2014 Vision Gala Keynote Speaker - Dr. Hayley Hung, Research Scientist of Environment Canada (1)

Written by Zita Lau

The Vision Youth Leadership Program holds a graduation gala every year to celebrate the success of our participants. For Vision Gala 2014 on February 22^nd, we are honoured to have Dr. Hayley Hung – a research scientist from the Air Quality Research Division of Environment Canada – as our keynote speaker. Prior to this, we are also given the opportunity to interview Dr. Hung and learn more about her career and experiences.

 

Dr. Hayley Hung working at the Dr. Neil Trivette Observatory, Alert, Nunavat.
Photo credit to Alex Urosevic of Toronto Sun

We have contact with numerous chemicals without being aware of them everyday. The use of these chemicals in small amounts is not too hazardous to human and the environment. The problem lies in the fact that they would circulate around the earth through air masses and ocean currents, gather in the Arctic due to their chemical properties, and eventually accumulate to a heavy amount in animals and human body as toxics. Therefore, the level of chemicals in the air must be closely monitored to ensure the safety of all species and the environment.

The job of Dr. Hung is to study the long-term trends, sources, and transport pathways of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs, chemicals that are listed as contaminants and mostly banned around the world) and other chemicals in conjunction with the other countries that are located in the Arctic Circle. For similar reasons, she is also working on the monitoring of POPs and trace metals in the Great Lakes regions, which is a collaboration project between Canada and the United States.

Dr. Hung devoted a lot of her efforts to the air monitor programs over the Arctic regions and became a successful research scientist at a relatively young age. However, it was not until the second summer of her undergraduate years that she came across what she would like to devote herself to now. That summer, Dr. Hung worked under the supervision of Professor Donald Mackay, an expert of the field who received the Order of Canada for his contribution. She was fascinated by these not readily visible yet powerful chemicals, where a small amount can travel a long distance and affect another part of the world; she was even more concerned about the impact of atmospheric contaminants on the environment, hoping that her research can provide useful information in policy establishment and reduce the problem. Therefore, she pursued a Ph. D degree with Professor Mackay in Chemical Engineering and started working for Environment Canada.

Dr. Hayley Hung interviewed by our volunteer writer of this article

 Dr. Hung believes that not everyone will be certain of what to do in the beginning – but you must give yourself more chances to try out different things. Sometimes things might seem very difficult or complicated when you see someone else do it; but when you have the chance to give it a try yourself, it might become something interesting or even what you would enjoy doing. In addition, your goal will only become clearer and more reinforced once you find the right path.