The Green Review

Universities play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable future, especially through their research. Considering this, we are excited to highlight individuals and groups at UNB who have dedicated their time to pursuing sustainability-related research.

Our newest Sustainability Research Champion is Dr. Kynan Hughson, a geoscientist and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Science at UNB.

Along with some colleagues, Dr. Hughson collected various types of data to track geochemical changes and model topography in seasonally active watersheds in northwest Greenland on the beautiful Pituffik peninsula this past summer.

Dr. Hughson and his colleagues performed water sampling, ground penetrating radar surveys, aerial imaging surveys, and stream gaging exercises across several watersheds in Greenland to better understand how the local environment is responding to changing temperatures, melt water inputs from the Greenland ice sheet, and summer rainfall amounts.

They also studied changing permafrost landscapes. Studying changing permafrost landscapes in the Arctic is crucial to our understanding of global nutrient transport to the oceans, ground stability and natural hazards faced by Arctic communities.

As permafrost thaws, it releases organic carbon into Arctic ecosystems as well as greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which may significantly affect climate change. Additionally, thawing permafrost can cause the ground to destabilize and erode, affecting river drainages, ecosystems, infrastructure, and local communities.

By studying these changes, we can better predict future impacts on the global environment and help develop strategies to manage the risks associated with a warming Arctic.

Know someone who should be a Sustainability Research Champion? Let us know by emailing sustain@unb.ca.