2nd GEOSS Science and Technology Stakeholder Workshop GEOSS: Supporting Science for the Millennium Development Goals and Beyond Bonn, Germany, August 28—31, 2012

Gordon Young

Gordon Young received a B.A. in Geography from the University of Cambridge in 1964 and an M.A. in 1968. He undertook his graduate studies at McGill University, Montreal and received an M. Sc. in 1969 and a PhD in 1974 in Physical Geography with specialisation in Glaciology. In 1971-72 he undertook research at ETH, Zürich. In 1972 he joined the Department of the Environment, Ottawa, Canada as a research scientist and worked for 9 years on the hydrology of glaciers and high mountain regions. From 1981 until 1987 he served as Chief of a Liaison Division having particular responsibilities as Secretary of the Canadian National Committee on Hydrology, National Representative for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences and Canadian delegate to UNESCO, International Hydrological Programme.

In 1987 Dr Young left government service to take up the post of Associate Professor in Geography at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada. In 1991 he was promoted to Full Professor. In 1987 he founded the Cold Regions Research Centre at his University and from this base conducted high mountain hydrology research in Canada, the Alps and the Himalaya and Karakoram Mountains of Central Asia. He is the author/editor of nine books and author of more than 50 publications, many in refereed journals on glaciological subjects.

Dr Young has served in several capacities in co-ordinating international hydrological activities. He has served as Vice-President, International Commission on Snow and Ice, 1991-95 and as Secretary General, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 1995-2000. He chaired the International Water Associations Liaison Committee, 1996-2000. From 1984-1996 he served on the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Sub-Commission on Natural Sciences, which he Chaired from 1994-1996. From 1988-90 he served as Chair, Inter-governmental Council, for the International Hydrological Programme, UNESCO. From 1991-1992 he was Co-ordinator of the International Conference on Water and the Environment (Dublin Conference), based in the World Meteorological Organisation, Geneva. From 2000 until 2006 he was Co-ordinator, United Nations World Water Assessment Programme the Secretariat of which is housed within the Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO, Paris. In 2007 he became Emeritus Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and in 2009 became President of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences.  

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