Innovation Anthology #392:
Oil sands reclamation is benefiting from student research in more ways than one.
First, graduate students are expanding the knowledge base about northern ecology.
They are also changing the mindset at oil sands companies. Professor and wetland ecologist Dr. Lee Foote explains.
DR. LEE FOOTE: At least six of our graduates have gone on to work for industry now. And with them they’ve brought the cutting edge research abilities, the best educations. They’re really current. And oil sands companies have welcomed these folks and paid them handsome salaries because they are the new generation, the young turks, I call them, that are coming in with fresh ideas. Oil sands traditionally has been run by engineering mindsets. It’s moving big dirt with big equipment. And there’s a lot of engineering involved. But ecology is not quite as linear and direct quite often. Natural development of these wetlands requires that someone understand community dynamics of wetland plants, of animal communities. And these young folks who have moved in with these fresh graduate degrees are bringing that change in mindset to them.
Dr. Foote says when it comes to research, these graduates are also fostering a new culture of cooperation between oil sands companies.
Thanks today to Syncrude Canada Ltd
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
Dr. Lee Foote is a team leader with the research consortium CFRAWS: Carbon Dynamics, Food Web Structure and Reclamation Strategies in Athabasca Oil Sands. He also teaches wetland ecology at the University of Alberta
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Sponsor
Syncrude
Program Date: 2011-04-21