Now Innovating

In this episode of Now Innovating, host Julia MacGregor speaks with Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens, Canada Research Chair in Childhood Health Promotion and Associate Professor in the University of Calgary's Department of Psychology, and Dr. Liz Baker, Executive Director of PREVNet. Together, they discuss PREVNet's national network of researchers, educators, youth-serving organizations, and community partners working to create safer, healthier environments for young people. Their work demonstrates that innovation doesn't always take the form of new technologies; it can also emerge through evidence-based programs, knowledge sharing, and collective action that create lasting social impact. From bullying prevention and healthy relationship education to policy change and knowledge mobilization, this conversation explores how evidence-based approaches can support youth well-being and drive meaningful social impact across Canada. Learn more about PREVNet: www.prevnet.ca Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, host Julia MacGregor leads a panel discussion with four guests who are making an impact in circular plastics:

• Tammy Schwass, BA'10, Executive Director, Alberta Plastics Recycling Association (APRA)
• Dr. Rohen Prinsloo, PhD'22, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
• Dr. Daniel Castañeda Mogollón, PhD'22
• Eric Tang, Production Manager, Triple Three Trading Ltd

The panel discusses the different types of plastics, recycling methods, and the global plastics supply chain. We learn about the chemical challenges in recycling plastics, work APRA members like Triple Three Trading are doing to recycle plastics, and a student-led initiative to recycle Styrofoam used to package research equipment.

The panel also discusses actions you can take in your daily life to encourage smart plastic use, and tips and tricks for recycling plastics.

This episode was recorded live with an audience during Alumni All-Access 2025. Guests were invited by the university's Industry Liaison Office (Research), the team that facilitates and grows applied research partnerships between companies and researchers.

This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/h692GqtoepM

Learn more about:

• Alberta Plastics Recycling Association: https://albertaplasticsrecycling.com/
• Dr. Prinsloo's research: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/rohen-prinsloo
• Triple Three Trading: https://triplethreetrading.com/
• What Goes Where – Calgary Residential Recycling and Disposal Search Tool: https://www.calgary.ca/waste/what-goes-where/plastic-polystyrene-foam.html
• Waste Reduction and Diversion at UCalgary: https://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/our-sustainable-campus/waste-reduction-and-diversion
• Industry Liaison Office (Research): https://research.ucalgary.ca/engage-research/industry
• Campus as a Learning Lab: https://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/campus-learning-lab
• UCalgary Alumni: https://alumni.ucalgary.ca/
• Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

This episode, we are exploring cybersecurity with Dr. Hadis Karimipour, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, and a Canada Research Chair in Secure and Resilient Cyber-physical Systems. We discuss cyber threats to critical infrastructure such as utility centers, transportation systems and hospital networks and how her research is using AI and quantum applications to detect and prevent these cyber-attacks. We also talk about the dark web, where these cyber threats come from and the importance to advance global policy in cybersecurity.

This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSTPjShxtrU

Learn more about Hadis' research in the Smart Cyber-Physical Systems Lab: https://www.scpslab.org/

Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In our Season 7 premiere, we celebrate the launch of the XPRIZE Canada Hub at the University of Calgary by speaking with UCalgary and XPRIZE alum, Madison Savilow, BA'19, BComm'19, of Carbon Upcycling. This carbon capture and utilization company was a finalist team in the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition. Their process developed with UCalgary researchers, transforms C02 and industrial waste materials to create a low carbon cement replacement.

Madison takes us on a tour of Carbon Upcycling's facility at the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre, discusses her journey with XPRIZE, shares how the company is scaling and advice for embarking on an entrepreneurial path. This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/O4eh4PICGFg

Learn more about:

Carbon Upcycling: https://carbonupcycling.com/

XPRIZE Canada Hub at UCalgary: https://io.ucalgary.ca/xprizehub

XPRIZE: https://www.xprize.org/

The Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre: https://innotechalberta.ca/facilities/alberta-carbon-conversion-technology-centre/

Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Sue Crawford, RN, MN'20, manager of the Health Systems Transformation Initiative (HIVE) in the Faculty of Nursing and co-founder and executive director of Enable, a social enterprise that facilitates meaningful matches between people with disabilities and support workers. Sue discusses how the HIVE initiative utilizes nursing expertise to empower innovators and change agents to enhance health and health care delivery by applying transdisciplinary solutions. We also discuss nurse entrepreneurship through Sue's experiences with launching Enable, and the role nurses play in health care innovation.

