News
May 26, 2021
Michael Cunningham Wins Engineering Medal in Research & Development
Congratulations to BWRC affiliated faculty, Michael Cunningham from the Department of Chemical Engineering, on his 2021 Ontario Professional Engineers Award Engineering Medal in the Research and Development Category!
May 20, 2021
Pascale Champagne wins Engineering Medal in Research & Development
Congratulations to affiliated faculty member and former BWRC Director, Pascale Champagne, who was recently honored at the Ontario Professional Engineers Awards for her Engineering Medal in Research and Development (2020).
May 3, 2021
New Faculty Ehssan Koupaie
While most of us look in the green bin and see trash, BWRC affiliated Faculty, Ehssan Koupaie, sees potential. As an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, he continues his research into the use of bio-processes to recover resources from waste, pushing us further toward a Circular Economy.
April 27, 2021
Dr. John Smol as one of 1,000 most influential climate scientists
Congratulations to BWRC Affiliated Faculty, Dr. John Smol from the Department of Biology, on being named one of Reuters 1,000 most influential climate scientists!
April 26, 2021
Multiple Opportunities for Postdoctoral Fellows and PhD Students
Visit our opportunities page to view multiple HQP opportunities through the Contaminants of Emerging Concern-Research Excellence Network (CEC-REN) at Queen’s University, is an interdisciplinary research and innovation initiative.
April 19, 2021
Biology Graduate Research Symposium
The Queen's Department of Biology is hosting their annual Biology Graduate Research Symposium on April 23, 2021. This event will showcase research conducted in the department, with a focus on graduate student work.
April 12, 2021
April 2, 2021
Researchers begin analyzing Kingston's sewage looking for COVID-19
KINGSTON — The city’s wastewater is to be monitored for signs of the COVID-19 virus as part of a research project that could yield better predictions of future transmission in the community.
Utilities Kingston, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health, and Queen’s University researchers at Queen’s University’s Beaty Water Research Centre are to contribute to the $12-million Wastewater Surveillance Initiative, which was set up more than a year ago by the provincial ministry of the environment, conservation and...
April 1, 2021
KFL&A Public Health unveils COVID-19 wastewater test results dashboard
“KFL&A Public Health is pleased to partner with Utilities Kingston and Queen’s University to present results for COVID-19 testing in the City of Kingston’s wastewater,” says KFL&A Public Health in unveiling the dashboard. “There has been a real ‘all-hands-on-deck’ call across Queen’s University with the COVID-19 epidemic and this wastewater surveillance initiative has provided an opportunity for wastewater researchers in the BWRC to contribute to the community response..."
April 1, 2021
Queen’s University researchers collaborate with Utilities Kingston on WasteWater Surveillance Initiative
Queen’s University researchers from the Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC) are collaborating with universities and utility companies across Ontario to launch the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative (WSI). The project, which is coordinated and funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, will determine how wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) can be...
March 22, 2021
Research at Queen's Profile - Beaty Water Research Centre
The Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC) is an interdisciplinary centre dedicated to furthering its key pillars of research, education, and outreach around water-related issues. The BWRC fosters and supports activities under four themes: water governance, water use, water resources and water...
March 19, 2021
Ontario Investing in Wastewater Testing System to Detect COVID-19
The Ontario government is investing more than $12 million in a new initiative to detect COVID-19 in wastewater. The province is partnering with 13 academic and research institutions, including Queen's University (specifically Stephen Brown and Sarah Jane Payne who are affiliated with the BWRC) to create a surveillance network to test wastewater samples taken from communities across Ontario.
March 19, 2021
Water Conversations
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) and Environmental Defence are thrilled to announce the launch of “Water Conversations”. Taking place once a quarter for two hours, these in-depth discussions will provide water champions a chance to share their expertise, learn from others, and determine the best path forward for actions needed to ensure healthy waters.
Prior to each Water Conversation, we’ll canvass your ideas on topics through a brief survey. We’ll then review the list of ideas and identify 1-2 topics to bring forward to the conversation. We will share an agenda with you, as well as resources or materials that you’ll need to review ahead of time so we can best use our time together. These sessions...
March 17, 2021
COVID-19 has decimated water systems globally, but privatization is not the answer
The financial impact of COVID-19 has been devastating for public water operators around the world. Millions of households and businesses have not been able to pay their water bills due to lost income, while operating expenses have risen...
March 16, 2021
More Frequent Wind Events Hurting Lake Water Quality, U of G Study Finds
BWRC affiliated faculty, Leon Boegman from the Dept. of Civil Engineering is a contributor to this work coming out of the University of Guelph and also recently covered by the Washington Post.
March 15, 2021
March 9, 2021
The Queen’s Northern Research Symposium (QNRS)
The 2021 edition of the QNRS will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The theme of this year’s conference is Many Sciences, Many Peoples, and...
March 8, 2021
2021 International Women's Day
Happy #InternationalWomensDay
! Today we are celebrating the women affiliated with the BWRC, including faculty, staff and students.
March 1, 2021
Contagion Culture Lecture Series
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 4:00 PM
"Flushed Intelligence- Detecting outbreaks using wastewater-based epidemiology"
February 23, 2021
Faculty Article
Congratulations to our Associate Director of Research, Jyoti Kotecha and colleagues from the University of Ottawa and Cataraqui Conservation on their new paper "Action research to improve water quality in Canada's Rideau Canal: How do local groups reshape environmental governance?"
February 22, 2021
Partnering with industry to advance technological innovation
Congratulations to Kevin Mumford (Civil Engineering) and Aris Docoslis (Chemical Engineering) on their recently funded NSERC Alliance Projects. Kevin Mumford is working with McMillan-McGee on "Enhanced in situ thermal treatment of soil and groundwater: high temperature treatment and combined remedies" and Aris Docoslis is working with Correctional Service of Canada and Spectra Plasmonics on "A portable illicit drug detection device for Correctional Service Canada".
