Environmental Trailblazer

Dr. Francesca Kerton, a professor in Memorial University’s Department of Chemistry, says she became a scientist to solve environmental problems.

When she began studying chemistry in university, minoring in environmental science, she immediately discovered that she loved conducting experiments that hadn’t been tried before. She loved learning how things work.

When she advanced to the doctoral level, Dr. Kerton became interested in green chemistry — developing new, environmentally friendly plastics and using molecules to reduce the energy needed for different processes.

When she met scientists from different universities and learned she could travel the world while working as a scientist, her academic journey led her to Canada for post-doctoral research, eventually settling at Memorial University. She has worked at Memorial for the past 18 years, advancing environmental sustainability through science.

Dr. Kerton’s work is guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasize the importance of addressing environmental challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and diversity.

Her colleague, Dr. Kelly Hawboldt, in Memorial’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, suggested that she work with the Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association to identify possible waste streams from fish and shellfish processing.

In Newfoundland and Labrador in 2021, shellfish production was 3,731 tonnes. In most regions, the waste shells and protein enter the landfill and decompose and produce greenhouse gas emissions or, if disposed of at sea, contribute to an overgrowth of algae, harming the full ocean ecosystem.

For the past two years, Dr. Kerton and doctoral students Sachel Christian-Robinson and Megan Fitzgerald have been focusing on how to repurpose discarded mussel shells from seafood processing in different ways, including as energy storage materials and in drug delivery.

“If we’re going to tackle all of these crises around the world, we need to make sure everyone is at the table,” she said. “That includes science and engineering. People solve problems in different ways. A lot of research is teamwork. Getting to hear different voices will help ensure that these environmental injustices get solved.”

Outside of research, Dr. Kerton says she enjoys mentoring students and helping them understand all of the career paths and opportunities available to them in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and beyond.

Dr. Kerton’s career has been marked by numerous accolades, including the Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Award in 2019, the Rockstar Supervisor Award from Memorial University’s School of Graduate Studies in 2020 and the SCI Kalev Pugi Award in 2023 in recognition of excellence in research and development in Canada.

Most recently, she was named one of three trailblazing Canadians who are creating a safer, cleaner environment by 3M’s 25 Women in Science, which recognizes women who work in STEM, an area where they have historically been underrepresented. In 2024, the program focuses on scientists changing the world by improving environmental sustainability and also marks the first year to include Canadian participants.

This article was adapted and republished with permission from Memorial University.

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