Backgrounder
September 25, 2008
BUILDING ONTARIO’S INNOVATION ECONOMY
BIOECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS
University of Waterloo
 |
Dr. Maren Oelbermann, Dr. Merrin Macrae, Dr. Hargurdeep Saini
Repairing damage done to our ecosystems
Provincial Funding: $177,475
Ontario’s agricultural, forestry and industrial sectors are all grappling with problems related to soil and water contamination as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Drs. Maren Oelbermann, Merrin Macrae and Hargurdeep Saini, researchers at the Centre for Biophysical Research in Ecosystems Restoration and Rehabilitation at the University of Waterloo are exploring the processes that influence soil and water quality with the goal of developing new methods and techniques in ecological restoration and bio-remediation of Ontario’s ecosystems. This research will be able to be applied in other parts of Canada and internationally.
Dr. Claude Duguay
Developing new approaches to mapping and monitoring snow and ice properties
Provincial Funding: $243,070
Active radar remote sensors have become invaluable tools for studying the cryosphere, the portion of the earth where water is in a solid form (ice and snow). A great deal remains to be learned about the radar response to snow and ice at higher microwave frequencies, which are sensitive to many more aspects than the frequency currently used on Canada’s Radarsat satellite. Dr. Claude Duguay at the University of Waterloo is developing new approaches to mapping and monitoring snow and ice properties from upcoming remote sensing satellite missions. This research is essential to industries such as agriculture, hydropower generation and recreation that depend on accurate forecasts of snowmelt runoff.
 |
Dr. Mary Wells, Dr. Michael Worswick, Dr. Norman Zhou
Helping Ontario manufacturers produce products based on customer demands
Provincial Funding: $200,000
For Ontario manufacturers to compete successfully in the global marketplace they need to be able to process advanced metals and alloys efficiently and produce tailored products based on customer demands. Using a state-of-the-art Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator, Drs. Mary Wells, Michael Worswick and Norman Zhou at the University of Waterloo will model thermal and mechanical processing of materials, an essential part of most manufacturing processes, to get a greater understanding of these processes and their effect on a product’s final structure and properties. This research will help Ontario manufacturers improve efficiency and reduce energy use.
 |
Dr. Kevin Lamb, Dr. Francis Poulin, Dr. Marek Stastna
Exploring how climate change will affect water quality
Provincial Funding: $78,613
Stratification is the layering of water temperatures and salinity in lakes and oceans. A stratified lake supports a complex variety of mixing phenomena that vary naturally with the changing seasons. So how do mixing processes affect the ecological health and water quality of lakes? That’s one of the questions Drs. Kevin Lamb, Francis Poulin and Marek Stastna are exploring at the University of Waterloo. Using advanced theoretical and numerical methods they’re developing models of complex physical processes, which will provide important insights into the dynamics of coastal oceans and lakes. Their work will lead to the formation of science-based policy to address important issues such as water quality.
See also:
- News Release:
Fuelling Alternative Energy Research - Backgrounder:
Creating the Jobs, Clean Technologies and Energy Sources of the Future - Backgrounder:
Bioeconomy, Environment and Clean Technology Projects - Recipients