February 19, 2021
February 16, 2021
February 11, 2021
Research on COVID transmission and immunity among students and staff
News Release - Researcher Anne Ellis, along with co-investigators Stephen Vanner and Prameet Sheth, receive federal funding to study COVID transmission and immunity among students and staff. While many university classes across Canada are being held online, some programs require in-person learning and access to on- and off-campus research and learning facilities. This increases the risk of exposure for students, faculty and staff to SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. To address this...
February 3, 2021
NSERC Alliance
Congratulations to BWRC affiliated faculty Sarah Jane Payne and Yves Filion (Co-Principal Investigators) from the Queen’s Drinking Water Quality Group for their successful NSERC Alliance Grant!
January 21, 2021
Contagion Cultures Lecture Series
Public Water and COVID-19: Dark Clouds and Silver Linings
David McDonald, Professor Global Development Studies, Queen’s University; Director, Municipal Services Project
COVID-19 has once again demonstrated the significance of safe, accessible and affordable water for all. It has also highlighted enormous disparities in service provision while at the same time dealing...
January 12, 2021
Replicating the live experience with interactive online labs, a physical model tests groundwater movement
For the Fall 2020 delivery of his Groundwater Engineering course, Associate Professor Kevin Mumford reached out to the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science’s Teaching & Learning Team in order to adapt two of the necessary labs for online...
January 8, 2021
Special Issue on “Water Management in a Changing Climate”
Special Issue on “Water Management in a Changing Climate” by Journal of Environmental Systems Research now has an open CALL FOR PAPERS! The issue resulted from the LEADERS & PEOPLE 2020 Virtual Symposium but is open for all to submit.
January 7, 2021
Drinking Water Quality Group
Check out this new section of our website featuring the Drinking Water Quality Group at Queen's University, lead by BWRC affiliated faculty, Yves Filion and Sarah Jane Payne from Civil Engineering. They are also currently seeking talented grad students and post-doctoral fellows.
December 21, 2020
Happy Holidays from the BWRC! Wishing all the best for the Season and a prosperous New Year!
Sincerely,
Jyoti Kotecha, Associate Director Research & Business Development
Geof Hall, Associate Director of Education & Outreach
Sophie Felleiter, Research Coordinator
December 21, 2020
2020: A Year in Review
This years Faculty of Engineering Year in Review highlighted a number of contributions and accomplishments from BWRC affiliated faculty. This includes the "Water Management in a Changing Climate”, a pan-Canadian symposium, that was a co-production of Queen’s Engineering and the BWRC, and the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Research undertaken by Pascale Champagne and Laurence Yang on algae-based milk was also featured.
December 17, 2020
Researchers look to algae-based milk, an alternative that helps the environment and our health
Cow’s milk is a common source of nutrition for people around the world. Over 270 million dairy cows produce more than 600 million tons of milk every year. But that protein source comes at a cost — to our environment, our health and our society. Queen’s researchers Pascale Champagne and...
December 16, 2020
2020: The Year in Research
This year, the Queen's Gazette featured the accomplishments of a number of our affiliated faculty. This includes Prameet Sheth leading a team at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in developing an in-house COVID-19 test, Michael Cunningham's Prize for Excellence in Research, Winners of the Wicked Ideas Research Fund (Pascale Champagne, Laurence Yang, Graeme Howe, and Philip Jessop), and much more.
December 15, 2020
John Charles Polanyi Prizes
Congratulations to one of our affiliated faculty, Dr. Graeme Howe who is a winner of the 2020 John Charles Polanyi Prize! These prestigious prizes are awarded in honour of Ontario’s Nobel Prize winner John C. Polanyi, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research in chemical kinetics. This prize is awarded to 5 outstanding early career researchers.
December 7, 2020
Bird poop and lake mud ‘time machine’ reveal dramatic seabird declines
When European settlers began arriving to eastern North America in the 16th century, they were met by staggering numbers of seabirds.
One of the world’s most abundant is the Leach’s storm petrel, which forages at sea during the day. At night, after the birds had returned to the breeding colony en masse, the settlers would likely have heard a cacophony of witch-like cackling...
November 26, 2020
Water crisis in First Nations communities runs deeper than long-term drinking water advisories
In October, more than 250 members of the Neskantaga First Nation were evacuated to Thunder Bay after an oily sheen was found on their reservoir. The discovery left the community, located in northern Ontario, without access to running water.
The evacuation drew attention to the federal government’s 2015 commitment to end all on reserve long-term drinking water advisories (in place for more than one year) by March 31, 2021. Neskantaga has...
November 25, 2020
BWRC named finalist for 2020 Nature Inspiration Awards
The BWRC is excited to be a national finalist in the Not-for-Profit Organization (Large) category for the 2020 Canadian Museum of Nature Nature Inspiration Awards! It was privilege to be named a finalist among such incredible people and organizations. Congratulations to all the winners last night including the David Suzuki Foundation for their win in the Not-for-Profit Organization (Large) category.
November 25, 2020
November 24, 2020
Graduate Student Opportunity
Dr. Graeme Howe (Department of Chemistry) is looking for a motivated student to join his team and engineer an enzyme that converts cheap starting materials into valuable commodity chemicals in an environmentally friendly way. Please contact Dr. Howe to apply (graeme.howe@queensu.ca).
November 12, 2020
A steward of the environment
Queen’s University researcher John Smol has been awarded the 2020 Massey Medal for his work in the fields of biology and environmental science.
