Innovative Projects Realized

Strategic Planning for Cumulative Impact Assessment in Metlakatla Territory

The proposed research program is a planning process that will help to enable the Metlakatla Development Corporation to meaningfully participate in regional development. There are 29 major projects proposed in the traditional territory of the Metlakatla First Nation and these projects will have significant costs and benefits. The current project-based cumulative effects assessment as required in environmental assessment legislation is not able to adequately address potentially significant environmental and socioeconomic changes that accumulate from individual projects. Our research team will develop a methodology for project evaluation that incorporates Metlakatla values and goals into the review process, assesses regional cumulative effects of proposed projects in Metlakatla traditional territory and develops strategies to manage adverse impacts and maximize potential benefits. The proposed project will provide the Metlakatla First Nation with a valuable framework to participate in future industrial development in a manner that meets their economic, environmental, cultural, social, and health goals and objectives.

Incorporating the offspring sex into estimates of reproductive costs for women in pre-industrial Quebec

Chez les espèces à reproduction sexuée, les individus peuvent être divisés en deux catégories : les mâles d’un côté, les femelles de l’autre. Parmi les espèces où les mâles sont plus grands et lourds que les femelles, les besoins énergétiques masculins sont généralement plus élevés. Une telle différence peut apparaître très tôt dans le développement. Par exemple, chez l’humain, les femmes qui attendent un fils consomment 10% d’énergie en plus pendant la grossesse par rapport à celles qui attendent une fille. Une question clé en biologie évolutive est de savoir si ces différences entre sexes conduisent à des coûts en termes de valeur sélective pour les parents. Dans quelques populations préindustrielles, les femmes qui ont davantage de fils ont une longévité réduite, mais une telle relation est absente dans la plupart des cas. Il est possible que le sexe des enfants ait des conséquences sur la reproduction future de la mère plutôt que sur sa longévité. Ce projet vise à examiner pour la première fois cette idée en utilisant un jeu de données à long-terme issu d’une population préindustrielle au Québec. Ainsi, ce projet propose d’intégrer pleinement le sexe des enfants dans l’étude des coûts de la reproduction.

Use of sound to affect fish movement to reduce bycatch and impingement.

Canada’s fishing and hydropower industries struggle to reduce the harming of fish not used by either industry, known as bycatch or incidental take, and are under increasing regulation to limit these impacts. Working with industrial partners the interns will test acoustic technologies to drive unwanted fish away from capture areas while preserving the desired catch for the fishing industry and reducing clogging of hydropower intake screens. Our two partner organizations have been trying to develop this technology but need our participation to bring it to biological reality. Upon successful completion this project will enable our partners to market their technology to industries that are vital to the Canadian economy.

L2M – Addressing Challenges in Healthcare Workforce Recruitment and Career Advancement: A Comprehensive Solution for Healthcare Organizations, Newcomers, and Non-medical Education Background Individuals

A Comprehensive Solution for Healthcare Organizations, Newcomers, and Non-medical Education Background Individuals.

The product aims to address the root cause problem of bias in healthcare workforce recruitment and create a more inclusive and efficient healthcare workforce in Canada through the implementation of an AI-powered Healthcare Recruitment and Career Journey Solution.

Diagnostic Use of Non-Invasive Intelligent Wearables for Veterinary Healthcare

Wearable non-invasive devices have emerged as useful tools for tracking physiological data from companion animals. By combining this data with machine learning techniques, it is possible to proactively detect disorders and prompt owners to seek medical attention. This research aims to asses the efficacy of this approach by using wearable devices for continuous monitoring and intermittent data collection for remote veterinary healthcare.

L2M Validate East Health program – Market Analysis for a Real-Time Viral Detection Breathalyzer

We proposed a breath analyzer to identify viruses by utilizing an affordable fiber coupler. This sensor captures the optical absorbance spectrum, which contains the unique signatures of viruses present in the breath. The device is user-friendly: simply exhale into the analyzer to receive results. Our product addresses the traditional challenges of virus detection, eliminating high costs, lengthy wait times for results, and invasive sampling methods. This L2M Validate program allows the intern to obtain market data for this product.

Treatment of mine-influenced water using a constructed wetland at Mount Polley Mine

Canadian companies are responsible for nearly half of mining activities worldwide, and mining operations are expanding in Canada. Two critical aspects of mining include treating mine-influenced water and establishing natural ecosystems on previously mined lands. These goals can often be reached simultaneously with constructed wetlands that can reduce elevated parameters from surface water while providing critical habitat for wildlife. My proposal addresses the three major knowledge gaps in mine-influenced water treatment using constructed wetlands. First, I will track mineral processing and wetland treatment efficiency using remote-sensing, a developing technology that could be expanded to monitor mine tailings facilities on a regional scale. Second, I will elucidate the role of micro-eukaryotic communities in mediating treatment of mine influenced water; applying metagenomics technology in collaboration with the Barcode of Life Project. I propose to determine the ability of the constructed wetland as a long-term treatment system; especially considering the advantages of a passive system (no power needed, fewer infrastructure requirements) compared to an active system

Améliorer et faciliter le processus de création d’horaires des apprenants en GMFU

La création d’horaires des médecins résidents à la Clinique Maizerets – GMF universitaire (GMFU) est une tâche lourde, fastidieuse, complexe, récurrente et nécessaire. Le processus actuel repose sur une confection manuelle par quelques rares humains dont l’intelligence et le temps pourraient être utilisés à bien meilleur escient en soutien aux apprenants. Les règles et contraintes innombrables issues de conventions, de règles d’agrément, de programmes et de balises locales rendent la tâche surhumaine et certainement non efficiente. Plus encore, la confection d’horaires se faisant manuellement, ce savoir-faire est détenu par un nombre très restreint de personnes, qui, en cas d’absence ou de départ, impacteront lourdement le déroulement général de toutes les activités du GMFU. Ce projet vise à optimiser et automatiser la confection d’horaires des résidents apprenants à l’aide de techniques avancées en modélisation mathématique et en optimisation combinatoire. L’objectif est de munir les planificateurs d’un outil informatique d’aide à la décision automatisé qui leur fournit des horaires de très bonne qualité en un temps raisonnable tout en rencontrant les objectifs escomptés et en respectant la panoplie de contraintes régissant la confection de ces horaires. L’outil offrira également un module de réordonnancement pour réagir à certains évènements perturbateurs pouvant survenir durant la période de planification (absence non planifiée, surcharge, etc.).

Breton Group Internship – Supporting Breton Group’s expansion into new domestic and international markets through marketing and communications work

Expanding and supporting the entry of Breton Group into new domestic markets through marketing and communications work.

Embedded systems design for a novel environmental monitoring system

Spero Analytics is an IoT startup which deploys wireless environmental monitoring systems for the waste management and oil and gas industries. The core of our technology is a proprietary mesh network which can transmit data from sensors without the need for cellular infrastructure, using little energy, and requiring minimal maintenance. This project will focus on optimizing the design of the hardware for our system and will include: (a) designing, reviewing, and debugging circuit diagrams, (b) evaluating and testing different types of sensors, (c) programming the hardware to ensure the system works as intended, and (d) updating Spero’s codebase. Depending on the pace of the project, the internet may also be involved in architecting data transmission to the cloud and some basic UX design.

Towards an understanding of the Contemporary Engineering Profession: Occupational outcomes of engineering graduates by industry sector, gender, race, and location of training in Ontario

The range of contemporary engineering careers extend far beyond those closely tied to the traditional disciplines taught in engineering schools. Using Canadian Census 2021 data, this study will examine the occupational outcomes of engineering graduates residing in Ontario, with specific attention to the differences between industry sectors of employment and along lines of race, gender, and location of training. Findings from this study will contribute to the advocacy efforts and member support services of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, a membership-based organization representing engineering graduates across Ontario.

L2M – Clinical Development of a Novel NanoString Assay Predicts Survival and Clinical Outcomes in Myelofibrosis Patients

Myelofibrosis is a chronic and life-threatening blood disease. There is a need for accurate risk stratification approaches to guide personalized medicine decisions for these patients. To address this need, we developed a non-invasive blood-based test that is cost-effective, scalable and accurate. Through the Lab2Market program we will explore the market and develop the business case for our innovation to ensure it reaches patients. The program will foster entrepreneurship to stimulate economic and societal benefit beginning at the grassroots level of R&D occurring at Canadian academic institutions.