Peel Environmental Youth Alliance

Speaker Series Archive: Joanna McNeil

As a resident of Cape Breton Island, Joanna McNeil has followed the progress of the Sydney Tar Ponds clean up with great interest - but never dreamed that she could play a role. After learning the process of bioremediation (using micro-organisms to break down chemical toxins with minimal effect on the environment) Joanna embarked to discover whether bioremedial processes could provide a feasible clean up to the toxic sludge of Sydney tar ponds as an alternative to incineration. After months of field and lab work, Joanna made a shocking discovery - bioremediation was already taking place in the tar ponds. Joanna's findings did not go unnoticed, the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency (STPA) publicized Joanna's findings and she was featured in a children's science magazine. Her research project placed first in the province at the Aventis Biotech Challenge and fourth across Canada. At the 2006 Canada-Wide Science Fair, she earned the prestigious Canadian Stockholm Junior Water Prize and took her research to an international symposium in Sweden.
Her environmental achievements also include the making of an anti-littering video which was used in a television ad campaign created by the provincial Resource Recovery Fund Board. Her science projects have also included a study on the effects of road salts on vegetation, as well as additives that could reduce evaporation of water reserves in warm climates. For her efforts, Joanna won the outstanding Environmental Achievement Award from the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship foundation, as well as selected as one of Canada Top 20 people under 20 years old in 2006. Joanna is currently in her second year at Dalhousie University.

Joanna was the second speaker in our PEYA Online Speaker series. She talked to participants about a bioremediation research project in the Sydney Tar Ponds, and issues relating to water. She answered participant's questions about pollution issues, and the dumping of sewage into Halifax Harbour. She also discussed the scientific research that was required during her project, and other projects she has been involved in relating to water. PEYA members are also welcome to contact Joanna at joannadawnmcneil at hotmail.com

If you missed Joanna and would like to watch a recording from Tuesday March 25th, click here!