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Laurentian SETAC
@laurentiansetac.ca
42 followers 11 following 59 posts
Laurentian chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
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Join the DISCussion! Our Diversity in Science Committee (DISC) is dedicated to strengthening our scientific community by recognizing achievements of equity deserving groups, creating mentorship opportunities for students and early-career scientists, and organizing educational events.
Cartoon images of scientists in lab coats using pipettes, flasks, and Petri dishes, against a dark blue background with green accents. Text says, "Join the DISCussion! Be a part of the Diversity in Science Committee (DISC), and help develop activities that strengthen our scientific community. Contact: Dr. Denina Simmons (denina.simmons@ontariotechu.ca) and Sana Gavarikar (sanagavarikar6@gmail.com)." Text on a dark blue background with green accents. Text says, "What does the DISC do? 1) Recognizes the achievements of under-represented groups, 2) Creates mentorship opportunities for students and early-career scientists, 3) Organizes EDI-based educational activities. Open to all!!"
October 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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We're putting a spotlight on LSETAC mentors - next up is Lara Alves Beese! Lara is a Business Development Manager, Senior Environmental Risk Assessor, and Aquatic Toxicologist at Dillon Consulting Limited. Her primary technical expertise lies in human health and ecological risk assessments.
Headshot of a woman with brown hair, glasses, and a blue shirt standing in front of a tree.
September 5, 2025 at 8:11 PM
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Our next pub night will take place on Tuesday September 16 at Royal City Brewing in Guelph! Join us for a talk by Dr. Sarah Crawford on navigating a career path in the environmental sciences, followed by Q&A. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. RSVP here: lnkd.in/gCg2BKad
Laurentian SETAC pub night: Following the flow – How chasing chemicals led me around the world. Dr. Sarah Crawford, Syngenta Canada. Event date: Tuesday September 16, beginning at 7:00pm. Event location: Royal City Brewing Co. Guelph, Ontario. Royalcitybrew.ca Headshot of blonde woman wearing a hat that says ‘Syngenta’, in front of a lake.
September 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
REMINDER: Tomorrow, June 6, is the final day to register for the Laurentian SETAC 30th Anniversary Conference and AGM!
This year's AGM will take place at Western University and will be centred around the theme Science in an Evolving World. Register here: lnkd.in/ggHqJiCn
June 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
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Our next pub night will take place in London on Thursday June 12! Join us for a talk by Dr. Yolanda Hedberg on corrosion science and surface chemistry, followed by a meet & greet with fellow LSETAC members to start off our 30th anniversary AGM. RSVP here: lnkd.in/ggHqJiCn
June 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight

MTE Consultants is a multidisciplinary consulting firm providing services in engineering, building science, land surveying, environmental science and more. Check them out: www.mte85.com
June 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight

Syngenta is a science-based agricultural-tech company, helping farmers around the world grow safe and nutritious food. They specialize in crop protection, seed innovation & development, and digital agriculture. Learn more: www.syngenta.com
Syngenta logo (blue text on white background with leaf icon)
May 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight

Ecometrix Incorporated is pleased to be a sponsor of the Laurentian SETAC Annual General Meeting & Conference, which will be held June 12-13, 2025 at Western University, London, Ontario. Learn more about Ecometrix here: www.ecometrix.ca
Ecometrix
May 22, 2025 at 1:58 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight

Wellington Laboratories Inc. is committed to providing high quality reference standards and exceptional customer service. Check them out: well-labs.com
Wellington Laboratories - High Quality Reference Standards | Exceptional Customer Service well-labs.com Images of polar bears in a snowy forest
May 14, 2025 at 8:23 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight

Ecoreg Solutions is an environmental consulting firm specializing in water quality and aquatic resource sustainability. They provide monitoring, and regulatory expertise to the mining, forestry, hydropower and municipal sectors.
May 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
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Exciting Job Opportunity with @karenkidd.bsky.social: www.laurentiansetac.ca/post/hiring-...
Hiring Ecotoxicology Research Technician - Kidd Lab
We are hiring an individual to work in an aquatic ecotoxicology lab at McMaster University with Dr. Karen Kidd and her group to study the effects of point and non-point sources of contaminants on aqua...
www.laurentiansetac.ca
May 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
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Join us TODAY, May 5, at noon for a Virtual Lunch & Learn! Dr. Glenn Suter (US EPA) will discuss the art and impact of Environmental Assessments—the bridge between science and decision-making. Register here: lnkd.in/ggpzRQnD
May 5, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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Early registration for Laurentian SETAC's 30th Anniversary AGM ends TODAY, May 2, after which increased fees apply. Abstract submission & student travel grant application deadlines are EXTENDED to May 9! The AGM will be taking place in person at @westernu.bsky.social. Register here: lnkd.in/ggHqJiCn
Laurentian SETAC Conference and AGM - Western University, London, ON - June 12-13, 2025. Early registration and abstract submission closes May 2 (abstract registration now extended until May 9). Avian Research Facility Tour on June 12 - limited spots! Pub night on June 12 - Dr. Yolanda Herdburg will discuss “A jungle of chemicals around us -for better or worse”. Two short courses are available on June 12, 2025: 1) “Digital resources and GenAI uses” with Dr. Christine Bell – 9:00 to 11:30; 2) “Human Health & Ecological Risk Assessment” with Dr. Lara Alves Beese & Andrea Amendola – 12:30 to 15:00. Decorative images include a photo of the Western University campus; the L-SETAC AGM logo, with a trillium flower illustrated on a green background, encircled by DNA strands; and headshots of the pub night and plenary speakers.
May 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight
Dillon Consulting Limited (www.dillon.ca) is an established, employee-owned professional consulting firm with over 25 offices and more than 1100 employees across Canada.
Dillon Consulting
May 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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#LSETACSponsorSpotlight
SLR Consulting (www.slrconsulting.com) is a global environmental consultancy, empowering clients to shape their sustainability agenda and drive tangible results.
SLR
May 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
The 30th anniversary LSETAC AGM is coming up on June 12-13, and we're highlighting our event sponsors! #LSETACSponsorSpotlight
Nautilus Environmental Company is an innovative Canadian-based company performing testing and research relating to environmental toxicology. Check them out: lnkd.in/g7uDTCEu
NAUTILUS ENVIRONMENTAL - logo is a green nautilus shell
May 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM
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The next Ottawa pub night will take place on Wednesday April 23! Join us for an engaging talk, pub food and drinks at Mike's Place Pub on Carleton University campus. We look forward to seeing you there!
RSVP here: lnkd.in/gK8gQMT5
Laurentian SETAC Ottawa Pub Night - April 23, 2025 from 5 to 7 pm. Title: Out of the non-stick pan, into our waters: Maternal transfer of perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the Great Lakes' salmonid species and effects on oxidative stress levels throughout embryo development Speaker: Geneviève Haché, Carleton University Where: Mike's Place Pub, Ottawa, Ontario https://gsacarleton.ca/mikes-place/ Accessibility: https://carleton.ca/campus/buildings/nideyinan/ Abstract: Extensive industrial and commercial use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has led to their widespread contamination of the Great Lakes. Previous studies suggest maternal offloading of PFOS in wild-caught Lake Michigan salmonid species. This project evaluates PFOS exposure effects throughout the development of rainbow trout eggs: a salmonid species important to the Great Lakes. We exposed rainbow trout eggs at varying concentrations of PFOS (0, 0.03, 0.3, 3,0 & 30 µg/ml in Cortland’s solution). We assessed the following markers of oxidative stress at various timepoints: lipid peroxidation levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and relative glutathione (GSH) abundance. Preliminary results show a general decrease in lipid peroxidation levels, varying SOD activity that lowers significantly in the 0.3 ppm treatment group at week 4 (76% lower than control) and an increase in GSH levels across treatments at week 4 increase (up to 11% above control). PFOS compartmentalization will be tracked through LC-MS/MS analysis of embryo content. The resulting data will provide key insight into the toxic effects of PFOS on salmonid embryo development and its mechanism of accumulation, as well as its broader environmental and ecological impact.
April 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
Registration is now open for Laurentian SETAC's 30th Anniversary Annual General Meeting, taking place at Western University! This year's theme is Science in an Evolving World.
Conference and Registration Portal: lnkd.in/ggHqJiCn
More information: lnkd.in/gnBY6ui7
Laurentian SETAC Conference and AGM - Western University, London, ON - June 12-13, 2025. Early registration and abstract submission closes May 2. Avian Research Facility Tour on June 12 - limited spots! Pub night on June 12 - Dr. Yolanda Herdburg will discuss “A jungle of chemicals around us -for better or worse”. Two short courses are available on June 12, 2025: 1) “Digital resources and GenAI uses” with Dr. Christine Bell – 9:00 to 11:30; 2) “Human Health & Ecological Risk Assessment” with Dr. Lara Alves Beese & Andrea Amendola – 12:30 to 15:00. Decorative images include a photo of the Western University campus; the L-SETAC AGM logo, with a trillium flower illustrated on a green background, encircled by DNA strands; and headshots of the pub night and plenary speakers.
