Gilles Cotteret

EGP seeks to characterize the impacts on the environment of anthropogenic activities related to natural resource development using innovative geoscience. It is thus expected that some projects will be related to the different phases of the natural resource development cycle (before, during or after development). 5 domains of particular interest are targeted.

• Baseline Characterization: Prior to development, a picture of undeveloped areas is needed. Projects may develop methods and techniques to assess the baseline conditions of resourcerich natural systems. In accordance to GSC's mandate, priority research in that domain is related to the new frontiers of mineral and energy resource, and to the subsurface baselines.
• Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere: Many natural resources developments occur within critical zones for life such as biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Knowledge from environmental geoscience should help in delineating natural background versus humanrelated release of contaminants from geological resources, impacts on soil, water and living beings. 
• Cumulative Effects: The economic benefits accrued from resource development are recognized, but regional communities have concerns about the longterm health of the land and water on which they depend. Studies on cumulative impacts on the environment and reuse of natural resource sites are of great importance for those communities.
• Deep Environments: Activities in great depth such as unconventional resource and geothermal developments or waste storage are of great economic importance in Canada. 
• Emerging Issues: Emerging issues, such as disposal of electronic waste, bring new environmental challenges. These complex issues need multidisciplinary approaches to efficiently tackle them.