|
|
|
|
“In the soulful rhythm of life, wisdom is knowing the journey shaped more than knowledge—it shaped you. And giving back becomes a quiet offering to the future minds still finding their way.”
|
Director (Research & Innovation)
|
|
|
Featured Research Project
|
|
|
|
AR Toolkit for Live Production Metrics
|
|
|
|
|
|
St. Clair College Research & Innovation Department partnered with an Ontario-based company to build and deploy an augmented-reality toolkit that streams live production data to a headset display. A replica test server fed cycle time, yield, and downtime metrics into a clean 3-D interface, giving line supervisors immediate insight at the point of work and cutting the lag between issue detection and action.
After validating the pipeline, the team ported the system to Microsoft HoloLens for hands-free use on automobility assembly lines. The completed project showcases a practical Industry 4.0 solution while providing students with frontline experience in AR development and data integration.
|
|
|
At St. Clair College, we specialize in developing tailored solutions to address industry-specific challenges by harnessing our student's and faculty's talent and expertise. If an organization is facing an industry-related problem that demands an innovative approach, our students and expert researchers are ready to collaborate to create the solutions of tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stakeholder Observation Day – NSERC CCSIF School Nutrition Project
|
|
When grant proposals move beyond paper and into community spaces, the impact is tangible—especially for young minds. At a recent classroom workshop, the Research & Innovation team witnessed firsthand how students are learning about sustainable food systems through hands-on exploration of where their food comes from. These moments reflect how community-led research shapes not just programs, but perspectives—changing how youth engage with knowledge, their environment, and each other. When a community comes together around learning, it is not just heard—it is felt.
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, St. Clair College’s Research & Innovation team welcomed project partners, funders, and community advocates to a Stakeholder Observation Day at our pilot elementary school—the midway milestone in the NSERC CCSIF School Nutrition Project.
The initiative is testing the feasibility of a school‑wide lunch program that delivers healthy, vendor‑prepared meals twice each week to roughly 300 students, paired with bi‑weekly food‑literacy lessons that teach children how nutrition fuels learning, growth, and overall well‑being.
During the visit, guests toured the kitchen and serving stations, observed classroom nutrition activities, and spoke directly with students, teachers, and food‑service staff. Early feedback underscored three key outcomes:
- Improved Food Access: Consistent, nutritious lunches are reducing mid‑day hunger and ensuring every student can focus on learning.
- Enhanced Engagement: Teachers report higher energy levels and attentiveness on lunch‑program days.
- Growing Food Literacy: Hands‑on lessons are helping students link healthy choices with academic success and long‑term wellness.
Insights gathered on Observation Day will shape the project’s next phase, inform best practices for scalable school‑based nutrition models, and strengthen our collective effort to support student health across Windsor‑Essex. We thank all stakeholders for their commitment and look forward to sharing additional findings as the study progresses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Publication: Inclusivity in Nursing Education
|
|
St. Clair College faculty member Kathryn Hansen, working with the Research and Innovation Department, has published a mixed-methods study that looks at how confident nursing instructors feel when supporting neurodiverse learners.
The survey and interview results tell a clear story: most faculty members are eager to teach inclusively, yet many say they lack practical training and ready-to-use resources.
Hansen recommends a focused professional-development program—short workshops paired with a shared bank of adaptable lesson plans—to bridge that gap.
The article, now available in Nurse Educator (DOI 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001838), highlights St. Clair College’s commitment to evidence-based teaching and its growing influence in academic research. By equipping faculty with the right tools, the college is taking another step toward ensuring every student can thrive in the classroom.
|
|
|
|
|
Empowering Students through Applied Research
|
|
|
|
|
“Students First, Community in Focus: Capstones Creating Change”
When research and innovation meet student passion, communities thrive.
A year on, applied research is now seamlessly woven into the fabric of learning at St. Clair College—linking coursework with meaningful, community-based impact. This April, two standout capstone projects demonstrated the depth of this approach. Interior Design students collaborated with the Town of Tecumseh to design a space rooted in accessibility and well-being, while BBAICT students partnered with the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel to explore data-driven solutions for cross-border traffic.
With guidance from the Research & Innovation Department, students are not only building skills—they are building community, one thoughtfully executed project at a time.
|
|
|
|
|
Interior Design Capstone – Town of Tecumseh Wellness Hub
"As their capstone project, in Winter 2025, the 3rd year Interior Design students partnered with the Research and Innovation department and the Town of Tecumseh to complete a 50,000 sq ft, Wellness Hub design as an addition to the existing Tecumseh Arena.
