Community joins UOIT to experience research excellence

Energy sustainability and the replacement of clinical judgment by technology explored by award-winning researchers  

OSHAWA, ON. - Community members joined students for an evening that featured two University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) professors who presented highlights of their innovative and relevant research. The February 17 event is an annual tradition at UOIT where two Research Excellence Award recipients are asked to present their research and then celebrate their accomplishments with the campus community.

"On behalf of UOIT, I would like to congratulate Dr. Rosen and Dr. McGregor on their awards and their commitment to research with a global impact," said Dr. Michael Owen, associate provost, Research. "Their work is a shining example of the research excellence UOIT is committed to and we are pleased to be able to share this with the broader community."

Attendees gathered at the Regent Theatre in Oshawa, Ontario and enjoyed 20-minute presentations by Dr. Marc Rosen, professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, who discussed Energy Sustainability: A Critical Quest followed by Dr. Carolyn McGregor, Canada Research Chair in Health Informatics and professor, faculties of Business and Information Technology, and Health Sciences who delivered a talk entitled Can and Will Clinical Judgment be Replaced by Technology?.

Dr. Rosen's presentation discussed how sustainability is a critically important goal for human activity and development. Energy sustainability is a fundamental link with overall sustainability given the breadth, scope and frequency of energy use; its importance in economic development and living standards; and the significant impacts energy systems have on the environment. His presentation addressed a variety of factors of energy sustainability from an engineering perspective including appropriate selection of energy resources and carriers; efficiency enhancement; and a holistic approach to environmental stewardship. A special focus was placed on climate change as it poses one of the greatest challenges facing humanity and is greatly affected by energy utilization. The presentation was based on research conducted by Dr. Rosen's team, which tackles the broad objectives of sustainability and aims to identify sustainable energy solutions and their applications for developed and developing countries.

Critical care units across the globe boast state-of-the art medical equipment that constantly monitor vital organs. However, these units have arrived at a critical crossroad because the ability of the equipment to gather information has outpaced the ability to aggregate and interpret the data in a clinically meaningful way.

Dr. McGregor discussed how new computing approaches may address this growing gap and with that potentially replace clinical judgment may with technology. With one out of every 14 Canadian mothers giving birth prematurely, many happening in the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy, these early births are responsible for three quarters of all infant deaths in Canada. If the infant survives, they may develop lifelong problems in the crucial days and weeks after birth. Neonatal intensive care units have state-of-the-art medical devices to monitor and support premature babies, however, neonatologists are increasingly weighed down by vast quantities of manually charted data. Not to mention, 86 per cent of the information are false alarms from medical devices. Recent research shows the conditions these babies can develop tell the same subtle story through their progression, which is not detectable through the human eye until the impact is severe enough for manual detection. Early detection may result in reduced mortality, mobility, shorter recovery time and hospital stays. Dr. McGregor presented new research directions to detect earlier the onset of devastating events. In addition, they have the potential to provide rural and remote communities with greater options for advanced critical care within their own community health-care facilities.

In a little more than seven years, UOIT has gained a solid reputation as a research-intensive university; establishing its first spin-off company, filing more than 30 patents in various jurisdictions and receiving seven prestigious Canada Research Chairs and five Industrial Research Chairs. UOIT research is focused on five primary research themes, all of which emphasize a multidisciplinary approach: Applied Bioscience; Automotive, Materials and Manufacturing; Community and Social Wellness; Information and Communication; and Sustainable Energy. With these themes closely aligned with both federal and provincial research and innovation priorities in the context of Advantage Canada's Federal Science and Technology Strategy and the Ontario Innovation Agenda, UOIT is well-positioned to positively impact the Canadian economy and our social well-being.

-30-

About UOIT 

As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's more than 7,400 undergraduate and graduate students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Education; Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; Science; and Social Science and Humanities. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including seven Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
289.928.0268
melissa.levy@uoit.ca