Prof. Raoul Couture
I am a full professor in the Department of chemistry at Université Laval in Québec, Canada.
My current research focuses on biogeochemical limnology and on the fate and transport of redox-sensitive elements in aquatic environments. It is funded by NSERC, FRQ and various other governmental and municipal partners.
Prior to joining Université Laval, I was section head at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and Research Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo.
I am deputy director of the Takuvik International Research Lab and member of the editorial board of Limnology and Oceanography (L&O).
Research Program
Our research focuses on understanding the biogeochemical response of aquatic environments to ongoing environmental changes. We specifically study the coupled biogeochemical cycles of major elements essential for life, as well as the environmental chemistry of contaminants and of micronutrients. We are developing new approaches for identifying and modeling the key processes that control their mobility. Field work, analytical chemistry and reactive-transport modelling underpin most of our projects.
Field work
Our research begins in the field, where we sample lakes, rivers, glaciers, soils and sediments in northern landscapes. We rely on the network of stations of the Center for Northern Studies. We work with local communities to focus on issues of water quality related to natural environments under climate and land use change.
Approach
We use a multi-disciplinary and multi-scale approach. We collaborate with engineers, biologists, hydrologists and computer scientists to acquire real-time data and environmental samples in the field, conduct laboratory experiments and develop numerical models that capture processes from the molecular to the system scale.