ECT Showcase - Nova Scotia

Recipients of the Net Zero Emerging Concepts and Technologies - Nova Scotia (ECT-NS) Research Program will present their current research and innovations focusing on bridging carbon-reduction gaps in hard-to-abate emissions and advancing homegrown solutions to achieve net-zero by 2050. Attendees will learn about the ECT-funded work underway and the projected impact when brought to market. 

The ECT Showcase - Nova Scotia will also offer a networking opportunity for ECT-NS recipients, academia, startups, government, funders, and ecosystem partners. Everyone will have focused time to connect, collaborate, and explore collaboration opportunities. Net Zero Atlantic is looking forward to seeing ECT-NS recipients make new connections and to supporting their project advancing beyond this program.

Join us to discover the impact of the ECT-NS program and its contributions to a sustainable future.

Showcase Agenda

About the Presenters 

Two-step CO2 Capture and Storage Technology using Seawater and Mineral Carbonation of Mine Water Pool of Sydney Coalfields
Priority Research Theme: Direct Air Capture
Lead researcher and organization: Martin Mkandawire, Cape Breton University
Awarded: June 2023
Presenter: Jamey Toney-Gagne

Jamey Toney-Gagne is a fourth-year BSc Chemistry Honours student at Cape Breton University, originally from Eskasoni First Nation. Specializing in analytical and environmental chemistry, Jamey has been engaged in environmental chemistry research since the summer after their first year of undergraduate studies. Jamey co-authored the publication "Unpacking Phthalates from Obscurity in the Environment" and is currently finalizing a paper on the link between food security and climate change in Nova Scotia, proposing adaptation strategies. Presenting a 2-Step CO₂ Capture Project developed with their team, Jamey is committed to advancing sustainable solutions while advocating for greater Indigenous inclusion in STEM.

High-performance hydrogen sensors for leak detection in transportation and industrial applications
Priority Research Theme: Fishing and Ferry Fleets
Lead researcher and organization: Hunter King, Integrative Nanotech Ltd.
Awarded: June 2023
Presenter: Brenden S. Nickerson

Dr. Brenden Nickerson is a physicist who obtained his PhD in Physics with magna cum laude honors from the Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Germany. He also holds MSc and BSc (Honours) degrees from Dalhousie University in Canada. Dr. Nickerson's expertise spans nuclear quantum optics, holographic microscopy, and computational modeling. His diverse research topics have included imaging deep-sea microscopic organisms and laying the groundwork for the pioneering development of the first nuclear clock. In his current role as Technical Product Manager at Integrative Nanotech Ltd., Dr. Nickerson leads the product development team in collaboration with CTO Dr. Michael Freund. Together, they steer projects from concept to completion, ensuring seamless transitions through all stages of product development, testing, and launch.

Empowering Sustainable Livestock Practices: Advanced Sensors for GHG Monitoring
Priority Research Theme: Agricultural Emissions
Lead researcher and organization: Ghader Manafiazar, Dalhousie University
Awarded: November 2023
Presenter: Ghader Manafiazar

Dr. Ghader Manafiazar is an innovative researcher specializing in sustainable livestock production systems, with a focus on methane mitigation, feed efficiency, and fitness traits in livestock species. Based at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Manafiazar has pioneered the development of a first-of-its-kind sensor system designed to measure methane emissions at the herd level. This project was made possible through a collaboration with Dr. Komeili from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Calgary, along with support from Net Zero Atlantic (NZA) and dairy farmers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. This groundbreaking technology addresses critical challenges in the livestock industry by offering scalable solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enabling data-driven policy decisions. With a strong interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Manafiazar has secured over $8.9 million in research funding and has collaborated extensively with industry stakeholders to ensure the practical application of his findings. His research program exemplifies innovation and impact, bridging the gap between science, industry, and sustainability.

