Christina Smeaton

Associate Professor

Program: Environmental Science

Email: csmeaton@mun.ca

Phone: 709-637-2549

Office: AS 226-C

 

Credentials

BSc Environmental Science (MUN Grenfell Campus)

MSc Environmental Science (University of Windsor)

PhD Environmental Science (University of Windsor)

 

Research 

Using her expertise in biogeochemistry, she leads a research program focused on advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture. Her team’s work combines lab, field, and modeling with archival analysis to: (1) examine the socio-cultural, economic, and political history of NL’s seaweed industry and the use of seaweed as a fertilizer; and (2) assess the climate change mitigation potential of using seaweed as a fertilizer and its effects on nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Teaching

I mainly teach Environmental Science and Chemistry. Examples include a 3rd and 4th year course in Environmental Biogeochemistry (ENVS 3262) and Aquatic Chemistry (ENVS 4230).

For more information see here.

 

Representative scholarly contributions

  1. Hettinga, J., Smeaton, C.M., Pendakis K. Seaweed and Society: Media and Government Reporting on Fertilizer Use in Newfoundland and Labrador, 1819–2024. Journal of Newfoundland and Labrador Studies. Foodways Special Issue (Submitted June 2025, in review).
  2. Rabbani, G., Smeaton, C., Cheema, M. and Galagedara, L., 2025. Evaluation and estimation of boreal podzol soil nutrient concentrations using electromagnetic induction sensors. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 236, p.110448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2025.110448 
  3. Amarawardana, D., Smeaton, C.M. and Mellage, A., 2025. Microbial growth and activity in static incubation: spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements of cell suspensions in non-polarizing media. Geophysical Journal International, 243(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaf396​
  4. Pathirana, S., Lambot, S., Krishnapillai, M., Cheema, M., Smeaton, C. and Galagedara, L., 2025. Pore-water electrical conductivity assessment: an integrated ground-penetrating radar–electromagnetic induction approach. Environmental Science: Advances, 4(9), pp.1514-1527. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5VA00121H​
  5. Pathirana, S., Lambot, S., Krishnapillai, M., Cheema, M., Smeaton, C. and Galagedara, L., 2024. Integrated ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic induction offer a non-destructive approach to predict soil bulk density in boreal podzolic soil. Geoderma, 450, p.117028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117028 

See my website for a complete list: https://christinasmeaton.weebly.com/publications.html

 

Current research projects and grants

1. Project Title: Developing and Validating an Electrode-Based Iodide Detection Method in Kelp
    Role: PI 
    Funding Source: Grenfell Campus Research Fund (Awarded February 2026, 1 year)

2. Project Title: Reducing foodprints in rural Newfoundland: Evaluating the impact of seaweed-based fertilizers on nutrient and carbon cycling
    Role: PI 
    Funding Source: John and Judy Bragg Family Foundation Applied Research Fund (Awarded June 2025, 2 years)

3. Project Title: Ironing Out the Mechanisms Driving Microbial Iron(III) Reduction in Sugar Kelp
    Role: PI 
    Funding Source: NSERC Alliance via the Ocean Frontiers Institute (OFI) Seed Fund (Awarded December 2024, 2 years ( includes 1 year extension))

4. Project Title: Rooting for net zero emissions: Building Canada's climate resiliency through the development of carbon smart composting methods and organic fertilizers
    Role: PI 
    Funding Source: NSERC Discovery Grant (Awarded April 2024, 5 years)

5. Project Title: Reducing carbon foodprints: Rooting for decarbonization in agriculture using seaweed-based fertilizers
    Role: PI 
    Funding Source: Scotiabank Net Zero Research Fund (Awarded July 2023, 2 years)
    Project/ award summary: Scotiabank Perspectives Website
        
6. Project Title: Combating climate change using seaweed as fertilizer: Learning from the past to innovate for the future                      
    Role: PI
    Funding Source: MUN Terra Nova Innovator Award (Suncor) (Awarded December 2022, 2 years).
    Recognizes and supports outstanding young faculty members whose research is particularly innovative and whose specific research      proposal has real potential for a significant  impact on society.
    Project/ award summary: Gazette article

7. Project Title: Cropping, Fertilization, and Soil Conditioning Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation in NL        
    Applicant: Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture (NLFA)    
    Role: Collaborator
    Funding Source: Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Lab, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Awarded  Summer 2022 (5 years)
    Project website: www.nllivinglab.ca/

 

Awards and recognitions

Terra Nova Young Innovator Award (2022)

 

Honours, graduate and post-graduate supervision

I am currently supervising 2 MSc Students and 1 PhD Student.

Since joining Grenfell Campus, I’ve completed the supervision of 4 honours students, 2 MSc Students (co-supervisor),1 PhD Student (co-supervisor). 

See my website for more information: https://christinasmeaton.weebly.com/people.html