UOIT student team and researchers in the spotlight at OCE Discovery 2011

TORONTO, ON - For the second consecutive year, a student team from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) was among the finalists at the prestigious Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Discovery Connections Competition. The annual event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre brings together key players from industry, academia, government, the investment community as well as entrepreneurs and students from across Ontario to pursue collaboration opportunities.

Against a competitive field in the Best Connections Project (university level), UOIT was one of only five teams invited to make a presentation in front of a panel of judges and the full OCE Discovery 2011 audience. Teams were given just five minutes to outline their Connections project and how their work with the industry partner resulted in noteworthy outcomes and usable solutions. The UOIT team project entitled Active Aerodynamics (AERO) was presented by Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) students Chris Chimienti, Karl Marcotte and Gregory Walker. The team conceived a novel product designed to increase vehicle stability and performance, then pitched their industry partners to support the development of the prototype. The Active Aerodynamics project was supported by ASECO Integrated Systems Ltd. of Oakville, Ontario and Global Emission Systems Inc. of Whitby, Ontario.

"Coupled with last year's overall victory by the UOIT Connections team at OCE Discovery Days, this is another outstanding achievement by UOIT students," said Dr. Yuping He, assistant professor, FEAS, who is also the team's faculty advisor. "It is gratifying to see the hard work and creativity of our students recognized in such a way by OCE, the pre-eminent research-to-commercialization agency in Ontario."

"Our innovative and creative students continue to excel as they are challenged to push the boundaries of thinking and learning and solve technological problems," said Dr. Ann Dulhanty, manager, Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization (OTTC), UOIT. "UOIT continues to demonstrate it is a serious player in the areas of innovation and the generation of opportunities for undergraduate students to connect with industry and make a difference in the world around them,"

In addition to the participation of the UOIT student team, the university also participated in two booths at OCE Discovery 11, Canada's largest innovation and commercialization event.The first booth exhibit entitled Venture through Durham represented a joint effort involving the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance (DSEA), local economic development agencies, UOIT, Durham College and five companies from Durham Region. UOIT was also part of the Ontario Partnership for Innovation and Commercialization's (OPIC) booth that profiled a number of projects that have received funding through OPIC. UOIT is part of OPIC - a virtual network of specialized technology transfer experts located at seven member institutions that enhances knowledge and technology transfer capacity by sharing expertise, educational resources, and partners with clients both within those institutions and in their surrounding communities.

Between these two booths UOIT had a number of displays that featured information about the General Motors of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence along with technologies under development by various faculty members and students:

• Dr. Mikael Eklund, assistant professor, FEAS and UOIT Master of Science student Rishikesan Kamaleswaran (Computer Science) presented the latest achievements made on the Artemis Project (a research project led by UOIT's Dr. Carolyn McGregor, Canada Research Chair in Health Informatics and associate professor who is cross-appointed to the Faculties of Business and Information Technology and Health Sciences). The goal of the Artemis Project is to help make sense of a constant stream of data collected from critically ill premature babies. When Artemis emerges from the research stage, it will enable clinicians to recognize subtle changes in the health of neonatal patients, reliably predict deterioration in condition and take quick medical intervention;
• Dr. Hossam Gabbar, professor, Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, outlined an energy and utility management system that is a collaborative project with a local company;
• A display showcasing MindSight, a health informatics technology developed by Dr. Wendy Stanyon, associate professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, to help society effectively manage the serious patient care issues that surround mental illness; and
• Dr. Calin Zamfirescu, instructor and postdoctoral fellow, FEAS, presented details on various approaches on alternative energy on behalf of colleagues.

Garnering close to 2,500 attendees and more than 325 exhibitors, Discovery is a showcase of leading-edge technologies, best practices and research from sectors such as health, manufacturing, digital media and cleantech, including energy, environment and water.

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Media contact
Bryan Oliver
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Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2209
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Bryan.oliver@uoit.ca