Global Water Futures (GWF) celebrates the outstanding achievements of program graduates who are leading water security efforts in Canada and beyond
Over 500 Highly Qualified Personal (HQP) – including graduate students, technicians, and early career professionals – participated in the Global Water Futures program at the University of Waterloo.
There, they were exposed to research projects, technical experts, and training opportunities that provided them with the skills and experiences necessary for a meaningful career in sustainable water management.
Beyond the intellectual rigour of coursework, Waterloo HQP contributed to real-world solutions to address the water crisis in Canada and beyond. By participating in GWF’s ground-breaking research projects, they learned that water challenges often require an unconventional, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approach.
Join us in celebrating some of GWF’s graduates whose have continued their work towards to a healthier and more sustainable future.
Where are Waterloo’s GWF Graduates Today?
Dr. Elaine Ho Tassone
Dr. Elaine Ho Tassone earned a PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability (Integrated Water Management), under the supervision of Professors Simon Courtenay and Andrew Trant. As part of the Lake Futures project, her research focused on co-designing a cumulative effects monitoring and management framework with key stakeholders for the lower Grand River and the nearshore areas of Lake Erie.
Reflecting on her time at Waterloo, Ho Tassone recalls the recognition her innovative approach received, in part due to her involvement in Global Water Futures: “During my defense, a committee member remarked that my work was likely the most transdisciplinary the department had ever seen.”
GWF provided Ho Tassone with invaluable opportunities. “Many of the relationships I leveraged for my research were initiated by faculty and staff within the GWF program. The networking opportunities, training sessions, and retreats helped me improve my communication skills and, importantly, build my confidence as a researcher.”
Currently, Ho Tassone is the Director of Operations at the Nordik Institute, Algoma University. Prior to this role, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Algoma University, where she partnered with Garden River First Nation to launch a community-led water quality monitoring program.
Ho Tassone continues to work on improving water security in Canada and is a sought-after speaker on water issues at conferences and workshops. She has led public engagements on freshwater issues in her community and is part of a binational working group focused on the environmental restoration of the Great Lakes.
Her experience at the University of Waterloo set her up for success in the water sector. “GWF’s focus on interdisciplinarity and EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) was crucial in shaping my thinking and actions in everything I’ve done since.”
Dylan Price
Dylan Price completed a MSc in Biogeochemistry under the supervision of Professor Merrin Macrae. His research, as part of the Agricultural Water Futures project, focused on quantifying phosphorus runoff from one significant source: bunker silos.
“Being part of GWF helped me develop a deep understanding of sustainable water management,” says Price. “I also gained confidence in effectively communicating my knowledge through presentations, posters, and networking opportunities.”
Since graduating, Price has been working in the mining industry. He is currently an Environment Supervisor at the Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto), where he focuses on improving the sustainability of mining operations. This includes ensuring that water withdrawals are well below regulatory limits, a goal achieved through careful water use and recycling practices.
“I work in a very remote part of Canada with a strong connection to water. Diavik is located on an island in Lac de Gras, 300 km northwest of Yellowknife. Preserving the pristine lake surrounding the mine is a top priority.”
Reflecting on how GWF prepared him for his career, Price says, “GWF helped shape my professional path by giving me the opportunity to share my research with like-minded people.”
Dr. Emily Ury
Dr. Emily Ury completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Waterloo, under the supervision of Professor Nandita Basu. Ury’s research contributed to the Lake Futures project and focused on improving water quality in Lake Erie by identifying strategies to maximize phosphorus retention in restored wetlands.
“I helped identify effective wetland restoration strategies, including design elements like size, catchment-to-wetland area ratio, and spatial targeting,” she explains. “Restored and constructed wetlands can play a crucial role in Lake Erie’s regional phosphorus management plan.”
Ury now continues her work on wetland restoration strategies in a post-doctoral fellowship at the Environmental Defense Fund in Boston. Her current research has expanded to a global scale, with an emphasis on balancing carbon sequestration with methane emissions.
Reflecting on her time with Global Water Futures, Ury values the collaborative environment. “Being part of GWF was a great experience. It showed me how multiple streams of research can come together to achieve a larger goal.”
Martin Gauch
Martin Gauch earned a MMath degree in Computer Science under the supervision of Professor Jimmy Lin. His research lies at the intersection of machine learning and hydrology, with a focus on developing data-driven deep learning techniques for streamflow prediction.
Gauch’s journey at the University of Waterloo began as an exchange student. “I wasn’t initially working on water-related projects, but I inspired by a course on big data processing, taught by Dr. Lin,” he recalls. “He offered me a Research Assistant position with the Global Water Futures Core Computer Science Team, where I wrote code for GWF’s Cuizinart project. This was my first exposure to deep learning for hydrological modelling.”
Following this experience, Gauch pursued his newfound passion and joined the team at the Google Flood Forecasting Initiative in Zurich, Switzerland. There, he helps develop data systems that predict floods worldwide. These systems have saved countless lives and property by sending early warnings to people in regions like Bangladesh and India, where adequate warning systems are lacking.
Simultaneously, Gauch is furthering his academic journey by pursuing a PhD at the Institute for Machine Learning in Austria. His research continues to focus on deep learning methods to enhance hydrological modeling.
Gauch is grateful for his experience with Global Water Futures. “My time at the University of Waterloo introduced me to the world of water and hydrology, something I might never have encountered otherwise. It was a fortunate coincidence to work with such an inspirational team, including Juliane Mai, Bryan Tolson, and Jimmy Lin.”
Kirsten Grant
Kirsten Grantcompleted a MSc in Geography under the supervision of Professor Merrin Macrae. As part of the Agricultural Water Futures project, Grant’s research focused on understanding the source and transport mechanisms that control phosphorus movement to agricultural tile drains across different soil textures and seasonal conditions. After graduation, she joined the Lake Futures team as the Project Coordinator.
Grant’s time at Waterloo equipped her with essential skills for her career. “Data analysis and writing skills remain key components of my work to this day,” she notes.
Currently, Grant works as a Community Fulfillment Manager with ALUS, where she supports the funding process, ensuring the organization is well-resourced to fulfill its mandate. “I love working at the intersection of agriculture and the environment, where we can showcase the positive collective impact that farmers are having by establishing nature-based projects,” she says. ALUS helps improve water quality by supporting farmers and ranchers in restoring and stewarding environmental projects on their land, such as wetland and riparian projects.
Through her experience with GWF, Grant was able to build a strong network within the water and agricultural community. “At Waterloo, I interacted with practitioners and water stakeholders outside of academia. The exposure to different organizations and roles within the water sector helped guide my career path.”
Ryan Carlow
Ryan Carlow earned an MSc in Biogeochemistry under the supervision of Professor Merrin Macrae. His research contributed to the Agricultural Water Futures project, where he focused on assessing technological solutions to nutrient loss in surface runoff. Carlow discovered that while various on-field practices, such as reduced tillage and cover crops, can help reduce nutrient loss, addressing the issue at its source is more effective than relying solely on technology.
Today, Carlow works with the Greenbelt Foundation to promote soil health testing across Ontario. Healthy soils are crucial for water quality as they help minimize nutrient losses. The four-year project aims to provide every Ontario farmer with a simple soil health test to enhance drought resilience.
“GWF prepared me well for the working world,” says Carlow. “It taught me the importance of consistent communication with project partners.” He has particularly benefited from the knowledge mobilization skills he acquired at Waterloo, which enable him to translate scientific results for Ontario’s agricultural community. “The skills I learned through GWF gave me the confidence to discuss complex and nuanced scientific findings with anyone.”