![\"Brock\u2019s](\"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CHEM-Whole-Class.jpg\")
<\/a>Brock environmental chemistry students have been studying the impacts of different farming methods on ecosystems, including conducting field work at an organic fruit farm in the Niagara region.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cThis CHEM 2P43 course, and the integration of the lab and the practical hands-on experience for our students, is the first of its kind in the chemistry department,\u201d says Assistant Professor of Chemistry Vaughn Mangal. \u201cStudents got into the field, gathered real-world data and then translated that data using advanced, sophisticated instruments to make sense of how contaminants are moving in their own backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n
After applying the spray \u2014 used to protect against various fungal and bacterial diseases \u2014 students used the department\u2019s newly acquired inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer<\/a> to assess whether the compound had spread beyond the application site.<\/p>\n Although currently allowed for use in organic production, copper can potentially negatively impact wildlife populations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe outlet of the stream we tested had significantly more copper post-spray, proving that as water passes through the farm, it also picks up copper,\u201d says Isabelle Mowbray (BSc \u201925), who worked on the project.<\/p>\n Farm owner\/operator Adam Gabourie says the results provided him with research-supported insight to help guide his operations as an organic farmer.<\/p>\n “It confirmed that moving beyond conventional organic fruit production measures in favour of a completely natural approach is much better practice for the nature of this site and the environment in general,” he says.<\/p>\n The lab group is preparing the results of this research for future publication and plans to continue working with Gabourie on additional research.<\/p>\n Students in Brock\u2019s Surface Hydrology course worked on a project with the St. Catharines Downtown Association to assess the impact to nearby soil due to flooding on St. Paul Street after high-intensity rainfall events.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>