4TH ANNUAL RESEARCH SHOWCASE
Highlighting scholarly & creative activity at Red Deer Polytechnic
March 12, 2025
4:45 – 5:00 pm Opening Remarks
5:00 – 5:30 pm Keynote Speaker | Dr. Choon-Lee Chai and Dr. JonesAdjei
5:30 – 6:15 pm Refreshments | By RDP CookApprentice Program
6:15 – 7:20 pm Concurrent Sessions 1 | 4 Breakout Sessions
7:20 – 7:30 pm Break
7:30 – 8:35 pm Concurrent Sessions 2 | 3 Breakout Sessions
8:40 – 8:45 pm Event Closing
Dr. Choon-Lee Chai Dr. JonesAdjei
Immigration has long been essential to Canada’s economic development, population growth, and nation-building. Immigrants' success hinges on their successful settlement and integration into Canadian society. In this presentation, Dr. Choon-Lee Chai and Dr. Jones Adjei will share their experiences conducting collaborative research with immigrant settlement service provider organizations in Red Deer to support new immigrants.
While substantial research has been conducted in larger Canadian cities, less focus has been paid to small centers like Red Deer, which received fewer immigrants. Yet, having more immigrants settling in small and rural communities remains a crucial government strategy to address population decline and to stimulate economic growth. Our collaborative research with immigrant settlement service provider organizations is among the first of its kind in Red Deer and Central Alberta.
Over the past decade, we have completed significant collaborative research with the Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association, Care for Newcomers, and Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership. These research projects provide critical settlement information to settlement service provider organizations, enhancing their understanding of settlement services and program needs to support immigrant success to the primary immigrant settlement program funder, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
In all these research projects, we actively engaged RDP students, many as paid research assistants. This created research environment that provided students with unique learning experiences, strengthened our practical knowledge and helped to fulfill community needs in a small center, Red Deer, and more broadly Central Alberta region where more and more immigrants are making it the place they call home.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
6:15 – 7:20 pm
Poster Displays
CENOVUS
Holistic Approaches to Health and Wellness
ROOM 2905
Rethinking Education and Learning ROOM 2906
Thriving in Transition: Mindfulness, Place and Resilience ROOM 2920
7:30 – 8:35 pm
Exploring the Frontiers of Technology
ROOM 2905
The Psychology of Optimizing Well-Being
ROOM 2906
Bears and Bees ROOM 2920
6:15 - 7:20 pm
Presenter Name: Arynn Sideritsch
Research Team: Anne Dempsey (School of Trades & Technology), Arynn Sideritsch (Student)
Presentation Description: This research project was performed to quantify and categorize microplastics found within sand sampled from Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica. Overall, the research project was conducted because increasing plastic pollution is a significant obstacle to marine life. The research project site is a popular destination for nesting sea turtles, and due to these organisms occupying the position of primary consumer (in the food web), the accumulation of plastic they ingest can cause serious health consequences. Sand samples were collected from the beach to estimate where the beach ranked for plastic pollution, which could be linked to a contributing factor to the destabilization of nearby sea turtle populations. The project can also be further usedas a comparison to sites around the world, as before the completed this project, no other microplastic quantification studies hadbeen completed in Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica. This study can be widely applied to future research across the world because of the study using standardized methods. The study impacts the overall body of literature about microplastics, which could affect environmental policies related to waste management because scientists are enabled to compare ‘like with like’ through standardized methodology.
Presenter Biography:
Arynn Sideritsch is a fourth-year Biological Sciences student interested in multiple topics such as wildlife conservation, microbiology, immunology, and botany. Her curiosity about wildlife conservation, specifically the anthropogenic effects on marine life, inspired this project.
Presenter Name: Campbell Skelton
Research Team: Sally Stuart (School of Trades & Technology), Campbell Skelton (Student)
Presentation Description: This study is a bioacoustic (in this case sounds produced by bats) study of the possible bat species present in Half Moon Bay, Sylvan Lake. The habitat chosen is unique because it was conducted across a transect with large habitat variety (lake, trees and farmers' fields) ensuring the habitats were present to accommodate the preferences of most of the 9species found in Alberta. Currently, several of the 9 species of Albertan bats are under threat and some are endangered. Sylvan Lakeis a popular tourist destination which may place the area under quite a lot of pressure due to the numbers of people using the area, which in turn may have deleterious effects on bat biodiversity. Bats are really important in the ecosystem as they feed on mosquitoes which carry transmissible diseases and also other invertebrates which may cause significant crop damage, especially to large scale commercial crops. This research will contribute to the broader field of bioacoustics as it will help determine if it is possible to accurately determine bat biodiversity using a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment. Furthermore, bats are currently under threat from habitat loss, climate change and a fungal disease known as white nose syndrome.
Presenter Biography: Campbell Skelton is in the Biological Science Degree at Red Deer Polytechnic. Her current research interests are in both active field research like the experiment in this showcase as well as lab work. Campbell’s main passion is to be involved in research thatdirectly correlates or impacts the environment around her in Alberta or even right outside her backdoor. She wants to be able to assist with learning, understanding, managing and protecting the environment that many typically just observe.
