Sponsored by Dima Technology Inc.
The Environment Division R&D Dima Award is presented for distinguished contributions to research and/or development in the fields of environmental chemistry or environmental chemical engineering, while working in Canada.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2024 winner of the Environment Division Research and Development Dima Award is:
Diane Beauchemin, MCIC
Queen’s University
A native of Rosemère, QC, Diane Beauchemin obtained a B.Sc. in 1980 and a Ph.D. in 1984 (supervisor: Joseph Hubert) at l’Université de Montréal. She worked as a Research Associate at the National Research Council until she joined the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University in 1988, and became Full Professor in 2001.
Beauchemin’s research efforts focus on inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry (MS) and optical emission spectrometry from both fundamental and application perspectives. Her work has been recognized by the: Alan Date Memorial Award (in ICPMS) in 1988, 1991 Maccoll Prize, NSERC Senior Industrial Fellowship to work in the R&D Division of SCIEX (sole Canadian ICPMS manufacturer) in 1995, 2017 Maxxam Award (first woman to receive it), 2018 Gerhard Herzberg Award (first woman to receive it) and 2019 Clara Benson Award. She is repeatedly invited to write chapters on Environmental Analysis, including one in 2020 on ICPMS Analysis of Environmental Samples for the Quantification of Potentially Toxic Species in Wiley`s Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry.
She was the first to develop a speciation analysis method for arsenic in environmental samples. Her on-line leaching method facilitates geochemical exploration for undercover ore deposits. It also reveals different sources of elements in environmental samples.