Goal 6 - Research Institutes, Centres & Projects

Research Institutes, Centres & Projects

Advanced Water Research Lab

The Advanced Water Research Lab (AWRL) is developing high-performance membrane materials, processes and characterization methods of water recycling and reuse, particularly in the in situ oil sands extraction industry. The research programs in AWRL contribute to the science of polymer and nanocomposite materials in various applications, including desalination and wastewater treatment, energy and pharmaceutical.

Southern Rockies Watershed Project

This large, interdisciplinary research team based at the University of Alberta is improving our understanding of the connections between the climate, hydrology and ecology of the South Saskatchewan River’s headwaters in the Rocky Mountains. This research includes insights into the impacts of wildfires on drinking water and the impacts of land disturbance on water quality.

Tracking Change

Tracking Change is a multi-year social science research network of Indigenous communities, universities, governments and other organizations building capacity for documenting and sharing local and traditional knowledge about changes in the Mackenzie River Basin. Graduate students and community partners are working together to document observations and experiences of disturbances to fish, fish habitat, water levels and water quality.

Water & Resource Recovery Lab

A project based out of the University of Alberta, the Water & Resource Recovery Lab provides information, resources, public engagement and policy implementation roadmaps for water reuse and resource recovery systems. The project focuses on wastewater reuse, stormwater use and rainwater use. University of Alberta researcher Nicholas Ashbolt informed the recent creation of a set of Public Health Guidelines for Water Reuse and Stormwater Use released by Alberta Health Services to guide water reuse projects in Alberta.

Watershed Science and Modeling Laboratory

The Watershed Science and Modelling Laboratory, led by Dr. Monireh Faramarzi, involves development and application of environmental models to study fundamental and applied aspects of water quantity and quality. The end goal of these models is to understand the interactions between water, earth, ecosystems and humans. The multi-disciplinary nature of our research enables a broadening of the hydrologic perspective and the advancement of hydrologic science through integration with other scientific disciplines