Innovative Projects Realized

AI-based anomaly detection for computer network security

This project will develop an intelligent tool that helps protect computer networks from cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks are becoming more advanced and harder to detect, so traditional methods often miss new, unknown threats. Using artificial intelligence (AI), this project will create a system that can spot unusual activity on a network, which might indicate an attack. The tool will be tested and improved using real data provided by IntelliSec, a cybersecurity company. The project also tackles the challenge of ensuring that the AI system can still perform well even if the data used to train it is not clean. The expected benefit for IntelliSec is a stronger, more reliable defense system that can better protect their clients from cyber threats.

Thermal Mapping of Cold Water Refugia Using RPAS

Can the refinement of existing drone image acquisition and processing steps lead to improved absolute accuracy of calibrated radiometric thermal orthomosaics in order to more accurately identify salmon thermal refugia?

Pratiques adoptées, retombées positives et autonomisation des entrepreneur-es liées à l’accompagnement en développement durable

La SADC de Nicolet-Bécancour a conçu le programme d’accompagnement PROAction, pour faciliter la transition vers le développement durable des PMO de son territoire. L’objectif est d’obtenir un effet structurant en matière de pratiques de développement durable chez ces PMO, de susciter une autonomie d’actions et des retombées positives. Six (06) ans après sa création, il convient d’évaluer PROAction aux fins de savoir si cet objectif est atteint. Il s’agit en outre de mettre en évidence les succès pratiques obtenus par les PMO et les ressorts cognitifs qui soutiennent leur transition vers le développement durable. Pour ce faire, un rapport d’évaluation de PROAction et des fiches de cas concrets d’organisations ayant complété le programme seront réalisés. Ils permettront à la SADC de réaligner éventuellement PROAction et de valoriser les succès obtenus. Par ailleurs, des publications scientifiques exploreront l’autonomie d’actions et le volet cognitif de la transition vers le développement durable des PMO.

Optimizing Banknote Distribution to Reduce GHG Emissions at the Bank of Canada

One of the main responsibilities of the Bank of Canada (BoC) is to ensure that sufficient inventories of each currency denomination are maintained nationwide. To achieve this, the BoC operates 39 regional distribution centers (RDCs), each with a specified limit on the total currency value it can hold without incurring penalties. Local banks interact with these RDCs through withdrawals and deposits, and the BoC may recall currency that is no longer suitable for re-circulation or exceeding storage capacity. This creates a complex inventory management problem, requiring the BoC to balance demand while minimizing the risks of stock shortages and exceeding inventory limits. The BoC utilizes multiple modes of transportation (air and ground) for banknote distribution; however, ground transportation constitutes a small portion of these operations, with the majority relying on air transport, which produces significant GHG emissions.
The BoC employs an adapted weekly (s,S) inventory management policy to minimize the total number of shipments. This research aims to optimize this policy to reduce the GHG emissions associated with banknote distribution. This can be done by reducing shipments and employing more environmentally friendly modes of transportation where feasible.

Trend and Uncertainty Analysis of Climate Change Trends for Spencer Creek, Ontario

There are however, a range of GCMs, future climate scenarios and downscalingtechniques that can be used and each yields different results. Due to this uncertainty, itis regarded as best-practice to use a collection of individual projections to develop“ranges” that characterize future climate conditions. The aim of this internship is toconduct this analysis for the variables of precipitation and temperatures, which will beused directly by the HCA in their assessment of impacts and hydrologic modeling

AI/ML enhancement of a quasi-Newton acceleration scheme for computational multi-physics

Multi-physics considerations are important for many engineering applications. For example, we may want to know at what rate heat is transferred between two different systems or how a fluid and solid interact with each other for applications such as turbo-machinery, parachutes, or blood flow through an artery. Engineers often rely on numerical methods to solve these problems, which combine multiple single-physics solvers, and resolve the physical interactions between the various solvers using an iterative approach. Unfortunately, this approach can often be numerically unstable. A generic technique which can be applied to stabilize the iterations is a data-drive quasi-Newton approach. However, the method can be prohibitively expensive in some situations. There is also a reliance on linear algebra techniques using past information to attempt to capture data which is often nonlinear.

