University of Regina researcher receives $2.5 million in humanities and social sciences research funding

A researcher from the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) at the University of Regina (U of R) has been granted a $2.5 million Partnership Grant from the federal government’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to create sustainable water solutions in Canada and beyond.

Dr. Margot Hurlbert, a JSGS professor at the U of R and a Canada Research Chair for Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability received more than 70 percent of the total funds awarded to researchers at the U of R. An additional $952,000 was awarded to researchers in the Faculties of Social Work, Nursing and Arts.

Hurlbert's research will work toward finding ways to adapt to and solve water security issues in the context of climate change.

As part of the project, she is leading an international team from Saskatchewan, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay to build pathways for better water management between droughts and floods.

She says these geographic regions are experiencing extreme drought and her team is working to create solutions.

“There are multiple risks to water security, and our team is working to create solutions that will help people all over the world, and agricultural producers more specifically, ready themselves for the threats from future climate change,” Hurlbert says.

Hurlbert says the Partnership Grant supports work with an interdisciplinary team.

“Our group—which includes government, scientists, community members, and ag producers—will create a multitude of climate models and socio-economic pathways that will lead to the best decisions about what kind of future we want in terms of water security.

The Government of Canada’s SSHRC announcement also included support for three Insight Grant projects, and one Partnership Development Grant at the U of R. For more information on these projects, click here. 

Dr. Hurlbert can be contacted directly for interviews:
Dr. Margot Hurlbert
Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Canada Research Chair for Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability
(306)-550-7544
margot.hurlbert@uregina.ca