(October 28, 2020) Laurentian University is set to commemorate the remarkable achievements of Margarete Kalin-Seidenfaden with a Doctor of Science, Honoris causa, at this fall’s convocation on October 31st.
Kalin-Seidenfaden is a fundamental contributor to “The Sudbury Protocol”, an ecological approach to environmental reclamation, which was then branded at Laurentian in 2016. Tussling with the cultural and industrial norms that excluded women in historically male-dominated fields, she has been an active member of the scientific community since 1963. Her determination served her well through an eventful career as an environmental consultant, culminating in her becoming the cofounder of Boojum Research.
Kalin-Seidenfaden conducted pivotal research in 1978 on the Madawaska uranium tailings in Bancroft and Elliot Lake. Her findings ultimately led to developing ecologically safer approaches to addressing mining tailings, including biological polishing and ARUM (acid reduction using microbiology).
For the next three decades, Boojum Research tackled environmental reclamation projects including acid mine drainage with INCO and Falconbridge sites in Levack and Sudbury, Kam Kotia mine near Timmins, pyrite tailings at South Bay mine near Thunder Bay, and international projects in Germany and Australia. In 2002, Kalin-Seidenfaden donated Boojum Research’s large volume of research reports to the J.N. Desmarais Library. She has continued this relationship with the library, supporting the collection with new contributions as her body of knowledge has grown.
Join us in recognizing Kalin-Seidenfaden’s remarkable contributions as part of the 2020 Fall Convocation ceremony.
QUOTE
“I am delighted that Margarete Kalin-Seidenfaden has accepted an honorary degree from Laurentian University. Her global leadership in ecological engineering and environmental reclamation is a perfect example for our students of how their work and research can truly make a difference.” Robert Haché, President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University