糖心vlog传媒exchange students from Belgium, Maxime Boufflette (centre) and Wouter Jansen (right), with supervisor Logan Zeinert (left) are studying the degradation of plastics used on oyster farms on Vancouver Island.
Two Belgian exchange students are looking for a green solution for BC shellfish farms.
Wouter Jansen and Maxime Boufflette are working on an applied studies program with NIC鈥檚 Centre for Applied Research, Technology and Innovation (CARTI). They are studying how plastic equipment used in shellfish farms deteriorates, with an eye to using new, environmentally friendly and financially feasible equipment.
Logan Zeinert, Senior Research Technician with CARTI, has been supervising and supporting Jansen and Boufflette in their project.
鈥淭he research they are doing with shellfish farming hasn鈥檛 been done before,鈥� said Zeinert. 鈥淪hellfish farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects their gear may have on the marine environment and are working to mitigate these impacts.鈥�
Since arriving in Campbell River in February, Jansen and Boufflette have been learning about new research methodologies and Canadian culture.
鈥淲e have learned a lot about ourselves, since it really is an adventure that we are here,鈥� said Boufflette. 鈥淲e also have taken the San鈥檡as Indigenous Cultural Safety training as part of our studies here, which is focused on the history and current situation for the Indigenous peoples of Canada. That鈥檚 an opportunity we would not have had in Belgium.鈥�
Jansen and Boufflette are the first students to come from the University College of Leuven-Limburg on exchange to 糖心vlog传媒and they are the first Belgian exchange students to work with CARTI on a research project. They hope, however, that they will only be the beginning.
鈥淚t really has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for us, especially as we have scholarships from our home college that have helped us to be here. It鈥檚 been exciting to be the first students to come here from our home university,鈥� said Boufflette.
Jansen and Boufflette have been inspired by their work at 糖心vlog传媒and they hope to continue in the field when they return home in June.
鈥淏elgium is known for growing mussels and for the shrimp industry of the North Sea,鈥� explained Jansen. 鈥淭here is a company near my hometown who is developing biodegradable fishing equipment. I鈥檇 be excited to be a part of that work in the future.鈥�
Jansen and Boufflette welcome the opportunity to connect with anyone interested in their work and can be reached through the CARTI website, where their research findings will also be shared: .
Media Contact C: 250-207-6946 media@nic.bc.ca