Asper faculty shine at Canadian Transport Research Forum

Ranging from comparative studies of Canada’s and Ukraine’s access to sustainable aviation fuel and regulatory developments in transportation, to the promise of airships in supply chain and transportation, three Asper faculty members presented six papers at the annual Canadian Transport Research Forum (CTRF) this May.

CTRF, an annual conference that promotes the development of research in transportation, has operated since 1965 and hosts professionals in railway, trucking, airlines and more to share their expertise and build community.

Narendra Malalgoda, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at the Asper School of Business, presented work that explored rail ridership in the US as well as a paper examining the boom and bust of air cargo as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asper colleagues Barry Prentice (Professor of Supply Chain Management and Director of the UM Transport Institute) and John Wilms (Sessional Instructor in Supply Chain Management) are also authors of this paper.

Malalgoda explains the value of connecting with transportation experts across Canada.

“By building these professional relationships at conferences like CTRF, I’m able to stay informed about industry trends and best practices. Learning about innovative solutions to practical problems in the transportation industry also enables me to incorporate more real-world examples and case studies into my teaching,” he says.

Maryna Klymchuk, Visiting Scholar in Supply Chain Management at the Asper School of Business, presented work comparing opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel in Canada and Ukraine. Robert Parsons (Sessional Instructor of Supply Chain Management) and Paul D. Larson (CN Professor of Supply Chain Management) are also listed as co-authors.

Klymchuk describes the collaborative research environment at Asper that supported this paper.

“Asper is a community that inspires and promotes professional development and research collaboration for faculty members. Thanks to the extraordinary support from our leaders and administrators, we achieve more innovation, more efficient processes, increased success and improved communication in scientific and teaching activities,” she says.

Klymchuk, Prentice and Malalgoda at the CTRF.

Prentice, in addition to presenting research about the potential for airship cargo service to address housing crises in Northern Canada, participated in and won the annual Bison Transport Debate alongside Michael Haughton (Professor of Supply Chain Management, Wilfred Laurier University).

Since 1996, the Bison Transport Debate has been sponsored by Bison Transport of Winnipeg, which also donated the coveted trophy. This prestigious event, conducted in conjunction with the CTRF Annual Meeting, invites distinguished transportation professionals to weigh in on some of the timeliest issues in the sector.

Prentice and Haughton won the debate by arguing that a government mandate requiring electric vehicles would be disastrous for consumers. Prentice explains that nuance of their defense.

“Technology evolves and mandates are blunt policy instruments with arbitrary dates. Before 2035, hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines may be a better option. Peeling away at the underlying issues of EV cars is like peeling onions, the more we peel, the more we cry,” he explains.

—

The Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics from the Asper School of Business connects students and professionals to influential minds in the field, from transportation and logistics to supply chain and operations, preparing students for leadership positions within a broad range of fields. Learn more about the program here.

Emily Wilson