RDC has taken a very active role in current developments in applied research in the Province of Alberta. Over the last several years we have been directly involved in a wide array of activities and projects supporting the development of the applied research agenda for Colleges in Alberta, including ASRA (Alberta Science and Research Authority), the Provincial Innovation Management Committee (subcommittee of AACTI), a national study on the applied research agenda at numerous colleges across Canada, development, launching and operating applied research companies, success at all levels of government funding, NSERC approval of RDC Research Policy, applied research project adjudication committees.

RDC researchers already have an established and impressive track record of successful projects and publications. Consider some of the following outstanding initiatives that, combined with other successes, position RDC very well for the future:

Dr. Scott Oddie is an RDC/University of Calgary researcher who annually directs and supports a team of fourth year students involved in applied research initiatives. Scott is also AACTI's Scientific Leader in the Health Community of Practice for the Colleges and Technical Institutes. Along with RDC Colleagues and associates from the David Thompson Health Region and other institutions, Dr. Oddie undertakes projects in a number of areas related to health sciences and health services. Other contributors to research in this area are Dr. Greg Wells and Jane MacNeil. Recent collaborative projects include:

• Poly-pharmacy effects in older adults
• The impact of music therapy and intergenerational programs on continuing care residents
• Doctor's perceptions of treating older adults
• Community needs assessments
• The early identification of speech-language deficits

Craig West and student Marilee Irwin have completed a project with Capital Pressure of Sundre Alberta. Capital Pressure is a gas field service company that monitors and provides maintenance services for gas pipelines. In an effort to automate their activities, Capital Pressure is combining a wireless service truck dispatching system with a wireless pipeline instrumentation monitoring system.  RDC has been assisting with the development of a web-based user interface for these applications. The project was part of Marilee's course requirements while Craig provided project management and technical guidance.

Leonard Aucoin is an instructor at RDC in the Trades and Technology Faculty. Len is also passionate about bio-diesel technology. He operates some of his vehicles on 100% bio-diesel in the summer and up to 20% bio-diesel in the winter. Len has constructed his own bio-diesel production unit and uses the fuel to heat his work shop at home as well. Len has also brought bio-diesel into the classroom, conducting demonstrations and dynamometer testing for students. Len has developed proprietary technology in his process and can utilize waste restaurant oils or crushed canola oil to feed his process. 

Len and the College have developed a market ready, certified bio-diesel production unit that will be ready for sale in February 2008 to those interested in producing high quality fuel in a safe, efficient manner. The College currently produces its own bio-diesel from waste canola oil, from RDC kitchens and uses the fuel in its diesel vehicles on campus.

Sandra McDougall has been involved with the Yukon Field Unit’s Visitor Research Strategy, the 2005/2006 Field Unit Business Plan, and Kluane National Park & Reserve’s (KNP&R) Management Plan for several years now. A 1997 review of hiker-bear encounters within the A'äy Chù'/Slims River Valley and Sheep Bullion Plateau led to management actions to close the Sheep Bullion Plateau to overnight camping because of the apparent habituation, and potentially aggressive bear behaviour in campsites related to the significant level of grizzly bear family group activity on the Bullion Plateau Trail. Sandra McDougall, on behalf of RDC, has led the research into human/bear interactions for the last 5 years.

In 2008 Sandra and her team studied the interaction of animals and vehicles along the highway #2 corridor in the Red Deer area. The study used special cameras to study animal behaviour in and around crossing zones where animal - vehicle collisions are unusually high.

Raj Navaratnam and Nigel Stuart are engaged in a GIS based project with Red Deer Family Services. Understanding Early Years is a national initiative that enables members of communities across Canada to better understand the needs of their young children and families so that they can determine the best programs and services to meet those needs. The project requires the two RDC researchers to plot survey data and provide several maps of data plots. The map patterns may allow social science researchers to examine the family, community and social factors that impact on children's readiness to learn in school.

Dr. Gregroy Wells - Self-efficacy refers to the degree of belief an individual has in his or her ability to perform a particular task successfully (Bandura, 1997). Caregiver self-efficacy - the degree of confidence that professional caregivers have in their ability to successfully meet the challenges they face in the continuing care workplace - has emerged an important individual predictor of caregiver stress in these facilities. Ultimately, this project seeks to develop knowledge that will be widely disseminated and can be applied to larger-scale intervention programs that will reduce stress in the continuing care workplace, increase job satisfaction, reduce turnover, and improve the quality of care.

For more information or to add your research story to this page...

Contact:

Eric Kokko
Director
t: 403.343.4070| e: eric.kokko@rdc.ab.ca