Lethbridge College is collaborating with many industries in southern Alberta to address diverse issues such as drought and sustainability, agri-food expansion, and public safety using extended reality and innovative high-tech solutions.
Through its partnership with the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA), Lethbridge College will host a series of upcoming Research in RINSA events organized by the college’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE). CARIE is focused on collaborating with industry partners to find solutions to real-world challenges through applied research.
“Our diverse applied research capabilities enable us to collaborate with industry partners in numerous sectors, and our partnership with RINSA allows us to showcase our diversity through these dedicated industry events,” says Andrew Dunlop, director of applied research operations at Lethbridge College. “Our collaborative applied research plays a critical role in southern Alberta’s innovation ecosystem, and these events showcase the depth of our research expertise while providing opportunities for industries to learn more about the specialized services we can provide to them.”
The Research in RINSA events will feature facility and lab tours, presentations, keynote speakers and networking sessions for targeted industries. All of the following industry-specific events are free, but registration is required:
- Sustainable Agriculture in Controlled Environments
8 – 11:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at Garden Court Restaurant, Lethbridge College
This half-day event will feature sustainable agricultural practices and the benefits of the integrated agriculture technology system at the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (ACE) and the Centre for Sustainable Food Production (CSFP) at Lethbridge College. The event will include tours of the ACE aquaculture facility and the CSFP greenhouse. Attendees will learn how the college’s technological developments can be applied to the industry for sustainability solutions, including water filtration, recirculation and waste management.
- Opportunities for Value Addition in Agri-food Industries
8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. March 6 at Coast Hotel and Conference Centre, followed by lab tours at Lethbridge College
This half-day event will focus on opportunities in the expanding agri-food sector in southern Alberta. Agri-food industries contribute nearly $9.68 billion to Alberta’s gross domestic product (GDP). Southern Alberta is emerging as a hub for agri-food processing and export, as the region offers high quality, sustainable and diverse primary raw products for food processing industries. This round-table forum will be hosted by the Advanced Post-Harvest Technology Centre at Lethbridge College and will include presentations and tours of the centre’s labs.
- Reality Shift: Discovering Research and Innovation for Businesses and Public Safety
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. March 14 at Lethbridge and District Exhibition Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre
This full-day event will showcase how innovative technologies can enhance a variety of industries and organizations. Lethbridge College's Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training (START) Centre and the Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR) will showcase the many realms of possibility in the world of extended reality (XR), which includes both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The event will feature real-world accounts from Alberta businesses and public safety panelists, plus keynote speakers from Unity, the RCMP and the Police Research Lab at Carleton University.
Lethbridge College continues to climb in the Canadian college research rankings, placing 11th in the 2023 Research Infosource ranking of Canada’s top 50 research colleges. The college’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE) is a catalyst for applied research that results in real-world solutions, economic growth, sustainability and social and community development. CARIE has five research themes, including Agriculture, Food and Environment, Business and Technology, Health and Wellness, Justice and Public Safety, and Science, Social Sciences and Humanities. Learn more about CARIE’s applied research projects in the 2022-23 CARIE Report.
RINSA was formed in 2011 as a collaborative partnership between Economic Development Lethbridge/Tecconnect, Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge. It has now grown to include 14 member organizations and is funded by Alberta Innovates and seven other regional innovation networks across Alberta.