NSERC Prizes
NSERC Donna Strickland Prize for Societal Impact of Natural Science and Engineering Research
John Smol
Department of Biology
John Smol, Distinguished University Professor of biology and environmental studies at Queen’s University, has dedicated his career to unraveling the secrets hidden within lake and river sediments. His research at the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory (PEARL) has revolutionized our understanding of long-term environmental and climatic changes, impacting both Canadian society and global conservation efforts.
Smol’s pioneering work in paleolimnology—a field he helped develop—has been instrumental in tracking climate change across the Arctic and beyond. By analyzing sediment cores, Smol and his team revealed dramatic shifts in water quality and biodiversity linked to climate warming. His findings, initially controversial, spurred extensive research programs across the circumpolar Arctic, highlighting the urgency of climate-related issues.
Smol has also studied the impacts of environmental change on lake biota in temperate and tropical regions. His interdisciplinary approach blends paleoecology with conservation biology, providing essential insights into long-term population trends of animals like salmon and seabirds.Moreover, Smol has a tremendous legacy of communicating his high-calibre research through countless interviews and presentations.
Smol’s research offers critical insights into the environmental challenges of our time. His innovative approaches not only help identify and measure environmental impacts, but also provide a historical context that guides effective mitigation strategies. Through his leadership and extensive body of work, Smol continues to influence global environmental policies and inspire future generations of scientists to safeguard our planet’s aquatic ecosystems.
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