Psst… Did you hear that? It’s the sound of anticipation in our upcoming events section. Stay tuned for a flurry of exciting happenings that will fill this empty space with knowledge, connections, and unforgettable experiences.

Join us for an enriching evening of insights and networking at our exclusive speaker series on October 3rd, featuring distinguished speakers, Appana Lok and James Des Cotes from RV Anderson. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the field, they bring a unique perspective on the latest trends and innovations in urban planning and infrastructure development. From 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, immerse yourself in engaging discussions that promise to inspire and inform. Following the enlightening talks, seize the opportunity to connect and collaborate during our networking event. Don’t miss this chance to learn from industry leaders and expand your professional network. Visit RV Anderson’s About Page to learn more about their exceptional contributions to the industry. Secure your spot now for an evening that promises to be both informative and enriching!

Register Here: https://forms.office.com/r/9xfFS3RH34

Date: October 3rd 2023

Time: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Location: 280N York Lanes

About RV Anderson:

RV Anderson is a distinguished consulting engineering and planning firm committed to creating resilient and sustainable communities. With a rich history dating back to 1948, RV Anderson has been at the forefront of innovation, working on projects that shape the urban landscapes we inhabit today. Their team of dedicated professionals combines expertise in engineering, planning, and environmental sustainability to deliver solutions that transcend conventional approaches.

Appana Lok

Appana Lok obtained her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry in 2014 and Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering in 2017 from the University of Toronto (U of T). She has been an active member of OWWA and has served as the U of T OWWA Student Chapter President (2015-2016) and OWWA Young Professional Chair (2022-2023). Appana is a Process Engineer at R.V. Anderson Associates Limited with over 6 years of experience in studies, design, and contract administration of drinking water treatment systems.

James Des Cotes

James graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2009. James joined R.V. Anderson Associates Limited shortly thereafter where he began his career as a site inspector on a wastewater treatment plant site. Nearly 15 years later James is now a Principal and Process Engineer of the firm with experience gained through design work, site inspection, and contract administration for both water and wastewater treatment plants. James’s primary areas of focus are in biosolids treatment at wastewater plants and contract administration of construction projects to see the works designed by RVA implemented. James was a member of the WEAO YP group and is now a member of the Residuals and Biosolids Committee.

***Thank you for attending our webinar. Please stay tuned for the launch of the UN Global Water Academy website in the coming months with more panels, training modules, and workshops to come. Watch the recording (1:30:46)***

Join us on Friday, July 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET for a special event hosted by York University during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development with a panel entitled, “Humanitarian responses to emerging water crises as a result of extreme climatic events.”

Extreme climatic events, including heatwaves, droughts, and storms, are increasing in frequency and intensity over the past few decades, with consequences for freshwater. Extreme climatic events have been associated with changes in freshwater availability and degradation of water quality, including elevated concentrations of nutrients, contaminants of emerging concern, and potential for algal blooms, some of which may be toxic. As humans and wildlife rely on freshwater for life, alterations in the freshwater supply in response to extreme climatic events can have catastrophic impacts, particularly during humanitarian crises.

Bringing together four renowned experts who work at the heart of humanitarian solutions through technology, engineering, global governance, and advocacy, this virtual panel aims to explore the humanitarian responses, challenges, and solutions to alleviating the freshwater crisis, particularly in the face of global environmental degradation and extreme climatic events.

Register for the panel.

This event is cosponsored by the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research; One WATER Research Centre; Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, York University; United Nations Development Programme; and United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Please email sharma11@yorku.ca with any questions about this event.

Event Details:

Date: June 15th
Time: 10:00 am
Location: York Lanes 280N

During this event, we will be sharing our experiences from the recent UN Water Conference, held in March 2023 in New York. It will be a great opportunity to gain insights into the current challenges and innovative solutions in the field of water security, climate change, and resilience. We are excited to showcase our research in the water field and exchange valuable knowledge with our community and partners.

The event is organized by Sapna Sharma (Science), Marina Freire-Gormaly (Lassonde), and Sylvie Morin (Science) in collaboration with the OneWATER Institute, Women & Inclusivity in Sustainable Energy Research (WISER), and CIFAL York.

Please feel free to use the following registration link to share with interested individuals. Be sure to register by June 10th: https://research.apps01.yorku.ca/machform/view.php?id=178059

Event Agenda

Greeting

Introduction

Panels moderator: Sapna Sharma

Water is life

Panelists:

Jessica Keeshig Martin, Faculty of Education

Dolleen Manning, Queen’s University, Queen’s National Scholar of Anishinaabe Knowledge, Language and Culture

Mary Bunch, Faculty of Art, Media, Performance and Design, York University
Ellie Perkins, Environmental and Urban Change, York University

Water Engineering

Panelists:

Satinder Brar, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University

Marina Freire-Gormaly, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University

Stephanie Gora, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University

Shooka Karimpour, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University

The question period will be followed by a networking event for those interested

York University World Water Day Celebrations March 20^th, 2023

World Water Day is an annual United Nations observance day held on 22 March that highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

This year York University will celebrate World Water Day on March 20^th as many community members are attending the UN Water Conference which will start on Water Day. One WATER Institute is grateful to its members for organizing and participating in these events to celebrate World Water Day.