Dr. Smol is the 61st recipient of the medal, which was established by the Massey Foundation and has been awarded annually by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society since 1959. It was created to recognize outstanding career achievements in the exploration, development, or description of the...
November 12, 2020
November 9, 2020
Public Water and Covid-19: Dark Clouds and Silver Linings
October 29, 2020
Recognizing research and scholarship at Queen’s
Three Queen’s researchers have earned the institution’s top recognition for research excellence. The researchers, Michael Cunningham (Chemical Engineering), Gabor Fichtinger (Computing), and Yan-Fei Liu (Engineering), are committed to advancing knowledge in a variety of fields, including polymer chemistry and green engineering, developing technologies for computer-integrated surgery and advancing power conversion systems.
Michael Cunningham (Chemical Engineering): Dr. Cunningham’s research achievements in polymer chemistry and green engineering have attracted the attention of academics and numerous companies...
October 9, 2020
Food-giving organizations look to establish reliable local food systems
...Kristen Lowitt is an assistant professor in the school of environmental studies at Queen’s University. Her research has examined various aspects of Canada’s food system, and she believes that having strong local food systems plays one part in addressing food insecurity in communities, and across the country.
“I think we’ve seen with COVID the vulnerability of global food supply chains and longer distance food supply networks, the ‘just enough, just in time’ approach,” Lowitt told the Whig-Standard in a phone...
September 28, 2020
Tackling COVID-19 spread by monitoring wastewater
An interdisciplinary research team at Queen’s University is taking the first step in establishing a local group in the National Sewage Sentinel Surveillance in Canada. The pilot project is developing capacity to detect SARS-CoV-2 (the infectious agent that causes COVID-19) in sewage and septic samples.
This work, being conducted at the Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC), will help with early detection of community-borne COVID-19 and can also be applied to future viral outbreaks.
“The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been detected in stool of some infected individuals, including asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic,” ...
September 25, 2020
Oil sands tailings ponds are toxic. Canadian-made nanotech could help fix that
Diane Orihel, an aquatic toxicologist from Queen's University wanted to evaluate the technology developed at Waterloo University to see if potential releases of the treated water would be safe. "Are they actually going to be safe for the aquatic life downstream?"
She worked with Frank Gu, a chemical engineer — now at the University of Toronto — who developed the technology. The target of their concern was what has been identified as the worst of the tailings ponds toxins: naphthenic acids...
September 18, 2020
BWRC named finalist for 2020 Nature Inspiration Awards
We are excited to announce that the Beaty Water Research Centre is one of the national finalists in the Not-for-Profit Organization (Large) category for the 2020 Canadian Museum of Nature Nature Inspiration Awards! These national awards celebrate projects by individuals, groups and organizations whose leadership and innovation connect Canadians with the natural world. This year’s winners will be announced by the museum on November 25.
September 16, 2020
New technology makes wastewater from the oilsands industry safer for fish
In the northeastern corner of Alberta, nestled among the expanses of forests and wetlands, lies a major freshwater dilemma that Canada is currently facing.
Just down the river from Fort McMurray, massive ponds stretch for miles, filled with toxic water.
For decades, the Canadian oilsands industry has been filling these ponds with wastewater from oil extraction. The purpose of these ponds is to store and reuse water, in order to reduce the amount of new water taken from the nearby Athabasca River...
September 16, 2020
September 15, 2020
New BWRC affiliated faculty
Welcome to Dr. Ehssan Koupaie from the Department of Chemical Engineering (left) and Dr. Kristen Lowitt from the School of Environmental Studies (right) to the Beaty Water Research Centre. We look forwards to working with you on future collaborations!
You can learn about their respective research programs: Ehssan Koupaie, Kristin Lowitt
September 14, 2020
Loyalist Township wins Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2020 Sustainable Community Award
Congratulations to our partner Loyalist Township, on winning the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' 2020 Sustainable Community Award in Water, for their Wastewater Constructed Wetland.
This project has been an important collaboration between Dr. Pascale Champagne and Dr. Geof Hall from Queen’s for many years, and represents a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment for communities across Canada. This project has had a strong impact on dozens of students, from undergraduates through to Ph.D. graduates. Naturalized treatment, such as constructed wetlands, can be a critical part of sustainable wastewater management into the future.
September 4, 2020
Graduate students, faculty examine water issues at cross-Canada symposium
A key global issue was under the microscope this week at the Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC). “Water Management in a Changing Climate”, a pan-Canadian symposium, was a co-production of Queen’s Engineering and the BWRC, and the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
As is the new normal, the symposium was held over Zoom – a fact that Jyoti Kotecha, an Associate Director of Research & Business Development, at the Centre, felt had as many benefits as drawbacks. “Last year, this was a two-day face-to-face event with a methods skill development field trip lead by Dr Geoff Hall, Associate Director, Education and Outreach, BWRC...
August 30, 2020
August 27, 2020
Supporting research at Queen’s University
Congratulations to our affiliated faculty who have received funding from the Queen's University Wicked Ideas Fund.
Pascale Champagne (Civil Engineering) and Laurence Yang (Chemical Engineering) received funding for "Reducing the Greenhouse Gas Burden of Livestock by Harnessing Carbon-Neutral Algae to Produce Milk". Philip Jessop and Graeme Howe (both Chemsitry) received funding for "Solving the Water-Removal Bottleneck in Sustainable Chemistry." Diane Orihel (Biology) also received funding as a Co-PI for "The Spirit of the Lakes and All Their Relations: Two-Eyed Seeing in Microplastics Research"
August 24, 2020
WatIF Introduction Series: Leah Vignale
Hello to all! My name is Leah Vignale and I am a Master’s candidate in Civil Engineering at Queen’s University. Growing up in the rural town of Kemptville, Ontario, I have come to adore this small city in the 6 years I have been able to call it my home: its people, its restaurants, and its culture. I completed my undergrad in BioChemical Engineering in 2019 (also at Queen’s). As my studies progressed, I was introduced to the burgeoning threat to drinking water quality and human health from the presence of countless contaminants of emerging concern polluting global...
