Our Team

Atlantic Water Network has a small but mighty team of avid water monitors. We draw upon the work of past students, employees and volunteers who have brought the Network to where it is today. Read the bios below of our current team who works to provide resources and equipment to our Community Partners throughout Atlantic Canada.

Emma Wattie

Director

Emma Wattie has worked intimately with the numerous stewardship organizations who utilize AWN’s resources and training for the last five years. Emma has over seven years of data collection and management experience and has collaborated closely with organizations in the effort to build Atlantic Canada’s water monitoring capacity. Emma is a proud Maritimer and loves any excuse to get outside, especially if her dog can join! In her spare time she’s an avid reader, knitter and baker.

Cathy Conrad

Research Coordinator

Cathy is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. She has worked with Community-Based Monitoring Organizations in Atlantic Canada and around the world.

Laura Chandler

Program Manager

Laura joined the Atlantic Water Network team in 2019. In her role as Program Manager, she works closely with communities as they build and grow their water monitoring programs. Passionate about effective science communication, Laura is thrilled to see water data come to life and inspire local environmental change. Laura holds a BMath and MMath in Applied Math through the Collaborative Water Program at the University of Waterloo. Born and raised in the prairies, Laura is enjoying every chance she gets to explore the rugged coastal landscapes that Atlantic Canada has to offer.

Eleanor Friddell

Science Communication Intern

Eleanor Friddell is entering her second year at the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University in September, studying Mathematics and Classics. She loves both the sciences and the humanities, and is very interested in pursuing a career where they intersect meaningfully! In her spare time, she enjoys reading, drawing and knitting, and is an avid fan of Star Trek and Doctor Who.

Aislin Livingstone

Research Manager

In her role as Atlantic Water Network’s Research Manager, Aislin works with watershed groups, researchers, governments, and other community partners to amplify and support community-based water monitoring in Atlantic Canada. She also helps shape AWN’s initiatives and supports the network’s day-to-day operations. Aislin is happiest in, on, and around water and is motivated to help protect this incredibly valuable resource. Aislin holds an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Human Health from McGill University and a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph.

Noah D’Ascanio

Data Science Intern

Noah graduated from the concurrent B.Sc. (Earth Sciences) and Diploma of Engineering program at Dalhousie in May 2020 and is excited to enter his final year of Environmental Engineering at Dalhousie this fall. Drawing from his interest in community engagement in STEM, Noah is excited to support Atlantic Water Network’s partners in managing their water quality data and developing tools to empower communities through data interpretation. Noah is also an avid hiker and a recent cat parent.