Diabetes awareness project takes first place at RE/ACTION Showcase
Posted on Friday, April 14th, 2023
Alexandra Massie, Dhanashree Dama, Noha Abdelrahman and Jay Donde Ericsson with their first-place trophy.
Learners from the Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Centred Design (ISHCD) program captured first-place at the RE/ACTION Showcase on April 14, the first to take place fully in-person since 2019.
Students Alexandra Massie, Dhanashree Dama, Noha Abdelrahman and Jay Donde Ericsson developed their project, titled “Communicating Timely Measures for Type-2 Diabetes,” over the last six months. According to professors Su Cheng Lee and Lanre Jerry-Ijishakin, the group’s efforts serve as a confirmation of the skills that they have developed throughout the course of their studies, and as a testament to the overall strengths of the ISHCD program.
The RE/ACTION Showcase highlights applied research projects led by student teams in partnership with real industry clients. This event — the first to take place in-person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — saw more than 50 projects displayed by nearly 200 AC students from 11 different programs of study, as well as some examples of the initiatives funded through the AC Innovation Fund. The Showcase is held in support of funding agencies including the Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Centre of Innovation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Mitacs.
Kevin Holmes, Managing Director at Algonquin College’s Social Innovation Lab, opened the Showcase by welcoming the student teams, judges and members of the public.
“At Algonquin College, we believe in the power of experiential learning through applied research. It’s a critical aspect of education that cannot be understated. For our students, it provides opportunities for experiential learning and leads to career pathways,” said Holmes. “We have an outstanding lineup of students who will be presenting their best work to potential employers. This event provides an opportunity for our students to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have gained through their experiences at [the College].”
Following the welcome remarks, guest speaker Ryan Dodge, Chief Digital Officer at Ingenium, gave an address on the value of applied research, partnering for innovation and the talent found at Algonquin College.
The students exhibited their projects in the DARE District on the Ottawa Campus, where 19 judges comprised of AC employees and employer partners circulated and inquired about various aspects of the research projects. After scores were tabulated, Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé announced the winners.
“At Algonquin College, each academic term celebrates an exciting collaboration of learners and industry partners who come together to explore ground-breaking ideas, develop innovative solutions and create extraordinary experiences. The RE/ACTION Showcase is a tribute to this incredible work,” he said. “All across our campuses, students engage in a diverse collection of projects. From exploring emerging technology and analyzing business processes to driving social change, our students collaborate with an incredible network of industry and community partners. We are deeply grateful to our stakeholders for providing real-world learning opportunities that enrich the lives of learners.”
Second place went to the “Oper8 Plant Operations App,” a project by Mobile Application Design & Development learners Will Paceley, Akshay Mahajan, Kiefer Baird-Perry, Eshwar Naik Bhukya, Jade Whitley, Hygor Costa and Jiaqian Sun. Developed for the Plant Operations team at the College, the iOS app was designed to streamline data entry using Optical Character Recognition technology.
Third place was awarded to the “Ottawa Rec Sports League App” project, also developed by students from the Mobile Application Design & Development program. Students Greg Coghill, Leo Batan, Verity Stevens, Justin Bernard, Ghazaldeep Kaur and Son Tran created an app that will aid in the management of sports teams, facilitate community and discuss a shared love of sport.
Thank you to all participating learners, employer partners and funding agencies for making the in-person return of the RE/ACTION Showcase such a success.