University of Manitoba
Several categories of expertise at the University of Manitoba can be highlighted as having particular strengths in terms of a substantial cluster of scientists, including many with unique and/or world-class capabilities. These categories include:
agriculture conservation and protection; environmental economics; environmental education; environmental impact studies; environmental modelling; environmental monitoring; human health; natural resource conservation and protection; pollutant transportation/transformation; waste management; water quality; water resources conservation and protection; fisheries conservation and protection.
The university's Natural Resources Institute (NRI) fulfils several mandates: teaching of resource management skills, conducting useful research into current problems of natural resource management, providing a forum for examining resource issues, and raising public awareness of these issues. To fulfil these mandates, NRI has developed a program within which teaching and research are planned to meet individual needs. In pursuing its objectives, the Institute strives to direct the university's wealth of knowledge and experience to the resolution of problems in the resources sector.
Related environmental impact assessments in the department of Zoology have included (1) Acetylcholine esterase assays in fish serum, (2) Lake sturgeon ecology, assessment of genetic stocks and effects of exploitation on populations, (3) Recirculation technology as it relates to the aquaculture industry and (4) Impact of parasites on commercial sports fisheries due to changing weather patterns and bird populations.[http://www.umanitoba.ca/zoology/zoohome.html]
The university's Environmental Engineering group seeks alliances with companies willing to invest in research and development, to benefit by using the technologies developed. For example, the group has developed and demonstrated an anaerobic co-composting technology for solid waste and sludge. Another technology would involve the use of contaminated soil in solid waste composters upon which the group has also worked.
The Environmental Engineering group has two patents on environmental engineering processes and has developed two new technologies for soil decontamination for which they are looking for partners/sponsors. Technologies in development include anaerobic digestion in slurry form (90%+ water) and in 'dry' form (70% water or less) and co-disposal of industrial waste with MSW in anaerobic reactors and landfill cells, with gas production and biodegradation.
Research by the Environmental Engineering group focuses on hazardous organics, degradation in wastewater, soil and ground water, solid waste composting, nutrient removal, appropriate technology for developing countries and novel process equipment design. Other research includes combined management of industrial and municipal wastes and optimization of municipal solid waste management.
Environmental-engineering-related research in Microbiology studies the production of hydrogen as an alternative clean fuel, from waste material using microbiological methods. Hydrogen, as opposed to methane, is a non-greenhouse gas and its combustion does not produce pollutants. Hydrogen can also be used for organic syntheses. A possible outcome of this research is the redesign of landfills to produce fuel, thus lowering the cost of waste disposal.
The university's pesticide research lab conducts studies into effects of urban wastes, such as sewage sludge, on crop yield and quality. The lab also provides analytical chemistry resources to help pesticide researchers and society to make intelligent choices about the use of toxic compounds in the environment to maintain our food supply and standard of living.
In Civil Engineering, current research relates to (1) Innovative water quality management programs for interactive pollutants and seasonal conditions, (2) Seasonal operating rules for multipurpose reservoirs and (3) Reservoir management planning to satisfy future demands. [http://www.ce.umanitoba.ca/homepage.html]
In Geological Engineering, much of the research is related to underground disposal of nuclear waste and is conducted in the areas of (1) Thermal/fluid interactions, (2) Incorporation of thermal data in hydrogeologic investigations, (3) Stochastic hydrogeology, (4) Probabilistic analyses, (5) Numerical methods, (6) Finite elements and simulation, and (7) Response of granite to the conditions associated with nuclear waste disposal.[http://www.umanitoba.ca/geo_eng/profs.html]
In the university's Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, research is conducted into indoor and outdoor air quality. Capabilities focus on development of control measures that would collect and concentrate industrial emissions at the point of generation. Training programs have also been developed and implemented for the safe handling of hazardous wastes.
Research projects in the university's geological sciences department include development of high resolution seismic imaging techniques for fracture mapping for nuclear waste management and mineralogical analysis of acid-generating mine waste for planning treatment or process-modification for waste reduction.
Mineralogical analysis is carried out in the Microbeam Laboratory [http://www.umanitoba.ca/geosci/LABS/microbea.html]. Other research in this lab, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Guelph Proton Microprobe group, is aimed at the microbeam and image analysis of fish otoliths [http://www.umanitoba.ca/geosci/FACULTY/HALDEN/halden.html] The instrumentation in the Microbeam Laboratory was designed and set up as a materials research facility. The focus is minerals, but much of the work in the lab is environmental. Related laboratory facilities include the X-ray crystallography labs [http://www.umanitoba.ca/geosci/LABS/crystal.html] and the geochemistry ICP lab [http://www.umanitoba.ca/geosci/LABS/chem.html] which are capable of mineral identification, refinement of cell parameters (for structural-state studies), identification of experimental petrology run-products, general materials identification, and a range of geochemical analyses of rocks, minerals and fluids for a wide range of elements.
University of Manitoba faculty are also involved in research in the Experimental Lakes Area Reservoir Project (ELARP) in northwestern Ontario, which has been set up to study the effects of changing ecosystems on the environment. 'Whole ecosystem manipulation' experiments as part of ELARP include adding fertilizer or acids (as in 'acid rain') to whole lakes and studying the effects on the different components and members of the ecosystem. Another manipulation has been the construction of a reservoir that has flooded a wetland. The wetland, and a nearby reference wetland, were studied in detail for two years prior to flooding, and both will be studied for three years after flooding.
In the area of environmental monitoring, the university has also recently established the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) which is pioneering development of new ways to record and analyze global geographic information. An important component of CEOS studies is a determination of whether human activity is sustainable in terms of its effect on the environment. Scientifically, CEOS focuses on the concepts of earth system science, which includes such disciplines as climatology, plant science, ocean science, surficial geology, and hydrology.
