In conversation with Chris DeGroot

text: Dr. Chris DeGroot, Theme Leader: Nature-inspired solutions for carbon transformation

Our sewage can tell us a lot about the health of a community.

Wastewater (or sewage) testing has become an important tool for tracking the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. As lead investigator for Ontario’s SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Initiative, Chris DeGroot (Western Engineering) used wastewater data to alert the community to rising infection rates and to communicate the urgent need for public health measures.

While wastewater can provide us with many insights into public health, Chris believes that it has other potential uses that are often overlooked. For example, it may be used to produce renewable energy sources—like biogas.

As Theme Leader of the “Nature-inspired solutions for carbon transformation” research theme of the Western Academy, Chris collaborated with Western Fellows Naomi Klinghoffer (Western Engineering) and Elizabeth Webb (Earth Sciences) to investigate ways that waste materials can be made into useful products. In August 2024, the "Nature-inspired solutions" theme concluded its tenure with the Western Academy. Chris reflects upon his ongoing commitment to sustainability (and cycling) and shares his thoughts about the project’s future.

"Wastewater impacts everyone every single day.  It is very important that we are able to properly treat our wastewater both for protection of the environment and for public health protection."

What draws you to research? What draws you to research about wastewater in particular?

I would say what initially drew me to research is different than what keeps me engaged today. As an undergrad, I was really interested in math and computer programming and became fascinated by the fact that you can actually solve really complicated math problems using computers. In my case, this was fluid mechanics problems. As a graduate student, I wasn't too concerned about the practical applications of my work. I just found it really interesting and fun to work on these problems, so that's what I did. A couple of years after graduating I ended up working with Trojan Technologies as a Research Scientist which was my first foray into the world of water and wastewater. Over time, I really started to care about the practical implementation of my work and wanted to have a greater impact on the actual practice of engineering, specifically in areas related to sustainability. This interest has only grown over the past few years after having children and becoming quite concerned with the state of the world they might have to live in if the status quo were maintained. Wastewater impacts everyone every single day. It is very important that we are able to properly treat our wastewater both for protection of the environment and for public health protection. We need to be able to treat wastewater in an efficient manner that minimizes its environmental footprint, especially in terms of its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. This is a huge challenge that I am excited to continue working on for many years to come.

You are an advocate for cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation. How your advocacy overlap with your work as a researcher?

There is quite a bit of overlap actually. My interest in both of these areas comes from the same place; an interest in leaving the environment in a better place for future generations. When I started cycling regularly around 10 years ago, it was really just a way to save a little bit of money and get a little more exercise. Over time, and through my involvement in research related to sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions, it became very apparent that cycling is also a great way to reduce one's personal environmental footprint. Because of my research interests, I am very aware of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with everyday activities as well as the very significant impacts that they have on the Earth's climate. As an engineer, I am always looking for an optimization problem to solve. If my goal is to get to work with the least possible impact on the environment, while not really sacrificing a lot of time to do so, cycling beats any other mode of transportation every time. My approach to cycling advocacy is not about forcibly removing people from their cars. It is about providing additional options for people to get around, recognizing that there are already a significant number of people who would consider cycling for shorter trips, but don't currently take that option due to safety concerns. I view this primarily as an equity issue, where it should not be required to purchase and maintain an expensive personal vehicle to fully participate in society. Likewise, my research is concerned with equity since those nations that are least responsible for the climate crisis are the ones that are going to be affected the most. Also in both cases, a lot of advocacy is needed since government policy will be a strong driver in both cases; either enabling people to make the choice to use a bike for their personal transportation needs or to enable people to make choices that reduce their carbon footprint in other areas of their lives.

"I have learned that starting new collaborations is not a single event but a process that occurs over an extended period of time." How has your work with the Nature-inspired solutions theme changed your perspective?

My work at WAFAR has definitely changed my perspective on collaborations. I have learned that starting new collaborations is not a single event but a process that occurs over an extended period of time. Through WAFAR, I have had the opportunity to get to know the other Western Fellows (Naomi Klinghoffer and Liz Webb) and Visiting Fellows (Paola Guidicciani and Mojtaba Jarrahi) through everyday interactions. I have learned a lot about biochar, stable isotopes, and microalgae which would not have been possible without sustained interactions over a longer period of time. I have found that multidisciplinary collaborations are some of the most rewarding experiences that can be had in a research environment, but also the most difficult to get off the ground. A lot of time is required to have discussions, understand each others' perspectives, and plan for new projects. It was a unique and rewarding experience to be given such an opportunity through WAFAR.

The Nature-inspired solutions theme is wrapping up its official tenure at WAFAR-- what do you see as its future?

Our team will definitely continue working together going forward. We have formed some great working relationships and have come up with some ideas that we think are really exciting to pursue further. We are still working together on various grant applications to take our work together to the next level. Besides our team of fellows, we have brought together a number of other researchers across campus with similar interests and are working on establishing a consortium with industry that will help secure more funding and bring new innovations to practice sooner.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would add that being selected for a WAFAR theme is probably the greatest experience of my professional career so far. I am really thankful to Founding Director Fred Longstaffe and the WAFAR Steering Committee for believing in me and my team and giving us this opportunity to focus completely on research for the past year. I believe we have established a really strong foundation that will yield results for many years to come.

Interview by Lindsey Bannister