Grant: Collaborative Research and Training Experience

It is predicted that the world's population will exceed 9 billion people within the next 40 years and there is no question that freshwater resources must be managed wisely to meet human needs, yet maintain sustainable aquatic ecosystems. Nowhere are the effects of human induced habitat alterations more evident than in climate change issues, large scale freshwater crises, and the long-term sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. In Canada, for example, contamination from both anthropogenic and natural sources remains a serious threat to the health of both aquatic environments, and the people and economies relying on them. To effectively address these issues we require global cooperation and innovative tools and approaches. The development of guidelines to protect global resources is not occurring fast enough, primarily because of the lack of interdisciplinary expertise required to develop integrative management models. Currently, the training of environmental professionals focuses on high specialization within narrowly defined disciplines. This proposal aims to address this lack of expertise within the critical research framework of managing global freshwater resources. Our group has developed an innovative NSERC CREATE program to prepare a new group of environmental professionals who will lead future investigations into one of the most complex environmental problems of the 21st century, the security of sustainable freshwater resources. Our innovative training program promotes interdisciplinary collaborations and communication through a combination of elements such as student exchanges, internship placements, and interactive workshops. Scientists trained in our program will gain the necessary skills to transfer academic knowledge on the synergistic effect of micro-pollutants in aquatic environments into concrete action like assessing ecosystems at risk, policy implementation, and design of recovery plans. Most importantly, our students will gain knowledge regarding the social, ethical, and political dimensions of global environmental issues and will ultimately be able to guide Canada toward sustainable development.