University of Guelph professor Merritt Turetsky is the sole Canadian scientist participating in an international conference this week in Johannesburg, South Africa, aimed at helping the United Nations meet its sustainable development goals.

She was invited to take part in the Worldwide Meeting of National Young Academies, organized by the South African Young Academy of Science and the Global Young Academy.

The event brings together more than 60 representatives from around the world. The theme is “One Health: Health and Development in the Context of an Urbanizing Planet and Implications for Science Policy.”

Turetsky holds the Canada Research Chair in Integrative Ecology, and studies changing environmental conditions and global methane emissions in the North. Besides deepening understanding of ecosystems and resource management, her research is intended to improve regional and global climate models.