ASTech’s 2011 Winners – ASTech Awards

Dr. David Manz won the Societal Impact Award for developing the BioSand Water Filter technology, addressing the global crisis of unsafe drinking water that affects over one billion people. As an environmental engineering professor at the University of Calgary, Dr. Manz designed this low-cost, locally constructible filtration system, which effectively removes pathogens and has been widely adopted in developing countries, significantly reducing diarrheal diseases. His commitment to making this technology accessible worldwide, through patents and global distribution efforts, earned him induction into the Alberta Order of Excellence and the Alberta Emerald Foundation’s Individual Commitment Award.

Dr. David Bressler, winner of the ASTech Innovation in Agricultural Science Award, led groundbreaking efforts in converting abundant biomass into sustainable resources. A full professor at the University of Alberta, and leader of the Biorefining Conversions Network (BCN), he integrated diverse disciplines, including microbiology, biotechnology, and chemical engineering, fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and government to advance bio-industrial processing. His pioneering research spans from green diesel technologies to novel methods for utilizing animal proteins and is being commercialized in the University of Alberta spin-off, Forge Hydrocarbons, with the building of their new facility to be complete in 2025. Dr. Bressler has been active in roles with CDL and VC’s, and is now a Special Advisor to the President of the University of Alberta.

Dr. Naser M. El-Sheimy won the Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology award for his pioneering work in geomatics engineering at the University of Calgary. Leading a team of researchers, he developed the Trusted Positioning Platform (TPP), which revolutionized navigation technology using low-cost sensors for diverse applications, including aiding Canadian Forces in urban battlefields and diagnosing movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Dr. El-Sheimy is cofounder and chairman of 2023 ASTech winner Robogarden, and has active roles in various companies.

XSENSOR Technology Company won the Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology. Based in Calgary, the company’s innovative sensor technology prevents pressure-related medical issues. Its applications ranged from assessing patient support surfaces to industrial uses like tire tread designs and windshield wiper blade pressure measurement. Today, XSENSOR uses their Intelligent Dynamic Sensing platform to create sensor technology for Continuous Skin Monitoring, Human Performance, Product Design & Safety Testing, and Sleep Improvement applications.

Sustainable Technologies Inc. (now Eguana Technologies Inc.) won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Technology and Innovation for its significant impact on the solar power industry with its SUNERGY grid-tie photovoltaic (PV) inverter technology. This innovative design and modular parallel system architecture made solar electricity a cost-competitive and attractive renewable energy source for mainstream adoption. In 2013, the company changed its name and focus to further develop products for the emerging solar energy storage sector, continuing its commitment to advancing renewable energy technology.

Led by Dr. Barry White, the Alberta Wet Area Mapping Initiative won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Technology and Innovation for its pioneering technology platform that fosters environmental stewardship by accurately mapping previously unseen wet areas in landscapes. By combining hydrology science with advanced LiDAR technology and GIS capabilities, the initiative provided functional datasets that streamline land management, promoting better land stewardship. Recognized with an Alberta Emerald Award. Dr. White is now Executive Director of the not-for-profit fRI Research, headquartered in Hinton.

Userful Corporation won the Innovation in Information and Communications Technology award for its groundbreaking technology that allowed up to 10 users to share a single computer, dramatically reducing costs and infrastructure needs in education. Enabling governments, particularly in developing countries, to deploy computer labs affordably and sustainably to over 50,000 schools. Since winning the award, Userful has expanded its scope to become a leading provider of IT solutions for core enterprise operations and mission-critical environments in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, banking, and higher education.

Dr. Mary Anne Moser won the Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness award for her fervent dedication to celebrating and communicating the wonders of science through creativity and collaboration. As the director of the Science Communications Program at the Banff Centre and Director of Communications at the Schulich School of Engineering, she fostered a global community of creative science communicators. More recently, she has served as President and CEO of Telus Spark Science Centre and is currently a Science Communicator in Residence at the Faculty of Science, University of Calgary.

Additional 2011 Winners Include:

Dr. Don Kjosness won the Outstanding Contribution to the Alberta Science and Technology Community award for his lifelong dedication to advancing technology and science. He championed collaboration and innovation, notably spearheading the creation of the $160-million TELUS World of Science – Calgary, fostering science and technology awareness in southern Alberta, and being co-founder of ASTech Award winner Poynt Corp. His visionary leadership extended to initiatives like CapitalRoad, which addressed critical access to capital for small- and medium-sized enterprises, leaving an enduring legacy of impactful contributions to Canada’s science and technology landscape.
Ms. Mary E. Hofstetter won the Outstanding Contribution to the Alberta Science and Technology Community award for her transformative leadership at The Banff Centre. She was instrumental in establishing the Banff International Research Station (BIRS) for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery, which became one of the top mathematics research facilities globally. Under her leadership, The Banff Centre also launched initiatives like Westgrid and the Science Communications program, solidifying its role as a catalyst for innovation. In recognition of her contributions, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
The Mobile Office Initiative won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Applied Technology and Innovation for revolutionizing field operations at Sustainable Resource Development (SRD, now Environment and Protected Areas) by providing remote access to crucial business information in Alberta’s rugged landscapes. Led by George Robertson, the initiative equipped SRD staff with ruggedized laptops loaded with over 30 gigabytes of geospatial and resource management data, enabling real-time decision-making in the field.
Dr. Wayne Brown won the ASTech Award for Innovation in Oil Sands Research for leading the development of the ETX Cross-flow Coking technology, a groundbreaking process in heavy oil upgrading with a significant potential impact on Alberta’s economy. Over a decade of work, Dr. Brown’s engineering expertise culminated in successfully testing the IYQ Upgrading reactor design, which offers improved product yield, quality, and capital efficiency while reducing environmental footprint. Currently, Dr. Brown serves as Chief Technology Officer at Coanda Research and Development Corporation.