Programs and Activities

1. Exhibition Presentations

World Water Day Art & Science Exhibition Presentations

Date & Time: March 20^th 9am to 4pm

Location: Vari Hall Rotunda and Central Square.

Event Sponsors: Faculty of Science and YorkU Vice President Research and Innovation’s office.

Undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members doing water related research at YorkU will be presenting their work and will engage with YorkU community. Please come meet with us!

Presentations & Exhibitions

Names	Department	Title
Amanda Basu, Kevin Blagrave, Dawn Bazely, and Sapna Sharma	Biology	Phenological Shifts in lake ice across the Northern Hemisphere
Amanda J. Little and Jennifer B. Korosi	Geography	Ecological and biogeochemical dynamics at the onset of spring thaw in five arsenic-contaminated lakes near Yellowknife, NWT, Canada.
Damith Tennakoon, Alexandro Di Nunzio and Mojgan Jadidi	Lassonde	Terrain Analysis and Particle-Based Fluid Simulations using Immersive and Experiential Learning Environments
Arefeh Shamskhany and Shooka Karimpour	Lassonde	Instantaneous Transport Behaviour of Aquatic Microplastics
James Orbinski, Ali Asgary, Richard Matthew, Sosten Chiotha, Martin J Bunch, Mohammadali Tofighi, Jochen Schubert, Nilanjana Ganguli, Byomkesh Talukder, Patrick Likongwe, Vanessa van Schoor, Eunice Choi, and James Chirombo	Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research	Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Health in the Chilwa Lake Basin: An Agent-Based Modelling Approach with Statistical Linkages between Climate and Disease Data
Ellie Perkins	EUC	Participatory research addressing water and climate challenges: seven global examples
Gaurav Bhardwaj, Juviya Mathew, Behnam Nayebi, Rama Pulicharla, and Satinder K. Brar	Lassonde	World Water Day: Tracing the Journey of Plastic to Microplastics in the environment
Gurpreet Kaur, Ginelle Aziz, Satyam Verma, and Satinder K. Brar	Lassonde	Potential of microbes towards decontamination of harmful pollutant in the subsurface
Jean Carlos Viccari Preira, Diego Alejandro Hernandez, Reema, AND Satinder K. Brar	Lassonde	Turning the Tide: Using enzymes to clean up oil spills from water
Kerrice Bailey, Kevin Blagrave, Aman Basu, Nadine Benoit, Todd Howell, Sapna Sharma	Biology	Spatial heterogeneity in water quality across the northern nearshore regions of the Laurentian Great Lakes
Kevin Blagrave, Luke Moslenko, Usman T Khan, Nadine Benoit, Todd Howell, Sapna Sharma	Biology	Heatwaves and Storms Contribute to Degraded Water Quality in Nearshore of Lake Ontario
Maryam Zarean, Raymond Kwong, and Satinder K. Brar	Biology	The co-occurrence and interaction of microplastics and antibiotic resistance in aquatic ecosystems: An emerging health threat
Noha Hasaneen, Pratishtha Khurana, Rama Pulicharla, Pouya Rezai, and Satinder K. Brar	Lassonde	‘The Antibiotic Apocalypse’: Surrendering to superbugs?
Rachel Abulu	Geography	Impact of permafrost thaw on lake water quality
Rachel Pellegrino	EUC	What are diatoms, and why are they so special?
Rebecca Gasman	EUC	A Pan-Canadian Comparison of Cyanobacteria Bloom Management Policies, Programs, and Practices
Sejal Dave, Shooka Karimpour, and Raymond Kwong	Biology, Lassonde, and Biology	Evaluating the Bioaccumulation, Filtration Rates, and Elimination of Polyethylene Microspheres in Freshwater Water Fleas (Daphnia magna) and Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
Malihe Mohammadiun, Shooka Karimpour, Satinder K. Brar	Lassonde	Microplastics’ Biofouling Facilitated by Wastewater Effluent

2. Panel

Moving from academia to the water industry; improving the resilience of water infrastructure to climate change

Date & Time: March 20^th 1pm to 4pm

Location: Second Student Centre, Second Floor.

Organizer: Stephanie Gora for The International Water Association, Young water professional, Canadian Association of Water Quality and One WATER Institute.

Event sponsors: Lassonde School of Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University