Establishing a research chair for climate change, water pollution, and solid waste management

¶ … Establishment:

Pollution of Water, Solid Waste and Climate Change Issues

Economic development and the concomitant rise in population leads to a rise in waste generation. Solid wastes, if not properly managed, threaten the environment and public health. Improper waste management and uncontrolled garbage dumping leads to several problems, including water contamination. Developed nations such as the European countries, Canada, and the United States (U.S.) have given the highest priority to climate research for many decades, to develop policies to minimize climate change's impact. The world's leading research organizations and universities have also made this a key part of their strategic planning (Indian Institute of technology Kanpur, 2009). With this in mind, establishment of a research chair to lead research pertaining to climate, water pollution and solid wastes has been proposed. This research program will involve numerous scientists from various fields such as environmental studies, environmental chemistry, climate change scientists, and geosciences. An interdisciplinary modus operandi is required to comprehend the environmental impact and formulate mitigation plans for containing and eliminating the threat posed by water pollution, climate change, and improper management of solid wastes. All of these activities suggest and indeed necessitate the establishment of a research chair for coordinating activities.

Description of the research program

Executive summary

The university's distinctive role in society is fragile and even somewhat jeopardized. That role, in its essence, is to deepen and extend human understanding by way of research, teaching and scholarships. The university needs to raise stimulating challenges and address highly concerning issues that focus on society's traditional beliefs regarding appropriate management of solid wastes, climate change problems, and water pollution. Thus, the research chair is required (CAUT, 2013). Context

The study endeavors to strengthen the capability to recognize, evaluate, and review water pollution, climate change, and waste management in line with sustainable developmental goals. Establishing an institutional framework to support research implementation and collaboratively build the competence of related departments are both needed to meet these goals. Furthermore, the research incorporates an action plan and strategy preparation for developing and implementing environmental research in its every aspect (DPRK, 2012).

Investigations for an environmental structure to link waste management and climate change will be furthered. As well, whenever decision-making on water pollution, climate change, and effective waste management is carried out, it must be done keeping sustainable development and environmental impact in mind. Hence, this research will prove useful both in the short- and long-term (UK Waste Management Options and Climate Change, n.d).

The focus of this research is fluctuations and change in Canada's climate, the causative factors, and the environmental and societal impacts. Research methodology involves the following: laboratory and field research to understand climatic processes; tracking and understanding change through solid waste, water and climate change monitoring; and initiation of future change estimations through developing and employing climate models. Scientific outcomes form the basis of mitigation and adaptation activities for development of climate policies as well as climate-related products and services for Canadians. Assessment of water quality and quantity is included in water research (Environment Canada, n.d).

Solution Proposal

Pollutants should preferably not be allowed to enter water. In certain circumstances, for particularly dangerous contaminants, not more than very low concentrations can be permitted. All Canadian territories and provinces have regulations for pollutant control. Several questions are raised while deciding what substances are to be controlled, determining their concentrations, and how their entry into environment may occur; these include:

What are the substances' sources, quantities and effects?

How do they act, and what happens once the enter water bodies? Does change occur? If yes, what is the change?

Where do these substances finally end up?

Can these substances be removed through treatment or prevented from entering water bodies? (Wastewater, n.d.).

In several cases, technology may be employed for reducing or eliminating harmful substances. Properly maintained and operated plants for sewage treatment remove numerous poisonous substances from industrial and domestic waste water; treated water is returned to a lake or river without causing any harm downstream. Plants for water treatment can make lake or river water potable (Wastewater, n.d.).

Contaminants, when not removed, may exist only in minute quantities; however, as they are enduring, they can accumulate to highly toxic levels. We can, in such instances, safeguard ecosystem and future generations in only a single way: not allowing chemicals to enter water systems (Wastewater, n.d.).

Non-degradable products like glass, motor oil, and cans, can be recycled, and non-toxic products used. A majority of household pesticides and chemical products are sold with warning labels that provide information addressing whether the product is toxic, explosive, flammable or corrosive. Properly disposing these products is crucial for ensuring that quality of water isn't impacted (Wastewater, n.d.).

Every individual should participate in controlling water pollution by the following means:

Garbage should be disposed of in the right bin, or taken home and thrown in the trash can, and not on beaches, riversides and in water bodies.

Water must be judiciously used and taps not kept running. Further, water quantity consumed can be lessened. This way, water shortages can be prevented and dirty water requiring treatment will be lesser.

Medicines, paints, oils and chemicals should not be poured down toilets or sinks. Local environmental agencies should be consulted for assistance with chemical/medicine disposal, to ascertain whether a system for disposing chemicals is in place.

Environment-friendly, less-toxic cleaning liquids should be used for domestic and public purposes.

Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides should be prevented in farms and gardens, and organic manure and composting options should be explored. This reduces chemical runoff into surrounding water bodies.

