February 5, 2010 - Research what Western can do for you at WORLDiscoveries Research Showcase
The Faculties of Engineering and Science and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario are offering a unique opportunity for partnerships and networking between industry, community members and university researchers at the WORLDiscoveries* Research Showcase Friday, February 5 at the London Convention Centre.
More than 100 displays showcasing innovative research in the areas of imaging, materials and biomaterials, software and telecommunications, and environment and energy will provide a glimpse at some of the exciting research underway on campus. Top researchers and graduate students will be on-hand to explain their projects.
The public is welcome and entrance is free.
11 a.m. Opening remarks by President Amit Chakma
In addition to the poster presentations, “Tech Talks” from leading experts will take place throughout the afternoon.
12 p.m. - Ravi Menon, Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Functional and Molecular Imaging
Radio Frequency Coils for Ultra-high Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Ravi Menon, a Scientist at Western's Robarts Research Institute and Canada Research Chair in Functional and Molecular Imaging, has helped develop a special variation of magnetic resonance imaging, which is able to measure the changes in blood flow and oxygenation that accompany neural activity in the brain, called fMRI, where the "f" stands for functional. The technique allows MRI to make maps of brain activation in response to all kinds of things including thoughts, sensory inputs such as sound, and noxious substances such as cocaine, thus allowing scientists to study, for instance, addiction, our response to economic reward, or how we recognize our mother. This ability to image molecular signaling in the human brain is revolutionizing how neuroscientists, neurologists, and psychologists study the human brain.
12:45 p.m. - Elizabeth Gillies, CRC in Biomaterials Synthesis
From Molecules to Materials: Improving Human Health
Elizabeth Gillies is developing exciting new biomaterials that can be used for all kinds of medical tasks such as delivering drugs to therapeutic targets, replacing and stimulating the growth of tissues and imaging disease processes. As a Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials Synthesis, Gillies has developed a research program that involves the use of organic and polymer chemistry approaches to prepare new biomaterials with "custom-designed" properties and biological functions that are not accessible in currently available materials.
1:30 p.m. - Jason Gerhard, CRC in Geoenvironmental Restoration Engineering
Brownfield Restoration: Addressing the Industrial Pollution of Urban Environments
Jason Gerhard is developing a wide array of practical and cost-effective technologies and strategies for eliminating hazardous chemicals in the soil. As the Canada Research Chair in Geoenvironmental Restoration Engineering, Gerhard recreates the environment of a toxic site in his lab, and then runs a number of tests to see which strategies work best. The results of these experiments are fed into a computer that is loaded with special software created by Gerhad's research group. This software allows the researchers to simulate all manner of contaminated sites, and to try out a wide variety of treatments. That way, when it comes to tackle the problem in the real world, it can be done efficiently and with the most modern and cost-effective techniques.
2:15 p.m. - Peter Brown, Director, Centre for Planetary & Space Exploration
The Danger to Telecommunications Satellites from Meteoroids
Peter Brown is conducting research that is literally out of this world. As the holder of a Canada Research Chair, Brown investigates the origins and physical features of meteors. He develops computer models of how they might be distributed throughout the solar system. Brown uses radar, sound, and satellite data to document actual examples of meteors arriving on earth.
For more information, please visit: www.uwo.ca/sci/Research_Showcase/index.html
WHEN/WHERE: Friday, February 5, 2010, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., London Convention Centre