AURORA COLLEGE
Aurora College awarded $347,683 for Research and Innovation projects

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has awarded Aurora College's Aurora Research Institute (ARI) two grants totalling $347,683. Part of Canada's Applied Research and Technology Partnership (ARTI), the funds will support ground-breaking research and innovation projects, reinforcing ARI's commitment to addressing critical issues in the Western Arctic and enhancing community engagement through applied research and training.

$152,140 will go to a project led by Dr. Garfield Giff, Research Chair Climate Change Adaptation, at Aurora College, to explore how Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) can be used to measure methane emissions in the Western Arctic. The aircraft systems can generate precise measurements of methane levels in the lower atmosphere, increasing the accuracy of data and giving decision-makers a better picture of how climate change is effecting the Northwest Territories (NWT).

$195,543 will support the expansion of the Northwest Territories Makerspace Ecosystem, led by Jennifer Rafferty, Manager of the Makerspace Ecosystem at Aurora College. The funds will go towards micro-manufacturing equipment, including direct-to-film printers, heat presses, laser engravers, laptops and Adobe design software licences. These resources will be packaged into community kits that will rotate among Makerspaces in small NWT communities. The project aims to foster creativity, innovation and small business development by providing artists, craftspeople and community members with access to state-of-the-art technology and training. The Makerspace Ecosystem has already demonstrated success in merging traditional Indigenous and northern methods with modern technologies, leading to increased demand for cultural products and growth in the regional arts and crafts economic sector.

The two ARTI grants represent a substantial investment in the future of research and innovation in the NWT. By advancing climate change research and supporting creative industries through cutting-edge technology and community engagement, Aurora College continues to drive forward-looking initiatives that benefit both local communities and the broader scientific community.

Quote:

"We are encouraged to receive these grants from NSERC ARTI, which underscore our commitment to addressing critical environmental and technological challenges in the Northwest Territories. The funding for methane detection using RPAS technology will enhance our understanding of climate dynamics, while the expansion of the Makerspace Ecosystem will empower northern communities with cutting-edge tools and foster local innovation."

- Chris Paci, Vice President of Research, Aurora College

Quick Facts

• One grant will go towards Dr. Garfield Giff's project "A Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Platform for Methane Detection," that measures methane emissions from thermokarst features, beaver dams and other natural and artificial sources in the Western Arctic.
• One grant will go towards expanding Makerspaces across the NWT, led by Jennifer Rafferty, Manager of the Makerspace Ecosystem at Aurora College.