Since the introduction of radio and television, fans have had a connection to those they know in the media. These connections are called “parasocial relationships” and they are one-sided relationships, usually between a fan and a celebrity, that is usually not face-to-face. With the advent of social media, any person, or company, can become a […]

Mara Lake in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada, experienced a large algal bloom in 2010. Such algal blooms can be harmful to the health of humans and livestock, and can damage the ecological, recreational, and resource values of the lake. The algal bloom was associated with increased nutrient inputs from human land uses […]

Assessing dangerous avalanche conditions requires a reliable stream of weather and snowpack data, which can be difficult and expensive to collect in many remote areas of Canada. Snowpack conditions can be simulated in these areas by coupling weather forecast models with physical snowpack models, however, this method has had limited adoption by avalanche forecasters. The […]

Driven by heightened environmental awareness, the construction industry increasingly strives to utilize materials such as timber with a low-carbon footprint in their life cycle. High-strength mass-timber products, innovative ductile connections, and fast computer-numerically-controlled pre-fabrication, combined with changing legislation create better opportunities to also build tall timber structures. However, low ductility and limited tensile strength of […]

Avcorp Industries provides the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers with supply chain solutions and repair support. Yield optimization, predictive maintenance, and equipment calibration are needs that are widespread throughout the manufacturing industry. The root cause of failures in product testing is often difficult to determine particularly when the failure signals are sparse relative to the available […]

Wastewater can be damaging to the environment if left untreated. Microorganisms play important roles in removing harmful pollutants, such as organics and nutrients, within wastewater treatment plants. For instance, certain wastewater bioreactor designs promote the growth of specialized microbes that sequester phosphorus into their cells, which prevents harmful algal blooms in natural waters and enables […]

The oceans cover the majority of our planet’s surface but much of their depths are still a mystery. Improvements in technology have allowed for the development of instruments on underwater platforms and autonomous gliders that are able to survey the world’s oceans. One instrument, called an AZFP (acoustic zooplankton fish profiler), emits high-frequency sonar pulses […]

Forests in British Columbia have significant areas that need to be managed to limit the danger of fire and disease. Under current management approaches, there are few cost-effective options available to areas that are not already regularly harvested. A holistic analysis of pelletization of these materials could show that the sale of wood pellets, as […]

In this project, a comprehensive testing station for impairment screening will be implemented. The station includes an eye testing goggle, movement detectors, biophysiological measurement sensors, and an integration algorithm to integrate the result of measurement to diagnose the status and type of impairment. The hardware technology resides at the industry partner while this project is […]

Climate change has major present-day and anticipated consequences for Canadian and global food security. Increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels can lead to decreased plant nutritional quality: more fixed carbon and sugar means that plants have less protein and micronutrients per gram. Additionally, increased CO2 levels can exacerbate insect pests on crops because elevated CO2 interferes […]

Tendencies towards workaholism have been linked to poor health and increased risk for diabetes and other chronic condition. A health improvement program that is interwoven within the workplace and leverages the ubiquitous use of smartphones has good potential of benefiting the workforce. The aim of this research project is to evaluate Transform, a digital health […]

Despite advances in biotechnology and organic synthesis, plants remain the main source of many of high-value bioactive compounds used in the medical, fragrance and food industries. Increasing demand for bioactive plants (e.g., cannabis and extracts thereof) require robust authentication approaches to verify feedstock, identify product adulteration and ensure product safety for consumers. This research aims […]