The focus of this design was the promotion of mental and physical wellbeing and the fostering of community relationships through implementation of sustainable and universal design principles.
Students started the design process by attending a site visit to the Tecumseh Arena and presentation by project lead Beth Gignac, Director of Community and Recreation Services, Town of Tecumseh.
After fifteen weeks of design development, specification writing and completion of construction document deliverables the individual design concepts came to life through verbal presentations to the client at the Town of Tecumseh project site.
The experience for students to work alongside an actual client on a “real life,” project proved invaluable. Aside from the design experience students learned many additional skills such as listening skills, imperative in addressing client needs, effective documentation, necessary for noting key elements of an existing design and presentation techniques, required to promote a design to a client.
Working on the Town of Tecumseh Wellness Hub Project was a great experience for the students.
It was a project that challenged the students, enhanced their Interior Design skills and displayed to our community partner that at St Clair College we are job ready!"
— Tricia King, Professor / Interior Design Program Coordinator, St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology
|
|
|
|
|
BBAICT Capstone – Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Analytics
"I would like to sincerely thank the Research and Innovation team for your outstanding support in helping my students secure meaningful capstone projects this semester.
With your guidance and connections, several groups from the BBAICT Degree Program had the opportunity to work directly with the CEO, marketing team, and IT department of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. Their projects focused on improving traffic flow, analyzing competition from the Ambassador Bridge, and considering traffic patterns from the new Gordie Howe International Bridge.
This real-world collaboration allowed students to apply their ICT knowledge and work closely with key stakeholders on impactful, community-driven initiatives. It was an invaluable experience that supported their professional growth and highlighted the true value of experiential learning.
I am truly grateful for the continued support, guidance, and commitment of the Research and Innovation team. I look forward to many more such collaborations in the future."
— Shaveta Bedi, Lecturer, St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology
From design studios to data dashboards, applied research is the catalyst that equips our students with career-ready skills while delivering practical solutions for Windsor-Essex.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hands-On, Minds-On: Sustaining STEM Momentum Through LEGO Innovation
|
|
|
|
|
The excitement sparked by the LEGO SPIKE Prime Kits continues to ripple across the Windsor-Essex community. Students, educators, and families have reached back to share powerful stories of transformation. From Grade 3 students leading mini coding demos at parent nights to Grade 11 students mentoring their younger peers in robotics clubs, the kits have become catalysts for leadership and peer-driven learning.
Testimonies from classrooms reveal how students who once hesitated to participate in STEM activities are now leading team projects, prototyping designs, and presenting their solutions with pride. Teachers have noted increased student engagement and improved classroom dynamics, with the kits serving as inclusive tools that inspire diverse learners. St. Clair College’s Research & Innovation team remains committed to tracking and amplifying these stories, showcasing how strategic investment in hands-on tools can ignite lasting change across educational ecosystems.
“It’s been incredible to see how quickly students dive into problem‑solving and teamwork with the LEGO SPIKE kits. They’re not just learning STEM concepts—they’re developing confidence, communication skills, and a genuine love for learning.”
— Craig Guthrie, Teacher Consultant: Computers, Technology & 21st Century Skills K‑12, GECDSB
The enthusiasm has already sparked new lunchtime and after‑school coding clubs at several schools, ensuring continued access and sustained curiosity. St. Clair College is proud to support GECDSB’s commitment to fostering creativity, critical thinking, and 21st‑century skills in every classroom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Driving Innovation Together: R&I Team Visits Formula First Collisions
|
|
|
On April 9, 2025, St. Clair College’s Research & Innovation team spent the day at Formula First Collision Inc. to explore collaborative possibilities that could advance both research and industry practice. From the moment the team arrived, Formula First’s client-centred culture was evident, backed by an impressive array of cutting-edge repair and diagnostics equipment.
Round-table conversations with technicians, estimators, and managers offered an inside look at the shop’s streamlined workflows and data-driven quality controls. Those candid exchanges uncovered several fertile areas for partnership, including AI-powered repair-time forecasting, sensor-based damage assessment, and green initiatives to recycle composites and reduce paint emissions.
The visit confirmed a shared ambition: combine frontline experience with applied research to raise the bar for automotive-collision services across Windsor-Essex. We sincerely thank the staff at Formula First Collision Inc. for their warm hospitality and valuable insights, and we look forward to translating these ideas into joint projects in the near future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Living the Innovation Pipeline: One Student’s Story of Applied Research in Action
|
|
From supporting Research & Innovation operations to presenting a capstone that solves real-world problems, these students embody the full arc of experiential learning at St. Clair College.
