Archives

September 2017

  • Syncrude Canada Ltd is looking to hire students currently enrolled in a post-secondary undergraduate program for the following positions: Chemical Engineer Research and Development, Chemical Engineer, Computer Science Research and Development, Electrical/Computer Engineer, Geologist, Geotechnical Engineer, Geotechnical Lab, Heavy Equipment Operator, Project Engineer Calgary and Project Engineer.

September 2016

July 2016

  • Check out some photos from the March 9, 2016 LRIGS panel discussion on the future of land reclamation.

June 2016

May 2016

  • Parks Canada and LRIGS researchers are looking for volunteers to help restore Greater Sage Grouse habitat in Grasslands National Park.
  • Check out the LRIGS spotlight article on Kate Melnik.
  • Check out the LRIGS spotlight article on Scott Wilson.
  • Check out the LRIGS spotlight article on Sebastian Dietrich.
  • Check out the LRIGS spotlight article on Muhammad Arshad.

April 2016

  • Our University of Alberta partners in the Alberta Centre for Reclamation and Restoration Ecology (ACRRE) are periodically releasing research notes connecting science to best practices. Recently added notes (# 7 – 11) summarize some work by Drs Scott Chang, Simon Landhausser, Vic Lieffers, Ellen Macdonald, M Anne Naeth and Scott Nielsen; Ms Cassidy Van Rensen and Mr Tim Vinge.
  • LRIGS Researcher, Dr Mark Poesch, is working with various energy companies in Alberta to monitor newly-created compensation lakes and their suitability for transplanted fish populations.

March 2016

  • From the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, Nova Gas Transmission Ltd., a subsidiary of TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. produced a series of research reports related to pipeline soil conservation practices. TransCanada realizes the importance of scientific research initiatives and is pleased to provide the numerous reports in digitized format to ensure the studies and respective findings are available to the general public. TransCanada has agreed to allow the Alberta Centre for Reclamation and Restoration Ecology (ACRRE) to make these reports available through the University of Alberta Libraries Education & Research Archive (ERA) at https://era.library.ualberta.ca/collections/bgx41mh867
  • A book on the history of reclamation in Alberta has recently been published and can be viewed at https://era.library.ualberta.ca/downloads/5d86p322r
  • LRIGS MSc students, Jaime Aguilar and Caitlin Low, will be defending their theses on Wednesday, March 16 and Thursday, March 17, respectively. Public presentations will be held on the same days in Room 802 of the General Services Building (GSB) on the University of Alberta Campus. Mr Aguilar’s presentation will begin at 1:00 pm and Ms Low’s presentation will begin at 2:30 pm.

January 2016

December 2015

  • Check out some photos from the September 2015 LRIGS trip to British Columbia.

October 2015

  • Syncrude Canada Ltd is looking to hire a student geologist. Go here for more information.
  • Dr M Anne Naeth from the University of Alberta and Dr Shelley Pruss from Parks Canada are looking to co-supervise a PhD student for a project dealing with sagebrush restoration in Grasslands National Park. Go here for more details.

August 2015

  • Dr Pete Cott, an adjunct professor with the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, is spearheading a project to restore Frame Lake in the middle of the city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories.

July 2015

  • LRIGS is partnering with Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd and Clearflow Enviro Systems Group Inc to offer a short course entitled, “Alberta Wetlands: From Classification to Policy”. Go to the course description to find out more and how to enrol.
  • Read the June 2015 LRIGS and HAI Reclamation Theme combined newsletter here.

June 2015

  • Some of the research of LRIGS Director, Dr M Anne Naeth, that examined the use of dry wall as a helpful soil amendment for reclamation was recently in the news.
  • The Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta is looking to fill a post doctoral fellowship in ecosystem assembly and succession in reclaimed wester boreal ecosystems. Go here for more information.

May 2015

  • LRIGS-affiliated researcher, Dr Bill Shotyk, is in the news.
  • Check out the spotlight article on LRIGS MSc student, Kangyi Lou.

