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2024

PWRC Virtual Seminar: Transformation to Smart Cities - Swiss Guide and Use Cases

5 April 2024, 12 noon Pacific Time

Learn More

PWRC Virtual Seminar: Enhancing Water Safety with an Innovative Machine Learning Tool

16 November 2023, 12 noon Pacific Time

Learn more

2018

Events Archive

THE OCTOPUS'S GARDEN
NOVEMBER 8, 2017

WATCH VIDEO OF TALK here.

Who will be tending your vegetable garden when the ocean rises? An octopus? A seastar? The Octopus’s Garden series features experts on sea level rise from a wide variety of backgrounds who will address ways we can adapt and build resilience, with a focus on local to global challenges and solutions.

THE OCTOPUS'S GARDEN
OCTOBER 19, 2017

WATCH VIDEO OF TALK here.

Who will be tending your vegetable garden when the ocean rises? An octopus? A seastar? The Octopus’s Garden series features experts on sea level rise from a wide variety of backgrounds who will address ways we can adapt and build resilience, with a focus on local to global challenges and solutions.

THE OCTOPUS'S GARDEN
OCTOBER 5, 2017

WATCH VIDEO OF TALK here.

Who will be tending your vegetable garden when the ocean rises? An octopus? A seastar? The Octopus’s Garden series features experts on sea level rise from a wide variety of backgrounds who will address ways we can adapt and build resilience, with a focus on local to global challenges and solutions.

THE OCTOPUS'S GARDEN
September 21, 2017

WATCH VIDEO OF TALK here.

Who will be tending your vegetable garden when the ocean rises? An octopus? A seastar? The Octopus’s Garden series features experts on sea level rise from a wide variety of backgrounds who will address ways we can adapt and build resilience, with a focus on local to global challenges and solutions.

Evening on the Skeena
April 27, 2017

Watch the event here on our Facebook page. Follow us for more updates on events and more.


The Skeena Watershed, part of the Sacred Headwaters, is rich in environmental, cultural and economic wealth. It is a land of astonishing beauty, a place with soaring mountains, colourful fields and the powerful and wild Skeena River that starts at the Sacred Headwaters and flows through Prince Rupert all the way to the the Great Bear region. It is home to wild salmon, Eulachon, Kermode Bears, and a wide range of other terrestrial and aquatic species. 

SFU's Faculty of Environment and World Wildlife Fund Canada are pleased to invite you to celebrate the richness and dynamism of the Skeena. Come and hear how scientists are working with First Nations and community groups to promote the protection and management of biodiversity. 

When: Thursday, April 27 from 7 - 9 p.m. 
Where: Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, SFU, 580 Hastings Street, Vancouver 
Who: Jonathan Moore , Associate Professor, Aquatic Ecology & Conservation, Liber Ero Chair of Coastal Science and Management, Simon Fraser University; David DeWitt , Natural Resources Department Manager, Office of the Wet'suwet'en; Moderator: David Miller , President and CEO of WWF-Canada; and Respondent: Zafar Adeel , Executive Director, Pacific Water Research Centre, Faculty of Environment, Simon Fraser University

SFU Climate and Energy Research Day
April 27, 2017

The second SFU Climate and Energy Research Day will take place on April 27, 2017.  The event is hosted by the SFU’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and International, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, SFU Climate Futures Initiative, Climate Change Impact Consortium and the Pacific Water Research Centre.

Our Water BC’s Tri-Cities Water All Candidates Meeting
Wednesday, April 12

Is the Province doing enough to protect water for our quickly growing communities? What role does climate change play in how decisions are made at the local and provincial level? Are the Tri-Cities resilient enough to withstand drought or flooding? And what about those we share the land and water with - the salmon, bears, deer, birds and species at risk. What does strong Provincial leadership look like as our climate continues to change?

You are invited to a special water focused all candidates meeting for the ridings of Port Moody-Coquitlam, Coquitlam-Maillardville, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain and Port Coquitlam on Wednesday April 12th from 7-9pm at Douglas College-Lecture Theatre A1470.

Hear what your local candidates running in the upcoming BC Provincial Elections have to say about their parties platform on water related issues.

This event is being organized by a variety of groups in our community interested in water issues including the Canadian Freshwater Alliance, Sierra Club of BC, Water Watch Salmon Society, Force of Nature Alliance, Rivershed Society of British Columbia, Fraser Riverkeeper and the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/143268932863514/

Thursday, March 9, 2017, 7pm, SFU Harbour Centre, Room 1400
Can cities have the foresight to adopt preventive measures before disaster strikes as we shift into a climate unsteady future?

The PWRC and PICS-SFU are pleased to invite you to this free public talk and discussion where invited guest speakers Nadine Magdefrau and Robin Chang from the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany will address this question drawing on examples from the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the aftermath of long-term economic stresses in Rotterdam (NL) and Bremen (GE).  Moderator, Alec Balesescu will consider what implications these insights have on how to move towards an urban climate resilience future.

