WATERLOO, ON--(Marketwired - March 06, 2014) - Waterloo Professor Rob de Loë is the new Canadian Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board, The International Joint Commission (IJC) announced on Monday.
The IJC is a bi-national organization established by Canada and the United States to prevent and resolve disputes about the use and quality of boundary waters, and to advise respective governments on water resources issues.
De Loë, a professor in the Department of Environment and Resource Studies and member of Waterloo's Water Institute, is one of Canada's leading academics in water governance and policy.
The Water Quality Board is the principal advisor to the IJC in reviewing and assessing progress in implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and in identifying emerging issues and approaches for preventing and resolving the complex challenges facing the Great Lakes.
"The Great Lakes represent an enormous opportunity and challenge for governments, researchers, businesses and communities to sustainably manage one of the world's greatest freshwater resources," said de Loë. "I am honoured to be appointed Canadian Co-Chair, and look forward to working with this new Board to improve water quality in the Great Lakes."
Waterloo's Faculty of Environment, and the broader Water Institute membership, has a strong tradition in researching Great Lakes issues. In his new position de Loë will draw upon his expertise on how to craft policy via collaborative governance to share water resources when they're scarce, deal with borders that divide watersheds and protect drinking water sources.
"We were pleased to receive the nominations of many worthy candidates from across the geographical breadth of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence System, and are delighted that Dr. de Loë has agreed to co-lead this important Board," said The Hon. Benoit Bouchard, Canadian Commissioner to the IJC.
De Loë's duties as Co-Chair begin immediately and last until February 2017.
About the University of Waterloo
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
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