Royal Bank of Canada and University of Waterloo launch Water Study Program

University of Waterloo launches water program with RBC

The University of Waterloo introduced a new graduate study program in water management supported by a $1.75 million commitment from the Royal Bank of Canada.

The integrated water management program will be a unique cross-disciplinary addition to the university, said ecohydrologist Philippe van Cappellen.

“With the new program, we’ll be able to bridge traditional boundaries and have researchers working together from chemistry, biology, earth sciences, engineering and other backgrounds,” van Cappellen said.

“We’ll also be able to attract the best and brightest minds from around the world,” the researcher added.

The grant is part of the RBC Blue Water Project, a 10-year global charitable commitment of $50 million to help provide access to clean water, said Dave McKay, group head of RBC.

The donation will support more than 120 scholarships for master’s and PhD students over the next eight years, as well as sponsor program fellows and an annual student symposium.

Biologist Mark Servos is the program’s inaugural chair. He sees the management of water as a critical foundation to dealing with issues like poverty and lack of education.

“Water touches everyone, and limited or no access to it leads to deep social problems here in Canada and around the world,” Servos said.

“How do we solve these problems? We have to start by creating an environment where students can ask new questions and have a dialogue with each other. We’re teaching them to be a specialist but as part of a multidisciplinary team because teams will be what solve problems in the future,” said Servos.

The University of Waterloo was ranked the 10th best water research institution in the world in April 2013, according to Lux Research Inc. The new water management program is expected to start this year.