April 2015

  • The 2016 International Rangeland Congress will be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from July 17 to 22, 2016.  Proposals for papers are now being accepted.  Please go to http://www.irc2016canada.ca/#sthash.Odiw5d9o.dpbs for more details.
  • LRIGS and the Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resources Canada have released the report from their joint workshop entitled, “Aboriginal Participation in Land Reclamation: Enhancing the Dialogue” which was held on March 23, 2015. The full report can be viewed here.
  • Check out the spotlight article on LRIGS MSc student, Caitlin Low.
  • LRIGS PhD student Valerie Miller spent time in Austalia earlier this year to learn about critical zone soil science and climate change. Read more about her adventures here.

March 2015

  • LRIGS committee members, researchers, graduate students and post doctoral fellows have developed a bucket list for land reclamation professionals. We’d love to hear what you think about it. Email us at michal.guzowski@ualberta.ca with your comments.
  • University of Alberta undergraduate students studying land reclamation will be presenting posters on their capstone team reclamation projects on Thursday, March 26. Go here for more details.
  • A recent project of one of our LRIGS researchers, Dr Peter Boxall, was the subject of a recent Edmonton Journal article.
  • Check out the spotlight article on LRIGS MSc student, Alison Bijman.
  • This year’s LRIGS guest lecture will be given by Ms Pat Payne from the Alberta Energy Regulator on Friday, March 13 and will talk about the Province of Alberta’s Orphan Well Program. Refer to Orphan Wells Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 for the slides.

February 2015

  • Congratulations to LRIGS MSc student Kangyi Lou! Kangyi won 1st place for best graduate student presentation at the Alberta Soil Science Workshop held in Edmonton from February 17 – 19.
  • The Canadian Forest Service wants to hire a Forest Reclamation Scientist. Go here for more details.
  • LRIGS is teaming up with its academic partners at China University of Geosciences, Beijing (CUGB) to provide another opportunity for its graduate students and post doctoral fellows to engage in activities to increase their exposure to different international perspectives on land reclamation. LRIGS students and post docs will be partnered with CUGB students and post docs as pen pal partners. They will correspond with their partners on a regular basis to share information about their research and to talk about land reclamation in general. We look forward to the professional and personal relationships that might develop through this arrangement.
  • Natural Resources Canada is looking to hire a Policy Analyst. Go here for more details.

January 2015

  • The Canadian Society of Soil Science will be hosting a conference from July 5-10, 2015.
  • The Canadian Land Reclamation Association and Manitoba Soil Science Society wil be hosting a conference from June 15-18, 2015.
  • Happy International Year of Soils!
  • Dr Brad Pinno, an Assistant Professor Candidate for a position in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, will be presenting a Terrestrial Restoration Ecology seminar entitled, “Reconstructing forest ecosystems: Linking below and aboveground processes to create functioning forests” on Monday, January 26, from 10:00 – 11:00 am in Room 802 of the General Services Building on the University of Alberta campus.
  • Dr Justine Karst, an Assistant Professor Candidate for a position in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, will be presenting a Terrestrial Restoration Ecology seminar entitled, “Restoration of Forest Ecosystem Functions in Reclaimed Landscapes” on Tuesday, January 20, from 8:30 – 9:30 am in Room 849 of the General Services Building on the University of Alberta campus.
  • Dr Patrick Audet, an Assistant Professor Candidate for a position in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, will be presenting a Terrestrial Restoration Ecology seminar entitled, “The myth of ecological restoration: Addressing mining and environmental stewardship in the 21st century” on Monday, January 19, from 9:00 – 10:00 am in Room 802 of the General Services Building on the University of Alberta campus.
  • Jerry Hanna, an Edmonton businessman and member of the LRIGS Advisory Committee, was recently featured in this online Business In Edmonton article.

December 2014

October 2014

  • The Edmonton branch of APEGA (the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta) is hosting a presentation dealing with Tailings Management in the Oil Sands Industry. More information here.
  • Dr Bill Shotyk, an LRIGS researcher, recently had some of his work featured in an Edmonton Journal article viewable here.
  • Check out photos from the recent LRIGS trip to Germany on the LRIGS Facebook page.
  • An article about LRIGS was recently published in the October 2014 issue of Business in Edmonton. You can view it here.
  • Dr David Chanasyk is offering a course in Applied Soil Physics (EXGEN4301 FA2) through the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension from November 3 – 7, 2014. More information can be found here.

