Innovative Projects Realized

High-temperature plasma gasification of plastic wastes

Load-Bearing Behavior of Non-Metallic Reinforced Concrete Structures

Ecoacoustics and Land-Use

Cross-Domain Recommender Systems with Limited Human Annotated Data

Recommender systems are artificial intelligences that, as their name would suggest, make recommendations based on provided inputs. For example, recommending jobs a person can apply to based on their resumes. Existing research on recommender systems in the Job and Education domains have focused on a single domain. Our research focuses on bridging the gap between the Job and Education domains in an environment where we have little to no data created by humans. We demonstrate our methodologies by creating a recommender system for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). PLAR is a system through which people can obtain college credits based on past life experience, such as job history. Our partner organisation hopes that such a recommendation tool can be used to streamline the PLAR process and promote education equity in Canada.

Experimental Plant Ecology in Southern Germany

Design of novel synthetic immune receptors

When cancer grows, tumors create a microenvironment around them, the TME or tumor microenvironment. This acts as a force field around cancer cells that blunts the immune system and allows cancer to escape its surveillance.
At Modulari-T we have developed a way to program the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells which we call MARC cells. This project proposes to develop a new way to augment MARC cells to make them more active in the TME so that they can break through the barriers and destroy the tumor.

Les plans de gestion des déplacements comme compromis incertain

L’objectif de ce projet de recherche consiste à comprendre comment les entreprises coconstruisent un plan de déplacement en harmonisant des sous-objectifs organisationnels et des besoins sociétaux. Nous souhaitons ainsi étudier le phénomène à travers lequel une entreprise devient une « institution de la mobilité durable », un véhicule permettant la réalisation de thématiques sociétales de déplacements comme l’accessibilité, la réduction de la pollution et de l’auto-solisme ou encore l’étalement urbain. Pour réaliser cet objectif, notre projet de recherche repose sur une étude de cas à l’intérieur de laquelle le plan de déplacement est considéré comme un compromis intra- et inter-organisationnel faisant intervenir une grande variété d’acteurs et parties prenantes.

Sustainable Hydrogel Filters for Efficient Microplastic and Nanoplastic Removal in Wastewater

Micro- and nanoplastic (MP/NP) pollution is a pressing global issue resulting from the widespread use of plastics.
These minute particles, present in everyday products, accumulate in the environment, even being detected in
infant feces and blood. Addressing this concern is paramount, with wastewater treatment processes (WWTPs)
playing a pivotal role. However, conventional WWTPs encounter challenges in filtering out smaller MPs/NPs and
may even contribute to their generation. This project proposes a solution by integrating hydrogel materials with
existing filters. Capitalizing on hydrogels’ 3D networks and absorption capabilities aims to bolster filtration
systems, effectively capturing smaller MPs/NPs. The study evaluates performance and sustainability under
varying water conditions and particle dimensions. This research contributes significantly to addressing global
plastic pollution, directly impacting the health of the global community. It aligns with ongoing water remediation
research at BC Research, providing vital insights into the synergies between hydrogels and wastewater treatment.

Promoting an integrative landscape approach in vineyards for greater resilience in the face of climatic and environmental changes

Grape growers are increasingly interested in finding strategies to enhance vineyard’s long-term productivity while improving the overall ecosystem health. The market for organic wine is also an incentive that encourages some growers to adopt these practices. Using a landscape approach, we will examine how increased native biodiversity in the vineyards and perimeters can contribute to enhancement of ecosystem services (pest management, soil health including soil carbon and organic matter) and thus improve productivity and resilience. The objectives of the project are to: 1) assess the use of native plant species as cover crops in vineyards (including the attraction of beneficials), and 2) assess the influence of perimeters and their biodiversity in reducing climatic and environmental variation and their roles as pest control. The data will be used to inform grape growers on the influence of these parameters on their productivity. Blogs and infographics will be prepared for this purpose.

Ultraviolet disinfection of harvested rainwater for a marginalized rural community

Access to clean water is essential; however, it is becoming increasingly complex due to climate change uncertainties, which affect small, rural, and marginalized communities worldwide, including Indigenous communities within Canada. These communities rely on often-contaminated surface and rainwater sources, making them exceptionally vulnerable to climate change impacts. Microbial growth and unpleasant odors during water storage lead to waterborne diseases, increasing morbidity and mortality. Our objective is to design and evaluate a rainwater harvesting and UV LED disinfection system for a marginalized rural community, piloted at a school in Kenya. This system holds potential for implementation in Indigenous communities in Canada. Research findings will aid scientists, water treatment practitioners, and government agencies in policy- making, and in advocating for clean, green, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient UV LED systems manufactured in Canada as alternative to chlorine and boiling for water disinfection in Indigenous, and marginalized rural communities worldwide.

Experimental verification of a 3D Particle-in-Cell code applied to industrial ion sources

The sources of ions in a particle accelerator are called an ion source. These are composed of a chamber with a plasma (collection of ions and electrons) generated inside. The ions within this chamber are pulled out as a beam into particle accelerator, where they are eventually used for semiconductor manufacturing, production of radioisotopes for cancer research, and experimental verification of modern theories. D-Pace sells these ion sources, but the dynamics of the plasma is not well understood, which means improving their design is difficult. By modelling the plasma with modern, high-performance simulations, D-Pace can better understand how these ion sources work, and therefore better design improvements to output beam quantity and quality. The purpose of this project is to adapt these simulations for application to these ion sources.

The physiologic effects of Capsaicinoid ingestion on human metabolism and exercise performance

Additional research is required to fully understand the effects of Capsaicinoids, a supplement that contains the active ingredient in hot peppers. Previous studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce appetite and weight. However, there is lacking information regarding the effects of this supplement on cardiovascular health and exercise performance. The intern will be responsible for collecting and interpreting various physiological measurements from participants, where half will be randomly chosen to consume the supplement, while the other half will be given a placebo. The participants will not be made aware of which product they will be receiving. This study will provide the partner organization with a greater understanding of the potential of this product. It will also permit them to develop a more strategic marketing plan that will allow consumers to make an informed decision based on newly acquired knowledge with regards to this supplement.