Among the standout presenters at this year’s BBAICT Capstone Showcase, there were two students who have lived the innovation pipeline from the inside out. As contracted members of the Research & Innovation team, they contributed to day-to-day operations, helped build and maintain the department’s digital presence, and supported outreach initiatives across campus. But this April, they stepped into a different spotlight—presenting their own capstone projects before a panel of faculty, peers, and the very team that had mentored them.
Their projects were a convergence of the skills, insights, and experiences gained through hands-on research engagement. It demonstrated how applied innovation isn't confined to labs or meetings—it lives in classrooms, presentations, and the relationships students build with community and industry. The R&I team provided real-time feedback on design and scalability while recognizing the unique perspective he brought as someone who’s been part of shaping the research culture at the college.
This showcase moment was more than a final assignment—it was a full-circle reflection of how experiential learning empowers students not only to learn, but to lead. Living the innovation pipeline means walking the path from contributor to creator, and in doing so, becoming part of the future of research itself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead With Kindness Campaign
|
|
|
|
|
St. Clair College, Research & Innovation is delighted to present the Lead with Kindness Campaign. This initiative brings caring individuals, organizations, and researchers together to address community needs and industry challenges. By focusing on tangible outcomes, every contribution and sponsorship helps introduce cutting-edge technologies to our region, strengthens collaboration with local partners, and creates lasting impact.
Join us for hands-on demonstrations at our Mobile Discovery Hub, explore new concepts at the Innovation Station, and mark your calendar for the March(ing) Forward Breakfast on March 28, 2025. Through these efforts, Lead with Kindness ensures that every act of support fuels meaningful progress, guiding both our community and industries toward a brighter, more innovative future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
St. Clair College Research & Innovation proudly introduced our Fee for Service initiative to empower students, faculty, industry partners, and community members to bring their ideas to life using our specialized facilities and expertise.
From fabrication and processing to media production, planning & consulting, robotics & automation, and testing & simulation, our service catalog offers a range of resources designed to support your next breakthrough.
Ready to get started?
Simply visit our website, review the available services, and submit a request form outlining your project needs. Our team will assess your requirements and provide a tailored quote based on the scope of work.
Let us help turn your ideas into practical outcomes through high-quality, professional support and discover how easy it is to innovate with St. Clair College Research & Innovation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“My name is Amrit, and I am a postgraduate student in Data Analytics for Business. My time with the St. Clair College Research & Innovation department has been a formative experience, giving me the chance to deepen my technical skills, tackle unfamiliar problems, and contribute meaningfully within a collaborative team. Over the past year I have explored a broad spectrum of technologies—deploying cloud services, configuring secure RDP access, designing advanced ETL pipelines, mapping end-to-end system architectures, and applying performance optimizations to existing projects. Each challenge has reinforced the importance of clear communication and thoughtful planning, while allowing me to put classroom theory into real-world practice. Looking ahead, the team has outlined several proposed initiatives, including a local LLM-powered personal assistant and specialised AI agents that promise to streamline research workflows and decision-making. I am grateful to the R&I team for their guidance and support, and I look forward to seeing how these future projects unfold.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Testimonials - Student Voices
|
|
|
|
“I've always dreamed of building video games one day, and this camp made me even more excited about that goal. Working with robots and programming them was a lot like what I imagine designing games would be. I can't wait to take what I've learned here and apply it to my future projects in video game design.”
|
|
|
|
|
"The robot LEGO camp was a blast, especially because we got to work on line detection and understand how sensors and motors control movement.I’m excited about the future of cars and how technology will change how we drive. The camp showed me that there’s so much more to explore, and I can’t wait to see how these skills apply to real world projects.”
|
|
|
|
|
“Attending this camp has made me even more excited about driving and the future of cars.I'm really looking forward to being part of the changes that will transform how we drive in the years to come.”
|
|
|
|
|
“Learning about object avoidance and color sensors at camp was so much fun. I got to program my robot to avoid obstacles and follow color lines, which made me think about how these technologies could be used in self-driving cars. I’m excited to keep learning about technology and maybe work on robots and cars when I grow up.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book a Tour or Consultation!
Discover the possibilities with a tour or consultation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Us!
For inquiries please visit our Contact Us Page:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That's all for April
Stay tuned for our next newsletter, arriving in May 2025!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
