This is one in a series of profiles featuring 麻豆传媒 graduate researchers receiving full scholarships from the Killam Trusts. 麻豆传媒 is one of just five post-secondary institutions in Canada endowed by the Trusts, which have supported nearly 1,800 麻豆传媒 graduate researchers over the past half century. Learn more at the Dal Killam Laureates website.
Bofu Li is trying to assess just how much lead there may be in our drinking water.
鈥淚鈥檓 working on drinking water treatment,鈥� says Li, a Killam Scholar and PhD student in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 . 鈥淩ight now, my current research is on corrosion control and the impacts of corrosion inhibitors on lead concentrations in public drinking water supplies.鈥�
In other words, Li spends his days, either in the lab or in the field, studying ways to lower the amount of lead in the water you drink.
A new world
Li completed his undergraduate degree at the Wuhan University of Technology in Wuhan, China, before deciding to come to 麻豆传媒.
鈥淐anada is a diverse country, and 麻豆传媒 is a famous Canadian university, so I decided to come here. It鈥檚 a very good place to continue my career.鈥�
Li says that receiving the prestigious Killam award boosted his confidence and gave him a sense of belonging. 聽
鈥淎s an international student, I鈥檓 studying in a strange country and in a different language. It鈥檚 a new world to me,鈥� says Li. 鈥淭he Killam scholarship has given me the motivation to keep going.鈥�
A cooperative effort
Li is working with fellow researchers at 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Centre for Water Resources Studies and Halifax Water to control lead concentrations in the city鈥檚 drinking water. Studies show that long-term exposure to lead is toxic for children, and can have a negative impact on their IQ and other cognitive functions. Studies also linked prolonged lead exposure to heart disease and other serious health problems.
鈥淟ead contamination of drinking water is a global problem. There are a lot of old houses that still have lead pipes. But it would take years to replace all the pipes in every building, so we need to find alternative solutions, and we need to find them now.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a new problem,鈥� he adds, 鈥渂ut if we ignore it, it will become an emergency.鈥