Water Institute, University of Waterloo

10/06/2026

🎉 The University of Waterloo’s Collaborative Water Program (CWP) has been named a finalist in the Education category of the 2026 Water Canada Awards!

Since launching in 2013, the CWP has brought together students and expertise from across disciplines to explore the complex water challenges that no single field can solve alone.

More than 450 graduate students have participated in the program, building skills in systems thinking, collaboration and real-world water management. Today, CWP alumni are contributing to the water sector across Canada and internationally in research, government, industry, policy, consulting and environmental organizations.

This recognition celebrates more than a decade of interdisciplinary water education and the growing community of water professionals helping shape the future of water management.

🏆 The winner will be announced October 22 in Toronto.

Learn more: https://uwaterloo.ca/water-institute/news/collaborative-water-program-named-finalist-national

Collaborative Water Program named finalist for national recognition in water education

10/02/2026

💧 Build your skills. Strengthen your impact. Earn the WaterLeadership Certificate.

The Water Institute’s WaterLeadership training series helps University of Waterloo students build practical skills in knowledge mobilization, research communication and leadership.

The 2026–27 series kicks off October 7 with Knowledge Mobilization 101, led by Elanor Waslander, Knowledge Mobilization Specialist with The Water Institute.

Participants will learn how to:
• Set clear research impact goals and identify a pathway to change
• Connect with and understand their intended audiences
• Choose effective knowledge mobilization activities
• Develop strategic plans that connect goals, audiences, tools and outcomes

Complete all four core workshops and their accompanying assignments to earn the WaterLeadership Certificate.

📅 Knowledge Mobilization 101
October 7, 2026 | 10 to 11:30 a.m.
📍 Engineering 2, E2-2350
🎓 Open to University of Waterloo graduate students

Learn more and register:

The Water Institute, presents, "Knowledge Mobilization 101" with Elanor Waslander, Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, Water Institute, University of Waterloo.

09/30/2026

09/28/2026

Today at 3 p.m. ET, join the Global Water Futures Observatories (GWFO) webinar “Why Water Data Matters to Farmers” to explore how freshwater research and long-term monitoring can support better water decisions across Canada’s breadbasket. 🌾💧

The webinar will feature insight from GWFO instrumented sites and highlight how water data can inform research, monitoring and decision-making for Canada’s freshwater future.

Get the link: : https://usask-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/u6fE2WZPTYu7FQ8ui2mHTA #/registration

09/28/2026

In The Media: Clear, consistent water-safety messaging can help communities better prepare people for hazards on the Great Lakes.

Chris Houser, University of Waterloo’s dean of science, whose work examines beach safety, recently spoke at the Great Lakes Drowning and Risk Communication Summit, where officials from 11 Ontario communities discussed rip currents, local beach hazards and ways to strengthen public safety messaging.

Read more about the summit:

Officials from 11 Ontario communities gathered in St. Thomas to discuss more consistent messaging around rip currents and other water hazards.

09/25/2026

In The Media: How are trees adapting to use less water as conditions become warmer and drier?

On Morning North with Markus Schwabe, Water Institute researcher Julie Messier discusses new research into why some trees are better equipped to conserve water under changing conditions.

The research found that some trees have evolved traits that help them use water more efficiently, including fewer needles per branch, needles that conserve water and slower metabolic rates that reduce water loss.

Understanding how trees regulate and conserve water could have important implications for reforestation and for managing water resources as climate conditions change.

Listen to the CBC interview: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-41-morning-north/clip/16239102-new-research-shows-trees-better-prepared-climate-change

09/24/2026

How can hydrological data be more easily discovered, accessed, shared and reused across platforms, institutions and jurisdictions?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is hosting Interoperable Hydrological Data Exchange, bringing together international experts, including researchers and practitioners from the University of Waterloo and DataStream, to explore advances, challenges and opportunities in hydrological data interoperability.

The webinar will explore:

💧 Hydrological data interoperability and sharing
🌐 The WMO Hydrological Observing System (WHOS) and its brokering approach
🔎 Discovering and accessing hydrological data through the WHOS Portal
📊 Open standards and FAIR data principles
🤝 Connecting research and operational data communities

Thursday, October 1 | 10–11:30 a.m. EDT

Register: https://www.ticketfi.com/event/7195/interoperable-hydrological-data-exchange

09/23/2026

The latest issue of is out 💧

Explore new research, recent publications and collaborative activities from across The Water Institute.

Read the latest issue: https://mailchi.mp/uwaterloo/water-institute-news-and-events-5832338

09/22/2026

Congratulations to Water Institute researcher Dr. Zhao Pan and his student Kaveeshan Thurairajah on receiving the 2026 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics!

A light-hearted parody of the prestigious Nobel Prizes, the annual Ig Nobels celebrate unusual and imaginative academic achievements that make people laugh, then think.

Their research into a splash-free urinal combines clever engineering, fluid dynamics and a healthy dose of humour.

Read the Waterloo News story:

Waterloo Engineering professor Dr. Zhao Pan and three of his students won a 2026 Ig Nobel prize for their work to design a splash-free urinal.