TransCoastal Adaptations helping coastal communities become resilient to climate change

Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman (second from right) with recipients of the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund. Kelly Umlah (center) represents the TransCoastal Adaptations Green Shores for Homes project.

Kelly Umlah BES’17, TransCoastal’s Education and Outreach Coordinator

Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman

Minister Halman speaks with representatives of the community-led projects which received funding from the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund

Signage at Mahone Bay Beach

TransCoastal Adaptations is building on the success of a program that helps homeowners in coastal communities protect and revitalize their shorelines, thanks to an injection of funding from the provincial government.

More than $2.45 million from the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund will support seven community-led projects that are helping Nova Scotians prepare for and respond to climate change impacts. One of those projects is the Green Shores for Homes program with TransCoastal Adaptations: Centre for Nature-Based Solutions at Saint Mary’s University.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman announced the funding at an event in Mahone Bay on November 23.

“This summer was a heartbreaking reminder of the destruction and loss that climate change is causing,” said Minister Halman. “It was also a reminder that all Nova Scotians must work together to protect each other, our homes, communities and natural areas from climate change. These projects–many of which involve best practices in using nature-based solutions–show exactly the kind of community-led, all-hands-on-deck action that is needed to make our communities and ecosystems more resilient to climate change and to protect all that we hold dear.”

With $238,098 from the fund, TransCoastal Adaptations (TCA) will be able to expand its Green Shores for Homes program, bringing it to coastal communities such as the municipalities of West Hants, Barrington and Pictou County. The new funds will also allow TransCoastal to provide free shoreline assessments for waterfront homeowners in those areas.

“We are thrilled to help increase our local communities’ coastal resilience through the Green Shores for Homes program thanks to this funding, which will ensure that Green Shores helps more vulnerable communities and trains homeowners with nature-based strategies to protect their shorelines in the face of climate change and sea level rise,” says Kelly Umlah BES’17, TransCoastal’s Education and Outreach Coordinator.

Umlah spoke at the funding announcement, thanking the provincial government and Federation of Nova Scotia Municipalities for supporting the project, “Building Community Coastal Resilience in Nova Scotia with Green Shores for Homes”.

British Columbia/Nova Scotia partnership

The Green Shores for Homes program originated with the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia, which partnered with TransCoastal Adaptations to broaden the program’s reach to the Maritime provinces.

Through the training, coastal property owners learn to use nature-based solutions to address issues such as shoreline erosion, sea level rise and climate change adaptation. With programs also created for local governments and commercial developers, the Green Shores initiatives promote sustainable maintenance, restoration and stewardship of healthy, resilient shorelines.

On December 7, all are welcome to learn more in a Green Shores webinar, “Practical strategies and lessons learned from nature-based project implementation in the Maritimes and British Columbia,” co-presented by TransCoastal and the Stewardship Centre for B.C.

Since the expansion of the Green Shores program to the Maritimes, TCA has trained over 150 municipal staff, contractors and members of the public in Green Shores Level 1, with many continuing their training with Level 2. Working with partners in government and NGOs, TCA has provided technical expertise on a few living shoreline projects that will soon be certified Green Shores for Shoreline Development sites. The new funding will allow more time for outreach to homeowners for smaller-scale projects on private properties in need of shoreline protection and habitat, Umlah said.

Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund

The provincial government created the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund to support community-led action and leadership, as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act. Launched in November 2022, the fund helps municipalities, non-profit/community groups, post-secondary schools and Mi’kmaw communities respond to and prepare for climate change impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The projects announced last week were funded through the first round of the program; the call for projects for the second round closed on November 14. Funding was also announced last week for the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation in Mahone Bay, Friends of the DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater, Bonny Lea Farm in Chester, Waterfront Baddeck, Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy Association, and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management.

“Communities across the province continue to experience the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events,” Juanita Spencer, CEO of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities said at the announcement. “These projects will build resilience in communities and natural habitats, make community infrastructure energy efficient, give us carbon storage research and demonstrate the power and effectiveness of locally-led action on tackling climate change. We are pleased to support these homegrown solutions which will play a role in shaping a more sustainable future for all.”

Read more

• Learn more about Green Shores for Homes in the Maritimes.

• Register for the Green Shores webinar. (December 7, 1-2 p.m.)

• Read the provincial funding announcement from November 23, 2023.

