Under new leadership in 2016, the NALS was created as a Central Equipment Lab to address the growing need for analytical services at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC. The NALS is home to an extensive suite of analytical science instrumentation that enables a broad spectrum of in-house, provincially, federally, and internationally accredited biological, chemical, and physical analyses. Our services are available to the private, public and non-profit sectors to help meet their research, development, analytical and quality assurance needs.
In 2022, PacifiCan, a new federal agency, invested 1.92 M to establish the Northern BC’s Environmental & Climate Solutions Innovation Hub” in the NALS that will allow for the increased and expedited development and prototyping of new materials and technologies. This will help solve pressing environmental concerns in Northern B.C. in sectors including water management, mining, forestry, and bioenergy.
A Healthier Environment,
Is a healthier you.
Industrial Hygiene
Industrial Hygiene testing plays a vital role in the health and safety of workers across the globe. Governments and industries have developed standards over time that are meant to contribute to the welfare of those doing the work as well as the health and well-being of surrounding communities.
Water Testing
Water sustains us and is the molecule of life. Knowing what’s in it is important. Whether you are getting an annual well inspection or using water for irrigation, our water package covers everything you need to determine your water quality.
Soil Testing
All food comes from soil. Thinking of starting your own farm? We can help you determine the mineral composition/nutrient profile, cation exchange capacity, organic matter composition of the soil and much more, making it easy for you to optimize the soil for your needs.
Air Testing
We breathe over 10000 litres a day. Imagine what would happen if you were a welder, a construction worker, or had a gas leak at your house? Our job is to help you understand the air you breathe, whether it’s indoor air, ambient air, or industrial air.
"I know many people have already said these words to you, as you are the foundation of all things possible for us here at the university, but I would still like to express my gratitude. Thank you, NALS, for helping us these past few months with the Katani project...also well known as my second marriage. Thank you for lending us your equipment and chemicals, for giving us advice, and for your support. Thank you for being patient with us and for your understanding and for your encouragement. Thank you for helping me and Dr. Wood make the Katani hempseed project into a reality."
"The NALS team performed several analytical tests for our nutrient adsorbent and built filter prototypes and evaluated their environmental performance with real-waste streams at both the lab & the field (real-world) over a year-long project. We were very impressed with their expertise in this area and the accuracy of the results that were provided in multiple reports. We plan to continue working with them on new projects and highly recommend their service to anyone in need."
"It was a pleasure to work with the entire NALS team during our NSERC research project timeframe. We had some very in-depth and detailed conversations on the intricacies of the project, and best practices to form the best path for success. All of the team members were very engaged, detail-oriented and passionate about the research project. They all understood the importance and value to Just Vertical. We have plans moving forward to begin a second project, essentially the second part of this project, and to continue the working relationship between Just Vertical and the NALS team."