“Heartfelt thanks to the college for putting together such a diverse event around the U of A research community. It was truly inspiring and interesting to see all the work being done across the faculties. I hope this is the first CNAS Research Day of many to come!” – Daniele Calista, PhD Candidate, Materials Engineering.
What do robotic hands, cultivated meat and fish conservation have in common? These were just some of the topics at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences’ first-ever Research Day.
Over one hundred students, staff, researchers and faculty from across Science, Engineering, ALES and U of A services gathered to share ideas, showcase research and invite collaboration. Sixty-five students presented posters on topics ranging from early childhood development to reinforcement learning and quantum gravity. Six research talks welcomed curiosity from across faculties with students asking thoughtful questions to their peers in other faculties and researchers sharing their work to potential future grad students. The day was full of spontaneous conversations, highlighting the power of bringing disciplines together and celebrating the vital role research plays at the University of Alberta.
“The world is full of complex problems that do not fit neatly into disciplines” noted Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, College Dean and Vice Provost of CNAS. “If we are to truly Lead with Purpose, we must be curious about each other’s work. These complex problems require the perspectives, expertise and experience of many.”
With the success of the first CNAS Research Day, this annual event will return in 2027 as an ongoing opportunity to connect researchers outside their typical circles, leading to unexpected collaborations, discoveries and most importantly – impact.
Explore CNAS Research Day posters and more here.
President Bill Flanagan provides opening remarks.
Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, College Dean and Vice Provost, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, welcomes guests to the inaugural CNAS Research Day.
Shinichi Nakagawa (Faculty of Science) presents his research talk: Meta-analysis and meta-science in biology.
The U of A Library team shares information about its array of resources for researchers.
Sonia Navvuru (Faculty of ALES).
Juliana Leung (Faculty of Engineering) presents her research talk: Modelling subsurface flow systems.
Welcoming remarks from Karim El-Basyouny, Associate Vice-President, Institutional Research Infrastructure and Initiatives.
Hanna Yousif (Faculty of Science).
The Safeguarding Research Office team shares details about its resources.
Bingqing Guo (Faculty of Engineering).
Jon Veinot, Associate Dean, Office of Research, College of Natural and Applied Sciences emceed the Research Talks.
Ning Xiang (Faculty of ALES) presents with "Bridging the scale-up gap in cultivated meat."
The Permafrost Archives Laboratory (PACS) describes its research.
The Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholars team hosted a table, sharing GPS study opportunities with students.