“First Nations face increasing difficulties in accessing safe and clean drinking water. Water is a basic element of life that is essential to the overall health and economic well-being of First Nations.

“With intensifying environmental pressures, a call for attention to the condition of our waters and the assertion of First Nations water rights and interests is increasingly important.”

— National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo

About the conference

The AFN National Water Conference will include two components — First Nations water rights and the technical element of delivering safe drinking water to First Nations communities.

On Monday, March 5, 2012, the conference will feature discussions relating to First Nations water rights and jurisdiction, under the title “Asserting our Rights to Water.”

First Nations leadership, Band Councillors, Band Administrators, NGOs, First Nations water rights activists, and First Nations individuals are encouraged to attend.

• Download the one-day agenda for “Asserting our Rights to Water” (PDF)

On Tuesday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 7, 2012, the conference will feature discussions on the technical component of delivering safe drinking water to First Nations.

First Nations leadership, Band Councillors, Band Administrators, and water and wastewater technicians are encouraged to attend. Tradeshow exhibitors are also encouraged to attend the conference at this time.

• Download the two-day technical water conference agenda (PDF)

Registration

To register, please download the registration form (PDF) (en français, PDF) and send it to Tania Jacko by e-mail. If you have questions about payment options, please call Tania at (613) 241-6789, ext. 238.

Conference rates

First Nations Water Rights —“Asserting our Rights to Water”
March 5, 2012 — Day 1 only

• First Nations delegate registration fee — $225
• Corporate or government official delegate registration fee — $300
• Student registration fee (valid student identification required) — $10

Technical Water Conference and Tradeshow
March 6 and 7, 2012 — Days 2 and 3 only

• First Nations delegate registration fee — $350
• Corporate or government official delegate registration fee — $500
• Student registration fee (valid student identification required) — $20

First Nations Water Rights and Technical Water Conference and Tradeshow
March 5–7, 2012 — Days 1, 2 and 3

• First Nations delegate registration fee — $475
• Corporate or government official delegate registration fee — $700
• Student registration fee (valid student identification required) — $30

Note: Registration is complimentary for Elders, veterans and accredited media, but the registration form must be completed and submitted.

Hotel accommodations

Marriot Edmonton at River Cree Resort
300 East Lapotac Boulevard
Enoch, AB T7X 3Y3
Tel: (780) 484-2121

For hotel reservations, please contact Marriott Reservations at 1-800-960-4913 or (780) 484-2121 and indicate that you are attending the AFN National Water Conference.

Technical tradeshow

The conference will include a technical tradeshow on March 6 and 7, 2012. Please e-mail Tania Jacko or call her at (613) 241-6789 ext. 238 for more information and the tradeshow registration form.

Corporate sponsorship opportunities

A number of corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. If you are interested in being a part of the AFN Water Conference as a sponsor, please e-mail Irving LeBlanc, AFN Housing and Infrastructure Unit or call him at (613) 241-6789, ext. 386.

Contact information

Please visit AFN’s conference website for more information. You are also welcome to e-mail Tania Jacko or call her at (613) 241-6789 ext. 238.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto invites applications for a tenure-stream appointment in water infrastructure engineering. The appointment will be at the rank of assistant professor and will begin July 1, 2012, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Department of Civil Engineering seeks candidates with research and teaching expertise in the planning, design and operation of water infrastructure, with a focus on sustainable urban systems. Applicants should have strong technical expertise in a focus area, as well as an interdisciplinary approach to research.

Areas of focus within water infrastructure engineering may include, but are not limited to, the following —

• water resources, hydrological systems, ecohydrology
• urban water supply and wastewater management
• urban stormwater management
• energy efficient water infrastructure design and operations
• smart water infrastructure

The Department of Civil Engineering is committed to excellence in teaching and interdisciplinary research. Candidates must display evidence of excellence in these areas. The intellectual depth, creativity and promise of future development of the candidates are of higher priority than their specific research areas.

The successful applicant is expected to develop an internationally recognized and externally funded research program, to advise graduate students and to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in civil engineering.

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in civil engineering or a related field and be eligible for registration as a professional engineer in Ontario. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All interested parties are encouraged to apply online.

