From pinpointing Fredericton’s longitude by telegraph in 1855 to advancing today’s technology-driven systems, UNB’s electrical and computer engineering story is one of constant reinvention. As the department celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, it marks a century of education, innovation and leadership.

Alumni have played a foundational role in shaping the department, through contributions to power and communications networks, advances in computing and innovations in biomedical engineering. Their achievements in technology, entrepreneurship and research have strengthened the department’s reputation and created opportunities for students and
future generations of engineers.

Today, electrical and computer engineering education at UNB is strengthened by hands-on learning and research with real-world impact. Students work alongside faculty on subjects ranging from smart-grid systems and renewable energy to biomedical engineering, automation and artificial intelligence. Partnerships with industry and government ensure graduates are well prepared to address complex challenges as the next century of engineering innovation begins.

Students now have access to state- of-the-art design and simulation tools, thanks to an industry-grade software grant from Siemens.

Building on UNB’s long-standing collaboration with Siemens, the grant provides students with access to the company’s Global Academic and Future Workforce program, an initiative that equips graduates with the skills they need to enter the workforce as day-one-ready engineers.

With this grant, students and researchers have access to the same advanced tools that companies around the world depend on every day to shape the future of industrial AI and develop products in a wide variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, machinery, shipbuilding, high-tech electronics, and many more.

Using digital twin technology, learners work hands on with industry-grade engineering and manufacturing tools, gain knowledge of agentic AI systems and learn how intelligent software agents are able to assist in the planning, adapting and execution of complex tasks. These systems can autonomously manage complex workflows and collaborate with human experts in real-time to help drive exploration within the engineering domain and accelerate innovation.

A salmon conservation initiative, led by Indigenous partners, Parks Canada, UNB and an extensive network of academic, government and community partners, was named one of the UN World Restoration Flagship Initiatives.

The project, Respectful Returns: Restoring Resilience to Salmon Ecosystems, was selected for its leadership in Indigenous-led, science-based conservation and its transformative impact. This designation places the project among the world’s most exemplary efforts to restore ecosystems at scale under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

UNB’s contribution includes research led by Dr. Kurt Samways (PhD’17), Parks Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Restoration, along with his students. They work to restore degraded watersheds, improve spawning habitats and test innovative aquaculture techniques through collaborative stewardship. Results include increased salmon returns, restored watersheds, new
jobs and support for additional salmon recovery research projects.

White spruce (Picea glauca), a key species in New Brunswick’s forestry sector, has shown resilience to recent droughts, according to new research. However, findings suggest that climate change may already be reshaping forest dynamics. Katherine Tripp (MScF’26) spent the past two years studying how these trees respond to drought. Her findings revealed a 25 per cent drop in growth during the recent 2017-2021 drought years, with 2019 marking the lowest growth increase since 1968. Larger trees were hit hardest.

Her study was based in the Black Brook district near St. Leonard, N.B., where she sampled white spruce trees across 32 planted sites. Using the science of tree rings (dendrochronology), she measured annual growth and compared it with drought severity. Contrary to expectations, competition and site factors, such as slope, soil texture and water table depth, did not significantly affect drought response.

She attributed this to the nature of planted areas, where trees are intentionally planted on optimal sites and often thinned to reduce density. The study’s results offer cautious optimism for forest managers. While growth declined during droughts, mortality rates remained
low, suggesting that current thinning practices may help trees withstand dry conditions. Her findings have implications for forestry operations.

Larger trees, which are typically harvested for lumber, may need to be cut earlier to avoid drought-related losses. She noted that this could influence harvest rotation strategies, especially as climate models predict more frequent and severe droughts in Atlantic Canada. Her research also highlighted the importance of studying natural stands, which were not included in this study. Her work adds to a growing body of research aimed at helping the forestry industry adapt to climate change.

The first cohort of students completed a new 12-week program developed to help Indigenous people in New Brunswick move from foundational IT training into in-demand cybersecurity careers.

Hosted at Thales’ National Digital Education Excellence Centre (NDEC) in Fredericton’s Cyber Centre, the program offers immersive, hands-on experience in a real-world innovation setting. The first cohort ran from September to November 2025, giving participants the opportunity to apply the foundations they’ve gained through the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI)’s IT training program as they develop, test and refine cybersecurity tools. Participants collaborated with Thales professionals and benefited from the mentorship of JEDI’s experienced instructors.

The program, co-designed by the McKenna Institute, Thales and JEDI, reflects current industry needs and provides experiential opportunities at Thales. By focusing on practical skills and real-world projects, the program aims to help students transition directly into the workforce upon completion.

From a spark of inspiration to a spinning wheel of connections, computer science student Owen Yesuf's app Buddy Sync is helping students find study partners faster and easier than ever.

In early 2025, Owen attended an entrepreneurship conference that
spun out a big idea. Less than a year later, that idea is a study app quickly growing in popularity. With over 10,000 active users from around the world, Buddy Sync connects subscribers with a study partner with similar goals.

The app, which Owen co-founded with computer programmer Chibuzor Ezeji, is designed to connect students who want to learn together.

Like many great ideas, Owen’s was born from his own desire for human connection. Buddy Sync users are connected through the app’s spinning wheel, a feature Owen is particularly proud of. Users create a profile where they input their location, area of study and study preference. After spinning the “study buddy wheel,” users are matched with subscribers in similar programs with similar study preferences.

UNB’s McKenna Institute, in collaboration with ContactNB and a network of provincial and federal partners, launched a new initiative to accelerate AI adoption and workforce readiness across New Brunswick’s contact centre sector.

The AI Adoption in Contact Centres project equips organizations and employees with the skills, tools and applied learning experiences needed to integrate AI responsibly into daily operations. The goal of the project is to enhance efficiency, improve customer service and create new opportunities for employees to grow and lead within a changing digital landscape. Through the project, the McKenna Institute and ContactNB deliver AI training and upskilling programs to build capacity among contact centre leaders and employees. These programs are designed to complement human expertise by helping workers understand how AI can support decision-making, customer care and innovation.

The McKenna Institute is coordinating the project in partnership with New Brunswick-based NorthBound Advisory, ensuring alignment with the institute’s mission to drive digital transformation and talent development throughout the province.

The project, launched in September 2025 and continuing through September 2026, aims to increase AI awareness and adoption among ContactNB member organizations and enhance digital literacy and leadership readiness to maintain a resilient workforce in New Brunswick’s contact centre industry.

For Jean Camino (MBA’25), the launch of UNB’s MBA in supply chain management was perfectly timed, opening doors in Canada’s fast-growing logistics sector. Last October, he became the program’s first graduate. An industrial engineer with experience in Peru’s mining sector, Jean had planned to pursue an MBA in an English-speaking country. After graduating, he received two job offers and now leads efforts to centralize supply chain operations at a growing vineyard in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley.