Science/Engineering

Since only 1.23% of Canadians can and do donate blood, combined with the fact that blood has a very short shelf life of about 6 weeks (for red blood cells), the blood supply chain isn't reliable. To solve this problem, we came up with a solution that involves evolving tangles of DNA known as "aptamers" so that they can distribute oxygen throughout the body by attaching to heme. Essentially, it would be an artificial red blood cell substitute that would have a much longer shelf-life and be usable by anyone (there wouldn't be any restrictions based on blood type). To learn more, check out our content, like: website, video, article, presentation deck, and 1-pager.

While the title might give you a chuckle and be pretty intriguing, the problem being solved here affects nearly 15% of our global greenhouse gas emissions. It involves essentially eliminating methane emissions from cattle by using Asparagopsis Taxiformis seaweed as a 1-2% feed additive in their diet to reduce over 95% of their emissions. To see how we used this data to create a feasible business plan check out the deliverables we made, such as: website, video, article, presentation deck, and 1-pager. For our unique and economically incentivized idea, our group even ended up winning 1st place out of a dozen teams as the Best Overall Moonshot!

As someone who has gone through treatment, it was a natural fit. I started my deep dive by learning and writing an article about the science behind my own leukemia diagnosis, followed by an article and video about a unique pathway being used to help with cancer research; video games. By learning more about the technical side of it, I made more content around an emerging treatment called CAR T-Cell therapy (from this article and video) that basically uses skills we've all learned from Pac-Man to beat cancer. Finally, after all my learnings, I made a research proposal article and video to suggest a new treatment that uses DNA tangles ("aptamers") to kill cancer. I presented my research to a lab and even got offered an internship to help them test out new cancer treatments over the summer.

I've always been incredibly fascinated with how the brain works. Knowing it helps us dictate our entire lives, and that it is the creator of many paradoxes (like trying to understand that neuroscience is just the brain studying itself) makes me even more intrigued about it. I began my research in this area by learning about a particularly interesting application of BCIs; artificial limbs. Yes, that means having the ability to have a fully functioning robotic limb that is simply controlled by the thoughts in your brain, just like with a regular, biological arm. My article goes into the really cool science behind this in more detail. I also purchased a Muse headband to further expand my research through personal testing, as well as re-programming the headset to make other personal BCI applications.