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Nechako Watershed research gets $1.75M boost

Global mining company Rio Tinto is providing the funding for two research chair appointments, whose work looks at the impacts and responses to climate change and water security 

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is appointing two research chairs to determine the impact of climate change and human activity on the Nechako Watershed.  

The research, made possible by $1.75 million in research funds from Rio Tinto, will help to inform best approaches to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change in the area.  

“Over the next five years we will continue to closely monitor and investigate climate, atmospheric and hydrological conditions, processes and phenomena across the Nechako Watershed as the climate crisis continues to unfold,” said Environmental Science Professor Dr. Stephen Déry.  

Déry is appointed as Rio Tinto Research Chair in Climate Change and Water Security to continue research which his team kicked off in 2019 under the Industrial Research Chair program. His research involves assessing the impacts of climate change on the Nechako Watershed and developing systems to predict future water temperatures. 

Ecosystem Science and Management Associate Professor Dr. Eduardo Martins will be joining Déry as the Rio Tinto Research Chair in Climate Change and Freshwater Fish Ecology.  

Home to various species of fish including the endangered Nechako white sturgeon, Martins’ research will focus on the impact of climate change on fish populations and how conservation policies could help. 

“Given their vulnerability to warmer water temperatures, the observed warming trends and recent extreme temperature events raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of many species,” Martins said.  

The funding for Déry and Martins’ research comes as an expansion of a partnership between UNBC and Rio Tinto, a global mining company with operations in the watershed. Rio Tinto emphasizes its search for better ways to obtain resources such as ore, copper and aluminum, and funds research to support the energy transition and decarbonization.  

“Climate change is having a significant impact on the Nechako Watershed, which plays a vital role in our hydroelectric operations, First Nations cultural practices and the quality of life of local communities,” said Andrew Czornohalan, director of energy and watershed partnerships with Rio Tinto's BC operations. 

The partnership between Rio Tinto and UNBC intends to enable collaboration between local First Nations, the UNBC research team and Rio Tinto whose operations in the area need also to be informed by research on resource management.  

“Grand challenges such as climate change cannot be addressed in isolation,” said UNBC’s Vice-President of Research and Innovation Dr. Paula Wood-Adams. 

“Diverse teams and partnerships are essential, including community members who live and work in the region and private enterprise along with our academic researchers.” 

UNBC will also be contributing $1.3 million over the next five years to support the team of 11 researchers. 

Learn more about Déry's research here.



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