History professor’s book sheds light on U.S. struggle for democracy

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A new book offering historical insight into the early and ongoing challenges of democracy in the United States launched on November 6, as Fall Reading Week began at Saint Mary’s University.

The American Liberty Pole: Popular Politics and the Struggle for Democracy in the Early Republic (University of Virginia Press, 2023) was written by Dr. Shira Lurie of the Department of History. Her Halifax book launch took place at the Glitter Bean Café and online, with a presentation and Q&A.

Lurie’s book launch at Glitter Bean Café in November

“It’s exciting to finally have it out there,” says Dr. Lurie, who began researching the topic nearly a decade ago. “I’ve been workshopping it among historians, so it will be nice to get some thoughts from people who aren’t in the field. You don’t have to be an expert on American history or politics to get something out of it.”

During the American Revolution and into the early republic, “liberty poles”—tall wooden poles bearing political flags and signs—were a central fixture as a form of political expression and public dissent, often leading to conflict and confrontation. Protesters raised liberty poles as a sign of resistance to government rule, while counter-protesters often tore them down.

The first comprehensive study of the liberty pole phenomenon, the book highlights the influence of ordinary citizens as U.S. political culture developed. Dr. Lurie demonstrates how, in raising and destroying liberty poles, Americans put into practice the types of popular participation they envisioned in the new republic. She also makes compelling links between past and present, demonstrating the long history of American debates over protest, monuments, elections and free speech.

“We can trace these questions and controversies all the way back to the beginning of the United States,” says Lurie. “The book also shows the Constitution didn’t come with an instruction manual on how to run a republic, how to become a citizen when you were once a subject, or what it means to vote in an election or protest a government comprised of your own elected representatives.”

Liberty pole arguments could get heated and even violent, as ordinary Americans tried to figure out their role in the new republic – and the republic’s role in the rest of the world.     

“They were walking an uncharted path and I try to help my students understand it wasn’t just about ‘will the American experiment succeed,’” says Lurie. “A lot of Americans wanted theirs to be the first in a series of revolutions that would topple monarchies around the world. They wanted to show that the best form of government is republicanism, self-government.”

It was a new concept and if they succeeded, it could trigger other revolutions beyond the U.S. “but if they failed, they feared that they would doom the world to the shackles of monarchy forever, so the stakes were incredibly high,” Lurie says.

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With the advent of the two-party system, liberty pole debates ultimately got channeled into the political parties. At first suspicious of these new institutions, Americans began trusting them and thus political change became more about getting the right people elected.  

“This governing system was designed to put a very small group of people in charge, and to make sure that their power was protected,” says Lurie, adding that the resulting “partisan pendulum locks America into a pretty narrow range of what’s possible to achieve politically.”

She hopes the new book can help to inspire deeper questions about structural and institutional reform.

“The way that American politics functions now is not the result of a kind of divine revelation, it’s the result of choices,” she says. “There’s nothing in that early period that said ‘This is the absolute way to do things,’ which is why there was so much contention then and why it continues today.”

As the U.S. continues to struggle with questions of democracy, protest and free speech, students in Lurie’s history classes are keen to make the connections between past and present.

“Students consume a lot of media so they want to talk about it. They have a natural curiosity and they ask really good questions,” says Lurie, whose fall courses include “Protest in the Early United States” and “American History, American Controversy”.

Further reading:

• Study History at Saint Mary’s University

• Author’s Corner blog, UVA Press; Author’s Corner with Shira Lurie

• Learn more about Dr. Lurie at www.shiralurie.com and follow her on Twitter/X at @ShiraLurie.

• “Johnson's speakership is bad for Democrats — but not for reasons you think," an op-ed piece by Dr. Lurie in The Toronto Star, November 4, 2023

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Reading Roundup for Fall Reading Week

Here’s a sample of other recent publications written or edited by faculty members at Saint Mary’s University. Click the covers below for more information.

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Student researcher has found 100—and counting—invasive crayfish in Three Mile Lake

Invasive species has potential to move well beyond one Halifax-area lake

Dr. Linda Campbell, graduate student researcher Madison Bond, and DFO Officer Sarah Kingsbury MSc’20 show evidence of crayfish at Three Mile Lake

As a master’s student at Saint Mary’s University, Madison Bond has a unique and exciting opportunity to conduct research that could play a pivotal role in the protection of Nova Scotia’s ecosystem.

For her thesis project, she has been studying the presence of Red Swamp Crayfish, an invasive species found in Three Mile Lake, in Waverley, N.S. This species has the potential to wreak havoc on this lake—with the potential to create damage on a much larger scale.

