Five more years of excellence from UPEI’s Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity
The University of Prince Edward Island congratulates Dr. Michael van den Heuvel on the renewal of his Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity.
"The Canada Research Chairs program is about research excellence and leadership,' said Dr. Christian Lacroix, UPEI's Dean of Science. 'Dr. van den Heuvel has excelled in both; I congratulate him on a well-deserved renewal."
UPEI first recruited Dr. van den Heuvel for this prestigious chair five years ago from New Zealand.
'It's an honour to be renewed, just as it was an honour to be named a chair in the first place,' said Dr. van den Heuvel. 'In my first five years, I think we contributed science towards generating some real environmental targets for the reduction of nitrate in our streams and estuaries. That information is informing policymakers today. The chair allowed me to expand to some other exciting areas as well, and I'm proud that this renewal will allow for me to expand in these directions.'
Dr. van den Heuvel is also working with an internationally recognized research team focussed on the reduction of endocrine disrupting compounds in pulp and paper effluents. Dr. van den Heuvel has recently shifted some of his research focus toward northern Alberta, where he's investigating the viability of man-made lakes to remediate waste from oil sands projects.
"Dr. van den Heuvel's research program has been a tremendous asset to the Department of Biology,' said Dr. Larry Hale, Chair of the Department of Biology. 'His record in training promising young scientists at all levels (undergraduate, masters, doctoral, post-doctoral) is one we are very proud of."
'Dr. van den Heuvel's research is making a real difference in the world,' said Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI's vice-president of Research and Development, 'from northern Alberta, to the rivers and streams of Prince Edward Island. This is a perfect example of research making an impact on public policy leading to improved health of the environment.'
The Canada Research Chairs program was established ten years ago by the government of Canada to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds. Chairs aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. They improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching, and the coordination of other researchers' work.
