Graduate student Drew Davidson (BASc '11, nanotechnology and MEng '16, chemical engineering) is working to develop novel material to create firefighting gear that will not degrade and cause occupational cancer.
Now working towards his PhD in chemical engineering, Davidson’s innovative research has earned him a new Deep Tech Scholarship — the first of its kind in Canada that was recently launched by Dr. Mary Wells, dean of Waterloo Engineering.
Recent studies have suggested that firefighters are three times more likely to die of cancer than the general population. This is partly attributed to their gear, which contains polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), a large group of chemicals that are used in many applications, and often elevates the risk of cancer.
As Davidson’s research into addressing this issue has gained momentum, Ontario’s Solicitor General, the Honourable Michael Kerzner, who is responsible for policing and public safety, paid a recent visit to Waterloo’s chemical engineering department.
Recipients of the Deep Tech Scholarship will be equipped with skills to scale up the technology developed during their PhD and create a company after graduation.
Go to Reducing cancer risk with new firefighting gear for the full story.