The University of Regina has received $8.6 million in federal funding to support two new Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) and their accompanying Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) infrastructure projects. These investments will advance critical work in water protection and environmental sustainability
Across the Prairies, water is under increasing pressure from population growth, land use, and climate change, which are creating serious challenges for water quality. Issues such as harmful algal blooms, rising salt levels, and pollution from everyday products are threatening lakes and rivers that people, wildlife, and industries depend on.
To help address these challenges, Dr. Kerri Finlay has been awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Water in a Changing Environment. Her seven-year, $1.4 million CRC will focus on understanding how human activity and climate change affect prairie waters and develop solutions to protect them. Building on more than three decades of freshwater research, Finlay's work will track long-term trends, test ways to reduce water pollution, and strengthen partnerships with First Nations and local communities to monitor and care for water resources.
A CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) grant of $170,176 will support a new field and laboratory setup that allows Finlay and her team to study how land use and climate change influence water quality. The new equipment, including a field truck, boat, and specialized water-quality instruments, will enable sampling from more than 100 lakes across southern Saskatchewan.
"I'm excited for the opportunity provided by the Canada Research Chairs program, which will allow us to continue the legacy of strong water science and stewardship in the Prairies at the University of Regina," says Finlay. "I look forward to further exploring the complex relationships between water, ecosystems, and communities in a changing landscape."
While Finlay's research focuses on protecting water, Dr. Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng is tackling a different environmental challenge: solid waste management. Canada produces more waste per person than most industrialized countries but recycles less. With many nations no longer accepting imported waste, Canada faces increasing pressure to find fair and sustainable ways to manage what it throws away.
Ng has been awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Environmental Sustainability to develop smarter, data-driven waste management systems tailored to Canada's diverse regions and climates. His seven-year, $1.4 million CRC will focus on optimizing waste management systems, developing advanced data-driven techniques, and training students and researchers to help communities, especially those in rural and northern areas, move toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
To support this work, Ng has also received $83,140 from the CFI JELF to establish the Waste Management System Design Laboratory (WMSD Lab). The new lab will combine advanced computing, near-infrared spectrometers, and hands-on training to improve how waste is collected, recycled, processed, and disposed of. "Canadians deserve a more sustainable solid waste management system," says Ng. "The University of Regina has been a national leader in waste management research for decades, and this investment from the federal government will help us maintain and strengthen Canada's global leadership, develop evidence-based waste policy, and train future leaders for a knowledge-based economy."
The federal funding also supports two CRC renewals: Dr. Margot Hurlbert, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Energy, and Sustainability Policy ($1.4 million over seven years), and Dr. Omar El-Halfawy, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Chemogenomics and Antimicrobial Research ($500,000 over five years). El-Halfawy also received $205,779 from the CFI JELF for advanced antibacterial research technology.
The University also received $3.24 million through the Research Support Fund to upgrade facilities, build resources, and strengthen cybersecurity; $122,826 from the Incremental Project Grant to enhance research administration and reporting; and $95,328 through the Research Security Fund to help identify and manage potential security risks.
Dr. Chris Yost, Vice-President (Research), says this federal support reflects the impact the University's research is having on a national level.
"These federal investments recognize the University of Regina's growing strength in tackling some of the most pressing health, social, and environmental challenges of our time," says Yost. "Our researchers are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and applying their discoveries to address societal challenges."
