Summer Newsletter

Exceptional Undergraduate Learning

SUMMER 2025

Department Spotlight Of Fields and Feelings

A groundbreaking interdisciplinary initiative tackles two of today’s most pressing challenges: sustainable agriculture and mental health pearheaded by Dr. Samuel Mugo, department of Physical Sciences, and Dr. Mohammed Elmorsy, Department of Computer Science, a cross-disciplinary, collaborative venture is developing two cutting-edge sensor technologies — Agrilo and Zenro — that could soon transform farming and healthcare practices in Canada and around the world. Smart Farming, Simplified The first product, Agrilo, is designed to make soil analysis more accessible and cost-effective for farmers. Traditionally, assessing soil nutrition involves lab testing, which can be expensive and time-consuming. In fact, according to the team, only 20–30% of farmers currently rely on lab-based data for fertilization, with the rest using educated guesswork that can lead to over-fertilization and environmental harm. Agrilo changes this. “It’s a colorimetric sensor—a farmer collects a soil or water sample, places it on a chemically-treated strip, and uses their phone’s camera and our app to read the results,” Elmorsy explains. “AI then analyzes the image, maps the nutrition levels, and offers fertilization recommendations. It’s that simple, and all for $5 to $15.” Currently in the validation phase, Agrilo will be distributed to farmers in Alberta and other countries for testing this summer. “We’re aiming to complete validation and release it to the market this summer,” Elmorsy says. Real-Time Mental Health Monitoring The second innovation, Zenro, targets an entirely different but equally urgent issue: mental health monitoring. Using salivary biosensors, Zenro can detect biomarkers such as cortisol and adrenaline—key indicators of stress and anxiety—in real time. Zenro makes it possible to monitor mental health with a quick saliva test, all with a wearable or portable device. “This allows people to track their stress levels on a daily or even hourly basis,” Elmorsy says.

The revolutionary Zenro Sensor

“If levels are high, the app offers real-time recommendations based on medical literature, such as mindful walking, sleep regulation, or music therapy. In more serious cases, it recommends seeing a professional.” Zenro is now entering its own validation phase with the potential to enter the market by early fall. A Model of Student-Led Innovation What makes these projects even more impressive is their foundation in student work. With more than 20 students involved across computer science, physical sciences, design and marketing, the initiative serves as a living example of the power of experiential learning and cross-departmental cooperation. Students participate through a mix of capstone projects, volunteer efforts, and paid research roles funded through grants from MacEwan’s Office of Research Services, Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship and NSERC-DG. “The ORS office has been incredible in helping us get the funding we need to hire and support our students,” Elmorsy says. Looking Ahead In many ways, these projects represent more than just technological innovation — they showcase the impact of collaborative, student-powered research. “We’re incredibly proud that this was all created at MacEwan,” Elmorsy says. “This is what happens when you empower students and departments to work together.”