Durham College hosts second annual Research Day

Close to 100 Durham College students, faculty and staff were joined by community, business and funding partners today as the college hosted its second annual Research Day at the Oshawa campus.

Titled Prosperity through Innovation the event provided a first-hand look at the applied research currently being conducted by the college in areas of importance to the local and provincial economies.

“Through the creativity and expertise of our faculty, staff and students, the Office of Research Services and Innovation (ORSI)  has advanced and improved the college’s applied research agenda significantly over the past couple of years, supporting several unique and innovative applied research projects – truly helping all of us prosper through innovation,” said Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic. “I think we can all agree that today is all about success – of ORSI, of our joint research projects and collaborations, of the relationships we have built together, and to where we will be in a month or even a year from now.”

Offering 12 breakout sessions the day showcased research on topics such the development of an electric, battery-powered ARGO vehicle with reduced audible presence and limited carbon emissions; a cost-effective remote monitoring system for small hydro-powered electricity generation installations; practical advice for faculty and institutional researchers about how to identify and submit strong applications for research grants; the examination and analysis of the college experience for 17 Aboriginal students at a college in northern Ontario; and much more.

The college also celebrated the success of ORSI and recognized its student and faculty researchers, Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Research Ethics Board (REB) and Research Ethics Advisory Board (REAB).

Since opening its doors two and a half years ago, ORSI has made incredible strides in its pursuit of an applied research agenda that responds to the business and industry need for practical solutions through applied research and innovation activities while providing real-world experiences for students .This includes entering into several research agreements with local small- and medium-sized businesses in the environmental, energy, social sciences and humanities fields; developing a strategic research plan; forming ethics boards; and receiving significant research funding from several government agencies.

“There is an incredible commitment to research here on campus – from our student and faculty researchers to our RAC and from our REB to our REAB,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This is of course in addition to the ORSI staff who truly make our accomplishments possible. Their collective dedication to the pursuit of research excellence is something we should all celebrate.”

As part of the day’s agenda, the following students were honoured for their contribution to Durham College as student researchers:

  • Akua Agadzi;
  • Darryl Antler;
  • Daniel Araujo;
  • Breanne Beacock;
  • Carrie Becker;
  • Bill Bellamy;
  • Doug Butterfield;
  • Robert Carr;
  • Dan Daigle;
  • Anthony Defilippis;
  • Adam Di Pardo;
  • Tina Duplessis;
  • Jason Fagg;
  • Sarah Fawcett-Bice;
  • Elliotte  Fernandes
  • Tracey Fidler;
  • Kaylyn Fitzgerald;
  • Kyle Fredericks;
  • Shannon Foster;
  • Ryan Gimblett;
  • Justin Hall;
  • Colin Harvey;
  • Dianna Hau;
  • Said Ali Hossaini;
  • Ajanthan Kandiah;
  • Kevin Karacorovski;
  • Merlita Laraco;
  • Dean Leblanc;
  • Jeffery Leibold;
  • Alexander Lush;
  • Olivia MacLean;
  • Richard Madhill;
  • Cameron Magder;
  • Tyler Mewhinney;
  • Inderpaul Minhas;
  • Nicholas Moffatt;
  • Samantha Moore;
  • Philip Nolan;
  • Bradley Osmond;
  • Jeffrey Pang;
  • Leopoldo Romero Pinillos;
  • Andrea Ramsden;
  • David Raponi;
  • Jordan Reckzin;
  • Jeff Rich;
  • Jordan Roberts;
  • Chad Samelko;
  • Mike Schnurfeil;
  • Jason Shakespeare;
  • Jennifer Short;
  • Adam Singh;
  • William Sisnett;
  • Mitchel Soares;
  • Nathan Sproxton;
  • David Tait;
  • John Taylor;
  • James Titmarsh;
  • Nicholas Tremarco;
  • Richard Watt;
  • Virginia Wood; and
  • Adam Zarobiak.

The following faculty members were honoured for their contribution to Durham College as faculty researchers:

  • David Beals;
  • Mike Bovens;
  • Rob Braithwaite;
  • Maureen Calhoun;
  • Linda Cheng , who is also a faculty researcher liaison;
  • Paul Gallagher;
  • Ray Gorantla;
  • Raymond Gubala;
  • Darlene Guy;
  • Robert Heale;
  • Beau James;
  • Angela King;
  • Steve Knihnisky;
  • Michelle Lagerwey;
  • Dave MacKay;
  • Greg Moran;
  • Jeff Myers;
  • Rob Nokes;
  • Greg Parker;
  • Pravin Patel;
  • Gregg Peel;
  • Darren Puffer, who is also a faculty researcher liaison;
  • Ralph Ruffo;
  • Dave Schuett;
  • Fleurette Simmonds;
  • Gary Stairs;
  • Brad Tamlin;
  • Rick Tidman; and
  • Katy Zaidman.

Looking toward the future, ORSI continues to seek research projects in the areas of science and technology; information and communication technology; renewable energy and sustainability technology; health and biomedical sciences; advanced manufacturing; agri-business; and social science and humanities.