March 2010
Dr. Pascale Champagne, Ph.D., P.Eng., D.WRE is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and cross-appointed to the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Champagne is a leading researcher in environmental engineering, where currently she is developing a process to extract useable organic materials from waste biomass, such as livestock manure and forestry residue, and convert them into valuable chemicals and sources of energy, like biofuel.
Dr. Champagne has won numerous research awards such as Early Researcher Award in 2007, which is awarded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation to attract and retain and the best and brightest research talent in high-priority economic research sectors; Russell Ackoff Award in 2005 for Best Paper Award by the International Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management for the best paper; and Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award in 2002 for being recognized as an outstanding young faculty researcher whose academic work is particularly innovative, enhances the learning environment in the department in which they study and has the potential to be significant to society.
Pascale earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering and Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and she is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), International Water Association (IWA), Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Dr. Champagne has been an AAWRE Diplomate since September 2008.
Most fun class while in school:
Grade 11 Chemistry — where I learned that I could be scientifically creative.
My source for inspiration:
My 3 daughters. Always strive to make a difference and be a good role model for them.
Something I always wanted:
To make a difference.
Favorite song & artist:
Dark Angel, Blue Rodeo.
Favorite movie:
Wizard of Oz.
Favorite place/city to visit:
Any trail, place or site off the beaten path.
Can you tell us where you were born and where most of your childhood and upbringing was spent?
PC: I was born in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) where most of my extended family still resides. I was raised in the small bilingual town of Hawkesbury (Ontario, Canada), where I remained until I left to attend University.
We know that you attended McGill University and University of Guelph for your Bachelors of Science degrees in Biology and Water Resources Engineering, and later earned your Masters in Civil Engineering and your PhD in Environmental Engineering. At Carleton University. What were the main influencing factors for you to study environmental and civil engineering and how was your experience like?
PC: I obtained an undergraduate degree in Biology with a specialization in Marine Biology and minor in Northern Studies from McGill University in Montreal (Quebec). During my summers, I worked as a research assistant for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. From these early studies, I discovered a passion for the environment and wanted to be involved in a field where I could lead meaningful environmental projects. I decided to undertake a second undergraduate degree in Engineering with a specialization on the Environment and Water Resources at the University of Guelph (Guelph, Ontario). At the time the program was relatively small with approximately 40 students and I thrived in this type of environment.
While at the University of Guelph, I was also fortunate to work as a research assistant during the summers, which allowed me to grow as a researcher. Following my Engineering degree, I worked in Yellowknife (NWT) as an environmental engineer (Engineer-in-training) for almost 1 year working on a variety of municipal and environmental engineering projects. I truly enjoyed the experience, but missed the creative side of engineering research and decided to complete my Master's and doctoral degrees. I was fortunate to have been awarded prestigious NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships as the Masters and Doctoral levels to support my return to graduate school and to have had the opportunity to work with supervisors who allowed me to explore my creativity and autonomy in the development of my research projects.
Would it be fair to say that you are a proud Canadian? What are some great traditions or facts about Canada that folks should know if visiting Canada?
PC: It would be fair to say that I am proud to be Canadian. While I love to visit new places, experience new cultures and collaborate with people around the world, Canada is always home.
Which would you say, you had the most fun or found most enjoyable? During your undergraduate studies, graduate, or doctoral research?
PC: I would have to say that each experience defines very special experiences and milestones in my life, all of which have defined me as an individual- making this a truly enjoyable journey. Through my experiences as an undergraduate student, I participated in a variety of extra-curricular activities ranging from social, varsity sports, teaching, outreach, student government, and student conference organization. They also enabled me to develop a unique skill set (science, engineering, teaching, research) that would serve me well both as a professional and academic.
My graduate studies were punctuated (quite literally) by the birth of my 3 daughters, my 16 year old at the beginning of my Masters and 14 year old at the end of my Masters and beginning of my PhD, and my 10 year old at the end of my PhD. My extracurricular and professional activities outside of family during my graduate studies focused on outreach, teaching, municipal-level committees dealing with environmental issues and professional development. I was also hired as a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the second year of my doctoral studies (1998), which meant rising to new challenges of balancing family, career and studies.
We understand that you received the Senate Medal award for your thesis paper for your masters "Intracellular Reducing Power Applications to Dual Substrate Cometabolic Biodegradation Modeling" and you had a paper for your undergraduate thesis titled "Design of a Biological Sewage Treatment Plant for Small Northern Communities - Sakha Village, Yakut, Siberia". Can you share with us more about these 2 papers and did you get a chance to travel to Yakut, Siberia?
PC: For my undergraduate thesis, I wanted to be involved in a project that I considered to be unique. I had read about this consulting company (Ferguson Simek Clark Engineers and Architects) in the North West Territories (NWT) that was building small self-contained villages in Siberia (Yakut) and wrote to them to see if they would hire me as a summer student after my 2nd of 3 years at the University of Guelph. Unfortunately, this did not materialize due to budgetary constraints, so I approached the company with a proposal to work on the design and characterization of the biological wastewater treatment modular unit they intended to employ in Sakha Village. This project was very interesting and challenging, as well as appealed to my desires to make a difference.