Red Swamp Crayfish, which look like tiny lobsters, are native to the southern United States. It’s not known yet how they arrived in the Maritimes, but Madison, along with supervising professor Dr. Linda Campbell and partners at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), have been investigating the impact that they have already had on the lake.

Madison Bond speaks with media about her research

Under a student contract with DFO, Madison caught the first live crayfish at the lake in 2022; approximately 100 have now been captured in traps. Her research work this academic year and next summer is to collect more crayfish and study how their lifecycle and habits differ compared to the crayfish living in their native habitats.

Because Nova Scotia temperatures are colder than their native freshwater habitats, crayfish may burrow deeper into shorelines. The temperature could also affect the number of offspring and the length of their lifecycle. Using frozen crayfish in the lab, Madison will also determine what they eat—leading to more answers about their impact on the local ecosystem.

As an invasive species in a lake, crayfish cause a variety of issues. Crayfish are known for burrowing into the shoreline, which can cause significant damage by changing the shoreline which leads to erosion. Along with the loss of habitat for native species, the aggressive crayfish also compete for food, space and calcium in the water.

Crayfish go through a wandering phase in their lifecycle, which means that they can travel significant distances on land, and potentially move to new bodies of water. The Shubenacadie Canal is within walking distance for a crayfish, meaning this invasive species problem has the potential to become exponentially larger. “Shubie” Canal is a 114-kilometre waterway that stretches from the Halifax Harbour to the Bay of Fundy, and is a well-used and loved recreation destination in Nova Scotia.

Crayfish aren’t the first invasive species in Nova Scotia. Dr. Linda Campbell’s Dynamic Environment and Ecosystem Health Research (DEEHR) lab at Saint Mary’s has also investigated the impact of two other invasive species, Chinese mystery snails and chain pickerel.

To protect the province’s native species, habitats and waterways, never introduce a plant, pet or other animal into the wild.

If you find a crayfish, please put it in a bag and note details such as location coordinates, time and date, and contact Madison Bond and the team at Saint Mary’s who will collect it from you. Please do not disturb the traps.

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Public Lecture

Dr. Linda Campbell will present a lecture titled “Overlooked no more: non-indigenous, invasive species in Nova Scotia lakes & rivers”

The unanticipated and unplanned appearance of non-indigenous species in freshwater ecosystems is a global issue. In regions lacking biosurveillance and awareness programs, the potential for unwanted species to establish in lakes is very high. Dr. Linda Campbell will present case studies for both fish and invertebrates in Nova Scotia, highlight progress made over the past decade, and discuss ongoing needs in order to limit the impact of unwanted species on Nova Scotia’s freshwater ecosystems.

Date: Monday, December 4, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: In person at Saint Mary’s University – Atrium 101 or via Zoom
Details: https://nsis1862.ca/public-lectures/

Celebrating excellence: Saint Mary’s faculty recognized for external research funding

At a recent celebration, researchers at Saint Mary’s University were recognized for their success in securing more than $12 million in external funding to engage in important work in their fields. The funding received was in the form of research contracts, Canada Research Chair positions and tri-council grants.

Research by Saint Mary’s faculty covers diverse topics such as policy changes to protect women migrants and refugees against violence and the examination of 2SLGBTQ+ poverty in Canada to improve livelihood and social well-being. Secured funding also supports research that examines the sustainable trade of goods, improves plant health and nutrition, investigates the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems, assesses biodiversity conservation and Indigenous health and well-being.

A celebration to honour 97 researchers from faculties of Science, Arts, Sobey School of Business and two staff from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre took place in the McNally Theatre Auditorium on October 6. The quality of research happening here at Saint Mary’s University is something that we should all be proud of, congratulations to all of those that have been recognized.

Researcher leads team in discovering galaxies with James Webb Space Telescope

This image shows the Webb Deep Field of Galaxies, the very first unveiled science image by JWST. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI. Post-stamps: Shannon MacFarland (SMU).

Dr. Gaël Noirot, a postdoctoral researcher at Saint Mary’s University, is playing a leading role in studying an image called “Webb’s Deep Field of Galaxies,” the extraordinary first image produced by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which contains at least 7,000 galaxies.

