Mine Remediation & Restoration in the Yukon: The state of research
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2025
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Lecture by:
Guillaume Neilsen
In the Yukon Territory, mining leads the economy since the gold rush. Mining supports Canadian needs in term of critical minerals and will play a significant role in the energy transition. However, mining can damage the environment and there is a necessity to develop best environmental practices.
The Industrial Research Chair in Northern Mine Remediation partners with active mines and bring answers and scientific evidence to environmental challenges the mining industry faces. It focuses on: (i)Water Treatment by Passive or Semi-Passive Technologies; (ii)Mine Waste Management; (iii)Mine Revegetation.
This presentation will cover the challenges the mining industry faces and the research that is needed to support the development of environmental best practices in the North.
About Guillaume Neilsen
Guillaume Neilsen
Originally from France, Guillaume Nielsen moved to Canada in 2009 and started a Master in Water and soil treatment processes at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Eau Terre et Environnement, Québec QC. Nielsen moved up to the Yukon in 2013 and did his Ph.D with specialization in mine water passive treatment in northern climates at the Yukon Research Centre. During his Ph.D, Nielsen implemented pilot scale sulfate reducing bioreactors on the historical Keno Hill mine site, YT, in partnership with Alexco Resource; developed a partnership with Nacho Nyäk Dun First Nation (NND); and Involved the community in the research project.
In 2017, he moved back to the Yukon Research Centre as Research Associate in Mining Life Cycle and built the NSERC Industrial Research Chair (IRC) proposal.
Approved in 2018, the IRC in Northern Mine Remediation led by Dr. Nielsen is a program that partnered with 7 active mines from the Yukon, known as the Yukon Mining Research Consortium.
Guillaume is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys field work.
In the last few years, he also has become increasingly interested in expanding his tool set to include collaboration with industry, academic and First Nations in water management projects.