CANADA RESEARCH CHAIRS

♦ Canada Research Chair in Environmental Decontamination

Chair: Jean-François Blais

Metals present a potential hazard to human health and the environment. Mercury, zinc, lead, copper, chromium, and cadmium accumulate in the environment and affect ecosystems. How can we minimize the harm they cause? As Canada Research Chair in Environmental Decontamination, Jean-François Blais and his team develop chemical and biological processes for decontaminating sludge, soils, and other types of industrial and urban waste. Research Professor Blais extracts, recovers, and recycles metals from various types of waste. The chair also converts decontaminated waste into value-added products.

♦ Canada Research Chair in Metal Ecotoxicology

Chair: Peter G.C. Campbell

What are the ecological risks posed by metals? To evaluate their impact on the environment, it is necessary to have adequate tools. As the Canada Research Chair in Metal Ecotoxicology, research professor Peter Campbell and his team study the effects of metals on the aquatic environment, particularly their accumulation in organisms and the ability of certain organisms to eliminate the toxic effects of metals. They are also developing ecotoxicological diagnostic tools.  Their research will be used to define environmental standards on the release of metals.

♦ Canada Research Chair in Hydrological Variable Assessment

Chair: Taha B.M.J. Ouarda

By collecting hydrological data and statistical models, the Canada Research Chair in Hydrological Variable Assessment researches ways to improve our understanding of flow variations in watercourses. Any hydrological event, be it spring flooding, low water levels, or the presence of ice, can have significant human, environmental, and economic impacts. As chair, research professor Taha Ouarda and his team are developing methodologies for better management of hydrological resources on a local and regional scale. These studies can be used at the hydraulic work design phase to assess the impact of climate change on watercourse dynamics and to estimate hydrological variables in winter and the frequency of extreme events such as flooding.

♦ Canada Research Chair in Bioconversion of Waste Water and Sewage Sludge into High-Value-Added Products.

Chair: Rajeshwar Dayal Tyagi

Waste water and sewage sludge produced during municipal and industrial water treatment hold great conversion potential. Free of toxic metals and pathogens after decontamination, these residues are rich in nutrient matter and represent an ecological and economical alternative for creating high-value-added products. As Canada Research Chair in Bioconversion of Waste Water and Sludge into High-Value-Added Products, research professor Rajeshwar Dayal Tyagi and his team develop bioinsecticides, bioinoculants, biofungicides, bioplastics, industrial enzymes, and other bioproducts using sludge as a fermentation substrate.

RESEARCH CHAIRS AND RESEARCH GROUPS

♦ Research Chair in the Geologic Storage of CO₂

Chair: Michel Malo

♦ Retrospective Analysis of Hydro-Climatic Conditions Using Indicators of Secular Variability (ARCHIVES)

Professor in charge: Yves Bégin

♦ Geophysical Imaging and Measurement Acquisition Laboratory (LIAMG)

Professor in charge: Erwan Gloaguen

♦ Research and Study Group in Ecohydrological Numerical Modeling (GREEN)

Professor in charge: Yves Secretan

♦ Research Group in Statistical Hydroclimatology (GRHS)

Professors in charge: Taha B.M.J. Ouarda, Fateh Chebana and André St-Hilaire