Nov
12
Redeemer University College is pleased to announce the Inauguration of Dr. Edward Berkelaar as Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Studies. You are warmly invited to attend the inauguration ceremony on Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. A standing reception will follow in the Art Gallery.
Dr. Berkelaar will give an address titled: Nitrogen Regained: Fertilizer, Explosives, and Waterfalls. Of the many technological advances in the 20th century, one of the most important has been the discovery of a process to “fix” nitrogen from the air and convert it into synthetic fertilizers and explosives. This talk will trace the fascinating historical origins of this discovery and describe how it has dramatically shaped the modern world, focusing on the global impacts of nitrogen fixation on warfare, food production, population growth, water quality, and concluding with how we can benefit from using nitrogen while minimizing environmental harm in the future.
Edward Berkelaar grew up on a farm in Nova Scotia, Canada. After completing an undergraduate degree, he moved to Ontario to study plant science and environmental toxicology at the University of Guelph. After completing his PhD, he spent three years working at ECHO, an NGO in North Fort Myers that provides technical support to agricultural development workers. In 2003, he began his current position as a faculty member in environmental science and chemistry at Redeemer, where he teaches and does research on trace element update by plants and monitors urban water quality. Recently, he became involved in a research project monitoring water quality of local, urban creeks that drain into Cootes Paradise.
