Press release
The Fonds de recherche du Québec renew funding of the InterSectoral Flood Network of Quebec
Montreal, April 9, 2024 – The RIISQ (InterSectoral Flood Network of Québec), a key player in Quebec’s preparation and resilience towards floods, is pleased to announce the renewal by the Fonds de recherche du Québec of its mandate and of its $4M funding, for a period of 4 years (2024-2028), under the direction of Philippe Gachon, professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), and the co-direction of Nathalie St -Amour and Mylène Riva, respectively professors at the University of Quebec in Outaouais and at McGill, then Karem Chokmani, professor at the Eau Terre Environnement Center at the National Institute of Scientific Research.
In the context where flooding and water-related challenges are a major and growing issue in Quebec’s reality, the RIISQ aims to improve the province’s capacity to prepare for floods and better protect itself. Its mandate is to develop academic research in collaboration with partners, to train the next generation, to support governments, stakeholders and managers, while ensuring the transfer of knowledge to the general public and decision-makers.
“Climate upheaval poses a major, unprecedented collective challenge, as climate and hydrometeorological risks become systemic, extensive and have a domino effect. This societal challenge is also one for intersectoral research, namely the need to increase our capacity to face constantly changing risks, by mobilizing all knowledge and our collective intelligence”, says Professor Philippe Gachon.
The RIISQ would like to thank the Fonds de recherche du Québec for its trust and the funding available to the entire university network. The RIISQ also thanks its members, researchers working in the 18 universities of Quebec, as well as the numerous socio-economic partners, for their valuable collaboration during the first four years of its mandate.
The renewal of the RIISQ mandate underlines the importance of research and training of the next generation in the development of innovative and sustainable solutions to help Quebec society deal with flood risks.