NAIT researcher named Science Fellow by TELUS World of Science

Jeremiah Bryksa eager to share his passion for the natural world

Jeremiah Bryksa (Laboratory Research and Biotechnology ’12) has long admired and enjoyed nature. He spent countless hours in his youth biking, hiking, canoeing and exploring the valley in and around Edmonton along the glacier-fed North Saskatchewan River.

Today, he still spends a lot of time in the area. As a chemist, though, his relationship with it has likely grown deeper.

Since joining NAIT’s Clean Technologies applied research team in 2017, Bryksa has tackled a variety of environmental challenges, from validating technologies used to clean up contaminated soil to investigating the development of low-emission alternative fuels.

Then there’s his work in the river itself – a familiar environment he’s seeing in a new light as he conducts an unprecedented project examining its cleanliness.

For his efforts and enthusiasm for sharing his work with the community outside the laboratory, Bryksa was recently awarded the TELUS World of Science annual science fellowship. The program recognizes passionate, young professionals working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

He’s the first NAIT researcher ever to be recognized with the accolade – giving him the opportunity to share his fascination with nature even more broadly.

"Jeremiah possesses a rare blend of scientific expertise and strong communication,” says Laura Jo Gunter, NAIT president and CEO. She sees him as an ideal candidate to share the impact of NAIT applied research with the broader community.

“I never imagined I’d one day be a TELUS World of Science Fellow, so this is surreal,” says Bryksa. “I am so unbelievably thrilled to have this opportunity.”

From the muddy banks of the North Saskatchewan River

jeremiak bryksa, nait grad and microplastics researcher

Bryksa is currently leading one of the largest freshwater microplastics studies ever done in Canada. An emerging pollutant, microplastics – particles less than five millimetres long – are found all around the world, including in the North Saskatchewan River.

“They’re in every ocean, river and lake,” says Bryksa. “They are found throughout the food chain and in every organism, including humans, yet so little is known about them, and this intrigues me.”

The researchers' goals are, in some ways, foundational. Bryksa and his team are developing new methods for collecting, sampling and extracting plastic from the river. To date, there are no universal standards for this process. Ultimately, they hope that work could lead to better ways to manage microplastic pollution in the future.

“Hopefully, we will be able to contribute to improving the water quality.”

The team intends to share procedures and findings with other scientists, industry members and government.

“Hopefully, with the results of the research, we will be able to contribute to improving the water quality,” says Bryksa.

Bryksa’s enjoyment of the research is matched only by his enjoyment of training student researchers to take part in it. The microplastics project has involved more than 5,000 hours of student training and employment, drawing on student talent from NAIT, the University of Alberta and MacEwan University.

“I work alongside incredible scientists and high-performing student researchers,” says Bryksa. “That’s so cool.”

Sharing the fruits of the labour


Like his work in the river valley, the TELUS World of Science fellowship takes Bryksa back to his youth. The facility helped nurture his interest in science and exploration. He remembers one of his first visits: He was about six years old and he and his father came across an interactive moon landing simulator.

“It was something that really stuck with me.”

And it helped guide him toward his career. After completing his bachelor’s degree in biological and physical sciences at the University of Alberta in 2009, Bryksa came to NAIT to further his studies and practical skills. He appreciated the hands-on approach so much that he was ultimately motivated to join as an applied researcher.

“How NAIT does science is different. We’re not just studying equations and spending time in a lab pulling together pieces for a research paper. We’re going out into the field and using scientific techniques to find outcomes for our [industry] partner.

“We get to see the fruits of our labour come together quickly as we attempt to help industry answer important environmental questions.”

Through his role with the TELUS World of Science, he’ll be able to share the impact of those accomplishments. Bryksa will participate in at least two public outreach events at the facility during his year-long tenure. He hopes to be able to inspire youth to consider STEM careers and inspire future Edmonton- and Alberta-made scientists through the events.

“For youth, especially local youth, perhaps seeing someone who grew up in the same city they’re from, who went to the same schools they did, attended the same post-secondaries they’re considering, they can see themselves in a career like mine,” says Bryksa.

“It really is a full-circle moment for me to be in this position.”

Collaborative action on plastic waste
 

Bryka’s research is one of four projects underway through Plastic Research in Action – a collaboration between NAIT, InterPipeline and Dow Canada to advance the reuse and recycling of plastic in Canada and around the world. The 10-year, $10-million project launched in late 2019.

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