Media releases

  • Brock researcher, mining tech company developing ‘smart’ personal cooling system

    MEDIA RELEASE: 12 July 2017 – R00130

    It’s like something out of a Star Trek episode: a suit that cools down when the person who wears it gets hot.

    But unlike a prop in the sci-fi show, research for this suit is happening now, and the place it will be worn is on Earth — or more specifically, far under the Earth’s surface.

    Brock University Professor of Kinesiology Stephen Cheung has partnered with mining tech company Jannatec Technologies to create a vest that will protect miners from heat illnesses.

    “The idea is to develop a smart, personal cooling system miners can wear that will get feedback on their internal physiology,” explains Cheung, who is Canada Research Chair in Environmental Ergonomics.

    The vest is aimed at ‘ultra-deep miners,’ who mine copper, nickel, tin and other minerals as far as three kilometres below the Earth’s surface, where temperatures can soar up to 60 degrees Celsius.

    Cheung explains that non-invasive sensors will be built into the vest that will record and monitor a variety of bodily systems such as heartrate and skin temperature. Sensors will also monitor air temperature and humidity levels.

    Signals from the sensors will activate a battery that will provide power needed to cool the body to certain levels through electronic modules, depending on the readings.

    “These innovations are going to increase safety and productivity,” says Steffon Luoma, senior research scientist with the Sudbury-based, mining technology company Jannatec Technologies.

    “One of the top expenses in a mine operation is ventilation, and part of ventilation is cooling,” he says. “Cooling the workers directly is more efficient than cooling an area and will lead to a decrease in costs.”

    The Ontario Centres of Excellent is funding the development of the technology and how it will get integrated into the clothing.

    For more details, read the story in The Brock News.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    • Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970
    • Steffon Luoma, Senior Research Scientist, Jannatec Technologies, sluoma@jannatec.com, 705-566-3939

    Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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    Categories: Media releases

  • Women’s basketball coach wants Brock to get #Compassionate

    MEDIA RELEASE: 12 July 2017 – R00129

    If Brock women’s basketball coach Ashley MacSporran is forced to put a label on youth with developmental challenges, the word she chooses to go with is “amazing.”

    And it’s those amazing young kids who will play a starring role in her Brock Badgers Women’s Basketball camp July 17-21.

    MacSporran, who is heading into her second year as the women’s basketball coach at Brock, made community outreach part of her mandate when she came to the region.

    Earlier this year, she was named one of 12 community ambassadors for #CompassionateSTC, a year-long social media campaign launched by JCI St. Catharines in collaboration with the mayor’s office and other community leaders and groups.

    Each month, a different community member is tasked with documenting their own efforts to make St. Catharines a more compassionate place.

    MacSporran is the ambassador for July, and she’s using her team’s youth camp next week to further the #CompassionateSTC movement.

    The Brock Women’s Basketball Camp is designed to help kids and youth from eight to 13 years old improve their skills through the teaching of MacSporran and the rest of her varsity women’s team.

    The coach decided the skills camp would be the perfect opportunity to show some compassion to a dozen or so young people from Niagara whose challenges mean they don’t always get included.

    “To me, compassionate city means inclusion,” said MacSporran, who is hoping the camp experience will benefit both the special needs youth and the other 50 or so players in attendance. “It’s not just about basketball, but it’s about helping these kids learn a bit more about things.

    “Kids can be mean, but they can be great about not seeing race, ethnicity and social status.”

    MacSporran said around 12 “amazing kids were invited to be part of the camp for free. They can come for the full days or a few hours or whatever is good for them.”

    Also taking part will be Gregory McPherson, the brother of incoming Badgers women’s basketball player Courtney McPherson. Gregory, who was born with Down syndrome, has a big local following on social media and runs a group called G-Mc’s Fitness Homies with Extra Chromies.

    He’ll be an assistant coach working with MacSporran and her team all week.

    The Badgers coach is also hoping the Brock community takes part in her week of compassion.

    “I’d like to challenge the University to be compassionate Badgers,” she said. “The great thing about this project is it can be anything — little acts of kindness or generosity, listening to someone who needs to talk, helping your neighbours.

    “The mayor talks about being the most compassionate city, and we want to be the most compassionate university.”

    MacSporran and the women’s basketball team will launch the skills camp and their #CompassionateSTC project on Monday, July 17 at 9 a.m. in Bob Davis Gymnasium. Everyone is invited to attend.

    The #CompassionateSTC movement was launched by St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, who was inspired by the outreach efforts of Brock Social Justice and Equity Studies alumnus Tim Arnold (BBA ’96). Another alumnus, Steve Boese (BA ‘06), manager of the Generator at one interactive digital media incubator, became the campaign chairman, while three other Brock alumni are part of the roster of ambassadors.

    Sara Palmieri (BA ’03) was the ambassador for March, Crispin Bottomley (BA ’04, BEd ’05) took the role for April and Julie Rorison (BA ’10) will be the ambassador for December.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

    Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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    Categories: Media releases