When pondering oil production, most Canadians turn to Alberta. However, Ontario boasts more than 2,300 active oil and gas wells. Meet the University of Toronto’s Professor Elizabeth Edwards, whose research seeks out and utilizes microorganisms to unlock nature’s solution for cleansing oil sites. The infamous BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes), integral to petroleum production but hazardous to both the environment and humans, find their key to elimination through this novel anaerobic microbe-driven technology. Successfully reaching commercial scales, it opens a pathway to purify soil and water at oil sites, nurturing a healthier planet. This research was enabled through a long-standing partnership with SiREM and open science.
In advancing our vision to cultivate engineering biology across Ontario and Canada, Ontario Genomics is at the forefront of enabling small and medium-sized enterprises.
In the realm of groundbreaking discoveries and technologies, genomics is a key to unlocking the potential of our future. Ontario Genomics recognizes the urgent need to nurture a workforce to use over the next decade and beyond.
When the pace of global change is hard to keep up with, how do we effectively merge the knowledge from labs with the pressing needs of our rapidly evolving environment?
Public engagement in genomics is key to unlocking the potential of this innovative field and bridging the gap between science and society.