معرفی
Melissa Arcand is an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan, within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Her research focuses on plant-soil interactions, biogeochemical cycling, and nutrient stewardship in agricultural and natural ecosystems. She teaches courses like AGRC 111.3 and advises students in the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy program, which trains Indigenous land managers.
Dr. Arcand earned her Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan (200?), followed by post-doctoral work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Her education includes a M.Sc. (Land Resource Science, University of Guelph) and B.Sc. (Environmental Science, University of Guelph).
Her research combines plant trait analysis with soil microbiology and isotope tracing to understand how root architecture influences soil carbon/nitrogen dynamics and microbial processing. Key themes include optimizing crop systems for resource efficiency, soil organic matter formation, and Indigenous land governance.
Recent work explores decolonizing soil science through Indigenous perspectives (e.g., miyo wîcêhtowin projects) and developing technologies like SoilCam for root monitoring. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2013 highlight her contributions to rhizosphere microbiology, nitrogen cycling, and biochar applications.
Her teaching integrates environmental justice and Indigenous knowledge systems, reflecting her commitment to training future stewards of Indigenous lands and sustainable agroecosystems.
