News

The Ecohydrology Research Group (ERG) and the China University of Geosciences (CUG) in Wuhan are developing long-term collaborations on the geochemistry of black earth soils in northeast China and water quality issues in the central Yangtze River basin. Discussions on August 24 also included the possible establishment of a joint CUG-University of Waterloo technology centre in Wuhan. On August 25, Philippe and Shuhuan joined a group of CUG researchers in Yueyang City to plan future joint field work on Dongting Lake.

The 34^th International Society of Limnology Congress (SIL) took place on August 19-24 in Nanjing China. The SIL congress is the major international meeting covering all aspects of inland waters. The theme for SIL 2018 was "Limnology, a Science for the Preservation and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems". Much of the program dealt with the pressures on, and management and restoration of, freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Philippe gave one of the 10 plenary lectures at the congress.

The Ecohydrology Research Group and Dajiang Environment Corporation are collaborating on strengthening the water quality management of the Eco-Hi-Tech Island in Nanjing, China (see Wednesday June 13 news item). Philippe and Shuhuan visited the joint Dajiang-Waterloo Research Centre in Nanjing on August 21-23 to discuss progress and plan upcoming activities, including the 3^rd International Summit on Water Environmental Management to be held in Nanjing in October.

Group members Christina Smeaton, Bingjie Shi, and Kunfu Pi recently attended the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference which was held August 12-17 in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to attending talks, networking, and presenting their research, they were also able to catch up with ERG alumni Taylor Maavara (PDF at Berkeley Lab), Ekaterina Markelova (consultant at Amphos 21, Barcelona, Spain), and Gianna Marschmann (PhD student at University of Hohenheim and future PDF at Berkeley Lab). 

Vice-President, Academic and Provost George Dixon announced the winners of the 2017 Outstanding Performance Awards, among them Philippe Van Cappellen.

A delegation of the Water Institute (WI) comprising Roy Brouwer, Neil Thomson and Philippe Van Cappellen visited São Paulo State on May 7-10, hosted by the Secretariat of the Environment of the São Paulo State government. The Secretariat integrates several agencies and institutes within the Environmental System of São Paulo (SAP), including the São Paulo State Environmental Agency (CETESB), the Forestry Foundation and the Geological Institute. The visit was facilitated by the Canadian Consulate in São Paulo, in particular thanks to the efforts of Mr. Patrick Courcelles.

Linden Fairbairn, a Master's Student working with the Ecohydrology Research Group, was recently awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST). The scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for graduate students registered in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field. Congratulations, Linden!

For more information about the scholarship, visit the University of Waterloo's Graduate Studies website.