Iqaluit ASU (IASU)

Iqaluit Analytical Services Unit 2012

2012 is the fifth year that the ASU has had a laboratory presence in Iqaluit. This is the second year which the Iqaluit ASU (IASU) is operating from our new facillities in the Nunavut Research Institute (NRI) building. The laboratory is being staffed for the summer season in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The laboratory will continue to be accredited by CALA (formerly CAEAL) for specific tests listed in the scope of accreditation - including metals in soil. Accreditation was maintained for the summer of 2011 by successfully performing proficiency testing samples and an on site CALA visit is scheduled for later this summer. This year there was also a strong focus on Inuit training and Drs Allison Rutter, Graham Cairns and Bubby Kettlewell were each on site for a one week period as part of the NRI Environmental Technology course.

Where is Iqaluit?

"Iqaluit is the territorial capital and the largest community of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Iqaluit is located on the south coast of Baffin Island at the head of Frobisher Bay".

Iqaluit, Wikipedia

NRI and IASU in the News

Dr Allison Rutter and Dr Bubby Kettlewell were at the IASU in August 2011 to prepare for the laboratory CALA accreditation process.

This coincided with a visit from the current Governor General of Canada, his Excellency the Right Honourable David Loyd Johnson. Dr Rutter met with the Governor General and showed him the new IASU facility.

Analytical Services Unit Oct 2011

IASU and the NRI

In March 2012, staff from the IASU were at the NRI building to teach a 3 week Environmental Technology Course.

"The Nunavut Research Institute is a gateway to the many exciting research and technology development initiatives underway in the territory" - Nunavut Arctic College

Click: to go to the NRI website

The laboratory was equipped with a Varian AA280FS (fast sequential atomic absorption spectrometer), a gas chromatograph and a Panalytical Minipal-4 energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence instrument (EDXRF). The atomic absorption spectrometer will allow IASU to expand the suite of metal analysis available in Iqaluit. In addition to the improved suite of analysis, this new venture will allow ASU to increase training opportunities.

Setting up the IASU March 2011

The Environmental Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College is housed in the same facility as the IASU laboratory. In March 2011, three ASU staff spent a full day teaching the first and second year Environmental Technology students. Lectures on remediation at Arctic field sites and a hands on laboratory in which the students analysed soils for petroleum hydrocarbons and metals were very well received by the Arctic college staff and students. Plans are ongoing to teach a full course at Nunavut Arctic College in March 2012.