CREATE ME2 Past Events
The Future of Alberta / Canada Energy Storage and Economic Recovery November 18th, 2020 |
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Strategies for Finding A Job After Grad School August 18th, 2020 Panellists: Anne Benneker, Erin Gawron, Erwan Bertin, Farbod Sharif, John Vandersleen |
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Pore-scale Modeling of Battery and Fuel Cell Performance Webinar July 29th , 2020 |
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Electrochemical Cell Design for Energy and Environmental Applications Webinar June 30th, 2020 10:00 - 11:00MST This was the first joint webinar between the NSERC CREATE ME2 and Waterloo Electrochemical Student Chapter (WatECS). The webinar created to discuss cell design from an electrochemical engineering aspect focusing on the redox flow battery technology for energy storage and the electrochemical water treatment for environmental applications. This webinar was delivered by Dr. Edward (Ted) Roberts, Professor and Associate Head (Research), Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of engineering at The University of Calgary. Dr. Roberts introduced his research in the area of redox flow batteries for energy storage and water treatment technologies. The presentation outlined a general approach for electrochemical cell design (including the bipolar stack, and the integration of porous electrodes), and introduced case studies for both water treatment and energy storage systems. Those case studies reflect Dr. Roberts’ experience in electrochemical technology development, including adsorption / electrochemical regeneration, electrocoagulation, and redox flow batteries. Dr. Roberts highlighted cell design and scale-up challenges arising from flow/mass transport and electrical potential distribution. He also introduced some innovative ideas for cell design for water treatment that were discovered and tested by his research groups, using: moving packed bed, oscillating, and flow through electrodes, as well as magnetic field effects. Dr. Roberts concluded his presentation by introducing the use of flow through electrodes to develop membrane free redox flow batteries and enhance performance in zinc electrode system. |
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Research integrity and academic writing from proposals to publication at the graduate level May 27th, 2020 10am - 12pm (Virtual Training) University of Calgary This event was our first join event with the Student Success Centre. The workshop was designed to increase students’ awareness of research integrity issues and to present writing strategies to help with developing their research proposal and future publications. The pursuit of knowledge in an academic setting requires an atmosphere of trust. Yet, examples of data falsification and fabrication continue to exist. In this session, we talked about what ethical scholarship means during research, writing and publishing your work. Academic writing is important for graduate students, especially in a research institution like the University of Calgary. At the beginning of the graduate program, supervisors expect graduate students to write an acceptable research proposal and be able to articulate an effective thesis statement to describe their research. This task would prepare the stage for graduate students to write a comprehensive research abstract and prepare them to participate in a conference and write journal publications. Academic writing is not an easy task. Writing is a process. You write to convey your ideas, knowledge and your research findings to an audience, not just to yourself. The writing section of this workshop focused on how to improve students' writing skills. It started with common challenges that graduate students experience in their writing. Then, it proposed an effective approach to help students nail down their specific research objective and build an effective thesis/dissertation structure. The workshop delivered by Ms. Lee-Ann Penaluna and Mr. Alaa D.A. Dabboor from the Student Success Centre at the University of Calgary. |
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Introduction to Neutron Reflectometry for Electrochemical Applications March 25th, 2020 - Virtual Training University of Calgary 09:00 – 13:00 The workshop delivered by one of our postdoctoral fellows, Dr. Udit Shrivastava. This workshop introduced researchers to Neutron Reflectometry (NR) and its application to study interfacial structures encountered in many electrochemical systems. One of the pertinent examples is the electrochemical interface in polymer electrolyte based electrochemical devices, i.e. the catalyst/ionomer interface encountered in fuel cells, gas-fed CO2 electrolyzers, water electrolyzers, and polymer-electrolyte based sensors. NR is a depth profiling technique often utilized to provide information on the material distribution down to few Angstroms in the thickness direction of ultrathin films (~5 nm) and thick films (~ 100 nm). In addition, NR is employed to measure the swelling of thin films under external stimulus such as metal hydride expansion upon absorption of hydrogen. Pertinent to the electrochemistry, NR is one of the few techniques which has been exploited most to study the adsorption and the generation of an entity on the electrochemical surfaces in a non-electrochemical environment or in an in-operando electrochemical cell. Thanks to the non-destructive nature of neutron-material interactions virtually any material can be studied using this technique. The workshop introduced principle and application of NR to the electrochemical systems. |
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Hands-On Introduction to the Analysis of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Spectra using CASA XPS February 18th, 2020 This was the first 2020 technical workshop delivered by one of our former postdoctoral trainees and now assistant professor of chemistry at St Francis Xavier University, Dr. Erwan Bertin. This workshop provided an introduction to the analysis of electrocatalysts (or any other materials for which knowledge of the surface is of the uttermost importance) by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), specifically focusing on the interpretation of the results using Casa XPS. Even though electrochemical techniques are the most surface sensitive technique available to researchers, they must be combined with another technique to get specific information regarding the oxidation state, eventual electronic effect or the composition of a surface. Unfortunately, very few techniques are able to probe the surface of a catalyst at a level pertinent to a comparison with electrochemical results. XPS is one of these techniques. This workshop introduced fundamental aspects of XPS analysis such as how to (a) select the information to seek while operating the instrument (or to request if the analysis is done elsewhere), (b) use the software, and (c) analyze the data. The attendees examined the key steps of the analyses: calibration, peak identification, deconvolution and quantification of the surface. Dr. Bertin concluded his presentation by highlighting XPS data in published manuscripts to help attendees read and interpret the results. |
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Making it simple, but significant: How to design an impactful research presentation (3 Minute Thesis) February 3rd, 2020 This interactive workshop aimed at helping trainees learn more about designing an engaging research presentation and preparing for participation in the UCalgary 3 Minute Thesis competition. This workshop targeted graduate students (MSc & PhD) to help them develop skills in translating their research and its impact for non-specialists. The skills are becoming essential for many purposes https://grad.ucalgary.ca/my-gradskills/three-minute-thesis: • Funding proposals Workshop topics included: |
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Invention & Innovation in University Research November 26th, 2019 This workshop discussed how inventions can be protected and the initial steps of commercialization of ideas developed in the University research lab. The workshop was held at the University of Calgary on November 26th, 2019 from 09:00 – 15:30 |
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NSERC CREATE ME2 Program in Materials for Electrochemical Energy Solutions EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2019 August 29-30, 2019
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: |
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From an Early Concept to a Viable Product Workshop The NSERC CREATE ME2 Materials for Electrochemical Energy Solutions & the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking July 2nd, 2019 08:30 – 16:30. |
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Sustainability and Techno-Economics Workshop Series May 23, May 30, June 6, & June 13, 2019 |
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An introduction to Continuum-based Multi-scale Fuel Cell Modeling Using OpenFCST April 11th, 2019 This is the first Modeling workshop delivered by one of our Principal Investigator, Dr. Marc Secanell Gallart. He provided an introduction to continuum-based multi-scale fuel cell modeling using the open-source fuel cell simulation toolbox (OpenFCST), available for download. The morning session focused on some fundamentals on the theory of mass and charge transport, electrochemical reactions, and numerical modeling techniques. The afternoon session included two hands-on demonstrations on how to use OpenFCST to study transport in a fuel cell electrode and on a catalyst layer micro-structure. Dr. Secanell concluded his presentation by answering questions and providing research recommendations and best practices. |
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Practical Introduction to Electrochemistry ansd Oxygen Reduction Reaction Measurement March 7th, 2019 This workshop was our first workshop series delivered by one of our Postdoctoral Fellows, Dr. Erwan Bertin. The workshop was dedicated to provide a quick introduction to applied electrochemistry, with a focus on rotation disk electrode (RDE) measurements for oxygen reduction reaction. It included some fundamentals basis, a presentation of common electrochemical techniques (OCP, CV, CA, RDE) and their key elements. Following these more theoretical aspects, the presentation transition toward how to perform actual measurements. Various methods for the determination of the electrochemical surface area were covered, as this is of the uttermost importance to publish meaningful results. Dr. Bertin concluded his presentation by explaining the proper preparation of the setup (glassware, choice of reactants, preparation of electrodes). |
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Protecting Your Ideas Invention & Innovation in University Research December 12th , 2018
These topics were presented in the context of the CREATE themes of ‘Materials for Electrochemical Energy Solutions”, with relevant examples. |
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Analytical Techniques Workshop November 13, 2018 |
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Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies NSERC CREATE ME2 Materials for Electrochemical Energy Solutions 2018 Annual Meeting
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Environmental Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis August 22, 2018 The workshop included introductory presentations and discussion of sustainability and life cycle analysis (LCA) in the context of energy storage and conversion. The environmental impacts and trade-offs are typically uncharacterized until the technology is close to commercialization. This can lead to unintended negative economic and environmental consequences when a new technology is deployed. The workshop particularly focused on an electrochemical energy conversion such as Materials for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) pathway. |
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Transformative Talent Internship Session July 18, 2018 The session offered an introductory to Transformative Talent Internship Program organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary. This Program benefits ONLY graduate students at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. The session reviewed Transformative Talent Internship eligibility, the application process and available funding plus Q&A. Natalie Wilkinson-Houghton – Business Development Specialist Graduate Student Internships\Faculty of Graduate Studies, presented this session and explained how they could grad students benefit from it. |
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Techno-Economics, Technology Transfer and Commercialization Part 2: How to build a minimum viable product (MVP) & create a company May 9, 2018 The workshop provided what constitutes a minimum viable product (MVP), the steps toward building a file-ready prototype, and the components involved in creating a company. The workshop was presented by Peter Zyla from Innovate Calgary. |
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Techno-Economics, Technology Transfer and Commercialization Part 1: How to determine the commercial potential of inventions April 25, 2018 The workshop focused on determining the commercial viability of inventions and ideas using the StrategyzerTM concepts. It also provided an overall view of the economic and regulatory environment of the energy industry. The workshop was presented by Peter Zyla from Innovate Calgary and Mokhtar Tabri, a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary in the Department of Economics. |
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Applications of 3D Confocal Raman Microscopy and Correlative Techniques Workshop April 18, 2018 The workshop introduced applications of 3D confocal raman and correlative techniques, including AFM, SEM and SNOM. Also, it presented a new approach for high speed, high lateral and spectral resolution in raman imaging. A live instrument demonstration was provided. was sponsored by WiTec Corporation (Germany) and it partner Spectra Research Corporation (SRC) in Canada. |
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'One Canada' Electrochemical Energy Storage Research: Redox Flow Batteries Workshop’ February 22, 2018 Alberta Room at the UofC The workshop provided a forum for academic and industrial peers to exchange experiences, best practices, and ideas related to current emerging issues associated to this emerging energy storage technology. Also, shared knowledge of status, new directions, and challenges of redox flow battery (RFB) technology. Share knowledge of status, new directions, advantages, and challenges of redox flow battery (RFB) technology, |
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