Leaving a Lasting Impact on Our Planet
As ambassadors of science at the University of Waterloo, we pride ourselves on a commitment to shape a more sustainable future and support our vulnerable planet. We delve into the intricate complexities of healthy water systems and aquatic ecosystems, strive to understand the mysteries of geological processes deep within the Earth, and remediate environmental challenges from past human activities as we inspire scientific breakthroughs and discoveries to empower humanity.
Inspiring Waterloo Science Trailblazers Focused on the Well-being of Our Planet
Read more about:
Dr. Jenine McCutcheon
Science Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Jenine McCutcheon is tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges—climate change, polar ice melt, and the recovery of critical metals—by blending biology, mineralogy, and chemistry in groundbreaking ways. Her research dives deep into the microscopic world, examining how interactions between microbes, minerals, and water ripple outward to influence massive global systems and ecosystems. From reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide to reclaiming valuable metals from contaminated sites, her work holds the key to solving large-scale environmental crises.
Dr. McCutcheon has already made major contributions to the field of geomicrobiology. She demonstrated how microbes can accelerate weathering in mine tailings, simultaneously removing harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and extracting precious metal compounds from mining waste. Her discoveries don’t stop there — she is part of a team that found that phosphorus-rich minerals are fueling the growth of dark algae on the Greenland ice sheet, intensifying melting in a dangerous feedback loop. Her research is transforming our understanding of how the behavior of tiny microorganisms can drive environmental changes at a planetary scale, helping scientists worldwide develop solutions for safeguarding our future.
Our team investigates the dynamic biogeochemical reactions that happen at the interface between microbes and the environment. By harnessing these small-scale processes, our discoveries can have big impacts as non-traditional solutions to today’s most pressing environmental challenges, from climate change and polar ice melting to the recovery of critical metals.
Learn more about Dr. McCutcheon's research and achievements
- Using microbes to get more out of mining waste: Dr. McCutcheon and her collaborators have developed a new mining technique which uses microbes to recover metals and store carbon in the waste produced by mining.
- Stand-out mineral scientist Jenine McCutcheon named 2024 MAC Young Scientist Award winner: This award, from the Mineralogical Association of Canada, is given to a young scientist who has made a significant international research contribution in a promising start to a scientific career.
- Jenine McCutcheon awarded funding for innovative and high-quality research and technology: The Canadian Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund has awarded Dr. McCutcheon $100,000 for the project Biofilms as Bioreactors: Using Microbial Processes to Sequester Carbon and Remediate Metals in Mine Waste Materials.
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The Dark Zone of Greenland: As a geomicrobiologist, Dr. McCutcheon, a professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences department at the University of Waterloo, has been studying Greenland’s glacier algae in an effort to uncover their changing annual patterns.
Dr. Liam McGuire
Science Professor, Department of Biology
Dr. Liam McGuire is a leading expert in wildlife ecology, investigating how environmental conditions influence the survival and behaviour of bats and birds. His groundbreaking research on bats delves into the physiology, migration patterns, and hibernation of these remarkable creatures, revealing how they respond to common diseases like white- nose syndrome and providing critical insights into how bat species may adapt— or struggle—amid rapid environmental changes like climate change.
Dr. McGuire’s work shines a spotlight on the incredible energy demands of bats, uncovering how they manage energetic challenges and how their survival hinges on environmental factors. His research extends to birds as his lab studies the migration, movements, diet and habitat selection of species-at-risk. By studying the intricate movement patterns of these animals during migration, Dr. McGuire aims to break down barriers to their conservation, driving science that will inform better policies and ensure the survival of these vital species in an ever- changing world. Recently he hosted an ornithology field trip for science students to learn about bird identification, bird banding population monitoring, migration and feather moult patterns.
Learn about the science of different bat species from Dr. McGuire!
Kevin White
PhD Candidate, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Kevin White is a PhD candidate in the Groundwater Geochemistry and Remediation (GGR) research group led by Dr. David Blowes and Dr. Carol Ptacek in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. His research contributes to a national project assessing remediation strategies for environmental pollution at Giant Mine, a now-closed gold mine near Yellowknife, Canada.
As part of this work, samples of surface water, groundwater, and underground mine water are collected at the site and brought back to the University of Waterloo where they are analyzed in the GGR Clean Laboratory using a variety of instrumental methods, including multi- collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), to trace arsenic and antimony contamination both above and below ground at Giant Mine.
Emphasizing the critical importance of clean water, healthy aquatic ecosystems and responsibly managing our natural resources, Waterloo Science is spearheading transformative solutions and creating sustainability initiatives that will leave a lasting legacy.
With your support, we will make a difference. Together, we are redefining what is possible.