The acclaimed ecologist, Dr. David Schindler, has likened the eutrophication of freshwater lakes to the Dust Bowl of the nineteen thirties, because both resulted from bad land use practices. As inaugural holder of the David Schindler Professorship in Aquatic Science, Dr. Paul Frost also worries about the quality of our water and how to maintain healthy levels of algae in our lakes. Dr. Frost, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, is working to improve and enhance water quality in the Kawartha Lakes and other aquatic ecosystems in southern Ontario.
Dr. Frost's concern for our fresh waters is shared by his partner and colleague, Dr. Maggie Xenopoulos. A recognized expert in global change biology, Dr. Xenopoulos is dismayed by the impact that human activities are having on the natural environment. "What we are doing to the planet is terrible," says Dr. Xenopoulos, whose research examines how urban and agricultural land use affects the function of water bodies. "We are lucky in Ontario to have an abundance of fresh water, unlike anywhere in the world."
As a lead author in the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Dr. Xenopoulos helped developed future scenarios for freshwater biodiversity. The study revealed that approximately 60 per cent of ecosystem services are at risk. For her work she was named a co-recipient of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment.
Despite their concerns, both professors see Trent University as uniquely positioned to make a contribution towards solving the world's water quality problems.
Dr. Xenopoulos, a recipient of Ontario's Early Researcher Award, joined Trent's Biology department because she was attracted by the university's focus on aquatic science and its proximity to natural water. "I chose Trent because it is a school with a reputation for studying water and the environment," says Dr. Xenopoulos. "And Trent has the perfect location, close to lots of rivers and lakes which allows us to do research that you can't do elsewhere."
"Trent is a great place for aquatic science," agrees Dr. Frost, whose research primarily examines how the nutrient content of food affects the ecology of aquatic plants and animals. "Trent has considerable infrastructure, resources and researchers in this area." Dr. Frost's high regard for his fellow colleagues is shared by Dr. Xenopoulos, who states, "Trent's aquatic and environmental science faculty is fantastic."
While the focus of their research differs, the couple are able to take a collaborative approach to their work at Trent. They use the same aquatic ecology labs, share research results, and sometimes co-apply for grants. And they encourage their respective students to work together.
Both also see collaboration as an important part of the teacher-student relationship. "Happy students are productive students," says Dr. Xenopoulos. "I work closely with students so that their research projects are of personal interest to them, and at the same time, fit into my overall research."
The couple agree that Trent offers students a singular learning experience. Students working in their labs are involved in all aspects of research, from designing and running experiments to analyzing results and writing papers.
And they praise Trent's small class sizes which allow students more interaction with professors. "I like that it is a small university where students get to know teachers, and teachers get to know students," says Dr. Xenopoulos. "Trent offers undergrad students more interaction with teachers and unique opportunities for research," adds Dr. Frost.