If you are unable to apply online, please send your application to —

Professor Brenda McCabe, Chair
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Toronto
35 St. George Street, Room GB107
Toronto, Ontario  M5S 1A4

Applications should include a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae (including a list of publications and evidence of capacity and impact), descriptions of research goals, teaching and professional interests, and a list of at least four professional and character referees.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is April 30, 2012, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community.

The University especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The Air, Land and Waste Policy Branch/Socio-Economics and Governance Section of Alberta’s Ministry of Environment and Water is looking for a full-time economist to join its team in Edmonton.

Apply by March 6, 2012

About the Policy Division

The Policy Division is responsible for developing environmental policy that aligns with the strategic intent of the Government of Alberta, ensuring policies will be evidence-based, innovative and results-focused with an integrated approach to implementing policy objectives to desired economic, environmental and social outcomes based on an understanding of Alberta’s goals, values and interest.

Within the Policy Division, the Socio-Economics and Governance Section provides support and advice in socio-economic analysis, strategic policy analysis and institutional design for a more robust approach to policy development and implementation of cumulative effects management that incorporates environmental protection and economic competitiveness.

Your role within the Socio-Economics and Governance Section

The Socio-Economics and Governance Section leads the development and maintenance of critical mass and in-depth expertise in key subject-matter areas to provide vigorous and strategic policy analysis on the socio-economic and governance implications of environmental policies and regulations. This type of expertise is critical to implementing the Government of Alberta’s “Right Rules Not More Rules” policy direction as part of the evolving cumulative effects management system for Alberta.

As one of the subject-matter experts of the Socio-Economics and Governance team, you will take a leading role in analyzing the socio-economic and governance implications of environmental policies and regulations, new policy tools and innovative frameworks. Through dynamic economic research and analysis, you will develop sound policy analysis and economic advice on environmental policies, tools and regulations.

This advice will support the design of policy and legislation to meet or exceed environmental objectives, in an innovative and cost effective manner that minimizes negative economic impacts to the province, affected communities and key economic sectors. This will require establishing and maintaining critical linkages with subject-matter experts across the Government of Alberta, as well as external research organizations.

Your competencies

• Initiative in constantly looking for new, or refining existing, conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches that provide for robust socio-economic analysis in policy development
• Strategic-thinking abilities to take a big-picture perspective, particularly regarding the energy-environment interface and the socio-economic implications of environmental policies
• Adaptability/flexibility skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships within Alberta Environment and Water and to build trust, confidence and credibility with other government departments and stakeholders, including the academic community
• Decision-making, problem-solving and judgement abilities to effectively provide internal policy consulting services to project teams requiring socio-economic analysis
• Communication skills (oral and written) to persuade others to achieve policy objectives and strive for continuous improvement in our approach to socio-economic analysis

About the work environment

You will join a dynamic team of socio-economic policy analysts primarily working in an office setting in downtown Edmonton. You will have regular contact with Alberta Environment and Water staff and other government departments.

Ongoing contact may also be required with external stakeholders such as industry, nongovernment organizations and public interest groups, particularly in the development of relationships with scientific research groups. Occasional travel may be required to effectively support the priority work of the Policy Division.

Your qualifications

University graduation in economics, plus four years of progressively responsible related experience is required. A master’s degree in a relevant field would be considered an asset.

Preference will be given to those who have experience with quantitative economic analysis in the areas of water management or climate change. Equivalencies will be considered.

Salary

$65,160 to $85,416 annually; $2,496.56 to $3,272.66 bi-weekly

Note: This competition may be used to fill a number of current or future vacancies at an equivalent or lower level in various ministries throughout the Government of Alberta.

What Alberta’s Ministry of Environment and Water offers

• Comprehensive benefits plan
• Pension plan
• Formal leadership and mentorship programs
• Personal and professional learning and development
• Positive workplace culture and work–life balance

How to apply

Online applications are preferred.

To apply online, visit the Government of Alberta’s employment opportunities site, type economist into the keywords field, then click the search button.

Note: As only one file can be uploaded into the automated system, please ensure that your cover letter, résumé and any other related documents are submitted as one file.

Applicants who apply online will be able to track the status of their application.

