Author: William Donahue

William F. (Bill) Donahue is an environmental researcher and strategic advisor for government, industry, community, aboriginal, and university clients. In 2000, Bill earned his Ph.D. in limnology and biogeochemistry at the University of Alberta, under the supervision of Dr. David W. Schindler. For the next two years, he studied contaminant dynamics in Alberta as an NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellow. Since 2002, he has focused on developing practical science and policy recommendations and solutions to large-scale environmental problems associated with cumulative industrial effects, climate change, drought, and impairment of freshwater ecosystems. Bill has published research papers on interactions between climate change, development, water supply, and carbon dynamics; heavy metal and organic contaminant dynamics; photochemistry and photobiology; freshwater ecology; lake acidification; and analytical chemistry. His work on diminishing surface water supplies and climate change in the western prairies has gained significant national and international scientific, public and political attention. Bill has presented expert evidence in biogeochemistry, contaminant dynamics, and freshwater science in a number or regulatory hearings. He also has provided advice to Alberta on improving monitoring methods and data interpretation. He also developed modeling, calculation and interpretation methods that were adopted as Canada's and Alberta's first draft protocols for calculation of tradable carbon credits generated from improved forestry operations in the western Boreal Forest. In 2008, Bill completed a law degree at the University of Alberta, and in 2009 was called to the Alberta Bar. Since September 2011, he also has been the Director of Science and Policy at Water Matters, an Alberta-based NGO that develops and promotes progressive policies and management practices for watershed protection. Previously, Bill was commissioned and served as an Artillery Officer and a Medical Associate Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.