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In this episode of Now Innovating, host Julia MacGregor speaks with Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens, Canada Research Chair in Childhood Health Promotion and Associate Professor in the University of Calgary's Department of Psychology, and Dr. Liz Baker, Executive Director of PREVNet. Together, they discuss PREVNet's national network of researchers, educators, youth-serving organizations, and community partners working to create safer, healthier environments for young people. Their work demonstrates that innovation doesn't always take the form of new technologies; it can also emerge through evidence-based programs, knowledge sharing, and collective action that create lasting social impact. From bullying prevention and healthy relationship education to policy change and knowledge mobilization, this conversation explores how evidence-based approaches can support youth well-being and drive meaningful social impact across Canada. Learn more about PREVNet: www.prevnet.ca Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, host Julia MacGregor leads a panel discussion with four guests who are making an impact in circular plastics:         Tammy Schwass, BA'10, Executive Director, Alberta Plastics Recycling Association (APRA)         Dr. Rohen Prinsloo, PhD'22, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science         Dr. Daniel Castañeda Mogollón, PhD'22         Eric Tang, Production Manager, Triple Three Trading Ltd The panel discusses the different types of plastics, recycling methods, and the global plastics supply chain. We learn about the chemical challenges in recycling plastics, work APRA members like Triple Three Trading are doing to recycle plastics, and a student-led initiative to recycle Styrofoam used to package research equipment. The panel also discusses actions you can take in your daily life to encourage smart plastic use, and tips and tricks for recycling plastics. This episode was recorded live with an audience during Alumni All-Access 2025. Guests were invited by the university's Industry Liaison Office (Research), the team that facilitates and grows applied research partnerships between companies and researchers. This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/h692GqtoepM    Learn more about: Alberta Plastics Recycling Association: https://albertaplasticsrecycling.com/ Dr. Prinsloo's research: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/rohen-prinsloo  Triple Three Trading: https://triplethreetrading.com/  What Goes Where – Calgary Residential Recycling and Disposal Search Tool: https://www.calgary.ca/waste/what-goes-where/plastic-polystyrene-foam.html  Waste Reduction and Diversion at UCalgary: https://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/our-sustainable-campus/waste-reduction-and-diversion Industry Liaison Office (Research): https://research.ucalgary.ca/engage-research/industry Campus as a Learning Lab: https://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/campus-learning-lab  UCalgary Alumni: https://alumni.ucalgary.ca/ Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

