About FEWA Lab

The FEWA Lab studies the biogeochemical cycling of pollutants in wildfire (Fire), terrestrial systems (Earth), aquatic systems (Water), and the atmosphere (Air).

Multi-disciplinary, multi-systems, and multi-methods approach to improving the current state-of-the-art in pollutant biogeochemistry

Methods applied by the FEWA Lab include:

Stable and unstable isotopes tracing
Mobile sampling platforms (unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs), research aircraft, ground-based vehicles)
Large-scale mesocosm experiments
Dendrochronology and dendrochemistry

Air monitoring sensors
Passive air sampling (diffusive, non-electrical monitoring)
Active air monitoring (pumped, electrical monitoring)
Process-driven modelling

Combining these different technologies and methods provides potential for greater quantitative and qualitative assessment of the spatiotemporal dynamics of organic and inorganic pollutants in the environmental. It’s critical that we, as scientists, also remember Knowledge is old and diverse – Western science is but one perspective; respecting, learning from, and collaborating with Keepers of other Knowledge systems is a key focus of the FEWA Lab.

Indigeneity, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (IEDI)

The FEWA Lab is an avid supporter of IEDI. The lab provides equal opportunity to student researchers of all background and is also highly collaborative research group that has built meaningful research connections (past and present) in all seven of the world’s continents.

The global scientific philosophy of the FEWA Lab focusses on meaningful collaboration with scientists and interested community members in the countries that our research takes us too. This includes providing opportunities to students from these countries to lead research that affects their countries.

Global issues require collaborative global solutions

Many of the issues caused by environmental pollutants are global in nature and driven by excessive consumerism. Actions to reduce domestic use and emissions of certain pollutants alone is not always effective to reduce domestic impacts of those pollutants due to global product lifecycles and their long-range transport potential in the environment.

Students and researchers are encouraged to develop and explore their own contributions to their scientific fields through initiative, innovation, and network building with the ultimate goal being the reduction of pollutants impacts on human and environmental health in Canada & abroad.