Welcome to EES!

Earth and Environmental Science at Acadia offers programs leading to B.Sc. degrees in Environmental Science, Geology and Environmental Geoscience, and M.Sc. degrees in Geology, Environmental Science and Applied Geomatics.

Departmental News

Science Atlantic Environmental Conference 2026

The Science Atlantic Environmental Conference was held at Acadia this year at the KCIC.

Read all about our students success' and see photos here!

AGS 2026

The annual Atlantic Geoscience Society Colloquium took place in Truro on February 6 and 7^th. Acadia University was well-represented by eleven (!) student presenters, nine faculty/adjunct attendees, and several student attendees. Thank you to everyone who attended, who supported our presenters, and made it a fun, and highly educational event.

Happy New Year!

Welcome back to EES for the Winter term of 2026. We're looking forward to great new classes, lots of student and faculty research, and a great term all round!

Upcoming Events

Mar

2026

Honours Presentations 4pm-6pm HSH 336

Join us on Friday March 27 4-6 PM for our honours students presentations!

Huggins Science Hall room 336.

Food will be provided.

Mar

2026

GEOL/ENVS Graduate Student Seminars - HSH 336 @ 4pm

4:00 pm - 4:25 pm Lindi Coyle: Arctic Methane: A Critical Evaluation of Mechanisms, Measurement, and Modelling in a Permafrost-Influenced Landscape

The Arctic is warming faster than the global average and is becoming a significant source of methane (CH4), which could intensify global warming. This seminar is a critical evaluation of mechanisms of CH4 generation, measurement techniques, and methods for estimating and analyzing factors that control CH4 release. A comparison of slower, gradual-thaw emissions with rapid releases from abrupt-thaw events, such as thermokarst formation, will highlight the temporal variation and the role of methane-cycling microbiomes and geological sources.

This assessment integrates recent literature on wildfire-induced permafrost thaw and cold-season CH4 emissions. Many challenges remain in predicting CH4 impacts, including the limited understanding of Arctic hydrology, the identification of primary sources, and the evaluation of the role of potential methane sinks under drier conditions. Current models often underestimate emissions from localized hotspots and non-summer periods, and discrepancies persist between satellite and ground observations, complicating comprehensive upscaling. Addressing these issues requires improved models and observational strategies to accurately predict permafrost–climate feedback and reconcile the diverse measurement and modelling approaches.

4:30 pm – 4:55 pm Sophie McGuinness: Challenges of Using Large-Scale Presence-Only Observational Data for Biodiversity Studies

This seminar is a critical evaluation of the application of large-scale, presence only observational data in conservation biodiversity studies. This critical review will incorporate a case study to examine the implications and limitations of using presence-only data. Presence-only datasets are commonly used in species distribution and conservation studies but lack true absence data, which can interfere with the estimation of species distributions and biodiversity patterns. Species distribution and conservation datasets are commonly created from a combination of historical records, the latest GPS based data, and citizen science initiatives. They can provide extensive spatial coverage and records of many different species but typically only contain presence-only records. This introduces important methodological challenges, such as sampling and effort biases, taxonomic and spatial biases, and biodiversity metrics all of which can influence ecological interpretations. The use of presence only data can alter the results and accuracy of the study, and its application can impact the effective interpretation of observational data as

well as conservation decision-making. Despite its limitations, presence-only datasets remain valuable when used with appropriate caution and methodological awareness.

Apr

2026

Taylor Chew - Careers in geoscience in NS (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm)

Apr

2026

GEOL/ENVS Graduate Student Seminars - HSH 336 @ 4pm

4:00 pm – 4:25 pm Ben Gooley: Environmental Implications of Ore Processing and Mercury Amalgamation at Legacy Nova Scotia Gold Districts.

