BCIT Applied Research Dean Kim Dotto
By Gerald Narciso
For three days in early June, BCIT researchers, faculty and staff, government agencies and industry leaders assembled at the Burnaby campus to attend the inaugural BCIT Applied Research Conference. Through guest speakers, hands-on presentations and behind the scenes tours of research labs, participants were able to get a thorough understanding of the extensive research being conducted here at BCIT.
“This conference was an opportunity for everyone to get out from behind their computers or out of the classroom to find out about all the great projects that people at BCIT are involved with,” said Dana Higgins of BCIT’s Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP), who was the main organizer of the event.
More than 200 people attended the lecture series that took place at the Telus Theatre on June 8th and 9th. BCIT’s Dean of Applied Research, Kim Dotto, and the President of BCIT, Don Wright kicked off the first day of the Conference with opening speeches. The first day also showcased speakers from external organizations including Rick Warner of NSERC Pacific and Kraig Short of Western Economic Diversification Canada, as well as presentations from BCIT researchers and Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO) staff.
The second day focused on all the research currently being conducted at BCIT. Among the speakers from BCIT’s Technology Center were: Joey Dabell of the Group for Advanced Information Technology (GAIT), Paula Brown of the Natural Health and Food Product Research Group (NRG), Nancy Paris of the Products and Process Applied Research Team (PART) and Silvia Raschke of the Technology and Product Evaluation Group (TPEG). Management and faculty researchers also took the stage to talk about the research being done within their schools and with their students.
“I learned a lot at the BCIT Research Conference,” said Martin Bollo, a BCIT civil engineering professor. “I learned a lot about the myriad of funding opportunities and requirements. As part of that it was useful to learn about the support mechanisms in place here at BCIT to aid in getting said funding and conducting the research.”
Day 2 also featured a trip across the street from the Burnaby campus to BCIT’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation (CARI) Building, where the Technology Centre is based as well as ARLO and CAP. After a BBQ lunch, attendees went on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Technology Centre including stops inside the Advanced Prototyping Hub, the Motion Capture Lab and the Cube. Researchers gave the audience hands-on demonstrations of the research being conducted there.
“It was great to be able show off our Motion Capture Lab during the conference tours,” said Johanne Mattie of TPEG. “I think many people have no idea what we do, and no idea that we have these resources and capabilities right here at the Burnaby campus. Hopefully this will get them thinking about innovative ways they could use the Lab with the work they are doing.”
“The Conference was a real eye-opener about our own campus – the people, activities, departments and facilities that exist that I have so little opportunity to learn about otherwise,” added Bollo. “For me personally, I still am a ways away from getting much into the research field and I still have some questions about BCIT’s needs and direction, but this Conference was a great step in starting that journey.”
The third and final day centered around discussing the Research Strategy for BCIT. Once finalized, the Research Strategy will offer a framework through which the institute can enhance support and foster research at BCIT.
Overall, the event was a success. Higgins is confident participants were able to learn more about the amount of research being conducted around BCIT. It also served as an excellent networking opportunity.
“It’s easy to get so focused on your own work that it’s hard to keep track of what your colleague at the end of the hall is working on, even more so when we’re talking about a separate school or department,” said Higgins. “This is a great chance for people to meet new colleagues, reconnect with people, and to find out what’s going on around BCIT.”
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