K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre

05/27/2026

Last week we hosted 10 teams of high school students from across the province for two days of learning and fun at the Nova Scotia Provincial Envirothon.

Congratulations to Northeast Kings Education Centre Team A for claiming the title of Provincial Envirothon Champions!

Thank you to our volunteers and sponsors for the support, over 30 volunteers contributed to the success of the event!

Nova Scotia Envirothon

https://kcirvingcentre.acadiau.ca/news-events/nova-scotia-envirothon-2026/

05/14/2026

Congratulations to all Acadia students convocating over the next two days! Today we're featuring Arthur L. Irving Scholar Karen Brookman, who is graduating and starting a job in her field as a geologist in training.

https://kcirvingcentre.acadiau.ca/news-events/forging-a-path-next-steps-for-irving-scholar-graduate-karen-brookman/

04/10/2026

Today is the last day of classes. Winter term 2026 included Dr. David Kristie lecturing for his 40th year in Plant Growth and Development!

https://kcirvingcentre.acadiau.ca/news-events/milestone-40-years-of-lectures/

Acadia University
Acadia University Alumni

03/27/2026

It’s official… Dr. Kirk Hillier & team just received CFIA approval for a HWA Biocontrol Facility, housed in the K.C. Irving Centre phytotron wing.

This facility is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada and is an important step toward protection of Hemlock Trees, and broadly an opportunity for Acadia University to lead on invasive forest pest management in the region.

Congratulations on this milestone Hillier Lab at Acadia

For more information: https://kcirvingcentre.acadiau.ca/?p=3809&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=3810

03/23/2026

🌱 If you're 50+ and interested in learning about gardening with native plants, we're offering a short course in April open to ALL: Acadia Lifelong Learning members. Gardening for People and the Planet with Melanie Priesnitz and colleagues from the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre.

🌼 Discover the wild flora of the Wapna’ki Forest and learn about the plant conservation efforts taking place at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens. Find inspiration on how to introduce native plants to your home garden and help support biodiversity.

🌳 Course will be held both outdoors at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens and inside the classroom. Garden pathways are accessible and pace will be leisurely.

ALL members register today.
https://explore.acadiau.ca/product?catalog=ALL-Gardening-Course

02/11/2026

Our Research Associate Alison Purcell visited the global leader in seed banking, Kew Millennium Seed Bank.

On this we're highlighting the learning Alison is doing in support of our Acadia Seed Bank!

CategoriesNews Irving Centre Staff Visits Global Leader in Seed Banking, Kew Millennium Seed Bank February 11, 2026 Share Alison Purcell during her visit to Kew Gardens, Millennium Seed Bank A recent visit to the Millennium Seed Bank in Wakehurst, United Kingdom, offered the K.C. Irving Environmen...

01/22/2026

Exciting research happening here!

🍄♻️ From food waste to future-forward protein, right here in the Annapolis Valley.

When local entrepreneurship and higher education come together, powerful (and sustainable) things happen.

Meet Mycaro, an innovative venture by local entrepreneur Katie McNeill, now taking root at Acadia through a collaboration with Dr. Allison Walker, Professor of Biology.

Together, they’re developing a clean, sustainable protein powder—using food waste as the starting point.

Yes, you read that right: high-protein mushrooms grown from food waste 🤯

Thanks to this local collaboration, Mycaro aims to begin commercial production in the Annapolis Valley by summer 2026.

👉 Read the full story: https://www2.acadiau.ca/about-acadia/newsroom/news-reader-page/mycaro-from-spore-to-store.html

12/19/2025

Classes are now over for our Acadia University student volunteers. Thank you for all your help transplanting native plant seedlings, planting in the botanical gardens and processing seed samples this fall. Good luck with your exams and see you all in the new year 🌱

12/10/2025

We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our student volunteers!

We operate a weekly drop in program where students can join to help with plant conservation tasks. Common activities are planting native species on the woodland trails and seed cleaning in labs to support our Seed Bank.

During the fall semester 31 students logged a total of 219.5 volunteer hours!

One of our volunteers, fourth year Environmental Science Honours student and Irving Scholar, Eve Pole, logged a record 26.5 hours of volunteer time.

Thank you all! 🌱

Pictures:
📸1: Eve Pole in the tissue culture lab
📸2: New volunteers during their first session
📸 3: Much of the fall was spent planting native species on the woodland trails
📸4: Seed cleaning for our Seed Bank

11/27/2025

Last week Kendra Sampson attended the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation’s 28th Biennial Conference in Richmond, Virginia, with over 1500 delegates. Kendra was selected as one of 16 recipients of the Rising TIDES (Toward an Inclusive, Diverse, and Enriched Society) scholarship through the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation. Through the Rising TIDES cohort Kendra will participate in a year-long program with mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities.

At the conference, Kendra also presented her tissue culture research on Iva frutescens, commonly known as Marsh Elder, which is only found in two areas in all of Canada. The two locations are both in Nova Scotia, the Minas Basin and in Yarmouth/Shelburne county. Kendra’s research aims to develop propagation methods for nature-based salt marsh restoration projects.

At Acadia University, Kendra conducts her plant propagation research at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre, and as a PhD student with Dr. Allison Walker. Kendra is also an Instructor in Biology.

Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation CERF