August 18, 2020
Funding tools for exceptional research
Congratulations to Graeme Howe and Zhe She (both from the Department of Chemistry) who received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). Dr. Howe's project, "Elucidating the Evolutionary Enhancement of Enzymatic Efficiency" and Dr. She's project, "Visualizing Soft Surfaces using Scanning Probe Microscopy" are among 18 projects funded at Queen's University.
August 17, 2020
The world’s biggest waves: How climate change could trigger large landslides and ‘mega-tsunamis’
Just over 60 years ago, a giant wave washed over the narrow inlet of Lituya Bay, Alaska, knocking down the forest, sinking two fishing boats and claiming two lives.
A nearby earthquake had triggered a rockslide into the bay, suddenly displacing massive volumes of water. The large landslide tsunami reached a height of more than 160 metres and caused a run-up (the vertical height that a wave reaches up a slope) of 524 metres above sea level. For perspective, imagine run...
August 6, 2020
Zhe She receives NSERC Alliance COVID-19 grant
Congratulations to Zhe She (Chemistry) and his co-applicants Prameet Sheth (Biomedical & Molecular Sciences), and Richard Oleschuk, who just received an NSERC Alliance COVID-19 grant for "Developing Multiplexed COVID-19 Diagnostic Methods for Medical Surveillance". Zhe and Prameet are both Early Career Researches affiliated with the Centre.
August 6, 2020
Why scientists intentionally spilled oil into a Canadian lake
Canada sits on the third-largest oil reserve in the world. Most of it is in the Alberta oilsands, where companies extract bitumen, a crude oil with the consistency of peanut butter.
To get the oil to pass through pipelines, petroleum engineers mix the oil with lighter components — usually byproducts of natural gas production — to dilute and liquefy the bitumen. This mixture is called...
July 30, 2020
LEADERS & PEOPLE 2020 Virtual Symposium
We invite all highly qualified personnel (HQP) of the LEADERS CREATE Program to participate in the LEADERS & PEOPLE 2020 Virtual Symposium: Water Management in a Changing Climate, August 31-September 1. The symposium is jointly hosted with the Persistent, Emerging, and Organic Pollution in the Environment (the PEOPLE Net)work, another NSERC CREATE program led by the Memorial University of...
July 21, 2020
WatIF Introduction Series: Sarah Lavallee
Hey there! My name is Sarah Lavallee and I’m a PhD Candidate in the School of Environmental Studies at Queen’s University, with a background in Biological Sciences (BScH). I’m from the GTA and fell in love with Kingston during the first year of my undergraduate degree. Although my degree in undergrad was mainly focused on neurobiology, I found myself becoming more and more interested in sustainable water management, water policy and environmental public...
June 23, 2020
Michael Cunningham elected as Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Congratulations to Dr. Michael Cunningham, Queen's Chemical Engineering Professor, and affiliated faculty with the BWRC on his election as Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), one of the highest professional honours awarded to engineers in Canada!
June 22, 2020
QUBS celebrating 75th anniversary
It has been 75 years since the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS) was established on Queen’s Point on Lake Opinicon. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the QUBS community of researchers and staff at the field station are set to celebrate.
Each year the anniversary is celebrated with an in-person Open House, originally scheduled for Sunday, June 28, where professors and students interact with hundreds of visitors who can also tour the Lake Opinicon campus located just a 50-minute drive...
June 18, 2020
2020 NSERC Discovery Grant Winners
Congratulations to the BWRC affiliated faculty who recently received NSERC Discovery Grants! This includes a number of Early Career Researchers; Dr. George diCenzo (Biology), Dr. Diane Orihel (Biology), Dr. Cao Thang Dinh (Chemical Engineering), Dr. Laurence Yang (Chemical Engineering), Dr. Graeme Howe (Chemistry) and Dr. Zhe She (Chemistry). As well as Senior Researchers; Stephen Lougheed (Biology), Michael Cunningham (Chemical Engineering) and Pascale Champagne (Civil Engineering).
June 17, 2020
Pascale Champagne appointed Director of Research and Academic Affairs at INRS
Congratulations to BWRC Director, Pascale Champagne on her new position as Director of Research and Academic Affairs at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS! We wish you the best of luck in your new role and look forward to continued collaboration with you!
June 15, 2020
WatIF Introduction Series - Cedelle Pereira
Hello! My name is Cedelle Pereira and I am a Queen’s Graduate student (MSc) in the Department of Geography and Planning. I have a research background in physical hydrology and paleoclimate. I was born in India and at the age of six I migrated to Canada. Throughout my childhood, I was fascinated with water (i.e., streams, rivers, and lakes). I was...
June 15, 2020
Showcasing the Art of Research – photo essay
Congratulations to Ross Jansen-van Vuuren and Allen Tian for their wins in the Invisible Discoveries and Graduate Studies categories (pictured above)! Ross is a former PDF with BWRC affiliated faculty, Philip Jessop and Director Pascale Champagne and Allen is a PhD candidate under Yuxiang Wang.
June 8, 2020
BWRC Annual Report 2019-20
Check out this years Annual Report, to learn more about the research, education and outreach initiatives the Beaty Water Research Centre have pursued in the 2019-2020 fiscal year!
