Grant Clark grew up on a mixed farm in Central Alberta, Canada. He received an industry-cooperative BSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton (1993) and a PhD in Biosystems Engineering from McGill University, Montreal (2000). Grant then worked as a Research Associate and Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta until returning to McGill in 2007. He is an affiliate member of the Bieler School of Environment and the Trottier Institute for Sustainable Engineering and Design. In 2016-2017 he was an invited professor at the Autonomous University of Chapingo, Mexico. He is a Past President of the Canadian Society for Bioengineering, serves on the editorial board of Canadian Biosystems Engineering, and reviews for numerous other journals.
Research Interests
An ecosystem is a complex adaptive system. It is a large, diverse community of organisms that interact with one another, their nonliving surroundings, and technological components in complicated and surprising ways.
The Ecological Engineering Research Group studies and designs ecosystems using physical experiments and “digital twins” (computer models), with the goal of enhancing services that are beneficial to society. An example of such an engineered ecosystem is a compost vessel, in which a controlled environment promotes the microbial processing of organic residues into a soil-like product.
A different view of ecological engineering is the study of material and energy flows through natural ecosystems to inspire the design of improved technology. An example of such ecomimetic design is the passive ventilation of buildings based on the principle of convective airflow through termite mounds.
Current Research
Optimiser la gestion des eaux de surface et l'irrigation des arbres urbains
Ecological engineering for optimal management of agricultural and municipal organic residues
Management strategies for nutrient use efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction from biosolids-amended soils in Canada
Courses
BREE 322. Organic Waste Management.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits:3
Offered by:Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
Terms Offered:Fall 2025
View offerings for Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
An introduction to engineering aspects of handling, storage and treatment of all biological and food industry wastes. Design criteria will be elaborated and related to characteristics of wastes. Physical, chemical and biological treatment systems.
2 lectures and one 2-hour lab
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 322.
A fee of $50.00 is charged to support a field trip to local waste management facilities for guided tour and information-gathering for a course assignment as well as some laboratory supplies for hands-on composting and/or anaerobic digestion lab.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits:3
Offered by:Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
Terms Offered:Winter 2026
View offerings for Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Philosophical and mathematical principles of computational modelling and simulation: Concepts of verification, parameterization, validation, and sensitivity analysis. Introduction to basic concepts of finite element modelling: Direct stiffness and weighted residual methods. Introduction to software packages for general systems and multiphysics, finite-element-based modeling. Emphasis on biosystems engineering applications, e.g., ecosystem dynamics, material properties, solid and structural mechanics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, electrical and machinery systems.
Prerequisite: BREE 252; AEMA 305; or permission of instructor.
Restrictions: U3 students and above
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits:3
Offered by:Bioresource Engineering (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
Terms Offered:Winter 2026
View offerings for Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Concepts and practice of ecological engineering: the planned creation or management of a community of organisms, their nonliving surroundings, and technological components to provide services. Survey of applications such as constructed wetlands, aquatic production systems, green infrastructure for urban storm water management, environmental restoration. Taught cooperatively with a parallel course at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Online collaboration with an interdisciplinary, international team is an important component of the course.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ABEN 518.
One 3-hour lecture per week.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
