Sustainability Day

Join Dr. Has Malik in room 140.1 for opening remarks.

Presenter: Lindsey Boechler, research chair in cultural empowerment
Location: Regina campus, room 140.1

This presentation will introduce research being carried out in the Centre for Health Research, Innovation and Scholarship that explores the use of virtual reality (VR) technology to enhance mental health and well-being. The projects Virtual Interventions and Community Connections for Indigenous Youth (VICCIY) and Transforming Health Realities Through Interactive Virtual Engagement (THRIVE) take innovative, proactive and holistic approaches to address the mental health needs of specific populations. By harnessing VR technology, these projects aim to overcome access barriers and enhance the quality of mental health support services.

SDG goals:

• Goal 3 Good health and well-being
• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 17 Partnerships for the goals

Presenters: Keri Sapsford, research assistant & Volker Schmid, research associate 
Location: Prince Albert campus, Dining room

The Natural Resource Management Applied Research Group, part of the Sustainability-Led Centres of Excellence (SLICE), received a CICan Living Labs grant to introduce a vermiculture composting facility at the Prince Albert campus. This project is both a teaching resource, and a practical waste reduction initiative. Students are involved in running and perfecting the composting process, which diverts food waste from the campus Commons kitchen. As part of the Living Lab project, the team has created a guidance manual to help any organisation with a commercial kitchen set up a composting system tailored to the type and volume of kitchen waste they produce.

SDG goals:

• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Presenter: Blake Weiseth
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr, main lecture theatre

Effective water management on farms seeks to strike a balance of allowing farmers to manage water on the landscape, such as through wetland consolidation, but also limiting downstream environmental impacts. A consolidation project was initiated in the fall of 2020 where surface ditches were constructed to channel runoff water from eight ephemeral wetlands situated in a single field site having a common management history. Following construction, a land management practice anticipated to have potential benefit in reducing P export off site in runoff was applied to each basin, including variable-rate fertilizer application, polycropping of annual forage species, post-harvest residue incorporation through shallow light tillage, and a control treatment of an annual grain crop managed with a fixed fertilizer application rate and no post-harvest tillage. A statistically significant reduction in soluble reactive inorganic P concentration and trend for reduced P load in field and simulated snowmelt runoff was observed with variable rate fertilization, forage cropping and strategic tillage relative to the control. In 2023, canola grain and straw yields were not statistically significantly influenced by the management practice implemented and as demonstrated in 2021 and 2022, the maintenance of acceptable crop yields despite a reduced phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer application rate in the variable rate (VR) treatment in 2023 supports this practice as a means to promote nutrient use efficiency.

SDG goals:

• Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
• Goal 15 Life on Land

Presenter: Cyril Coupal, research manager, DICE
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., main lecture theatre

Food security and correspondingly in-security is a topic of extreme importance around the world. Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integrated Centre of Excellence (DICE) is working with multiple industry partners in Saskatchewan utilizing technology and artificial intelligence to improve farming practices in sustainable ways. These technologies help reduce environmental impacts while simultaneously improving yields and thereby improving food security from the supply side.

SDG goals:

• Goal 2 Zero hunger
• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities

Reused metals with the Sask Polytech Welding program

• The Welding program is minimizing waste by using metal scrap to produce interesting and useful items. Come and see what they are creating!
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Bat box with the Sask Polytech Carpentry program

• By using off-cuts to build bat boxes, the Carpentry program is supporting sustainability in two ways – waste reduction and providing safe nesting space for a critical species!
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Sustainable growing table planting demonstration

• Sask Polytech’s Nadine Craig will be sharing her passion for planting! Come to the sustainable growing table to find out how to successfully grow your own plants!
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

The Backyard composting  

• Find out all you need to know about composting from our local composting heroes! The Backyard can help you find the best way to reduce your food waste and start growing your own produce!
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

GIS student projects

• Come and see some of the innovative and interesting ways in which our students are using GIS to contribute to sustainability! More than just maps – Sask Polytech has state-of-the-art GIS technology that our students and faculty are using to tackle complex sustainability challenges. 
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Goal 15 Life on land

School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences

• Stop by for a quick health check! Nursing and dentistry faculty and students will be on-hand for non-invasive health checks.
• Goal 3 Good health and well-being