The proposed project will investigate the use of AI/ML technology to compress the operating space of the quasi-Newton algorithm and provide a more natural filter for data which is no longer relevant to the algorithm.

Exploring the Integration of Environmental Studies in Chinese High School History Classes

This project aims to look at how Chinese teachers integrate environmental studies into their high school History classes. Throughout the course of this research, this project will also explore the strategies that Chinese teachers use to engage the students within their class. In a time of pressing environmental concerns, this project will provide greater insight into how teachers can teach students about the environment and inspire them to take action. Through learning from another country’s educational system and seeing different perspectives, this project aims to bring new ideas and teaching practices back to Canada to further student learning.

Fostering Long-Term Environmental Stewardship: A Comparative Study of Kindergarten Environmental Education Practices in Ontario and China

This research project will explore how environmental education (EE) in kindergarten classrooms can build lifelong habits of environmental stewardship by comparing practices in Ontario, Canada, and China. Using the framework of the Reciprocal Learning Program, the study highlights how cultural exchange can improve teaching methods and outcomes in both regions. By examining daily routines and initiatives that encourage young children to adopt environmentally friendly habits, the research seeks to identify effective strategies that could be shared globally. Participating institutions will benefit from insights into innovative EE practices and strategies for empowering educators to create meaningful, long-term environmental action in their classrooms.

Observations of Creative Pedagogy in Classroom Environments from Grades 1-9: A Comparison of Chinese and Canadian Approaches to Creativity and Knowledge

The overview of the Globalink research project seeks to examine and discuss the use of creative pedagogy in Chinese and Canadian classrooms for grades 1-6 and 7-9, focusing on cross-curricular learning. One objective is to compare student engagement and behaviour. The Ontario curriculum offers many opportunities for the integration of subjects, and we aim to discover and work together with educators in China to employ instructional creativity and its effect on student engagement. We will also explore differences in creative teaching styles between elementary and secondary classrooms and how these methods are incorporated into lesson planning in both countries.

Nature and Nurture: A Comparative Study of Environmental Education in China and Canada and how behaviors and attitudes form action and development.

The proposed project, “Nature and Nurture: A Comparative Study of Environmental Education in China and Canada,” aims to explore how Environmental Education (EE) is implemented within educational systems in both countries. Through observing and analyzing various aspects—such as the curriculum, teacher engagement, and community involvement—the project will identify best practices and challenges in fostering environmental awareness and sustainability. The expected benefit to the participating institutions includes enhanced cross-cultural understanding, enriched EE methodologies, and potential contributions toward creating more effective and sustainable educational models in Canada and China. The collaboration may also encourage environmental stewardship among future generations in both nations.

What are (elite) Friends for? Exploring the Dynamics of CEO Peer Groups: Motivations, Benefits, and Impacts

This project explores the role of peer groups in shaping the identity of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and its implications for both personal and professional outcomes. Specifically, it aims to examine how participation in peer group mentoring influences CEOs’ identity construction and, in turn, their strategic decision-making, leadership practices, and risk-taking. With this research, we aim to generate knowledge with both academic and practical value. Academically, our goal is to deepen understanding of CEOs’ identity dynamics, focusing on the identity-related outcomes for both CEOs and their organizations. Practically, by revealing the often-hidden dynamics within CEO peer groups, we intend to provide actionable insights for organizations, including our partner Entrechefs, mentors, and CEOs, supporting the development of more effective support and training programs.

Évaluation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) dansle transport de marchandises

Analyser et visualiser les émissions de GES dans une zone définie de la ville de Montréal. Grâce à la littérature, quantifier monétairement celles-ci et évaluer différents scénarios de réduction des émissions. Ultimement, les grands joueurs au niveau de la logistique à Montréal auront de nouvelles connaissances sur le sujet et pourront les mettre en pratique dans un but de facilité la fluidité du transport de marchandise tout en prenant compte la mobilité durable. De plus, il sera possible de mieux évaluer la rentabilité de certains projets de modification de la chaine logistique