Eyes Wide Open
Jim Hamilton (Class of '74)

It didn’t take a career in international development to open Jim Hamilton’s (Class of ’74) eyes to the way people live around the globe. But he’s spent a good portion of his working life trying to improve water conditions for people overseas.

Residents of Bangladesh have seen a big difference thanks to one project in which Jim was recently involved - the Bangladesh Environmental Technology Verification - Support to Arsenic Mitigation project, better known as, BETV-SAM.

“As a capacity building project, we were able to provide Canadian technical expertise to enhance the knowledge and skills of Bangladeshi scientists,” says Jim.  “This allowed Bangladesh to have protocols and systems in place to conduct arsenic removal technology (which is one safe water option) performance verification.”

The goal of BETV-SAM was to address environmental health issues and basic human needs in Bangladesh, by helping to provide drinking water that met the Bangladesh drinking water standard for arsenic.

“The expected impact of BETV-SAM was the improved health of households in arsenic-affected areas of Bangladesh,” says Jim, “through the introduction of certified, cost-effective and community-appropriate arsenic removal technologies.” Thereby reducing the consumption of arsenic-unsafe water and preventing arsenicosis.

 In addition to educating scientists in Bangladesh, Jim’s project team also built laboratory capacity in terms of introducing quality assurance/quality control procedures and standard operation procedures. These were introduced in specific laboratories which were conducting water chemistry analyses for the arsenic removal technologies.

“The results of the project were very successful,” says Jim.

While the conditions of drinking water in Bangladesh are drastic compared to our country, Jim’s work in Bangladesh also showed him a number of similarities.  “Bangladeshis are no different than you or I,” he adds. “They have their own aspirations, family, commitments and professional goals.”

Jim believes the defining difference between Bangladeshis and Canadians is that they are living and working in very challenging environs. Bangladesh is a small country with huge population pressures, limited natural resources and frequent natural disasters, among political, religious and civil challenges.

“That being said, Bangladesh is also very dynamic and has great potential for mobilizing human capital for economic benefit and social progress,” he says.

Leading a career he characterizes as serendipitous, Jim has been living NSAC’s brand of “making a difference”.

“There are so many people of various cultures, ethnicities, educational backgrounds, vulnerable and excluded groups, around the world, who have all kinds of potential but limited opportunity,” says Jim.  “These people could benefit from targeted support such as confidence building, technical assistance, livelihood assistance, information or market intelligence to lift them out of poverty.”

 In his spare time, Jim enjoys playing tennis, reading and travelling to new, interesting and exotic places with his family. Jim has personally worked, lived or visited more than 25 countries.