Grant: Industrial Research Chairs for Colleges Grants

Founded in 1995, NAIT's Centre for Boreal Research (CBR) is a premiere research institute dedicated to the interests and stakeholders of Canada's Boreal forest. The CBR team is led by a Director and three PhD researchers. CBR is housed in a research complex in the town of Peace River, 500 km northwest of Edmonton and adjacent to the Peace River Oil Sands. Canada's Boreal forest is of global economic significance, containing timber resources, conventional oil and gas, and in situ and surface mineable oil sands. At the same time, industry activity is impacting the ecological integrity of the forest due to the cumulative effects of oil and gas, forestry, utility and pipelines, and resource roads. The NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges (IRCC) in Boreal Reclamation and Reforestation is a catalyst for technologies and innovation of mutual relevance for oil & gas companies, forest companies, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Dr. Amanda Schoonmaker, IRCC in Boreal Reclamation and Reforestation, provides oil and gas companies and reclamation SMEs, including forest companies, with practical techniques and methods for site preparation, deployment of Boreal plant species, and innovative life-cycle approaches to forest reclamation. Since joining CBR in 2011, Dr. Schoonmaker has mentored over 30 students in applied research field operations. Dr. Schoonmaker facilitates NAIT faculty research and is a focal point for research partnerships with university and government scientists. Dr Schoonmaker is committed to the transfer of research findings and the training of industry personnel and SME practitioners through the delivery of technical notes, seminars, and field tours.