Monday, September 8, 2025
University of Guelph professor Dr. Beth Parker, a leading international expert in groundwater science, has been named to the Royal Society of Canada, the country’s most prestigious body of scholars, researchers and artists.
Dr. Parker, a professor in the School of Engineering and director of the Morwick 360 Groundwater Research Institute, was among seven U of G faculty recognized this year. She was named to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, which honours emerging research leaders.
“It is an honour to be acknowledged for the positive outcomes of my professional work that benefit Canada and society as a whole, and gives a recognition to the critically important role of groundwater,” Dr. Parker said in a statement. “I also believe this is an acknowledgment of a very productive and capable team of research staff and students advancing novel methods to address some very complex, real world challenges involving groundwater and freshwater supplies.”
Parker’s work has transformed hydrogeology, particularly the understanding of how contaminants move through fractured bedrock. Her research has led to the development of monitoring technologies and remediation strategies now used worldwide, influencing regulations such as the Canada Water Act and Ontario’s Clean Water Act. She has also served on advisory panels in the United States and Europe.
Her career honours include the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation, the Geological Society of America’s O.E. Meinzer Award, and the Robert N. Farvolden Award from the International Society of Hydrogeologists. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the American Geophysical Union, and in 2024 was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
New Fellows and College Members will be formally inducted at the Royal Society’s Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Montréal, Nov. 12–16.
