The Faculty of Pure and Applied Science invites the Acadia University community for a discussion on student led collaboration.

 

Title: A Connection Through Carbon: How a Student led Carbon Removal Initiative can Foster Cross-Collaboration

 

Presenter: Rowan Norrad (Environmental Science Honours Student)

 

Time and Location: Tuesday, Nov 4th, 4:00-5:00pm – INN173 | HSH173

 

Description:

 

With global temperatures surpassing +1.5°C, the urgency for innovative climate solutions has never been greater. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which is the anthropogenic process of removing and storing atmospheric CO₂, offers a ray of hope. Although there are many CDR methods, biochar stands out as perfectly suited for the rural and agricultural landscape of the valley. Biochar is produced through pyrolysis, a process that heats organic material at high temperatures in low-oxygen conditions, converting plant matter into a carbon-rich form of charcoal. By transforming what would otherwise decompose and release CO₂ back into the atmosphere, biochar disrupts the cycle and locks carbon away for centuries. Beyond its carbon-negative potential, it improves soil fertility, water retention, and crop yields, offering tangible agricultural benefits as well as climate mitigation. However, the true power of biochar extends beyond both the atmosphere and the soil. It provides a platform for education, innovation, and collaboration. Its interdisciplinary nature connects environmental science, engineering, agriculture, business, and the arts. It creates opportunities for students to participate in hands-on research, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. Students can explore everything from carbon accounting and soil chemistry to sustainable business models and public outreach. This means biochar should be viewed as more than a tool for carbon removal. It can become a living classroom and collaborative hub, uniting disciplines in the pursuit of a more sustainable future.

 

Rowan Norrad is a fourth-year honours student in environmental science who found his passion for carbon dioxide removal during his time at Acadia. Over the past three summers he has worked for CarbonRun, a carbon removal start-up company out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. CarbonRun developed a brand-new form of carbon removal called river alkalinity enhancement which harnesses river geochemistry and earth’s natural weathering process to pull carbon out of the atmosphere. During the school months Rowan wanted a way to continue learning about carbon removal in a hands-on way. Through his position as president of Enactus Acadia, he developed a program that partnered with Acadia’s engineering department to design and build a kiln to make biochar. He then took this project to competition, winning $1500 and first place at regionals, and competing at nationals.