Piloting Acuicy Software to Incentivize Decarbonization of Agriculture Supply Chains in Nova Scotia
Priority research theme: Agricultural Emissions
Lead researcher and organization: Allison Murray, Acuicy Inc.
Awarded: November 2023
Presenter: Allison Murray

Allison Murray, Founder and CEO of Acuicy, is an award-winning global sustainability leader with over 20 years of experience building and scaling sustainable business strategies for some of the world's largest companies in the UK, Australia and Canada. Allison has been at the forefront of software development focused on engaging companies and consumers in sustainability and has leveraged cutting-edge technologies to enable companies to adopt capital-efficient ways to reduce their emissions. Allison has experience founding and growing a successful consulting business, Upswing Solutions, with clients ranging from large national brands to crown corporations and government departments.

Eco-Friendly Fisheries
Priority Research Theme: Fishing and Ferry Fleets
Lead researcher and organization: Ulaş Güntürkün, Marecomms Inc.
Awarded: June 2023
Presenter: Ulaş Güntürkün

Dr. Ulaş Güntürkün is the founder and CEO of Marecomms Inc. Dr. Güntürkün studied his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada between 2003 and 2008. For his post-doctoral work, he joined the Universite catholique de Louvain in Belgium in 2008, where he worked on the development of battery-efficient satellite communication systems, along with other aspects of contemporary communication systems until 2012. Thereafter, he received an independent research grant supported by the European Union to continue his work on the information theoretic aspects of wireless communications. He joined Dalhousie University in 2015 as a research faculty in Electrical Engineering and taught Communication Systems. He left academia and founded Marecomms in December 2017.

A.I.-Driven Benchmarking Tool for Emission Reduction in Canadian Dairy Farms
Priority research theme: Agricultural Emissions
Lead researcher and organization: Suresh Raja Neethirajan, Dalhousie University
Awarded: November 2023
Presenter: Suresh Neethirajan

Dr. Suresh Neethirajan is a globally recognized expert at the forefront of integrating technology and agriculture to address critical challenges in climate change and animal welfare. As a Research Chair at Dalhousie University, Suresh leverages cutting-edge tools like artificial intelligence, digital twins, and precision livestock farming to develop sustainable solutions for the agricultural sector. With a distinguished career spanning academia and industry, including roles at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the University of Guelph, Canada, he has established himself as a thought leader in AI applications for agriculture. His research focuses on improving animal welfare, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and empowering farmers with data-driven insights.

Heat Pump and Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage Feasibility Study
Priority Research Theme: Long-Term Energy Storage, Electricity System Challenges Post 2030
Lead researcher and organization: Wayne Groszko, Nova Scotia Community College
Awarded: June 2023
Presenter: Wayne Groszko

Dr. Wayne Groszko works as the Applied Energy Research Scientist at Nova Scotia Community College, leading a team that does practical research and development with local partner companies and communities to advance renewable energy, energy storage, and energy management systems to support decarbonization. Most recently, Wayne co-authored a report on the effectiveness of using thermal energy storage in combination with heat pumps to shift the timing of electricity demand in Nova Scotia.

A Feasibility Study for Nature-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal Solutions at Nova Scotia Power’s Hydroelectric Facilities
Priority Research Theme: Nature-Based Solutions
Lead researcher and organization: Eddie Halfyard, CarbonRun Carbon Dioxide Removal Ltd.
Awarded: June 2023
Presenter: Eddie Halfyard

Dr. Eddie Halfyard is a research scientist who has spent his career studying fish and fish habitat and leading science-based ecological restoration programs focused on rivers, lakes and coastal oceans. While working with environmental charity groups, such as the Nova Scotia Salmon Association, he spearheaded freshwater liming programs that restored rivers from the impacts of acid rain. As a freshwater ecologist with unparalleled expertise in implementation and innovation, he played a pivotal role in co-developing CarbonRun’s intellectual property and methodology. Dr. Halfyard completed his Ph.D. at Dalhousie University, was a research fellow at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research in Windsor, Ontario where his work focused on applied aquatic conservation and biotelemetry.