Our People
Matthew McCandless
Senior Director, Fresh Water & Executive Director, IISD-ELA
Matthew McCandless has been the executive director of IISD Experimental Lakes Area Inc. (IISD-ELA) since its founding in April 2014. Prior to the transfer of the Experimental Lakes Area, Matt managed the negotiations and transition arrangements leading to the agreements that saw the Experimental Lakes Area become a part of the IISD. His primary responsibilities are with the administration and operation of the world’s only whole-ecosystem freshwater research facility. This involves oversight of research and field station operations, administration, human resources, and fundraising.
Matt’s research interests are primarily in the areas of hydrology, water quality and bioprocessing–often combining both policy and technical research. Since joining IISD in 2006, Matt has been involved in dozens of projects on water, agriculture and bioindustrial development in Canada, Africa (East, West, and Central), Asia (India and Bangladesh) and Latin America.
Prior to joining IISD, Matt worked in the private sector as a biosystems engineer on projects related to hydrology, bioenergy, water management in Canada and India. He has a Ph.D. in biosystems engineering from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Natural Resources Management from the University of Manitoba and and a Bachelor of Biological Engineering from Dalhousie University. Matt is a registered professional engineer.
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A Year in the Life of the World’s Freshwater Laboratory: IISD Experimental Lakes Area Annual Report 2018-2019IISD Experimental Lakes Area's 2018-2019 annual report is a handy wall calendar for 2020 that takes you through a year in the life of our research. -
Canada could take inspiration from U.S. environmental policy preventing algal bloomsRecent US legislation to combat algal blooms and protect fresh water shows bipartisan environmental action is still possible—and sets an example for other countries. -
IISD Experimental Lakes Area Response to Ontario’s Commitments to Freshwater Protection in Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations: A Made-in-Ontario Environment PlanIISD-ELA's response to the Government of Ontario’s Environment Plan that sets out necessary steps and goals to achieve a more sustainable future for the province. -
IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the ProvinceIISD's response to the Government of Manitoba's proposed drainage regulations aimed to ensure no net loss of wetland benefits while streamlining the drainage permitting process. -
Freshwater Lakes’ Pollution Problems Go Beyond PlasticsFocusing solely on plastic pollution ignores the myriad problems — from algae to pollution — that plague our lakes -
From Canada’s Lakes to the World: IISD Experimental Lakes Area Annual Report 2017-2018In this year's IISD-ELA annual report, we explore the impact that our research has had on the world’s fresh water over the last 50 years, what the future holds, and how we are celebrating our half century. -
IISD Experimental Lakes Area 2016-2017 Annual ReportIn this year's annual report, we explore how IISD Experimental Lakes Area is innovating in the arena of freshwater science, to improve its own research, but also limnology across the world. -
A discussion of the IISD-ELA inspired play 'The Watershed' 'The Watershed', a play inspired by IISD Experimental Lakes Area, is coming to Winnipeg! Hear IISD-ELA's executive director, Matt McCandless speak with the playwright Annabel Soutar about the play and the new era of the world famous research site. -
Opening Our Doors: IISD Experimental Lakes Area 2015-2016 Annual Report2015-2016 was the year that IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) truly opened its doors to the world. -
IISD Experimental Lakes Area Annual Report 2014-2015The 2014-15 IISD Experimental Lakes Area annual report includes highlights from some members of staff and the board, as well as some stats from our first year and images of our 58 beautiful lakes and their watersheds. -
Peatland Mining in Manitoba’s Interlake: Cumulative impacts analysis focusing on potential nutrient loading and greenhouse gas emissionsPeat has been mined in Manitoba for over 70 years and currently represents approximately 13 per... -
IISD Experimental Lakes Area (brochure)Want to know more about IISD Experimental Lakes Area—the world's freshwater laboratory? Take a look at our brochure! -
The IISD Guide to Negotiating Investment Contracts for Farmland and WaterThe IISD Guide to Negotiating Investment Contracts for Farmland and Water is a legal and policy tool for governments and communities that are involved in negotiating investment contracts with foreign investors. -
Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Agricultural Investment: A sustainable development guidebookThe nexus between water, energy and food (WEF) security is a critical component of human well... -
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Three Proposed Distributed Water Storage Options for ManitobaThis report attempts to demonstrate how land management best practices to prevent floods and... -
Cattails Harvesting for Carbon Offsets and Nutrient Capture: A "Lake Friendly" greenhouse gas projectThe Cattail Biomass Harvesting project is pursuing and evaluating the commercial-scale harvesting... -
Climate Risk Management for Local Agricultural Cooperatives in Rwanda: A training of trainers' manualThis training of trainers' manual helps cooperative members identify the main climate risks that... -
Cattail (Typha spp.) Harvesting in Manitoba: A legislative and market analysis for operationalization and carbon emission offsetsResearch findings from the Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy project are encouraging replication of... -
Comparative Analysis of Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: Lessons from Tunisia and IndonesiaVulnerability assessments (VAs) are central to shaping climate change adaptation decisions.They... -
The Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: Towards A Practical Planning and Decision Support Framework for Landscape Investment and Risk ManagementIn recent decades, researchers and policy-makers have increasingly emphasized the importance of... -
Climate Risk Management for Sustainable Crop Production in Uganda: Rakai and Kapchorwa DistrictsAgriculture is the backbone of the Ugandan economy. Most of it is rain-fed and relies on limited... -
Sustainable Wetland Management in the Face of Climate Risks in Niger: the Case of La Mare de TabalakNiger's wetlands are critical to poverty reduction, food security and biodiversity conservation,... -
Ecological Goods and Services: A Review of Best Practice in Policy and ProgramingThis research paper provides a review of programing and research in ecological goods and services... -
Envisioning the Watershed of the FutureMatthew McCandless and Dean Medeiros of the Water Innovation Centre present on a hypothetical... -
Expanding Agriculture's Role in the International Climate Change Regime: Capturing the opportunitiesAgriculture's profile in the international negotiations on climate change is increasing... -
The Emerging International Climate Change Regime: Opportunities and challenges for the Canadian agricultural sectorCanada's agricultural sector will be affected by policy decisions that respond to the climate... -
Water Quality Trading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin: A multi-level trading system architecture.Lake Winnipeg is an iconic feature on the Canadian Prairie landscape and its multi-jurisdictional... -
Full Cost Accounting for Agriculture (Final Report) - Valuing public benefits accruing from agricultural beneficial management practices: An impact pathway analysis for Tobacco Creek, ManitobaThis study, prepared for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides an illustrative estimate of...
Our People
