Students and faculty awarded for research projects at Applied Research Day
On Friday, April 12, Learners from the Electrical Engineering Technology program captured first-place at Algonquin College’s April 2024 Applied Research Day.
Students Zachary Franks, Kristopher Kshonze, Jacob Malcolmson and Tyler Ross developed their project, titled “Ingenium Automatic Lighting Display Case,” with an eye towards the sustainability of museum artifacts. According to the team, long-term museum lighting can cast ultraviolet (UV) rays that may damage objects over time through a photochemical reaction. This leads to museums limiting the amount of time an artifact can be displayed to prevent possible irreversible damage.
To combat this, the team worked closely with Ingenium to develop an adaptable lighting system that monitors ambient external lighting. The system can then adjust the internal lighting as needed, lowering the overall amount of UV exposure and potentially offering a significant extension of the display capabilities of artifacts.
This was just one of the dozens of applied research projects from around the College to be showcased at Applied Research Day. The student groups came from many different programs to tackle a variety of real-world issues in collaboration with actual industry clients.
“I am absolutely amazed by the incredible achievements of our learners demonstrated here today…,” said Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé. “Each and every one of you has transformed your creative ideas into tangible realities. Your dedication and ingenuity have truly impressed us all, and I couldn’t be prouder of what you have accomplished.”
The teams exhibited their projects in the Ottawa Campus’ DARE District, where a panel of judges comprised of Algonquin College employees and industry partners met with and discussed various elements of the research projects. While there could only be one winner, each of the student projects represented the capabilities, commitment and perseverance of Algonquin College’s remarkable learners.
“In just a few months, you have made enormous strides in your projects and achieved extraordinary results. Your hard work and commitment have paid off, and you should all stand tall with immense pride in your remarkable accomplishments,” said Brulé.
The event also recognized the two runner-up teams. Second place was awarded to the “UXD/UID Mobile App Project” group, composed of learners Zarmeen Malik, Vanessa Isabela Denny, Yik Hang (Vicky) Fong, Aiden Famili and Yuka Ishii. Third place winners Tanner Green, Dawson Peddie, Thomas Stanton, Nate Smith, Uluhan Orhan and Colin Clothier were likewise recognized for their “Inspect This Car Educational/Marketing Videos” project.
In addition to the student project awards, this year’s event was the first to also feature the Research Achievement Award, which recognizes the remarkable research achievements of AC faculty. Ten projects were featured, with research subjects including the optimization of Canada Post’s vehicle fleet management, nutrient recovery in biogas generation, aviation safety technology and more.
The winning project — titled “Applying Neurovine Concussion Recovery Technology to Support Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence” — was led by professors Dr. Alyssa Ferns and Dr. Pasan Fernando and research team members Diana McGlinchey, Zeyu Wan and Anna Van Leeuwen. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common among survivors of intimate partner violence, though many remain unaware of their condition and face barriers to medical assistance. The project, aimed at understanding and providing accessible treatment for these injuries, highlighted the pilot testing of Neurovine’s app and sensor band for survivors suffering from mTBI.
Thank you to all learners, faculty and industry partners for making this Applied Research Day such a success.