Yukon College's academic credibility is moving forward thanks to continuing research work happening at the college, says the school's president, Terry Weninger.

One of the initiatives is the Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre (YCCIC), Weninger, who is also a YCCIC board member, told the Star Friday.

He made several announcements last Thursday evening about several projects at the college.

Weninger said Friday the continuing work will help move the college closer to opening up more programs and degree opportunities.

While the school is moving forward in obtaining its degree-granting status, Weninger said, there will still be work after that stage if the college is to move ahead with becoming a university.

"We want to learn to walk before we run," he said, though he advised the public should also "stay tuned" for future announcements coming from the college.

Among Thursday evening's announcements, made during a Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event, those gathered learned that Chad Gubala will serve as the YCCIC's director.

A resident of the Yukon for four years, Gubala has been a consultant. With a PhD in environmental chemistry from Indiana University, Gubala has also worked in a number of senior roles, including the director of scientific assessment technologies laboratory at the University of Toronto and associate director of the Institute of Natural Systems Engineering at Utah State University, among other positions over the years.

Gubala said he's looking forward to working on the Remote Energy Systems Research Program that was announced last Thursday.

It will look at options for adapting a Stirling engine for use in a cold climate which would allow for remote green energy to be produced. Stirling engines use temperature to produce power.

With the project being a partnership among Northwestel Inc., the college and YCCIC, the energy could be used at remote sites such as Northwestel's communications towers, field camps, off-grid homes and remote tourism sites.

"This project is the first step in attracting Outside dollars for research in the Yukon, as well as securing a post-doctoral researcher at the college," Gubala said in a statement.

"It is an exciting time for me to join the team at YCCIC, and I am looking forward to the significant opportunities that projects like this and others funded by YCCIC create for the Yukon and its residents."

The project will see the engine installed at Yukon College and made available to businesses and researchers to experiment with its design and operation.

Also last Thursday, Education Minister Patrick Rouble announced $400,000 will be spent to renovate the basement of the residence at the college for office space.

That will be used for research initiatives happening through the Yukon Research Centre of Excellence, a joint venture by the school, territorial government and Council of Yukon First Nations, which looks at adapting to climate change.

Weninger expects the offices will by occupied by mid-summer.

Finally last Thursday evening, Environment Minister Elaine Taylor announced a computer server will be installed at the school that will provide both past data and what's projected from the federal environment for researchers to use.