STUDENT VOICE
Written by: Hannah Ellsworth, first-year Journalism student
Follow Hannah on Twitter @TrentVoice

Recognized for his work last summer studying vanandium in the northern Mantioba town of Churchill, fourth-year Environmental & Resource Studies student Yong Xiang Shi was recently honoured with the 2013 Peter Gzowski Northern Scholarship.

Working with Dr. Céline Guéguen, associate professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Sciences and Biogeochemistry at Trent, Mr. Shi’s research focused on vanandium concentration in the environment up north. Travelling to Hudson’s Bay, he took water samples and measured the technical ISPNs concentration of those samples.

“We want to know what the portion of the free uranium is, because free uranium may be toxic to the environment,” Mr. Shi said.

During his study periods up north, Mr. Shi worked alongside Trent Master’s student Jordan Balch. They stayed in a research station for scientists for ten days. Every day the two students commuted between the station and the site for collecting water samples, relying on each other not only for help with their research, but also companionship. “In the arctic, being in this remote place, you can’t be on your own. You have to have a teammate, always,” said Professor Guéguen.

Looking forward, Mr. Shi plans to continue collaborating with Prof. Guéguen and hopes to pursue a Master’s degree at Trent following his graduation this year. As a Master’s candidate, he will continue his research relating uranium with its environmental impact, expanding the scope of his research from Churchill to include the Northwest Territories as well.

About the Peter Gzowski Northern Scholarship

Created in memory of the late Peter Gzowski, Trent University’s eighth chancellor, the scholarship’s goal is to support students with high academic standing, a strong interest and work ethic in northern studies.