Research is on the RISE at CBU with Award of Internal Grants 

Cape Breton University is supporting academic research with the award of internal grants to 25 faculty across disciplines. Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Exploration (RISE) grants are awarded annually through a competitive process, with each successful applicant receiving up to $10,000 for their project.

The award of RISE funds considers the top contenders as distinguished RISE, highlighting those with the highest ranking in three categories. Co-applicants Dr. Ted Matheson, Assistant Professor of Geology, and Dr. Jason Loxton, Senior Instructor of Geology, are among the Distinguished RISE recipients in the science category, with a project that will fund equipment and training to build 3D virtual models of geologic outcrops across Cape Breton.

“These virtual models will make field-based geological research on the Island safer and more accessible for researchers from CBU and around the world,” explains Dr. Matheson. “It will allow them to visit locations from the comfort of their computer that wouldn’t have been practical on foot.”

Beyond its potential for research, Dr. Loxton says these models will support CBU’s record of providing cutting-edge educational experiences. “These models can be loaded onto student’s phones, explored using virtual reality or augmented reality. We plan to introduce it to educators across Cape Breton and abroad. It’s really an amazing tool to showcase our world-class geology,” says Dr.  Loxton. “It’s going to be a game changer for us,” he adds.

Also noted with a distinguished RISE project, Dr. Nancy Spina, faculty in the School of Education, who will explore LGBTQIA+ Homelessness, Embodiment, and School Disengagement in Cape Breton.

“Despite the rise of youth homelessness in Cape Breton, there is a lack of research focused on the educational experiences and school disengagement of this group, and in particular, individuals belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community,” Dr. Spina explains. “With the support of RISE, I hope to engage with the Sydney Youth Project to support academic success within this community.”

The third category of RISE applications is social determinants of health, with Dr. Abidemi Fasanmi, Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management in the Shannon School of Business, recognized as a distinguished applicant for her project Pathways to Practice: Facilitating the Integration of Internationally Trained Physicians in Nova Scotia.

“I’m grateful for the support of RISE for this project,” says Dr. Fasanmi. “Internationally trained physicians bring valuable skills but face challenges in obtaining licensing, navigating credentialing processes, and integrating into local communities and healthcare systems.” She aims to identify and recommend successful strategies, such as bridging programs, mentorship initiatives and streamlined credentialing processes.

Dr. Tanya Brann-Barrett says that while faculty have more than a year to complete the research they’ve outlined in their RISE grant proposals, summer is an opportune time gain the support of student research assistants.

“Many faculty focus on research during the summer and we are thrilled to help them get underway with the support of RISE awards,” says Dr. Brann-Barrett. “These awards help them to advance new publications, discoveries and partnerships, and offer incredible student research opportunities,” she adds.

Congratulations to the 2025 RISE recipients!

 

RISE 2025 Recipients and Project Titles
Alejandro Vital Soto	Multi-factory production planning and scheduling optimization for the semiconductor industry
Martin Mkandawire	Early and Rapid Detection of Skin Cancer using Saliva as Liquid Biopsy
Ken Oakes	Robotic System Equipped with Real-Time Electrochemical Sensors for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) Analysis: Towards Precision Agriculture
Dylan Reynolds	Canadians’ Experiences with (and Perceptions of) Ransomware Attacks: Qualitative Insights
Qingna Jin	Empowering Young Changemakers: Integrating Activist Education into STEM Curricula for Environmental and Social Justice
Veronica Litt	Mass Reading Experiences of the 18th Century: A Preliminary Database
Md Anisul Islam	Management of product-related waste through extended producer responsibility: An assessment of policies in Nova Scotia and Canada
Sherra Robinson	Braiding a Path Forward: My Journey of Reclamation as a L’nu Woman in Education
Leslie Wardley	Brand Communities – Identification-Based Relationships and Campervan Culture
Erin Robertson	Investigating the characteristics of the bilingual experience that influence cognitive flexibility
Bishakha Mazumdar	Women’s Retirement Transitions in Cape Breton: A Qualitative Study of Personal Resources and Organizational Support
Felix Odartey-Wellington	Interrogating Canadian Identities (CBU Phase)
Simon Barrick	Sweeping towards social change: Evaluating the 2025 Halifax Olympic Curling Trials’ social legacy initiatives
Zainab Almukhtar	The Impact of Diversity on Innovation within Small Businesses in Cape Breton
Virginia Gunn	Could wearable devices improve primary care and enhance patient and health worker experiences with care?
Stefanie Ruel	Working through a collage of pain, Part II: Pilot study on ‘wholistic’ care in the workplace for sudden death survivors
Colin McLaren	Hope in focus: A qualitative exploration of disadvantaged youth in Cape Breton through photoelicitation
Joseph Parish	The Cape Breton Experience of the 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic
Bernard Farenkia	Discourse-pragmatic strategies in public apologies in French
Distinguished RISE: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Nancy Spina	LGBTQIA+ Homelessness, Embodiment, and School Disengagement in Cape Breton
Carolina Bergonzoni	Dancing Voices: An Audio Described Show
Distinguished RISE: Science
Shine Xu Zhang	Integrated Water Quality Data Portal for Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia
Ted Matheson	Photogrammetry and Time-Series Analysis in Geologic Investigation in Cape Breton: Building a CBU Virtual Outcrop Model Tool Kit
Distinguished RISE: Social Determinants of Health
Abidemi Fasanmi	Pathways to Practice: Facilitating the Integration of Internationally Trained Physicians in Nova Scotia
Kelsey Harvey	Health-Related Messaging in Music Manufactured for Seniors’ Fitness