March 31, 2025 at 1:34 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
March is #WomensHistoryMonth! We encourage you to take time to learn about the women who have made important contributions to the sciences throughout history, such as the pioneers of toxicology shown here. Tell us about the women in science who inspire you!
Drawing of a women in a lab coat working with test tubes and Erlenmeyer flasks. Text above on a blue background says, "LSETAC celebrates Women's History Month - Let's learn about 3 trailblazing women in toxicology!" Image of a smiling woman surrounded by drawings of test tubes on a blue background. Text says "Rachel Carson - the mother of the modern environmental movement. In 1962, Carson published 'Silent Spring', where she revealed the dangers of DDT on human health and the environment and advocated for safer chemical use. This groundbreaking work was one of the major contributing factors to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency." Image of a woman and drawings of Erlenmeyer flasks on a blue background. Text says "Dr. Mary Amdur - the mother of air pollution toxicology. Dr. Amdur's research revealed the toxic effects of sulfur dioxide and trioxide from industrial sources on human health. Despite severe harassment and intimidation from industries, she continued her research. Her findings contributed to the creation of the US Clean Air Act in 1963 and shaped decades of anti-pollution research. Image of a woman and drawings of microscopes on a blue background. Text says "Dr. Alice Hamilton - pioneer in the field of industrial toxicology. Despite facing significant barriers due to her gender, Dr. Hamilton made groundbreaking contributions by studying industrial toxic disorders, such as lead, mercury, and carbon monoxide poisoning. This work ultimately laid the groundwork for the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
March 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
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Join us on Monday April 7 for a special Pub Night in Guelph at Royal City Brewing Co! Undergrad students will present 5-min talks on their research. Topics include mixture toxicity, microplastics, & chemicals of emerging concern. Join us for engaging talks, pub food & drinks! RSVP: lnkd.in/giqt6F2U
Laurentian SETAC pub night: A closer look at undergraduate research - highlighting projects from across the province. Featuring multiple presenters from Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, McMaster University, and University of Toronto. Event details: Monday April 7 at 7pm, at Royal City Brewing Co., Guelph Ontario. royalcitybrew.ca Poster features university logos and Laurentian SETAC 30th anniversary logo, with a trillium.
March 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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We’re excited to welcome you all to the Where Are We Now: Women in Science Brunch and Panel! See you at 10:30!
March 1, 2025 at 2:51 PM
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: lnkd.in/gUUzqZJ2 Join us on March 1st for Where Are We Now: Women In Science Brunch and Panel Discussion at the Roseland Club in Burlington. Our panelists will discuss the progress made and barriers faced by women in science today. Tickets available until end of day Feb 21!
Laurentian SETAC event, "Where Are We Now: Women in Science Brunch and Panel Discussion". Join us for brunch, networking, and a panel discussion on the progress made and barriers faced by women in science today. Tickets are on sale until Friday February 21st. Panelists: Oana Birceanu (Assistant Professor, Western University), Amila De Silva (Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada), Yamini Gopalapillai (Senior Manager, Science and Regulatory Affairs, International Copper Association), and Allison McDonald (Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University). Moderated by Ève Gilroy (Environment and Climate Change Canada). Everyone is welcome to join! Students $20, non-students $35
February 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
Happy #IDWGS2025! To celebrate, join us for Where Are We Now: Women In Science Brunch and Panel Discussion at the Roseland Club in Burlington, on Sat. March 1st at 10:30am. Register by Feb 21: lnkd.in/gUUzqZJ2
Everyone is welcome!
Cost: $20 students / $35 non-students
Dress code: Business casual
Laurentian SETAC event, "Where Are We Now: Women in Science Brunch and Panel Discussion". Join us for brunch, networking, and a panel discussion on the progress made and barriers faced by women in science today. Tickets are on sale until Friday February 21st. Panelists: Oana Birceanu (Assistant Professor, Western University), Amila De Silva (Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada), Yamini Gopalapillai (Senior Manager, Science and Regulatory Affairs, International Copper Association), and Allison McDonald (Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University). Moderated by Ève Gilroy (Environment and Climate Change Canada). Everyone is welcome to join! Students $20, non-students $35
February 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
On Saturday March 1st, join us for Where Are We Now: Women In Science Brunch and Panel Discussion at the Roseland Club in Burlington. We will discuss the progress made and barriers faced by women in science. Everyone is welcome! Register here by Feb 21: lnkd.in/gUUzqZJ2
Laurentian SETAC event, "Where Are We Now: Women in Science Brunch and Panel Discussion". Join us for brunch, networking, and a panel discussion on the progress and barriers that women in science face today. Tickets are on sale until Friday February 21st. Everyone is welcome to join! Students $20, non-students $35. Saturday March 1st, 10:30am to 1:30pm. Roseland Park County Club, 3079 Princess Blvd, Burlington. https://roselandclub.com/
February 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
laurentiansetac.ca
We're putting a spotlight on Laurentian SETAC members! Our next Very Employable Person (VEP) is Yasmeen Hichri, who completed a Master's of Environmental Sustainability at the University of Ottawa, with a focus on environmental release management of pharmaceuticals.
Yasmeen Hichri
January 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM