It was a first for the BSE as two students completed a semester at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Both left with a clearer sense of purpose, and an appreciation for the award that made it all possible.
Thanks to the Bieler Undergraduate Research Award (BURA), an undergraduate student award where recipients engage in research under the supervision of a professor, students Vladimir Demishkevich and Jeanne Pouezevara found themselves immersed in the ECCC labs working alongside federal scientists and contributing to projects that stretched far beyond the classroom.
“I acquired valuable knowledge and experience in data search and data analysis and furthered my abilities in communication and work ethic,” said Demishkevich.
“My time at the ECCC allowed me to determine which professional domains interest me,” said Pouezevara.
Gaining experience outside the classroom
For Pouezevara, the semester centred on uncovering the world of micro‑ and nano‑plastics in the St. Lawrence River. She moved between lab work while creating visualizations that showed how microbial communities respond to plastic pollution.
The work was technical and creative, noting that a using a specialized holographic camera that could change how researchers study microplastics in real time, was of particular interest. By the end of the term, Pouezevara says the experience gave her a clearer sense of where she fits in environmental science, offering her first real glimpse of research beyond the classroom.
Demishkevich spent his term exploring the many ways contaminants move through freshwater and Arctic ecosystems. His work ranged from sorting scientific literature for a meta‑analysis on cyanotoxins to performing eDNA filtration for projects in Quebec and Ontario.
He soon found himself contributing to a decades‑long study on PFAS levels in Arctic seals, compiling climate data from multiple databases. He says the experience sharpened not only his technical skills but also his communication and professionalism, especially as he navigated collaborative work in a federal research environment.
The students emphasized how formative and motivating the experience was, and both expressed sincere gratitude to the School whose support allowed them to learn, contribute, and imagine their future careers with new clarity.
Their time at ECCC didn’t just build skills; it strengthened their commitment to protecting Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and confirmed that environmental research is where they want to make their mark.