Afro Mentorship Initiative (AMI)

• Afro Mentorship’s mission is to support Afro (African and Caribbean) children and youth as they continue to grow and become all that is meant for them. In turn, our mentees develop into young adults who make a powerful impact within our greater communities. AMI) works to empower girls (#queenbmentorship) and boys (#kingsclubmentorship) by equipping them with the tools, resources, and strategies to help them achieve their academic and life goals.
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 4 Quality education
  • Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth
  • Goal 10 Reduced inequalities

Upcycling Jewelry 

• Sask Polytech’s own Kelsi Murrow will be demonstrating how you can repurpose and reuse different materials to create something new and beautiful! 
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 3 Good health and well-being
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Regina Education and Action on Child Hunger (REACH)

• REACH’s vision is a healthy community where everyone has access to nutritious and affordable food. As well as taking action to reduce child hunger, REACH has programs that include good food boxes, frozen meals, family basket, and a mobile store. 
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 2 Zero hunger
  • Goal 3 Good health and well-being

City of Regina, Waste and Recycling

• Come and find out about the City of Regina’s diverse programs, resources and tips for minimizing the waste we send to landfill. 
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Fitness & Recreation, Sask Polytech

• Thinking about getting your bike out now that the snow has gone? Our Fitness & Recreation team is here to give advice on how to cycle safely, whether you are commuting or going for a leisurely ride.
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 3 Good health and well-being
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities

School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences

• Stop by for a quick health check! Nursing and dentistry faculty and students will be on-hand for non-invasive health checks.
• Goal 3 Good health and well-being

CHEP Good Food

• Stock up on fresh produce at CHEP’s community market, located outside the library. Find out how CHEP’s activities help ensure all Saskatoon school children have access to nutritious food for at least one meal per day.
• Goals:
  • Goal 2 Zero hunger
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities

Cosmopolitan Industries

• Cosmopolitan Industries has been a mainstay of social and environmental sustainability in Saskatoon since 1971. Come and find out about how they support individuals with intellectual disabilities to reach their full potential through their many programs, including recycling.
• Goals:
  • Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production.

City of Saskatoon composting

• Check out the information and resources the City of Saskatoon has to help you start composting and reducing the amount of food waste going to landfill!
• Goals:
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre

• The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is more than just a food bank. They have a wealth of knowledge and resources to help all people access safe and nutritious food. They also run the Garden Patch, an urban farm that has grown almost 200,000 lbs of food for emergency hampers since 2010. Volunteers at the Garden Patch can help their community while learning how to grow produce!
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 2 Zero hunger
  • Goal 3 Good health and well-being
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Library of Things YXE

• The Library of Things is a physical space and online inventory of items that people can borrow locally, ranging from tools, kitchen gadgets, board games, camping accessories and more! They are able to improve access to a wide range of items without the need for more consumption. Check out all that they have to offer!
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 10 Reduced inequalities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

• The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is dedicated to helping the people of Saskatchewan reduce waste. Come and ask them how you can help reduce waste.
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Saskatoon Cycles

• Saskatoon Cycles is your ultimate resource for safe cycling around Saskatoon! As well as advocating for a city where cycling is viable and safe all-year-round, you can find lots of useful cycling-related information on their website.
• SDG goals:
  • Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Presenter: Linda Martin
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., main lecture theatre

A research project was conducted in 2023 on school-based recreation therapy for children and youth with various physical, developmental and/or learning disabilities, as well as mental health concerns in elementary and high schools. An overview of the research results will be provided, highlighting the benefits of recreation therapy in schools as a part of the regular school program, implementing 1:1 or small group interventions during school hours.

SDG goals:

• Goal 3 Good health and well-being
• Goal 4 Quality education
• Goal 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

Presenter: Eileen Zaba
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr. main lecture theatre

This project brings Saskatchewan Polytechnic researchers together with James Smith Cree Nation and La Loche community members to co-create a community crisis preparedness framework to respond to a community crisis with mass casualties such as James Smith experienced during the September 2022 attacks and La Loche experienced during the January 2016 school shooting. This project may identify prevention, assist in healing existing wounds through talking, and determine the gaps in knowledge required to co-create a tangible resource to support varying Indigenous cultures and communities through mass casualty tragedies.