This episode, we are exploring cybersecurity with Dr. Hadis Karimipour, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, and a Canada Research Chair in Secure and Resilient Cyber-physical Systems. We discuss cyber threats to critical infrastructure such as utility centers, transportation systems and hospital networks and how her research is using AI and quantum applications to detect and prevent these cyber-attacks. We also talk about the dark web, where these cyber threats come from and the importance to advance global policy in cybersecurity.   This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSTPjShxtrU  Learn more about Hadis' research in the Smart Cyber-Physical Systems Lab: https://www.scpslab.org/  Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In our Season 7 premiere, we celebrate the launch of the XPRIZE Canada Hub at the University of Calgary by speaking with UCalgary and XPRIZE alum, Madison Savilow, BA'19, BComm'19, of Carbon Upcycling. This carbon capture and utilization company was a finalist team in the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition. Their process developed with UCalgary researchers, transforms C02 and industrial waste materials to create a low carbon cement replacement. Madison takes us on a tour of Carbon Upcycling's facility at the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre, discusses her journey with XPRIZE, shares how the company is scaling and advice for embarking on an entrepreneurial path. This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/O4eh4PICGFg    Learn more about: Carbon Upcycling: https://carbonupcycling.com/ XPRIZE Canada Hub at UCalgary: https://io.ucalgary.ca/xprizehub XPRIZE: https://www.xprize.org/ The Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre: https://innotechalberta.ca/facilities/alberta-carbon-conversion-technology-centre/ Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Sue Crawford, RN, MN'20, manager of the Health Systems Transformation Initiative (HIVE) in the Faculty of Nursing and co-founder and executive director of Enable, a social enterprise that facilitates meaningful matches between people with disabilities and support workers.    Sue discusses how the HIVE initiative utilizes nursing expertise to empower innovators and change agents to enhance health and health care delivery by applying transdisciplinary solutions. We also discuss nurse entrepreneurship through Sue's experiences with launching Enable, and the role nurses play in health care innovation.  This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/0p31b7cnodE  Learn more about:  The Health Systems Transformation Initiative: https://nursing.ucalgary.ca/HIVE  Enable: https://enablecommunity.ca/ Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Lina Kattan, PhD, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering, and Canada Research Chair in Integrative Transportation Systems Through Automation and Connectivity. Lina discusses how transportation systems are key to creating smart and sustainable cities and highlights her research exploring different traffic management solutions with connected and automated vehicles. She speaks to how applied research through the Urban Alliance responds to the City of Calgary's needs. Lina also shares how a transdisciplinary approach is key to innovation and how innovators can look to support the transformation of our Canadian Cities into smart and sustainable ones.  This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEt5GRcI6c4   Learn more about:  Lina's research: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/lina-kattan     The Urban Alliance: https://research.ucalgary.ca/urban-alliance   The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship: https://research.ucalgary.ca/research/transdisciplinary   Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Christopher Clarkson, PhD, a professor in the Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment in the Faculty of Science, who received the 2024 Synergy Award for Innovation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Chris discusses his research with the Tight Oil Consortium, which develops new technologies and methods for sustainable resource development in collaboration with industry and government to enhance the extraction efficiency of Canada's unconventional hydrocarbon resources. He speaks to how these technologies and methods are now being adapted to transitional energy applications and shares his experiences working with and in the energy industry. Finally, Chris shares how the energy research landscape has evolved in Alberta and at the University of Calgary. This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL-CP3xs8TI   Learn more about:  The Tight Oil Consortium: https://www.tightoilconsortium.com/   Dr. Clarkson's NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/Synergy-Synergie/Profiles-Profils/Clarkson-Clarkson_eng.asp   UCalgary's Energy for the Common Good research strategy: https://research.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/4/GES/22-OPR-237100-Energy%20Research%20Strategy-2023-web.pdf   Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Eleanor Dickinson, PhD, a 2024-2025 Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Eleanor discusses One Health, and how her work in the Kutz Research Group utilizes different strategies to develop new approaches for Arctic wildlife health monitoring and management for caribou and muskoxen. She speaks to the importance of building partnerships and relationships for research. She describes how she is working with academic and non-academic partners, local communities, and patrons of Arctic conservation to communicate the findings into practice. She also teaches us the difference between caribou and reindeer, and the importance of recognizing the innovation in your work.  Learn more about:  The Kutz Research Group in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: https://vet.ucalgary.ca/groups/arctic-wildlife-health   The Faculty of Sciences' Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowships: https://science.ucalgary.ca/research-innovation/innovation/innovation-postdoctoral-fellows  ---  Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation  Subscribe to Now Innovating and other videos from the University of Calgary here: https://www.youtube.com/c/UcalgaryCa  Catch-up on previous episodes of Now Innovating: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQYTr0P7HNUEI6AqLnpoC-mgzL1kUAHQg  Explore additional short-form content from Now Innovating: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQYTr0P7HNUEqT-Oz-iDuFs1h4SSyLt3U&si=oiiaN3mjRYZLJ-xX

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Greg Welch, PhD, Professor in the Faculty of Science's Department of Chemistry, and one of the inaugural Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship's Academic Co-Leads in Energy Futures. Greg discusses transdisciplinary scholarship at the university and how this connects to innovation. He also shares an example of a transdisciplinary research project from his lab and thoughts on supporting innovation at all levels within academic institutions.  This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/J5KGaMAbzrY  Learn more about: The Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship: https://research.ucalgary.ca/research/transdisciplinary The Advanced Functional Materials and Coatings Laboratory: https://welchlab.wixsite.com/website

In our season 6 premiere episode, we speak with Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, a registered psychologist and associate professor in the Werklund School of Education, about the Family First Responder project. This research project has led to the development of a social innovation to provide mental health supports for first responder families.  This episode, we will learn more about his research with the Social Development Research Team, discuss what led to the start of the Family First Responder project and the development of the Re: Building Families program. We also discuss the potential impacts of the program, and the scalability of this social innovation. We also hear briefly from one of Kelly's collaborators, Scott Cowan, battalion chief for the Calgary Fire Department, who speaks to the value of this mental health programming for first responder families.   A big thank you to Carol Henke and Scott Cowan at the Calgary Fire Department for allowing the Now Innovating team to visit and record this episode at Station 16.  This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/sOLWYvEG0KU  Learn more about:  The Family First Responder project and Re: Building Families program: https://familyfirstresponder.ca/ The Before Operational Stress (BOS) program: https://www.beforeoperationalstress.ca/   The Social Development Research Team in the Werklund School of Education: https://werklund.ucalgary.ca/research/social-development-research-team/social-development-research-team Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

