Shannon Sterling

Dr. Shannon Sterling is an Associate Professor in Earth Sciences at Dalhousie University, specializing in watershed hydrology and environmental science. She holds a Ph.D. from Duke University, with earlier degrees from McGill and UBC. Her research focuses on human impacts on watersheds, acidification effects, and ecosystem restoration. She teaches courses like Global Biogeochemical Cycles and Fundamentals of Hydrology. Dr. Sterling has pioneered work on aluminum contamination in Nova Scotia rivers and the use of lime amendments to restore acidified soils. Her work integrates field studies with large datasets, such as the SWatCh database and Nova Scotia Freshwater Database (NSFwD).

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree: McGill University
• Master's Degree: University of British Columbia (UBC)
• Ph.D.: Duke University

Her research interests center on freshwater systems' vulnerability to pollution, climate change, and land-use changes. Key projects include analyzing aluminum toxicity in salmon rivers, developing liming strategies for soil restoration, and evaluating the global impact of land-cover changes on water cycles. Collaborative efforts with institutions in Canada and internationally highlight her interdisciplinary approach.

Recent work emphasizes carbon dioxide removal via freshwater alkalinity addition and the role of helicopter liming in forest recovery. She advises graduate students like Lobke Rotteveel and Caitlin McCavour, focusing on applied hydrology and environmental management.

Key contributions include advancing understanding of aluminum seasonality in Nova Scotia rivers and refining watershed assessment frameworks for regions lacking robust monitoring networks.