Clare Robinson

Clare Robinson is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western University, where she serves as Research Director of the Geotechnical Research Centre and leads the RESTORE Research Group. Her work focuses on groundwater-surface water interactions, urban stormwater management, and onsite wastewater systems.

Education:

• PhD in Environmental Engineering, University of Queensland, 2007
• BEng in Environmental Engineering, University of Queensland, 2002

Research Interests:

• Groundwater pollution and contaminant transport
• Low impact development stormwater technologies
• Subterranean estuarine dynamics
• Water quality modeling
• Geochemical and microbial interactions in aquifers
• Coastal and nearshore hydrology

Publication Trends: Recent work emphasizes groundwater discharge quantification using geoelectrical imaging, nutrient loading from septic systems, arsenic mobilization in coastal aquifers, and climate-adaptive urban stormwater solutions. Her articles span environmental engineering, hydrology, and biogeochemistry, with applications to Great Lakes and global water quality challenges.

Scientific Awards:

• Chandler-Misener Award (IAGLR), 2021
• Faculty Scholar Award (Western U), 2020-2022
• Western Green Award, 2018
• Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Water Quality, 2017-2024
• Early Researcher Award (Ontario), 2012
• International Research Awards (Western U), 2009 and 2012

Advising & Collaborations: Supervises active PhD and Master's students on projects involving lead dissolution models, arsenic fate in aquifers, and phosphorus retention in bioretention systems. Collaborates with institutions like Hohai University (China) and researchers such as D.M. O’Carroll and J.E. Herrera. Directs field experiments in Canadian climate regions and coastal Bangladesh.

Labs & Teams: Leads the RESTORE Research Group and Geotechnical Research Centre at Western University, integrating multidisciplinary teams for groundwater modeling, contaminant transport studies, and sustainable urban water solutions.