Grant: Applied Research and Technology Partnership Grants

Information Technology is rapidly transforming how economies perform and how resources are managed. In an increasingly connected world, training a skilled workforce with a diversity of perspectives enables the best use of these technology tools. At the same time as this digital transformation, the planet is also facing unprecedented challenges in climate change and natural system sustainability, this is equally true in Nova Scotia.Access and training for technologies such as artificial intelligence, remote imaging, and environmental sensing are important to build future generations of innovators to solve these resource management challenges. Developing technology skills also has immediate economic impacts for industries constrained by a shortage of talented people.Our communities hold many forms of knowledge that reach beyond technology. Mi'kmaq Elder Albert Marshall described Etuaptmumk, or Two-Eyed Seeing, as the wisdom of combining indigenous knowledge and western science to benefit all. Using this Two-Eyed Seeing approach as a guiding framework, the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), with business and community partners, aims to advance economic opportunity by building connections for research excellence across human, land and water sectors and natural systems. Specifically, the proposed research program will investigate how information technology, when combined with natural systems knowledge from scientific and Indigenous perspectives, can create decision-supports for economic opportunity and long-term stewardship of resources.In addition to directly focussing on specific challenges for industry and community, the research program will enable IT and Technology training for students and early-career leaders from communities across the region. NSCC seeks to utilize this program toward partnerships that strengthen equity, diversity, and inclusion through applied research that will have meaningful impacts for partners. The application of Information Technology to improve sustainable economic activities helps responsible businesses growth their products and services, while building local knowledge and capacity.