angeline tillmanns, bc ministry of environment - introduction to bc water symposium and water...

BC Water Symposium – Prince George • Kelowna • Victoria

Introduction to BC Water Symposium and Water Science Strategy

Angeline Tillmanns, Ph.D., R.P.Bio

BC Ministry of Environment


Advisory Committee

Dr. Angeline Tillmanns (Chair), Ministry of Environment Dr. Bernie Bauer, Okanagan Sustainability Institute, UBC Okanagan Celine Davis, Ministry of Environment Liam Edwards, Ministry of Community Development Elizabeth Hendriks, POLIS Water Sustainability Project Heather English, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport Leon Gaber, Ministry of Environment Darry Kempling, Ministry of Community Development Steve Litke, Fraser Basin Council Michele MacIntyre, Ministry of Environment Dr. Margot Parkes, University of Northern BC Robin Pike, Ministry of Forests Dr. Todd Redding, FORREX Dr. Valentin Schaefer, School of Environmental Studies, UVICSamina Tajwar, MITACS Andrea Glickman, Union of BC Indian Chiefs

Local Facilitation Teams

Prince GeorgeChelton van Geloven_ENV (lead)Tamsin Mills_ILMBKatie von Gaza_ILMBLarry Joseph_FORREX

Kelowna Kimm Magill-Hoffman_FOR (lead)Larry Michaelsen_FORLyle Knight_FORCraig Tilander_FORDarcie Annesley_FORJenny Lawrence_FOR

VictoriaMiles Homer_FOR (lead)Carolyn Hole_ENVRebecca Freedman_HLSTim Janzen_ENVJennifer Maxwell_ENVChris Bechard_ALSagarika Saha_ENV

Central Organizing Committee

Amanda Casorso, Event Coordinator, MITACS Jamieson Dunlop, Facilitation Coordinators, ENVBowen Moran, IT/AV Advisor, ENVAngeline Tillmanns, Program Manager, ENVCeline Davis, Budget Coordinator, ENV Betty Kopichanski, Speaker Booking Support, ENV

Local Organizing Teams

Prince GeorgeJamie Reschny, UNBC Margot Parkes, UNBC Lucy Beck, NHAChelton van Geloven, ENVTerry Robert, FBC

KelownaDarwin Horning, UBCOTricia Brett, UBCONatasha Neumann, UBCOBernard Bauer, UBCOSteve Matthews, ENVRob Birtles, IHAAnna Warwick Sear,s OBWB

VictoriaValentin Schaefer, UVICJessica Miles, UVICCeline Davis, ENVDarlene Sanderson, UVICAngeline Tillmanns, ENV

IT Team

Randy LaBonte, Virtual School Society Scott Thorpe, UVICBowen Moran, ENVLarine Sluggett, UNBCAndy Sundahl, School District 91 Todd Zimmerman, UBCONathan, UBC Brent Sawatzky – School District 23

Thank-you Volunteers!


Symposium Objectives

1. Identify key water issues and knowledge gaps

2. Develop new collaborative relationships

3. Work together to build the foundations for a BC Water Science Strategy


Water Science Strategy

• A commitment made in Living Water Smart• Definition of science is broad– Natural Science– Social Science– First Nations’ Science

• Needs to also include all the people who use information and knowledge to create policy, procedures and make decisions.


Group DescriptionScientist A social or natural science researcher, technical person, or other person

who provides scientific expertise on water science and issue.

Policy-Maker

An elected official, politician or a political advisor or policy analyst within government or within another organization.

End-User Someone who implements policy by carrying out operational procedures and making site-specific decisions.

Stakeholder An individual who shares specific concerns about water and takes action regarding this concern with other members of society.

First Nations A descendent of the first peoples of Canada who have a unique relationship and interest in water and whose knowledge of water is rooted in traditional water management uses and practices.

Group Descriptions


Information vs Knowledge

Information:“facts about a person, event, situation, etc”

Knowledge:“understanding of, or information about, a subject which a person gets by experience or study”

Definitions from Cambridge Online Dictionary


Improving the Flow of Information & Knowledge

Information & knowledge creation

Knowledge translation

Knowledge exchange


Knowledge to Action:David Schindler’s Famous Experiment


Plenary Speakers & Panel9:15-10:00 Diana Allen, SFU

Water Science Research: Challenges and Success Stories in Knowledge Translation10:30-10:50 Markus Schnorbus, PCIC

Impacts of Future Climate Change in Selected Watersheds of BC10:50-11:10 Trevor Murdock, PCIC

Historical and Future Climate in BC: Informing Decision-Making11:15 -12:00 John Richardson, UBC

Learning how to protect water for environmental and human needs in a variable world

This morning


Break Out Session I Today from 1-2 pm

• What are the key issues pertinent to the sustainable management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems? Where are the knowledge gaps?

• This session only! Divide by topic:– Surface and groundwater hydrology– Watershed health (people and aquatic ecosystems)– Water governance (social research, policy, and

regulatory tools to better conserve and manage water)





Historical and Future Climate in BC: Informing Decision-Making11:15 -12:00 John Richardson, UBC Learning how to protect water for environmental and

human needs in a variable world

2:00-2:50 Panel Discussion – How are different types of information (e.g. research, TEK, monitoring) used to inform policy and procedures and make decisions?

This morning

This afternoon


Break-out Session IIToday from 3:20 to 4:30 pm

• What are the information needs of water scientists, policy-makers, end users, stakeholders and First Nations?

• How do these groups communicate with each other now, and how could they communicate?





Historical and Future Climate in BC: Informing Decision-Making11:15 -12:00 John Richardson, UBC Learning how to protect water for environmental and

human needs in a variable world

2:00-2:50 Panel Discussion – How are different types of information (e.g. research, TEK, monitoring) used to inform policy and procedures and make decisions?

This morning

This afternoon

Tomorrow morning9:00-10:00 Ken Matthews, Chair of Australian National Water Commission


Break-out Session IIITomorrow from 10:30 to 12:00 am

• How can we support information and knowledge creation, knowledge translation and knowledge exchange?

• Where are the opportunities?


Break-out session IVTomorrow from 1:30 to 3:00 pm

• What will a Water Science Strategy look like? • How can we continue to work together to

create and implement a WSS?


Sticker Swap GameBadge Sticker Group

ScientistPolicy-MakerEnd-UserStakeholderFirst Nations

Exercise Objective: Collect the most number of stickers with a diverse representation from groups other than your own.

Purpose: Promote dialogue with members in other groups

angeline tillmanns, bc ministry of environment - introduction to bc water symposium and water...

Education

bc water symposium

bc water science strategy

ministry of forests

biobc ministry of environment

flow of information

knowledge creation

knowledge translation

knowledge exchange