Learn, Imagine, Build
Geoff Messier's Projects & Ideas
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
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 Trellis Youth & Family Services.
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:
More detail on my research program can be found here:
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.
On my YouTube Channel, you can view my lectures on:
You can also view a list of the classes I’ve taught in the past here.
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.