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 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.

Dr. Dustin Garrick, SERS Associate Professor and University Research Chair in Water and Development Policy, leads an international team that was recently awarded $500,000 in funding through a New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Special Call for Research for Post-pandemic Recovery. The Beyond the Informal Water Paradox project team includes partners in Kenya.

Jennifer Clapp, University Professor in SERS and Canada Research Chair, was inducted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry as a new international fellow on January 28, 2023.

Nathanael Bergbusch, a SERS PhD Candidate, has been awarded the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for his innovative research proposal titled “Towards Sustainable Watershed Management: Meaningful Inclusion of Communities and Ecosystems in Environmental Assessment.”

SERS participated in the Sustainability Office's 2022 Eco-Summit. SERS achieved a gold ranking in the Green Office program and two SERS undergraduate students participated in panel sessions.