Research

We have identified four strategic areas of research:

Energy

Energy represents an area of historic success for the Faculty of Engineering. The faculty has received tremendous support from the energy industry in our province, and energy remains an area of interest for the Government of Alberta and one of the five Signature Areas of the U of A. Our work in energy spans across all our departments and represents a significant portion of our work in education and research. Our goal is to advance energy technology, aiming to enhance current technologies, support energy transition, and explore new energy sources.  From oil and gas to mining and hydrogen energy, we are working to support a sustainable future.

Environment

Our focus is on preserving and sustaining our communities' most valuable resources, from water treatment to promoting clean air initiatives. We are dedicated to safeguarding our shared home. The Faculty of Engineering has developed expertise in a variety of fields related to environmental sustainability, becoming an internationally recognized center of excellence for wastewater management and treatment, carbon capture and storage, and surface water management. Researchers in this area have established long-standing partnerships with private and public sector organizations. Our areas of expertise include air quality, solid waste treatment, climate management in remote and indigenous areas, and remediation of mine tailings. 

Infrastructure

The Faculty of Engineering hosts a number of nationally and internationally recognized research centers and educational programs in areas related to infrastructure. The extension of our expertise into infrastructure resilience is well-suited to address the challenges stemming from climate change and the energy transition to continue to position the faculty as a center of excellence in this area. Our work prioritizes the advancement of infrastructure systems, fostering safe, sustainable and affordable communities; and innovating approaches to enhance and restore urban infrastructure.

Advanced Technologies of the Future

Emerging and advanced technologies (ie. mechatronics, autonomous systems, nanosystems, materials and artificial intelligence) drive innovation across all sectors. The discovery and application of these technologies remain a fundamental priority and a key ingredient to economic prosperity and job creation (Government of Alberta ATIS 2022). Our focus on the integration of multiple subfields in engineering is enhanced through collaborations within the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and the College of Health Sciences to expand and streamline the biomedical engineering teaching and research program. Pushing boundaries, we endeavour to innovate new solutions and technologies such as mechatronics, bioprocessing, and healthcare engineering to pave the way for our future.