Applied Research
Connecting research, industry, and community to transform ideas into real-world solutions.
At Ƶ, our applied research agenda is driven by passionate employees committed to solving real-world challenges. By collaborating with business, industry leaders, and community partners, we aim to develop innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact.
These initiatives do more than address pressing issues—they enrich the educational experience for students, providing them with valuable hands-on learning opportunities, but also enhance the teaching practices of our faculty. Join us as we push boundaries, inspire discovery, and create lasting change together!
BC Beverage Technology Access Centre
The BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BTAC) drives beverage innovation through research, training, and sustainability-focused solutions.
What's Going on in Applied Research
Turning beverage by-products into resources
Dr. Kathryn Bockhold leads Ƶ research in examining solutions to re-purpose beverage industry by-products in British Columbia. The project explores transforming waste from wineries, breweries, and cideries into valuable resources for industrial use. This new applied research initiative promotes sustainability and circular economy practices.
“British Columbia has a successful fermented beverage industry, and these businesses produce a large volume of by-products. Solutions are needed to improve sustainability and create new value for an industry facing growing pressures from climate change,” said Kerry Rempel, Director of Applied Research at Ƶ.
Interested in participating or learning more?
Contact Dr. Kathryn Bockhold at kbockhold@okanagan.bc.ca
Visit to explore more applied research initiatives.
Destination with purpose: Trends in tourism management
Students in TOUR 225: Emerging Trends in Destination Management, taught by Tania Rutt, conducted a study about Kelowna’s “shoulder season” - the season between peak and off-peak travel seasons.
Partnering with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and the Applied Research Department at Ƶ, and funded by NSERC, the industry-student collaboration highlighted valuable insights.
Students were involved in:
- Field research at key tourist locations.
- Data collection via surveys and PhotoVoice
- And analysis of themes such as outdoor activities and transportation.
ARTP: Innovating for a cleaner, more profitable beverage industry
The ARTP Project enhances the profitability and sustainability of local fermented beverage companies by helping them adopt environmentally-driven solutions across their operations.
Research focus areas:
Water and wastewater
- Researchers are exploring opportunities to reuse water within the production cycle
- Focus on improving wastewater treatment and management
These strategies help businesses conserve resources and reduce costs.
Reduction and up-cycling
- Addresses ways to minimize raw material inputs
- Transforming by-products into valuable secondary products.
The goal is to minimize waste and generate new revenue streams for producers.
KINdling resilience: Healing communities through indigenous wisdom
The KINdling Project encourages people across modern Canada to engage in meaningful change within their families, organizations, and communities.
Rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices, the project explores how Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups can work together to address the complex issues of decolonization, resistance, resurgence, and healing.
Through a guided training program, participants will:
- Recognize and transform harmful systemic patterns
- Explore their own identities
- Build new skills for leadership and social change
- Connect with supports committed to truth and reconciliation
This training will allow participants to lead with understanding, accountability, and care.
Rebuilding after brain injury: The BrainTrust Project
Dr. Colin Wallace leads research investigating how students transition back to the classroom after a traumatic head injury.
Partnering with BrainTrust Canada, and funded by an NSERC Mobilize Grant, the project is developing a Return-to-Learn program.
Return-to-Learn aims to:
- Provide personalized accommodation.
- Ensure students can return to their studies while healing.
- And bridge the gap between return-to-sport strategies and academic recovery.
Connect with us
Questions about Applied Research at Ƶ?
Current Opportunities & Upcoming Events
Funding Opportunities
NSERC Mobilize Program
The Office of Applied Research is partially supported by grant funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) under the Mobilize program. In mid-September the office will launch a suite of internal funding opportunities to support OC researchers and students, including support for research assistants, seed funding for new applied research projects, and support for course releases for externally funded applied research. These funding opportunities will be open to all OC faculty and staff. Please see event listings for the next information session.
To date the office has supported a number of internal OC research projects with Mobilize funding. No new applications for Mobilize funding will be accepted until the program is revised in mid-September, and the new suite of internal funding opportunities will not affect projects that are already funded, or applications that are currently under review by the Applied Research office. Instructions for how to access Mobilize funding will be distributed broadly and posted publicly on the Applied Research website.
All questions about Mobilize can be directed to the Director of Applied Research, Mary Butterfield (mbutterfield@okanagan.bc.ca) or to the Applied Research general email ocappliedresearch@okanagan.bc.ca.
OC Funding for Student Research Assistants
More information about the next intake of applications will be provided soon. We will also be announcing an information session for late September.
Upcoming Events
September 3, 2025 at 12:00pm to 12:30pm on Teams:
Information session on the new suite of internal funding opportunities utilizing OC Applied Research's NSERC Mobilize program grant money. These opportunities are meant to support OC researchers and students, including support for research assistants, seed funding for new applied research projects, and support for course releases for externally funded applied research.
September 11, 2025 at 10:00am to 11:00am on Teams:
We are also pleased to welcome the WorkSafeBC Research Services team for an online presentation about their Research Grants Program. This session is open to all OC students and staff. Learn about upcoming funding opportunities, examples of successful projects, and how you can apply.
September 17, 2025 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm on Teams:
OC Applied Research is hosting an online webinar to provide an overview of the NSERC Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grant. All OC faculty and staff are welcome to attend.
To receive the Teams link for any of the above sessions, please email OCAppliedResearch@okanagan.bc.ca.
Thank you to our Funders and Industry Partners
Research Data Management Strategy
Ƶ is committed to ensuring best standards when it comes to the collection and storage of data.
News
The Applied Research Team
Kerry Rempel
Kelsey Iceton
Samantha Sandhu
Kaylah Vrabic
Dr. David Acosta Rosero
I came back to the Okanagan Valley after many years of studies. I graduated from Universitat de Valencia, and I now hold a Doctorate Degree in Social Economy. I research the Welfare State, the relationship between Law and Economics, and socioeconomic factors that impact wealth distribution. I have experience teaching in Canada and abroad. Also, I have over 10 years of business experience managing teams in the hospitality industry, and I contribute to an Ecuadorian foundation doing social research. I am happy to be part of the Department of Economics at Ƶ, and I am excited to keep exploring this incredible outdoor playground that is the Okanagan Valley.
Dr. Emma Lind
I have been teaching Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Ƶ since 2018. I am interested in feminist education as a tool of social and cultural change. My research explores the connections between power, knowledge production, bodies, space, and identity. I am currently working on three simultaneous projects: an edited collection on queer fat femme identity, research into digital storytelling as a critical research method in fat studies, and my dissertation research on settler colonial urban space.
Credentials:
PhD, Cultural Mediations, Carleton University
MA, Women's and Gender Studies, York University
BA, Women's Studies, University of Toronto
Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.
– Zora Neale Hurston