Helping Canadians Understand “What’s going on in their Lakes:” Trent’s Dr. Paul Frost Renews Endowed Professorship
Renewal of the David Schindler Endowed Professorship will bridge community connections and the study of freshwater ecology in cottage country
Dr. Paul Frost has a passion many Canadians share: water – and he has plans to leverage that curiosity and enthusiasm to conserve and protect freshwater health during his second term in the David Schindler Endowed Professorship in Aquatic Science at Trent University.
Dr. Paul Frost, a professor in the Biology Department at Trent University, was first appointed as the endowed professor in 2010 and since that time has explored Ontario’s freshwater ecosystems, building connections to communities along them.
“We want people to understand what is going on with their lakes,” explains Prof. Frost. “The lab is a conduit for community recognition and involvement as it relates to freshwater ecology. We see considerable value in growing our connections with the community to provide real, practical information to the public about their role in maintaining healthy water systems.”
A leading researcher in the field of freshwater ecology, Professor Frost will continue to explore diverse aquatic life, generate conversations about how people interact with freshwater ecosystems, and create opportunities for hands-on learning for the next generation of aquatic scientists.
Professor Frost’s lab was created under the endowed professorship and provides immersive, experiential opportunities for Trent students while examining changes in nutrients and responses of ecological processes in lake ecosystems. While his current work primarily focuses on cottage country in the Kawarthas it has implications for aquatic ecosystems everywhere in the world.
The David Schindler Endowed Professorship in Aquatic Science was established to support leadership in teaching, research and community engagement. With this summer’s renewal of the Professorship, there is a focus on creating understanding in the wider community to demystify the ecosystems that people live alongside.
Prof. Frost plans to continue hosting a lecture series in the spring that highlights environmental science. These lectures, together with more outreach and new collaborative aquatic research, will continue to solidify Trent’s reputation as an internationally-recognized leader in water sciences, with leading research and facilities to address contemporary water challenges in Canada and around the world.
About the David Schindler Professorship in Aquatic Science
Established in 2008, the David Schindler Professorship in Aquatic Science was the first-ever Endowed Professorship at Trent University and marked a commitment to showcasing Trent’s international reputation as a leader in environmental research and scholarship. The endowed professorship, made possible through an anonymous donor, honours the work of Professor David Schindler, one of the world’s leading limnologists, specializing in the study of human effects on freshwater ecosystems.