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Public Affairs and Media Relations / Best of SFU / Best of SFU: 2011 / Applied Science

Faculty of Applied Sciences: Best of 2011

Cenk Sahinalp

Human genome research leaps ahead at SFU
SFU computational biology researchers led by professor Cenk Sahinalp have produced a new method of carrying out human genome comparisons that may help predict the likelihood of conditions such as autism and mental retardation. Their work is making international headlines within the genetics research community and was the cover story of the December 2011 issue of Genome Research.

http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2011/human-genome-research-leaps-ahead-at-sfu.html

Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear (r), Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Nina Grewal and SFU President Andrew Petter learn about the eVaro vehicle.

$5 million for green auto research
Surrey campus researchers are receiving almost $5 million from the federal government to develop new technology for hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cells. Two local companies—Ballard Power Systems Inc. and Future Vehicle Technologies Inc.—are partnering with the SFU scientists.

http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2011/5m-for-green-auto-research.html
http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/media-releases/2011/scientists-get-5-million-for-automotive-research.html

credit card

Butterfly wings inspire anti-counterfeiting product
SFU researchers led by engineering science professor Bozena Kaminska are behind a new nanotechnology—inspired by the tiny holes on a butterfly’s wings—that could be used to produce uncopyable, unscannable images, making it ideal for fighting counterfeiting.

http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2011/butterfly-wings-inspire-anticounterfeiting-product.html
http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/media-releases/2011/butterfly-wings-behind-anticounterfeiting-technology.html

Part of a clean energy agreement, SFU dean of applied sciences Nimal Rajapakse (l)and Surrey mayor Dianne Watts check out buses at Sutlej Motors with Daljit Singh, managing director (far left) and Kulwant Wilkhu, director of business development (r) during Surrey's mission to India.

SFU furthers ties with India
SFU strengthened relationships and secured new relationships with academic and business leaders during the City of Surrey’s February mission to India. Several key initiatives—two that build ties with business in India on clean energy fronts, the other, to collaborate with a new university in India—were among highlights as SFU played a prominent role in the visit.

http://at.sfu.ca/czQidk
http://at.sfu.ca/bHyWJC

John Jones

Engineer turns teaching into award-winning career
First-year engineering science students say teaching excellence award winner John Jones’ teaching style is the standard by which they judge all other professors during their years at SFU. Yet Jones didn’t set out to become a teacher. He was intent on researching and creating technology for the developing world.

http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2011/engineer-turns-teaching-into-awardwinning-career.html
http://at.sfu.ca/lirNqU

Ghassan Hamarneh

Medical research captures 3D images during surgery
Computing Science associate professor Ghassan Hamarneh is leading research that could allow surgeons performing robotic surgeries to acquire, analyze and visualize 3-D pre-operative anatomical images in real-time and monitor changes in a patient’s body during an operation.

http://fas.sfu.ca/fas/news/news_stories/medical_research_captures3dimages
http://www.cs.sfu.ca/newsandevents/archives/2011/genome-research.html

Jeff Krahn

Researchers create gecko-like climbing robot
SFU engineering science researchers have created a robot that can scale walls with tank-like moves using an adhesive that re-creates the “sticky toes” of a gecko. Their Tailless Timing Belt Climbing Platform (TBCP-11) robot could have a range of applications, from inspecting pipes, buildings, airplanes and even nuclear power plants to employment in search and rescue operations.

http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2011/researchers-create-gecko-like-climbing-robot.html
http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/media-releases/2011/researchers-create-gecko-like-climbing-robot.html


Video: http://at.sfu.ca/PNBCbX
Photos:http://at.sfu.ca/SSiXvt