The 2025 Atlantic Symposium of CAWQ (PEOPLE 2025 International Conference), jointly organized with PEOPLE Network, was held July 21–25, 2025, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The event gathered more than 160 participants from over 10 countries, including researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and community leaders dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability.

Conference Highlights

Over five days, the conference featured:

• 20 technical sessions presenting cutting-edge research

• 17 keynote presentations and 2 plenary keynote talks from global thought leaders

• A special panel discussion on environmental challenges

• Workshops and training sessions to foster skills and collaboration

• An engaging HQP Social Night for students, early-career researchers, and professionals

• A celebratory conference banquet, where CAWQ proudly presented the Philip H. Jones Awards alongside other recognitions

The event offered a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and technology transfer, in alignment with CAWQ’s mission to promote water quality research and collaboration.

Celebrating the Philip H. Jones Award Winners

The 2025 CAWQ Atlantic Symposium Philip H. Jones Award recognized outstanding student contributions in water research:

• First Place – Zhonghao Zhang, University of Victoria
  “Quantifying Uncertainty in Urban Hydrological Models and Exploring AI-Based Prediction: A Case Study in the Saanich Area”
• Second Place – Hao Wu, Memorial University
  “Harnessing Marine Microalgae for Carbon Capture and Biomass Production under Naphthalene and Bicarbonate Stress”

CAWQ congratulates both winners on their outstanding achievements and contributions to advancing water quality research.

Acknowledgements

CAWQ extends its gratitude to our partners and sponsors for their support of PEOPLE 2025: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science of Memorial University, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, City of St. John’s, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Hibernia and Hebron Project, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Special thanks also to the dedicated volunteers and all participants who made the event such a success.

Looking Ahead

Stay connected with CAWQ for upcoming events, awards, and opportunities to engage with Canada’s water quality research community.