UCalgary wins three prestigious ASTech awards

The province’s highest achievers working in science and technology gathered at Telus Spark last week to learn who the winners are for the 2017 ASTech Awards. The University of Calgary had six finalists in the competition. The winners include Kristen Barton, who is revolutionizing injury prevention through her one-of-a-kind work on knee motion data analysis; Christopher Clarkson, who is developing methods to better understand the unique properties of unconventional reservoirs, and how they can be more efficiently exploited; and a Schulich School Of Engineering outreach team that has created a program that makes engineering concepts exciting for young people.

“We are thrilled that our University of Calgary colleagues are being recognized on the provincial stage for their novel science and technology endeavours,” says Ed McCauley, vice-president (research). “Alberta is a nexus of innovation, and we’re proud be contributing to this climate of ingenuity.”

Pictured above are the members of the Schulich Engineering Education Outreach Team, who won the Excellence in Science & Technology Public Awareness Award. From left: Mohammad Moshirpour, Emily Marasco, Stephanie Hladik, Laleh Behjat, and Milana Trifkovic (not shown).

Leaders of Tomorrow Award

Kristen Barton  is in the Leaders in Medicine program, simultaneously pursuing a doctor of medicine degree while being a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine. She was recognized with the Leaders of Tomorrow Award for her research focusing on joint injury prevention and rehabilitation.

As a former player for the University of Calgary Dinos women’s soccer team, Barton suffered five knee injuries and subsequent surgeries, which led her to draw upon her own experience for her career path in medicine. Barton is revolutionizing injury prevention through her one-of-a-kind work on knee motion data analysis, partnering with Vivametrica’s wearable technology, and by spearheading the Joint Effort program for older patients with osteoarthritis

Outstanding Achievement in Applied Technology and Innovation

Christopher Clarkson, PhD, a professor in the Department of Geoscience and Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering has been awarded the Applied Technology and Innovation Award for his role in building a better toolbox in oil and gas.

Clarkson is a recognized world expert in rate-transient analysis (RTA) at the University of Calgary. Petroleum engineers worldwide use RTA to analyze hydrocarbon and water data from unconventional reservoir wells. Clarkson’s seminal publications pioneered the development of standardized RTA on unconventional reservoirs.

Excellence in Science & Technology Public Awareness

At the University of Calgary, the Schulich Engineering Education Outreach team designs curriculums for kindergarten to Grade 9 students and develops workshops for high school students. The team is composed of Schulich School of Engineering faculty members working together to initiate and deliver a number of engineering education outreach programs with the goal of enhancing public understanding of science, technology and engineering, by promoting diversity in the engineering profession and particularly inspiring more girls and young women to pursue careers in engineering. The team is composed of Laleh Behjat, Milana Trifkovic and Mohammad Moshirpour, and graduate students Emily Marasco and Stephanie Hladik.

The ASTech Awards are the premiere event of their kind in Alberta, and represent the highest science and technology honours in the province. This is the 28th annual ASTech awards, which take place every autumn in Calgary or Edmonton.