Western University
AC-9: Academic Research

A short list of Western University’s sustainability researchers is available on the Centre for Environment and Sustainability website. This list is comprised of individuals that have self-identified as conducting sustainability related research over the last several years. Therefore, it may not represent every researcher on campus whose work is, in some way, sustainability related. We used this list to set the criteria for the inventory. By analyzing the types of research that these self-identified individuals were conducting, we established a benchmark to then determine whether or not other researchers are conducting sustainability research at Western. We analyzed the research focus information listed on department websites and professional websites for all 1799 research staff at Western. We ensured that all cross-appointed professors were not double counted and that emeriti were not included. For the purposes of this count we also excluded graduate students, post-doctoral students, professors who were listed only as lecturers, as well as all full and part-time staff members (non-faculty).

Dr. Amarjeet Bassi from the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering is interested in integrated and sustainable approaches to produce clean water and value from waste-water streams. He has been collaborating on a research project with a major dairy farm near London on a closed loop operation by treating waste water and growing micro-algae. This process can return clean water back to the farm operation, and in addition, the microalgae are applied to extract lipids and produce biodiesel. As the micro-algae also (fix atmospheric or flue gas) CO2, the process has significant potential to reduce both the water and the carbon footprint of the diary operations. Dr. Kamran Siddiqui from the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering has research activities in the areas of sustainable energy systems (solar, wind and geothermal), energy storage, and energy conversion. Dr. Tima Bansal, Professor of Ivey Business School and Executive Director for the Network for Business Sustainability, focuses primarily on business sustainability and strategy. She is aiming to understand how to better embed businesses into the wider context in which they operate. Dr. Jason Gilliland, Department of Geography, is interested in the dynamics of environmental and social change at different geographic scales, from entire regions and cities down to individual neighbourhoods, public spaces, and dwellings. His ongoing research is broadly focused on how various aspects of urban and regional planning (policy, development, and design) have an impact on critical issues such as local food systems, active/sustainable transportation, and children's health and well-being.