Laboratory Facilities

The Natural Resources Analytical Laboratory (NRAL) has provided environmental analysis services of soil, plant, and water samples for University researchers, government organizations and industrial clients. NRAL's state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation, a quality assurance program and use of standard published methods ensure high quality, fast, accurate, and precise data. Visit NRAL's webpage for available analytical methods, equipment and other information.

The SWAMP Laboratory is a unique state-of-the-art, metal-free, ultra-clean research and analytical facility for studying the sources, transformations, behaviour and fate of trace metals cycling in Soils, Water, Air, Manures, and Plants. The SWAMP lab employs modern soil and aquatic sciences combined with analytical chemistry and isotope geochemistry to better understand how to sustainably manage our natural resources, maintain productive ecosystems, and foster human health.

The Stable Isotope Facility for Ecosystem Research (SIFER) is dedicated to the study of ecosystem functions by tracking molecular fluxes. In the facility, stable isotopes are used to trace the origin and fate of individual compounds, nutrients and chemical pollutants as they travel through soils, plants, food webs and water systems. A suite of state-of-the-art instruments enables isotope ratio analysis and molecular characterization of samples, including NMR, IRMS and GC-MS systems. Contact the NRAL lab for further details.

The Spatial Information Laboratory (SIS lab) houses Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and other geo-matic science analyses and various resources that include workstations, specialized software, and high performance computing. For further information contact Rick Pelletier: rickp@ualberta.ca.