Microplastics (MP), defined as any plastic polymer particles

French Heartworm is a very real threat to the health of domesticated and wild dogs in Newfoundland. The purpose of this research project is to validate the sensitivity and specificity of a newly developed fecal test for this parasite. This will be done by collecting fecal and heart/lung samples from deceased dogs and wild canids […]

The proposal focuses on using safe, non-toxic fatty acids as bio-derived and recyclable solvents for extraction of biomass polymers/waste plastics (e.g. wood chips, woody or agricultural biomass, algae, oil bottles). We will employ a new approach using fatty acids that are responsive to pH changes such that their properties can be switched from hydrophobic to […]

Foliar diseases in the vegetative year such as Sphaerulina leaf spot, leaf rust and Valdensia leaf spot pose problems to wild blueberry growers in Atlantic Canada. The pathogens that cause foliar disease infect the leaf tissue and create chlorotic or necrotic areas that prevent the plant from photosynthesizing. When a plant cannot photosynthesize, it is […]

Hydroelectric turbines vibrate when they operate, due to their rotation in water. Those vibrations, if not studied and looked after, may damage the runners as well as the shaft, resulting in a decrease of production and operating range, and in a faster deterioration of the components too. Therefore, this project aims to study the vibrations […]

Microplastics are emerging anthropogenic particulate pollutants that pose risks to both societal and environmental health. As such, there is a need to characterize the distribution of microplastics both within the environment and at potential points of release. Current analytical techniques – primarily thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy – used to characterize microplastics offer […]

The oceans today are under a variety of stressors including warming, acidification, eutrophication, and deoxygenation. Due to their increasing impacts on marine environments, there is a huge push for new monitoring and environmental assessment techniques to understand and mitigate change. Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to the tiny pieces of DNA shed by all living things […]

Waste generation rates are rising, as the results of the increased world’s population. Increased global concern over environmental issues led to a strong interest in developing sustainable technologies that derive fuels and chemicals from renewable feedstock. Renewable biomass materials, as lignocellulosic waste, are attractive since they contain large amounts of renewable carbon and biochemicals with […]

The project will develop a highly efficient technology for producing plasma-activated water (PAW) with low energy consumption. Expected outcomes of the project will enable high throughput production of PAW to meet the urgent need for green and sustainable technology in agriculture and food. PAW generated in large quantities will be at low cost without using […]

The Blue Economy is the proposed sustainable version of the regular ocean economy, with tremendous amounts of funding being provided by provincial and federal government agencies to support the industry. Supported research shows that there are challenges with recruiting youth to the industry, especially underrepresented youth and geographically underrepresented youth. The lack of framework and […]

Dans une perspective de développement durable, une meilleure connaissance des milieux aquatiques du Nord du Canada est essentielle pour assurer la protection de l’environnement et la conservation de la biodiversité. Comme le territoire nordique est vaste et dépourvu de réseau de transport terrestre, l’imagerie satellitaire pourrait être un outil optimal pour décrire et inventorier la […]

Au Québec, il existe encore peu d’études évaluant les effets aigus et chroniques des herbicides sur les plantes aquatiques enracinées. Une meilleure compréhension des effets des activités agricoles sur les herbiers aquatiques, particulièrement ceux du Lac St-Pierre, est nécessaire à une gestion/conservation adéquate de ces écosystèmes de grande valeur. Ce stage portera en grande partie […]