Presenter Name: Peter Fiala Research Team: Peter Fiala (School of Arts and Education)
Presentation Description: Pre-AI (Artificial intelligence) status quo has dictated that the existing body of work of video games consists of games that could only have been made by teams made up of individuals who have complementary skill sets, each only contributing in their own focused area. Pre-AI, 3D Artists alone could never make a playable game without partnering with Programmers.
This research is unique in its attempt to see if a sole 3D Artist can useAI to make up for their lack of programming background to address the challenge of producing a playable game level.
Instead of investing years into learning how to code, or watching YouTube videos, novel methods used in this project involveworking withAI apps such as ChatGPT to piece together programming code inside of the Unreal Game Engine to create the usual interactive events present in playable games.
This research will be impactful as it could mean that for future 3D Artists to remain employable, on top of their artistic training, they will be expected to be skilled in working with AI to substitute for what Programmers had been hired to do in the past. For both educators and industry practitioners, this could actually shift the entire industry.
Presenter Biography:
While following his passion creating computer generated visual effects, Peter’s work has contributed to Emmy and Oscar nominated Hollywood feature films, where he worked as a lead modeling/texturing and lighting artist. In addition to creating artwork used in the final shots, Peter was responsible for designing and implementing production pipelines, and the hiring, training and directing of crews of 3D artists, ensuring their work was in line with the vision of the feature film directors.
Since 2000, Peter is working as an instructor and curriculum developer at several post-secondary institutions across North America and in Central Europe. Starting in 2015, Peter worked on the team effort of developing Red Deer Polytechnic’s Animation And Visual Effects degree program.
6:15 - 7:20 pm
Presenter Name: Irina Sheridan
Research Team: Dr. Greg Wells (School of Arts and Education), Dr. Reiko Yeap (School of Arts and Education), Irina Sheridan (Student)
Presentation Description: Digital health technologies have the potential to promote healthy aging by empowering individuals to monitor their condition and make informed, proactive decisions regarding their health. However, older adults face various challenges when engaging with these technologies. While older age is often seen as a structural barrier to technology usage, research suggests that this relationship is complex and may be influenced by other factors such as digital literacy, self-efficacy, accessibility, social support, and ageism – highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach. As part of a larger project examining eHealth and mHealth technology usage among older adults in Central Alberta, the present survey-based study seeks to understand older adults’ personal experiences and perceptions toward digital health in Red Deer and surrounding areas. The findings will hopefully contribute to future research addressing these barriers and factors to promote digital health that is more accessible and responsive tothe needs of older adults in our communities.
Presenter Biography:
Irina Sheridan (Nina) is a fourth-year student completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Coming from a nursing background where she cared for older adults, Nina’s career path shifted in pursuit of more holistic approaches to understanding and supporting human wellbeing. Throughout the past few years at Red Deer Polytechnic, a variety of volunteer and research opportunities in Psychology, Anthropology, Archaeology, and Biology have further driven her passion for community-building and multidisciplinary research. In future projects, Nina hopes to contribute to evidence-based practices aimed at enhancing human quality of life by cultivating empathy and compassion, resilience, and connectedness with nature.
Presenter Name: Dr. Stacey Bliss
Research Team: Dr. Stacey Bliss (Division of Applied Research)
Presentation Description: The initial rationale for studying sonic communities, gong culture, and ‘sound healers’ included the basic anthropological question of ‘what is going on’? Since the completion of three Tri-Council of Canada research projects and dissemination phases, the research has taken on new life and a strong rationale for a turn toward ‘applied research.’ Beyond providing individuals’ wellness through ‘rest and relaxation’, the study of gong pedagogy and practices yields themes applicable to broader communities of researchers, educators, and students. The sum of the themes may provide a guide to ‘live better,’ witheach other and within communities, toward a heightened awareness of ‘interconnective futures. Considering interconnective futuresand drawing on sonic and performative ethnographic research over five years, Stacey has been reflecting on seven themes of gong players’ and teachers’ philosophy and practice.
In this research presentation, Stacey will briefly outline the research projects, and seven themes that re-imagine sonic pedagogy as living practices. After presenting the themes, Stacey will outline future applied research possibilities to advance the themes/knowledge from the studies within sonic communities for application in broader communities. Future research plans include expansion ofthe research with mixed methods, gathering both qualitative and quantitative data, within sonic communities in 2025-27.
Presenter Biography:
Stacey Bliss, PhD, is the Research Grant Specialist in the Division of Applied Research at Red Deer Polytechnic. Stacey is an interdisciplinary researcher, educator, and project leader with over a decade of research experience including three Tri-Council SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)-funded projects. Her interests span qualitative research, ethnographic studies, and community-based projects, with a focus on sound studies, sonic environments, wellbeing, and contemplative education. She has served as a ResearchAssociate on the SSHRC Partnership Grant with IICSI (International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation), University of Guelph, and as a Guest Scholar at the Humanities Research Institute, University of Regina, where she led an SSHRC Insight Development Grant project Toward a Sound Pedagogy: A Sonic Ethnography of ‘Sound Healers’ in Canada (2021-24). Through her diverse academic and professional experiences, Stacey has developed abilities to manage complex research projects, collaborate across disciplines, improvise, and foster community-building through research. She continues pushing the boundaries of traditional research methodologies, using sound, performance, art, and multimodal means to explore myriad topics and disseminate findings. Overall, Stacey's research contributes to academic knowledge, encourages public engagement, and gestures toward possibilities for social innovation.