Along with Saint Mary’s professor and CRC Chair Dr. Marcin Sawicki, a team of Canadian astronomers have used the Canadian NIRISS instrument on board JWST to collect spectra from galaxies in the image. These spectra are a type of scientific data created by breaking down the light of an object to reveal additional information such as the object’s age or distance. 

The team has now measured the redshifts—a precise measurement of a galaxy’s distance based on the unique chemical signatures seen in its spectra—of nearly 200 galaxies whose distances from Earth were previously unknown.

“NIRISS is perfect for doing this because it can measure the redshifts of hundreds of galaxies at once,” said Dr. Noirot who is Principal Investigator of this observing program and lead author of the study published this month in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 

Read the full press release.

Saint Mary's biomedical lab is on the frontiers of collagen exploration

Dr. Veres and his students study in great depth the structural makeup of collagen within the body to identify the unknown

Dr. Sam Veres (left) works in a research lab with Master of Science in Applied Science student Amanda Lee

What comes to mind when people think of exploration is typically outer space, or the deep ocean. But within the human body, there are many structural and functional questions that remain unanswered. 

The structural makeup of collagen within the body, and how it develops and is comprised in injury and disease, is one area still under exploration. Dr. Sam Veres and his graduate students explore this topic with great depth in Biomedical Structure-Function labs. 

Sam Veres

“We think hard about identifying things that are unknown, problems that persist and how we might solve them,” says Dr. Veres, interim Dean of Science and Professor in the Division of Engineering at Saint Mary’s University. “A more complete understanding of the collagen in our bodies, how it develops and how it can become structurally compromised, could lead to development of new treatments to help reduce disabling soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and overuse tendinopathies.”

Research and collaboration

Collagen provides structural integrity to tissues in human and animal bodies, including the skin, bones, tendons and ligaments, articular cartilage, even discs in our backs. 

Dr. Veres and his lab specifically study collagen fibrils, which are tiny in size—roughly 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. The size of these fibrils is why many aspects of their development remain unknown, and why the multidisciplinary lab uses knowledge and techniques from engineering, physics, chemistry, biology and medicine to study them.

“These sorts of problems are inherently multidisciplinary, and you need to have collaborative teams that come together and work on these problems together,” says Dr. Veres.

Identifying unknowns

It’s a very exciting time in the lab, with four of its graduate students publishing results within the next year. 

Kelsey Gsell is a PhD student who Dr. Veres co-supervises with Dr. Laurent Kreplak through Dalhousie University’s School of Biomedical Engineering. Her research looks at how collagen in the body respond to enzymes that help control tissue repair and renewal.

Dr. Veres is also working with master’s student Ted Lownie, whose research has shown that the specialized collagen structure of highly loaded tendons like the Achilles extends back to the earliest stages of fetal development rather than being driven by mechanical loading after birth, as previously thought.

Dr. Veres is excited to see his students take part in this innovative, multidisciplinary research and continue asking questions, and exploring in the hopes of finding answers. 

“It’s really satisfying to see students go on to do other great things and take this background with them,” he says. “Seeing my students gain an appreciation for what is unknown and still to be discovered is really so wonderful.”

To learn more about Dr. Sam Veres and his graduate students’ research, visit their lab’s website at vereslab.com.  

Fall Valedictorian: Myles Davidson, Master of Applied Psychology

Myles Davidson BA’21, Valedictorian for the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

Myles is an emerging research professional who was raised in St. Peter’s on the island of Cape Breton. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology (Honours) and Psychology from Saint Mary’s University in 2021. Having a strong passion for both research and academia, Myles chose to stay at Saint Mary’s and enroll in the Master of Applied Psychology program. In his seven years at Saint Mary’s, Myles has been involved in various research projects centered on the prevention of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and substance abuse.

With ten publications to his credit, Myles’ research contributions have led to real-world changes, most notably as a member of the research team that informed the current vaping legislation in Nova Scotia.

Myles has participated in several academic conferences to date, with his presentation at the 2023 Canadian Psychological Association conference winning second place amongst all graduate presentations. In addition to his research, Myles has been a teaching assistant at Saint Mary’s for the last five years specializing in research methods and statistics. For this work, he was recognized with an excellence in teaching award from the Council of Canadian Departments of Psychology in 2022. During his master’s degree, Myles received research funding from several notable organizations including Research Nova Scotia and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Aside from his education, Myles is an accomplished professional musician. To date, he has released two studio albums and has performed extensively throughout the Maritimes. Some of the highlights of his career include performing at the Celtic Colours International Festival and the East Coast Music Awards, as well as having one of his songs featured in a museum in Barra, Scotland. Despite the demands of school, Myles has ensured that music continues to be a central focus in his life. In the future, Myles intends to pursue a doctorate in forensic psychology and carve out his own path in academia by conducting impactful research.

