Identification of DNA in Cold Cases: Q&A with Expert Steen Hartsen

We sat down with DNA expert and Forensics instructor Steen Hartsen to learn about a recent case he worked on here at BCIT. Q: Tell us about the recent case of a newly-discovered airplane crash site with very old unidentified human remains. We were recently sent samples from an airplane crash in northern BC. The … Read more

Interdisciplinary analytics hackathon yields insight from data

BCIT student teams in the first round of judging at the hackathon

How can we use data to gain insight for business and society? This was the challenge facing over 125 students at this month’s BCIT Student Association (BCITSA) QDS Hacks 20. The interdisciplinary hackathon saw teams comprising computing and business students working to ideate and develop a prototype, along with a scalable business model. Real solutions … Read more

Computing students seek out applications of AI

“Generative adversarial network” and “deep convolutional neural network”: the terms sound daunting, but behind them lies potential for AI to positively impact human lives. The BCIT class of 2019 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) Option students in the Computer Systems Technology Diploma program recently wrapped a year of specialty study with their project demos. … Read more

Get to know Computing’s new leader, Mike Starkey

BCIT Computing is pleased to introduce our new Associate Dean. With international depth in this complex field, Mike Starkey brings a vast array of experience and skills to BCIT. “After a months-long search for a new Associate Dean in Computing, I am thrilled to welcome Mike to our team,” says Dean Hildebrand, Dean of the … Read more

Industry Sponsored Project: Computing students help BC Coroners Service with Missing Persons Database

It’s not often that post-secondary students get to work on a project with real-world humanitarian impact. But that’s just what a group of Computer Systems Technology (CST) Diploma students were able to do this year. The students were taking part in their program’s Industry Sponsored Student Project (ISSP), during which a student team takes on … Read more

BCIT students triumph at Silicon Valley hackathon with medical data app

What’s it like competing in the headquarters of global tech? Computer Systems Technology (CST) Diploma students Dawson Verboven, Brodie Heywood, Andrei Muresan, and Chirag Fernandez spent some time this month finding out. The four students, joined by fellow developer and friend Daniel Barone, decided to take the plunge and sign up for the TechCrunch Disrupt … Read more

Eco-tech: Urban waste management solutions

It’s not the most glamourous topic, but we create waste every day. Out of sight can be out of mind, with waste streaming seemingly smoothly into municipal and industrial systems. However the alarm is being sounded – from plastics in the ocean, to landfill leachate – we need to better manage our outputs. In their … Read more

Soft skills for a solid career: Q&A with Thilina Ratnayake, BCIT Computing grad

We caught up with alum Thilina Ratnayake, who graduated with a Diploma in Computer Information Technology (CIT) in 2014, then laddered into a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Computer Systems Technology – Network Security Option, finishing in 2016. Q: Tell us about your career path since you graduated from BCIT  A: After graduating, I tried my … Read more

VanHacks at BCIT: Tech Solutions for Social Good

If you could help any non-profit in Metro Vancouver fulfil its mission, who would you choose, and how would you help? That’s what VanHacks – for Social Good asked of participants this past weekend. The annual hackathon charged participants with creating tech solutions that help solve challenges faced by local non-profits. Organized again by TTT … Read more

Fraud and financial crime investigation: Online format meets national need

We’ve probably all had them: the automated phone calls or emails telling us our credit card has been suspended, or the voice alerting us to an urgent tax problem. Often coming in at disorienting hours, these fraudsters can confuse people enough that they let their guard down and become the victims of financial crime. Such … Read more