University of Regina opens splashy water research centre

Published on by in Academic

University of Regina opens splashy water research centre

The University of Regina has opened a $13-million research centre that will study the effects of society and the environment on water quality, availability, use and protection.

The Institute of Environmental Change and Society (IECS) is a 6,500-square-foot facility to be used by Canada Research Chairs, scholars and students alike, providing information to agencies nationally and internationally.

"We try to understand how much the environment and water are changing and what's causing it," said Dr. Peter Leavitt, laboratory director and Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change and Society.

"Our job is to inform decision-makers."

The institute will use 20 years' worth of information gathered by the U of R. It has begun working on projects involving other Canadian provinces and bodies of water in Regina.

"This institute will help to ensure that we continue to be at the forefront, particularly in the area of new organic pollutants and the impact they have on water quality, ecosystem integrity, wildlife conservation and human health," said Gilles Patry, president and CEO of the Canadian Foundation of Innovation (CFI).

The centre allows undergraduate and graduate students to work with experts and to develop hands-on scientific skills.

"This institute is a model for the future … as it provides students with the skills from learning to earning," said Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris.

The centre has been funded by the provincial government ($5.4 million), CFI ($2.8 million), Canadian Knowledge Infrastructure Program ($2 million), the federal government ($2 million) and private companies ($700,000) and organizations.

Details here

Media

Taxonomy