Upon completion of the project, I was offered a position with Ferguson Simek Clark Engineers and Architects and continued to work on this project. I was the first female engineer to be employed by the consulting company. Unfortunately, due to the political climate in the USSR at the time, sending a young Canadian female engineer to a remote northern Siberian community construction site was not in the cards and I had to be satisfied to assist in the project from the safety of our Yellowknife head office.
Being awarded the Carleton University Senate Medal Award for my Master's was truly a personal honor on two levels. First, as my Master's research on Intracellular Reducing Power Applications to Dual Substrate Cometabolic Biodegradation Modelling was a self-selected and self-directed project with guidance from my two co-supervisors (Dr. Wayne Parker (University of Waterloo) and Dr. Paul Van Geel (Carleton University), it indicated to me that I had potential as a young researcher and future academic, and secondly that achieving excellence while balancing career and family was possible.
We know that you have been the recipient of some notable awards and scholarships in your career, which included the Canadian Geotechnical Society Graduate Student Paper Award. Can you tell us more about the topic you chose for this paper?
PC: The Canadian Geotechnical Society Graduate Student Paper Award was presented for a paper and presentation based on my PhD dissertation, which provided an overview of the passive treatment system for the mitigation of acid mine drainage that I had developed during my doctoral studies and some of the findings of my bench-scale studies.
You've worked on and been part of some very interesting and vital research projects so far. You shared with us (AAWRE) a bit about your project regarding Development & Investigation of Passive and Semi-Passive Treatment Systems for the Mitigation of Municipal, Industrial & Agricultural Wastewaters and Use of Risk-Based Decision-Making Approaches in the Risk Assessment of Urban Water Management Systems.
Are there other research project(s) that you are particularly proud of or that truly stand out for their difficulty or challenge?
PC: Other water resources-related projects that I am proud of and are of particular interest and that stand out for their difficulty and challenges and potential future impacts would include:
I am also currently involved in a number of projects that are not directly related to water resources, but to overall resource management that could ultimately affect aquatic receiving environments. These projects deal with the management and utilization of waste biomass as a resource for the production of biofuels and higher value chemicals using novel "greener" engineering approaches.
Can you tell us which project(s) stand out to you for being most fun to work on?
PC: One of the best rewards in the field of Environmental Engineering research is seeing a project evolve from laboratory-scale, to bench-scale, and finally be commissioned and tested at the pilot-scale or the full scale. Essentially moving from the conceptual to fundamental and proof of concept, to validation and implementation. I have been fortunate to have led 3 of the projects to date:
You are one of the founding Diplomates of AAWRE- how did you hear about the program and why did you want to become a D.WRE?
PC: I was introduced to the AAWRE and asked to consider a nomination to be come a D.WRE by prominent U.S. colleagues who are actively involved with the ASCE and AAWRE organizations. As a professional engineer and researcher involved in a number of water resources management and protection projects, I felt that fundamental goals and objectives of the AAWRE and the D.WRE designation were in line with my own. It is an honor to have been considered and nominated by my colleagues for this designation.
What types of services or initiatives would you like to see AAWRE pursue?
PC: As water is a critical resource locally, regionally and globally, I would like to see the AAWRE further involved global initiatives through organizations such Engineers Without Boarders activities. I would also like to see more water resources-related collaborative initiatives with developing nations facilitated through AAWRE services (e.g. announcement or advertisement of potential international funding initiatives or opportunities between AAWRE-affiliated members or countries).
We know that you have been actively involved in professional and community service activities throughout your career, such as serving on Scientific Committees, International Conference Program Committees, ASCE's Breadth of Knowledge Committee, City of Kingston Committee on Organic and Solid Waste Management Alternatives, and serving as researcher and advisor to City of Kingston. Can you tell us more about your other professional and community service activities?
PC: Editorial Board of Bioresource Technolgogy and Associate Editor of Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management (ASCE).
Which aspect of the profession, would you say you enjoy most if you could only choose one: teaching, research, or writing? And why?
PC: In the early stages of my career, I would have stated teaching as the most enjoyable part of my profession. However, in the last few years I have initiated and been involved in a number of exciting research projects and have had the opportunity to work with exceptional colleagues and students from which a dynamic and outstanding research team has evolved. As such, I would have to say that at this point in my career, my research is captivating my interest. Every day brings exciting new challenges, solutions and breakthroughs.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
PC: The most enjoyable part about teaching is the contact and interaction with the students. I feel that my role as an educator of future professional engineers is important as stimulating critical thinking enabling creative problem solving solutions is paramount to our profession.
Today, there are more engineers whom are women in leadership roles in the engineering profession than 25 years ago. What would be your personal pitch to kids in school and particularly female students to get them excited about the field of environmental and civil engineering?
PC: No problem in engineering ever has only one solution. As such the solution is really limited by our creativity. The most creative solutions in the next decade are likely to come from those willing to step outside of their comfort zone and explore and experiment on the fringes of the traditional disciplinary science and engineering silos. The most exciting part about environmental engineering to me is that it is truly multidisciplinary provides us with the knowledge base and skill set to successfully operate on the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Embrace that challenge and you will make a difference.
What are some of your personal hobbies and interests?
PC: In my "spare time" I enjoy a number of activities: cycling, soccer, martial arts training, camping, hiking, reading, travelling, student outreach activities to name a few.
What are some of your goals for the next year?
PC: As I will be on sabbatical in the 2010-2011 academic year, I have 3 primary goals.