Those living near water bodies should plant several flower bushes and trees around their homes, such that chemicals don't runoff into water bodies during rains.

Various governments have strict regulations, aimed at industries, markets, schools and hospitals, for minimizing water pollution. Individuals should endeavour to gain knowledge on the regulations addressing how sewage is to be disposed, managed and treated.

Sewage or waste treatment, in developed cities, is efficient and minimizes water pollution

Many groups and organizations provide education on risks posed by water pollution; by joining them, community members are encouraged to form better attitudes towards water.

To achieve these goals, a research chair is needed; this individual will be responsible for ongoing research and information dissemination (education) addressing water pollution and waste management. The individual hired for this position will supervise action implementation and offer recommendations to ensure water safety and clean water preservation. Research and/or Staff members, directed by the chair, will handle tasks based on the chair's directives. The staff will strive to attain efficient waste management and water sufficiency to combat climate change (Wastewater, n.d.).

This research chair, in keeping with research in his department, will advise the ministry responsible for water resources and water on:

1. Developing and revising National Policy on Water, implementation plan, regulations and legislations following research on present water status.

2. Supporting development, use and management of Canada's water resources, sewerage facility, public water supply, sanitation services, and commercial water provision, in line with national water strategies and policy.

3. Overseeing performance and implementation of rural sanitation and water supply, in addition to sewerage development plans and urban supply of water

4. Offering financial and technical assistance to local government, urban Sanitation Authorities and Water Supply Authorities

5. Organizing ministry engagement in international and national meetings on projects that deal with water resource development and management.

6. Offering Basin Water authorities strategic counselling, operational and technical assistance to permit them to conduct delegated functions, including evaluation, supervising and regulating water resources.

7. Amassing and providing information and related services to public and other governmental departments

8. Offering sector-related counselling and knowledge to stakeholders

9. Advocating ICT (Information and communications technology) use in water sector (Feltmate & Thistlethwaite, 2012)

Strategic Research Plan

While all universities' research directions evolve regularly, and strategy establishment and goals often change, it is essential for universities to include a comprehensive process to accommodate input from each of their departments. The Faculty Senate's Research Committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research will collaborate to formulate this plan; the former includes student representatives and members from all educational institutions. The plan, after Committee approval, will be laid down before the complete Senate, in which faculty and administrative (which includes all Academic Deans) are included. The strategic research plan's key thrust is continuing to develop a scholarship and research culture. Its chief objective is building on existing research strengths, in addition to expanding into emerging fields (Cape Breton University, n.d).

Data collection and analysis methods

Data Collection Techniques employed for determining water use:

Procurement of primary data- gathering field data

Procurement of secondary data- compiling and evaluating estimated/measured data sent to national and state organizations, by water consumers.

Deriving data using accounting models, methodologies and coefficients. A primary description to adopt and assess reliability of methods will be covered here (Roy, 2011).

Proposed Training Strategies

To attract and support the best students, regardless of background, the University aims to ensure fair, equitable success to students who will most likely succeed, irrespective of educational and financial disadvantages, and diversify student population. The university, to attain this, will:

Offer outreach activities, which raise hopes and legitimize enrollment into the University across a broader section of society;

Support and prepare all students, regardless of background, in achieving graduate attributes, in order to access community leadership, professional, and intellectual roles;

Continue to conduct research-informed actions for minimizing under-representation (University of Melbourne, n.d).

For encouraging more directed and comprehensive interdisciplinary activity as a response to the challenges posed by society, the University's Research Institutes agenda will be built further. These internal associations differ from independent affiliated research institutes. The former, without causing unnecessary structural reorganization, provide stimulation and leadership in designated areas. They look for meaningful new partnerships, facility activity coordination across campus, enhance the institution's research profile and enhance University sensitivity to priorities external to it. Their leaders include the best communicators in the University. Also, suitable international and national institute profiles will be created (University of Melbourne, n.d).

Outcomes of research training are associated with candidate quality; the challenge lies in continually building demand, while striving to better understand the research higher degree's (RHDs) optimal size. Research training candidates' expectations rise every year - advisory panels now offer assistance to RHD supervisors to make sure that diversity in opinion is incorporated in the main research project. Thus, the University should concentrate on performance elements that influence RHD candidates' research experience, including basic infrastructure provision, covering direct research costs, integrating candidates into a critical scholarly mass (including established Academy and peers), more diversification of RHD cohort via higher recruitments of international and interstate candidates, and emphasis of quality over quantity with regards to RHD load. Therefore, Research Commission greatly focuses on research training.

Engagement with research users and communication of results

Results from data analyses will be recorded and sent to government advisory to take necessary action. Information dissemination to parties at different levels will be included in recommendations. Analyzed outcomes will go through recommended rollout system from the advisory chair on water situation (Roy, 2011).