The Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USASK) is the top water resources research institute in Canada and one of the most advanced cold regions hydrology centres in the world. GIWS is dedicated to helping protect our precious freshwater resources needed for the world’s growing demand for sustainable food production, mitigating the risk of water-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and fires, predicting and forecasting extreme global change through the use of advanced remote sensing and modelling techniques, and co-creating traditional knowledge with western science to empower Indigenous communities in protecting water health. GIWS is led by Executive Director Dr. Jay Famiglietti, Canada 150 Research Chair in Hydrology and Remote Sensing and Professor at USASK's School of Environment and Sustainability and the Department of Geography and Planning. GIWS also leads the largest freshwater research program in the world, the pan-Canadian Global Water Futures Program that includes partners from the University of Waterloo, McMaster University, and Wilfrid Laurier University.
External link for Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS)
11 Innovation Blvd
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, CA
Check out the latest Water Security Agency Spring Runoff Outlook Report for April! Southern SK: snowmelt runoff is almost done, most of which seeped into the soil. Central SK (between Regina and Saskatoon): heavier snowpack remains - above normal runoff expected Northern SK: primarily below normal runoff expected
WSA has issued an update to the Spring Runoff Outlook Report. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gX2HW56p
Join us this Friday for our final Water Friday of the season! Patrick Lloyd-Smith and Ken Belcher from the Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, will be sharing their knowledge around the economics of water and the economy. Please register to ensure we have enough pizza for all 👉 https://lnkd.in/gt6KBBuk
Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) reposted this
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐗𝐀𝐈)? Our 𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗦 framework now has a new variation — 𝗫-𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗦 — specifically designed to address some of the key needs in the field of XAI. We’ve tested X-VARS and benchmarked it against the widely used 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗣 method across a variety of machine learning techniques, including connectionist models (e.g., neural networks), kernel-based models (e.g., support vector machines), and tree-based models (e.g., Random Forest). Our results show that 𝗫-𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗦 is significantly more computationally efficient and statistically robust than 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗣 — an important advantage when working with large training datasets. Check out our paper led by Banamali Panigrahi here: https://lnkd.in/gRc9QsaY School of Environment and Sustainability - USask SENS Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS)
Congratulations, Aram Jalali!
Congratulations to the winners of the #USask 2025 #ImagesofResearch contest! From honeybee yards to the hidden universe inside ourselves, this year's images are an important reminder of the beauty and impact of #USaskResearch. Read more about the research behind the winning images at: https://lnkd.in/g_MzKnGU
Exciting news from GIWS! Our members, including Executive Director Corinne Wallace, César Pedrosa Soares, and Nazeem Muhajarine, PhD, FCAHS, have written and edited The Intersection of Global Health and Sustainable Development: An International Perspective! This book dives into the vital connections between water, health, and a sustainable future. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gQtSZ33V
This Friday, join us for a casual conversation about capturing and removing pollutants from water! The registration link is below
Our next Water Friday event has been postponed to March 28!! Dr. Lee Wilson with the Chemistry Department at the University of Saskatchewan will talk about how different disciplines approach the capture and removal of pollutants. Register here so there will be enough pizza for all: https://lnkd.in/gTTEGDfE
Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) reposted this
Congratulations to the winners of the #USask 2025 #ImagesofResearch contest! From honeybee yards to the hidden universe inside ourselves, this year's images are an important reminder of the beauty and impact of #USaskResearch. Read more about the research behind the winning images at: https://lnkd.in/g_MzKnGU
Congratulations Yohanne Gavasso Rita and co-authors on this amazing achievement and recognition!
Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering | Master’s degree in Soil Science | Engineer in Agronomy | Animal Scientist
Thrilled to share a Milestone! ✨ I’m honored to announce that my paper entitled “Crop models and their use in assessing crop production and food security: a review” has been recognized as one of the top 10 most-cited papers in Food and Energy Security! This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my incredible research team, mentors, and the research community. Thank you for inspiring and motivating me. Here’s to many more milestones and contributions to our field! #research #achievement #Top10
GIWS member Kerry McPhedran USask College of Engineering spoke at #TedXUniversityofSaskatchewan about how to take the 'waste' out of wastewater! The reuse of municipal wastewater, and stormwater from rain and snow, is gaining traction worldwide. However, a significant barrier to adopting widespread reuse is the societal stigma associated with the idea of 'toilet to tap' and the ‘ick’ factor. But if it is good enough for astronauts, why not the rest of us too? https://lnkd.in/gNk3TaXh
The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 was released today on the first-ever World Day for Glaciers. The report reveals how climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable activities are transforming mountain environments at an unprecedented rate—threatening the water resources, ecosystems, and communities that depend on them (>2 billion people). The GIWS is proud to have contributed to Chapters 2 and 8, which examine: 2️⃣ Changes in the cryosphere and impacts on water 8️⃣ Knowledge- and capacity-building As mountain landscapes shift, so does freshwater availability—impacting agriculture, hydropower, and biodiversity worldwide. This report highlights the urgent need for science-driven policies and global collaboration to protect these vital regions. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e-rzarw8 #WorldGlacierDay #WorldWaterDay2025 #Water #Cryosphere #KnowledgeBuilding #CapacityBuilding #MeltingGlaciers #WaterResources University of Saskatchewan | USask Research | USask College of Arts & Science | Corinne Wallace | United Nations Water | UNESCO