Energy and Environment
Alberta is often best known for its energy resources, and U of A faculty and alumni have played key roles in developing Alberta's black gold.
Key contributions include Karl Clark's hot water extraction process for separating bitumen from oilsands, and geology professor Charlie Stelck's idea to search for oil and gas near ancient coral reefs, leading to the discovery of Leduc No. 1 and Alberta's Pembina Oil Field.
This strength in energy research is matched by longstanding international recognition in the environmental sciences and agriculture.
Just two examples are John Toogood's pioneering work on soil erosion that led to the soil textural triangle now used around the world, and David Schindler's work on freshwater ecosystems that has profoundly influenced global freshwater management and policy decisions.
The University of Alberta, one of Canada's top institutions in energy and environmental research, plays a major role both in supporting Canada's energy sector and in discovering innovative ways to sustain our environment.
One example is the Helmholtz-Alberta Initiative, an international research partnership that looks for solutions to pressing environmental issues facing energy projects such as Alberta's oilsands in Canada and coal production in Germany.
What's in this Section?
Research in faculties and centres
Featured Video
Dr. Martyn Unsworth, a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and physics at the University of Alberta, specializes in geothermal energy, looking for ways to tap natural heat released from the Earth's core.
In the sixth segment of our Helmholtz-Alberta Initiative video series, we profile Unsworth, a co-leader of the initiative's geothermal energy theme, who provides an overview of his research. Helmholtz-Alberta is a major international partnership aimed at finding solutions to challenges in oilsands and coal production that face society, science and industry.