News

The University of Waterloo has claimed the No. 1 position in Canada for water resources and climbed to 24th globally in the 2024 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Rankings of Academic Subjects—its highest position to date. Rising from 25th last year, the ranking underscores the university’s performance and reputation in water resources, a field critical to addressing escalating climate change and water security challenges worldwide.

Waterloo Architecture is honoured to host the presentation “Climate Resilience Inspired by Monsoon Culture,” by renowned landscape architect Dr. Kongjian Yu, on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

Several Water Institute faculty members recently took part in the National Freshwater Data Strategy Workshop hosted by the Canada Water Agency (CWA) on September 25–26 in Burlington, Ontario.

The University of Waterloo has been awarded federal funding to tackle environmental challenges impacting the ecosystem health of the Great Lakes. Environment and Climate Change Canada recently announced support for 50 partner-led projects through their Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative.

In a proactive move towards enhancing flood resilience planning, researchers from the University of Waterloo and Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) have partnered with the BC Provincial Government's Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (the Ministry) to produce a series of pivotal research reports aimed at helping British Columbia (B.C.) communities to better prepare for and adapt to flooding.

In September, the Collaborative Water Program (CWP) welcomed back graduate students from across the University to join the WATER 602 course, a field course on integrated water management set in the Grand River watershed. The course returned to the Grand River, visiting with partners from the headwaters to Six Nations. The goal was help train the next generation of water leaders by helping students understand the complex trade-offs in water management and the tools for addressing them, learning first-hand from a wide range of partners.

The Water Institute is excited to announce its 2024-25 WaterTalks, a five-part speaker series designed to explore cutting-edge insights into today’s most pressing water challenges. This year’s lineup brings together leading experts who will share innovative approaches to water management, addressing complex issues like environmental risk, water contaminants, environmental justice, and advanced resource recovery.

The Water Institute is excited to host its inaugural event showcasing the research of early career faculty. Covering topics such as climate smart agriculture, remote sensing of freshwater lakes, GHG dynamics in waterbodies and interconnections in water-energy-food systems, eight faculty members from across four faculties and six departments/schools will share a glimpse into their research on October 31st.

Water Institute member Helen Jarvie, a professor of water and global environmental change in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, recently shared research demonstrating how local investments in wastewater treatment are improving water quality, in an article published in the Journal of Environmental Quality.

Water Institute member Larry Swatuk, professor, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, School of Planning and Department of Geography and Environmental Management, and School of Planning alumna Corrine Cash, assistant professor, Department of Geography and Environment, Mount Allison University, have a new book out offering best practices for avoiding Day Zero.