Innovative Projects Realized

Systematic comparative analysis of GitHub Actions security analysis techniques

Continuous Integration is a software development practice where each member of a team work independently and then merge their changes into a common codebase, at least daily. Each of these integrations is verified through an automated build pipeline, whick consists of a sequence of actions such as compilation, testing, addition of third-party components. The key benefit of continuous integration is to reduce the risk of errors due to incompatible changes by different team members. Meanwhile, modern build pipelines have grown into complex program that schedule tens or hundreds of different tasks. In the open source platforms, such as Github or Gitlab, these pipelines have become targets for malicious actors. They inject vulnerabilities that are hard to detect because of the complexity of the pipelines. With this internship, we will map and benchmark the state of the art techniques to detect these vulnerabilities, in order to better guide developers in their choice of safeguard and to identify research gaps.

Pasture Poultry Market Potential and Cost of Production Assessment

After several years of exploration, SSMPA members believe there to be opportunity for growth of the pasture-based poultry sector in BC, given an increasing number of small-scale poultry farmers, increasingly adequate processing facilities and access to the significant consumer markets. This belief was confirmed in 2022-2023, when SSMPA leadership met with producers all over BC. SSMPA representatives also learned of the impediments perceived by small-scale meat producers in the province. It was ascertained that while small scale poultry sector senses there is opportunity to expand actors need critical decision-making information. Generating this necessary information is the purpose of this project. Specifically, they conveyed need for a scalable, manipulatable enterprise budget and a comprehensive assessment of the market on a regional basis (pasture poultry producers do not supply the commodity market, rather they supply, are part of regional food system markets). For the proposed project the Mitacs intern will contribute to the conduct of a pasture poultry market analysis and development of a pasture poultry enterprise budget.

Mobilising Cycling Economies for Safe Cycling Networks

A lack of physical infrastructure and the corresponding fear of harm are a significant barrier to urban cycling, and an impediment to the expansion of Curbside Cycle’s target demographic. Using outreach and education through a collaborative process involving partners Curbside Cycle and Cycle Toronto we will empower local experts, enlist local businesses as powerful community stakeholders, and foster coalitions of community support for improved bicycle infrastructure. Through engagement and capacity-building sessions we will share up to date research on the positive impacts of bicycle infrastructure for urban business communities and build skills for group facilitation, civic engagement and conflict mitigation. The documentation and assessment of the processes involved in this initiative will be academically relevant in the fields of community capacitation and participatory planning, and will also help inform the strategic planning that Cycle Toronto will pursue following the completion of all engagement sessions.

Towards a Theory of Blockchain as a Socio-Informational-Technical System: Perceptions and challenges of adopting verifiable credentials in the public sector.

Blockchain technology and VCs, in principle, can enhance the security, privacy, efficiency, and trustworthiness of the digital exchange of credentials. However, several challenges hinder the adoption of VCs and blockchain, including resistance from the public and some authorities driven by a lack of understanding of the technologies and political motives. There is a limited empirical and contextual understanding of these barriers, mainly relying on anecdotal narratives and inferences from emerging literature. This study aims to provide one of the first empirical studies of the institutional actors’ perspectives, challenges, and concerns about VC adoptions. The study uses a qualitative approach of participatory observation, document analysis, and interviews to explore stakeholders’ perceptions and approaches to VCs. The insights will contribute to a sustainable design and promotion of VCs in the public sector that can leverage the technologies’ strengths and ensure alignment with the regulatory and institutional values.

Hot Topics: Co-Creating Equity-Informed Emergency Planning and Policy with Affected Communities to Address Heat-Related Crises in British Columbia

Extreme weather events from heat domes to storms to flooding signal the pressing nature of the climate
emergency. These events often leave citizens scrambling to respond and public officials in a reactive mode. This is becoming increasingly true with the intensity and unpredictability of environmental hazards. A prime example is the June 2021 extreme heat event, dubbed the “Heat Dome,” that impacted British Columbia. In one week, there were 619 deaths from heat stroke and other heat- related illnesses caused by sustained high temperatures. Most of the people who died were elderly or had other determinants of health that made them vulnerable to heat. In addition to the direct impacts of extreme heat events, heat-related crises, such as drought, wildfire smoke and food systems die-off, are also having an increasingly large impact on human health. To better prepare for these events and plan for protecting those most vulnerable to negative health impacts, our research partnership is informed by a planetary health and intersectional policy lens to create safe spaces for affected communities to tell their stories so that policy-makers can learn from their lived experiences and improve outcomes, with findings relevant to local governments and across jurisdictions in British Columbia.

