Lectures by Donna Mergler in Rouyn-Noranda
On November 6 and 8, 2025, Professor Emeritus at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) Donna Mergler, a leading figure in environmental health research, will be in Rouyn-Noranda to give two lectures organized by the National observatory on health and environmental impacts of contaminants (NOHEIC).
Scientific conference
On Thursday, November 6, at 6:30 p.m., at the Petit Théâtre (112, 7th Street), a scientific conference entitled «Lessons learned from community collaboration: 50 years of research on the impact of contaminants on health» will be held. Offered in hybrid mode, this presentation is primarily intended for the academic community, but is open to anyone interested, free of charge. Ms. Mergler will trace half a century of research marked by an approach deeply rooted in collaboration with communities affected by environmental health issues. From the first action research projects within UQAM's Community Services in the 1970s to her studies conducted since 2010 with the Grassy Narrows community, the speaker will revisit the defining moments of this journey: the meeting with the Noranda union in the 1980s, the expansion into environmental health in the 1990s, the adoption of an ecosystem approach to human health in 2000, and the scientific and social recognition of the work carried out over the last decade in 2020.
Science café
On Saturday, November 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a Science Café entitled «50 Years of Experience in Environmental Health» will take place at the Cabaret de la dernière chance (146, 8th Street). This friendly gathering, exclusively in person, will offer the general public the opportunity to talk directly with Ms. Mergler about her experience, her collaborations, and the lessons learned from her research on the effects of mercury, manganese, and other contaminants on human health.
Biography
Donna Mergler is a professor emeritus in the Department of Biological Sciences at UQAM and a founding member of the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l’environnement (CINBIOSE -Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-being, Health, Society, and the Environment). Her work, carried out in Quebec, Canada, the United States, and Latin America, has greatly contributed to documenting the initial effects of exposure to environmental contaminants on health. She favors a participatory and ecosystemic approach, integrating scientific and community knowledge. The recipient of several awards, she was named “Scientist of the Year 2023” by Radio-Canada for her career and commitment to communities.
These two events will offer a unique perspective on how research can be linked to community action to improve collective health and well-being.