Melanie Callahan

_{Claire Churchill and Dr. Salani Fernando conducting lab experiments}

A new lab at Grenfell Campus is allowing incredible research opportunities to learn about the natural world through exploration of its tiniest parts.

The LEAN Lab, or the Laboratory for Environmental and Analytical Nanogeochemistry, will build the foundation for the emerging field of environmental nanogeochemistry which blends emerging technologies in nanotechnology with the natural world.

A production company recently visited campus and produced a video explaining the project.

LEAN allows the rare opportunity to look at natural nanoparticles in media like water at a minute scale, according to Dr. Chad Cuss, associate professor of environmental inorganic/geochemistry School of Science and the Environment. Nanochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies and examines materials and chemical reactions at the nanoscale. At this tiny level, particles behave in unique ways, giving materials completely new physical, optical, and chemical properties compared to larger bulk materials

How does the research work? To examine each particle, it is sprayed into a fine mist, heated to be hotter than the sun’s surface which causes each particle to burst into a cloud of ions, and each ion is sorted and measured by mass. In a six-minute pass, more than four million measurements are made, which allows for an incredible access to information for learning and research.

“This research allows us to investigate things that might look uniform and consistent from the surface, but actually contain millions of tiny particles that differ in size and composition,” said Dr. Cuss. “The system is different, the tools are different, and how we collect samples is different. Starting to understand the actual natural nanosystems and how those are related to their ecological roles is brand new.”

_{Claire Churchill, Dr. Salani Fernando and Tianna Brake travelled to France to collaborate with the Physique du Globe de Paris as part of an NSERC Alliance International Catalyst Grant}

This project has collaborators in St. John's, Québec, various locations in the United States, Switzerland, Germany, France and The United Kingdom.

LEAN is built on three guiding principles: people, place and connection. As LEAN is deeply connected to the community it serves, students benefit from strong relationships with faculty, hands-on learning and meaningful research, and access to the province’s natural learning landscape, said Dr. Cuss. 

These factors combine to create a rich environment for experiential learning, scientific discovery, and personal growth.

“This research is important right now because of the environmental pressures from agriculture, mining, industry and climate change on soil and water quality,” said Dr. Salani Fernando, postdoctoral fellow. “LEAN provides a unique combination of advanced analytical instrumentation, expertise in the field and collaborative research environment. I have access to state-of-the-art instruments as well as collaborative research experiences.”

For Claire Churchill, MSc (boreal ecosystems and agricultural sciences), the most rewarding part of working with LEAN has been the variety of learning opportunities it has presented. 

“We're quite a small campus, so I get a lot of one-on-one time with support and guidance from Dr. Cuss, which has been really helpful in pushing my research forward.”

Being part of the project has been rewarding for recent B.Sc. environmental science- chemistry graduate Kevin Mackenzie.

“Studying at Grenfell has exposed me to diverse experiences and a wide range of subjects and fields. I am now working research areas that I did not know existed or that I would be interested in.”