May 2, 2019
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – With extensive flooding in locations ranging from Bracebridge to New Brunswick, in many cases coming on the heels of severe flooding just a year or two ago, many Canadians are wondering what can be done to prevent or mitigate future flooding in the face of climate change. Wilfrid Laurier University experts can speak about these and related issues.

Robert McLeman, an associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, can speak about planned relocations in flood-prone areas and the impact of climate change on cities. He is an expert on the human dimensions of climate change, including the relationship between the environment and human migration, community adaptation to climatic variability and change and citizen participation in environmental science. He is also co-founder of RinkWatch. Contact: 519.884.0710 x2653 or rmcleman@wlu.ca.

Mary-Louise Byrne, a professor in Laurier’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, can speak about flooding as it relates to engineered shorelines, water bodies in urban areas, shoreline erosion and climate change. She is an expert on coastal geomorphology and beach processes and management. Contact: 519.884.0710 x2993 or mlbyrne@wlu.ca.

Simon Dalby, a professor in Laurier’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and the Balsillie School of International Affairs, is an expert on climate change and geopolitics. He can speak about what governments must do to counteract the effects of climate change, including flooding. Contact: sdalby@gmail.com.

Laurier recently launched an extensive multimedia feature examining topics, including flooding, related to water and climate change. Please contact us if you would like to connect with any of the researchers in the Water feature.