Research


ASPIRE -Aquatic Systems Professional and Industrial training for the Restoration Economy

People on project:

Rob Jamieson

Partners:

NSERC/CRSNG

ASPIRE -Aquatic Systems Professional and Industrial training for the Restoration Economy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded by NSERC-CREATE, the ASPIRE program is a training program in which Masters and PhD students at Dalhousie University are encouraged to develop professional skills while contributing to the development of:

1. Treatment technologies for contaminated aquatic environmental media

2. Methods for the restoration of watershed interactions and hydrologic functioning of altered aquatic system

3. Assessment and monitoring tools for disturbed and restored aquatic systems

Program Objectives:

Through training modules, specialized graduate courses, and a mandatory industrial internship, the ASPIRE program aims to:

1. Provide theoretical and practical training in the science and engineering of aquatic systems restoration projects;

2. Develop professional skills needed to be successful in the environmental restoration sector;

3. Create networking opportunities between program participants ( trainees and faculty)  and personnel from industrial, governmental, and non-governmental organizations; and 

4. Foster entrepreneurial skills and attitudes in HQP.

The ASPIRE Program

The development of specific and marketable skills for the restoration economy is central to the ASPIRE program. Trainees aspire to become highly qualified professionals through participation in the six program elements:

  • Specialized graduate courses
  • Restoration field school
  • Industrial internships
  • Seminars
  • Networking events
  • Women in STEM events

Upon completion of the ASPIRE program, trainees will have developed advanced technical, leadership, and business skills that are marketable to the restoration sector in Canada and internationally.

 

Specialized Graduate Courses

Mandatory for ASPIRE trainees but available to non-trainees, the two new graduate courses encourage the development of skills marketable in the Canadian restoration economy and worldwide, adding to your professional toolkit.

 

Environmental Restoration: Practice and Policy

This course will focus on restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Students will be introduced to several aspects of restoration work including regulatory frameworks, public consultation, technical approaches and developing quality assurance/quality control frameworks.

 

Restoration Field School

Trainees will gain field experience and exposure to a variety of projects through the annual field school. The multi-day workshop will include the assessment, design, and monitoring of a different disturbed or restored aquatic system each year. Trainees will gain teamwork and project management skills as they work in project teams to produce a restoration assessment or design, while receiving on-the-ground training from faculty.

 

Industrial Internships

This aspect of the ASPIRE program will help trainees to achieve professional designations through the completion of an internship with one of our industrial partners. Time spent in the internship will be the equivalent of 20% of the program length.

Trainees will be matched to industry partners based on the needs of the industrial partners and the experience and interests of the trainee.

 

Trainees will have opportunities each semester to share their projects and findings with their peers in a half-day seminar. Not only will each student get to present at a seminar during their program, they will also take turns acting as co-chair of the seminar to organize and host the event.

Seminars will also feature guest lectures from visiting national and international researchers, industry representatives and government regulators covering both technical and non-technical topics.

 

Networking

A yearly dinner and poster symposium will allow trainees to network with the ASPIRE partners, including industry and government representatives from consulting firms, regulating bodies, and eco-tech start-ups. Students will provide poster presentations of their research and industry guest speakers will provide talks on different aspects of restoration work over a semi-formal dinner.

 

Women in STEM

We value inclusion in the ASPIRE program and believe it is important to celebrate women in STEM by fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome. Female mentors associated with ASPIRE will host a themed event twice per year, in conjunction with the fall and winter semesters. Students, graduate students, professors, and industry partners will discuss the challenging and encouraging aspects of being a woman in STEM.

 

Team

The interdisciplinary ASPIRE team includes Dalhousie University faculty across several departments, along with collaborators from other universities, government, and non-governmental sectors. Our industrial partners include engineering consulting companies of various sizes, environmental technology development firms, utility operators, and analytical services providers. 

 

Dr. Rob Jamieson

Ph.D, P. Eng. - Professor, Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University; Associate Director, Centre for Water Resources Studies; Canada Research Chair in Cold Water Ecological Engineering   

 

 

 

Dr. Graham Gagnon

Ph.D, P.Eng, FEC - Professor, Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University; NSERC/Halifax Water Industrial Research Chair; Director, Centre of Water Resources Studies  

 

 

 

Dr. Margaret Walsh

Ph.D, P. Eng. - Professor, Civil and Resources Engineering, Dalhousie University  

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Craig Lake

Ph.D, P.Eng. - Professor, Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Suzanne Budge

Ph.D, - Professor, Process Engineering and Applied Sciences, Dalhousie University    

 

 

Dr. Tony Walker

Ph.D, E.P. - Assistant Professor, School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University   

 

 

 

 

Dr. Shannon Sterling

Ph.D.- Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Dalhousie University; Director, Hydrology Research Group 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour

Ph.D - Associate Professor, Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University 

 

 

 

Dr. Barret Kurylyk

Ph.D., P.Eng. - Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University  

 

 

 

 

Dr. David Roach

PhD, MBA, B.Eng. - Assistant Professor, Rowe School of Business

 

 

 

 

Dr. Ian Spooner

P.Geo., Ph.D,- Professor, Earth and Environmental Science Department, Acadia University    

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gordon W. Price

Ph.D,P.Ag.- Innovative Waste Management Research Program Faculty of Agriculture Graduate Coordinator; Associate Professor, Department of Engineering in the Faculty of Agriculture

 

 

Social Media:

Twitter site: @aspire_dal

https://www.aspirecreate.org/joinus

 

 

 

 ASPIRE's first group of students

 Meeting: September 14, 2018

 

In photo:

L-R back: Dr Rob Jamieson, Dr. Craig Lake , Aidan Van Heyst , Nicole Bell , Meggie Letman

Front (seated). L-R : Heather McGuire, Jenny Hayward

Missing from Photo: Caitlin McCavour, David Foster, and Mike Hamilton.

 

A hike to Jane's Falls and a discussion on entrepreneurship from the perspective of women in STEM: December 07, 2018

 

 

 

 

In photo front to back: 
Left Side: Dr. Rob Jamieson, Dr. Craig Lake, Aidan Van Heyst, Nicole Bell, Caitlin McCavour, Dr. Barret Kurylyk
Right: Justine Lywood (guest speaker and co-founder and co-prinicipal of plusArctic Consulting), Jenny Haywood ( in red), David Foster, Baillie Holmes, Heather McGuire, Jason KarisAllen