Frequently Asked Questions: Media

Since 2014, we have opened our doors to the world, and so we are happy to speak with media about our work and expertise.

We are also happy to welcome journalists to come and visit the lakes in person.

Your first step should be to email Sumeep Bath, Editorial and Communications Manager, at sbath@iisd.ca to explain your request.

(Note that you can see a full list of our experts here.)

IISD Experimental Lakes Area is the world’s freshwater laboratory—a natural research laboratory made up of 58 small lakes and their watersheds.

As one of the world’s most influential freshwater research facilities, we conduct experiments on real lakes and ecosystems—one of the only places in the world you can do this.

Over the last 5 decades, we have conducted research projects to explore the impacts of—and solutions to—algal blooms, climate change, agricultural runoff, contaminants such as mercury and estrogen, oil spills, and a growing list of threats to freshwater supplies.

We are located on Treaty 3 territory, the traditional land of the Anishinaabe Nation and the homeland of the Métis Nation. This land is in a sparsely populated area of northwestern Ontario in Canada, approximately 300 km east of Winnipeg, Manitoba and 100 km west of Dryden, Ontario.

IISD Experimental Lakes Area was originally created as a response to the growing concern surrounding algal blooms on the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Erie. In 1966, the Freshwater Institute was established in Winnipeg by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. They appointed J.R. (Jack) Vallentyne as Director and W.E. (Wally) Johnson as Head Scientist to address the problem of eutrophication. In 2006, two new staff and student residences were constructed on-site and were named after the founding scientists, Vallentyne and Johnson.

In partnership with the governments of Canada and Ontario, a section of land and water was designated as the Experimental Lakes Area. The Experimental Lakes Area officially opened in 1968 with David Schindler as Leader of Experimental Lake Investigations, a position he held until 1989.

In 1991, Dr. Schindler was awarded the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize, the highest award in limnological research, for research into excess nutrification and acidification of freshwater lakes. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten Dr. Schindler in our growing list of named residences! The Schindler cabin is a small, off-grid cabin on the north shore of Lake 239, only a short canoe trip away from camp.

In 2014, the International Institute for Sustainable Development assumed control over the Experimental Lakes Area from the Government of Canada under three new agreements to ensure the facility’s long-term operation. IISD Experimental Lakes Area celebrated 50 years of groundbreaking scientific research in 2018.

• Take a look at our ELA 50 Then and Now photo essay to see how we did science then and how we do science now!
• Click here to see a timeline of IISD-ELA’s history.

A good way to learn about what happens at IISD Experimental Lakes Area is to follow the work we are doing through our newsletter (check out how to subscribe here). When you’re in between newsletter reads, take a look at blog posts that members of our team have written about our work and the science it is based on.

If you have a more targeted question, we encourage you to reach out to a member of our team. For a list of everyone, look under the “About” section in our top banner bar or click this link. Each member of our team is very friendly and, even if they can’t answer your question, will do their best to help.

IISD Experimental Lakes Area is a not-for-profit, and any work we do is thanks to the generosity of other people who love fresh water. If you’re interested in offering this kind of support, check out our donor page. To find out how to make donating work for you, we encourage you to talk to our philanthropy officer, Erin Bend, about the different options.

If donating just isn’t in the cards for you right now, start helping us by telling your friends, family, and dog about the great work we do at IISD Experimental Lakes Area. There are many ways to be lake friendly!

Looking for a more direct connection? Here’s a short directory to help get you started:

Inquiries from media or regarding communications – Sumeep Bath, Editorial and Communications Manager

Potential scientific collaborations or projects – Vince Palace, Head Research Scientist

Outreach and educational opportunities – Sarah Warrack, Junior Outreach and Education Manager

Engagement with First Nations communities – Dilber Yunus, Indigenous Relations Manager

Gifts and donations – Erin Bend; Manager, Philanthropy

For more general information about IISD Experimental Lakes Area, here’s our about page, or check out a list of everyone on our team.