News

Dustin Garrick has been appointed director of the University of Waterloo’s Collaborative Water Program for a two-year term, effective January 1, 2024. Dustin is University Research Chair in Water and Development Policy, associate professor in SERS and is a Water Institute member.

Established in 2013, the Collaborative Water Program is unique at the University of Waterloo and globally for its interdisciplinary approach and focus on learning through hands-on experience. The aim is to train the next generation of water leaders and equip them with the job-ready skills needed to understand and address complex water challenges.

The number of solar-powered water pumps is increasing in lower and middle income countries. While the technology presents important opportunities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, an article published in Science co-led by SERS professor Dustin Garrick suggests that anticipated emissions reductions are complex to calculate and solar pumps are likely to increase groundwater depletion as farmers gain access to cheap, clean energy.

We are pleased to announce that Derek Armitage is the new Director of SERS, taking up the role on January 1, 2024.

The School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) and The Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation have signed a letter of intent setting out a framework to pursue new projects together, exploring collaboration in education, public outreach, and research on sustainability, conservation, and the protection of biodiversity, 

The School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability congratulates our newest cohort of doctoral graduands. 

We are pleased to announce that four new faculty have taken up positions in SERS in the past year. We welcomed Dr. Felicitas Egunyu (August 2022), Dr. Helena Shilomboleni (September 2022), Dr. Chantel Markle (January 2023) and Dr. Leah Jones-Crank (July 2023).

Dr. Kelsey Leonard's WAMPUM Lab partnered with the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance to co-develop a report to the UN to prioritize Indigenous Peoples in the digital ecosystem. Their submission indicates principles and actions that can be taken to achieve the goal of an open, free and secure digital future for all. It employs the CARE principles, which are well-established in the open data movement.

Yesterday, the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability will celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our 2023 graduates. Among this group of individuals are four doctoral (PhD) graduands, who have proven their extraordinary level of academic aptitude and become subject-matter experts in areas such as environmental policy, ecological restoration, and politics and practice of sustainability.

Kelsey Leonard, along with an international group of Indigenous researchers, has offered a definition of Water Back for Water research. Water Back means the return of Water and kin to Indigenous governance in a way that empowers the resurgent Indigenous Water relationships that are integral to Indigenous cultural, biological, spiritual and political sovereignty; this includes cosmogony, ceremony, access, law and policies.

With the end of the winter term and school year, recipients of special awards were announced. Sharah Gallego Meneses was awarded the academic excellence award among graduating undergraduate SERS students. Ishani Dasgupta and Kyle Schang were awarded the SERS Good Citizen Awards at the undergraduate and graduate levels respectively.