September 2014

  • Sarah Ficko and Valerie Miller, two LRIGS PhD students, volunteered with Aboriginal youth for a TransAlta-organized reclamation activity. Find out more here.

August 2014

  • Jerry Hanna, an Edmonton businessman and member of the LRIGS Advisory Committee, was recently featured in this online Alberta Venture article.

July 2014

  • Read the July 2014 edition of the combined LRIGS HAI Theme 6 newsletter available for online viewing here.
  • The Department of Renewable Resources is looking for a Research Associate to look at ecosystem assembly and succession in reclaimed western boreal ecosystems. You can view the posting here.
  • The Calgary office of Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited is looking for an environment & land manager for land reclamation-related work for their southern prairie business region. You can view their posting here.
  • The Calgary office of Worley Parsons is looking for an environmental soil scientist for land reclamation-related work. You can view their posting here.
  • LRIGS is now on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lrigsualberta

May 2014

  • Our partners at the Alberta Land-use Knowledge Network filmed the brief LRIGS presentation made by the LRIGS Coordinator, Mr Michal Guzowski, at the February 2014 Canadian Land Reclamation Association Alberta Chapter Conference and Annual General Meeting. The video can be viewed here.

March 2014

  • On March 28, Dr Kathryn Chandler from the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta presented a “Professional Dress” professional development module for LRIGS students.
  • On March 21, Mr Jamie Hanlon from Marketing and Communications at the University of Alberta presented a “Media 101” professional development module for LRIGS students.
  • LRIGS has produced a brief set of notes summarizing some of the main points coming out of our recent panel talk entitled, “Land Reclamation Through An Aboriginal Lens”. They are available for viewing here.

February 2014

  • Two LRIGS students, Valerie Miller and Jenna Abou Rizk, were honoured with Academic Merit Awards from the Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) at the CLRA Alberta Chapter Conference and Annual General Meeting Held in Red Deer from February 26 to 28. Congratulations, Valerie and Jenna!
  • LRIGS researcher, Dr David Locky from MacEwan University, will be offering a short course on Thursday, May 1, entitled, “Working with Alberta’s Wetlands: A Primer for Effective Management of a Complex Ecosystem on a Dynamic Landscape”. To find out more about the course, go here. To sign up for the course contact the LRIGS Coordinator, Mr Michal Guzowski, at michal.guzowski@ualberta.ca.
  • LRIGS will be hosting a panel talk entitled, “Land Reclamation Through An Aboriginal Lens” on Wednesday, March 5. Go here for more details. Also on hand will be LRIGS graduate students and post doctoral fellows. They will be available before and after the panel talk to showcase and talk about their research projects.

January 2014

December 2013

November 2013

  • Heather Archibald, HAI student supervised by Dr M Anne Naeth, will be presenting her Master’s thesis project “Early Ecosystem Genesis Using LFH and Peat Amendments in Athabasca Oil Sands Reclamation” at 8:30 am on Wednesday, December 18, Room 802, General Services Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton. An abstract of the project will be available at the beginning of December.

October 2013

  • Read the July 2013 edition of the combined LRIGS HAI Theme 6 newsletter available for online viewing here.
  • The LRIGS donation account is now established and we are able to receive funds. Thank you to Dr Gord McKenna and Dr David Chanasyk, who each donated a financial gift to begin our fundraising for the future of LRIGS. To learn more on how to contribute, please click here.
  • The Department of Renewable Resources recently posted an article about LRIGS Master’s student, Matthew Gelderman here.

September 2013

  • In only its second year of operation, LRIGS was awarded the Dr Edward M Watkin award for significant contributions to furthering land reclamation practice in Canada at the CLRA Annual Meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon on September 11. Dr M Anne Naeth, Mr Michal Guzowski and all current LRIGS student were on hand to accept the award presented by CLRA president, Andrea Granger. An article about LRIGS winning the Award can be found here on the Faculty of ALES news website.
  • LRIGS students went on an unforgettable 10 day tour of Northern Canada from September 8 – 18. Highlights include attending the CLRA Annual Meeting and touring reclamation sites around Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and a tour of Giant Mine in Yellowhorse, Northwest Territories.

