New Faculty
Dr. Mano Krishnapillai
Environmental Science
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College
Dr. Mano Krishnapillai joins Sir Wilfred Grenfell College as an assistant professor in environmental science teaching courses in soils and remediation. "One of the questions environmental scientists face is how to deal with ever-increasing industrial pollution," he said. "I like to raise awareness of different kinds of environmental pollution to prevent them from happening and to offer alternative innovative technologies to remediate contaminated sites."
Dr. Krishnapillai, originally from Jaffna, Sri Lanka, comes to Grenfell College from Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he lived for nine years.
He holds a bachelor's degree with specialization in Agricultural Engineering from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and a master of philosophy degree with major in Agricultural Engineering from Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. As well, Dr. Krishnapillai holds a doctorate in Biosystems Engineering from University of Manitoba. His PhD thesis was on electrokinetic remediation of a nitrate-contaminated soil; Dr. R. Sri Ranjan from Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, was his advisor.
Dr. Krishnapillai taught courses in Agricultural Engineering to undergraduates in Agriculture at Eastern University, Sri Lanka, for 10 years, and worked as a sessional instructor for courses in soil and water engineering and waste management in the University of Manitoba.
"My research area is soil and groundwater remediation," he said. "I also have interest in waste management and alternative energy resources. As a hands-on experimentalist, I have interest in developing non-destructive measurement techniques. I have been involved in using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) as a non-destructive technique in monitoring soil water content, salinity, and snow density changes. My research at Grenfell College is directed at mapping contaminated sites in the area and developing innovative soil remediation technologies suited for the local needs."