Artificial intelligence research supports energy industry

Posted: January 2, 2014 9:01 a.m.

Christine Chan, a Canada Research Chair who applies artificial intelligence technology in energy and environmental systems, enjoys travelling. One of the places she has visited is the Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre near Edmonton. Photo courtesy of Christine Chan

Dr. Christine Chan is looking into how to develop and apply artificial intelligence technology in energy and environmental systems.

Chan is a professor in Software Systems Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Energy and Environmental Informatics at the University of Regina.

A recent project focused on providing more accurate predictions of electricity load in Saskatchewan.

“The approach we adopted was different from that used currently in the industry, and we believe this can better support planning in operations of the utility,” explains Chan.

“To have the research work I conducted in the past 20 plus years recognized as a Canada Research Chair means a lot to me. I have been fortunate to work on many extremely interesting and challenging research issues, and to have benefitted from the help and support of my colleagues, graduate students, and other researchers,” says Chan.

Chan grew up in what she describes as a traditional Chinese family.

“There was great emphasis on education of the younger generation, so much of my growing up involved studying and getting good marks. In present day terms, I grew up a nerd.”

She earned degrees at Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University before joining the University of Regina in 1993 as an assistant professor of the Department of Computer Science. In 2000, she became a professor in the Department of Computer Science, and in 2003 she became a professor in the Software Engineering Program.

“This is a good place to conduct research, because a smaller institution means we know each other and it’s easier to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines. This is important because my area of research on energy and environmental informatics is by its nature interdisciplinary among the areas of energy, the environment, and information technology,” she says.

For relaxation, Chan enjoys ballroom dancing. She also enjoys traveling throughout Western Canada.

“I find Banff to be a most interesting travel destination because it is not far, and it has beautiful scenery.

The other Canada Research Chairs at the University of Regina are Shadia Drury, Gordon Huang, Peter Leavitt, Gregory Marchildon, Charity Marsh, Joseph Piwowar, Christopher Somers, Chris Yost and Sandra Zilles.