Presenter Name: Jocelyn Wynnychuk
Research Team: Dr. Anomi Bearden (School of Arts and Education), Jocelyn Wynnychuk (Student)
Presentation Description: MindfulU is a student-led campus initiative that supports student mental health and well-being by fostering community and connection among peers. The purpose of this study is to determine if there are differences between students who have and who have not accessed MindfulU, specifically in terms of their mindfulness, perceived stress, loneliness, sense of connection, and their levels of flourishing and thriving. Additionally, participants were asked to provide feedback about their experiences with MindfulU and what they would like to see from the program moving forward. The results of this study will be shared with the MindfulU team, and the information will be used to continue to shape and grow the service moving forward. This project not only seeks to increase student awareness of this campus support, but will also allow the MindfulU team to tailor the program to better serve students.
Presenter Biography:
Jocelyn Wynnychuk is a fourth year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Anomi Bearden. Jocelyn has an interest in interpersonal and intimate relationships, with an aspiration to attend graduate studies to further her knowledge in the field of psychology.
6:15 - 7:20 pm
Presenter Name: Dr. Lois Maplethorpe
Research Team: Dr. Lois Maplethorpe (School of Arts and Education), Yvonne Peebles (Red Deer Child Care- Wichinahin
Kohopikiwan Cultural Learning)
Presentation Description: This research project explored Indigenous perspectives around early language/literacy and the unique challenges that Indigenous parents face when supporting their child's development. Indigenous perspectives were mapped onto mainstream perspectives to elucidate culturally dissonant aspects that may contribute to misinterpretations and mismeasurement of Indigenous children’s knowledge/abilities. The study followed an Indigenous methodological approach by engaging 22 participants in open-ended questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Four inter-related themes were identified which speak to the unique perspectives, beliefs, and practices of Indigenous children, families and communities. Wider definitions and perspectives can contribute to more culturally consistent early learning policy, programming, pedagogy, and assessment to reduce cultural dissonance and a smooth the transition to starting formal schooling. Building equitable relationships through mutual understanding is away forward on our shared journey to reconciliation. This research brings long overdue acknowledgement of and value to Indigenous perspectives as well as recommendations for supporting Indigenous language, literacy, and cultural learning in the home, school, and community.
Growing OurRoots:ExploringtheHomeLanguageandLiteracy EnvironmentwithintheContextofIndigenousWaysofKnowingandBeing Presenter Biography:
Dr. Lois Maplethorpe is an instructor in the Early Learning and Child Care program in the School of Arts and Education. She has been an early years educator for over 20 years, specializing in early language and literacy learning. Lois' research interests include exploring culturally consistent early literacy practices and pedagogies through collaborative, action research with Indigenous communities using Indigenous methodologies. Lois strives to build cross-cultural understanding and engagement through allyship.
Presenter Name: Alysse Bowd
Research Team: Alysse Bowd (School of Arts and Education)
Presentation Description: For the past several years, Alysse has explored various forms of contract grading within her VisualArt studio courses. She adapted this approach, first used with creative writing courses, for a Visual Art Studio course. Contractgrading subverts traditional grading systems by prioritizing and rewarding perceived failure as much as perceived success thus honouring and building ambiguity tolerance and resiliency toward the creative process. Ambiguity tolerance is one of the core individual skills in creativity. Understanding that uncertainty is an innate part of the creative process, it allows students and artists to recognize and embrace that discomfort. Contract grading also gives students more autonomy over workload, timelines and their grade outcome while focussing on continuous, rigorous feedback, internal motivation and creative effort. Evaluating visual art can feel subjective and has a history of processes that lack transparency. Evaluation processes can ruin trust and can uphold hierarchies. Evaluationcan often narrow ideas of success and lesson value in play and the embrace of failure. Evaluation processes can be exclusionary,biased and leave little room for neurodiversity and a growth mindset. Contract Grading has successfully shifted many of these conversations.
Presenter Biography:
E. M. Alysse Bowd is an instructor in Sculpture, Drawing and Creativity in the VisualArts Program at Red Deer Polytechnic; she holds a BFA in Ceramics from theAlberta University of the Arts and an MFA from NSCAD University. Her creative practice navigates interdisciplinary explorations between object-making, live art, and drawing practices. Bowd’s studio research has investigated and discussed several aspects related to societal notions of female perfectionism, self-care and Motherhood Mythologies. This past year, Bowd’s work has been seen in a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of St. Albert, with new work presented at the Riga Performance Art Festival in Latvia, Saskatoon Nuit Blanche, and the Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, with Residencies at the Centre for Ceramics in Berlin and The Klondike Institute for Arts and Culture in Dawson City.
