Dr. Dena McMartin

Dr Dena McMartin is the Vice President (Research) at the University of Lethbridge. She is a leading researcher focused on rural, agricultural, and industrial water resources management and treatment, as well as impacts of freshwater climate extremes on communities and economies. Dena joined the UofL in 2021, having previously served in academic leadership and faculty roles at both University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina.

Holding both professional engineer (PEng) and professional agrologist (PAg) credentials, Dr McMartin has served on the national executives and committees of Engineers Canada, Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada, and the Canadian Coalition for Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology, as well as more regionally focused boards such as Innovation Saskatchewan, Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence, and SaskWater Corporation. She has been honoured with a YWCA Women of Distinction Award and Fellowships from Engineers Canada (FEC) and the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers (FCSSE). Dena also served on the bilateral working group for integrating diversity into science and engineering research and technology development hosted jointly by NSERC and the NSF and was the SSHRC Leader at USask.

Dr McMartin holds Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees in environmental engineering and a B.Sc. degree in agricultural and bioresource engineering from USask. She is an NSERC and SSHRC funded researcher, also holding funding from federal and provincial agencies and industry partners. She maintains supervision of several graduate students and operation of laboratory facilities with research partners in SK with whom she regularly co-authors peer-reviewed papers and presentations. For more than 20 years, she has contributed to a world-leading team working on active solutions to characterize and remediate Athabasca Oilsands process water.

Dena was raised in Saskatchewan, has worked in Germany and Barbados, and conducted part of her sabbatical research with colleagues in Australia. She is an avid golfer and traveler who enjoys immersing herself in the culture and history of a place. She is an enthusiastic research leader and diversity advocate.

YWCA Women of Distinction Award: Science, Technology and Environment

This recipient has achieved excellence and made significant contributions to a science related field, including pure and applied sciences, social sciences, engineering and life sciences, medicine, technology, agriculture or the environment. She is dedicated to the advancement of technological, scientific or industrial discovery through either research or application, or to the preservation or improvement of the environment.

Volunteer Service Award: Regina Engineering Society | Professional

This award recognizes a Professional Engineer who is a member of the Regina Engineering Society and who shows a dedication to the improvement our society/community through their volunteer efforts.

McCannell Award | Professional

The McCannel Award was established in 1983 to honour service to the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan, and to the Professions as a whole. The McCannel Award is named after Roy McCannel, a founding member of the Association.

Teaching Methods & Retention of Women in the Engineering Classroom

UofR President's Teaching & Learning Scholars Showcase

Regina, March 18, 2016

Strategic Directions for Indigenization at the University of Regina

Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education Leadership Forum

Saskatoon, October 18, 2016

Pink Tea and National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Nation Day of Remembrance and Action

Regina, December 6, 2016

Indigenizing Learning in Social Work, Nursing and Education programs

5th Meeting of the Mexico-Canada Collaboration on Intercultural and Indigenous Post-Secondary Education

Tulancingo, Mexico, November 1, 2016

Indigenous Health. Healthier Perspectives through Identities, Culture & Art.

5th Meeting of the Mexico-Canada Collaboration on Intercultural and Indigenous Post-Secondary Education

Tulancingo, Mexico, November 1, 2016

Art and Science of Setting and Achieving Goals

Women's Leadership Conference

Regina, April 19, 2017

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Extremes in the Americas (VACEA)

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An international research collaboration of natural scientists, engineers, and social scientists in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.

Strategic watershed cumulative effects management and treatment of rural and agricultural water

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5-year Discovery Grant

Technical evaluation and siting assessment for complex industrial technologies

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The University of Regina team will be evaluating the water needs for various small reactor technology options. This will include options for the use of technologies that enhance both efficiency and benefit. The University of Saskatchewan contribution will look at contamination risks to water supplies from a spill of nuclear materials, delineating areas that are most suitable for a power plant from a groundwater perspective. “With the pace of economic development and growth of water‐intensive commercial and industrial projects in Saskatchewan and across the Prairies, and in the context of a changing climate that affects precipitation volumes, timing, and rates, there is significant need to quantify cumulative water requirements and availability, and to determine how our natural water resources may be impacted.”

More information: https://www.uregina.ca/external/communications/feature-stories/current/2017/03-16.html

Cumulative Effects Assessment for the future of clean energy development

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Student funding to build momentum in lifecycle assessment for Saskatchewan's energy grid planning, in collaboration with Imperial College, London.

Evaluating Teaching Methods that Affect Recruitment and Retention of Female Students in Engineering

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Social sciences research into the unique systems engineering programs at UofRegina and how the design of the programs, experiential learning models, and social environment influence female students' recruitment and retention.

ResearchGate

Google Scholar Citations Page

University of Regina - Faculty Profile

University of Regina - AVP Profile