Young Innovators

Student researchers at the U of S are harnessing creativity and drive to make discoveries and uncover new knowledge in areas that matter to Canadians. This series highlights examples of student research at the U of S. It is written by U of S students under the mentorship and supervision of University Research Profile and Impact. This initiative is a partnership with University Research Profile and Impact, College of Graduate Studies and Research, and The StarPhoenix.

Engineering better egg-free ingredients for vegans

A new chickpea-based product developed at USask will provide more food options for people with allergies and for those who love a vegan lifestyle or need to keep their cholesterol in check.

From the left: Soteria MedTech co-founders Cuylar Conly, Yash Shukla and Udoka Okpalauwaekwe hold a Lego-like airway device that could help save lives.(Photo credit: Dave Stobbe for the University of Saskatchewan).

New program opens doors for student start-ups

Five teams were each assigned to explore the business potential of a new USask technology, as part of USask Innovation Enterprise’s summer entrepreneurs program.

Zoe Gillespie studies how to slow down progeria, a disease that makes children age faster than normal. (Photo Credit: Dave Stobbe for the University of Saskatchewan).

Dietary restrictions may benefit children with premature aging disease

Eating less may be a key factor for promoting healthy aging and for slowing down progeria, an irreversible disease that makes children age eight time faster than normal.

Max Birk in the USask Interaction Lab. (Photo Credit: Dave Stobbe for the University of Saskatchewan.)

Better apps might improve health… USask study finds

If health apps included avatars that can be adapted to the users’ preferences, people would be more likely to identify with their virtual “mini-me” and be more motivated to engage ...

Arthur Situm at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron. (Dave Stobbe for the University of Saskatchewan).

New technique for studying rusting of steel benefits mining industry

Unlike other methods used to study corrosion, the new USask synchrotron technique shows how effective the coatings are without removing them from the rebars.

Dongyun Jung and Joe Rubin (right) study “superbugs” in imported food. (Photo credit: Dave Stobbe for University of Saskatchewan.)

Imported spices and frozen vegetables tested for “superbugs”

The USask study looks antimicrobial resistance in imported plant-based products to hopefully help expand the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance transmission to foods not includ...

Stephanie Pankiw studies positive feminist messages in jewelry ads. (Photo credit: Dave Stobbe for the University of Saskatchewan).

Real women, better ads

USask research shows that women want to see themselves represented in jewelry ads, and women from different ethnicities and body types, from a variety of ages and in professional s...