Applied Research
Connecting research, industry, and community to transform ideas into real-world solutions.
About Applied Research at OC
At Okanagan College, 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!
External Partner Intake Form
Do you have a challenge you're looking to solve?
Okanagan College Applied Research may be able to help. We carry out applied research projects and research and development projects on a cost recovery basis for organizations such as for-profit businesses, not-for-profits, government agencies, industry associations, and others. Due to our status as a post-secondary institution, we are eligible to apply for and administer a wide range of grants, contributions, and government contracts that can help partners to leverage their R&D funds into larger budget projects. Our team functions as a bridge between industry clients and the expertise of OC's dedicated researchers.
The first step to partnering with Okanagan College is to fill out the Partner Intake Form linked below. This assists us in obtaining the information needed to match your needs with OC expertise and available opportunities. If there is a potential match between our services and your needs, the next step may be an intake meeting between you, OC researchers, and the Applied Research office to determine pathways for the project.
For general or internal inquiries please contact OCAppliedResearch@okanagan.bc.ca.
Resources for OC Researchers
Internal Funding Opportunities
- NEW Suite of internal Mobilize Funding
- NEW Suite of internal GRF Funding
- Student Research Assistant Fund
- Grants-in-Aid (GIA)
- Extended Study Leave (ESL)
Other Resources
- OC's Research Ethics Board (REB)
- TCPS2: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (Tri-Council, 2022)
- Responsible Conduct of Research Framework (Tri-Agency, 2021)
- OC Policy: Integrity in Research and Scholarship
News and upcoming events
Okanagan College (OC) is celebrating a major research milestone with the announcement that Dr. Colin Wallace, who teaches in the Department of…
The BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BC BTAC) at Okanagan College, in partnership with the Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK) at RRC Polytech,…
Benedikt Braun’s deep roots in the wine industry have shaped his passion for the beverage sector leading to a lifetime of working with wine…
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 Okanagan College 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 Okanagan College.
Interested in participating or learning more?
Contact Dr. Kathryn Bockhold at kbockhold@okanagan.bc.ca
Visit okanagan.bc.ca/applied-research 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 Okanagan College, 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.
The Applied Research Team
Kelsey Iceton
Samantha Sandhu
Kaylah Vrabic
Dr. Emma Lind
I have been teaching Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Okanagan College 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