If you are unable to submit an electronic version of your application material, please submit your résumé and cover letter, quoting Job ID 1009605 to —

Alberta Environment and Water
People and Learning Branch
4th Floor, Petroleum Plaza, South Tower
9915 – 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2G8
Fax: (780) 644-7832

Applications are due by March 6, 2012.

Learn more about the position’s requirements. If you require further information, please e-mail Jane McEwen.

The Government of Alberta thanks all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates’ education and experience best meets the needs of the position. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

K* or Kstar — a coined term used to capture the universe of knowledge activities that encompasses —

• knowledge translation (KT)
• knowledge brokering (KB)
• knowledge mobilization (KMb)
• knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE)
• knowledge management (KM)
• as well as knowledge integration, exchange, adaptation, contextualization, adoption, transmission, dissemination, generation, application and synthesis

Convened by Dr. Alex Bielak, a Senior Fellow and Knowledge Broker at United Nations University, and Shannon deGraff, a Senior Science Policy Analyst at Environment Canada, the K* session involved a vigorous discussion amongst following panelists —

• Jason Blackstock, The Centre for International Governance Innovation and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria
• Amanda Cooper, Knowledge Network for Applied Education Research
• Dr. Katrina Hitchman, Canadian Water Network
• David Phipps, York University, Knowledge Mobilization Unit
• Louise Shaxson, Overseas Development Institute, London, UK

Both the K* panel and concept of K* had their genesis during discussions at the 2010 Canadian Science Policy Conference.

K* approaches recognize the need for active engagement across the science–policy spectrum, and for careful consideration of users’ information needs, preferred format, time frame and communication mechanisms. K* is increasingly being adopted in a variety of fields, including health, environmental sustainability, education, agriculture and international development.

Learn more about the K* panel discussion

• Proceedings from the K* panel at the 2011 Canadian Science Policy Conference (PDF)
• Audio recordings from the 2011 Canadian Science Policy Conference (Navigate to Panels: Audio Coverage, then P4: The Role of K* in Strengthening Science-Policy Integration)
• K* panel session summary (PDF)

Dalhousie University‘s Departments of Civil and Resource Engineering and Process Engineering and Applied Science are inviting applications for a Tier II Canada Research Chair in the area of water technologies.

Appointment to a faculty position will be conditional on the selected candidates being awarded a Canada Research Chair. The appointment will be made at the rank of assistant or associate professor (probationary tenure‐track) with a starting date for the appointment of at least January 1, 2013.

The Departments of Civil and Resource Engineering and Process Engineering and Applied Science, in collaboration with Dalhousie’s Centre for Water Resources Studies (CWRS), have research strength in the area of drinking water quality, watershed management, and treatment technologies. The Canada Research Chair will be a faculty member within one of the departments as well as an integral member of CWRS.

Expectations of Chairholder

The Chair will be expected to collaborate with other researchers to develop world‐class expertise in water technologies. Candidates with expertise in wastewater treatment, environmental hydraulics (as related to water/wastewater infrastructure), water reuse, and treatment systems for cold regions, particularly northern and Arctic regions, are encouraged to apply. In addition, the Chair will be expected to work with local water utilities (e.g., Halifax Water) as well as collaborate with other members of the CWRS. Finally, Dalhousie has significant institutional research strength in oceans and marine studies and the ability to collaborate across faculties would be desirable.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a well‐established research record and demonstrated ability to conduct independent scholarly research. The Chair will teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, develop graduate level courses, and support the Departments and CWRS initiatives. The Chair will be expected to establish a strong externally funded research program, supervise graduate student research, and foster existing and new collaborations with government and industry as well as collaborate with members of Dalhousie’s research community.

Applicants must have earned a PhD in civil engineering, environmental engineering or a related field. Applicants should be eligible for registration as a professional engineer in Nova Scotia.

Consideration will be given to individuals with outstanding communication skills and who can teach fluently in English.

Tier II Canada Research Chair nominees should be excellent emerging researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity and have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years. They should also be proposing an original, innovative research program of high quality with the potential to attract excellent trainees, students and future researchers.

