World Water Day is celebrated every March 22 to increase awareness of the importance of freshwater and management of freshwater resources. Ever since the United Nations designated March 22 as the first World Water Day in 1993, it has set a theme that puts a lens on a current or future challenge with respect to water. This year’s theme is water and jobs and focuses on how having enough quality water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods and transform societies and economies.
The University of Lethbridge is renowned as a leader in the study of water resources, including watersheds, water quantity and quality, water policy and economics. You are invited to contact the researchers directly for interviews.
Dr. René Barendregt (Geography)
Berendregt conducts research focused on paleo-environments and climate change, and in particular the glacial/interglacial sedimentary records in Canada and the western hemisphere. The history of glaciation and the architecture of glacial deposits have an important bearing on the storage and transmission of surface and subsurface waters and facilitate the mapping of aquifers and paleo-drainage systems. Current work in east-central Alberta, based on bore-cores, will assess the history of glaciations and associated (buried) meltwater channels in that region. These channels are potentially significant sources of groundwater.
Contact: 403-329-2530 or barendregt@uleth.ca
Dr. Henning Bjornlund (Economics)
Bjornlund’s research focuses on how communities with limited water resources can make do with the water they have. He examines how different sectors of the community perceive that available water should be shared between competing uses and especially how the irrigation sector can contribute to meeting future demand while minimizing socioeconomic impact.
Contact: henning.bjornlund@uleth.ca
David Hill (Director, Centres and Institutes and Research Advocacy)
Hill has been involved in water management for more than 40 years, with experience in irrigated agriculture and with direct engagement in water research and policy development at the provincial level. His particular area of interest is engagement of the water-management and water-using sectors in an effort to find improved means to support economic and social development, while improving environmental outcomes and sustainability.
Contact: 403-332-4442 or david.hill@uleth.ca
Dr. Stefan Kienzle (Geography)
Kienzle is a hydrologist and geographic information system (GIS) analyst with more than 25 years of watershed modelling experience. He and his students recently analyzed daily temperature readings taken in Alberta since 1950 to uncover trends in temperature changes. The trends show that Alberta’s climate has been warming, especially in winter. Among his current research projects is a study to evaluate risk of the impacts of climate change on water resources in southern Alberta.
Contact: 403-380-1875 or stefan.kienzle@uleth.ca
Dr. Danny Le Roy (Economics)
Le Roy has expertise in agricultural economics, including biofuels, emerging water markets, beef, cattle, dairy, biodiesel, grains, oilseeds, water policy and agricultural marketing, to name a few. He can speak to the importance of water for economic development, particularly in southern Alberta where irrigation has led to the development of a thriving agribusiness sector.
Contact: 403-329-2733 or danny.leroy@uleth.ca
Dr. Gregory Pyle (Biological Sciences)
Pyle’s research involves understanding how low concentrations of environmental contaminants can affect chemosensory function and behaviour among aquatic animals. Detecting and responding to cues in the water is essential for freshwater animals and can be impaired by contaminants. Not all contaminants induce an equal effect, however, as nickel and copper affect response to food and predator cues, respectively. By understanding contaminant effects on olfaction, we can better inform ecological risk assessment.
Contact: 403-332-4048 or gregory.pyle@uleth.ca
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Contact:
Caroline Zentner, public affairs advisor
403-394-3975 or 403-795-5403
