The director of the MSU Water Alliance received another accolade for her decades of research and efforts to protect our planet’s water resources.

Joan Rose, who is also the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, was honored as a “Guardian of the Environment” for her outstanding lifetime of effort by the Great Lakes Environmental Festival in Manistee. This was the festival’s inaugural presentation of the award. Rose was also a featured scientist in the film “Great Lakes: One Water for Life” at the 2023 festival.

 “The focus on water quality for restoration and protection in the Great Lakes is a model for other countries where unfortunately pollution threatens the health of people, animals and our ecosystems around the world,” Rose said.

Rose is world-renowned for her water science expertise. Over the years, she’s published more than 300 articles on her research in water quality and its impact to human health. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. In 2016, she received the Stockholm Water Prize, the world’s most prestigious water award. 

Rose and her “water detectives” at her MSU lab study the water microbiome and how pathogens make their way into watersheds, beaches, and drinking water. Globally, she also investigates waterborne disease outbreaks and studies water supplies, treatment and reclamation.

“Great Lakes: One Water for Life” is available to view on YouTube.