Lethbridge College’s agriculture researchers work alongside collaborators and industry partners to solve problems and create new innovations that make a real-world difference. In the coming weeks, those researchers will put their work on display as part of three Research in RINSA networking events.
Funded through the college’s membership in the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) and organized by Lethbridge College’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE), each event will have a specific focus and feature guest speakers, presentations and networking opportunities. Sessions are open to anyone interested in learning more about agriculture research in southern Alberta.
Each Research in RINSA event begins at 8 a.m. in the college’s Garden Court restaurant. Registration is free but required. The events include:
- Irrigation Research in RINSA – Feb. 14
- Speakers include:
- Dr. Willemijn Appels, Senior Research Chair, Mueller Irrigation Group, Lethbridge College
- David Hill, Manager, Agriculture Research Transition Project, University of Lethbridge
- Megan Shapka, Director, Applied Research Operations, Lethbridge College
- Trevor Lewington, CEO, Economic Development Lethbridge
- Speakers include:
- Post-Harvest Research in RINSA – March 7
- Speakers include:
- Dr. Chandra Singh, Senior Research Chair, Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Lethbridge College
- Christine Lewington, CEO, PIP International
- Megan Shapka, Director, Applied Research Operations, Lethbridge College
- Trevor Lewington, CEO, Economic Development Lethbridge
- Speakers include:
- Controlled Environment Agriculture Research in RINSA – March 22
- Speakers include:
- Dr. Nick Savidov, Senior Research Scientist, Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre, Lethbridge College
- John Derksen, Industry Liaison and Research Advisor, Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre, Lethbridge College
- Megan Shapka, Director, Applied Research Operations, Lethbridge College
- Speakers include:
“Lethbridge College is a key contributor to the innovation ecosystem of southern Alberta through our applied research expertise and services,” says Megan Shapka, director of applied research operations. “Our work is strengthened by our collaborative relationships with our RINSA partners. Together, we have been supporting entrepreneurs and enterprises for over a decade. These events have been specially designed to showcase the breadth and depth of agricultural research expertise in southern Alberta and to provide opportunities for industry to learn about the services available to them here.”
Agriculture research teams at Lethbridge College operate within CARIE, which connects small- and medium-sized enterprises in the agriculture industry with the technologies and research expertise at the college to enhance their productivity, competitiveness and innovation results. Lethbridge College recently placed 16th in in the annual Research Infosource ranking of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and was recognized as one of Canada’s fastest-growing research colleges for the third straight year.
RINSA was formed in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Economic Development Lethbridge/Tecconnect, Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge, and is funded by Alberta Innovates along with seven other regional innovation networks across Alberta. Today, RINSA has 14 member organizations.