This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/0p31b7cnodE

Learn more about:

The Health Systems Transformation Initiative: https://nursing.ucalgary.ca/HIVE

Enable: https://enablecommunity.ca/

Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lina Kattan, PhD, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering, and Canada Research Chair in Integrative Transportation Systems Through Automation and Connectivity. Lina discusses how transportation systems are key to creating smart and sustainable cities and highlights her research exploring different traffic management solutions with connected and automated vehicles. She speaks to how applied research through the Urban Alliance responds to the City of Calgary's needs. Lina also shares how a transdisciplinary approach is key to innovation and how innovators can look to support the transformation of our Canadian Cities into smart and sustainable ones. This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEt5GRcI6c4

Learn more about:

Lina's research: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/lina-kattan The Urban Alliance: https://research.ucalgary.ca/urban-alliance

The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship: https://research.ucalgary.ca/research/transdisciplinary

Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Christopher Clarkson, PhD, a professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment in the Faculty of Science, who received the 2024 Synergy Award for Innovation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Chris discusses his research with the Tight Oil Consortium, which develops new technologies and methods for sustainable resource development in collaboration with industry and government to enhance the extraction efficiency of Canada's unconventional hydrocarbon resources. He speaks to how these technologies and methods are now being adapted to transitional energy applications and shares his experiences working with and in the energy industry. Finally, Chris shares how the energy research landscape has evolved in Alberta and at the University of Calgary.

This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL-CP3xs8TI

Learn more about:

The Tight Oil Consortium: https://www.tightoilconsortium.com/

Dr. Clarkson's NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Synergy-Synergie/Profiles-Profils/Clarkson-Clarkson_eng.asp

UCalgary's Energy for the Common Good research strategy: https://research.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/4/GES/22-OPR-237100-Energy%20Research%20Strategy-2023-web.pdf

Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Eleanor Dickinson, PhD, a 2024-2025 Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Eleanor discusses One Health, and how her work in the Kutz Research Group utilizes different strategies to develop new approaches for Arctic wildlife health monitoring and management for caribou and muskoxen. She speaks to the importance of building partnerships and relationships for research. She describes how she is working with academic and non-academic partners, local communities, and patrons of Arctic conservation to communicate the findings into practice. She also teaches us the difference between caribou and reindeer, and the importance of recognizing the innovation in your work. Learn more about:

The Kutz Research Group in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: https://vet.ucalgary.ca/groups/arctic-wildlife-health

The Faculty of Sciences' Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowships: https://science.ucalgary.ca/research-innovation/innovation/innovation-postdoctoral-fellows

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Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

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In this episode, we speak with Dr. Greg Welch, PhD, Professor in the Faculty of Science's Department of Chemistry, and one of the inaugural Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship's Academic Co-Leads in Energy Futures. Greg discusses transdisciplinary scholarship at the university and how this connects to innovation. He also shares an example of a transdisciplinary research project from his lab and thoughts on supporting innovation at all levels within academic institutions.

This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/J5KGaMAbzrY

Learn more about:

The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship: https://research.ucalgary.ca/research/transdisciplinary

The Advanced Functional Materials and Coatings Laboratory: https://welchlab.wixsite.com/website

In our season 6 premiere episode, we speak with Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, a registered psychologist and associate professor in the Werklund School of Education, about the Family First Responder project. This research project has led to the development of a social innovation to provide mental health supports for first responder families.

This episode, we will learn more about his research with the Social Development Research Team, discuss what led to the start of the Family First Responder project and the development of the Re: Building Families program. We also discuss the potential impacts of the program, and the scalability of this social innovation. We also hear briefly from one of Kelly's collaborators, Scott Cowan, battalion chief for the Calgary Fire Department, who speaks to the value of this mental health programming for first responder families.

A big thank you to Carol Henke and Scott Cowan at the Calgary Fire Department for allowing the Now Innovating team to visit and record this episode at Station 16.

This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/sOLWYvEG0KU

Learn more about:

The Family First Responder project and Re: Building Families program: https://familyfirstresponder.ca/ The Before Operational Stress (BOS) program: https://www.beforeoperationalstress.ca/

The Social Development Research Team in the Werklund School of Education: https://werklund.ucalgary.ca/research/social-development-research-team/social-development-research-team

Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation