Researcher examines effects of climate change

Posted: September 17, 2013 3:20 p.m.

Peter Leavitt is a Canada Research Chair who studies water quality and climate change. Here he is on the Wickaninnish Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino, B.C., during vacation. It's also one of the study sites he uses for his work on the effects of climate variability on sockeye salmon. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Lynda Bunting

Dr. Peter Leavitt’s research focuses on two areas of critical importance globally and locally -  water quality and climate change.

Leavitt, a professor of biology, is Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change and Society. The subject area is very topical, as people in Regina prepare to vote on Sept. 25 in a referendum on plans to fund a new waste water treatment facility.

“The Canada Research Chair program provides the capability of addressing comparatively simple issues like 'do we need to upgrade the Regina wastewater plant?’ to large societal challenges that just can't be attempted through the normal funding pathways - topics like the effects of climate change on the prairie ecosystem or how can Canada produce more food for the world without polluting the environment. The resources allow me to attract and retain a world-class research staff,” says Leavitt.

Leavitt grew up in Montreal and earned degrees at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and  the University of Notre Dame in Indiana before joining the University of Regina in 1993.

“I was attracted to the University both because of the really exciting opportunity to do transformative research - via local ecosystems, such as the Qu'Appelle Valley - and because of high intellectual capabilities of my colleagues and friends. It’s a blast ‘going to work’ everyday, and using our 20-year long studies of Saskatchewan lakes to address pressing issues of environmental change and its interactions with our society,” he says.

For relaxation, Leavitt is a music buff. He has eight years of broadcasting experience as host of programs on community radio stations in Edmonton and Regina, focusing on underground rock music.

“My vinyl record collection is large - and heavy - at about 15,000 records,” says Leavitt.

The other Canada Research Chairs at the University of Regina are Christine Chan, Shadia Drury, Gordon Huang, Gregory Marchildon, Charity Marsh, Joseph Piwowar, Christopher Somers, Chris Yost and Sandra Zilles.