Technologically, CEOS treats remote sensing, geographic information systems, image analysis systems, global positioning systems, computer modelling and analytical methods as an integrated set of tools that support an understanding of the planet from the micro to the global scale.[ http://www.umanitoba.ca/geography/CEOS.html]
Related research in remote sensing technology focuses on theoretical development of microwave scattering processes both on the Earth's surface and on Earth-like planetary surfaces. Researchers in the Geophysical Imaging Laboratory have been involved in several satellite-borne remote sensing projects. The laboratory has the capability of developing software and processing a variety of airborne and satellite-borne geophysical and remote sensing data. The lab also has complete processing and imaging capability for conventional and high resolution seismic data for earth subsurface tomography, with applications in non-renewable resource exploration and studies of cold regions and potential nuclear waste disposal sites. Researchers are also developing new spatial artificial intelligence/ expert systems for integration/imaging of large volume spatial information, such as global satellite data. [http://www.umanitoba.ca/geosci/FACULTY/moon.html]
The University Field Station (Delta Marsh) is a biological station of the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba.
It is located on the south shore of Lake Manitoba adjacent to the 21,870 ha. Delta Marsh [http://www.umanitoba.ca/DeltaMarsh/pwet/expt941.gif], one of the largest pristine freshwater wetlands in North America. The Delta Marsh presents a wide and unique diversity of habitats and biota for research. The station property is part of a designated game-bird refuge and wildlife protection area, most of which was designated in 1987 as an ecologically significant area. Mallard Lodge, built in 1932 on the 932 ha. estate of noted athlete and businessman Donald Bain, remains one of the finest lodges on the marsh. The Field Station, a member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations, was established as a research and teaching facility in 1966 by Dr. Jennifer Shay.
As well as research, the University of Manitoba offers a four-year undergraduate environmental science program This program is broadly interdisciplinary, including a wide spectrum of introductory courses from the Faculties of Arts and Science, and an essential 'environmental core' of eight Science half-courses and nine credit hours from either Economics or Geography.
As well, there is a requirement for depth in one area of Science - Biological Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, or Physical Sciences. (http://www.umanitoba.ca/envirosciences)
Graduate courses are offered in environmental engineering, and natural resources management.
Several categories of expertise at the University of Manitoba can be highlighted as having particular strengths in terms of a substantial cluster of scientists, including many with unique and/or world-class capabilities.
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Department of Soil Science (http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/soil_science/)
Department of Plant Science (http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/plant_science/about.html)
The Natural Resources Institute (http://www.umanitoba.ca/institutes/natural_resources/)
The Department of Zoology (http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/science/zoology/zoohome.htm)
Environmental Engineering Group (http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/engineering/civil_and_geological/faculty.htm#Oleszkiewicz)
Department of Civil and Geological Engineering
(http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/engineering/civil_and_geological/envopt.htm)
Facility for Intelligent Decision Support (FIDS)
(http://www.ce.umanitoba.ca/water/)
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
(http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/chs/doem.htm)
Geological Sciences Department
(http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/science/geological_sciences/faculty/moon/moon.htm)
Mineralogical analysis is carried out in the Microbeam Laboratory
(http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/science/geological_sciences/labs/microbeam/microbeam.html)
Experimental Lakes Area Reservoir
(http://www.umanitoba.ca/institutes/fisheries/)
Department of Geography
(http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/geography/ceos/index.html)
The University Field Station (Delta Marsh) (http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/science/delta_marsh/index.html)
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Environmental Products And Services
Anaerobic Co-composting Technology.
The University of Manitoba Environmental Engineering group has two patents on environmental engineering processes and has developed two new technologies for soil decontamination for which they are looking for partners/sponsors. The Environmental Engineering group seeks alliances with companies willing to invest in research and development, to benefit by using the technologies developed. For example, the group has developed and demonstrated an anaerobic co-composting technology for solid waste and sludge. Another technology would involve the use of contaminated soil in solid waste composters upon which the group has also worked. Technologies in development include anaerobic digestion in slurry form (90%+ water) and in 'dry' form (70% water or less) and co-disposal of industrial waste with MSW in anaerobic reactors and landfill cells, with gas production and biodegradation. Research by the Environmental Engineering group focuses on hazardous organics, degradation in wastewater, soil and ground water, solid waste composting, nutrient removal, appropriate technology for developing countries and novel process equipment design. Other research includes combined management of industrial and municipal wastes and optimization of municipal solid waste management.
Hydrogen Generation By Microbial Interaction.
Research in microbiology at the University of Manitoba studies the production of hydrogen as an alternative clean fuel, from waste material using microbiological methods. Hydrogen, as opposed to methane, is a non-greenhouse gas and its combustion does not produce pollutants. Hydrogen can also be used for organic syntheses. A possible outcome of this research is the redesign of landfills to produce fuel, thus lowering the cost of waste disposal.
Environmental Impact Assessment.
Environmental impact assessments in the department of Zoology have included (1) Acetylcholine ester assays in fish serum, (2) Lake sturgeon ecology, assessment of genetic stocks and effects of exploitation on populations, (3) Recirculation technology as it relates to the aquaculture industry and (4) Impact of parasites on commercial sports fisheries due to changing weather patterns and bird populations. Special facilities include a large animal holding facility for small terrestrial animals and aquatic organisms, operated by a trained technical staff. A scanning-transmission electron microscope housed in an adjacent building is operated in cooperation with other Biological departments.
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Science And Technology