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Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Deployed to the Sidelines: Analyzing Opportunities for Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacekeeping
(2026-04-10) Fletcher, Cora; Not Applicable; Master of Arts; Department of Political Science; Not Applicable; N/A; Not Applicable; Dr. Heather Tasker; Dr. Marion Laurence; Dr. David Black
Increasing women’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) has been a central focus of the WPS Agenda for over two decades. Despite some progress, women still make up less than 10% of troops deployed to UN missions and face significant barriers (Alchin et al., 2018; UN Peacekeeping, 2025). As such, there has been heightened emphasis on the importance of increasing women's meaningful participation in UNPKOs, but what this means in practice is unclear. Thus, my research explores how women’s meaningful participation in UNPKOs can be measured. Utilizing critical feminist analysis, this research advances meaningful participation as an operationalizable concept and advances a novel method for measuring it in peace operations: The Meaningful Participation Measurement (MPM) Framework. Using the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission as a case study to test the utility of the MPM Framework, the results revealed novel insights into opportunities and barriers to women’s meaningful participation in the mission.
Access status: Open Access ,
Re-Rooting: Architecture to Restore Human-Nature Connections
(2026-04-13) Ernst, Benjamin; Not Applicable; Master of Architecture; School of Architecture; Not Applicable; David Correa; Not Applicable; Catherine Venart; Ted Cavanagh
Forests at the edges of many communities have historically been shaped by extractive relationships between human settlement and natural systems. In Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, E.D. Davison lumber company drove forest interactions. The legacy of the company reveals the need for new relationships between people and forested environments. This thesis argues that architecture can play an active role in restoring these relationships by mediating between forest ecologies, material practices, and public engagement. Drawing on historical research, forest ecology, and case studies of demonstration forests, the project proposes a network of architectural interventions within the regenerating woodland where the mill once stood. Programs including rest areas, a community workshop, seasoning shelters, and a sawmill introduce visitors to the life-cycle of wood construction. Using locally harvested wood and low-waste construction methods, the project positions architecture as a tool for ecological education, material awareness, and the long-term stewardship of forest landscapes.
Access status: Open Access ,
Underwater acoustic measurements in northern sea ice covered coastal regions
(2026-04-13) Cook, Emmanuelle; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Oceanography; Not Applicable; Philippe Blondel; Yes; Eric Oliver; Clark Richards; Megan Bailey; David Barclay
Sea ice cover regulates the interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean in polar regions which in turn affects the underwater soundscape. As sea ice cover declines with the changing climate, the sound it generates, and its impact on sound propagation in the water column will be modified. The decline in sea ice cover will also affect how humans contribute to the soundscape by changing how we travel and access the ocean, whether on the sea ice or by water. This project uses passive acoustic sensors to understand how sea ice affects underwater ambient noise in two northern coastal regions. Data from a real-time acoustic observatory were used to evaluate the seasonal cycle and frequency trends in ambient noise in the Northwest Passage. Cross-correlation and linear regression were used to assess the strength and nature of the inferred relationships between forcing mechanisms and noise levels. The analysis considers the interactions and contributions of wind, ocean currents and ice. A vertical array of hydrophones deployed from sea ice recorded the underwater sound of a snowmobile travelling on sea ice in Nunatsiavut. This project determined that the ice-coupled sources of the snowmobile generate the majority of its underwater sound. An underwater source level was calculated to determine the contribution from snowmobile noise to the underwater soundscape in Postville and Hopedale, NL. A seasonal ice observatory was established in Postville during the 2024 landfast ice season. The observatory measured various atmospheric, ice, and ocean properties using ice-deployed measurement systems such as wind speed, atmospheric temperature, bottom pressure, snow depth, and underwater sound levels. This project combines environmental data measured at the observatory with hydrophone measurements to understand the contribution of ice cracking and saltation to significant acoustic events detected in the ambient sound field. Contributions from saltation noise dominate the beginning of the landfast ice season. Then, thermal ice cracking and motion-based cracking with the influence of the tides dominate acoustic events in the middle of the winter. Finally, high frequency cracking sounds are associated with ice melting at the end of the landfast ice season.