June 3, 2020
Innovative research advancing understanding of COVID-19
The Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization funds six new projects to help fight the global pandemic. This includes BWRC affiliated faculty, Martin Petkovich ( Coronavirus infection of the ocular mucosa to model infection and systemic immunity) and Prameet Sheth (The application of metabolomics to enhance detection of COVID-19 and predict disease severity: A proof-of-principle study).
May 28, 2020
Biden, Keystone XL, and a Green New Deal could shake up Canada’s energy industry
By Warren Mabee.
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden recently reiterated his desire to stop the Keystone XL oil pipeline project. “I’ve been against Keystone from the beginning. It is tarsands that we don’t need — that in fact is a very, very high pollutant,” he said...
May 26, 2020
Rapid Response funding awarded to help confront COVID-19
In late March, the Queen’s University Vice-Principal (Research) launched the Rapid Response competition to fund and support research projects that will contribute to the development, testing, and implementation of medical or social countermeasures to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19. Thirteen applicants have received funding in the first round. Recipients include BWRC affiliated faculty Aristides Docoslis (Chemical Engineering) and Warren Mabee (Geography & Planning and Policy Studies).
May 15, 2020
WatIF Introduction Series - Corinna Dally Starna
Hello, I am Corinna! Born near Germany's North Sea, I have held an affinity for water in all its complexity throughout my entire life. Yet, I came to study water issues in a formal context only about two years ago...
May 8, 2020
Helping leaders make public health decisions during COVID-19
![[Photo of Toronto skyline featuring the CN Tower]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/stories/2020/richard-kidger-V4S9FZmvYvM-unsplash_1000x667.jpg)
Queen's researcher Dongmei Chen and her collaborators are examining the social dynamics of COVID-19 transmission. They are collaborating with community partners in Toronto to examine the epidemic's impact on the Chinese community in the Greater Toronto Area...
May 6, 2020
Principal announces 2020 Distinguished University Professors
Queen’s University has announced the latest recipients of the Distinguished University Professor designation, the university’s highest research-related honour.
Now in its second year, the Distinguished University Professor Program recognizes professors for exhibiting an outstanding and sustained research record, teaching excellence, and significant and lasting contributions to Queen’s, Canada, and the world...
May 5, 2020
Queen’s-KHSC team develop in-house COVID-19 test
Testing is key to containment and management of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Yet, the costs, availability, and current timelines for testing have challenged health-care systems worldwide.
Anticipating these complications, in the early days of the pandemic, a team of researchers from Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centres (KHSC) partnered with Public Health Ontario...
April 29, 2020
WatIF Introduction Series - David Blair
Hi, I’m David! I am a graduate student at Queen’s University in the Department of Civil Engineering & the Beaty Water Research Centre, with a background in Chemical Engineering. My research involves rapid...
April 22, 2020
Beaty Water Research Centre #WaterTalks
Join Dr. Geof Hall, BWRC's Associate Director of Education and Outreach, as he explores water issues from water quality, water flow in the natural environment, social issues around water and more. #WaterTalks is a great way to learn about water from the comfort of your home!
April 7, 2020
Pascale Champagne honoured by Professional Engineers Ontario
Queen’s researcher Pascale Champagne (Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering) has been awarded the 2020 Engineering Medal in the Research and Development category from Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). Presented in partnership with the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, the Ontario Professional Engineers Awards recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to their...
April 7, 2020
What happens when Albertan oil seeps into a lake?
“…Our freshwater lakes, wetlands, ponds, rivers, and creeks and the wildlife that depend on them should not be forgotten in this national conversation about oil development,” says Dr. Diane Orihel, assistant professor at Queen’s University and senior author...
April 5, 2020
Beaty Water Research Centre #WaterTalks
Join Dr. Geof Hall, BWRC's Associate Director of Education and Outreach, as he explores water issues from water quality, water flow in the natural environment, social issues around water and more. #WaterTalks is a great way to learn about water from the comfort of your home!
March 10, 2020
Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health
We are currently accepting applications for our Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health Diploma for September 2020 start!
See our education page for more details and how to register: https://waterresearchcentre.ca/whh-about/
March 9, 2020
8th Queen's Northern Research Symposium
If you are working on or interested in northern-related research, the 8th Queen's Northern Research Symposium is this April 16th. The annual symposium aims to bring together students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers and professors from across Queen’s and other Universities to discuss northern research. This one-day symposium will provide opportunities for students, researchers and professors to participate in a day of presentations, networking and engaging scientific discussions.
Abstract and registration deadline is April 3rd!
For more information please see the website: https://queensnrs.wordpress.com/
February 26, 2020
Teck aftermath: Ottawa must reconcile big energy projects with climate policy
The decision by Teck Resources, one of Canada’s largest mining companies, to suspend the Frontier oilsands project surprised many. Had it gone ahead, the open-pit mine would have been built across 24,000 acres of boreal forest just north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
Commentators have blamed everything from the low price of oil to regulatory and political uncertainty and insinuations of socialism. What is clear, however, is that the decision is another blow to a federal government struggling to achieve a balance between climate action and resource development...
February 5, 2020
New research on Newfoundland seabirds is a window into thousands of years of change
“I was never expecting to see such big changes — it complicates the story,” says John Smol, a leading environmental change expert and paleolimnologist, of a recent study of storm-petrel populations off southeast Newfoundland’s coast.
In the study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B in late January 2020, Smol (a professor of...
January 22, 2020
Bird droppings provide clues to environmental change
Led by Queen’s researchers, a collaborative research team of Canadian universities (Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, Memorial University of Newfoundland) and government scientists have identified concerning trends in the population size of Leach’s Storm-petrels, a vulnerable seabird that mainly lives on Baccalieu Island, 64 km north of St. John’s...
