INNOVATION July-August 2014

2O13 2O14 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Willerth Lab At the University of Victoria’s Willerth Lab, tissues are engineered through the use of tools based on the principles of biomedical engineering. This image shows one of their strategies for engineering neural tissue by combining stem cells with drug-releasing particles called microspheres. The stem cells (shown in grey) are induced pluripotent stem cells, which are adult cells that have been re-programmed so they can become any cell type found in the body. The microspheres (shown in green) are fabricated from a polymeric biomaterial, enabling them to release drugs to promote formation of neural tissue. This combination of stem cells and microspheres could be transplanted into the damaged nervous system to promote regeneration. This image was taken using the Advanced Microscopy Facility, run by Dr. Rodney Herring, P.Eng.

Drill Rig Ice Platform During the winter of 2013/2014, a 1,000-m ice platform was constructed in support of drilling operations on Patterson Lake South, Saskatchewan, for Fission Uranium. The naturally grown ice cover was not thick enough to carry four large drill rigs. TetraTech thickened the ice in layers by employing a unique water spray technique. Water was pumped from beneath the ice and sprayed up to a distance of 80 m into the air. The water was super-cooled in the cold air, resulting in accelerated freezing. By applying the water spray technique, the required thickness of the ice platform was achieved in a record time of less than two weeks, which is significantly shorter than using conventional flooding methods. This enabled Fission Uranium to extend the 2013/2014 drilling season by several weeks.

G3 ION Alpine Touring Ski Binding G3 Genuine Guide Gear developed the ION binding to meet the ever-changing needs of modern ski tourers with advances in ease-of-use, durability and ski performance. This binding is intended for ski touring enthusiasts and has two modes of operation, allowing users to hike as well as ski with the binding. G3 is the only North American manufacturer of alpine touring ski bindings. Fifteen months after the initial conception of the ski binding, Cameron Shute, P.Eng., completed a product validation trip to climb and then ski from the 5740-m summit of Cerro Antisana Volcano in Ecuador on a fully manufactured pre- production binding. Project manager/engineer: Cameron Shute, P.Eng.

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J U LY/AU G U S T 2 014

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