Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

Researchers from the University of Windsor are seeking citizen scientists to fan out across Essex County and collect water samples for use in measuring harmful E. coli bacteria.

“Right now, it’s commonplace to think that if the E. coli levels are high at area beaches, then the pathogens will be high as well,” explained Subba Rao Chaganti, an adjunct professor at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research. “Very few E. coli strains are harmful, so this project is going to develop tools to detect the actual pathogens that are harmful to humans in a much faster way.”

A scientist from the University of Windsor, in partnership with other researchers in the United States, have identified the five main challenges facing research in the Great Lakes.

Trevor Pitcher will begin a one-year term as acting executive director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research on July 1.

A UWindsor professor has found that consumption advisories in Ontario may need to cast a wider net to completely protect against toxic contaminants.