McMaster receives $1 million for water research

Sarah Haliburton knows how badly people need clean water.

The fourth-year nursing student and 2011 recipient of the Philomathia Travel Scholarship spent three months working in a clinic in Kolkata, India.

"I saw children suffering from diarrhea and dehydration, skin and fungal infections, women and men suffering from wound infections," she said.

To help with the issue, the Philomathia Foundation announced a $1-million grant on Thursday to establish the Philomathia Foundation Water Project, which will fund research and scholarships for students studying water-related issues.

"This gift will allow us to immediately start working on solutions to the global water crisis, as well as train future water researchers and policymakers," said Patrick Deane, president of McMaster.

Foundation CEO Wilfred Chung said McMaster offers a unique opportunity to address whatthe United Nations water foundationcalls a global crisis.

"Shortages of clean water are becoming endemic, and this is a major cause of poor global health," he said. "The Philomathia Foundation is delighted to be able to engage the expertise at McMaster to tackle these difficult issues."