Vancouver, BC, August 3, 2022–Mitacs, a national innovation organization is helping top Ukrainian students advance their academic careers, while providing them with both an opportunity to pursue their research ambitions in Canada and meaningful ways to give to others, including their fellow citizens.
More than 60 undergraduate students from Ukraine are at 32 Canadian universities this summer helping to solve tough innovation challenges through a unique summer program called the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship. Part of a larger contingent of nearly 2,200 international students from 35 countries, they are each spending 12 weeks working under the direction of Canadian professors and alongside local researchers to help solve complex problems across a range of sectors, from health and wellness, to robotics, technology and the environment.
Some of the groundbreaking research they are contributing to includes:
· Work to create a first-of-its-kind social robot that operates as a mental health aid to help people cope with stress and anxiety, starting with Ukrainians who are dealing with the impact and trauma related to the ongoing war. (Ontario Tech University, Oshawa)
· The development of a first-of-its-kind community services asset map and reference list that will help Ukrainian newcomers to Canada find appropriate resources and social support, as well as strengthen collaboration between both countries to advance social work research and education. (Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops)
· A study to determine why honeybee populations are declining on Canadian blueberry farms, leading to smaller crop yields, and what can be done to reverse the trend and keep pollinators healthy. (University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon)
· Applying advanced genetics to better understand the influenza virus and the molecular properties that enable it to evade the natural immune system. (Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia)
· A groundbreaking, wearable ‘soft’ robot that accurately measures hand and wrist motion to assist in clinical assessment and rehabilitation following surgical procedures. (University of Alberta, Edmonton)
· Advancing a cutting-edge linguistics program designed to encourage people who are learning a second language to overcome their shyness and take risks speaking in common social settings, rewarding them for their effort as a means to build confidence and proficiency. (University of Ottawa, Ottawa)
· Using video clips collected from kids riding bikes to investigate what it’s like to be a kid on a bike in today’s highly regulated world, and how that experience is influencing their ability to develop independence. (Brock University, St. Catharines)
· Work to improve virtual reality headsets by developing better cues to more accurately direct a user’s attention in a specific direction or towards a specific object. (Carleton University, Ottawa)
Since 2009, Mitacs has matched more than 8,000 senior undergraduates with Canadian faculty across the country through its Globalink Research Internship program, promoting Canada as a top destination for research opportunities and as a leader in research expertise around the world.
“Mitacs is very proud to be supporting more than 60 Ukrainian students through its Globalink Research Internship this year — part of our broader efforts to help those affected by the war,” said Mitacs CEO John Hepburn, adding that some of the students are working on projects that will directly impact the lives of Ukrainians, both here and abroad. “The Mitacs Globalink Research Internship helps participants gain research experience here in Canada, advancing innovation and creating attractive opportunities for international students who often decide to further their education here.”
About Mitacs
Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving business challenges with research solutions from academic institutions. It is funded by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, along with the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Quebec, Innovation PEI, the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Yukon. For information about Mitacs and its programs, visit mitacs.ca/newsroom.
