Academic challenge: Mentoring in environmental pollution for students
The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) Academic Challenge is a mentoring opportunity offered by Environment and Climate Changes Canada (ECCC) for college, cégep (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel) and university students in Canada. The NPRI is Canada’s public data base of pollutant releases to air, water and land, including pollutant disposals and transfers, from more than 7,000 facilities across various industrial sectors.
The Academic Challenge aims to encourage students to take action on current environmental topics and issues of concern, as well as to advance science using actual pollution data from Canadian industries. It offers real work experience by encouraging students to conduct their own analysis, while also facilitating networking with environmental professionals.
Over the course of a semester, students will have the opportunity to:
- conduct innovative research projects using National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) data
- exchange with ECCC staff via video or conference call to discuss the advancement of the project
- learn how to use and interpret the NPRI database by working on a research topic of common interest to ECCC and the students
The format of the project is flexible and it will be agreed upon with the supervising professor at the academic institution. It can take many forms, such as of a report, an essay, a map, a computer program or any other type of project or activity that uses and interprets data collected by the NPRI.
Eligible candidates
Professors or teachers
If you are a university, college or cégep professor or teacher who teach classes in a field related to the natural sciences (e.g., ecology and environment, earth sciences, chemistry, biology, geographic information systems, computer science, data science, etc.) or any other related program that can make the connection with relevant social sciences (e.g., environmental justice and socio-ecology), you are eligible for the Academic Challenge.
You can integrate the Academic Challenge into the curriculum of one of your courses as a term project, or participate in it as part of a specific project.
Please complete the application form so that ECCC staff can contact you to discuss opportunities.
Students
If you are a student enrolled in university, college or cégep programs in a field related to the natural sciences (e.g., ecology and environment, earth sciences, chemistry, biology, geographic information systems, computer science, data science, etc.) or any other related program that can make the connection with relevant social sciences (e.g., environmental justice and socio-ecology), you are eligible for the Academic Challenge.
To participate, you must identify a supervising professor in order to participate.
You must also complete the project proposal form with your topic idea. If you do not have a topic, your application will be automatically rejected.
The challenge can be completed individually or as a team.
Why apply
Participation in the NPRI Academic Challenge offers hands-on experience using and analyzing real-world pollution data. Students will gain practical experience in scientific research and contribute to the communication of science in Canada.
Students will benefit from ECCC’s support and expertise throughout the project. In addition, their academic institution will benefit from greater visibility, as the results of the Academic Challenge could be published on ECCC’s website as examples of successful collaborations.
How to apply
To participate in the fall semester, applications must be submitted by September 22.
To participate in the winter semester, applications must be submitted by January 15.
ECCC accept submissions at any period prior to the deadline and will work with you to incorporate the project into your schedule. We will respond within two business days of receiving the application.
Challenge timeline for students
The Academic Challenge is held over one semester, either in the fall or the winter. During this period, ECCC staff will organize virtual meetings with students to oversee the progress of the project and provide input.
When applying, please indicate in your form the option that best suits your project proposal. These options are flexible and can be adapted to suit students' needs
Option A (more structured):
Weeks 1 and 2: Training on how to use the database. Weekly meetings are scheduled to discuss the progress of the project and answer to students’ questions.
Week 3: Development of a project plan and start of analysis. If necessary, ECCC will provide a preliminary dataset to facilitate this step.
Weeks 4 and 5: The project plan is submitted to ECCC staff for review and comment. If necessary, experts in the selected topic area may be involved in the project to provide feedback.
Weeks 6-9: Preparation of a draft version of the report and submit it to ECCC for review.
Week 10: ECCC provides comments on the draft. If necessary, a meeting may be scheduled to discuss amendments.
Week 11-14: ECCC provides comments on the draft. If necessary, a meeting may be scheduled to discuss amendments.
Week 15: ECCC provides comments on the final draft.
Week 16: Presentation of the project by videoconference or in person to ECCC employees. Preparation of a project summary for publication on the NPRI website.
Option B (more autonomous)
Weeks 1 and 2: Training on how to use the database. Discussions with ECCC to define research needs, such as filtered datasets or involvement of experts.
Weeks 3: Submission of the project plan to ECCC.
Weeks 4-9: Beginning of research and analysis. Submission of a draft version of the report to ECCC for review.
Week 10: ECCC provides comments on the draft.
Weeks 11-14: Finalization of the project and submission of the final version to ECCC and the teacher.
Week 15: ECCC provides comments on the final draft.
Week 16: Presentation of the project by videoconference or in person to ECCC employees. Preparation of a project summary for publication on the NPRI website.
Past collaborations
Since the inception of the Academic Challenge, we had the privilege to collaborate on 27 projects with 13 different Canadian academic institutions. For an overview of these projects, please consult the NPRI Academic Challenge Story Map.
We are also delighted to share few testimonials from former participants:
“The NPRI Academic Challenge was an excellent opportunity for me to apply concepts from my academic courses to analyze and model pollution from a real-world facility. The availability of a wide variety of facility data in the NPRI really allowed me to use my creative liberty to produce a report tailored to both my interests and my course curriculum.”
- Student, Waterloo University
“The NPRI Academic Challenge was for me an opportunity to use real world data to investigate the interesting problem of air pollution dispersion and influence in our environment while practicing useful scientific skills learned during my degree."
- Student, Dalhousie University
“It was a pleasure to be involved in the NPRI Academic Challenge and to offer upper-level students a chance to work with such a comprehensive dataset on pollutants in Canada. It was an easy process to promote this challenge to the class and a high caliber of research projects have evolved from this collaboration. I look forward to continued participation.”