Presenter Names: Carnelle Raigne Symes, Peggy Follis
Research Team: Carnelle Raigne Symes (School of Health & Wellness), Peggy Follis (School of Health & Wellness)
Presentation Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a new technology that is shaping the way that students engage with their learning. Students may use AI to enhance their assignments, reduce their workload and support their time management and studying through the development of review materials. As faculty in the BScN program at Red Deer Polytechnic, we choose to embrace this technology to support our students scholarly writing. In a nursing leadership course, we have tailored an assignment using AIto encourage student critical thinking on the use of this technology and its potential benefits and challenges in relation to nursing practice. Students are provided with a research paper written by AI and are tasked with critically analyzing this paper and supporting their analysis with peer reviewed research. Discussion on the use of technology and specifically how AI can impact healthcareas well as it’s current uses are addressed in class discussion. The use of AI in nursing is a recent change to practice that is expanding at a rapid pace. Developing student understating of the benefits and challenges associated with this technology embraces innovation while preparing students for the reality of the ongoing change and developments in healthcare when they graduate.
Presenter Biography:
Carnelle Raigne Symes is a nursing instructor in the BScN program at Red Deer Polytechnic for 6 years with previous experience working in Qatar as a nursing instructor. Research interests include nursing education, nursing leadership, organizational leadership, simulation in healthcare and gerontology. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Manitoba with research focused on understanding nursing academic leadership.
Peggy Follis is a nursing instructor in the BScN program at Red Deer Polytechnic for 16 years with a 43 year history as a registered nurse. Research interests include mental health with specific focus in teaching suicide assessment skills, student success aslifelong learners in preparation for a dynamic nursing career.
6:15 - 7:20 pm
Presenter Name: Dr. Anomi G. Bearden
Research Team: Steven Prosser (RDP alumni - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Collaboration with University of Alberta), Dr. Anomi Bearden (School of Arts and Education), Akeem Vincent (RDP alumni - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology), Carmella Wallace (RDP alumni - M. A., Bachelor of Arts in Psychology), Blaire Turnbull (RDP alumni - M. A., Bachelor of Arts in Psychology)
Presentation Description: Rising perfectionism levels within post-secondary students could be one reason for students’ challenges with adaptation to post-secondary. Recent research has suggested mindfulness-based interventions may be a promising avenue for mitigating high perfectionism, in addition to improving emotional and social well-being. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of 8 weeks of a mindfulness course on post-secondary students (compared to a non-meditating control group). Variables of interest were mindfulness, multidimensional perfectionism (selforiented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed types), stress, anxiety, self-compassion, and social connectedness. Students self-enrolled into a mindfulness class offered at a college in Alberta, Canada (n = 15). In line with previous studies, results indicated that college students practicing mindfulness evidenced lower perfectionism (self-oriented and other-oriented types), stress, and anxiety, along with higher mindfulness and selfcompassion. Additionally, interpersonal benefits were revealed as the mindfulness group increased in social connectedness. Perplexing results suggest two routes to social connection, as the control group also showed an increase in social connection, potentially motivated by higher stress and self-criticism. Findings from the current study are impressive (given the small sample size and the high stress time of the term during which posttest measures were taken) and suggest that integrating mindfulness practices into curriculum can enhance emotional and social well-being for postsecondary students.
TheEffects of aCourse-BasedMindfulnessInterventiononCollegeStudent Perfectionism,Stress,Anxiety,Self-Compassion,andSocialConnectedness
Presenter Biography:
Dr. Anomi G. Bearden has been studying Psychology since 2000, conducting research since 2003, and working at Red Deer Polytechnic since 2008. She has supervised many student research projects over my years at Red Deer Polytechnic, most of which have been applied and collaborative in nature with a focus on applying social, positive, and health psychology in a variety of contexts.
Much of Anomi’s more recent research focuses on helping to support well-being in schools/students.
Presenter Names: Abby Gale Layon, Dr. Choon-Lee Chai, Ericka Geneblazo, Akua Appiah
Research Team: Abby Gale Layon (Student), Dr. Choon-Lee Chai (School of Arts and Education), Ericka Geneblazo (RDP alumni – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology), Akua Appiah (Student)
Presentation Description: This research explored international students’ experiences of “place” at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP). As a place, RDP has a unique socio-cultural and geographical makeup, which presents specific learning opportunities and challenges to international students.
Because our experiences emerge in specific places and geographical locations, studying place experiences will help identify the strengths and weaknesses of RDP as a postsecondary destination for international students. The research seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What are the places on RDP campus that international students find comfortable or uncomfortable?
2. What does their sense of comfortable and uncomfortable places tell us about the effectiveness and limitations of the campus learning environment in supporting international students?
3. What adaptation strategies do international students employ to enhance their campus experience and educational success?
In this research, participants took photos of comfortable and uncomfortable places on RDP campus and shared their meanings behind the photos.
