The Royal Canadian Institute (RCI) for the Advancement of Science is the oldest scientific society in Canada. Founded by a small group of civil engineers, architects and surveyors led by Sir Sandford Fleming, the RCI presents world-class scientists who volunteer their time to explain, in terms accessible to the public, the complex scientific work they are pursuing.

 

The RCI’s annual series of free, public lectures attracts a diverse audience – high school students, the business community, professional scientists, the general public. From nanoscale bioengineering to new knowledge about the earliest moments of our universe, the RCI provides a unique glimpse into the frontiers of scientific research.

The 2009 RCI Science Dinner of the Year will provide an occasion for Canada’s brightest scientists to discuss their current work with the RCI partners and members. In particular, Hossein Rahnama will present his most recent work on context-aware computing, a field of research referring to electronic environments that are sensitive to the presence of humans.

 

Hossein Rahnama leads a group of researchers in the Pervasive Computing Lab at Ryerson University who are analyzing and developing the next generation of ubiquitous and intelligent mobile software platforms.

 

" I believe that the future of daily computing will be mobile and more social" says Rahnama. "For example, classrooms, living rooms, airports and railway stations can all become intelligent environments, capable of providing the right information to the right users at the right time. My research focuses on settings where mobile devices are used to enhance interpersonal communications while conserving computing power and energy. I have the opportunity to work for market leaders such as Appear, in the course of European Union funded research project MUSIC, where I research and develop innovative software solutions for organizations like the Paris Metro Authority."