This article is the final instalment of a monthly series celebrating research breakthroughs and successes at Brock University over the past 60 years. To read other stories in the series, visit The Brock News.

The future of sustainable agriculture is germinating on an unassuming patch of land in Niagara.

Located on the Merrittville Highway, the site will be home to the Brock University-led research farm, a multi-institutional initiative funded by industry partners and the Governments of Canada and Ontario.

Research will focus on the Clean Plant Program to ensure a supply of virus-free grapevine material; sustainable varieties and precision agriculture to grow the best crops more efficiently using cutting-edge technologies; and the greening of urban spaces.

The farm builds upon decades of Brock agricultural research largely carried out through the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI).

“Since CCOVI’s beginnings in 1996, we’ve created and tested disease-free grapevine material, controlled vineyard insect pests, isolated unique yeasts to overcome climate change challenges, and developed the world’s first virtual reality/augmented reality wine consumer laboratory among many other achievements,” says CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis.

“Our leadership in the national research farm takes our innovations to the next level, advancing the Canadian agriculture sector for decades to come,” she says.

As the 60th anniversary celebrations wrap up, the Brock community has an eye to the future while reflecting on what brought the University to where it is now.

“We have much to look forward to in the next 60 years,” says Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn. “Right from the start, we’ve invested time and resources to build world-class research that reimagines how we approach challenges in our world.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one such challenge. How to use and regulate these rapidly developing technologies is the subject of much public discussion and considerable research efforts at Brock.

Recent Brock AI research includes detecting hidden biases in cancer datasets, developing and evaluating a machine learning model to assess heart failure risk and using AI to develop drugs to treat cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Discussions are underway to consolidate these diverse research interests as a new research centre.

Professor of Computer Science Betty Ombuki-Berman says collaborative and interdisciplinary research is crucial for advancing AI, particularly in addressing ethical deployment, groundbreaking applications and global challenges such as climate change, sustainable technologies and health.

“At Brock, we strive for AI research excellence that will deliver significant societal and economic advantages to the Niagara region and beyond and contribute to a more equitable and prosperous society,” says Ombuki-Berman, Chair of the Department of Computer Science.

Brock is already widely recognized for its youth health and well-being research.

Professor of Health Sciences William Pickett, for example, is co-investigator of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study in Canada, part of the World Health Organization’s cross-national research study of youth well-being, health behaviours and social contexts.

The long-running national COMPASS study, which collects health survey data from more than 100,000 students across Canada every year, is co-led by Associate Professor of Health Sciences Karen Patte.

Patte is also one of three Brock researchers who hold Canada Research Chair positions related to youth health and well-being. The others are Associate Professors of Child and Youth Studies Danielle Sirianni Molnar, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth, and Matthew Kwan, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Youth Mental Health and Performance.

“There are dozens of scholars across campus making great strides in advancing health, well-being and development across the lifespan,” says McGinn. “This incredible pool of expertise makes Brock a national leader in this research field.”

 Other research areas to watch out for include:

• Wearable technologies, such as exoskeletons, and other innovations that could reduce, prevent or help people cope with injuries.
• Space travel and in particular its impacts on muscles and bones. The Canadian Space Agency and NASA are also supporting Professor of Earth Sciences Mariek Schmidt’s long-running Mars research.
• The future of theatre education in Canada. Professor of Dramatic Arts Jennifer Roberts-Smith is co-leading the first national, cross-sectoral partnership approach to decolonizing, anti-racist, equitable, diverse and inclusive systemic change ever undertaken in post-secondary theatre education.