International students are part of the Red Deer community, and the research findings will forge a better understanding of their presence, contributions, and challenges they face as RDP and Red Deer venture to make Central Alberta a welcoming and inclusive place of destination for international migrants.
Dr. Choon-Lee Chai teaches Sociology at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), focusing on Introductory Sociology, Social Stratification, Race and Ethnicity in Canada, and Visual Sociology. He embraces visual pedagogy by incorporating visual methods such as photoelicitation in his teaching. He regularly engages students in experiential learning through community-based research and service learning. He has completed research in partnership with local immigrant settlement service provider organizations and fundedby the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Mitacs, and various community grants. His research has been published in the Journal of International Migration and Integration, Canadian Ethnic Studies, Journal of Visual Literacy, Asian Journal of Social Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Caitlin Ratcliffe, MLIS, is the Digital Literacy Librarian at NorQuest College; from 2019-2024, she was the Health Sciences Librarian at Red Deer Polytechnic. Her work focuses on the student experience of students from equity-deserving communities, particularly with regards to academic integrity, and promoting Open Educational Resources to foster equitable learning environments. Caitlin’s current research examines international students’ experiences with library services and of the library as a Place.
Ericka Geneblazo is an alumni of Red Deer Polytechnic. She recently completed an undergrad degree, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, in 2024 and has also completed a Social Work Diploma in 2021. Currently, she is working as a Complex Needs Support Specialist and her main interests are mental health and supporting vulnerable populations in rural communities.
Abby Gale Layon is a fourth-year psychology student, who is committed to bridging the divide between psychology and the BI-POC community. She aspires to discover the interplay between culture, identity, and mental health, armed with a deep comprehension of the unique challenges faced by marginalized individuals. Motivated by genuine empathy and desire for social justice, she desires to be a catalyst for change within the field of psychology.
Akua Appiah is a fourth-year student at Red Deer Polytechnic, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Her research interests include student mental health, the effects of colonization on marginalized communities, and the impactof parenting styles on child development. She looks forward to focusing on the experiences of BIPOC communities, examining the factors that influence their well-being and the potential for meaningful change within these communities.
Presenter Name: Dr. Folajinmi Oluwasina
Research Team: Dr. Folajinmi Oluwasina (School of Trades & Technology), Prof. Andre M.N Renzaho (Western Sydney University, Australia), Prof. Tolulope Sajobi (University of Calgary, Canada), Prof Bukola Salami (University of Calgary, Canada), Prof. Jo Anderson (University of Toronto, Canada), Prof. Delores Mullings (Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada), Prof. Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan (University of Alberta, Canada), Prof. Kwame McKenzie (University of Toronto, Canada), Prof. Cecile Rousseau (McGill University, Canada), Dr. Hayley Hamilton (5Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada)
Presentation Description: Black youth in Canada face unique challenges that can impact their mental and physical well-being including experiences of racial discrimination, socioeconomic barriers, and limited access to culturally appropriate mental health resources. This research examines the factors that contribute to low resilience among Black youth and explores how these factors influence their overall well-being.
Understanding resilience is crucial because it helps individuals cope with stress, adapt to challenges, and maintain mental health. By identifying key influences such as social support, community connections, and access to mental health services this study highlights ways to strengthen resilience and improve well-being in Black youth.
What makes this research unique is its focus on an often-overlooked population, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive picture of their experiences. The findings contribute to a growing conversation about mental health equity in Canada and offer insights that can inform policies and support programs tailored to the needs of Black youth.
This presentation will discuss the study’s objectives, methodology, and the significance of its findings in promoting better mental health outcomes and resilience strategies for Black youth in Canada.
Presenter Biography:
Dr. Fola Oluwasina is an educator and researcher with expertise in mental health, resilience, and well-being among general populations. He is a faculty member at Red Deer Polytechnic, where he teaches science and nursing students. Fola’s research focuses on identifying the pathways associated with a variety of stress-related health disorders, including psychosis, anxiety, suicide, depression, burnout, depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and interpersonal disengagement. Through his research, he aims to identify novel therapeutic mechanisms for treating these diseases.
Fola has authored and co-authored over 50 research papers on various mental health topics including his recent paper, Correlates of Low
Resilience, Physical and Mental Well-being Among Black Youths in Canada, which examines the factors contributing to mental health challenges and resilience among Black youth. In addition to this work, he is working on a quantitative study on the impact of racial discrimination on Black Canadians’ mental health and is engaged in research on mental health literacy’s role in academic success. Fola is committed to bridging research with practice to improve mental health outcomes through policy and education.
Room 2905 |
7:30 - 8:35 pm
Presenter Name: Ashley Mast
Research Team: Dr. Greg Wells (School of Arts and Education), Ashley Mast (Student)
Presentation Description: The Covid-19 pandemic made apparent systemic challenges within Canada’s long-term care system.
