Miriam Diamond’s current research focuses on urban contaminants. Wondering what her children might be exposed to growing up in a large urban centre sparked Diamond’s innovative approach to measuring and modelling the sources, fate and potential health effects of chemical contaminants in cities. Diamond has collected contaminant data on everything from soil to window panes. She is now keeping a close eye on indoor pollution. Canadian Geographic awarded her Environmental Scientist of the Year for 2007.

Q : What about the greening of business? Will that be enough to turn around our environmental crises?

A : The “greening” of business is a gesture similar to leaving your friends the last 2 jelly beans in a jar after you’ve eaten the other 998 – it’s welcome, it’s useful, but it will not turn around our environmental crises. As I mentioned [elsewhere], every major technological revolution was promoted and funded by a major government initiative. Currently, government spends the equivalent of 2 jelly beans on promoting green innovations. Government also subsidizes the conventional fossil fuel industry (loads of jelly beans), leaving green industry at a great economic disadvantage. We need to “enable” green innovations just as we “enabled” putting people on the moon!

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