News

The Water Institute is pleased to launch its Fall 2025 WaterTalks, a three-part speaker series showcasing fresh perspectives on some of today’s most pressing water challenges. This year’s talks will span topics from groundwater use and the water–energy–food–poverty nexus in South Asia to advancing environmental justice and strengthening resilience to hydroclimate extremes.

Dr. Bryan Grimwood, Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RLS) in the Faculty of Health, has been awarded approximately $380,000 in funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to lead a new research initiative entitled Tourism, ruination, and regenerative futures that rethinks tourism’s role in landscapes marked by environmental and cultural ruination.

When devastating floods swept through Pakistan in 2022, millions were displaced, and more than 1400 lives were lost. For Malak Kamal, a graduate architecture student from Quetta, Pakistan, it was a turning point.

What happens to communities when the fish disappear? For millions of small-scale fishers (SSFs) worldwide, this isn’t just a question—it’s a daily reality. SSFs support the livelihoods of 120 million people globally, yet these vital ecosystems are on the brink of collapse due to declining water quality, pollution, and climate change.

A new global study, led by Water Institute member Dr. Adam Yates, identifies five Grand Challenges facing freshwater biomonitoring — the practice of using living organisms, such as fish, algae, aquatic insects or the functions these organisms perform, such as decomposition, to assess the health of ecosystems. By observing how these organisms respond to pollution, habitat changes, or climate stressors, scientists can gain insight into the overall condition of rivers, lakes and wetlands. The study lays out a roadmap to help the scientific community improve biomonitoring to help protect these vulnerable systems in the coming decades.

A new scan published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research offers a look into the ingredients for success among academic and non-governmental water research centres focused on the Laurentian Great Lakes. Led by Professor Michael Twiss, Department of Biology at Algoma University, the study analyzed 22 centres across the region, based on interviews with the directors of these centers and institutes, including the University of Waterloo’s Water Institute to uncover patterns in governance, funding, outreach, and long-term sustainability.

Building better flood resilience through science and innovation

As climate change fuels more extreme rainfall and flooding, protecting Canada’s communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems depends on understanding where—and how severely—floods will strike. But in many regions, especially where historical data is limited, predicting the likelihood of rare, high-impact floods remains a major challenge.

What started as a personal curiosity during a California drought has become a global, interdisciplinary research journey for Isabel Jorgensen, PhD candidate, School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability - Collaborative Water Program, Water Institute. 

Lake Winnipeg has been experiencing increasingly severe algae blooms since the 1990’s, earning it the title of “Canada’s Sickest Lake”. This “illness” stems from excess nutrients, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen, running off from agricultural lands, urban areas, and wastewater treatment plants. These nutrients result in various water quality problems, including excessive algae growth, which can block light, deplete oxygen levels, and release toxins into the water.

Dr. Neil Thomson, internationally recognized groundwater remediation expert and long-time Water Institute member, was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus by the University of Waterloo in 2024 in recognition of his outstanding scholarly achievements and leadership. Now officially retired after more than 35 years with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Thomson continues to lead impactful research and mentor the next generation of environmental engineers.