New research centre will further environmental goals in Nova Scotia

Halifax, NS – A new research centre focussed on environmental engineering is being built at Dalhousie University. The facility, the Nova Scotia Environmental Engineering Research Centre (NSEERC) laboratory will be built at the university’s Faculty of Engineering.

The centre is a partnership with other universities, including Acadia, Cape Breton, the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, St Francis Xavier and St Marys, along with groups in government and industry. The centre is also seeking collaboration with other universities and laboratories across Canada.

Mark Parent, the province’s minister of environment and labour, made the announcement last week at a breakfast with members of Nova Scotia’s academic community.

Research at the centre will deal with solutions to environmental problems related to land, air, water, alternative energy and community health. To-date over 19 projects are currently either funded, or being proposed for funding, through various agencies.

“Not only will the centre provide research to help us meet our environmental goals, it will also help create economic opportunities for Nova Scotians,” said Mr Parent at the announcement. “Scientists and engineers will conduct research that will allow us to export technology to new markets.”

The contact person for the centre is Dr Mysore Satish, PEng, associate dean, graduate studies and research, Dalhousie Faculty of Engineering. The centre has also attracted leading researchers in the environmental area from engineering and science at Dalhousie and the partner universities, as well as professionals from government and industry.

“Dr Satish takes the problems that come to the faculty and he either solves them, or he finds someone from his vast provincial network who can,” said Dean Joshua Leon, PEng, Dalhousie Faculty of Engineering, at the announcement.

The centre has received funding of $66,000 from the department of environment and labour for administration, and hiring of administrative and technical staff is underway. In addition, its researchers will have access to funding from a variety of sources. For example, research projects that focus on greenhouse gasses, air pollution, and/or climate change would be candidates for the Environmental Technology Program under the Nova Scotia Ecotrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.