This year, for the 11th Journée de la recherche at Polytechnique Montréal, a day entirely devoted to research, participants heard enlightened opinions on various topics of concern. The main subjects discussed were:

• The Fukushima catastrophe
• The earthquake in Haiti
• Smart meters and their effects on health
• Lead content in water, toys and costume jewelry
• The medical isotopes crisis

Prestigious speakers looked at these events and issues and shared the results of the research work they are carrying out in related fields.

To kick off the day, Professor Eric Mazur, Area Dean of Applied Physics at Harvard University, gave a presentation on the training of innovators in the 21st century. On May 25, Professor Mazur received an honorary doctorate from Université de Montréal on Polytechnique's recommendation.

The day was extremely interesting, and closed with an awards ceremony for the winners of the science poster contest and a tribute to professors who had received awards throughout the year.

Winners of the science poster contest

First prize ($350 scholarship)
Doctoral student category: Hamed Bashiri
For his poster titled Developing a New Scale-up Approach for Gas/Liquid Stirred Tank Reactors, under the supervision of professors Jamal Chaouki and François Bertrand.

Second prize ($300 scholarship) 
Doctoral student category: Rohan Bianco
For his poster titled Analyse biomécanique de vis pédiculaires et techniques d'insertions dans des cas de chargement non axiaux, under the supervision of Professor Carl-Éric Aubin.

First prize ($350 scholarship) Master's student category: Nikita Cobetto (absent from the awards ceremony). For her poster titled Conception d'un corset orthopédique confortable et efficace pour le traitement de la scoliose idiopathique, under the supervision of Professor Carl-Éric Aubin.

Second prize ($300 scholarship) 
Master's student category: Émilie Charrette
For her poster titled Étude des défauts de surface dans les panneaux intérieurs des avions d'affaires de Bombardier Aéronautique, under the supervision of Professor Edu Ruiz.

Congratulations to all the winners, and see you next year!