John Downing, Iowa State University
John Downing is a professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, and the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. His research interests include limnology, aquatic ecology, terrestrial ecology, microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, population conservation, and whole ecosystem restoration and management. John is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, an invited member of the North American Nitrogen Center, and has advised many policy-makers and citizens groups concerning water quality management. He received his BS from Hamline University (St. Paul, MN), his MS from NDSU (Fargo, ND) and his PhD from McGill University (Montreal, Canada). He was formerly a professor at McGill University and the University of Montreal where he was Director of the Laurentian Biological Station. He has been at ISU since 1995 and runs the Iowa State University Limnology Lab and has surveyed water quality in Iowa’s lakes since 2000.
Peter Leavitt, University of Regina
Dr. Leavitt is Professor of Biology at University of Regina (Canada), holds the Tier I Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change and Society, and is subject matter Editor (limnology) for the Ecological Society of America (Ecology, Ecological Monographs). His background includes a PhD from the University of Notre Dame, as well as post-doctoral appointments at the Fisheries and Oceans’ Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, University of Alberta, and Center for Limnology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Leavitt’s research uses whole-lake experiments, paleoecology, monitoring, and modeling to determine how environmental variability and human activities interact to regulate the structure, function, productivity, and health of lakes. His present projects quantify the history and effects of droughts in central North America, measure the unique role of nitrogen in degrading the water quality of lakes, and evaluate the effects of climate and fisheries on salmon stocks along the Pacific Rim. In 2007, Leavitt was awarded the Frank H. Rigler Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to limnology in Canada from the Society of Canadian Limnologists. Since 1990, Peter has been a DJ on community radio stations, broadcasting a weekly show on obscure rock music from Europe, Australia and points beyond.
Bruce Mitchell, University of Waterloo
Bruce Mitchell was born in Prince Rupert, B.C., and studied at the University of British Columbia and the University of Liverpool. He is Professor of Geography and Associate Professor, Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. His research focuses on integrated water resource management, with particular attention to policy, institutions and governance. He has participated in field research in Canada, China, Indonesia and Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the International Water Resources Association and an Honourary Professor of Dalian University of Technology, China.
Bob Sandford, A Life
Shaped by Water
After authoring some 20 books on the natural and human history of the Canadian West, Bob Sandford began his work with UN-linked initiatives as Chair of the United Nations International Year of Mountains in 2002. Bob was also chair of the United Nations International Year of Fresh Water and Wonder of Water Initiative in Canada in 2003 - 2004. These celebrations focused on the growing importance of water to ecological and cultural heritage in Canada.
Bob is presently the Canadian Chair of the United Nations International Decade “Water for Life” Decade, a national partnership initiative that aims to advance long-term water quality and availability issues in response to climate change in this country and abroad. In this capacity, Bob is the only Canadian to sit on the Advisory Committee for the prestigious Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy. Bob is the Director of the Western Watersheds Climate Research Collaborative, a research and public policy arm of the University of Lethbridge that promotes understanding of climate impacts on river systems originating in the Rocky Mountains. Bob also sits on the Executive Committee for the Alberta Water Research Institute.
Bob’s second book on water issues in Canada, Water Weather & the Mountain West, was published by Rocky Mountain Books in the fall of 2007.