SASKATOON — Graduate students at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will experience a unique training experience like no other, thanks to a $1.65-million grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC).
Working closely with partners in Germany, the program will further graduate student’s understanding of how water challenges impact humans and train them to tackle the current global water crisis by developing solutions and future policies in water health.
The funding is provided by NSERC’S Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program which supports training and mentoring of highly qualified graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. NSERC-CREATE invests in the development of research programs that address scientific challenges through collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches.
“This NSERC-CREATE is very important as it addresses a critical gap in current labour markets in Canada and globally,” said USask researcher Dr. Markus Hecker (PhD). “We need to train people with a holistic lens that integrates different sciences such as chemistry, biology, geography and engineering with the social dimensions of water science, which will give students a broader perspective.”
Hecker, Canada Research Chair in Predictive Toxicology and Chemical Safety, professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS), and member of the Toxicology Centre and the Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS), will be leading the NSERC-CREATE. He is hopeful the program will bridge the gap between the concepts of water quantity and water quality within a socio-ecological and human health and well-being context, deepening student’s understanding of the field.
“Traditionally these concepts have been addressed separately, and students are generally trained in the respective disciplinary silos, so it’s really important to bring this all together with a more holistic way of looking at water security, which is why we’re calling it water health,” said Hecker.
The NSERC-CREATE funded, transdisciplinary water health program is rooted in a collaboration between USask and two German institutions, Goethe University Frankfurt and RWTH Aachen University, offering students both an interdisciplinary educational experience and a transatlantic perspective on water issues.
The program is open to master’s and PhD students from a variety of disciplines who have an interest in learning more about water challenges that are impacting the planet. USask students will receive training at home and abroad, with opportunities for internships at regulatory agencies, as well as private sector and community partners in both Canada and Germany.
According to Hecker, societal influences play a key role in water health. These influences can have dire impacts on both water quality and water quantity. He stresses that researchers need a full understanding of how social and ecological challenges impact human health and wellness.
“There are societal dimensions that impact water, and together with our team members at the Global Institute for Water Security at USask and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research, which is part of Goethe University, we will work closely together with regulatory agencies, industry partners, and local communities affected by water challenges,” said Hecker.
Hecker envisions the water health program as an immersive, experiential program that draws connections between disciplines like toxicology, engineering, social sciences and ecology, providing students with a transdisciplinary, global perspective on water research.
“The program will align closely with SENS’s goal of providing top-tier transdisciplinary training for graduate students,” Hecker said. “This initiative presents a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of sustainability leaders across multiple study areas.”
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
