Carleton University and the Jarislowsky Foundation have announced a partnership to create a $4-million endowed research chair to address the critical challenges of water and public health.
With a $2-million investment from the Foundation, Carleton is establishing the new Jarislowsky Chair in Water and Global Health—an academic position that will help provide safe drinking water and improved sanitation to communities across Canada and around the globe.
“With approximately 1.1 billion people worldwide lacking access to clean drinking water—and 2.4 billion lacking access to sanitation—we see a clear and urgent need for innovation and practical solutions,” said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “We’re honoured to partner with Mr. Jarislowsky to lead research, train engineers and scientists, galvanize policy decisions and make a real difference.”
“Water is one of the most critical health and environmental issues of our time, and as such it requires a multidisciplinary approach,” said Foundation President Stephen Jarislowsky, CEO of one of Canada’s largest and most successful investment management firms.
The Chair will be situated in the research-intensive Faculty of Engineering and Design (FED), specifically the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, but all activities will be interdisciplinary and pan-university. The faculty has launched an international recruitment effort to identify a scholar with interdisciplinary experience, collaborative approach and commitment to the protection of public health and the environment.
“The Jarislowsky Chair will propose innovative solutions to address a universal need,” said FED Dean Rafik Goubran. “By considering the engineering, environmental, public policy, and health implications of developing new processes and technology, this scholar will ensure that they are serving the global community in the best possible manner.”
