蘑菇AV

When Eugene Kankam laces up his running shoes, he鈥檚 getting much more out of the experience than just a workout.

鈥淒uring my free time, I usually go for a long-distance run,鈥� he says. 鈥淩unning has taught me three key principles, consistency, hard work and focus. I apply those principles to everything I do.鈥�

Those same principles now shape his work as a renewable energy researcher at 蘑菇AV. A master鈥檚 student in mechanical engineering, Eugene says research is remarkably similar to running.

鈥淪ometimes when you wake up, you might not feel like doing research, but discipline is what keeps you going,鈥� he explains. 鈥淎nd when you don鈥檛 get the results you expect, you still have to stay consistent and keep moving forward.鈥�

Wind Energy Innovations
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And he applies that same mindset each day in the lab. His research focuses on offshore wind energy, a growing part of Canada鈥檚 clean energy future. He says offshore turbines can access stronger and more consistent winds than those on land, but in colder regions they face challenges.

鈥淚ce normally forms on the turbine blades, and this reduces the power output of the turbine,鈥� says Eugene. 鈥淪o for my project, I鈥檓 looking at ways to mitigate the ice that forms on wind turbine blades.鈥�

To address the problem, he is developing bio-inspired surface strategies to improve turbine performance. Drawing inspiration from nature, he studies how lotus leaves repel water and how the unique texture of shark skin reduces resistance.

鈥淚 call these bio-inspired strategies,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e use a coating inspired by the lotus leaf so that when water lands on a turbine blade, it simply rolls off instead of freezing and forming ice. We鈥檙e also inspired by shark skin, which has tiny surface structures that help control airflow and reduce drag. Together, these ideas help improve efficiency and increase the overall energy output of the turbine.鈥�

Most of Eugene鈥檚 work is performed through simulations, allowing him to test and refine designs before moving on to physical experiments. This approach makes it possible to explore multiple design options efficiently and cost-effectively. Once he鈥檚 selected the most promising designs, they will be tested in 蘑菇AV鈥檚 new laboratory focused on turbulence, ice, and marine energy research.

鈥淲orking on this project has shown me how much we can learn from nature,鈥� he says. 鈥淢any solutions to real-world problems are already embedded in plants and animals, we just have to find them. This approach has drawn me toward bio-inspired solutions in renewable energy. Whether it鈥檚 aerospace, marine, or wind, I want to contribute to cleaner energy and turn these ideas into real-world results.鈥�

A Passion for Problem Solving
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Originally from Ghana, Eugene鈥檚 interest in renewable energy began while completing his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Although many people around him encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine, his passion lay elsewhere.

鈥淚 loved working with numbers, solving problems, and seeing tangible results from my efforts,鈥� he says.

After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree, he set his sights on graduate studies abroad and the opportunity to work on research that could make a real-world on the planet. In 2024, he moved to Halifax to begin a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He says the transition from Ghana鈥檚 warm climate to Canada鈥檚 colder weather was challenging, but with support from mentors and colleagues, he settled in quickly.

Shaping Lives

Mentorship has become an important part of Eugene鈥檚 life. He first began mentoring in Ghana through an organization called Friends to Life, where he led mainly online sessions. After moving to Canada, he continued his work with Imhotep鈥檚 Legacy Academy, which supports students of African heritage in Nova Scotia in science, technology, engineering and math. The organization offers mentorship, tutoring and leadership opportunities, and connects students with a network of African students and young professionals.

鈥淚 mentor high school students to help them balance school, work, and life,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 guide them on managing their time and applying the same principles I use myself (through running). Consistency, hard work, and focus.鈥�

He encourages students to stay committed to their goals, while also knowing when to take a break, reset and keep moving forward.

鈥淕rowing up, I had a lot of mentors, and I saw how valuable it was to have guidance,鈥� It鈥檚 one thing to learn from your own mistakes, but it鈥檚 even better to learn from the experiences of others. I love seeing my mentees grow, overcome challenges, and make progress, and it鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to watch them succeed.鈥�

He adds that through his research experiences, challenges and success, he hopes he can inspire his mentees as they move forward in life.

鈥淚 want to show them that can do whatever they want to do, if they set their mind to do it. Running has taught me that.鈥