Lethbridge College’s Inaugural Applied Research Conference enlightening
Lethbridge College held their Inaugural Applied Research Conference May 14 to help showcase staff and programs.
“The Research with Impact event provided an opportunity for Lethbridge College to profile our faculty and staff researchers and their applied research stories,” said Dr. Kenny Corscadden, Associate Vice President Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “Our guests were from within the college community and from the local area.”
The conference kicked off with opening remarks and an address by the keynote speaker, Ray Hoemsen, Executive Director of Research Partnerships and Innovation at Red River College.
Following his remarks, Dr. Faron Ellis, Research Chair in the Citizen Society Research Lab, provided a brief history of electoral politics and themes within that history in an attempt to place the results of the 2019 Alberta provincial election in context. Connie Lyon, a faculty member for the Centre of Applied Arts and Sciences, then shared information about qualitative study to explore if self-talk is or can be present in the context of career enhancements.
After the self-talk presentation concluded, Ron Hammerstedt, a faculty member in the Centre for Technology Environment and Design, shared information about a collaborative project between the college and the city that will use research to better understand human-wildlife connectivity and contact.
Following Hammerstedt’s presentation,Dr. Zied Khiari, a Research Scientist at the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, presented his results from a study called Optimization of Aerobic Bioconversion of Aquaculture Solid Waste Into Liquid Fertilizer. The study, Dr. Khiari said, worked to identify the optimal settings to digest aquaculture solid waste through a bioprocess involving microbial-assisted aerobics and bacteria.
Things including the effects of pH, temperature, and duration were investigated and compared in the study. Dr. Khiari ultimately concluded that temperature and pH were important factors in efficient processing of aquaculture solid waste.
Two concurrent sessions followed lunch in the Garden Court Restaurant and Session A featured two different presentations focusing on law enforcement. One presentation, led by Dr. Jeanine Webber, talked about the Toronto Police Service’s Neighborhood Policing while the other presentation, which was given by Cate Rigaux, touched upon the challenges that are faced by the police force in Western Canada concerning the recruitment and retention of cadets from visible minority groups.
Other presentations in Session A included The Courage to Change Project by Sheila French, Lacrosse and the Native Sons of Canada in Late 1920’s Alberta by Dave McMurray, Care, Identity, and Agency among Parents of Gender Diverse Children by Dr. Jennifer Davis, and The Virtual Home by Cherie Reitzel.
Concurrent Session B, on the other hand, commenced with a presentation by Dr. Sophie Kerneis titled Why Alberta Prairie Plants can be a source for new antibiotics?. Dr. Kumari Alka then presented Molecular profiling of microbial community in aquaponics and aerobic bioreactor and that presentation was followed by Mandy Gabruch’s presentation Is it Feasible for Western Canada’s Cow-Calf Producers to Enter the EU Market Channel?
The last two presentations in Session B were Outdoor Play - what are the realities in Southern Alberta? By Dr. Hanako Shimamura and Experiences of Physically Literate Children: A Qualitative Bio-Ecological Analysis by Simon Schaerz.
Digital and Media Communications Instructor Kris Hodgson-Bright kicked off the final session of the day with his presentation 360 Degree Storytelling. Dr. Aitazaz Farooque then presented Development of Precision Agriculture Technologies: A Pathway Towards Sustainable Potato Production.
Dr. Rezvan Karimi followed that presentation by sharing her work in Analysis of soil wetting patterns in subsurface drip irrigation systems - indoor alfalfa experiments. The two concluding presentations of the day were Potential for precision Irrigation in Southern Alberta by Dr. Willemijn Appels and Model Development for Real Time Pivot Control by Dr. Kenny Corscadden.
At the same time as Session B, Chef Rob Sonnenberg of Lethbridge College’s Culinary Services offered a sensory tasting session in the Garden Court Restaurant where products from the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence were analyzed. The session was greatly enjoyed by those in attendance.
“The attendees seemed to be pleasantly surprised by the variety of topics presented by their colleagues. There were lots of questions after each talk and discussions in the hallways. I received positive feedback from some industry partners and I think this could be the start of a new tradition.” explained Dr. Willemijn Appels, Mueller Applied Research Chair in Irrigation Science, of what the conference had to offer.
Following the closing remarks and networking, the conference participants were invited to take guided tours of the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence and Innovation Space research facilities.
“At Lethbridge College, we are committed to fostering a culture that supports applied research and facilitates pathways for the transfer and mobilization of knowledge from research,” Dr. Corscadden said. “Applied research activity is strongly encouraged and supported as a means to enhance professional development, share knowledge and strengthen our academic capabilities regionally, nationally and internationally. We work closely with industry partners on projects and these collaborative partnerships enhance learning opportunities and serve as a catalyst for knowledge transfer within and beyond our college community for economic impact.”