Innovative Projects Realized

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

MERMAID: A PET Prototype for Adult Zebrafish – Practical Applications and Optimization

Simulation and Data Science for dispatching Autonomous Mobile Robots

Is Bone Regeneration after Fracture influenced by Early Life Stress?

Synthesis of Photocurable Resins for use in Custom Fit Ear Headphones

The objective of this project is to develop a proof-of-concept of a formable polymer in the shape of a customizable inset for an earphone. The material should be relatively inexpensive, take shape rapidly (within a few seconds optimally) and ultimately provide consumers with a customized earphone that will fit the vast majority of the population. Using a simple model silicone mold and using forming techniques found in various medical devices, not only will material properties be tailored for the resin, but the forming time will be optimized by the careful selection of electronics within the device. A material package with desirable resin mechanical properties and rapid forming time (< 20 sec) should be the desired outcome

Understanding Lived Experience and Essential Conditions for Effective Active Transportation

The purpose of this project is to create evidence that describes the influence of urban trail development on population-level physical activity and active transportation. This is a growing field of importance as governments across all levels in Canada will be investing close to one billion dollars in urban infrastructure over the next ten years. There is a severe lack of empirical data surrounding what makes certain urban trails successful. This project aims to answer those questions to help optimize urban trail implementation, particularly in terms of reach, acceptability, and traffic volume of the trails. As part of the 2023-2026 budget, Edmonton’s City Council approved $100 million to proceed with the Active Transportation Network Expansion. Implementation focuses on building infrastructure to connect existing routes, improve access and connectivity, and create a more complete AT network. Implementation has the potential to lead to a modal shift in which more individuals are using AT. This project seeks to understand Edmontonians’ lived experiences to explore factors that affect adaptation and implementation of the Active Transportation Network Expansion and to inform and support the implementation through an equity lens (i.e., what gets built, where, and for whom).

Séjour de recherche à l’École normale supérieure pour le projet de recherche « Filmologie, filmologue. De l’Institut de filmologie de la Sorbonne (1948-1962) aux études cinématographiques contemporaines »

Ce projet vise à redécouvrir l’Institut de filmologie de la Sorbonne (1948-1962), premier centre universitaire en cinéma de l’histoire, caractérisé par son interdisciplinarité, mais qui œuvrait également comme laboratoire incognito des services secrets français. Oublié de nos jours, voire tabou en France, les recherches qui s’y sont déroulées – une tentative d’études quasiment médiatiques mélangeant sciences exactes, humaines et sociales – sont pourtant d’un intérêt crucial pour les laboratoires en cinéma contemporains qui, particulièrement au Canada, sont multisectoriels et pluridisciplinaires. Remettre au jour les recherches de l’époque permettrait de consolider les projets d’études d’aujourd’hui.
De surcroît, en sombrant du fait du scandale le liant aux services secrets français, l’Institut a emporté avec lui le terme « filmologue », alors que la discipline des études cinématographiques est désormais solidement établie mais toujours dépourvue d’un nom pour son chercheur. Démystifier l’histoire de l’Institut de filmologie permettrait de revaloriser le terme « filmologue », et la science que celui-ci étudie : la filmologie.
En somme, par un travail d’archives et d’historiographie, le projet permet de créer un pont entre un passé oublié et les pratiques de recherche médiatique contemporaines, pour contribuer à enrichir la recherche sur le cinéma et renforcer le dialogue entre différentes disciplines.

One Hundred Years of Chilean and Latin American Animated Cinema

Research focused on the history of Latin American animation, from its inception, exploring international collaborations, and concluding in contemporary animation.

TradesLink Enterprise Business Strategy

The skilled trades industry in Canada is facing significant challenges, including labor shortages, an aging workforce, and the need to attract younger generations to the trades. TradesLink, an innovative online platform, aims to address these challenges by creating a community-driven solution that empowers trades employers to effectively manage their workforce and meaningfully connect them with their workers, thereby increasing employee retention.

City of Lloydminster Regional CO-Op Exercise Design

An Emergency Management project that seeks to deliver Emergency training and exercise facilitation to 10 communities within Alberta and Saskatchewan. This project aims to increase communities’ ability to respond to a myriad of applicable hazards, thus increasing regional resiliency while lowering vulnerabilities.

Regional Emergency Management COOP – Household Prepardness

With 10 municipalities combining Emergency Management services, an innovative approach to conduct public preparedness in a joint venture is being pursued to increase risk awareness, create resiliency, lower vulnerability, and encourage homeowners in the area to undertake risk-reducing behaviours. This Co-Op position will be responsible for the creation and delivery of information to the regional area and monitoring releases for effectiveness and improvements.