Professor Dr. Leah Jones Crank

Biography

Leah Jones-Crank is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in interdisciplinary sustainability. Her research employs qualitative data collection and analysis methods to understand water systems and governance challenges, particularly within urban environments. Jones-Crank's work investigates collaborative governance approaches to the water-energy-food nexus to improve management practices for sustainability. She aims to advance knowledge on cross-sectoral governance methods to address challenges related to drought and water stress, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. With extensive fieldwork experience in cities across Southwestern South Africa and Singapore, her current projects include investigating stakeholder perspectives on water, agriculture, and environmental systems at Long Point Biosphere. Additionally, Jones-Crank is actively involved in various professional organizations, including the International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR) and the board of the Water Resources Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), and serves on the scientific programme committee for World Water Week 2025. She also contributes to the editorial board of Environmental Science & Policy.

Research Interests