Science Atlantic Environment Conference
2026 Award Winners
The 2026 Science Atlantic Environment Conference was held March 13 to 15, at Acadia University.
Review the conference program and abstracts
Best Graduate Presentation
First Place
Oral Presentation
Cassidy Bernard
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton
Age Validation in Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus): A Comparison of Traditional and Otolith Microchemical Methods
Second Place
Oral Presentation
KC Collings
Saint Mary's University
Melodies to Mates: The Effect of Male Song Complexity on Social and Genetic Mate Choice in European Starlings, Sturnus vulgaris
Third Place
Oral Presentation
Gretchen McPhail
Acadia University
Quantifying changes in mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in invertebrate food webs across a river-ocean continuum
Science Atlantic Undergraduate Research Award
First Place
Oral Presentation
Rebeca Pietrosanu
Dalhousie University
Finding connection: Environmental drivers of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) predicted distribution in Napu’saqnuk (St. Mary’s River)
Second Place
Oral Presentation
Rowan Norrad
Acadia University
Assessing the impacts of river-based carbon sequestration: effects of river alkalinity enhancement on dissolved metal concentrations in the West River, Nova Scotia
Third Place
Oral Presentation
Hannah MacKinnon
Cape Breton University
Comparing the Health of Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1766)) in Open Hearth Park after remediation, to various reference estuaries
Best Poster Presentation
First Place
Ben Gooley
Acadia University
Bioaccumulation of Hg and As in freshwater invertebrates from Ponhook Lake, Nova Scotia: effects of historical gold mine tailings
Second Place
Lara Dalton
Cape Breton University
Echoes of Bell: Investigating bumblebee foraging acoustics at Beinn Bhreagh Estate
Third Place
Joshita P S Senthil Kumar
Dalhousie University, Faculty of Agriculture
Quantum Dot-Assisted Spectrum Controlled Greenhouse Tarps to Boost Crop Production
Science Atlantic Science Communication Award
First Place
Oral Presentation
Meghan Runge
Dalhousie University
River geomorphology shapes fish morphological diversity worldwide
The Acadian Forest Region Award
First Place
Oral Presentation
Eve Pole
Acadia University
Arsenic accumulation in alder trees at a legacy gold mine tailings impoundment in southwest Nova Scotia: Implications for environmental risk