August 2013

  • LRIGS was honoured to host a group of visiting academics from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing (CUGB). Dr Zhongke Bai, Dr Wei Zhou and Dr Jinman Wang spent their time on the University of Alberta campus discussing land reclamation research in China and Canada and discussing student exchange and research collaboration opportunities.
  • Our partners at the Alberta Land Use Knowledge Network have produced an online video of Dr Eric Higg’s guest lecture from April 2013. Click here to watch Part 1 and click here to watch Part 2.
  • The next Frontiers in Biology distinguished lecture series, featuring Dr Janet Jansson, will be held Thursday, September 12 at the University of Alberta campus. Details about the event sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences can be found here.

July 2013

  • Read the July 2013 edition of the combined LRIGS HAI Theme 6 newsletter available for online viewing here.

April 2013

  • Dr Gord McKenna and Jordana Fair from BGC Engineering Inc offered a very successful short course on landform design on Wednesday, April 24. Close to 40 participants from industry, government and the University of Alberta attended. Thank you, Dr. McKenna and Ms. Fair for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for land reclamation!
  • Dr Eric Higgs from the University of Victoria presented the second lecture in the LRIGS lecture series entitled, “Reclamation, Restoration and the Emergence of Novel Ecosystems.” Go here for more details. Funding for this lecture was generously donated by the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at the University of Alberta.

March 2013

  • Undergraduate students in Dr Naeth’s RENR 495 Land Reclamation and Revegetation course are having a poster session for their capstone projects that is open to the public. Come and see what these aspiring land reclamation professionals have been up to this year. More details can be found here.
  • Together with our partners at BGC Engineering Inc, we will be offering a short course on landform design which is open to graduate students and practicing land reclamation professionals. Go here for more information.
  • We hosted a very successful workshop for industry, consulting and government representatives on Wednesday, March 6 at which we collected ideas and suggestions for future LRIGS initiatives and directions.
  • LRIGS was featured in a March 5 Vancouver Sun article discussing global academic collaborations.

February 2013

  • Dr Eric Higgs from the University of Victoria will be presenting the next lecture in the LRIGS lecture series entitled, “Reclamation, Restoration and the Emergence of Novel Ecosystems.” Go here for more details. Funding for this lecture has been generously donated by the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at the University of Alberta.

January 2013

  • Our partners at the Alberta Land Use Knowledge Network have produced an online video of Dr Mohan K. Wali’s guest lecture from November 2012. Click here to watch Part 1 and click here to watch Part 2.
  • LRIGS has produced a promotional / recruitment video available for viewing online here.

November 2012

  • Dr Mohan K. Wali from The Ohio State University presented the the inaugural lecture in the LRIGS lecture series entitled, “The Global Imperative of Ecosystem Reclamation. Some Principles, Practices and Challenges Ahead.” Go here for more details. Funding for this lecture was generously donated by the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at the University of Alberta.
  • Read the November 2012 edition of the combined LRIGS HAI Theme 6 newsletter available for online viewing here.

October 2012

  • LRIGS opened an account with Facebook. “Like us” at http://www.facebook.com/lrigs and check out photos from our September 2012 trip to Germany.

September 2012

  • The first cohort of LRIGS graduate students and post doctoral fellows attended the 2nd Helmholtz Alberta Initiative (HAI) Forum and the joint HAI Theme 6 and LRIGS Student Tour in Germany from September 8-17.

April 2012

  • An article about LRIGS was published in the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Canadian Reclamation.

March 2012

  • The first LRIGS course, INT D 561: Dimensions of Environmental Problem Solving, was offered in May 2012.

February 2012

  • The Alberta Land-use Knowledge Network ran an online article listing and explaining opportunities for industry and government involvement in LRIGS.

January 2012

June 2011

  • A team of researchers at the University of Alberta, led by Dr M Anne Naeth, received funding from the NSERC CREATE program to create the Land Reclamation International Graduate Program. Read about it in this article.