Mobilizing the health benefits of being in nature through community-based participatory research and Indigenous youth engagement

Spending time in natural environments and nature-based programming is associated with significant health benefits. These outcomes are particularly important for Indigenous youth, whose mental health and wellbeing continues to be a priority for healthcare in Nova Scotia (NS). There is a need for further research that includes NS youth perspectives and identifies their experiences, needs, barriers, and enablers for sustained participation. This study will engage a group of Indigenous youth from Eskasoni First Nation in a photovoice project to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences of nature and nature-based programming, and the disparities that exist in access and provision.

Convection in porous structure for cooling heat sink

The proposed scientific collaboration is toward developing a new class of porous structure using mathematical design. The structure must be lightweight and capable of removing heat. This structure is advantageous in engineering, such as heat enhancement, heat exchangers, and biomedical engineering (hip, jaw, or femur replacement). The global importance of the proposed research is in developing a structure capable of being excellent in heat removal and lightweight. This material’s strength is also essential and applies to biomedical engineering.

Émission de gaz à effet de serre par les sols suite à l’application de cendres de bois dans les érablières estriennes

L’application de composés alcalinisants tels que la chaux ou la cendre est de plus en plus envisagée dans les érablières du Québec afin d’améliorer le statut acide-base du sol et la nutrition des forêts. Il est possible, cependant, que ces composés provoquent un accroissement de l’activité microbienne du sol, ce qui pourrait augmenter la production de gaz à effet de serre par les sols forestiers. Le présent projet vise donc à quantifier les émissions de gaz à effet de serre pouvant survenir à court terme suite à l’application automnale de différentes doses de cendres et de chaux dans des érablières appartenant à la papetière Domtar située à Windsor en Estrie. Cette dernière produit, annuellement, d’importantes quantités de cendres et leur valorisation comme agent alcalinisant dans les érablières pourrait être très avantageuse pour l’entreprise. Toutefois, en accord avec sa politique environnementale, celle-ci souhaite comprendre pleinement les conséquences d’une telle pratique sur les sols forestiers.

« Lieux de mémoire » et transmission aux générations futures : une perspective archéologique. Études de cas sur des sites autochtones et euro-canadiens au Québec

Ce projet s’intéresse aux « lieux de mémoire » au Québec. La transmission volontaire d’une mémoire et d’un héritage par les populations passées aux générations futures crée des sites archéologiques particuliers, dont les traces sont délibérément conçues pour traverser le temps.

La découverte en 2023 d’une « capsule temporelle » dans le « monument Price », obélisque construit à Chicoutimi en 1881 en hommage à la famille Price à la tête de la compagnie du même nom, active dans le commerce du bois, des pâtes et papiers, est un double exemple de ces « lieux de mémoire » québécois ; à la fois par le monument lui-même et par la capsule temporelle qu’il renferme. Bien qu’un engouement se développe au XIXe siècle pour les capsules temporelles, les « lieux de mémoire » peuvent prendre des formes multiples et préexistent à la colonisation du Québec. Par l’art rupestre, les Premières Nations ont volontairement marqué la pierre. Ce mode d’expression symbolique ancestral est présent partout dans le monde sous différentes formes ; et contrairement à l’art pariétal en grotte, les sites d’art rupestre du Bouclier canadien sont bien visibles en pleine lumière.

Smartphone-Based Quantification for Rapid Lateral Flow Assay Interpretation Using Advanced Image Analysis

A quick and simple, point of care test is being developed to detect traumatic brain injuries using saliva samples. The prototype test uses biotechnology to measure the presence of certain protein markers of injury, resulting in a change of colour and/or location of colour in the test material. The interpretation of the results can be variable, depending on the user. Therefore, an imaging system using smart phones will be developed to standardize the detection and interpretation of the results and reduce user variability. This project will develop the image processing capabilities and validate its performance on laboratory test samples.

Waterlogged Robotics sensor platform

“THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW”

LuCID Dryer Process Optimization

The project concentrates on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) fabrication process optimization. MEMS devices comprise suspended structures, such as cantilevers, gyros, membranes, etc., which are created by removing sacrificial material around them in order to have these structures released to perform their designated function. Currently, these structures are being released with the use of either dry etch or chemical vapor techniques. Wet chemistry release of suspended structures is favorable: minimized costs, parallel process and most importantly reduced impact on the environment. Challenge in achieving successful release using wet chemistry is the stiction of these structures to substrate or other parts of the device drying step at the end of wet chemistry process. State of the art equipment located in C2MI facility allows use of wet chemistry process followed by chemical drying in order to prevent stiction of these structures. Hence, design and optimization of this dry sequence will minimize significantly MEMS devices manufacturing costs and environmental hazards.