Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science Based Research and Projects

The 1418 square metre Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science (CCRWS) is a 2014 American School and University outstanding design award winner and home to research facilities that meet green environmental standards.

A working lab, CCRWS blends light filled spaces with facilities that replicate arctic climate conditions. It is a collaborative research facility that houses four research centres/groups and a variety of state-of-the-art analytical equipment.

The facility, which opened in 2013, is funded by Laurier, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI), and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Research

Interactions of Dissolved Organic Matter, Toxicity of Metals, Nutrients and Rare Earth Elements

Examining the relative sensitivities of northern and southern fish species to the toxic effects of metals and rare earth elements.

• Research location: Laboratory studies
• Contacts: James McGeer and Scott Smith

Projects

• Development of geochemical parameters to assist with risk assessment for mining of rare earth elements 
  Researcher: Weibin (Ben) Chen; Supervisors: Scott Smith, James McGeer
• Development of solubility models for rare earth elements for use in the aqueous environmental risk assessment of rare earth elements 
  Researcher: Seana Brennan; Supervisors: Scott Smith, James McGeer
• The importance of dissolved organic matter in mitigating the impacts of legacy contaminants in northern aquatic ecosystems 
  Researcher: Leah Mindorff; Supervisors: James McGeer, Scott Smith
• Testing remote sensing methods to determine dissolved organic carbon for metals risk assessment in surface waters 
  Researcher: Mickey Nielson; Supervisor: Scott Smith
• Development and testing of metal bioavailability sensors 
  Researcher: Gaganprit Gill; Supervisors: Scott Smith, James McGeer