The Culture of Innovation with Stephen Larter and Jeff Ryzner
Release Date: 11/23/2021
Now Innovating: Connecting the dots with transdisciplinary scholarship with Dr. Greg Welch
Now Innovating
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Greg Welch, PhD, Professor in the Faculty of Science’s Department of Chemistry, and one of the inaugural Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship’s Academic Co-Leads in Energy Futures. Greg discusses transdisciplinary scholarship at the university and how this connects to innovation. He also shares an example of a transdisciplinary research project from his lab and thoughts on supporting innovation at all levels within academic institutions. This episode is also available as a fully captioned and transcribed video that you can watch...
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Now Innovating: Supporting the mental health of first responder families with Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz
Now Innovating
In our season 6 premiere episode, we speak with Dr. Kelly Dean Schwartz, a registered psychologist and associate professor in the Werklund School of Education, about the Family First Responder project. This research project has led to the development of a social innovation to provide mental health supports for first responder families. This episode, we will learn more about his research with the Social Development Research Team, discuss what led to the start of the Family First Responder project and the development of the Re: Building Families program. We also discuss the potential...
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Now Innovating: Exploring Possibility Neurotechnologies and CDL-Rockies
Now Innovating
For our season five finale, we explore a startup’s journey through the UCalgary Innovation ecosystem that led them to the Creative Destruction Lab – Rockies. We speak with Dr. Dion Kelly, a UCalgary grad and Co-Founder & CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies. Her research in neuroscience to develop brain-computer interface technologies is creating opportunities for children with severe neurological disorders to achieve greater independence and quality of life. Dion and Erica Floreani, Co-Founder and CTO, provide a demo of their Think2Switch device,...
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Now Innovating: The Past, Present, and Future of Innovation at UCalgary
Now Innovating
In this episode we speak with Dr. Stephen Larter, UCalgary’s outgoing Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation), and a Professor in the Department of Earth Energy and Environment in the Faculty of Science. Steve takes us back to 2004, talking about the state of innovation from when he first arrived at the University of Calgary twenty years ago to how the ecosystem has connected and grown. We also discuss what is currently happening in the innovation space, and what he hopes to see within the next five years. We also take the opportunity to get to know Steve better by playing a...
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Now Innovating: Moving and thriving with Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed
Now Innovating
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed, PhD, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and director of the Health and Wellness Lab. Her research is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those impacted by cancer through the development of movement-based programs. We learn more about her research in the with the ACE and EXCEL programs to make exercise part of standard cancer care. We discuss the development and operation of the , a social innovation which offers evidence-based exercise oncology programming for pediatric, young adult, and adults living with...
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Now Innovating: Improving Balance and Mobility with Dr. Ryan Peters
Now Innovating
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ryan Peters, PhD, an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and His research explores the neural control of balance and mobility that has led to the commercialization of a wearable technology to support balance impairments in older adults, athletes, and astronauts. We learn more about our neural systems and how they affect our control of movement, and discuss Ryan’s innovation journey, including the patent process and overcoming the fear of failure in academia. This is one of two episodes this season spotlighting...
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Now Innovating: How 3 startups are turning the tables for the brewing, energy & life sciences industries
Now Innovating
In this episode, we speak with founders from three startup companies that were part of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking’s inaugural Summer Accelerator cohort: , and . The is a 12-week program designed to help UCalgary community startups continue to build and develop their companies, validate their business, and leverage resources in the UCalgary ecosystem. The three startups featured in this episode are comprised of UCalgary graduate students, alumni, and a former postdoctoral scholar. We will learn more about the research behind each of their companies, and the...
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Now Innovating with Parex Resources Innovation Fellowships
Now Innovating
In this episode, we explore the experiences of the Parex Resources Innovation Fellowships that provide resources for UCalgary faculty researchers to concentrate on innovative projects that positively impact society. This spans a wide spectrum, including technological advancements, social initiatives, and novel approaches to addressing complex challenges. We speak with Belinda Heyne, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, and a former Parex Fellow about her innovation journey to advance a discovery, the risk she took to pursue a startup company, and how she has applied these...
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Now Innovating with LyfeMD and UCeed
Now Innovating
In our season 5 premiere, we are celebrating UCeed, a series of early-stage investment funds, backed by philanthropic support from the University of Calgary and managed by Innovate Calgary. We speak with Lorian Taylor of LyfeMD, an evidence-based application to support diet and lifestyle solutions developed by health professionals. This social enterprise out of the University of Calgary has received investment from UCeed’s social impact fund. We will also hear from Pete Santosham to learn more about UCeed and the impacts it has had in only three short years. ...
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Now Innovating with Dr. Chris Hugenholtz, Thomas Barchyn, and the PoMELO Emissions Management System
Now Innovating
In our season 4 finale, we chat with Dr. Chris Hugenholtz, PhD, and Thomas Barchyn from the Faculty of Art’s Department of Geography. They are behind the technology and the research program for PoMELO, a vehicle-based methane emissions management system for the upstream oil and gas sector. They discuss how their research and technology for detecting methane emissions, a greenhouse gas, is an important step to help mitigate climate change. We also discuss their innovation journey and the decision to license their technology through the university versus creating a startup company. ...
info_outlineSeason 1 of [now innovating] wraps up with a conversation with Dr. Stephen Larter, PhD, and Jeff Ryzner. Stephen Larter is an Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) in the office of the Vice-President (Research) and a Professor of Petroleum Geology. Jeff Ryzner serves as the Innovation Program Specialist alongside Stephen. Dr. Larter says impact-related outcomes should be an important metric for universities. He also stresses the importance of researchers and innovators sharing their stories of failure. Jeff Ryzner echoes this sentiment, suggesting researchers and innovators should not fear being associated with failure. Jeff offers solutions for normalizing failure.
Dr. Stephen Larter has been a cofounder of numerous technology startup companies, including Gushor Inc. (now part of Schlumberger), and he currently advises several university-based student, postdoctoral, and faculty startups. A recipient of numerous academic and civil awards, Professor Larter is a fellow of the Royal Society, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a foreign member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Jeff Ryzner supports the Innovation portfolio in the Vice President (Research) office, working closely with Stephen Larter. His work contributes to growing innovation levels and achieving UCalgary's vision of becoming Canada's most entrepreneurial university.