The Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) is pleased to announce an upcoming expert webinar as part of an ongoing series. This session will feature presentations from key experts from the International Joint Commission (IJC) Water Quality Board, who will share their latest findings on public opinions regarding the future of water quality in the Great Lakes region.
The webinar is scheduled for April 3 at 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time. While the main content of the Expert Webinar series is targeted at relevance to Great Lakes island residents, interested parties from any location are welcome to attend. The session is free to attend and open to the public, and participants can register online.
Dr. Kelsey Leonard, a water scientist, legal scholar, and policy expert, will serve as the main presenter. Dr. Leonard also serves as a member of the IJC’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board, where her expertise in water governance plays a pivotal role in shaping policy discussions on water protection.
Supporting the presentation, Antonette Arvai, a physical scientist and secretary of the IJC’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board, and Allison Voglesong Zejnati, Public Affairs Specialist at the IJC’s Great Lakes Regional Office, will provide context to the poll’s results and discuss the significance of the public’s response to water quality concerns.
The 2024 Great Lakes Poll, conducted by the IJC, has revealed consistent public support for the protection of water quality in the Great Lakes, alongside persistent concerns about the environmental challenges facing the region. The poll highlights the growing need for integrated solutions to safeguard one of the world’s largest freshwater systems. The findings are vital in informing future policies and actions aimed at improving water quality and addressing climate-related challenges.
The webinar will provide an in-depth discussion of these findings, with a platform for participants to engage directly with experts. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the public’s concerns regarding water quality, climate change, and the role of Great Lakes islanders’ opinions in shaping sustainable water governance.
To be part of this engaging and informative discussion, please visit glialliance.org and register for the webinar.
About the IJC’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board
The International Joint Commission (IJC) is a binational organization established by the governments of Canada and the United States to manage shared water resources. The Great Lakes Water Quality Board, part of the IJC, works to ensure the protection and improvement of water quality in the Great Lakes through research, policy guidance, and the promotion of collaborative action.
About Great Lakes Islands Alliance
The Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) is a voluntary, bi-national, collaborative network that brings together individuals from year-round island communities across the Great Lakes. These are culturally, socially, and ecologically rich communities with deep connections to place, each in their own way. Living and working on islands comes with a unique suite of challenges – and these are often markedly different compared to the mainland. Through GLIA, islanders benefit from regular information sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and relationship development. Islanders benefit from hearing about solutions and experiences from other islands.
Media Contact:
Philip Rice
Communications Specialist
Great Lakes Islands Alliance