Fully functional wet laboratories, each approximately 450 square feet in size, are key features of the NRI and Environmental Technology Program (ETP) facilities in Iqaluit. The NRI laboratory is designed to support a broad range of sample processing, preparation, and analytical activities while the ETP laboratory serves primarily a teaching laboratory, but can also accommodate diverse research uses. The NRI and ETP laboratories are available for use by NAC students, staff, and faculty, and by NAC research partners and associates for teaching and research activities.
Some of the key features of the Iqaluit laboratories:
- Hazardous chemical storage cabinets
- Labconco chemical fume hoods (2)
- locking cupboards
- telephones
- stereomicroscopes
- stainless steel counters
- pot sinks (2) and full sinks (2)
- assorted glassware
- eye wash station, first aid and burn kits, chemical spill kits
- Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA) 8520 in the NRI laboratory
- large environmental chamber (incubator)
- digital balances
- assorted glassware
- autoclave
- lab fridges
- Large chest freezer
To learn more about our laboratories and to request access for research or training activities, please contact: Director, Innovation and Research.
Anyone approved to work in the NRI or ETP laboratories must have appropriate training in laboratory safety protocols, and must provide all specialized instruments, chemicals, personal safety equipment (eye ware, lab coats, gloves), and any consumables (e.g. pipettes, tubes) required to safely complete undertake approved activities. Lab users must also plan to remove or dispose safely of any lab wastes they generate. Any unused chemicals and supplies must be removed from the NRI/ETP laboratories upon completion of the use of the facilities. Users may make arrangements with the NRI manager of scientific support services to store instruments for future use, if appropriate storage space available.
Safety in the NRI and ETP laboratories
All laboratories can be inherently dangerous places, and the attitudes and practices of individual laboratory users will determine their own safety that of other lab users, and ultimately the safety of the whole community. The Nunavut Research Institute’s laboratory facilities in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit are not supervised by NRI staff on a full time daily basis. Users are completely responsible for conducting activities in a manner that will not endanger themselves or others, and for exercising all reasonable care in activities that may pose a risk to the environment.
NRI is in the process of updating our laboratory safety guidelines and standard operating procedures.
*Please notify the NRI's manager of scientific support services in advance if you plan to transport chemicals to the NRI laboratories to support your lab work. Please clearly disclose:
- the type and quantity of all chemicals and chemical mixtures you will be bringing to the NRI laboratory, and how the chemicals will be used in the lab;
- the mode for transporting chemicals to and from the laboratory;
- personal protective equipment you are bringing to work safely with chemicals;
- Arrangements to remove unused chemicals from the NRI laboratory and/or procedures and materials you will employ to neutralize and dispose of unused chemicals on site.
Small quantities of chemicals required to undertake lab activities may be stored in the NRI laboratories in properly labeled containers while such lab work is in progress (i.e. for the duration of your research visit). Users must remove or safely neutralize and dispose of any unused chemicals upon completion of your lab work. LONG TERM STORAGE OF CHEMICALS IS NOT PERMITTED. Users must plan carefully and bring the minimum quantity of chemicals required to complete lab work. Every effort should be made to avoid having surplus chemicals at the completion of lab work. Be advised that laboratory chemicals are classified as dangerous goods under federal transportation legislation. Shipping lab chemicals out of Nunavut requires the services of a certified dangerous goods handler, and such services are very difficult to obtain in Nunavut communities, including Iqaluit.