FEGRS 2025 Program at a Glance

Please follow us on social media for more info:  Linkedin & Instagram

Tuesday, August 19

---

---

---

---

---

---

Wednesday, August 20

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

 

PRESENTATION DETAILS

Click here to download the schedule for oral and poster presentations:

Link for oral presentation

Link for poster presentation

Keynote Speakers

Richard Sutton, PhD

Professor, Computing Science, University of Alberta

Biography

Richard Sutton is a recipient of the 2024 ACM Turing Award, the highest distinction in computing science. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of London, the Royal Society of Canada and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. At the U of A and Keen Technologies, he teaches and designs learning algorithms for artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning. At the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Sutton is Chief Scientific Advisor and a Canada CIFAR AI chair. Previously, he studied at Stanford University and the University of Massachusetts and worked at GTE Labs, AT&T Labs and DeepMind. His research emphasizes learning from experience — the interaction between an AI agent and its environment. His scientific publications have been cited about 150,000 times.

Janet A. W. Elliott, PhD

Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta

Biography

Janet A. W. Elliott is a distinguished professor and Canada Research Chair in thermodynamics in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and an adjunct professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. Elliott was the first female graduate of the Engineering Physics Option of Engineering Science at the University of Toronto and received a MSc and PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. Elliott has also been a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Oxford Centre for Collaborative Applied Mathematics.

Elliott currently serves as editor-in-chief for the journal, Cryobiology. She also serves on the Editorial Advisory Boards of The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, B, & C , Langmuir and Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. She has previously served as a member of the Physical Sciences Advisory Committee for the Canadian Space Agency, the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering and the Executive Committee of the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry.

Elliott has won numerous honours and awards, including Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2023), Fellowship in Engineers Canada (2023) and Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada (2022).

As one student put it, “She could convince rocks to study thermodynamics.”

Workshops + PD Sessions

Aug 19

Presenter:  Dr. Robyn Smith

Time: 1:15 to 2:15 PM

Location: DICE 8-207

Title: Technical Writing for Engineers

Abstract: Strong writing skills are essential for researchers, but academic training often skips the fundamentals of clear, purposeful communication. This one-hour workshop offers practical strategies to make your technical writing more concise, readable, and effective. We’ll cover structure, flow, and sentence-level clarity, with examples from real research writing.

Brief facilitator bio: Dr. Robyn Smith is a writer, editor, and communications instructor with a background in science writing and academic publishing. She holds a PhD in the history of science and an MFA in creative writing, and has written for Scientific American, Discover, and New Scientist. Starting in September, she will teach graduate-level writing in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. Robyn specializes in helping researchers communicate complex ideas with clarity, precision, and impact.

Register

Aug 20

Presenter:  Ana Sabo

Time: 3:15 to 4:15 PM

Location: DICE 8-207

Title: Networking for Tomorrow – Building Relationships in Academia and Industry

Abstract: “Networking for Tomorrow” will explore the importance of networking in both academia and industry, with a focus on professional growth. The discussion will focus on how effective networking can foster research collaborations, provide access to resources, offer mentorship, and open up job opportunities. Practical strategies for success will be provided, including goal setting, developing a personal value proposition, and leveraging connections, complemented by adapted networking scenarios and examples from practice.

Brief facilitator bio: Ana Sabo is a Career Advisor at the University of Alberta Career Centre, where she supports graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in their career development. As a Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP) with a background in teaching, writing, and supporting adult learners, Ana specializes in goal-setting, career transitions, and inclusive advising practices. She is dedicated to continuous learning, particularly in the areas of mental health and career decision-making, and is passionate about empowering clients to achieve their career aspirations with confidence and clarity.

Register

Aug 21

Presenter: Jeremy Adamson

Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM

Location: DICE 8-207

Title: AI Ethics and Governance for Engineers

Abstract: This session will explore the current landscape and how it will affect the future development and deployment of AI solutions for engineers. We will discuss emerging global regulations and how they will likely inform future federal laws. Attendees will be encouraged to consider how these regulations may affect their processes and the importance of embedding robust risk management from the outset. By fostering a proactive approach to compliance and ethics, we can ensure we are protected against legislative ambiguity, maintain trust with stakeholders, and take a balanced approach to innovation.

Brief facilitator bio: Jeremy is a leader in AI and analytics strategy and has a broad range of experience in aviation, energy, financial services, retail, and public administration. Jeremy is the Vice President of Digital Services and Analytics at Steele Auto Group, an instructor in corporate strategy at the University of New Brunswick, a strategic advisor at several technology startups, and the author of Minding the Machines and Geeks with Empathy.

Register