{"id":102605,"date":"2025-06-18T15:02:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T19:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=102605"},"modified":"2025-06-18T16:27:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:27:04","slug":"research-retrospective-looking-to-the-past-to-grow-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2025\/06\/research-retrospective-looking-to-the-past-to-grow-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Retrospective: Looking to the past to grow the future"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is the final instalment of a monthly series celebrating research breakthroughs and successes at Brock University over the past <\/em>60 years<\/em><\/a>. To read other stories in the series, visit\u00a0<\/em>The Brock News<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The future of sustainable agriculture<\/a> is germinating on an unassuming patch of land in Niagara.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and Ontario<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Research will focus on the Clean Plant Program<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cSince CCOVI\u2019s beginnings in 1996, we\u2019ve created and tested disease-free grapevine material, controlled vineyard insect pests, isolated unique yeasts to overcome climate change challenges, and developed the world\u2019s first virtual reality\/augmented reality wine consumer laboratory among many other achievements,\u201d says CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur leadership in the national research farm takes our innovations to the next level, advancing the Canadian agriculture sector for decades to come,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

As the 60th anniversary celebrations wrap up<\/a>, the Brock community has an eye to the future while reflecting on what brought the University to where it is now.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have much to look forward to in the next 60 years,\u201d says Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn. \u201cRight from the start, we\u2019ve invested time and resources to build world-class research that reimagines how we approach challenges in our world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Recent Brock AI research includes detecting hidden biases in cancer datasets<\/a>, developing and evaluating a machine learning model<\/a> to assess heart failure risk and using AI to develop drugs<\/a> to treat cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

Discussions are underway to consolidate these diverse research interests as a new research centre.<\/p>\n

Professor of Computer Science Betty Ombuki-Berman says collaborative and\u00a0<\/strong>interdisciplinary research\u00a0is crucial for advancing AI, particularly in addressing\u00a0ethical\u00a0<\/strong>deployment, groundbreaking applications and global challenges\u00a0such as climate change,\u00a0sustainable technologies and health.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 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,\u201d says Ombuki-Berman, Chair of the Department of Computer Science.<\/p>\n

Brock is already widely recognized for its youth health and well-being research<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Professor of Health Sciences William Pickett, for example, is co-investigator of the Health\u00a0Behaviour\u00a0in School-aged Children Study in Canada<\/a>, part of the World Health Organization\u2019s cross-national research study of youth well-being, health behaviours and social contexts.<\/p>\n

The long-running national COMPASS study<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Patte<\/a> 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<\/a>, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth, and Matthew Kwan<\/a>, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Youth Mental Health and Performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are dozens of scholars across campus making great strides in advancing health, well-being and development across the lifespan,\u201d says McGinn. \u201cThis incredible pool of expertise makes Brock a national leader in this research field.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Other research areas to watch out for include:<\/p>\n