ASTech’s 2009 Winners

Posted on by IT Admin
The Mustard Seed Street Ministry earned the ASTech Societal Impact Award for its transformative work empowering homeless populations through technology and support services. The Mustard Seed adopted its technological programs in 2003 using Industry Canada’s Smart Communities program,  By bridging the digital divide and offering computer literacy programs alongside housing and employment assistance, the organization helped many individuals transition from homelessness to independent living, fostering self-sufficiency and personal growth. The Mustard Seed now serves communities across Alberta – including Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Medicine Hat, and more.
Dr. M. Elizabeth Cannon won the Outstanding Contribution to the Alberta Science and Technology Community award for her pivotal role in establishing Calgary as a global center of excellence in GPS technology. Through her leadership at the Schulich School of Engineering and collaborations with academia, industry, and government, she significantly advanced the field. A dedicated mentor and advocate for women in science and engineering, she initiated numerous programs to increase female student enrollment at the Schulich School of Engineering. Her efforts as President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Calgary further advanced Alberta’s reputation and capabilities in science and technology, earning her honors such as Officer of the Order of Canada, recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Dr. Linda Pilarski of the University of Alberta’s Cross Cancer Institute, was recognized with the ASTech Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology award for her pioneering work in cancer research and technology development. Her collaborative efforts led to significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer through the use of fresh malignant cells from patients, resulting in commercially impactful technologies and multiple patents. Dr. Pilarski’s work extends to developing “lab on a chip” microfluidic devices with applications in cancer treatment and e.coli detection in food.
Airdar Inc. earned the ASTech Outstanding Achievement in Applied Technology award for its revolutionary leak-detection technology, offering a game-changing solution for monitoring and capturing fugitive emissions in the oil and gas sector. Developed by Dennis Prince, Airdar’s innovative approach utilizes air detection and ranging technology to automatically identify and quantify emitting sources. Today, they provide emissions monitoring services to help recover valuable resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve facility safety, and resolve odour problems.
 
Dr. Ian Whishaw received the ASTech Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science award for his influential research that reshaped the understanding of the brain’s role in movement. Starting his career at the University of Lethbridge, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, turning it into a leading institution in the field. His work demonstrating the parallels between rat and human brain functions with implications for treating brain damage and disorders like Parkinson’s Disease was recognized when he received honours like a fellowship from the Royal Society of Canada.
Computer Modelling Group Ltd. (CMG) won the Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology award for its significant contributions to reservoir simulation software. Founded as a University of Calgary spin-off, CMG initially specialized in heavy oil and has since expanded into all aspects of reservoir flow modeling. Today, CMG is a global software and consulting company specializing in solving complex subsurface and surface challenges for the energy industry.
Embedia Technologies won the Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Technology and Innovation award for its advanced, custom-designed shading systems. The company first made its mark by designing a shading system for the Bovis Lend Lease Headquarters in Sydney, Australia, the first building in the country to receive a 5-star energy rating.  Today, Embedia designs and manufactures control systems for building automation, specializing in interior and exterior shading.
SMART Technologies won the Outstanding Achievement in Information and Communication Technology award for its pioneering work in interactive educational technologies. SMART Technologies was founded in 1987 in Calgary, and is a 4-time ASTech Award Winner for their innovation and commercial achievements, and is located in at the University of Calgary’s University Innovation Quarter. The SMART Board, was introduced in 1991 and is an interactive white board trusted by teachers, students, and business leaders world-wide. SMART Technologies Inc. was acquired by Foxconn in 2016.
University of Alberta faculty Dr. Michael E. Stiles and Dr. Lynn M. McMullen were honoured with the ASTech award for Innovation in Agricultural Sciences for their groundbreaking research, which has led to a breakthrough discovery in food safety, notably reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses such as listeria outbreaks. Their pioneering technology, micocin®, utilizes naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria to prevent the growth of harmful pathogens on ready-to-eat foods; Procin® offers a solution to reduce the incidence of scours in piglets, with potential applications in preventing other animal diseases and improving human health through targeted probiotics. Through their spin-off company, CanBiocin Inc., they successfully commercialized their innovations.
Discover E Engineering and Science Camps won the award for Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness for their efforts to engage Alberta’s youth in science and technology. Established in 1993, the Fred Otto DiscoverE program (named after founder and former University of Alberta Dean of Engineering) works to get youth excited about science, technology, engineering and math. The program, which includes engaging classroom demonstrations and interactive summer camps, has significantly expanded its reach (including Edmonton, Yellowknife and Grande Prairie) with over 450,000 youth reached over a 30 year period. The program was also recognized in 1997 with an ASTech Award.
Additional 2009 Winners Include:
  • Coanda Research & Development Corporation won the Innovation in Oil Sands Research award for its expertise in fluid dynamics and innovative problem-solving in process flow modeling and design optimization. By focusing on hybrid simulations that closely mimic commercial conditions, Coanda enhanced process efficiency and environmental sustainability, pioneering the use of modeling techniques for process improvements prior to physical implementation in the Alberta oil sands industry. In 2021, Coanda was acquired by Tetra Tech, Inc.
  • Gushor Inc. won the Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology. Founded in 2006 and based in Calgary Research Park (Now the University Innovation Quarter), Gushor specialized in reservoir fluid characterization, geochemistry, and reservoir engineering technologies, completing over 170 projects globally. The company innovated in measuring and applying viscosity data in oil sands. As an independent spin-off from the University of Calgary, Gushor achieved substantial commercial success before being acquired by Schlumberger in 2013.
  • Dr. Shaheed Merani won the Leaders of Tomorrow award for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the medical field. Recognized for his volunteer work as a math and science tutor and initiatives like publishing a comprehensive medical textbook, Dr. Merani completed the MD/PhD program at the University of Alberta under ASTech-Award-winner Dr. James Shapiro. Their research focused on developing new strategies to improve donor tissue function for islet transplantation to promote insulin-free normoglycemia. Currently, Dr. Merani is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.