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Second-year Bioscience Joint Degree student, Jeshuah Gilroy, has been awarded a $30,000 Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grant. The funding was announced in a release by Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2). 

Gilroy’s research examines a process called bioremediation – using a unique mix of bacteria and fungi to breakdown quinoline, a toxic industrial pollutant. The carcinogenic compound poses significant health risks when it contaminates water and soil, and it can also produce nitrous oxide, a harmful greenhouse gas.   

Current remediation processes for quinoline contamination are slow, expensive and require other toxic chemicals. By using fungi and bacteria, Gilroy’s approach provides a sustainable, low-cost alternative that also improves environmental health.  

Gilroy hopes his project can pave the way for future research into eliminating climate-impacting compounds.  

“The opportunity to contribute to this field is invigorating” he says, “Every effort we make to protect the planet is a step toward the healthier, more sustainable future we all want”.

Through the Youth Innovation Grant, Gilroy will continue his project this summer alongside Holland College’s Applied Research team. Part of the research will involve testing quinoline levels in »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵ’s watersheds. 

The project is one example of how bioscience researchers at Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵare contributing to Canada's clean economy, says Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵPresident and CEO Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald

 “The impact of this study could not only improve how we approach pollution mitigation locally, but could influence how we address contamination at industrial sites throughout Canada” he says.   

“We are incredibly proud of Jeshuah and this innovative research project.” 

Gilroy’s project was selected through a competitive process for one of five available Youth Innovation Grants. The grants are made possible through the leadership of the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2), and with support from Wawanesa Insurance. 

The Youth Innovation Grant project awards funds for youth-led projects to launch or enhance a climate adaptation or climate mitigation project. Learn more at

Learn more about the Bioscience Joint Degree program

In this photo: Jeshuah Gilroy in the Bioscience Lab at the Prince of Wales Campus in Charlottetown.