2023-2024
High School Big Data Challenge ™
Conferences
Project:
Leveraging Generative AI and Data Cybersecurity to Conserve and Foster Local Biodiversity
CANADA EAST CONFERENCE
Toronto, ON, February 16, 2024
Date
Location
Microsoft Canada Headquarters
Place
Winners
We are still gathering the photos :)
Utilizing Generative Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to Pinpoint High Squirrel Activity Areas for Improved Biodiversity Protection
William Zhao and Miriam Tay
Advancing Carbon Credit Accuracy: A Machine Learning Approach for Precise Carbon Sequestration Estimation
Eric Mao, Tom Zheng, Chengtai (Richard) Li, Ken Cheng, and Hudson Haas
From Pixels to Protection: Artificial Intelligence in Species Identification for Biodiversity Conservation
Joyi Xue, Sunni Xue, and Irene Chen
Artificial Intelligence in Conservation: Predictive Modeling of Biodiversity Responses to Land Use Changes
Tishya Bhat, Rex Li, Sam Liu, Anerie Patel, and Ryan Xiong
Leveraging Semantic Segmentation to Perform Wildfire Prediction
David Shan, Jacob Jansen, Mathis Luo, Robbie Muranaka, and Jeff Qiu
Analyzing Urban Heat Islands and their Impact on monarch Butterfly Population
Ibrahim Khawar, Ibrahim Ansari, Alia Wahban, and Amy Li
Finalists’ Research
Utilizing Generative Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to Pinpoint High Squirrel Activity Areas for Improved Biodiversity Protection
William Zhao and Miriam Tay
Advancing Carbon Credit Accuracy: A Machine Learning Approach for Precise Carbon Sequestration Estimation
Eric Mao, Tom Zheng, Chengtai (Richard) Li, Ken Cheng, and Hudson Haas
Assessing and Predicting the Impacts of Lithium Extraction from Brines on Flamingo Populations in Chile’s Atacama Desert
Oliver de Boer, Aiden Hua, James Li, and Jasman Cheema
From Pixels to Protection: Artificial Intelligence in Species Identification for Biodiversity Conservation
Joyi Xue, Sunni Xue, and Irene Chen
Artificial Intelligence in Conservation: Predictive Modeling of Biodiversity Responses to Land Use Changes
Tishya Bhat, Rex Li, Sam Liu, Anerie Patel, and Ryan Xiong
How News Media and Scholarly Articles Impact the Public Interest in Emerald Ash Borers
Ray Zhangxu, Peter Luo, Jimmy Li, and Ethan Kuan
Leveraging Semantic Segmentation to Perform Wildfire Prediction
David Shan, Jacob Jansen, Mathis Luo, Robbie Muranaka, and Jeff Qiu
Utilizing Spatial Analysis to Identify Correlations between Plant Species and Biological Variety to Determine Traits that Foster Biodiversity in Ecosystems
Kadhir Ponnambalam, Michael Xiao, Richard Han, Vincent Jia, Zachary Yu
Analyzing Urban Heat Islands and their Impact on monarch Butterfly Population
Ibrahim Khawar, Ibrahim Ansari, Alia Wahban, and Amy Li
Using BirdNET and AI to Build a Conservation Platform for At-Risk Bird Species
Ruby Gao, Emma Ma, Abby Wang, and Maggie Wang
A Multivariate Analysis on The Relationship Between Biodiversity and the Climate
Aromal Mihraj, Anshuman Shah, Jasmeet Saini, Rohith Iruku, and Thanosan Prathifkumar
Judges
Dave Carter
National Research, Council
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west
Vivek Saahil
Manager – Strategic Business Analysis, Planning & Support, Pratt & Whitney Canada
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west
Nick Butt
Senior Outreach Coordinator at Let’s Talk Science
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west
Joan Voasschaert
Data Science at AltaML
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west
Roland Kuhn
Principal Research Officer Digital Technologies
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east
Ryan Huron
Environmental & Social Risk Analytics, RBC
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east
Marta Wierzbicka Verby
Director Of Laboratory Operations at Deep Genomics
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east
Guests/Dignitaries
Edith Dumont
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
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east
Dr. Daniel Gruner
CTO, SciNet, UofT
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east
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt
CM, FRSC, Founding President, Let’s Talk Science
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east
Dr. Joel Levine
Chair, UofT, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
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east
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan
PC, MP
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east
Dr. Marsha Chechik
Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
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east
Jyoti Gondek
Mayor of the City of Calgary
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west
Dr. Joel Martin
NRC’s Chief Digital Research Officer and Chief Science Officer
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west
Dr. Ed McCauley
President, University of Calgary
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west
Rajan Sawhney
MLA Calgary-North West, Minister of Advanced Education of Alberta
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west
Court Ellingson
MLA Calgary Foothills, Critic for Technology & Innovation
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west
CANADA WEST CONFERENCE
Calgary, AB, February 10, 2024
Date
Location
University of Calgary
Place
Winners
No items found.
