News

The Water Institute’s 2020 research conference - Can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in a post-COVID world? - took place over the course of three days, and covered five continents. From September 29 to October 1, leading water researchers and practitioners from around the world discussed their work in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Sulzman Award for Excellence in Education and Mentoring is presented annually to a mid-career female scientist in recognition of significant contributions as a role model and mentor for the next generation of biogeoscientsts. 

Mercury is used in a variety of industries, including textile manufacturing and gold and silver mining. When released into the environment, this highly toxic element causes widespread contamination of soil. As mercury enters rivers, lakes and oceans, it is converted to methylmercury, a neurotoxin that moves into the food chain through fish and seafood, posing a serious risk to human health.

The Water Institute's executive director, Professor Roy Brouwer, was part of a joint submission from 38 leading water organizations, calling on the federal government to highlight the critical importance of water and promote the Canada Water Agency as a key priority in the Speech from the Throne.

Most Canadians living in flood risk areas do not know their homes are in danger, which could cost Canadian taxpayers billions in population resettlement.

In a survey of 2,500 people living in designated flood-risk areas across the country, only six per cent knew their homes were at risk, according to a new report from the University of Waterloo’s Partners for Action, with funding support from The Co-operators Group Ltd. Only a quarter of respondents said their insurance representative had discussed flood coverage options with them.

Water Institute member John Yeow, a Waterloo Engineering faculty member and the Canada Research Chair in Micro and Nanodevices, has been honoured with IEEE Canada’s Outstanding Engineer Award for 2020.

Dr. Monica Emelko, Water Institute member and director of the Water Science, Technology and Policy group at the University of Waterloo, told ICN,

Efficient and accurate estimations of soil moisture are key for proper crop irrigation management.

Written by Department of Geography and Environmental Management graduate student Yusof Ghiasi, Water Institute member and professor of Geography and Environmental Management Claude Duguay, professor of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Armaghan Salehian, and Depar

Three recent papers by Waterloo’s Ecohydrology Research Group (ERG) on the fate and transport of nutrient elements along the water cycle have been featured in American Geophysical Union’s EoS Research Spotlights.