With an aging population and dramatic increases in demand for long-term care straining the system, assistive technology is viewed as a vital potential means for enhancing care, reducing workplace stress, and improving organizational efficiency. For such benefits to be realized, however, it is essential that technological innovations are designed and implemented in accordance with needs, perspectives and insights of those impacted. Through enhancing understanding of the co-design process as a multi-stakeholder undertaking this project will provide information and direction that should increase the likelihood that the potential benefits of assistive technology in this environment will be realized. A key outcome of this research is to further the development of this form of assistive technology, using input from those most impacted by its development. Further this study will:
• Explore the perspectives of varied stakeholder groups on the potential and challenges of assistive technology in long-term care
• Explore the early stage (proof-of-concept) co-design process with respect to the development of this technology based on input from key stakeholders and end users
• Further the iterative process that is co-design, allowing progress toward the development and implementation of a field-ready prototype of this assistive technology.
Presenter Biography:
Ashley Mast is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts Psychology student with special interest in research in the field of adulthood developmental psychology, specifically concerning research regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Ashley is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Wells on an Independent Research project exploring the use of Assistive Technology within Long-Term Care facilities.
Presenter Name: Akshun Chauhan, Shehan Herathge
Research Team: Akshun Chauhan (Energy Innovation Center), Shehan Herathge (Energy Innovation Center), Debjyoti Sen (Centres for Manufacturing & Energy Innovation)
Presentation Description: This project aims to implement an innovative demand-based control strategy for HVAC systems, optimizing energy usage while maintaining high indoor air quality standards. By integrating Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices, we will monitor occupancy levels and key air quality parameters, such as CO₂, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM).
What sets this research apart is its novel use of IIoT technology and real-time data analytics to refine control algorithms for HVAC optimization. Currently, the HVAC system in Red Deer Polytechnic’s Alternative Energy Lab (AEL) operates at full capacity 24/7, regardless of occupancy, leading to significant energy waste. This issue extends beyond AEL to many campus buildings, where the absence of occupancy-based control results in inefficient energy use. Additionally, indoor air quality is not consistently monitored to ensure it meets health and comfort standards.
This research addresses these challenges by implementing a demand-based control strategy that dynamically adjusts HVAC operation based on real-time occupancy and air quality data, significantly reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions while ensuring a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Additionally, it provides a blueprint for scaling these strategies across the campus and beyond.
Presenter Biography:
Shehan Herathge is an Industrial ResearchAssociate at the Energy Innovation Centre and an Engineer-in-Training with a master's degree in electrical engineering, specializing in energy systems. With over five years of research experience, he has worked extensively in power systems, power electronics, and control systems, contributing to both simulation and modeling of electrical systems and hands-on development of power electronics-based converters.
His research interests include power system studies, microgrid controls, renewable energy integration, and data driven innovation. Currently, he leads the CICan
Living Lab pilot project, which focuses on minimizing HVAC energy consumption at theAlternative Energy Lab. Additionally, he plays a key role in the Data
Sharing Alliance project, helping develop a comprehensive energy data repository for alternative energy sources across Alberta.
Akshun Chauhan is an Applied Research Technician who recently completed a Computer Programming Diploma from Red Deer Polytechnic. Akshun is actively working on both client and internal projects. Akshun’s research interests include power systems, renewable energy integration, and data-driven energy management solutions.
Currently, Akshun is focused on optimizing HVAC systems using data fromAirthings sensors and occupancy data to enhance energy efficiency. This research examines how environmental factors such as CO2, VOC, PM, and temperature impact energy consumption and explores strategic control of HVAC components to improve indoor air quality while reducing energy costs. Akshun is also developing algorithms and leveraging machine learning models to find optimum solutions across various projects.
Passionate about leveraging technology for sustainability, Akshun is dedicated to finding innovative approaches to help achieve net-zero goals.
Presenter Name: Dr. Kyle Nicholson
Research Team: Dr. Jie Zheng (University of Alberta), Cass (Haoyang) Li (University of Alberta), Dr. Tonya Wolfe (Division of Applied Research), Dr. James Hogan (University of Alberta), Dr. Kyle Nicholson (Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing- Technology Access Centre)
Presentation Description: This research project is addressing the problem of making strong silicon carbide parts using binder jet 3D printing (BJ3DP), which is a type of 3D printing that uses a binding liquid to trace a part made in a powder bed layer-by-layer. Currently, no approach using BJ3DP has made silicon carbide parts that can match the strength of conventional manufacturing. However, demand for customized high-performance parts with low production volumes has increased the value of further developing BJ3DP and making it more accessible as a manufacturing method. Binder jet 3D printers have limited availability and new knowledge on which printer settings form the best 'recipe' for making and baking parts with different powder materials is hard to find,so this research impacts the ongoing standardization of 3D-printed parts for industry. This project is exploring if silicon carbide parts made with the binder jet printer at RDP can be successfully filled with other materials using available metallurgy equipment. Common lab resins are also being tested as carbon fillers to replace hazardous chemicals that previous studies have used.
Presenter Biography:
Dr. Kyle Nicholson is an Industrial ResearchAssociate at the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC). His research interests include additive manufacturing process development, particle-based materials, and studying the links between process conditions, microscopic structures, and performance of 3D-printed materials. Kyle is currently working on 3D printing of high-performance silicon carbide ceramics; he has also recently worked on testing recycled plastics for 3D pellet extrusion and collecting data to train machine learning models that can qualify welds made by humans and robots.
7:30 - 8:35 pm
Presenter Names: Jude Danyau, Nicole Schmid
Research Team: Dr. Anomi Bearden (School of Arts and Education), Dr. Stephen Brown (School of Arts and Education), Jude Danyau (Student), Nicole Schmid (Student), Becky Wylie-Jardine (School of Arts and Education), Supt. Holly Glassford (Red Deer RCMP), Lisa Armstrong, (Community Researcher)
Presentation Description: Police work is highly stressful and there is a clear need to focus on building resilience and enhancing well-being in correctional officers. HeartMath practices are ideal for RCMP officers to incorporate throughout their fast-paced and high-stress lives because they have demonstrated to be effective, they are simple, accessible, and can be practiced within a short period of time. This research will examine the effects of practicing HeartMath emotion regulation on RCMP officers’ Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Well-Being at the Red Deer City RCMP Detachment, in the City of Red Deer Alberta. Officers will complete preand post-surveys to evaluate the effects of HeartMath Institute’s Heart Lock-In practice. The survey will gather demographic data (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity) and assess overall perceived stress, perceived organizational stress, burn out, resilience, and emotional regulation. We expect that over 8 weeks of practice officers will show improved HRV (indicating greater physiological resilience), lowered levels of burn out and perceived stress, accompanied by greater resilience and emotion regulation capabilities. Red Deer City RCMP Detachment is a project partner. They are interested in the findings and how they might impact their own work as well as extend to other policing contexts throughout the province and even broader throughout Canada.
Presenter Biography:
Nicole Schmid is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student with a strong interest in forensic psychology. Her current project involves collaborating with Red Deer RCMP officers to implement HeartMath practices and evaluate their effects on heart rate variability (HRV) and overall well-being. Through this research, she aims to explore how stress management techniques can enhance officers' emotional resilience, decision-making abilities, and job performance. By analyzing the impact of these practices, Nicole seeks to contribute valuable insights into improving mental health support for law enforcement personnel.
Jude Danyau is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Psychology student at RDP, with a keen interest in mental health and wellbeing. Jude’s current project involves training RCMP officers in HeartMath practices and assessing the impact of these practices on their heart rate variability (HRV) and self-reported measures, including perceived stress, burnout, workplace satisfaction, and emotion regulation. Through this project, Jude aims to explore how interventions like HeartMath can enhance emotional resilience and improve overall well-being for officers in demanding roles. Her research has the potential to contribute valuable insights to the field of psychology, especially in the context of mental health strategies for law enforcement personnel.
Presenter Name: Sam Darby
Research Team: Dr. Stephen Brown (School of Arts and Education), Sam Darby (Student)
Presentation Description: We are researching if Stoicism, which is becoming more and more popular in today's world as a philosophy by which one can live, has any effects on an individual's brain waves. This would be invaluable neuroscientific evidence to support the research around Stoicism, as most of it is qualitative and survey-based. We are also utilizing the Muse 22 EEG headband, which is a portable and more compact version of a traditional EEG, so in addition to adding to the body of literature supporting Stoicism as one route to improving one's mental health, we are also seeking to edify the usefulness and reliability of EEGs that are sleeker, cheaper, and easier to use.
Presenter Biography:
Sam Darby is completing a Bachelors degree of Science in Psychology and is interested in researching cognitive neuroscience, particularly using emerging brain imaging technologies.
Presenter Name: Hannah Antonishyn
Research Team: Shannah Engert (School of Arts and Education), Hannah Antonishyn (Student)
Presentation Description: Perfectionism is prevalent among post-secondary students and is often associated with psychological distress, reduced self-efficacy, and diminished well-being. Previous research suggests that self-compassion may buffer against perfectionistic behaviors and support various aspects of well-being. Self-compassion includes being kind to oneself in the same way one might be compassionate toward a friend. However, perfectionists often face challenges in adopting self-compassionate practices. The current project aims to investigate the effects of a brief self-compassion practice, completed multiple times per week, on perfectionism, academic self-efficacy, and psychological well-being among Red Deer Polytechnic students. Self-compassion interventions typically require a significant time commitment from participants, as interventions are frequently 8-weeks long and require multiple hours of self-compassion practice each week. Post-secondary students, however, are often busy with course work, assignments, and other responsibilities; thus, this study endeavors to explore whether a condensed intervention approach (requiring approximately 5 minutes a day of self-compassion) has similar beneficial impacts on post-secondary students. By exploring the role of an accessible, time-efficient self-compassion practice, the study seeks to empower RDP students with practical tools to support their well-being.
Presenter Biography:
Hannah Antonishyn is a fourth-year psychology student in the Bachelor of Science in Psychology program at Red Deer Polytechnic. Her research interests lie within the realms of social psychology and positive psychology, specifically topics pertaining topersonality, interpersonal relationships, mindfulness, self-compassion, and positive emotions. Hannah's current research project aims to evaluate how self-compassion impacts post-secondary students. She also has ambitions to attend grad school to continue pursuing her love for conducting research in psychology.
