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.

NALS has been working on various research projects, aiming at creating strong and adaptable communities, fulfilling Canada’s climate goals, promoting environmental and social responsibilities, and encouraging innovation across different sectors of the economy. Through these projects, the NALS at UNBC has been building strong relationships and partnerships with small and big industries across Canada and beyond (e.g., Canfor, NPower Clean Tech Corporation, True North Environmental, Just Vertical and more), statutory agencies (e.g., WorkSafe BC, BCCDC, Environment Canada, Health Canada, BC Ministry of Forests, BCCSA, Mitacs), UNBC’s academic/research institutes (e.g., Health Research Institute, NRESi, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Northern Medical Program), hospitals (e.g., Northern Health, University Hospital of Northern BC), and Indigenous First Nations (e.g., Northern Biobank Initiative, National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, First Nations Health Authority, Tsay Keh Dene First Nation, Takla Nation, and more).

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.