Nov 27, 2024: Ottawa SYP: Microplastic Fate and Transport In Aquatic Environments
Speaker: Dr. Vahid Pilechi
Abstract:
Microplastics in aquatic ecosystems pose an escalating environmental threat, impacting marine biodiversity, water quality, and public health. This presentation highlights recent advancements in microplastic fate and transport modeling, focusing on the National Research Council’s ongoing efforts to address this issue through the development of a predictive modeling tool and an integrated decision support web application for microplastic data sharing. Together, these tools provide essential insights into microplastic transport pathways, accumulation zones, and source identification across diverse Canadian open water and coastal environments. By enhancing our understanding of microplastic dynamics, these tools collectively facilitate the design of effective monitoring and mitigation strategies, supporting targeted cleanup efforts.
Speaker’s Bio:
Dr. Vahid Pilechi is the Ice and Water Resources Team Lead at the National Research Council Canada (NRC) Ocean, Coastal, and River Engineering (OCRE) research center. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa. He holds a PhD in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Ottawa, an MSc in Marine Structures from the University of Tehran, and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology. Vahid specializes in the development and application of advanced numerical methods for modeling complex coastal and riverine processes and addressing water quality challenges. In 2019, he initiated NRC’s microplastic research project, aiming to enhance our understanding of the environmental impact of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems. He now leads a multidisciplinary initiative that brings together multiple NRC research centers and collaborators from government, academia, and industry.
