Centennial Innovates, the Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship department at Centennial College, is pleased to announce the 2023-24 recipients of the Applied Research and Innovation Fellowship (ARIF). ARIF provides seed funding for Centennial College faculty- and staff-initiated internal applied research and innovation projects, with the aim of developing innovation capacity within the College. Through ARIF, we hope that participants – especially those new to research – will develop an appreciation for and expertise in executing research and innovation projects, and eventually sustain their research interests through external funding.
“We are extremely pleased with the enthusiastic response to the ARIF competition this year. It is inspiring to see the innovative proposals our Centennial staff and faculty are putting forward, and even more so to see them grow as researchers in their confidence and skills throughout the program. These projects make a difference to the college and greater community,” expresses Jonathan Hack, Dean, Centennial Innovates. "We are thrilled that the College community continues to respond to our efforts to champion innovation at Centennial.”
The interest received and competition this year was unprecedented, with over 30 Letters of Intent in Q3 of 2023 and 26 full applications in late December. Throughout January 2024, an expert panel comprised of Centennial staff and faculty reviewed each proposal, and made the difficult decisions to award 7 ARIF project recipients.
| Principal Investigator (PI) | School | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Balan | SCHS | Does Mass=Gas: An Exploration of How Lean Mass Proportion Impacts Throwing Arm Strength in Collegiate Pitchers |
| Hoshedar Batliwalla and Stephen Field | SHTCA | Sustainable Horizons: Advancing Student Learning and Academic Excellence in Hospitality Management and Culinary Studies |
| Konstantin Manyakin | SETAS | Leveraging AI and Knowledge Graph to Enhance Software Engineering Curriculum |
| Melissa Bartrem and Rosalind Mills | SCMAD | Pathways to the Performing Arts: Career Tool |
| Michelle Hughes | SCHS | Evaluating the Impact of Structured Virtual Simulations using a Clinical Judgment Framework: A Feasibility Study |
| Olesya Kolisnyk | SCHS | Learning Acute Deteriorating Condition Management via Immersive Virtual Reality Modality |
| Siyam Subair | SETAS | Development of a Blue Light LED Device to Suppress Wound-Causing Organisms Tested on “Vitro Skin” Models |
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who applied to ARIF this year, and a special congratulations to the ARIF award recipients in 2024! We look forward to learning more about each of your projects throughout the year.
For staff and faculty interested in ARIF – we will schedule webinars as the key dates approach to ensure all interested are aware of the timeline. You may also visit the ARIF and Centennial Innovates web pages to learn more about applied research activities at Centennial College and opportunities to be involved.
For more information about the Applied Research and Innovation Fellowship (ARIF), please contact Matthew Stein, Research and Innovation Engagement Chair, Centennial Innovates at mstein@centennialcollege.ca.