I’m a Professor in Electrical and Software Engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary, Canada. This site describes my research and teaching at the university as well some side projects that I’m doing for fun :) You can check out a bit more on my background here.

University Contact Information:
2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2N 1N4
Phone: +1-403-210-8976
Email: gmessier@ucalgary.ca
Office: Room 308, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Building

Research

My research involves using data science to improve the services provided to people experiencing homelessness, mental health disorders and addiction. This ranges from developing algorithms to help spot folks who need help to creating data tools for staff working in agencies and clinics offering help.

We work in cross-disciplinary teams that include researchers and clinicians from psychiatry, medicine and social work. We are also proud to collaborate with some of the amazing community agencies that provide support to this very important group. These agencies include The Calgary Drop-In Centre, the Calgary Homeless Foundation and the Trellis Society.

Data science and machine learning can be used in a variety of ways and it is important to emphasize that we are not developing algorithms that automate support and/or treatment decisions. Instead, our goal is to develop tools that provide information to support the human staff doing front line work with individuals who need help.

The following presentations provide a good overview of my research program:

• Using AI to Improve Homelessness Services
• Spreadsheets vs AI: When Good Enough is Good Enough
• How to Link Agency Client Records and Protect Privacy
• The High Bar for Interpretable Machine Learning in Housing, Homelessness and Health
• Visualizing Journeys Through the Housing and Homelessness System of Care
• User Experience (UX) Design of Data Tools for Shelter Staff

More detail on my research program can be found here:

• Learning How to Help People
• Publications
• Data Science Resources
• Information for Prospective Graduate Students
• Information for Current Graduate Students

A Note about Language

Language matters and it’s important to use terms that do not further disadvantage the people we’re trying to help. In particular, the use of the term “vulnerable people” can suggest that vulnerability is a property of that group rather than a set of external circumstances they are experiencing, many beyond their control. An excellent discussion of this issue that can be found here.

I am committed to not perpetuating harm with the language I choose. However, this has been a journey for me and some of the language I use in older publications and presentations may fall short of current best practices.

Teaching

On my YouTube Channel, you can view my lectures on:

• Computer Architecture (2nd year undergraduate course)
• Computer Networks (4th year undergraduate course)
• Electronics (2nd year undergraduate course)
• Probability and Stochastic Processes (graduate course)
• Wireless Communications (graduate course)
• Digital Communications (graduate course)

You can also view a list of the classes I’ve taught in the past here.

Hobbies and Diversions

It’s defintely fair to say that I got into electrical engineering mainly because it would help me have more fun with my hobby projects! You can find assorted information about the various projects I’m enjoing on my GitHub wiki. Much of this is frog themed due to a long time love of Kermit and the role of frogs in our ecosystems.