Reservations

Abstract/Bios

Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Columbia River Treaty: Seeking Solutions to Emerging Challenges

A free public talk and discussion, 7pm, SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver Room 1700

featuring

  • Eileen D. Pearkes, Author, A River Captured: The Columbia River Treaty and Catastrophic Change
  • Deborah Harford, ACT, PWRC; Co-Author, The Columbia River Treaty: A Primer
  • Bob Sandford, UNU-INWEH: Co-Author, The Columbia River Treaty: A Primer
  • Kelvin Ketchum, retired BC Hydro; Columbia River Treaty and reservoirs operations veteran

Moderator: Zafar Adeel, Executive Director, PWRC

The ratification of the Columbia River Treaty in 1964 was a landmark event, with significant implications for hydropower generation and flood protection. One of the largest transboundary international water treaties in the world, it has met with considerable success over the decades in addressing these issues from Canadian and American perspectives. However, implementation of Treaty dams and associated operations created negative impacts for BC Basin residents, farmers and First Nations that continue today, while emerging challenges pertaining to ecosystem impacts, sustainability of fish habitats, and changing climate and hydrological patterns are gaining prominence for river basin management around the world. Equally, issues of equity and social justice have a different connotation today than was the case in 1964. The panelists will explore these emerging challenges and issues, and discuss how BC, Canada and the US can utilize the Columbia River Treaty or modifications to it as a way of responding to these emerging concerns. The panelists – who represent a broad range of professional and social perspectives – will also engage with the audience in an interactive dialogue.

Reservations:  https://columbiarivertreaty.eventbrite.ca

February 9, 2017
Sustainable Development and Resilience Workshop
Time: 3:30-5:30pm
Location: Diamond Alumni Centre, Fraser-Thompson Room, SFU Burnaby Campus

Join us for a workshop that features how SFU’s faculty research is responding to international development policy questions and challenges in climate change, global water security, emerging global health challenges as outlined in the Sustainability Development Goals 2030. This workshop coincides with International Development Week (IDW) (February 5 to 11th). 
RSVP HERE: http://websurvey.sfu.ca/survey/265626366

September 30, 2016, 7pm

Join us for a free public talk and discussion on working together for better watershed governance featuring Merrell-Ann Phare and Ta'Kaiya Blaney.

Time:  7:00 pm
Location: SFU Harbour Centre, Room 1400 (515 W. Hastings St)
Reservations: http://watergovernance.eventbrite.ca
More info: Abstract and Bio

April 7, 2016

Free public talk and discussion, 7pm SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver

Water and the Sacred: The Flow from Commodity to Gift

Presented by Dr. Stephen Scharper, School of Environment, University of Toronto.

Are you curious about the water crisis facing over 780 million people and increased threats such as climate change to clean water?  Dr. Scharper will explore how blending human rights concerns with religous and cultural worldviews embracing the sacredness and spiritual power of water may help us address the water crisis.

This is part of the WATER SOLUTIONS SERIES

Centre for Coastal Science and Management, March 31, 2016
CLOSED
March 31, 2016

The Centre for Coastal Science and Management (CCSM) closed its doors on March 31, 2016.  This site remains available as a resource for reports and past activities. Some of the CCSM programming will be subsumed by the Pacific Water Reserach Centre under their coastal science and management theme. We take this opportunity to thank all of our members, partners, sponsors and individuals who participated and contributed to the success of the Centre over the years. 

The Centre for Coastal Science and Management at Simon Fraser University promoted interdisciplinary research, education and dialogue on Canada's coastal ecosystems, particularly those in British Columbia. By linking social and natural science with local knowledge, the Centre focused on three key themes:

  1. Coastal and marine conservation
  2. Adaptation to climate change
  3. Building resource management capacity (government, community, academic)

World Water Day, March 22

You are invited to celebrate World Water Day with us!

What does water mean to you?
Wallace J Nichols, author of the New York Times best seller, Blue Mind, has started a groundbreaking conversation on the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under and near water.  Blue Mind illustrates the crucial importance of our connection to water and provides a paradigm shifting "blueprint" for a better life.

Join us for a presentation by Wallace J Nichols which combines cutting edge research with compelling personal stories that show how our proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.

Reservations: http://www.vanaqua.org/experience/events/annual-and-upcoming-events/world-water-day

Vancouver Aquarium, 4D Theatre
Doors Open at 6pm | Reception 6-7pm | Presentation/Discussion 7-8:30
Book sale during reception, signing at 8:30pm

Presented by:
Vancouver Aquarium
Ruby Lake Lagoon Society
Pacific Water Research Centre, SFU

Part of GLOBE Week Activities

March 3, 2016
Marine Biodiversity & the Health of Canada's Oceans
part of the Canada Ocean Lecture Series

This free public lecture and discussion features Dr. Paul Snelgrove, Research Professor, Ocean Science and Biology, Memorial University. Dr. Snelgrove will discuss the new tools and approaches that have revolutionized ocean sciences in the last decade documenting new species, new environments, and new processes that create unprecedented opportunities to improve ocean sustainability. To view full abstract and bio, click here.

To reserve a seat, visit: http://snelgrove.eventbrite

For more information about the Canada Ocean Lecture Series, visit: http://www.sfu.ca/coastal/research-series/listing/canada-ocean-lectures.html

January 18, 2016
The Human Face of Water Security: A focus on vulnerable individuals and communities

part of the Water Solutions Series

This free pulic lecture and discussion featured Dr. Zafar Adeel, Director, Institute of Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University and Steve Conrad, Associate Director of the PWRC. They addressed water security from a global to a local perspective.

Resources:

Podcast

Abstract/bio

Media: CBC Water security a Canadian issue, not just a developing world issue

June 25, 2015
Canadian Water Summit

This event offered expert sessions and panel presentations with case studies, real world projects and positive examples of nexus opportunities for water and energy.

The 250+ attendees were inspired by the full day program and affiliated tours and workshops! For more information, click here.

June 24, 2015

SFU Blue: Community Engaged  Water  Research

At SFU BLUE, lead experts, professionals and advocates in the field came together for a discussion on community-­engaged water research in BC!

Congratulations to Ryan Bradley for winning best poster award and Negar Naghshinehpour for winning best video in our student poster and video competition! For more information, click here.