January 9, 2020
Dr. Kevin Mumford receives FEAS Excellence in Research Award
Dr. Kevin Mumford, an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, is this year’s recipient of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) Excellence in Research Award.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions by faculty members to the research environment in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) at...
January 8, 2020
We're Hiring!
The BWRC is looking to hire a Reserach, Communication and Events Assistant for a Summer SWEP position (Job ID: 107510). The SWEP student will support the Centre in various research projects, events and outreach activities as well as overall marketing and communications throughout Summer 2020.
For more details, and to submit an application, please visit Queen's MyCareer.
January 7, 2020
Carlos Escobedo: Catching disease early with microtechnology
![[Carlos Escobedo]](https://engineering.queensu.ca/curiositycreates/images/Carlos-Escobedo.jpg)
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. Improvement in cancer treatments is dramatically improving survival rates; however, early detection is also critical to treating this disease. Carlos Escobedo’s research in microsystems and microstructures...
January 3, 2020
Dr. Brian Cumming wins the Rigler Award
Congratulations to Queen's researcher and BWRC affiliated faculty member, Dr. Brain Cumming, who has received the Society of Canadian Limnologists Rigler Award for life time achievement and contribution to the field of aquatic science in Canada.
December 29, 2019
7 things that could go right (or wrong) for Canada's energy sector in 2020
Queen's University expert and BWRC affiliated Faculty member, Dr. Warren Mabee, was interviewed by the CBC about Canada's energy sector heading into 2020
December 16, 2019
Happy Holidays from the BWRC!
Best wishes for a prosperous New Year from all of us at the Beaty Water Research Centre!
December 12, 2019
BWRC enhances Queen's Partnership with Matariki Network
Congratulations to BWRC Director, Pascale Champagne, on her Principal’s Development Fund, which will enhance Queen’s partnerships in the Matariki Network. She will work with colleagues from the University of Western Australia to advance the work of the BWRC and look for opportunities for the Canadian Algae Research and Technology Network.
December 4, 2019
Engineering Solutions: Leachate, liners, landfills, and learning
Human beings have undoubtedly been throwing things away for as long as we have had things to throw. These ancient middens – the predecessors of our modern landfills – provide a treasure trove of artefacts for archaeologists, who sift through discarded items for clues to how people once lived.
December 3, 2019
Partnering with Industry
BWRC affiliated Faculty, Stephen Brown & industry partner Douglas Wilton of TECTA-PDS at Ontario's Universities MPP Breakfast showing the world’s 1st automated & portable system for water testing with immediate results.
November 30, 2019
Dr. Bas Vriens joins BWRC
Welcome to Dr. Bas Vriens, Assistant Professor in the Queen's Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering to the BWRC and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Dr. Vriens is an environmental engineer and earth system scientist that is interested in the sources, behaviour and environmental footprints of trace metals in large-scale waste streams.
November 27, 2019
Wildlife are exposed to more pollution than previously thought
Sometimes, pollution is blatantly obvious: the iridescent slick of an oil spill, goopy algae washing up on a beach or black smoke belching from a smokestack. But, more often than not, pollution is more inconspicuous. Our air, water, land and wildlife are tainted with thousands of chemicals that we cannot see, smell or touch. It may not come as a surprise then, that this unnoticed pollution...
November 22, 2019
Highlighting interdisciplinary graduate research
The Beaty Water Research Centre recently hosted its second annual Research Symposium which provided students the opportunity to highlight their interdisciplinary graduate research and to build research collaborations. This year’s event was attended by more...
November 19, 2019
Connecting science, policy, and society
There is no argument that science can have a profound impact on developing and shaping the public policies that affect Canadians. However, the transmission of science from universities, research institutions, and industry into the hands of policy makers is not always a clear, direct route. There can be many bumps on...
November 15, 2019
2nd Annual BWRC Symposium
On November 13th, 2019, the Beaty Water Research Centre and LEADERS Program hosted its 2nd Annual Research Symposium. The Symposium was established to improve the flow and communication of ideas by bringing together researchers from Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) who...
November 8, 2019
Warren Mabee Interviewd by CBC Morning
Warren Mabee of Queen's University in Kingston explains 'green' bonds which can be issued by a municipality to raise fund for projects to mitigate against climate change.
November 5, 2019
The Keystone Oil Spill No One's Talking About Will Be Nearly Impossible to Clean Up
“Once bitumen sinks to the bottom of a lake or wetland, it is much more problematic to clean up than conventional oil, which floats nicely and can be skimmed off the surface,” Diane Orihel, a professor in Aquatic Ecotoxicology at Queen’s University...
November 1, 2019
FEAS 125th Anniversary Research Symposium
Researchers, industry partners, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Queen’s University (FEAS) gathered in Mitchell Hall, October 24, for the inaugural FEAS Research Symposium celebrating its 125...
November 1, 2019
2nd Annual BWRC Symposium
On November 13th, 2019, the Beaty Water Research Centre and LEADERS Program will host its 2nd Annual Research Symposium. The Symposium was established to improve the flow and communication of ideas by bringing together researchers from Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) who are often separated by departments or schools...
October 21, 2019
Dean Deluzio's Pancake Breakfast - Homecoming 2019
Hundreds of engineering alumni connected and reconnected in Mitchell Hall the Saturday morning of homecoming weekend, October 19, for Dean Deluzio's Pancake Breakfast. Alumni had the opportunity to tour Mitchell hall and visit the Beaty Water Research Centee, Ingenuity Labs, the Dunin-Deshpande Queen's...
October 18, 2019
Your federal candidates on single-use plastics: A Kingston perspective
Plastic shopping bags, straws, cutlery, disposable coffee cups, beverage bottles, food, and toiletry packaging invade our everyday lives. Ironically, the attributes that make plastic such a marketable material – its durability...
