

Don’t just work in a lab
DISRUPT AN INDUSTRY
Laura Richard’s journey began with a spark — not in a pitch room, but in a lab. As a curious undergraduate at UNB, she loved exploring chemistry and finding answers to big questions. But she never imagined her experiments would lead to real-world disruption.
Laura Richard:
Turned maritime tales into a thriving coffee business
Richard felt spellbound while listening to a story her partner, Brad Rideout, told her about growing up on Campobello Island. That story involved his grandfather, who, as a boat pilot, often reminisced about when products had been shipped from tropical places to ports in Eastern Canada.
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Inspired by island stories
A tale of ocean-flavoured coffee sparked Laura Richard’s curiosity. Partner Brad Rideout’s grandfather recalled how products once carried ocean air — a taste lost in today’s shipping.
From basement lab to breakthrough
Richard, a PhD chemist and UNB grad, recreated that flavour in a lab. The result? A signature roast that would launch Saltwinds Coffee — now an award-winning brand.
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Saltwinds coffee goes global
Based in Fredericton, their ocean-infused blends are sold online and in major stores such as Sobeys, expanding from the Maritimes to Ontario and the U.S.
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High school students with an 80%+ average are guaranteed a scholarship (application required).
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UNB grads lead the Maritimes in career success.
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All of our undergraduate programs offer opportunities to get involved in research.
Make an impact at UNB and beyond

Cody Carlyle
Researcher at the University of New Brunswick
Cody is a PhD candidate at UNB. He studies right whales with Dr. Kim Davies, who leads the Davies Lab in Conservation Oceanography…

Jordan MacDonald
PhD candidate and founder of Adapt for Education
Jordan MacDonald believes so-and he's building the proof by reshaping the future for teen parents across New Brunswick and beyond.

Rafaella Mayrinck
Professor- UNB Forestry & Environmental Manag…
Rafaella has always felt at home in the forest, whether in her native Brazil or her new home in New Brunswick.

Community greenhouses will help people
access affordable, healthy food
The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is shining a light on innovation and entrepreneurship at UNB through stories that inspire, transform, provoke…

UNB alumni driving innovation to its fullest
potential
As CEO and co-founder of Potential Motors, Sam Poirier (BScME'19, M-TME'19) and his team are targeting a small niche with the introduction of …

Breaking the cycle of child poverty
Melissa Bewick (MBA'11) is breaking the cycle of child poverty in Saint John. Her non-profit organization, Bee Me Kidz, directly addresses the impact of poverty-related stressors on a child’s ability to learn.
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