News

Since the start in June 2017 the forWater Network, led by Water Institute member Professor Monica Emelko, has been contributing critical knowledge to the field of forest management and water treatment research. This unprecedented Network brings together two very distinct fields, forest management and drinking water treatment technology. Beyond bridging vastly different disciplines, the Network also spans research across Canada's five major ecozone.

Not only is it a myth that Canada has an abundance of readily accessible water, say researchers, but we're poorly managing what we do have.

The fact that Canada faces real threats to its water security will surprise many Canadians, as the popular perception is that we are a country with a virtually inexhaustible supply of water.

A twenty-minute saliva-based COVID-19 test may be coming soon to a pharmacy near you, thanks to researchers at the University of Waterloo.

In May 2020, Water Institute member Marek Stastna, professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics, was elected President of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS). In this uniquely challenging year, the President’s role has presented new opportunities for Marek such as the implementation of virtual programming and leading the development of a new Strategic Plan.

Executive director of the Water Institute and profressor in Waterloo's Department of Economics, Roy Brouwer, is leading a new project called "Valuing Canada’s Water Resources and Aquatic Ecosystem Services." This project is the largest co-ordinated water valuation research program in Canada, aiming to develop, test and apply reliable and robust state-of-the-art valuation methods and techniques for aquatic ecosystem services in different water policy cont

We are delighted to announce that Professor Roy Brouwer has been re-appointed as the Water Institute’s Executive Director, after extensive consultation of all Water Institute members last year. Brouwer, who has been in the role since 2016, began his second term as Executive Director on January 1, 2021.

The Water Institute together with the Gordon Foundation and the Lake Futures project recently released a report that documents outcomes of a “Data Needs in the Great Lakes” workshop held virtually on December 2-3, 2020.

Susan Elliott, a researcher in Geography and Environmental Management joins an esteemed group of international health researchers in receiving the 2020 Melinda S. Meade Distinguished Scholarship Award in Health and Medical Geography.

Researchers have answered key questions to help prevent damage and improve the safety of hydraulic systems used for pipelines, water turbines and other applications.

The work, led by engineers at the University of Waterloo, investigates a phenomenon known as cavitation, or the formation and collapse of destructive gas-filled bubbles resulting from rapid pressure changes in liquids.

Cavitation is behind a well-known party trick that involves shattering the bottom of a liquid-filled bottle by striking its open top with the palm of your hand.

Established in 2012 by Dean Doug Peers, the Arts Awards for Service, Teaching and Research recognize exceptional contributions made by faculty, staff and students in the Faculty of Arts. This year, two Water Institute members were awarded the Arts Award for Excellence in Research:  Roy Brouwer, professor in Economics and the executive director of the Water Institute, and Daniel Henstra, professor in Political Science. 

The Faculty of Arts wrote: