Water
Human activity—from pollutants to climate change—is threatening the health of our planet's precious freshwater resources.
That's where we come in.
Just as our fresh water flows across borders, our work stretches across nation and sectors.
IISD can influence how we manage fresh water like no other think tank on earth, because we create scientific understanding of fresh water at our very own freshwater science facility, which then informs the policy recommendations developed by our team of policy analysts.
In other words, we truly bridge science and policy.
First the science.
IISD Experimental Lakes Area is the world’s freshwater laboratory.
A series of 58 lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada, IISD-ELA is the only place in the world where scientists can experiment on and manipulate real lakes to build a more accurate and complete picture of what human activity is doing to freshwater lakes. The findings from its over 50 years of ground-breaking research have rewritten environmental policy around the world—from mitigating algal blooms to reducing how much mercury gets into our waterways—and aim to keep fresh water clean around the world for generations to come.
Then comes the policy.
We then take those scientific findings, and develop policy and programming solutions for governments, civil society, and industry that protect and enhance the natural environment, keep our fresh water clean, while also improving socioeconomic well-being.
We conduct economic analyses and hydrologic assessments so that governments best understand all the options before making final decisions. And we support the management of watersheds across national boundaries, bringing all the relevant sectors and stakeholders to the table.
IISD Experimental Lakes Area
We are the world’s freshwater laboratory—the only place in the world where scientists can manipulate real lakes to understand what human activity does to fresh water.
Can Pollution be a Tool for Environmental Protection? Pauline Gerrard does TedX Winnipeg
Should we be polluting the environment more — to understand it better and, ultimately, pollute it less? IISD-ELA's fearless leader, Pauline Gerrard, takes to the TedX Winnipeg stage to make the case.
This Is What Climate Change is Doing to our Fresh Water
Smaller fish. Darker lakes. Warmer air. We explore why these changes matter, and how we should go about tackling them.
The Water Brothers explore why scientists in Canada are filling a lake with plastics.
We invited the Water Brothers over to the lakes to explore why we are adding plastics to our lakes—all in the name of science.
Let’s Talk About Natural Infrastructure…
Allow us to take you on a whirlwind tour of Pelly’s Lake in southern Manitoba, Canada, where the marvels of natural infrastructure are already being felt.
Speaking Each Other’s Language
When it comes to communicating the research findings of the world's freshwater laboratory, we need to speak to communities in their own languages. Literally.
Our work in the news
Microplastics levels high in Toronto-caught fish - The Globe and Mail
"Fillets from fish caught along Toronto’s waterfront have up to 12 times more microplastics per serving than some common store-bought alternatives, newly published research suggests."
The Dangers of Cleaning Products We Don't Discuss - Newsweek
"While it is pleasing to see the culture of self-care taken so seriously, most people don't consider another angle to this phenomenon, and it is one that you might not expect."
90% of Great Lakes water samples have unsafe microplastic levels – report - The Guardian
"About 90% of water samples taken over the last 10 years from the Great Lakes contain microplastic levels that are unsafe for wildlife, a new peer-reviewed paper from the University of Toronto finds."
Microplastics found in remote waters near Great Lakes in 'alarming' new study - FOX News
"By land, by sea, and now by air - microplastics are contaminating the world's most remote locations without the help of people."
Experts
Pauline Gerrard
Interim Executive Director, IISD-ELA
Dimple Roy
Director, Water Management
Matthew McCandless
Interim VP Operations and Business Transformation
Vince Palace
Head Research Scientist, IISD-ELA
Michael Paterson
Senior Research Scientist, IISD-ELA
Scott Higgins
Senior Research Scientist, IISD-ELA
Aidan Guttormson
Field Technician, IISD-ELA
Aliana Fristensky
Policy Advisor
Ashley Rawluk
Policy Advisor
Blake Cooney
Chemist I, IISD-ELA
Chris Hay
Scientific Data Officer, IISD-ELA
Desiree Langenfeld
Biologist, IISD-ELA
Emily Kroft
Water Policy and Youth Engagement Officer, IISD-ELA
Jose Luis Rodriguez Gil
Research Scientist, IISD-ELA
Josée Méthot
Senior Policy Specialist, Water
Ken Sandilands
Biologist - Field Coordinator, IISD-ELA
Kevin Obiero
IISD-ELA Board Member
Lauren Hayhurst
Fisheries Research Biologist II, IISD-ELA
Lauren Timlick
Biologist II - Ecotoxicology, IISD-ELA
Lee Hrenchuk
Senior Biologist, IISD-ELA
Lisa Peters
Research Associate, IISD-ELA
Madeline Stanley
Remediation Ecology Scientist
Marina Puzyreva
Senior Policy Advisor
Michael Rennie
Research Fellow, IISD-ELA
Morgan Anderson
Field Sampling Technician/Senior Education and Relations Officer, IISD-ELA
Patrique Bulloch
Food Web Biologist, IISD-ELA
Paul Fafard
Field Sampling Technician II, IISD-ELA
Richard Grosshans
Lead II, Bioremediation
Sonya Havens
Research Chemist, IISD-ELA
Stanley Chasia
Policy Advisor, NBS Biophysical Monitoring
Ted Lawrence
Executive Director, IISD-ACARE
Thomas Saleh
Policy Advisor, Data and Technology; IISD-ELA
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