Dr. Ryan Bullock
WINNIPEG, MB – University of Winnipeg research is helping to shape water governance policy in the United Kingdom (UK). Dr. Ryan Bullock in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, together with esteemed colleagues at Brock University and University of the Sunshine Coast, shared their research findings at the Royal Society symposium Water governance in the UK and EU: so far, so what & what next? on September 16, 2015 in London, UK.
Bullock has worked with Dr. Ryan Plummer (project lead), Dr. Julia Baird, Dr. Diane Dupont, Dr. Steven Renzetti, and Dr. Angela Dzyundzyak from the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University since 2013. Their research is part of the ‘Climate Adaptation and Water Governance’ (CADWAGO) consortium that also includes researchers from Europe, Australia, and the United States. The aim of CADWAGO is to improve water governance in Europe through case-based research. The € 1,000,000 initiative is supported by the Europe and Global Challenges programme, which is funded by three independent foundations: Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, the Volkswagen Stiftung and Compagnia di San Paolo.
The research, which highlights lessons from flood management in the Red River Basin, focuses on perceptions of ecosystems and governance. According to Dr. Bullock, “The findings we presented to the Royal Society offer insights into how people involved in water crises think about the ecosystem they live and work in, its resilience, and how it should be governed. Implications of our findings, particularly those linked to the influence of personal experience on perceptions of ecosystem resilience and similarities in preferred governance approaches across cases, hold broad significance for water policy and planning.”
“Dr. Bullock’s contribution to this event offers an excellent example of how local research has a broad and increasingly global impact,” said Dr. Jino Distasio, UWinnipeg Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “Mobilizing knowledge is becoming a critical tool for influencing policy and raising awareness and The University of Winnipeg continues to demonstrates that our researchers are skilled in translating their work to a range of audiences to maximize the impact.”
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the UK’s national academy of science and a Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists. It has been a highly influential Fellowship since its inception, publishing key advancements in science and supporting eminent researchers. Past and current Fellows of the Royal Society include Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.
The one-day symposium, where the research was featured via video aimed to create an agenda for transforming UK water governance in the context of climate change. Senior European policy makers attended, and the Head of the OECD Water Governance Programme gave a keynote speech.
For more information about the Royal Society symposium or about the consortium, please visit CADWAGO.