- Teacher, Dalhousie University
Other examples of past collaborations are listed below.
- Project title: Metformin, Gliclazide and Fluoxetine: effects on aquatic biota and their distribution in wastewater effluent and recipient waters
Summary: the effects of recipient waters from wastewater effluents contaminated with pharmaceutical pollutants on aquatic biodiversity
School: McMaster University, Department of Biology, Biology 730 - Management of Aquatic Ecosystems and Resources
Year: 2019 - Project title: Bisphenol A and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate release from different facilities across Canada
Summary: analysis of release trends for Bisphenol A and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate as an indicator for plastic pollution
School: York University, Department of Civil Engineering
Students: Diego Hernandez, Jean Viccari Pereira, Reema
Year: 2023
- Project title: Analysis of Biphenyl and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate releases and exposure in diverse water bodies in Canada
Summary: analysis of temporal and spatial release trends for Biphenyl and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
School: York University, Department of Civil Engineering
Students: Salma Hendy, Ginelle Aziz, Amirabbas Goudarzie
Year: 2023
- Project title: Exploring the Associations Between Mercury Releases, Temperature, and Bank Swallow Abundances in Southern Ontario
School: Toronto Metropolitan University
Students: Anushri Mahadeo
Year: 2023-2024
- Project title: A Comparative Analysis of Particulate Matter ≤ 2.5μm Emissions Across Canadian Universities from 2012-2022
School: Dalhousie University
Students: Avery Markle, Alliyah Borrowman, Ben Davies, and Olivia Fox
Year: 2024
Topic ideas
Here are some ideas for research topics to inspire you. If you would like to work on any of the following topics, please indicate this in your application form. To find out about research topics that have already been explored, please consult the “Past collaborations” section or the NPRI reports.
Natural sciences topics
- cumulative impacts of releases of a substance of interest on an ecosystem or species of interest
- contaminated sites or environmental emergencies resulting from the industrial activities of a sector or facility.
- pollution prevention activities implemented by industries: the influence of these activities on pollutant release trends
- energy efficiency and ecological footprint of facilities as a function of their pollutant emissions
- modeling the movement of pollutants in air, water and soil (possibility of contextualizing information with environmental quality indexes).
- methods for managing, treating and disposing highly toxic contaminants
- linkages between pollutant releases and the incidence of chronic diseases
Topics covering the social sciences
- the link between pollutant release hotspots and vulnerable communities using socio-economic data (environmental justice)
- the impact of industrial development on natural and cultural heritage
- preparing a science workshop on pollution for young people
- identification of ways to raise community awareness of pollution and encourage citizen participation in pollution prevention
- the impact of environmental laws and regulations implemented by government institutions (federal and/or provincial) on pollutant emissions
- the impact of sustainable development objectives or international agreements on pollutant emissions
- the impact of exposure to toxic substances on the health of vulnerable workers in polluting industries
For more information on the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)
- More information on datasets and useful links:
- Explore NPRI data: This page describes the various datasets available online.
- NPRI Quick Reference Guide: This guide provides information on the different datasets available online, how to use them, limitations, type of software required, etc.
- Guide to using and interpreting NPRI Data: This guide provides an overview of the limitations of NPRI data and common errors as well as general information about interpreting datasets.
- History of reporting requirements: This page provides an overview of all changes that have been made to the inventory since it was created. For example, when interpreting data, it is useful to know whether changes have been made to the units used to report substances, in order to avoid drawing false conclusions.
- NPRI substance list: See this list for all substances tracked by the program.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Academic Challenge count as part of the student’s grade?
It depends on the project. Over the past few years, most projects have been evaluated as part of the course work. The final report produced under the Academic Challenge is marked by the student’s professor or teacher as part of the semester. The resulting grade will count toward the student’s overall evaluation. We recommend that students and their professors or teachers discuss the marking scheme before work on the project begins.
Can more than one team per institution participate in the challenge?
Yes. Professors and teachers can submit a participation form on behalf of their students as long as the project proposals differ for each team.
Do students have to be enrolled in the same program in order to participate in the Academic challenge as a team?
No. Students can form multidisciplinary teams. If you are a group, please submit a single form for your team.
I would like to participate in mentoring, but the proposed timeline does not fit with the schedule for the course I am teaching or in which I am enrolled.
The proposed timeline (Options A and B) is provided as a reference based on the format of a 16-week semester. The timeline can be adapted to your needs in order to accommodate shorter or longer semesters. Please indicate in your application form that the timeline needs to be adjusted and identify the semester in which your project will take place.
I am a student planning to use NPRI data for my master’s thesis. Am I still eligible for the Academic Challenge?
Yes, you would still be eligible. Please include all project information in your application form. ECCC will contact you to discuss the scope of your project and the time frame. In this case, meetings with ECCC staff may be held less frequently according to the specific needs of your project.
Where does the Academic Challenge take place?
Students from across Canada are encouraged to apply. The mentoring can be done remotely. Bilingual ECCC staff are available to help students.
Is the NPRI data available for research purposes outside of the Academic Challenge?
Yes. NPRI data is free and available for download on the NPRI’s website. Please refer to the Explore NPRI data page to identify the best data product for your research or consult the Quick Reference Guide for information on the different datasets available.
Are Academic Challenge participants remunerated?
No. The Academic Challenge is an unpaid mentoring opportunity offered by ECCC at no cost to you or your academic institution.
Contact information
National Pollutant Release Inventory’s Academic Challenge
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Place Vincent Massey 5th Floor
351 St-Joseph Blvd
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1-877-877-8375
E-mail: defi.inrp-npri.challenge@ec.gc.ca
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