GWF2022 brought together the GWF community (researchers, affiliates, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders), and wider water research community across Canada and beyond. We shared our latest scientific achievements and success stories from across our wide range of projects and program areas, and connected with stakeholders and communities alike to provide updates on end user solutions and support the actions needed to secure Canada’s water future.
Click here to view the recordings and posters!
Solutions to Water Threats in an Era of Global Change
Global Water Futures is a pan-Canadian research program that is funded in part by a $77.8-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The overarching goal of the program is to deliver risk management solutions - informed by leading-edge water science and supported by innovative decision-making tools - to manage water futures in Canada and other cold regions where global warming is changing landscapes, ecosystems, and the water environment. Global Water Futures (GWF) aims to position Canada as a global leader in water science for cold regions and will address the strategic needs of the Canadian economy in adapting to change and managing risks of uncertain water futures and extreme events. End-user needs will be our beacon and will drive strategy and shape our science.
Core Partners
Featured Science Outcomes
Using DNA Science to Monitor Invasive and Endangered Species
Environmental DNA analysis and the use of emerging biological technologies provide a new approach to monitoring for invasive and endangered species, detecting pathogens, characterizing biodiversity, and assessing aquatic ecosystems.
Women+Water Making Waves
The Women+Water Lecture Series empowers women to share their experiences working in water and has grown substantially since 2018, engaging with an international audience and initiating dialogue that leads to change.
Water Security for Canadians
The Global Water Futures program and partners are convening national discussions on the future of water security in Canada, including the water management issues, capabilities, advances and needs, to help inform the federal government in its development of the Canada Water Agency.
Climate, Community and Indigenous Resilience
How water stress impacts planning a climate secure future.
The Conversation Canada
Living water: Northern Indigenous communities’ use and perceptions of drinking water
Mylène Ratelle - University of Waterloo
Jessie Yakeleya - Sahtu Renewable Resources Board
In Indigenous communities that have lacked access to safe water for years, getting access to a safe water supply is crucial. However, perceptions of the water supply — not just how it tastes and smells, but also trust in the source’s safety — affect consumption.
Groundwater — not ice sheets — is the largest source of water on land and most of it is ancient
Grant Ferguson - University of Saskatchewan
Jennifer C. McIntosh - University of Arizona
Outside of the world’s oceans, groundwater is one of the largest stores of water on Earth. While it might appear that the planet is covered in vast lakes and river systems, they make up only 0.01 per cent of the Earth’s water. In fact, we now know there is 100 times as much groundwater on this planet as there is freshwater on its surface.
Projects
GWF is led by the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan in partnership with University of Waterloo, McMaster University and Wilfrid Laurier University.