October 4, 2019
Students & the University need to better protect Lake Ontario
Like it or not, you are Lake Ontario. Our bodies are about 60 per cent water, and the water we drink here in Kingston is from the lake—a lake that we often don’t do an adequate job of preserving.
The good news is that this water is clean and safe. It’s not perfect, but it’s some of the best drinking water in the world, and we’re lucky to have access to it...
September 30, 2019
BWRC hosts South Korean delegates
On September 20th, the Beaty Water Research Centre hosted delegates from 23 individual cities across South Korea. The delegates were taken on a tour of our state-of-the-art laboratories, given and overview of the activities of the Centre and had the opportunity to discuss unique and critical water issues.
September 27th, 2019
Working towards a sustainable future
Queen’s recognizes that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, and it is helping to create a more sustainable world through the knowledge and innovations that are being produced by researchers in all areas of the university.
Across Queen’s, faculty members have dedicated themselves to researching questions connected to the...
September 25, 2019
Queen’s hosts Nobel Prize Laureates for sold-out public talk
As part of the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative (NPII), Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie will visit Queen’s to engage and inspire students, staff, and faculty. Dr. Chalfie shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on Green Fluorescent Protein. He will share thoughts and insights on research success during a sold-out public discussion with Canada’s Chief Science Advisor Mona Nemer, and Queen’s own Nobel...
September 23, 2019
Queen’s civil engineers explore how to better detect methane contamination from natural gas extraction
Unconventional oil and gas operations are ever-growing as the abundance of conventional oil resources declines. Unlike the petroleum obtained by pumping directly from concentrated deposits via an oil well, unconventional oil and gas is held tightly in porous...
September 20, 2019
Celebrating engineering excellence
The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science continued to celebrate its 125th anniversary by recognizing outstanding faculty members during a special event on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
The 125th Anniversary Queen's Engineering Excellence Faculty Awards, hosted in Mitchell Hall, recognized the contributions of 14 faculty members, past and present...
September 16, 2019
Forward Water Technologies open first commercial scale pilot plant
Forward Water Technologies (FWT), a Canadian corporation founded in 2012, has now started operating their first commercial scale pilot plant, in Alberta. The revolutionary wastewater cleanup technology that forms the foundation of FWT was invented at Queen’s University at the lab of BWRC affiliated faculty, Philip Jessop, with assistance from Stephen Brown, and further developed by GreenCentre Canada. The technology allows FWT to treat highly contaminated wastewater streams at low cost, with low energy inputs and make fresh water available for re-use.
September 13, 2019
Queen’s researchers recognized by Governor General
Wendy Craig (Psychology) was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, Heather Stuart (Public Health Sciences) was named a Member of the Order of Canada, while John Smol was honoured with the Polar Medal. The Polar Medal is awarded to persons who have rendered extraordinary services in the polar regions and Canada’s North.
“Drs. Craig, Stuart and Smol are working in three important research areas that are making a difference to people across the country and around the world...
September 4, 2019
Queen's professor tracks waves and storm surges caused by hurricanes
A Queen’s University researcher is keeping a close eye on hurricane Dorian this week as it creeps up the East Coast of the southern United States.
Ryan Mulligan, an associate professor of civil engineering, is studying waves, also referred to as storm surge, that come as a result of hurricanes, and the damage they cause...
August 28, 2019
BWRC and LEADERS Seminar Series
After a successful Winter/Spring Seminar Series, the Beaty Water Research Centre and LEaders in wAter anD watERshed Sustainability (the LEADERS) programs Fall Series is starting back up September 11th.
We have planned a great line up of National and International speakers from Macadamia, Government and Industry.
Seminars generally take place on Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30 PM. Light refreshments provided!
August 12, 2019
Investing in cutting-edge tools and infrastructure for research
The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund awards $2.65 million to advance research projects at Queen’s.
Sixteen researchers at Queen’s University have secured $2.65 million in funding in the latest round of the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). At an event at the University of Alberta, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced over $61 million in funding for state-of-the-art research labs and equipment nationwide.
July 24, 2019
MPP Jim McDonell visit
Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-SouthGlengary and Queen's Engineering Alumnus (BSc'77), stopped by to visit and learn about a number of Queen's facilities including the Beaty Water Research Centre.
July 17, 2019
LEADERS CREATE Summer Symposium
The LEaders in wAter anD watERshed Sustainability (the LEADERS) program hosted by the Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC) is lead by Dr. Stephen Brown, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry & School of Environmental Studies. The program is funded ($1.65M over six years) through the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) and was...
June 24, 2019
New fellows recognized for research and leadership in engineering
Two faculty members from Queen’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Pascale Champagne (Civil Engineering) and Kevin Deluzio (Dean; Mechanical and Materials Engineering), were inducted as fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering at its annual...
June 17, 2019
Why we spilled oil for science
It’s an overcast spring day in northwestern Ontario and myself and a crew of students and scientists are getting ready to transform a freshwater lake into a science experiment.
I have been dreaming about this day for almost five years now and am over the moon to see it materialize. Preparations have been taking place in...
June 14, 2019
Sammi Cheng Receives Paul Semple Scholarship
Sammi Cheng, a graduate student in Chemical Engineering at Queen's and BWRC affilaited student, was awarded the Paul Semple Scholarship for Innovative Mines this morning.
One of the trustees of this award, Mark Baker, came to Kingston to meet Sammi and to personally deliver a scholarship cheque ($2000)...
