This post is in partnership with Technology Alberta and the ASTech Awards, celebrating the impact of 35 years of innovation in Alberta, tying our past to our present.
1991’s ASTech Winners show the breadth of innovation in Alberta, focused on laser technology, advancements in space science, and airborne monitoring. Here are the 1991 winners:
Dr. Leroy Cogger, the 1991 winner of Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science, played a crucial role in advancing the University of Calgary's Space Science  programs. His leadership in projects like Canada's ISIS-2 satellite significantly contributed to our understanding of auroral and ionospheric phenomena. The Space Science Group’s reputation was further enhanced with the development and successful operation of a novel Ultraviolet camera that was flown on the Swedish Viking satellite in 1986.
Dr. John Tulip's 1991 award for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology celebrates his groundbreaking contributions to Laser Technology Innovation. Beginning his journey at the University of Alberta's Department of Electrical Engineering in the late 1960s, he and Dr. H.J.J. Seguin established a renowned laser laboratory. Dr. Tulip's achievements include pioneering the use of U.V. prionization to reduce discharge inhomogeneities, and developing the slap CO2 and Nd-YAG lasers. To facilitate the transfer of his technology, Tulip helped found Boreal Laser Inc., now headquartered in Edmonton, known for its Enhanced Sensing Element, widely utilized for precise gas concentration measurements in industrial settings across 48 countries. Boreal Laser continues to expand and seeks new talent.
In 1991, ITRES Research received the Industrial Research award for its innovative casi instrument, revolutionizing environmental management. The casi instrument, vital for environmental monitoring, forestry, and resource management, was developed with the assistance of Darren Cosandier, who joined ITRES in 1991 under an NRC IRAP grant. By assimilating research outcomes from the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing in Ottawa, Cosandier produced software to geocode data from the casi instrument, enabling its transformation onto a map grid. ITRES continues their high tech research in commercial airborne remote sensing at their 8700 sq ft. Calgary Headquarters where they are actively hiring!
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