7:30 - 8:35 pm
Presenter Name: Taylor Eaton
Research Team: Sandra MacDougall (School of Trades & Technology), Taylor Eaton (Student), Ramona Maraj (Parks Canada)
Presentation Description: The rapid growth of the black bear (Ursus americanus) population within the Beaver Hills biosphere raises questions regarding their dietary behaviours. Understanding what these bears are eating is crucial to uncover the factors driving their population increase. This study's objective is to identify vertebrate prey species within in black bear diets using DNA metabarcoding and microscopic hair impression slides and addressing the limitations of fecal DNA metabarcoding.
This research is important for conservation and wildlife management, as it provides insight into black bear feeding habits, their role as a keystone species, and potential for reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
What makes this project unique is its combined use of DNA metabarcoding and microscopic hair impression slide methods, as well as the hands-on experience for Red Deer Polytechnic students to work with these methods in the lab.
Presenter Biography:
Taylor Eaton is a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Biological Sciences program. Taylor's research interests are primarily in ecological and conservation research. Since working with Sandra MacDougall in her ongoing black bear research, Taylor has gained interest in understanding the dietary behaviours of these bears. Especially with the hands-on experience with making the cuticle hair impression slides and learning more about fecal DNAmetabarcoding methods.
SummerDietary Analysis of Omnivores:IntraguildInteractions BetweenCoyotes (Canislatrans) andBlackBears (Ursus americanus)inElk IslandNationalPark
Presenter Name: Kiara Mickey
Research Team: Sandra MacDougall (School of Trades and Technology), Kiara Mickey (Student), Ramona Maraj (Parks Canada)
Presentation Description: This research investigates the dietary overlap and interactions between black bears (Ursus americanus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) in Elk Island National Park. Both species are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, adapting their diets to seasonal food availability. As the black bear populations increase, there is growing concern about competition for shared resources, such as berries, insects, and scavenged carrion, particularly during critical periods like the summer season.
Using DNA metabarcoding to analyze scat samples from both species, this study provides detailed insights into their dietary patterns, highlighting how food resources are partitioned and if competition occurs. This work contributes to understanding the balance between these two omnivores within a protected ecosystem.
What makes this project unique is its focus on dietary overlap between omnivores, rather than the more commonly studied dynamics of carnivores or predator-prey relationships. By exploring how intraguild interactions shape resource use in omnivorous species, this research offers valuable insights into ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation in Elk Island National Park.
SummerDietary Analysis of Omnivores:IntraguildInteractions BetweenCoyotes (Canislatrans) andBlackBears (Ursus americanus)inElk IslandNationalPark
Presenter Biography:
Kiara Mickey is a student in the Bachelor's of Science in Biological Sciences program at Red Deer Polytechnic. She is the main researcher and presenter of this project. Her academic interests include wildlife ecology, conservation, botany, and diseasepathology, as well as understanding how species interact within shared ecosystems. She is also fascinated by the complexities of the brain and its role in behavior, both in humans and animals. Passionate about preserving biodiversity, Kiara is particularly drawn to fieldwork and studies that explore species coexistence, predator-prey dynamics, and the impacts of human activity on wildlife. She aspires to use her knowledge and skills to support conservation efforts. Outside of academics, Kiara enjoys immersing herself in nature, exploring the intersection of science and storytelling, and sharing her enthusiasm for wildlife and environmental protection with others.
Presenter Name: Felix Beever, Sanjana Sharma
Research Team: Anne Dempsey (School of Trades & Technology), Felix Beever (RDP alumni - Bachelor's in Biological Sciences), Sanjana Sharma (Student), Dave Prescott (Red Deer River Naturalists)
Presentation Description: Bees, particularly native bees such as miner and sweat bees, have a major yet understudied roles in their environment and biodiversity. The physical appearance of each bee is an accurate means of identifying most species. However, morphological identification does not account for cryptic diversity, which is anatomically similar but genetically differentspecies. DNA barcoding is an increasingly common method to augment the identification of these species. This requires primers to specify the gene of interest. Current primers used for bees are general and cannot capture all species, meaning resources are being spent withno tangible results. Thus, we used genetic analysis software to design bee-specific primers that increase the efficiency of bee identification. The data from bee barcoding goes toward establishing a baseline on native bee occupancy and diversity, whichis required to implement conservation efforts. Additionally, the primers designed in this study are specific to all bees and therefore can be used to enhance the capabilities of genetic bee identification globally.
Presenter Biography:
Sanjana Sharma is in her third year of her Bachelor's in Biological Sciences at RDP. She shows passion and exuberance toward the intersection between molecular and conservation biology, medicine, and invertebrate zoology.
Felix Beever graduated last summer from RDP with a Bachelor's in Biological Sciences and has previously worked on projects involving local animal identification and fungal metabolites. He is fascinated by the molecular and genetic side of biology with a focus on medicine, anatomy, and evolution.