Innovative Projects Realized

Supporting LGBTQ2AS+ Newcomers for Employment in Canada

The purpose of this project is to develop and expand the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomer’s (EMCN) career development processes and supports for LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees in their Rainbow Refuge and Bridging and Training Programs. Settlement practitioners and social workers have identified LGBTQ+ newcomers as especially vulnerable to systemic barriers when applying for work upon arrival in Canada. EMCN seeks to better understand the nature of these barriers in order to enhance its programs and offer specialized support that sexual minority newcomers need to be successful in their search for employment, retaining employment, and pursuing successful careers.

Mechanical control of DNA methylation in regenerative cells

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) exposed to stiff environment lose regeneration potential and acquire a scar-producing myofibroblast (MF) phenotype. We published that 4-weeks culture on soft-tissue-like surfaces not only prevents acute MF features but imprints memory that protects MSC from subsequent mechanical MF activation. Epigenetic methylation of DNA by methyltransferases (DNMTs) memorizes MF phenotype in disease. We hypothesize that mechanical environment controls MF memory by DNA methylation in MSC. We will subject MSC to various mechanical stress conditions in culture and test the effect on global DNA methylation, DNMT expression. Our data will establish mechanical factors as regulators of epigenetic memory in MSC. We will reveal how mechanics regulate DNA methylation to design therapeutic MSC with epigenetically stabilized regeneration potential and suppressed MF activation. Ultimately, we aim to improve the health of Canadians who are impacted by scarring of large area burn wounds.

Méthode de diagnostic multimodal des troubles de l’apprentissage par mesures physiologiques, à l’aide de la réalité virtuelle et de l’intelligence artificielle.

Les diagnostiques des troubles de l’apprentissage sont onéreux, soumis à la subjectivité de l’évaluateur, et les délais d’obtention d’un diagnostic sont assez long pour assurer une longue file d’attente. Le projet de recherche a pour objectif de diagnostiquer de manière quantitative le TDAH ainsi que la Dyslexie/Dysorthographie. Pour ce faire, le patient sera soumis à une expérience de réalité virtuelle conçue pour mettre en lumière les symptômes du trouble visé, et au cours de laquelle des données biométriques seront acquises : Signaux électriques du cerveau, comportement oculaire, mouvement et position du corps, performances face aux tests. Ces données permettront d’extraire des schémas caractéristiques des troubles de l’apprentissage afin d’y associer un score représentant la probabilité que le patient soit atteint du trouble de l’apprentissage diagnostiqué.

Design and evaluation of modular exoskeleton for integration with Agilik knee actuator

The proposed project aims to develop an assistive device that helps mitigate crouch gait in people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) by integrating the Bionic Power Agilik system with a tuneable exoskeleton device to explore the optimal knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) parameters for ultimate clinical use of the Agilik. The exoskeleton device will enable more people with CP to use the Agilik system by decreasing cost of the device and improving quality of care. We will approach this project in 3 phases: (1) design development, (2) prototyping and fabrication, and (3) characterization and evaluation. This project aims to improve health outcomes for children with CP and contribute to long-term gait and joint health improvement. Through this project we will potentially increase access to healthcare technologies for Canadians with CP and decrease long-term Provincial healthcare expenditures while increasing mobility independence and quality of life.

Mise en forme des biocomposites bois-polymère par impression 3D

Des quantités énormes de Résidus Industriels Forestiers (RIF) sont produites au Canada et ailleurs dans le monde. Les industries peinent à trouver preneur pour ces sous-produits du bois qui sont disposés par incinération avec des coûts élevés. Le recyclage et la valorisation des RIF permettaient d’améliorer la chaine de valeur des produits forestiers et réduire leurs impacts environnementaux. Afin de répondre à ce défi majeur, l’impression 3D présente une avenue de recherche interdisciplinaire qui permettrait à la fois de répondre à la problématique liée à la production et à la gestion des RIF et à celle en lien avec les défis de produire des biomatériaux ayant les caractéristiques physiques, mécaniques, morphologiques et esthétiques de hautes qualités.
Le lien entre la structure, le matériau et les paramètres de processus présente toujours un intérêt de recherche. En effet, l’étude des paramètres d’impression sur les performances des produits finis est un sujet crucial pour améliorer la qualité des imprimées. Cependant, il est très difficile d’obtenir les meilleures caractéristiques des pièces sans comprendre l’impact des paramètres de processus.

Technology Integration in the Natural Resources Sector

At the request of our community partners, Selkirk Innovates would like to refresh and ensure continuity with internships required to support our ongoing technology integration work in the natural resources sectors critical to the Kootenay environment and economy, specifically in forestry, fisheries, hydrology/ geothermal, wildfire mitigation and Mining/Minerals and with particular focus on applying geomatics and computing expertise to solve partner problems and/or enhance productivity.

In-situ semi-passive phycoremediation of highly contaminated mine water in N and S compounds

The mining industry is constantly seeking to limit its impact on the environment. To this end, new solutions for the removal of dissolved contaminants from mining waters must be developed. These must, in addition to treatment capacity allowing effluent to be discharged into the natural environment, be low in energy and chemical reagent consumption. Many studies have proposed biological or phytoremediation alternatives for mining effluents. These processes may, however, be sensitive to the presence of various inhibitors making them ineffective. Phycoremediation may then prove to be an interesting alternative. Although it has yielded interesting results for wastewater treatment, the use of an algal process is not widespread in the mining industry. Due to the high growth rate and the presence of many different sorption sites on the surface, algae can remove a variety of contaminants. The reagent and energy consumption are therefore much lower than that of conventional active processes. In addition, algae are able to establish symbiotic links with plants and microorganisms, providing them with the nutrients needed for growth or increased resistance to the presence of inhibitors, thus optimizing the treatment process…

Implementation of CLT Connection Mechanical Properties in Alternative Load Path Analysis

The investigation of the behaviour of cross-laminated timber connections under extreme force combinations is crucial for assessment of the safety of tall timber structures under unexpected circumstances, such as an explosion or loss of structural elements due to fire. Previously gathered laboratory data proved that the novel, more cost-, material-, and time-efficient method is a viable way of investigating this connection behaviour. The project will normalize and disseminate this method to accelerate the rate of data acquisition in the field of research. In parallel, design guidance will be developed to process the outcomes to be used in practical engineering design. Finally, both of the above achievements will be put into practice in a proof of concept building analysis.

AI-powered smart glasses for sensing and recognition of human-robot walking environments

The project is to develop an environment recognition system using computer vision and deep learning techniques (i.e., image or video classification of walking environments) and to further develop a functional prototype of an AI-powered glasses. The designed system could achieve high prediction accuracy on real-world visual data and be efficient for onboard real-time inference with embedded devices. The predictions generated by the recognition system can support the development of next-generation environment-adaptive controllers for robotic leg prostheses and exoskeletons, which would turn out to help older adults or individuals with mobility impairments regain mobility and independence through powered locomotor assistance.

Towards accurate 5G assisted management of UAV swarm crowded urban airspace

Low-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight operations are regulated by safety protocols provided by aviation authorities, particularly in the vicinity of crowded airspace e.g. airports. With a fast-growing market for and penetration of commercial UAVs, the possibility of UAV intrusions within controlled airspace is expected to increase, despite these regulations. At lower altitudes, this increases the risk of UAV collisions with aircrafts, or interference from any other undesirable UAV activity near airports like Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the second busiest airport in Canada. This project will develop a novel system for accurate localization of UAVs utilizing existing 5G network equipment and infrastructure deployed across UBC campus. The proposed research will consider both 3-dimensional (3D) mobility of individual UAVs in crowded urban airspace, and UAV swarm. The project will culminate in an optimal design of 5G based enhanced unmanned aerial system (UAS) traffic management (UTM) system architecture that uses legacy interfaces for detecting and identifying UAVs. This includes development and testing of 5G enabled detection framework for flying UAVs at low-altitude, which requires in-flight authentication and authorization.

Creating an inclusive culture: Building tech workplaces that work

Digital Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to growing and developing Nova Scotia’s digital technologies industry by facilitating connections, providing professional development and capacity-building opportunities, and promoting the digital sector. Digital Nova Scotia supports the tech sector as it continues to grow, evolve, and thrive. As part of this work, Digital Nova Scotia aims to support greater diversity and inclusion in Nova Scotia’s tech sector. Workplaces with diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams experience increased productivity, higher employee retention rates, and overall superior performance in comparison to competitors.
The two major challenges facing the tech sector in Nova Scotia are:
1. Nova Scotia struggles to identify the cultural change factors needed in the tech sector to recruit, hire, and retain equity deserving groups.
2. Nova Scotia struggles to implement effective cultural change to remove barriers to recruiting, hiring, retaining equity deserving groups.

The research being conducted in this internship will help Digital Nova Scotia identify approaches and techniques being conducted in other jurisdictions and industries. It will also identify an approach for conducting a larger study of factors that contribute to the attraction and retention of diverse technical talent, ideally supported by a Mitacs Accelerate grant. This information will ultimately help cultivate a competitive advantage in our region’s tech sector and help Nova Scotia grow its ICT industries.

Net zero summer internship

TAS has set an ambitious goal of reaching net zero by 2045 with one ground up development and one repositioning asset to be net zero by 2030. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside our project delivery team supporting, innovating, and strategizing pathways for TAS to reach our Net Zero impact goals across the portfolio. The following roles require a mix of innovative, data driven, out-of-the-box thinking supported by the ability to support rigorous technical analysis.

Intern #1: The summer VDA intern will play a key role in working towards developing a costed, embodied-carbon virtual library of building assemblies to help drive low impact development.

Intern #2: The summer NZP intern plays a key role in working towards developing a net zero carbon project strategy – integrating acquisition, product design, procurement, construction and delivery.