Message from Associate Dean of Research

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Research Report

Message from the Interim Associate Dean of Research

WEI QIU

The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) is the home of excellent researchers residing in departments of civil, electrical and computer, mechanical, ocean and naval architectural, and process engineering. Through strong partnerships with industry, government and industry, FEAS continues excelling in research and innovation while still facing challenges due to the pandemic.

This Research Report highlights the research excellence of faculty and students in our strategic areas, including energy, ocean technology, information and communication technology, environment and sustainable infrastructure, and other emerging areas of importance. They have made significant contributions nationally and internationally in terms of innovation, training of highly qualified personnel, new knowledge to fields through publications, problemsolving and technology development to support industry, and dedicated professional services to the community. As an example of supporting industry, Dr. Steve Butt and his team developed a novel mining technique to solve a problem faced by Anaconda Mining.

Researchers have advanced in various areas and contributed to building a greener, technologically advanced NL economy and to Canada’s Blue Economy. For example, Dr. Kevin Pope is developing systems for hydrogen production and storage. Dr. Carlos Bazan leads the building of an aspiring entrepreneurial environment to turn student research into business.

Training of high-qualified personnel is an integrated part of our research programs, which not only train students to solve complex problems, but also promote the interaction of students with industry. With the support of Mitacs and industry partners, students gain a comprehensive understanding of real-world problems and develop professional skills through many research projects. The research programs at FEAS have also facilitated students to develop their skills in communicating complex ideas and results. Winners of 30-second video contests highlight how students are well trained to effectively communicate their research problems and outcomes.

The faculty values very much the partnership and support from industry, government and funding agencies, which make successful innovation possible. In 2021, federal and provincial governments and industries provided approximately $10.6 million through over 200 grants and contracts to support research and laboratory development. Among them, 21 new funds were dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship.

The faculty is constantly seeking opportunities to modernize its laboratories and support innovative research. Among many examples, Dr. Mohammad Al Janaideh is developing a new Micro- Precision Mechatronics Lab to solve the problem of semiconductor shortage by streamlining the production process, with the support of NSERC, CFI and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The success of researchers and students is attributed to the dedicated support of our supporting teams, including the Engineering Research Office (ERO), the finance staff, technologists, and many others.

While getting out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thrilled to further engage with stakeholders, foster innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, and contribute to building a greener, technologically advanced NL economy and to Canada’s world-leading capabilities in science and technology. B.Eng., M.A.Sc. (Dalian University of Technology), PhD (Dalhousie), P.Eng., FSNAME, FRINA, FCAE

Interim Associate Dean—Research Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Professor

Message from the ADR

Research Report