Q&A with Myles

Hometown: St. Peter’s, N.S.

Thesis title: Consent in vanilla and BDSM sexual encounters: conceptualization, violations, and repercussions

Thesis description: This thesis sought to understand how consent is negotiated in BDSM encounters, whether practicing in an organized BDSM community is protective against consent violations, and whether having an interest in sexual sadism is a reliable predictor of consent violation perpetration.

Why did this type of research appeal to you? A lot of my undergraduate and graduate work was in sexual abuse prevention, specifically, the role that sexual sadism plays in sexual abuse perpetration. I believe it is critical to understand what causes sexual abuse and what researchers can do to prevent it. Additionally, since there has been very little research conducted on BDSM, I was motivated to contribute in this area.

Why did you choose Saint Mary’s for your graduate studies? I completed my undergraduate degree at SMU and loved every minute of it. The community at SMU is supportive, collaborative and welcoming no matter who you are and what your interests are. When I chose to pursue a master's degree in forensic psychology, I knew there was no better place for me.

Any other successes you’d like to share, or difficulties you were able to overcome? In terms of successes, SMU not only allowed me to conduct research that led to publications, but it also allowed me to work on projects that had a positive impact on the lives of others. In terms of difficulties, I spent the end of my undergraduate degree and the start of my graduate degree in the height of the pandemic. I commend SMU for how they went above and beyond to ensure that no student was left behind.

Future plans? I plan to pursue my PhD in forensic psychology, followed by a career in academia.

Any advice for new students?

• Build strong connections with your professors. A seemingly inconsequential conversation can lead to the opportunity of a lifetime.

• Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

• Most importantly, have fun with your degree. If you do what you love, you'll love what you do.

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Fall Convocation takes place on September 22 and 23, 2023. Watch the ceremonies live at smu.ca/graduation or on our Facebook page.

Researchers use the James Webb Space Telescope to view growing “baby galaxy”

Team co-led by Saint Mary’s astronomer uses the James Webb Space Telescope to get a detailed view of a “baby galaxy” undergoing an intense growth spurt

Artist conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez

Answering the question of how galaxies form and grow over time has been a driving reason for the construction of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Now, a team of researchers led by graduate student Yoshi Asada and Dr. Marcin Sawicki at Saint Mary’s University used JWST to make an exciting discovery that will help explain the structure of the Universe. They discovered a highly magnified “baby galaxy” which is being assembled from “building blocks” created early in the history of the Universe. This galaxy is a perfect poster child of a galaxy’s early stages of growth, and its study will help scientists better understand this crucial part of a galaxy’s life. The galaxy is the result of an ongoing collision and merger of two smaller galaxies named ELG1 and ELG2.  The remnants of these two smaller galaxies can still be seen in the JWST images.

The graphic shows the two images (Image A and Image B) of the merging galaxy taken by JWST.  The two images of the same system are produced by Einstein’s gravitational lensing effect, which here is caused by the bending of light around the mass concentration of the galaxy cluster MACS 0417 that lies between the observers and the merging galaxy pair.  Light from the distant galaxy pair takes two separate pathways to reach JWST. This results in two images of the merging galaxy system.  The purple hue of the light coming from the merging galaxies is due to the hydrogen gas within them that’s made to glow by the large numbers of hot young stars that are forming within the young galaxies.

Image credit: Yoshi Asada, Marcin Sawicki and the CANUCS collaboration.

The baby galaxy discovered by the astronomers is particularly exciting because its JWST images have been highly magnified by a phenomenon called Einstein’s gravitational lensing effect. Due to the presence of other massive galaxies that lie between the telescope and the target baby galaxy which act like a cosmic magnifying glass, the baby galaxy’s light has been warped.

Dr. Marcin Sawicki

There’s an upside, notes Dr. Sawicki, Canada Research Chair and Professor of Astronomy and Physics. “Because of Einstein’s lensing effect, we see the galaxy twice in two slightly different places in the sky. It’s like seeing a mirage in the desert – we see the same image twice because light takes two paths to reach our eye.” The galaxy’s light also appears up to 15 times brighter, making it easier to observe and study.