Access status: Open Access ,
Movement ecology of Critically Endangered Atlantic whitefish (Coregonus huntsmani) and invasive predators in Nova Scotia
(2026-04-08) Sergio, Ava; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Department of Biology; Received; n/a; Not Applicable; Dr. Paul Bentzen; Dr. Kim Whoriskey; Jeremy Broome; Dr. Robert Lennox
The wild Critically Endangered Atlantic whitefish (Coregonus huntsmani) population persists in just one watershed on Earth, the Petite Rivière in Nova Scotia, Canada. The species' rarity has resulted in limited knowledge regarding the habitat use of Atlantic whitefish. The primary threats to Atlantic whitefish are predation by and competition for resources with invasive chain pickerel (Esox niger) and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu). To inform the effective implementation of the Atlantic whitefish recovery strategy, this thesis evaluates the movement ecology of hatchery-reared Atlantic whitefish alongside that of co-occurring invasive predators in one of the three lakes native to Atlantic whitefish. Using acoustic telemetry, Chapter 2 assessed the general and fine-scale habitat use of Atlantic whitefish in Milipsigate Lake, Petite Rivière watershed. Atlantic whitefish did not exhibit seasonally distinct changes in habitat use and were broadly spatially distributed across the lake. Highest predicted counts of individuals occurred in the lake centre and western shorelines, and the fish exhibited a positive relative selection strength for areas of the lake with intermediate bathymetries. Chapter 3 compared the seasonal changes in space and depth use of chain pickerel and smallmouth bass in the same lake using acoustic telemetry. Pronounced seasonal differences in space and depth use occurred for both species that were largely non-overlapping. The contrasting habitat use of the two co-occurring invasive predators indicated that their combined spatial coverage of the lake is extensive. Overall, these findings demonstrate the current disconnect between hatchery production and ecological acclimatization of Atlantic whitefish post-release, while also identifying opportunities to refine rearing strategies. These findings also highlight the likelihood of spatial overlap between both invasive species and Atlantic whitefish, and the potential negative ecological implications for Atlantic whitefish and the native food web in the Petite Rivière watershed. Knowledge gained from this thesis demonstrates the versatility and utility of fine-scale positioning and spatial modelling for generating critical knowledge for rare aquatic species and improving invasive species management. Collectively, these findings provide an evidence-based foundation for recovery actions and targeted invasive species management to prevent the wild extinction of one of Canada’s most endangered fishes.
Access status: Open Access ,
Understanding and Controlling Electrolyte Motion induced Salt Inhomogeneity in Cylindrical Lithium-ion Batteries
(2026-04-10) Donais, Misha; Yes; Master of Science; Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science; Not Applicable; n/a; Yes; Dr. Ian Hill; Dr. Penghao Xiao; Dr. Jeff Dahn; Dr. Michael Metzger
Electrolyte motion induced salt inhomogeneity (EMSI) is a failure mechanism that can occur in lithium-ion batteries. This mechanism can occur when volume changes in the electrodes induce movement of liquid electrolyte, leading to a re-distribution of the conducting lithium salt inside of the cell. This leads to increases in cell resistance, rapid capacity loss, and potentially lithium plating and cell failure. This thesis investigates the effects of cell design parameters such as anode chemistry and electrolyte fill volume on the EMSI effect. This is done using CT imaging and operando rotational inertia measurements to track electrolyte motion, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to quantify the generation and relaxation of salt gradients. EMSI is seen to be more severe in cells containing silicon, due to this material’s large volume change upon cycling. Electrolyte underfilling is presented as a strategy to avoid EMSI, though this has consequences for the cell’s long-term cycle life.
Access status: Embargo ,
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DISPERSOID-STRENGTHENED ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR LASER POWDER BED FUSION ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
(2026-04-13) Hierlihy, Jonathan; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Not Applicable; Dr. Michael Benoit; Yes; Dr. Daniel Boyd; Ian Donaldson; Dr. Paul Bishop
The scope of aluminum alloys available for laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is limited as conventional chemistries are prone to processability issues and solidification cracking. In recent times, researchers and stakeholders have worked to address this shortfall by developing aluminum alloys tailored specifically to the process. In keeping with this, the objective of this work was to develop a novel dispersoid strengthened aluminum alloy with enhanced thermal stability and adequate resistance to solidification cracking as required for L-PBF processing. Here, the Al–Zr–Y system was identified as a promising domain and specific formulations from it were subjected to a comprehensive investigation emphasizing solidification behavior, L-PBF processing, post-build aging, and mechanical performance. To expediently evaluate the effects of rapid solidification on this system, cast Al-Zr-Y plates with varying Zr and Y contents (0-2 wt.%) were subjected to laser remelting (LRM) and microstructural characterization. Zr-containing chemistries developed a high density of metastable L12–Al3Zr dispersoids, which promoted to the formation of equiaxed α-Al grains near the melt pool boundaries. Yttrium additions manifested as a Y-rich phases in the grain boundaries. Ultimately, the Al–2Zr–1Y chemistry (wt.%) was selected for L-PBF processing as it exhibited the highest dispersoid density and contained no metallurgical defects. Al–2Zr–1Y was found to be highly amenable to L-PBF and could be processed to near full-density (≥ 99.5%). Density correlated with laser power and scan speed. Notably, the as-built microstructure was highly similar to those seen in LRM. Al–2Zr–1Y exhibited a strong response to direct aging with peak hardness (~125 HV0.3) achieved when holding at 350 ˚C for 50 hours or 400 ˚C for 5 hours. Rapid overaging transpired at 450 ˚C in times as short as 1 hour. Hardness trends aligned with microstructural transformations, including precipitation of nanoscale precipitates in the α-Al matrix, the formation of precipitate free zones (PFZs), and growth of grain boundary particles. Despite this, minimal grain growth was apparent. Ultimately, Al–2Zr–1Y demonstrated tensile properties that were significantly superior to the most prevalent alloy utilized in commercial L-PBF operations (AlSi10Mg) as well as an exceptional resistance to thermal softening.