Immediate action to reduce methane emissions is one of the most impactful things we can do to fight climate change. My team at Carleton University is producing Canada’s first-ever oil and gas sector methane census, combining aerial- and ground-based measurements at thousands of upstream sites. Our work is helping define a path to meet Canada’s 2030 reduction targets, but success will require ongoing effort to measure, track, and verify progress toward this critical goal.

Matthew Johnson
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Scientific Director the Energy and Emissions Lab
Carleton University

Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2021, Dr. Lori Chambers has transformed understandings of the history of Canadian law, particularly with regards to women and gender. Her original and ground-breaking research includes discussions of property law, unwed parenthood, adoption, violence against women, and settler-Indigenous relations in the North. Highly esteemed by historians and law professionals, her work has revealed how the past continues to shape our legal present.

Dr. Lori Chambers
Professor, Departments of Gender and Women’s Studies and Health Sciences
Lakehead University

As the Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices, Dr. Leyla Soleymani combines innovations in chemistry, materials science and biochemistry to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges. Using this multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Soleymani develops rapid diagnostic and pathogen-repellent platforms to improve the management of diseases and quality of healthcare. She is the co-founder of FendX Technologies Inc. – a startup focused on developing nanotech products that reduce the spread of pathogens, including the award-winning REPELWRAP™ film.

Dr. Leyla Soleymani
Professor, Engineering Physics
Associate Vice-President, Research (Commercialization & Entrepreneurship)
McMaster University

Niagara College (NC) research teams are recognized for responding to industry needs at the speed of business. For example, Ana Cristina Vega Lugo, PhD, brings a wealth of scientific knowledge to her work in beverage innovation with NC’s Food & Beverage Innovation Centre. Vega Lugo recently led a research team in partnership with industry to introduce a new quinoa-based beer to the market. Miski Brewing has already launched this organic product, thanks to this vital applied research work.

Ana Cristina Vega Lugo, PhD
Scientific Manager
Food & Beverage Innovation Centre
Niagara College

Dr. Abdul Raouf has over three decades of applied research, teaching and training experience. His research interests focus on the application of remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technologies for resource mapping and management, environmental impact assessment, vegetation mapping and disaster mitigation. Abdul’s recent projects have focused on working in partnership with Indigenous communities to apply geospatial technologies to land and resource management questions.

Dr. Abdul Raouf, PhD
Research Chair – Geospatial Technologies
Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Facilitating mentorship for newcomers Newcomers to Canada can often benefit from the guidance, knowledge and mentorship of an industry professional to navigate challenging career experiences. Dr. Ferzana Chaze, professor in Sheridan’s Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies, examined the reasons why industry professionals become mentors and the barriers that deter them. Findings will assist in future Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council recruitment efforts, providing recommendations on ways to attract and retain mentors.

Dr. Ferzana Chaze
Professor, Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies
Sheridan College

Focusing on issues such as public health, health equity and the social determinants of health, Dr. Mandana Vahabi’s national award-winning cancer research addresses challenges like promoting screening amongst underserved populations.

One example is her leadership of an international team using arts-based approaches to health promotion to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling in India. Through this and other Canada-based projects, Dr. Vahabi’s research is improving the lives of marginalized and equity-seeking communities by increasing access to critical health information and screening.

Dr. Mandana Vahabi
Professor
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing
Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Marjan Eggermont, PhD, is a professor and interim Associate Dean of Sustainability at the Schulich School of Engineering. Her research focuses on bio-inspired design, biomimicry and computational media design, and she will play a key role in designing the experiential learning components of UCalgary’s water-focused United Nations University Hub on Empowering Communities to Adapt to Environmental Change.

Dr. Marjan Eggermont, PhD
Professor (Teaching) and interim Associate Dean of Sustainability
Schulich School of Engineering
University of Calgary

As an international leader in sustainable materials, Dr. Manjusri Misra designs new materials using renewable resources like agricultural fibres, biocarbon and biopolymers that reduce waste and have lower global environmental impact. Her success with bio(nano)composites has resulted in commercial applications including compostable packaging and automotive parts, and has led to award-winning products.

Dr. Manjusri Misra
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Biocomposites
School of Engineering & Department of Plant Agriculture
University of Guelph

Code requirements for the building thermal envelopes are becoming more stringent in Canada. However, conventional insulation materials, such as polystyrene and polyurethane, are not carbon neutral. Supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), Professor Miroslava Kavgic’s project will use organic waste materials from agriculture and forestry industries to create sustainable construction products. By using hemp, flax and wood shavings, her team aims to develop materials with excellent insulating properties to build resilient, zero-carbon and energy efficient buildings.

Miroslava Kavgic
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering,
University of Ottawa

Curran is an expert in sustainable energy systems design and operation. His research develops and applies computational tools to optimize renewable energy system designs and operations. Application areas include offshore wind and tidal energy, electrified transportation, e-fuel production and carbon capture and sequestration, in partnership with communities, government and industry. Dr. Crawford’s decades of experience in renewable electricity generation and integration into both on- and off-grid communities is the foundation for his leadership of UVic’s Accelerating Community Energy Transformation initiative.

Dr. Curran Crawford
Executive Director, Accelerating Community Energy Transformation Initiative,
University of Victoria; Professor, Faculty of Engineering & Computer Science

Catherine M. Burns is Professor in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo where she directs her research lab, the Advanced Interface Design Lab and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Human Factors and Healthcare Systems. Catherine’s work focuses on Cognitive Work Analysis, Ecological Interface Design and the development of decision support systems.

Catherine Burns
Associate Vice President,
Health Initiatives and Canada Research Chair
University of Waterloo

Named one of Canada’s top 10 women water scientists, York University’s Sapna Sharma studies how lakes worldwide respond to climate change. With implications for both humans and wildlife, her research has shown widespread losses of ice and rapid lake warming, which can lead to degradation in water quality, increased proliferation of algae, and threats to freshwater fish survival. Sharma’s work advances our understanding of a vital natural resource, enhancing its protection and management.

Sapna Sharma
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York Research Chair in Global Change Biology
York University