June 7, 2019
Great Lake Water Festival 2019
The 2019 Great Lake Water Festival took place on Thursday June 6th in Lake Ontario Park. Approximately 350 Grade 4 students attended the day run by 90 volunteers! This annual festival is designed to motivate students to become water stewards in their homes, classroom, and community. Activity stations combine interactive, hands-on learning opportunities for students to ‘soak up’ knowledge on water conservation and protection, water health and safety, water science and technology, water and society , and indigenous...
May 16, 2019
Supporting the Future of Research
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, visited Queen’s University to talk about the promising future of university research across the country. At a special event, inside the newly-opened Mitchell Hall, the minister officially announced more than $35 million in funding for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (166 in total) and the Banting Post-Doctoral Fellowships (70 in total). This includes support for four Queen’s researchers who have earned Canada’s most-coveted prizes for PhD and...
May 6, 2019
The Interdisciplinary Green Team
Engineering a sustainable future requires input from multiple approaches and perspectives. Four leading Canadian researchers from Queen’s University have been awarded the NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering for their work in enhancing the value and sustainability of our natural renewable resources though...
May 1, 2019
Beaty Water Research Centre Featured Facility
The Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory has joined the BWRC as a research facility! We look forward to working with co-directors Dr. Melissa Lafreniere and Dr. Scott Lamoureux. For more information check out their website!
April 18, 2019
Cities and countries aim to slash plastic waste within a decade
If all goes well, 2030 will be quite a special year.
Global and local community leaders from more than 170 countries have pledged to “significantly reduce” the amount of single-use plastic products by 2030. Success would result in significantly less plastic pollution...
April 8, 2019
Water and Human Health Diploma Launches
The Beaty Water Research Centre has launched an online interdisciplinary graduate diploma program in Water & Human Health. Registration for May 2019 start is now open!
April 1, 2019
Grand Opening packs Mitchell Hall
Roaring applause and celebratory streamers filled the grand central atrium at Mitchell Hall this past weekend, marking the official opening of Queen’s University’s newest building. With a little help from a robot named Ibex, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Daniel Woolf and lead donor Bruce Mitchell made the announcement to an audience of several hundred guests – including...
March 28, 2019
Minister Bains tours Mitchell Hall ahead of opening
Principal Daniel Woolf welcomed Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains and Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen for a tour of the newly-renovated Mitchell Hall, on Thursday March 28. Joined by...
March 28, 2019
Putting a focus on water-related issues
Water-related issues are increasingly becoming a driving force for economic growth, social well-being, and a healthy population in Canada and around the world. This critical interest is reflected in the diversity of water-related research and education initiatives at the Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC), which recently moved...
March 27, 2019
Last night Queen's University Teaching Awards Civil Engineering Professor and Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC) Director, Pascale Champagne received the Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award. Queen's Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor and BWRC affiliated faculty, Louise Meunier earned honourable mention Frank Knox Award for Excellence in Teaching
March 21, 2019
March BWRC Student Profile- Nicole Woodcock
"Since I was a kid, I've always loved reading, learning, and science. When I came out of high school, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do (and still am not completely sure) but knew I wanted to get into something that had an environmental aspect..."
March 20, 2019
Hurricanes to deliver a bigger punch to coasts
When tropical cyclone Idai made landfall near Beira, Mozambique on March 14, a spokesperson for the UN World Meteorological Organization called it possibly the worst weather-related disaster to hit the southern hemisphere. The massive...
March 11, 2019
Partnership provides interns real-world experience
The Beaty Water Research Centre (BWRC) encourages collaborative interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach, spanning traditional water-related disciplines, as well as non-traditional and emerging disciplines. “One of the goals of the BWRC is...
December 4, 2018
Bridging the gap between art and science
A recent creative collaboration at a lab affiliated with the Beaty Water Research Centre is showing that when art meets science, good things happen. Earlier this year, Kevin Mumford, an associate professor and researcher in the Department of Civil Engineering, hosted artist, geophysicist, and...
November 29, 2018
Mitchell Hall ready to open its doors
The Queen’s community will have its first look inside the newest building on campus next week, as parts of Mitchell Hall begin to open. Doors will open on Monday, Dec. 3, granting access to the central atriums and a new Starbucks location. Three gymnasiums, two multi-purpose classrooms, and the new Examination Centre...
October 25, 2018
Queen's University team "SWIM" takes 5th place in AquaHacking Finals
The team, which included current and former Beaty Water Research Centre students was made up of David Blair, Maralika DeGroot, Shuang Liang and Alexander Rey. They developed a decentralized sewage overflow detection, thanks to a drone-assisted infrared camera.
October 18, 2018
Putting the final touches on Mitchell Hall
![[photo of the new signage at Mitchell Hall]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/Mitchell%20hall%20102318%20880x587.jpg)
This fall, Mitchell Hall, formerly known as the Innovation and Wellness centre, opens its doors, offering up new and refreshed resources to the Queen’s community.
“We are looking forward to the opening of Mitchell Hall, as this will be a signature building for Queen’s...
July 24, 2018
Creating the future workforce
Two Queen’s University researchers are leading groups that have been awarded a combined $3.3 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as part of their Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program to provide innovative training to...
July 23, 2018
1st International WDSA/CCWI Joint Conference
The International Water System Distribution Analysis (WDSA)/ Computing and Control for the Water Industry conference brought together professionals and researchers from around the world to solve problems in the field of urban water systems, modelling, and control. It was jointly hosted by Queen's University and the Royal Military College through Co-chairs Dr. Yves...
February 24, 2017
$5-million gift supports water research
Geologist and entrepreneur Ross J. Beaty has provided Queen's University with a $5-million gift to support collaborative research and education in the field of freshwater resources.
In recognition of the gift, the interdisciplinary research initiative has been renamed the Beaty Water Research Centre...