Optimizing Reforestation to Reduce the Effects of Climate Change by Fostering Biodiversity
Boyd Hamilton, Khadija Sheikh, Nicole Sun, and Talia Zhang
Impacts of Agricultural Activity on Fish Biodiversity in Freshwater Ecosystems
Robert Lin, Shotaro Richardson, Arya Shahabi, Jasleen Randhawa, and Abigail Conley
Enhancing Forest Fire Predictions with Sequential Models for Ecosystem Preservation and Public Safety
Eleanor Huang, Kyle Su, Anthony Hou, and Clement Zhou
AI’s Role in Identifying Sites of Landfill Through Deep Learning Models
Yixin (Sophie) Jiang, Daisy Xia, Yihan Wang, Vincent Zhengran Xiao, and Eric Tam
A Conditional Generative Adversarial Network to Simulate Species Coexistence Patterns
Audrey Li, Bella Jiao, Victoria Yan, and Wesley Deng
Finalists’ Research
Investigating the Correlation between Human Activity and Animal Biodiversity in Canada
Favour Atewologun and Oluchukwu Favour Iheanyichukwu
Effect of Climate Change on Coral Reefs
Akshaya Segu
Analyzing The Correlation Between Biodiversity Indexes, Carbon Emissions, and Government Investment Into Public Transport to Identify Feasible Pathways to Improving Biodiversity in the Future
Ashank Chaturvedi, Atharva Rao, Joel Zou, Owen Kuang, and Yunhe Zhang
Optimizing Reforestation to Reduce the Effects of Climate Change by Fostering Biodiversity
Boyd Hamilton, Khadija Sheikh, Nicole Sun, and Talia Zhang
Impacts of Agricultural Activity on Fish Biodiversity in Freshwater Ecosystems
Robert Lin, Shotaro Richardson, Arya Shahabi, Jasleen Randhawa, and Abigail Conley
Developing a Generative AI Model to Protect Biodiversity from Mining in Mainland United States of America
Ignacio Gimon, Ahyan Kabir, Pranav Pathak, and Aaron Tan
A Greener Tundra: The Impact of Climate Warming on Arctic Tundra Biodiversity
Jessica Bai
Enhancing Forest Fire Predictions with Sequential Models for Ecosystem Preservation and Public Safety
Eleanor Huang, Kyle Su, Anthony Hou, and Clement Zhou
AI’s Role in Identifying Sites of Landfill Through Deep Learning Models
Yixin (Sophie) Jiang, Daisy Xia, Yihan Wang, Vincent Zhengran Xiao, and Eric Tam
A Conditional Generative Adversarial Network to Simulate Species Coexistence Patterns
Audrey Li, Bella Jiao, Victoria Yan, and Wesley Deng
Judges
Dave Carter
National Research, Council
LinkedIn Icon
west
Vivek Saahil
Manager – Strategic Business Analysis, Planning & Support, Pratt & Whitney Canada
LinkedIn Icon
west
Nick Butt
Senior Outreach Coordinator at Let’s Talk Science
LinkedIn Icon
west
Joan Voasschaert
Data Science at AltaML
LinkedIn Icon
west
Roland Kuhn
Principal Research Officer Digital Technologies
LinkedIn Icon
east
Ryan Huron
Environmental & Social Risk Analytics, RBC
LinkedIn Icon
east
Marta Wierzbicka Verby
Director Of Laboratory Operations at Deep Genomics
LinkedIn Icon
east
Guests
Edith Dumont
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
LinkedIn Icon
east
Dr. Daniel Gruner
CTO, SciNet, UofT
LinkedIn Icon
east
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt
CM, FRSC, Founding President, Let’s Talk Science
LinkedIn Icon
east
Dr. Joel Levine
Chair, UofT, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
LinkedIn Icon
east
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan
PC, MP
LinkedIn Icon
east
Dr. Marsha Chechik
Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
LinkedIn Icon
east
Jyoti Gondek
Mayor of the City of Calgary
LinkedIn Icon
west
Dr. Joel Martin
NRC’s Chief Digital Research Officer and Chief Science Officer
LinkedIn Icon
west
Dr. Ed McCauley
President, University of Calgary
LinkedIn Icon
west
Rajan Sawhney
MLA Calgary-North West, Minister of Advanced Education of Alberta
LinkedIn Icon
west
Court Ellingson
MLA Calgary Foothills, Critic for Technology & Innovation
LinkedIn Icon
west
Photos
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Sponsors & Stakeholders
The 2026–2027 HSBDC sponsor and stakeholder network includes financial, educational, academic, and industry organizations generously supporting, contributing expertise, learning resources, conference venues and student awards.
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HSBDC STEM Fellowship owl with medal
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