SDG goals:

• Goal 3 Good health and well-being
• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
• Goal 17 Partnerships for the goals

Presenter: Ann Quimado
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., main lecture theatre

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is supporting a local producer of bee boxes in reducing the carbon footprint of its operations, and increasing its economic stability. The Eco-Bee Box is a Saskatchewan-designed retail product that provides nesting space for bees, which are essential for pollination. Sask Polytech is designing a bespoke tool that will allow the company to manufacture a component of the bee boxes that is currently imported.

SDG goals:

• Goal 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 15 Life on land

Presenter: Muhammad Abdullah 
Location: Regina campus, room 140.1

This talk will briefly discuss a track and trace system developed for Prairie Clean Energy – a  Canadian bioenergy company. The talk will look at the introduction of the track and trace technology, how it is working in practice and working, and a live demonstration.

SDG goals:

• Goal 7 Affordable and clean energy
• Goal 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production

Presenter: Sonja Aagesen 
Location: Regina campus, room 140.1

This talk will first examine the increasing affects of extreme weather caused by tropical cyclones in the northern Philippines due to warming oceans and sea-level rise in combination with local geography. The talk will then discuss the impact on infrastructure and agriculture, in relation to coastal food security and livelihoods of the Indigenous peoples in Aurora province and what measures are being taken to increase community resiliency.

SDG goals:

• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 13 Climate action

Presenter: Uyen Lam 
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., main lecture theatre

This talk will share how remote sensing and GIS are being used to map the locations and status of oil wells in Frog Lake, Alberta. The information is displayed in dashboards to help decision-making and to track the environmental impacts of abandoned wells. In addition, we are creating an app to be used by emergency services, like the fire department, for better emergency management and wayfinding.

SDG goals:

• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 15 Life on land

Presenter: Colin Whitfield 
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., lecture theatre

There are no tools or data products available for hydraulic design and analysis that have been developed for the unique challenges of the Canadian prairies. The Prairie Hydrological Data Product (PHyDAP) addresses this gap. From comprehensive field observations, Prairie Water developed seven classes that describe the more than 4000 watersheds in the prairie region. These classifications are combined with the Cold Regions Hydrological Model to provide locally specific time-series data which can be used in hydraulic modelling. Through this approach, PHyDAP provides hydrological data that is more reliable than existing sources not specific to prairie hydrology. PHyDAP data can be combined with hydraulic models to support improved infrastructure design that reflects the unique hydrology and climate of the Canadian prairies.

SDG goals:

• Goal 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 15 Life on land

Presenter: Abdul Raouf 
Location: Regina campus, room 140.1 

Sensors mounted on satellites are continuously acquiring data of the Earth and its environment. This presentation will give an overview of how we can, and do, use this valuable source of information to address a broad range of sustainability challenges. Satellite remote sensing data is an essential resource for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals including Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 13 (Climate Action),and Goal 15 (Life on Land).

SDG goals:

• Goal 2 Zero hunger
• Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 15 Life on land

Presenter: Helen Baulch, University of Saskatchewan
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., lecture theatre

Responsive to questions from partners, we embarked on a multi-dimensional research program to understand options for managing the drainage of prairie wetlands. Novel ecosystem service models, based upon the unique hydrology of the region demonstrate important impacts of drainage, including flooding, increased nutrient export, and impacts on habitat and biodiversity. Expert-driven scenario development also shows potential for critical changes in the region associated with climate and land use change. Importantly, there are fundamental differences among stakeholders in their understanding of how the system works, leading to divergent interpretations of the benefits and consequences of drainage.

Presenter: Blake Weiseth 
Location: Saskatoon campus, Idylwyld Dr., main lecture theatre

Effective water management on farms seeks to strike a balance of allowing farmers to manage water on the landscape, such as through wetland consolidation, but also limiting downstream environmental impacts. A consolidation project was initiated in the fall of 2020 where surface ditches were constructed to channel runoff water from eight ephemeral wetlands situated in a single field site having a common management history. A number of different practices aimed at mitigating P losses were then tested to assess impact on P export, and crop yields. The results provide insight into potential land and water management best-practices on prairie croplands.

SDG goals:

• Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 15 Life on land