The Canadian Water Network is developing a new paradigm in program delivery to further increase the efficiency and pragmatism of research initiatives and to ensure that the needs of end users drive CWN-supported activities.

Known as national research consortia, these multi-partner, multi-funder communities of research and practice share a common interest in a broadly defined area of water management. They also have a shared commitment to the assessment and advancement of the research underpinning the needs of end-users.

Launched in 2007, the Pathogens-in-Groundwater Research Consortium, the first of three consortia, comprised six research projects chosen from a national call for projects to address complex issues associated with protecting groundwater supplies.

A second wave of research, conducted by the Canadian Municipal Water Consortium, began in the fall of 2009. This consortium was designed to establish effective decision-making frameworks to support policy development and management options for municipal water managers and elected officials.

Consultations and planning activities are underway for CWN’s third consortium — the Canadian Watershed Research Consortium — which launched its inaugural project in spring 2010. This consortium was formed to provide a venue and mechanism to develop regional environmental frameworks to support watershed management. The initial focus is on developing robust approaches to conducting cumulative effects assessments using a regional-node model, with local watershed-based consortia being launched in different areas of the country and coordinated nationally by CWN.

Regardless of the research focus, consortia members recognize that a fundamental aspect of finding solutions is the ability to bring multiple players in an area of water management to a shared commitment to the most important questions to be addressed by the research. The result is the implementation of a grander, solution-oriented research program within a framework that understands and is informed by national and international research.

This approach recognizes that no individual research project can answer all the key questions that arise. However, what can be accomplished is implementation of robust research within a framework that understands the implications of collective insight and research to the same questions.

CWN is engaged in identifying those areas where investment of its resources and expertise over the next several years can help launch key national research consortia to support interested and sustainable communities of practice.

To learn more about the scope of the three research consortia and the studies they are conducting, please click on the links below.

• Pathogens-in-Groundwater Research Consortium (2007–09)
• Canadian Municipal Water Consortium (2009–)
• Canadian Watershed Research Consortium (2010–)

Consortia networking study

In 2009 CWN commissioned Dr. Dimitrina Dimitrova of York University and Dr. Emmanuel Koku of Drexel University to conduct a comprehensive study to determine whether CWN’s consortia are more successful than traditional research models in creating end user–driven networks to support innovation in water management.

If you would like to learn more about CWN’s Consortium Research Program and how it differs conceptually and operationally from our Core Research Program, please see Consortia network study: Opening a dialogue.

Becoming involved

To find out more about consortia partnership opportunities, please contact us directly or visit our partnership opportunity page.