Water and Environmental Engineering

Specific Research Interests and Activities:

Interjurisdictional Ecosystem Management
An interjurisdictional ecosystem approach to management recognizes the interrelated nature of air, land, water and all living beings, with humans as part of not separate from the ecosystem. This calls for creative research and partnerships that look beyond geopolitical boundaries, examine new paradigms of governance and accountability, and develop and implement policies and programs that conform to natural boundaries as the unit of management.

The Interface of Science and Policy Formulation
This research area examines the interface between science and policy, and the dilemma of their integration. The question is how science and technology can be part of a more holistic analysis that incorporates other critical perspectives, and the importance of considering other disciplines within the policy debate.

Great Lakes Remediation and Protection
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, first signed in 1972, renewed in 1978, and revised in 1987 expresses the commitment of Canada and the United States to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem and includes a number of objectives and guidelines to achieve these goals. Science, technology and policy have advanced beyond the Agreement, and mechanisms to improve Great Lakes governance are the focus of this topic of concentration.