The images of the baby galaxy were taken earlier this year using the NIRCam instrument aboard the JWST, which was launched in December 2021. The astronomers’ study of this system was published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Combining the power of  JWST and gravitational lensing has allowed the astronomers to get an intensely close look at this poster-child baby galaxy. “Studying this object has allowed us to gain some important insights about how young galaxies form. We learned that they get built from the merging of smaller sub-components and that during their assembly, the galaxies can undergo intense growth spurts of star formation,“ says Asada, a Kyoto University PhD student who is the lead author of the study and who is spending a year in Canada working on JWST data with Canadian astronomers.

Both Asada and Sawicki are members of the CANUCS collaboration which uses the power of JWST boosted by Einstein’s gravitational lensing to study the details of some of the smallest, youngest, and most distant galaxies in the Universe.  “The combination of JWST and gravitational lensing is letting us get a glimpse of the early Universe that was not possible until now. With our JWST CANUCS observations in hand, we look forward to many more discoveries about how galaxies such as our own Milky Way grew over cosmic time,” adds Dr. Sawicki.

Related links:

• JWST catches the assembly of a z ∼ 5 ultra-low-mass galaxy

• Saint Mary’s contribution to the James Webb Telescope

Meet the new face of retail: the Saint Mary's retail robot

L-R, Mohammad Rahimipour MSc in Applied Science; Professor Adel Merabet; Lucas Orychock first-year Diploma of Engineering; Uzair Tahir MSc in Applied Science; Abhishek Vijayakumar Latha MSc in Computing and Data Analytics; Francis Kuzhippallil MSc Computing and Data Analytics.

Students are arriving to Saint Mary’s University from Nova Scotia and around the world to create the next generation of robots.

Uzair Tahir

“It was a very big decision to leave my country, my family, come to Canada and start from zero,” says Uzair Tahir, a Master of Science in Applied Science student who left Pakistan to join the team in Dr. Adel Merabet’s lab on the third floor of the McNally Building. Only three months into his studies, he is enhancing his skills in computer vision and machine learning and can see a bright future. “My work here leads to a career in robotics and I see the potential for commercial application.”

The Saint Mary’s robot is the brainchild of the university’s David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services. The robot is just one of several technology-based innovations currently being pioneered at the Centre, all designed to transform our everyday shopping experience. The robot will certainly free up retail employees from humdrum tasks, but that is only the beginning. The real advantage is its ability to capture voluminous data about customers’ buying habits, which can lead to greater efficiency in inventory management and eventually enable retailers to anticipate shopper demands. Combine the robot with machine learning and AI, as the Saint Mary’s team is doing, and we are entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution which will transform how we work, conduct business and how we shop for goods and services.

Does this mean robots will commandeer grocery aisles or replace humans at your favourite big box store? No, but robots are finding their niche by enabling better data capture before and after point of sale, allowing managers to respond more quickly to customer demands for everything from potato chips to batteries.

Students work together on the retail robot in Professor Merabet’s lab

Francis Kuzhippallil and Abhishek Vijayakumar Latha, both current students in the Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics program, see the project as a great gain for their future careers. They contributed to the development of algorithms and codes that enable the robot to take photos of products on store shelves and transmit the information without overlap or duplication, a key factor in planogram compliance, which lets retailers know exactly which products have been moved or purchased and when to restock.

“I want to be one step ahead and this project gives me that opportunity,” says Latha. For Francis Kuzhippallil, the project has boosted his portfolio. “Interviewers and colleagues are always interested to know more about this project. I am honoured to have a role.”

Francis Kuzhippallil

Abhishek Vijayakumar Latha

Mohammad Rahimipour, who is in the Master of Science in Applied Science program, came to Saint Mary’s from Iran in 2022. “My experience here has been amazing,” says Rahimipour. “Saint Mary’s University is very multi-cultural. The environment is collaborative; students know their input is valued and the professors support us.”

Mohammad Rahimipour

Rahimipour is the team leader—he has led the construction of version 3, a robot that is autonomous and able to operate without a human controller. New cameras allow it to take accurate photos at a greater distance, all advantages for a machine that will need to navigate around bargain shoppers or avoid a ‘cleanup on aisle two.’

“I have made a lot of changes to the robot. I see my progress every day as the robot performs and the project improves. I can’t wait to try out the robot in a real store. That’s the next step,” says Rahimipour.

