzyme/pathway engineering from two collaborating labs, this 24-week Mitacs Globalink project aims to discover key enzyme catalysts that will advance the total biosynthesis of vinblastine.

Navigation and Control for Micro Underwater Robots

Optimization of yeast medium for optimal propagation of S. cerevisiae for wine production

Sacred Synergy

This four-month research project is a collaboration between Takla Nation, Vancouver Island University, the Salish Sea Entheogenic Society. The project’s goal is to evaluate the role of intergenerational trauma healing in addiction recovery within the Takla Nation by exploring an Indigenous-focused, entheogen-assisted recovery program with support from the Nation’s Addiction Resource Committee (ARC). The Multi-Eyed Seeing Intercultural Collaboration Framework (MeSICF) guides the research, incorporating the Two-Eyed Seeing approach and Third Space theory (Garcia, J, 2024). Participatory Action Research is utilised, employing Indigenous inquiry methods like talking circles and storytelling with Takla’s ARC. The project will explore the potential of expanding the existing wholistic practices in respect to how the men’s/women’s groups current sharing circles, and wisdom keeper’s group can support Takla’s wholistic health infrastructure.

Design of Custom-Fit Earphone & Sleeve

The proposed project will help in the development of a new revolutionary product. Its focus will be the design and development of a customizable in-ear earphone sleeve (ear bud/body of earphone). The designed sleeve will be initially flexible and adapt to the human ear contour once plugged into the ear. Later, the sleeve will take permanent shape of the inner ear profile after the user confirms the fit and sound quality. The uniqueness of the design project will be to design a sleeve with perfect fit, and which provides a good amount of noise isolation. This will help the customer to enjoy better sound quality at lower volume levels hence reducing health hazards. The fit should insure that the earphone will not fall out during regular day to day activities such as running, walking, training, etc. At the same time, the material selected will be soft enough to provide a comfortable, cushioning effect, thus making earphone usage pleasant for a prolonged period of time. The project is roughly divided into 4 main sections: concept generation, materials and concept selection, design and prototyping/testing.

Quantitative Raman microspectroscopy and histological examination of individual sperm