We are thrilled to announce that Dafne de Brito Cruz has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Jacobs Holly A. Cornell Scholarship for the 2025–2026 academic year!

This highly competitive scholarship, administered by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), supports exceptional graduate students who demonstrate a commitment to the water industry and a strong potential for leadership. Dafne’s academic excellence, research dedication, and passion for sustainable water solutions have distinguished her as a future leader in the field.

As part of the award, Dafne will receive a complimentary one-year student membership in AWWA, offering access to professional development and networking opportunities through the organization’s Student and Young Professional programs. She will also be attending ACE25, AWWA’s flagship annual conference held June 8–11, 2025, in Denver, Colorado, where she will connect with thousands of professionals across the water sector.

In addition, Dafne is invited to participate in a virtual scholarship ceremony on May 20, 2025, where she will be formally recognized by AWWA and introduced by her corporate sponsor. A highlight of this experience includes the Celebrate Scholars Breakfast and the Water Industry Luncheon during ACE25—excellent opportunities for celebration, visibility, and career-building connections.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Dafne on this well-deserved recognition. The AWWA Board of Directors, staff, and sponsors are proud to support her journey and excited to see the impact she will make in the water industry.

Congratulations, Dafne!

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Water Science, Technology and Policy’s Dafne de Brito Cruz has been recognized with a Student Merit Award at the 2024 Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. Her research presentation, Unseen Assumptions Can Lead to Unseen Risk: Unveiling the Effect of the Independence Assumption in Drinking Water QMRA, was featured in the Water and Risk session, where she explored how hidden statistical assumptions in quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) can lead to unintended risks in drinking water safety.

Dafne’s work, co-authored with Dr. Philip J. Schmidt and Dr. Monica B. Emelko, challenges the common assumption of independence in QMRA models, highlighting its potential to underestimate risks in waterborne disease transmission. By identifying and addressing these overlooked assumptions, her research contributes to more accurate risk assessments and safer drinking water systems.

The Student Merit Award is given to outstanding student presentations that advance risk analysis research and practice. This recognition underscores Dafne’s contributions to the field and her commitment to improving public health through rigorous scientific inquiry.

Congratulations, Dafne!

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Congratulations to Tim Shardlow, who won the Best Poster Award at the 2024 Phycological Society of America (PSA) Annual Meeting at the University of Washington in Seattle! His poster, Molecular Characterization of Cyanobacteria from a Wildfire-Impacted Drinking Water Supply in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, was selected as the top student poster from a competitive field of 23 entries in the PSA student competition.

Co-authored with Dr. Monica Emelko and Dr. Kirsten Müller, Tim’s research focuses on understanding how wildfire impacts cyanobacteria populations in drinking water supplies—an increasingly urgent issue as climate change intensifies wildfire activity. His findings contribute to improved water quality management and risk assessment, particularly in communities affected by wildfires.

The Lewin Poster Award, given by PSA, recognizes outstanding student research in phycology. This achievement highlights the impact of Tim’s work and the important contributions of the research team.

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The University of Waterloo claims top ranking in Canada for Water Resources!

The University of Waterloo has claimed the No. 1 spot in Canada and 24th globally for water resources in the 2024 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Rankings of Academic Subjects — its highest position to date!

This achievement highlights Waterloo’s exceptional performance in water resources, a critical field for addressing global challenges like climate change and water security.

Contributions from the forWater Network, alongside world-class faculty, impactful research, and strong international collaboration, continue to drive this success.

Visit the Rankings: https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/gras/2024/RS0217

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Essential Information Shared in New Chapter on Climate Change Implications for Drinking Water

Monica Emelko, professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and expert in water quality and treatability science, is a lead author of a new chapter titled Climate Change Implications for DBP Occurrence in Municipal Drinking Water, featured in The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry (Springer, 2024). This contribution offers critical insights into the evolving challenges posed by climate change to municipal water supplies.

The chapter explores how warming global temperatures, hydroclimatic changes, and climate shocks disrupt landscapes, influencing the mobilization and delivery of disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors to water systems. DBPs, formed during water treatment processes, are a persistent concern for water managers due to their potential health risks. The authors examine how alterations in land cover, soil characteristics, erosion, and runoff impact DBP precursor behavior, presenting a framework to understand these interlinked processes.

“Climate change is reshaping how landscapes interact with water systems,” says Dr. Emelko. “This chapter highlights the importance of considering these dynamics to ensure safe and sustainable drinking water supplies amid a changing climate.”

Dr. Emelko’s research focuses on safeguarding drinking water sources in the face of environmental challenges. Her work continues to bridge the gap between academic research and practical water management, offering actionable solutions for communities worldwide.

This chapter, co-authored with esteemed colleagues Dr. Chow, Dr. Amiri, Dr. Chen, and Dr. Stone, underscores the importance of collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to addressing climate-driven threats to water quality.

