Technology and Engineering

Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Medical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Biotechnology, Green Tech, Information Science, Nanotech

COVID-19 & Co-op: Work Integrated Learning Through ICTC

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Over the last few months, the Government of Canada has announced new programs and policies to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. One of those announcements included changes to the funding structures that already existed to support the hiring of students in the Co-op program. Specifically, eligibility requirements were relaxed to allow faculty and researchersContinue reading "COVID-19 & Co-op: Work Integrated Learning Through ICTC"

Continue reading

Implanted biosensors could help sports professionals spy on themselves

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
A May 21, 2020 news item on Nanowerk describes the latest in sports self-monitoring research (or as I like to think of it, spying on yourself), Researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed their new biodegradable motion sensor – paving the way for implanted nanotechnology that could help future sports professionals better monitor their movements to aid rapid improvements, or help caregivers remotely monitor people living with dementia.… A May 21, 12020 University of…

Continue reading

Low cost science tools and the ‘Thing Tank’

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (or Wilson Center; located in Washington, DC) has a new initiative, the ‘Thing Tank’ (am enjoying the word play). It’s all about low cost science tools and their possible impact on the practice of science. Here’s more from a May 27, 2020 email notice, From a foldable microscope made primarily from paper, to low cost and open microprocessors supporting research from cognitive neuroscience to oceanography, to low cost…

Continue reading

An Open Letter To The Students Of Fall 2020

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Dear Students of Fall 2020, The last few months have been a challenge. You have had your regular winter semester interrupted and upended as we made the switch to emergency remote online teaching. Many of you have faced difficult financial and personal challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world is a differentContinue reading "An Open Letter To The Students Of Fall 2020"

Continue reading

They all fall down or not? Quantum dot-doped nanoparticles for preserving national monuments and buildings

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
The most recent post here but not the most recent research about preserving stone monuments and buildings is a December 23, 2019 piece titled: Good for your bones and good for art conservation: calcium. Spanish researchers (who seem particularly active in this research niche) are investigating a more refined approach to preserving stone monuments with calcium according to a May 8, 2020 news item on Nanowerk, The fluorescence emitted by tiny zinc oxide quantum dots…

Continue reading

Exploring COVID-19 Around The World

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Over the last 11 or so weeks, thanks in part to physical distancing, I have been exploring the R Shiny platform. For those unfamiliar with Shiny, this is the platform that was used to create the Monitoring COVID-19 In Canada dashboard. And spoiler alert for my future students – this is one of the toolsContinue reading "Exploring COVID-19 Around The World"

Continue reading

Comedy club performances show how robots and humans connect via humor

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Caption: Naomi Fitter and Jon the Robot. Credit: Johanna Carson, OSU College of Engineering Robot comedian is not my first thought on seeing that image; ventriloquist’s dummy is what came to mind. However, it’s not the first time I’ve been wrong about something. A May 19, 2020 news item on ScienceDaily reveals the truth about Jon, a comedian in robot form, Standup comedian Jon the Robot likes to tell his audiences that he does lots…

Continue reading

The Broad Institute gives us another reason to love CRISPR

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
More and more, this resembles a public relations campaign. First, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats) gene editing is going to be helpful with COVID-19 and now it can help us to deal with conservation issues. (See my May 26, 2020 posting about the latest CRISPR doings as of May 7, 2020; included is a brief description of the patent dispute between Broad Institute and UC Berkeley and musings about a public relations campaign.)…

Continue reading

Students Awarded Northern Scientific Training Program Grants

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Congratulations to Marshall Asch, Patrick Houlding, and Jeremie Fraeys de Veubeke who have recently been awarded Northern Scientific Training Program grants to support their Master’s research. Valued at $2,150 each, the 2020-2021 awards will support travel to and research with the community of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut. Each of the students are working to optimize wireless mobileContinue reading "Students Awarded Northern Scientific Training Program Grants"

Continue reading

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives first authorization for CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats) use in COVID-19 crisis

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) gene editing has been largely confined to laboratory use or tested in agricultural trials. I believe that is true worldwide excepting the CRISPR twin scandal. (There are numerous postings about the CRISPR twins here including a Nov. 28, 2018 post, a May 17, 2019 post, and a June 20, 2019 post. Update: It was reported (3rd. para.) in December 2019 that He had been sentenced to three years…

Continue reading