Lucas Orychock

Entering his second year in Engineering at Saint Mary’s, Lucas Orychock from Bedford, Nova Scotia, knows it is unusual for an undergraduate student to gain this type of first-hand experience. During his summer work with Dr. Merabet’s team, he had the opportunity to learn how to use sophisticated tools to capture photos from high-quality cameras. “Achieving this level of exposure to hands-on research is motivating. There is a place for everybody’s input.”

For Professor Adel Merabet, the collaboration with the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services and the participation of many students from programs such as Engineering, the Master of Science in Applied Science and Computing and Data Analytics, is the perfect example of a project that is interdisciplinary, combining the talents of many researchers and pragmatic, demonstrating real-world application and commercial potential.

Saint Mary's researcher part of international astronomy mission XRISM

Source: www.mhi.com

Source: JAXA

Source: NASA

High-energy astronomy mission will further understanding of the extreme universe

Saint Mary’s professor Dr. Luigi Gallo is one of two Canadians involved in an exciting new three-year mission, a collaboration led by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) with important contributions from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the European Space Agency.

On Wednesday, September 6 at 8:42:11 p.m. ADT, a powerful satellite called XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) was launched on a rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

Watch the launch video (via SciNews):

Source: YouTube via SciNews

This new space observatory will contain two scientific instruments: Resolve, an X-ray spectrometer contributed by NASA; and Xtend, an X-ray imager. Some filter calibration for Resolve was carried out by NASA at the Canadian Light Source, a synchrotron facility in Saskatoon, SK.

XRISM is eight meters long, with the telescopes mounted at one end focusing X-ray light onto the detectors at the other end. To study X-ray sources in the universe, the XRISM satellite must be launched into space above the atmosphere, as X-rays cannot penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. XRISM was launched into space on the JAXA HII-A rocket; it will take several months to get it tested and calibrated before science data starts flowing.

The mission itself is essentially going to look at X-ray spectra with very high resolution—analogous to seeing very fine differences in the colours of optical light we can see with our eyes, explains Dr. Gallo. X-rays are a high-energy form of light that is undetectable to the human eye. The regions around black holes, as well as massive stars, supernovae and clusters of galaxies all emit X-rays.

Dr. Luigi Gallo

“The X-rays are basically produced in the hottest and most volatile environments in the universe,” says Dr. Gallo. “We’re studying extreme events like black holes, neutron stars, supernovas, and giant galaxy clusters. I’m looking at the black holes. That's what I study, and I'm looking at the X-rays coming from the regions closest to the black hole—basically, the material just before it disappears and falls beyond the black hole event horizon.”

Because these extreme events can’t be replicated in laboratories on Earth, these missions are crucial to furthering our understanding of the universe.

“We’re looking at extreme gravity, extreme temperatures, and huge magnetic fields—you can't produce those kinds of environments on Earth,” explains Dr. Gallo. “You can't study the physics and understand what happens to matter under those extreme conditions. The only way we can do that is by looking out into space.”

This work done by scientists on this mission, the previous 2016 Hitomi (ASTRO-H) satellite mission and others, pushes the limits of our understanding, and it’s important for generations to come.

“In science, we are always building on our current understanding,” says Dr. Gallo. “What we're doing today is building on the successes, and failures, of previous work over the past centuries, and we're just taking one relatively small step forward. As revolutionary as XRISM will be, ultimately, it’s one step forward that future generations will build on. There are always bigger things to come.”

Dr. Gallo completed his PhD at the prestigious Max Planck Institute in Garching, Germany, followed by postdoctoral research in Japan. He later joined the Saint Mary’s faculty and works with the Canadian Space Agency. He has been a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s University since 2007. As part of the XRISM program at Saint Mary’s, graduate student Margaret Buhariwalla and postdoc Dr. Adam Gonzalez have also been able to participate in this research with Dr. Gallo.  

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Related links:

• Canadian scientists to get a glimpse of the hot universe (via Canadian Space Agency)

• Saint Mary’s University professor goes above and beyond with astronomy research and teaching

Sobey School undergrad contributes to COVID research for Scientific Reports

Kyle Morton BComm’23

Kyle Morton had yet to complete his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s University when he used machine learning in a ground-breaking study of the COVID-19 virus for Scientific Reports. To contribute to an article in the world’s largest scientific journal would be an accomplishment for more experienced researchers. For Morton, it was a miracle.