For our season five finale, we explore a startup's journey through the UCalgary Innovation ecosystem that led them to the Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies.  We speak with Dr. Dion Kelly, a UCalgary grad and Co-Founder & CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies.   Her research in neuroscience to develop brain-computer interface technologies is creating opportunities for children with severe neurological disorders to achieve greater independence and quality of life.     Dion and Erica Floreani, Co-Founder and CTO, provide a demo of their Think2Switch device, and we will also hear from Heather Marshall, site lead of CDL-Rockies at the Haskayne School of Business to learn more about the program and its impacts.  This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NurO_vpy5Rk Learn more about Possibility Neurotechnologies: https://www.possneuro.com/  Learn more about CDL-Rockies: https://creativedestructionlab.com/locations/calgary/  Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode we speak with Dr. Stephen Larter, UCalgary's outgoing Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation), and a Professor in the Department of Earth Energy and Environment in the Faculty of Science. Steve takes us back to 2004, talking about the state of innovation from when he first arrived at the University of Calgary twenty years ago to how the ecosystem has connected and grown. We also discuss what is currently happening in the innovation space, and what he hopes to see within the next five years. We also take the opportunity to get to know Steve better by playing a game together.    This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/xyrglrt2-1w   Listen to the previous Now Innovating podcast episode with Steve Larter on the culture of innovation, available on all podcast services: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/now-innovating/id/20162039   Learn more about Ahead of Tomorrow - UCalgary's 2023-2030 Strategic Plan: https://www.ucalgary.ca/about/ahead-of-tomorrow Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem: https://ucalgary.ca/innovation

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed, PhD, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and director of the Health and Wellness Lab. Her research is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those impacted by cancer through the development of movement-based programs.   We learn more about her research in the Health and Wellness Lab with the ACE and EXCEL programs to make exercise part of standard cancer care. We discuss the development and operation of the Thrive Centre, a social innovation which offers evidence-based exercise oncology programming for pediatric, young adult, and adults living with cancer, and their support persons. We also touch on what it means to be a social innovator, being open to learning new things, and that "your ego is not your amigo."   This is one of two episodes this season spotlighting research-to-impact within the University of Calgary's Faculty of Kinesiology, one of the top sport-science schools in North America. Thanks to a generous $20 million donation from the Taylor Family Foundation, the Faculty of Kinesiology will expand and elevate its human performance, movement and sport science research and education program.  ---- Yoga Thrive Participate in research at UCalgary. Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem. This episode is also available as a video that you can watch here.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ryan Peters, PhD, an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Human Performance Lab. His research explores the neural control of balance and mobility that has led to the commercialization of a wearable technology to support balance impairments in older adults, athletes, and astronauts.  We learn more about our neural systems and how they affect our control of movement, and discuss Ryan's innovation journey, including the patent process and overcoming the fear of failure in academia.  This is one of two episodes this season spotlighting research-to-impact within the University of Calgary's Faculty of Kinesiology, one of the top sport-science schools in North America. Thanks to a generous $20 million donation from the Taylor Family Foundation, the Faculty of Kinesiology will expand and elevate its human performance, movement and sport science research and education program.   __ Neursantys Participate in research studies at UCalgary. Learn how to move your research-to-impact in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem. This episode is also available as a video that you can watch here.

In this episode, we speak with founders from three startup companies that were part of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking's inaugural Summer Accelerator cohort: TurnCO2, MLCan and MHCombiotic. The Summer Accelerator is a 12-week program designed to help UCalgary community startups continue to build and develop their companies, validate their business, and leverage resources in the UCalgary ecosystem.  The three startups featured in this episode are comprised of UCalgary graduate students, alumni, and a former postdoctoral scholar. We will learn more about the research behind each of their companies, and the potential impacts of their technologies on their respective industries. We will also explore how the UCalgary innovation ecosystem has supported them on their entrepreneurial paths, including Hunter Hub resources such as the Summer Accelerator, Innovation Sandbox, and the Academic Entrepreneurs in Residence Program.  --- Listen to Now Innovating Season 4, Episode 4 to learn more about Molecular Organic Frameworks and the technology behind TurnCO2 with Dr. George Shimizu.