How to apply

Interested individuals should submit a single PDF file containing a letter of application, a CV and a statement of teaching and research to—

Chair of the Search Committee
Department of Civil and Resource Engineering
civil.office@dal.ca

Three letters of reference should be sent directly by referees to the same e‐mail address.

The review process will start on March 1, 2012.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Dalhousie University is an employment equity/affirmative action employer. The university encourages applications from Aboriginal peoples, persons with disability, racially visible persons, and women.

For more information, visit Dalhousie University’s employment equity website.

Research projects will focus primarily on microbial food web interactions and dynamics across environmental gradients in The Land Between, but a number of specific research foci can be addressed in either MSc or PhD projects.

If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in this area of research, please contact —

Dr. Andrea Kirkwood
Faculty of Science
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
2000 Simcoe St. North
Oshawa, ON  L1H 7K4
andrea.kirkwood@uoit.ca

Watch The Land Between

Known as an ecotone, The Land Between is a liminal space between the Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands in Ontario, Canada. It is home to a host of overlapping species from the north and the south, which has encouraged sharing between First Nations cultures for thousands of years. But European settlers couldn’t figure out what to do with its ever-changing patchwork of rock barrens, rivers, lakes and marshlands. It wasn’t until the late-Victorian fascination with wilderness that The Land Between found a place in the collective psyche of Canadians — when people gave parts of it names like Muskoka and The Kawarthas. And it’s only recently that recreational use and urban aggregate needs have placed this biologically diverse region under threat.

About applied bioscience at UOIT

The applied bioscience program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology aims to train students to become high-quality researchers at the interface between chemistry and biology. The program equips students with a wide array of both practical and conceptual scientific skills that will prepare them for leadership roles in the life sciences.

These goals are achieved through independent research and rigorous interdisciplinary coursework. The program brings together students and faculty from a variety of scientific backgrounds to further enrich the learning experience of students.

Learn more about graduate studies at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

Crawling under the roadblocks to global water solutions

Dr. Zafar Adeel
Director, United Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment and Health

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion
Sun Life Financial Auditorium, Room 1621
University of Waterloo

Global challenges related to drinking water and sanitation are daunting — close to 900 million are without access to safe water and over 2.6 billion are without access to sanitation. The human and societal costs are enormous and, by the same token, the return on investments to fix these problems are unparalleled.

Some 1.5 million children die each year because of completely preventable, water-related diseases.

And yet these problems remain intractable despite having set some international goals to eradicate these problems, as part of the Millennium Declaration in the year 2000.

This presentation explores the reasons why the global community has not made good progress, and why some regions are stuck in a downward spiral. The disparities across and within countries are astounding. New ideas and initiatives, including declaring water as a human right, may be steps in the right direction — but are they enough? If we cannot leapfrog over the hurdles should we be trying to crawl under the roadblocks instead?

This free seminar is open to the public.

About Dr. Adeel

Dr. Zafar Adeel is the Director of United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health. He also serves as the Chair of UN-Water, a group that coordinates water-related work in 28 United Nations organizations and a number of international water organizations. He has served with UNU since 1998 and holds a master’s degree from Iowa State University (1992) and a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University (1995). He served as a senior engineer at GeoTrans Inc. in the United States for a number of years before joining UNU.

Dr. Adeel has experience across a range of water and environmental issues, including monitoring and control of water pollution, water management in dry areas, solutions to industrial environmental problems, modelling of environmental systems and environmental policy formulation. He has led the development of a network of scientists working in water-scarce countries, particularly those in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Through his editorial lead, this network has published eight books in the UNU Desertification Series: New Technologies to Combat Desertification (1999), Water Management in Arid Zones (2000), New Approaches to Water Management in Central Asia (2001), Integrated Water Management in Dry Areas (2001), Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands (2003), Challenges of Drylands in the New Millennium (2004), Desertification and the International Policy Imperative (2007), and What Makes Traditional Technologies Tick (2009). He co-chaired the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment team that produced the global desertification synthesis in 2005.

Dr. Adeel has served on the editorial boards of Sustainability Science and Global Environmental Change. He has studied formulation of environmental policy and governance at several levels; his book on this topic is East Asian Perspectives in Environmental Governance – Response in a Rapidly Developing Region (UNU Press 2003). He serves as an adjunct professor of engineering at McMaster University.

The annual meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science are among the most widely anticipated and recognized global science events, with hundreds of networking opportunities and broad global media coverage.

An exceptional array of speakers will gather at the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting from February 16 to 20, 2012 in Vancouver, BC, to discuss a wide range of topics, including water.

Below are three water sessions you’ll not want to miss, including one that’s free and open to the public.

Water sessions at AAAS

Session 1: Friday, February 17, 2012 from 12:00–12:45 p.m.
Lunch-time topical lecture

Water privatization, urbanization and development
Speaker: Karen Bakker, University of British Columbia
Sponsor: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Session 2: Friday, February 17, 2012 from 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Afternoon panel session

Links and trade-offs between water, energy and food security
Speakers: Howard Wheater, University of Saskchewan; Patricia Gober, Arizona State University; Gordon Young, former UN WWAP coordinator; Dennis Lettenmaier, University of Washington; Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute, and Karen Bakker, University of British Columbia
Moderator: Diana Allen, Simon Fraser University
Sponsors: American Association for the Advancement of Science, Canadian Water Network

Session 3: Friday, February 17, 2012 from 7:30–9:30 p.m.
Free evening event open to the public

Water security in Canada
Speakers: Howard Wheater, University of Saskchewan; Gordon Young, former UN WWAP coordinator; Tom Pedersen, University of Victoria; Judy Isaac-Renton, BC Centre for Disease Control
Moderator: Karen Bakker and Mike Church, both from University of British Columbia
Sponsors: Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Water Network, American Association for the Advancement of Science, University of British Columbia

Friday, February 17 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Room 109

Join the University of British Columbia’s Program on Water Governance at a panel event exploring water security in Canada.

Water is arguably our most critical resource, but how secure is Canada’s water?

What are the greatest threats we face? And what should be our priorities for management and conservation?

Invited experts will explore these questions, and present views on current and future water issues in Canada. The presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion with audience members.

Speakers include —

• Professor Howard Wheater, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Water Security and Director, Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan
• Dr. Judy Isaac-Renton, Public Health Laboratory Director, BC Centre for Disease Control
• Professor Tom Pedersen, Director, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, University of Victoria
• Dr. Gordon Young, former UN World Water Assessment Program Coordinator

The panel will be moderated by Professor Karen Bakker, CWN researcher, Director of the UBC Program on Water Governance and author of Eau Canada: The Future of Canada’s Water, and Professor Mike Church, University of British Columbia.

Water Security in Canada is a free event open to the public, held in conjunction with the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Vancouver. It will take place in room 109, Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building on Friday, February 17 from 7:30–9:30 p.m.

For further information, please contact Gemma Dunn at the Program on Water Governance at UBC by e-mail or call (604) 822 6474.

Event sponsors

Water Security in Canada is sponsored by the Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Water Network, American Association for the Advancement of Science and University of British Columbia.

The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation is preparing to launch the second call for proposals under the Ontario-China Research and Innovation Fund.

The call expected to launch in the near future, so you are encouraged to start developing your proposal now.

Ontario-China Research and Innovation Fund supports alliances between research organizations and innovative companies in Ontario and China. From 2011–15, Ontario and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology will each invest $1 million to provide $2 million annually for collaborative research projects that generate mutually beneficial economic, technological, scientific and social impacts.

The official call for proposals expected to launch in the coming weeks.

About the fund

The Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Innovation and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote scientific, technological and industrial research and commercialization cooperation.

The two jurisdictions have committed $5 million each, for a total of $10 million over five years (2011–15), to create the Ontario-China Research and Innovation Fund, which supports collaborative projects between researchers and innovative companies in Ontario and China.

For the upcoming round, the Government of Ontario and MOST will jointly invest up to $1 million each to support strategic bilateral research collaborations.

The upcoming call for proposals will accept projects focusing on the following four research themes —

• Water and water-related technologies
• Neuroscience
• Hydrogen fuel cells
• Stem cells

How to apply

Please visit the Ontario-China Research and Innovation Fund for more information about this funding opportunity, call for proposal guidelines and how to apply.