Two UBC researchers have been awarded Innovation Awards by Mitacs, a national organization that works at the nexus of academia, government, and the public and private sectors to build effective partnerships and empower Canadian innovation.
Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation
UBC award winner: David Black
UBC doctoral student David Black (Electrical and Computing Engineering) has been awarded the Mitacs Award – Outstanding Innovation for his innovative work to develop a compact tele-ultrasound system that deploys mixed reality to guide ultrasounds from remote locations, using humans in place of robots.
This first-of-its-kind technology allows a novice to perform an ultrasound on a patient while being guided by an expert sonographer or radiologist from a remote location, making it easier and more affordable for Canadians to receive ultrasound procedures without having to travel far distances to a medical centre.
The Mitacs Innovation Award for Outstanding Innovation recognizes extraordinary talent from across Canada whose Mitacs-funded research has potential to achieve larger societal and economic impacts, driving innovation and broadening our understanding of the world around us.
Mitacs Innovation Award – Inclusive Innovator of the Year
UBC award winner: Paul Onkundi Nyangaresi
UBC postdoctoral researcher Paul Onkundi Nyangaresi (Civil Engineering) has been awarded the Mitacs Innovation Award — Inclusive Innovator of the Year for his work in Kisii County, Kenya to devise a water treatment solution that meets unique cultural and environmental needs and applies his cutting-edge knowledge of emerging water treatment technologies.
Working with the local Kenyan community, he has developed a low-cost, simple water disinfection system that is delivering over 500 litres of clean water per day to students and teachers at Rianyabayo Memorial Academy. This first-of-its-kind system has the potential to be replicated in rural communities in Canada, making impacts both global and national.
The Mitacs Innovation Award — Inclusive Innovator of the Year recognizes achievements that promote social inclusion, incorporate diverse perspectives, and prioritize accessibility. It is granted to a Mitacs program participant who is committed to developing and/or fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem.
As Mitacs celebrates 25 years as a leader in Canadian innovation, we reaffirm our belief that partnerships between research, enterprises, and talent — like the ones we honour with the Mitacs Innovation Awards — are key to a successful, prosperous Canada.
Mitacs CEO Stephen Lucas
The Mitacs Awards celebrate Canadian innovation in a range of spaces, including entrepreneurship, enterprise and research. To learn more about the awards and view additional award winners, see the Mitacs announcement.