Spotlight on science: A career devoted to air quality for the health of Canadians
Profile of Elisabeth Galarneau
A career devoted to air quality for the health of Canadians
Elisabeth Galarneau, air quality research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is certainly known for her great curiosity. In her younger years, she lived in Montréal and Ottawa, before officially settling in the Greater Toronto Area. An avid traveller, and lover of reading and life’s little pleasures, she even had the opportunity to immerse herself in English culture, having lived in England for two years.
From civil engineer to research scientist at ECCC
How did a civil engineering graduate from Montréal’s McGill University get into environmental science? As part of her undergraduate studies, Elisabeth learned about water, wastewater, and soil contamination. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on environmental topics, before taking part in the Government of Canada’s Management Trainee Program. In 1996, Elisabeth began her career as a civil servant, working as a scientific advisor where she acted as a liaison between scientists and policy makers, so that they could all understand each other and speak the same language.
It was during her second internship with the program, as part of the air quality research team, that it all clicked: “This is where I want to stay. I asked if I could officially work there and it was approved,” she says. Finally, after obtaining her doctorate in 2007, she was entrusted with her own scientific research projects. For several years now, she has been developing the Study of Winter Air Pollution in Toronto (SWAPIT).
“This is the biggest project of my career.”
Elisabeth at a National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) air quality station in Downsview, Ontario.
This urban air quality study is different from other air quality studies carried out at ECCC. What sets SWAPIT apart is that the research does not focus on a single source, such as industry or road traffic, but rather tries to understand different mixtures of air pollutants in an urban environment (such as emissions from cars or chimineys or household products that make their way to outdoor air, etc.). “We’re changing our way of thinking, because normally when we build a scientific study, we focus on one particular source that we study in depth. But in this case, it’s completely different. There are several factors we don’t know about. So, we shouldn’t look at each source individually, but rather as a whole. This new approach has its challenges, but I find them very exciting!” says Elisabeth.
What is SWAPIT?
Elisabeth with colleagues Adriana Mustata and Raj Santheneswaran, near North America's busiest stretch of highway, the 401.
The first phase of the study involves a major field measurement campaign at several locations in Toronto, using temporary units over the winter. The data will then be analyzed and the scientific results published. By improving measurement methods and forecasting models, the data gathered in this study will also help us understand air quality in other major Canadian cities.
SWAPIT is also a major scientific collaboration, with nearly 200 people, including clients and stakeholders, and around 100 scientists and technicians, all taking advantage of the facilities to collect data. This data will help them improve their chemical or weather modelling systems in cities, for example, or discover how air pollution captured by snow can affect frogs when it melts.
“It’s a collective effort to gather as much data as possible, kind of like a space mission,” she says.
Study of winter air pollution in Toronto
A winter scientific study examining the mix of air pollutants. Air pollution has received particular attention over the last few decades, but some atmospheric pollutants remain present at levels that cause concern for human health and the environment.
The focus is on the interactions between atmospheric pollutants, and looking at them together, rather than individually.
The importance of this study
SWAPIT is important for understanding how pollutants are emitted and transformed. This helps in designing effective management strategies.
We are also aware that some communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution. To reverse this trend, we need to understand the overall mix of pollutants and how they evolve from neighbourhood to neighbourhood in urban areas.
The SWAPIT measures, and the improvements that will be made to the tools used to understand sources and impacts, will provide a solid scientific basis for moving forward in protecting human and environmental health against air pollution.
Open to the world and to humanity
In 2007, Elisabeth’s work took her to Taiwan to give a lecture. To make the most of her stay, and curious by nature, she travelled to China for an extra two weeks. She says her travels have given her an open mind about the world. She understands that despite certain cultural differences, humans have many similarities, such as the importance of family and close friends, the need for security, and the pleasure derived from the beauty of nature. These differences and similarities help her in her work and in her scientific approach, as they allow her to open up to different perspectives, whether on objectives or methods.
Status quo is not an option
“I don’t accept the status quo,” she states. Fundamentally, this is what motivates Elisabeth in her work and in her personal life. With this philosophy, she hopes to do her part in reorienting mindsets toward more integrated approaches. “Innovation isn’t a straight line—you make mistakes, you do good things, and then you build on them. It’s always evolving,” she says.
Page details
- Date modified: