News

The Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund, administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is allocating $15.8 million to six University of Waterloo research projects to identify solutions to environmental challenges.

Funded through the Climate Action and Awareness Fund (CAAF), the research supports building sustainable net-zero emissions in Canada by 2050.

A new report coauthored by University of Waterloo professor Maria Strack has provided the most comprehensive assessment of the world's peatlands to date and identified actions governments should take to improve their protection, restoration and sustainable management.

Two Water Institute researchers have been named new Canada Research Chairs.

On November 16, 2022, the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced an investment of more than $139 million to support 176 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across 46 institutions in Canada. The announcement was made during his remarks at the Canadian Science Policy Conference in Ottawa, ON.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced $15 million in funding for the University of Waterloo’s Faculties of Mathematics and Environment to work with Indonesian partners on climate-change adaptation and mitigation strategies in the country.

Nancy Goucher, Knowledge Mobilization Specialist for the Water Institute, was pleased to present at this year’s National Water and Wastewater Conference 2022, which took place from November 6-9 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nancy was invited to speak about innovative research approaches for mitigating microplastics pollution to an audience of water leaders from across the country.

Water Institute member Dr. Rebecca Rooney and her Waterloo Wetland Lab organized a successful wetland information session and clean-up event on Wednesday, November 9th. The event took place at a small but highly visible urban wetland at the corner of Columbia and Fisher-Hallman roads in Waterloo, ON that has collected a large amount of unwelcomed litter.

More than 35 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clean the wetland and raise awareness on the value of wetlands and the threats facing them.

The discovery of a 460 km river under the Antarctica ice sheet could be the missing link to climate models.  

A team of researchers led by Water Institute member Dr. Christine Dow, a professor in the department of Geography and Environmental Management and cross-appointed to the Department of Applied Mathematics, discovered the river from a series of airborne radar surveys and modelling. Their findings show the ice sheet's base has more active water flow than previously thought, which could make it more susceptible to changes in climate. 

Professor leads wetland clean-up event as a teachable moment

Members of the University of Waterloo community led by Dr. Rebecca Rooney and the Waterloo Wetland Lab will engage in a wetland clean-up event and information session on Wednesday, November 9.

In 2022 at the UN Environment Assembly representatives from 175 countries vowed to end plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is ubiquitous on earth affecting every habitat. The most glaring example is “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch” which is three times the size of France and is comprised of an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of discarded plastic. 

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.