Welcome to our ‘Member in the Spotlight’ series, where we showcase the research focuses and work of our members. We hope these profiles support you in getting to know our members and to identify themes in your work and focuses where you may be able to collaborate with colleagues at member institutions.

Introducing…Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Who are Southern Alberta Institute of Technology?

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), based in Calgary, Alberta, is the first publicly funded technical institute in Canada (1916), and the second oldest post-secondary institution in the city. It is also the third largest institution in the province of Alberta.

As a global leader in applied education, SAIT embeds digital and leadership literacy, continuous and flexible learning and industry experiences and connections in its teachings. SAIT supports over 20,000 domestic students and apprentices attending full-time credit programs, as well as, 6,700 international credit and non-credit students. Of the 270,000 SAIT Alumni, 93 countries are represented.

SAIT has many local and international partnerships around the world including with 24 Canadian institutions and 17 international universities and through 16 international collaborations.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Campus

What are their research focuses?

Through applied research excellence SAIT transforms challenges into solutions. SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services hosts four research centres and independent scientists working on sustainable solutions and innovations (Clean Energy, Green Building, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Unmanned Drone Systems) SAIT’s strong collaborative approach includes government, industry, communities and civil society fostering interdisciplinary and collective action toward the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Leveraging expertise from various fields to develop holistic solutions. SAIT looks at sustainability through the lens of the curiosity: of their experts and students, institutional faculty and use their advanced labs to empower terrific teams to tackle big problems.

The four research focus areas of SAIT’s applied research area include:

SAIT researchers in CIRAMM have undertaken a project to develop a new device which can bring real-time measurement to the onshore oil market. This device is smaller, cleaner and more efficient, and prevents the need to separate out oil, gas and water in pipes to measure their ratios. With this device, there is capacity to monitor in real-time, increase safety, reduce downtime, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

A project within CIRUS looks at using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS, also known as drones) to be used in industries where human access is difficult or unsafe to improve safety and expand data collection. Examples of use includes delivering medical supplies to remote access communities and in infrastructure inspections.

CERCUTS is developing alternative energy storage solutions with Frog Lake First Nations, in the form of vanadium redox flow batteries while GBTAC researchers focus their projects on net-zero energy, building integrated renewable energy, architectural ecology, smart building management and materials and advanced component assembly. They use their living labs to collaborate with SAIT partners to formulate innovative sustainable solutions to industry and communities.

SAIT and the WTUN

Dr David Ross, President and CEO, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

General Board Member: Dr David Ross, President and CEO

Operational Board Member: Mark Butler, Vice President of Corporate Development, Applied Research and International

If you want to learn more about SAIT, you can view their Member Profile or read some recent stories we have shared in our news roundups about their work:

SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) is joining NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) network to provide expertise in materials science, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation.
SAIT’s Director of Indigenous Engagement, Jennifer Russell (Sik’see na ki) reflects on the safety for Indigenous Women and the power of Indigenous women in Canda for International Women’s Day 2024.
Looking at Responsible AI, Expert in Residence, Dr. Bill Rankin discusses the human side and safeguarding equity within Artificial Intelligence.
SAIT launches a post-diploma certificate program in Responsible Practices in Artificial Intelligence, focussing on tools such as ChatGPT and CoPilot and their implications.