Historical artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Nova Scotia has resulted in widespread legacy contamination by mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As). Between 1860 and 1950, a total of 64 gold districts were established across the province. During this period, mine tailings—the primary waste product of ASGM—were commonly deposited directly into wetlands, lakes, rivers, and coastal environments. These tailings contain elevated concentrations of toxic metal(loid)s, As and Hg. Arsenic is naturally hosted within sulfide minerals, such as arsenopyrite, which are associated with high-grade auriferous quartz veins, whereas elemental Hg was intentionally introduced during the amalgamation process used to recover gold. Examining the speciation of As and Hg in the environment is particularly important when assessing the inherent risk of these contaminants; inorganic forms of As (As(III) and As(V)) and organomercury compounds such as methylmercury (MeHg) are the most toxic and bioavailable to aquatic organisms, making them the most environmentally relevant species: a distinction critical for risk assessment. Weathering and erosion of mine tailings can mobilize Hg and As into surrounding environments, facilitating their entry into aquatic food webs where they may bioaccumulate and, in the case of MeHg, biomagnify, posing potential risks to ecosystems, wildlife, and humans. This seminar will critically examine the current methodologies for determining environmental risk across Nova Scotia’s legacy goldmining districts and identify knowledge gaps in peer-reviewed research, with a focus on the interconnectivity between environmental impact and human health.

4:30 pm – 4:55 pm Bella MacQuarrie: A critical evaluation of managed retreat as a climate change adaptation technique in Nova Scotia provincial parks

Climate change is intensifying coastal hazards through processes such as relative sea-level rise, loss of protective sea ice, and increased storm intensity. Together, these changes are accelerating coastal erosion, increasing the frequency of flooding, and heightening risks to coastal infrastructure. Traditional coastal adaptation strategies have focused on hard engineering and structural modifications such as seawalls, revetments, and flood-resistant construction. However, these methods often require ongoing maintenance and

may lead to long-term adverse environmental impacts. Managed retreat has emerged as an alternative climate adaptation strategy that reduces risk by relocating infrastructure away from hazard-prone coastal areas, allowing natural coastal processes to continue.

This presentation is a critical evaluation of the application of managed retreat techniques in Nova Scotia Provincial Parks, drawing on case studies from Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park and Rissers Beach Provincial Park. The application of managed retreat at these sites demonstrates how infrastructure realignment and relocation can reduce exposure to coastal hazards. The longer-term opportunities and challenges involved in implementing managed retreat in coastal environments will also be discussed.

Apr

2026

GEOL/ENVS Graduate Student Seminars - HSH 336 @ 4pm

4:00 pm – 4:25 pm Ethan Geraci: Painted with plastic: A critical review of marine paint as a source of microplastics in nearshore environments.

Since the start of the 2020s, the study of microplastics has grown to include unconventional sources such as tire-wear particles, synthetic textile fibres, and paint particles. Paints typically contain a larger volume of additives than conventional plastics as well as significant quantities of polymeric binders (acrylic, polyurethane, and epoxy resins) that facilitate their classification as a type of plastic when cured. As such, many scientists recognize paint particles as their own form of microplastic. Compared to other forms of microplastics, paint particles are typically denser and more brittle because of their high additive content. Consequently, paint particles are more prone to fragmentation and present many size-influenced analytical challenges. Depending on the type of paint (e.g. anticorrosive paint, road-marking paint, antifouling paint) and their respective chemical additives, paint particles may act as a direct source of heavy metals and metal-based biocides in their surrounding environments. This presentation critically examines marine paint as a source of microplastics and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn) in nearshore environments. Topics covered include an overview of antifouling systems, the processes that generate antifouling paint particles (APPs), APP collection and analysis techniques (and their limitations), APP toxicity, current knowledge gaps, and solutions for reducing the emission of APPs in harbours and boatyards.

4:30 pm – 4:55 pm Deanne Watts: Geospatial Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future of GIS

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping many disciplines, including Geographic Information Science (GIS). Its integration into geospatial workflows, tools and software, referred to as Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), has led to a rapid increase in research and practical applications. This seminar is a critical evaluation of the current state of GeoAI and explores the factors responsible for its rapid growth and significance.

This seminar will review recent literature focusing on GeoAI applications across GIS, from remote sensing, cartography, and urban planning to earth system sciences. A focus will be placed on the limitations of GeoAI, including challenges related to data requirements, model transferability across geographic contexts, replicability, and associated computational demands, all of which deeply influence analytical outcomes and their interpretation. Particular attention will be given to the broader implications of GeoAI for the GIS profession, including ongoing concerns about automation and the potential displacement or replacement of human analysts.

GeoAI represents an important evolution in geospatial practice, and current literature suggests that it is more likely to augment geospatial analytical workflows than replace GIS professionals. A likely outcome of its integration with geospatial science will be more efficient processing of large datasets and the facilitation of opportunities for creativity, critical thinking, and wider access to geospatial tools and insights. However, achieving these outcomes necessitates focused research to address existing limitations.