Breaking boundaries in water research

Taking inspiration from nature, Water Institute researcher Yimin Wu, Professor and Tang Family Chair in New Energy Materials and Sustainability, and his research team have developed a hydrogel that mimics sea cucumbers’ ability to change stiffness to help repair damaged tendons and other soft tissues. The material provides temporary support for new tissue growth, then gradually breaks down and is absorbed by the body.

More than 120 members of the global water community came together on October 1 for an international webinar exploring how organizations can make hydrological data easier to discover, access, share and reuse across different systems and jurisdictions.

The webinar, “Unlocking the Power of Hydrological Data: Empowering People, Enabling Applications, Informing Policy, and Protecting the Environment,” was organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the University of Waterloo’s Water Institute, Global Water Futures Observatory, DataStream, the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science (CUAHSI) and government partners.

For many Canadians, turning on a tap or accessing a washroom is an unremarkable part of daily life. Yet water researchers increasingly recognize that access to water is closely tied to dignity, health, and social equity. New research led by Julius Jebuni suggests that, in some parts of the world, the consequences of water insecurity extend even further: into the realm of gender-based violence.