CNA holds Applied Research seminar
12/16/2004 4:14:52 PM
December 16, 2004 – The Office of Applied Research at College of the North Atlantic has reached a milestone this month, in developing a culture of creativity and innovation in the work place.
This from Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, Chair of Applied Research at CNA, in reference to a seminar held last week in St. John’s at the college’s Prince Philip Drive campus. The seminar was entitled Applied Research and Innovation: A New Dimension to College Life.
The campus hosted a variety of stakeholders from throughout Atlantic Canada for the event.
“We were delighted to be hosting these guests,” says Iqbal.
“There were speakers and representatives from the Natural Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Genge Consulting Group, Genesis Group, and some of our own experts in research and development.”
Topics included information on writing proposals, intellectual property, research funding and commercialization. Iqbal says the seminar’s purpose is to provide opportunities to all stakeholders in college research and innovation, including employees of the college. A “power in numbers” approach.
“Teamwork is vital in developing and using knowledge,” says Iqbal.
“In the journey of civilization, we are now at a point where the potential of research and innovation as the prime engine of human progress is recognized beyond doubt. Few human efforts yield such high returns as investments in education, research and innovation.”
While there have been examples of applied research within the college for a number of years, the institution has solidified its efforts with the formalization of an Office of Applied Research (OAR). The OAR is assigned the role of leading the college’s Research and Innovation Network, which seeks to enhance the economic prosperity of the province by coordinating CNA’s strengths with that of the private and public sector through partnerships. The Network is enabled and enhanced by the strategic inclusion of departments such as NRC, NSERC, sector associations, universities, and other colleges and industry based research laboratories.
Iqbal explained that in parts of the world such as Europe, coordination between universities and colleges is resulting in startling innovations; something that Canada is learning from.
“By linking the best minds in both types of institutions and their respective partners, we all benefit by making discoveries none of us could achieve in isolation – by harnessing those discoveries to the service of our nation.”
Current research and development projects at CNA include petroleum application of wireless systems at Seal Cove, a wave-powered seawater pumping project in Burin, the geo-spatial research facility in Corner Brook and the agrifoods research centre in Carbonear.
In addition, several new initiatives are being pursued such as blueberry farming in Labrador, the development of improved instrumentation for oil wells, new technology in integrated pest management, faster composting techniques for municipal garbage, rescue systems for off-shore oil rigs, and improved metal extraction methods from nickel ores.
These projects not only solidify CNA’s place as a research institution says Iqbal, but bring benefits to partners, provinces, and country.
“Both the extent of our collaboration and the diverse array of mutual activities underscore the strength of our partnerships,” says Iqbal.
“In that same way, all of us can step beyond our organizational boundaries to glimpse the larger picture of research leadership in the 21st century.”
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