As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, the insights shared in this chapter will be invaluable for water resource managers and policymakers seeking to protect public health and enhance climate resilience in water systems.

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Teaching Award Recognizes Outstanding Contributions by Dafne de Brito Cruz

The Department of Civil Engineering is proud to announce that Dafne de Brito Cruz has been awarded the Laurence Hamlin Memorial Award for the Spring 2024 term. This award celebrates outstanding contributions to classroom teaching by graduate students specializing in environmental and water resources.

Dafne’s recognition reflects her exceptional commitment to education and her ability to foster an engaging and inclusive learning environment. Known for her passion for teaching and her dedication to student success, she has consistently gone above and beyond to make complex concepts in environmental engineering accessible to her students.

The Laurence Hamlin Memorial Award honors the memory of Laurence Hamlin, a beloved educator and innovator in civil engineering at the University of Waterloo. As a graduate student, Dafne has excelled in both research and teaching. Her work explores critical challenges in environmental sustainability and water resource management, areas that are vital to addressing the global climate crisis. Her teaching complements her research, providing students with practical insights and the tools to solve real-world problems.

The Department of Civil Engineering extends its warmest congratulations to Dafne de Brito Cruz on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to seeing Dafne’s continued impact in both the classroom and the field of environmental engineering.

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Aqualunar Challenge Sparks Innovation for Lunar Water Purification

The Aqualunar Challenge has been announced, inviting innovators to develop cutting-edge technologies for purifying water on the Moon, with the potential for spin-off applications here on Earth. This initiative represents a collaborative effort between the United Kingdom and Canada, each offering distinct but complementary tracks for participants.

Dr. Monica Emelko, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Water Science, Technology & Policy at the University of Waterloo has been appointed jury member for the challenge. Dr. Emelko serves as the Scientific Director of forWater Network, a research group focused on water treatment and risk analysis, with global implications for water regulations.

The Aqualunar Challenge presents a unique opportunity for scientists and engineers to contribute to space exploration while also addressing critical needs on Earth. The innovative technologies developed through this Challenge could revolutionize water purification processes, benefiting communities worldwide.

As humanity looks towards a future where space exploration becomes more commonplace, initiatives like the Aqualunar Challenge are crucial for developing sustainable solutions that can support life beyond Earth’s boundaries.

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Kalani’s oral presentation was selected as the 2024 Fresh Ideas Young Presenter Winner. Additionally, her poster presentation was honored with the Best Poster Award. This exceptional achievement marks a significant milestone, as it is believed to be the first time one individual has won both awards.

As the Fresh Ideas award winner, Kalani has been invited to represent Ontario by presenting her poster at the American Water Works Association’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) in Anaheim, California, from June 10 to 13, 2024. OWWA is pleased to provide her with a travel stipend of up to $2,000 to facilitate her attendance at this prestigious event.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Kalani for her remarkable accomplishments and look forward to her continued contributions to the field.

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We are delighted to announce that Dafne de Brito Cruz has been awarded the 2024 Larson Aquatic Research Support Scholarship for PhD studies by the American Water Works Association (AWWA). This prestigious scholarship, valued at $7,000, recognizes Dafne’s exceptional research in the field of aquatic studies.

As part of this award, Dafne will receive free registration to the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE24), as well as complimentary hotel accommodations for attendees. Additionally, Larson, Wolman, Singer, and Edzwald Scholarship recipients, including Dafne, will receive travel expense reimbursement of up to $1,000 from AWWA.

The Virtual Scholarship Ceremony took place on May 7 & 8 on Microsoft Teams. This mandatory event is an opportunity for Dafne to share information about herself with other scholarship recipients and sponsors.

If Dafne attends ACE24, she will participate in several special events:

• Tuesday, June 11: Celebrate Scholars Luncheon at 12 pm in the Anaheim Hilton.
• Wednesday, June 12: Water Industry Luncheon at 12 pm in the Anaheim Hilton. This event includes an on-stage presentation of the award and a photo opportunity with the sponsor.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dafne de Brito Cruz for her remarkable achievement and look forward to her continued contributions to the water industry.

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Omar Chowdhury has been awarded the prestigious University of Waterloo President’s Graduate Scholarship in the 2024-2025 NSERC Doctoral competition. This scholarship is a recognition of Omar’s outstanding achievements and potential in his doctoral studies.

As a recipient of a Tri-Agency Scholarship, Omar has also been awarded an NSERC Doctoral Scholarship. In recognition of his exceptional accomplishments, the University of Waterloo is pleased to offer him the President’s Graduate Scholarship (PGS). This scholarship is awarded to outstanding graduate students who hold major federally and provincially-funded competition-based scholarships. The PGS is valued at up to $10,000.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Omar Chowdhury for his remarkable achievements and are excited to see his future contributions to the academic community.

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