 “I remember when my economics professor, Yigit Aydede, told me the article had been accepted,” said Morton. “I jumped out of my seat and clapped my hands. It was another fantastic experience that Saint Mary’s made possible.”

Morton participated in the research project over six months during 2022, when he linked two large data sets, one from Statistics Canada and the other from Nova Scotia’s 811 system that recorded influenza symptoms during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Yigit Aydede and Kyle Morton work together examine data for their research

The resulting article by Saint Mary’s University’s Dr. Yigit Aydede, and Jan Ditzen, Free University of Bolzano, Italy, Identifying the regional drivers of influenza-like illness in Nova Scotia, Canada, with dominance analysis - Scientific Reports, unveils a new methodology, one that may assist health officials to both predict where viruses will spread and target interventions to halt them. Read more about the study.

“Working with large data sets, it is easy for errors to go unnoticed, because you cannot visually inspect them. The challenge was: How do you make sure there are no mistakes that will end up leading to the wrong conclusions when you actually perform your analysis?”

Morton sees machine learning as a third form of statistics, one that is predictive. Once he had prepared the data, making sure it was clean and free from errors, Professor Aydede and the research team used powerful algorithms to combine both sets. The results revealed the spatial as well as the temporal spread of the virus in real-time, something that was only possible due to the extraordinary and detailed data concerning COVID-19 symptoms, unparalleled access to Nova Scotia’s 811 records and the unique adaptation of algorithms originally designed for the finance industry.

The opportunity to study and work alongside Dr. Aydede in the Sobey School of Business has transformed Morton’s career aspirations, inspiring him to use machine learning to solve problems.

“I chose Saint Mary’s because it had a very good reputation for its business school. I liked the smaller yet international campus and the undergraduate focus. I gained a lot more experience, working with my peers and my professors one-on-one; I would not have had the same opportunity at other, larger institutions.”

While studying in the Bachelor of Commerce program at the Sobey School of Business, Morton was the recipient of two scholarships from donors to Saint Mary’s University: The Chrysler Canada Scholarship and the KPMG Future Leaders Scholarship. He also received the Fred and Ruth Stork German Studies Award from Waterloo University. This Fall, Morton begins his Master’s in Data Science at the London School of Economics, something he describes as “a dream come true.”

MTEI researcher passionate about innovation, growth and social impact in the Atlantic Region

Kjeld “KJ” Mizpah Conyers-Steede

Hailing from Bermuda, KJ—short for Kjeld Mizpah Conyers-Steede—has spent the past nine years in Atlantic Canada, primarily in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Presently rooted in Windsor, NS, KJ is passionately committed to driving economic progress in rural communities.

"My work revolves around social innovation and policy, designed to nurture a thriving innovation culture in these settings," shares KJ. "Having experienced life in both urban and rural areas, I strongly believe that rural communities hold untapped potential for innovation and growth."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while working as a policy advisor for Spring Garden Business Association, KJ witnessed the challenges small businesses faced. This experience ignited his interest in economic development, which he had previously explored at an academic level. He further expanded his expertise in change management while working with Hockey Nova Scotia.

KJ established Catalyst Conversation Strategies, a consulting firm aimed at tackling complex challenges in collaboration with clients and municipalities. Through this venture, he engaged in solving significant problems through innovative approaches, bridging the gap between policy, academia and economic growth.

Inspiring Communities led KJ to his current research position, working alongside Dr. Chantal Hervieux, Director, Centre for Leadership Excellence – Impactlab at Saint Mary’s University, in the realm of regional innovation ecosystems. This journey has shed light on the lack of Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) representation in economic development research, prompting KJ to strive for a more inclusive academia.

“Engaging in research has instilled in me a newfound confidence, spurring aspirations of teaching and bridging the gap between socially conscious mindset and business success. It’s a vehicle for transformation, allowing me to create a playground of ideas and engage with like-minded individuals who share my passion.”

KJ’s connection to Saint Mary's is deeply personal. His father's experience as an alumnus and the impact SMU had on his career inspired KJ to pursue his own journey at the university. KJ is enrolled in the Master of Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation program in the Sobey School of Business. The program aligns with his interests in innovative implementation and understanding social impact. His broader vision revolves around connecting Atlantic Ocean-facing regions for collaborative problem-solving, particularly regarding economic resilience, climate change and social issues.

“Saint Mary's University. It's a place where I can harmonize my diverse background and unconventional approach to academia, while also contributing to the broader narrative of Canadian higher education.”