One of Canada’s leading researchers on fresh water resources and conservation is about to become Brock University’s new Associate Vice-President, Research for Humanities and Social Sciences. Economist Steven Renzetti has in recent years become a national reference for government agencies as well as news media, on topics ranging from the sale of public water as a commercial commodity, to using residential water meters to reduce consumption.

On Jan. 1, 2016 Renzetti begins a three-year term as one of the University’s senior proponents of Brock’s growing culture of research leadership.

“Professor Renzetti is an accomplished researcher who has created and led large national research team initiatives and has been a pioneer in developing community links,” says Brock’s Vice-President Research, Gary Libben.

The Associate Vice-President, Research “plays a broad leadership role in advancing and supporting the culture of research leadership at Brock University,” explains Libben, with Renzetti focusing on the areas of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“I’m very excited to accept this position. I look forward to supporting the research efforts of Brock faculty, professional librarians, and students,” Renzetti says.

Renzetti, who joined Brock in 1988 as a lecturer in the Department of Economics, specializes in environmental economics, which seeks to understand the two-way relationship between the economy and the natural environment. His primary area of research is the economics of water resources, which he has published widely in leading peer-reviewed journals.

Key among Renzetti’s accomplishments include securing a $2.3 million SSHRC Partnership research grant to set up the Water Economics, Policy and Governance Network (WEPGN), a Canada-wide group of researchers, managers, policy makers and community groups coming together to help solve our pressing water issues.

Renzetti, who is WEPGN’S Program Director, also serves on a number of editorial boards, government commissions and panels, including most recently the Science Advisory Committee to the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board.

At Brock University, Renzetti recently participated in the creation of the new Sustainability Science and Society graduate program associated with one of Brock’s transdisciplinary hubs, the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre.

“Professor Renzetti’s combination of research skills, administrative experience, leadership skills, and history of community involvement make him an excellent choice for the position,” says Libben.

Renzetti’s new duties include:

• integrating research, teaching, and mentoring
• enhancing participation in funding competitions
• opening new opportunities for research support
• developing and enhancing research policies and procedures
• creating new partnerships locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally

“Brock University has a great deal of research talent and capacity. My priorities are to work to enhance that capacity, help researchers find new opportunities and partnerships, and to achieve the objectives in Vision 2020, Brock’s research plan,” Renzetti says.