On October 24, Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute (Morwick G360) hosted a special gathering to celebrate the official opening of its Outdoor Education Patio at the Morwick Groundwater Research Centre, 360 College Avenue E, at the University of Guelph.
The celebration brought together Dr. Beth Parker (Director of Morwick G360), Dr. Ferdinando Manna, Dr. Jonathan Munn, Dr. Jonathan Kennel, Marina Nunes, Becky Anderson, from Morwick G360, Melissa Woo, from Alumni Affairs and Solinst Canada Ltd. Scott and Jenna Belshaw and Jason Redwood, all in recognition of a generous $250,000 gift from Solinst Canada Ltd. and the Belshaw Family, which made the patio naming possible.
The newly unveiled patio, equipped with a fully functional monitoring borehole, serves as an outdoor classroom for students, researchers, and the broader community. It embodies Morwick G360’s mission to advance hands-on groundwater education, public outreach, and innovative learning. Dr. Beth Parker, MG360 director, emphasized that the space will deepen understanding of the Guelph aquifer and foster stronger ties between academia, industry, and the public.
Morwick G360 extends its gratitude to Solinst Canada Ltd. and the Belshaw family for their vision and commitment to groundwater research and education. Their support made this multi-functional space for groundwater research and education, a reality.
On Tuesday, April 22—Earth Day—we proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Morwick Groundwater Research Centre (MGRC), a major milestone in the history of the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, 360 College Avenue East, Guelph, Ontario.
Nestled in the heart of the Arboretum at the University of Guelph, this new facility is an evolution of our original Bedrock Aquifer Field Facility (BAFF), which was first built in 2009 to house field equipment and support early research initiatives. Over time, the BAFF became a critical stepping stone in the growth of Morwick G360, laying the foundation for our emergence as a world-renowned groundwater research institute.
Now transformed into a state-of-the-science research and education hub, the MGRC features a classroom that can accommodate over 100 people. It will serve as a dynamic space for learning, collaboration, and innovation, equipping us to engage and inspire a wider audience, and to bring visibility to the vital but often invisible world of groundwater.
At the forefront of the building’s atrium stands an outcrop replica, thoughtfully designed to represent the Silurian Dolostone Aquifer—the primary aquifer underlying Guelph. Constructed by MJ Masonry of Oakville, ON, and inspired by the vision of Dr. Jonathan Munn and Dr. Beth Parker, the wall replicates the aquifer’s layered geology using actual rock types found in the subsurface. This powerful visual installation brings the hidden dynamics of groundwater to life, making the invisible, visible.
Adjacent to the replica, the building features an installation of rock core extracted from the Silurian Dolostone Aquifer, sourced from the nearby University of Guelph Fractured Rock Observatory (FRO). Originally developed through a MASc thesis project by Andrey Fomenko in March 2013, the GDC-05 borehole was drilled by Aardvark Drilling Inc. and funded by the Ontario Water Consortium and Dr. Beth Parker.
This rock core exhibit will serve both as a piece of scientific art and as an educational resource, demonstrating key features of the aquifer including lithostratigraphy, mineralogy, and both fracture and matrix porosity. Data from the borehole were analyzed using geophysical and hydrophysical logging techniques performed by Drs. Peeter Pehme, Jonathan Munn, Carlos Maldaner, and Patryk Quinn. The visuals displayed are rendered using WellCAD™ software from Advanced Logic Technology (Luxembourg).
We extend our deepest gratitude to the generous supporters who made this vision possible, including Solinst, Aardvark, and Haley & Aldrich. Most especially, we thank Mr. Edward Morwick, whose exceptional donation helped make the MGRC a reality.
This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in groundwater science, one rooted in innovation, collaboration, and a deep respect for the natural systems beneath our feet. We look forward to welcoming researchers, students, and community members into this new space as we continue to explore, understand, and protect our planet’s precious groundwater resources.
With Phase One now complete and the classroom officially open, fundraising efforts continue to fulfill the full vision for the Morwick Groundwater Research Centre. Future plans include an upgraded field staging facility, dedicated office and meeting spaces, and a rock core library to support research, education, and long-term data preservation.
If you’re interested in supporting our mission to advance groundwater science and tackle climate change through research, innovation, and education, please contact us at mg360@uoguelph.ca.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped bring our new classroom to life — the architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, project leads, and all those working behind the scenes. Your efforts are seen, valued, and deeply appreciated.
We are very excited to be hosting a 3-day interactive and intensive workshop focused on the critical role of groundwater in agriculture and community health, by bringing together world leading researchers, policy-makers, practitioners, and community members across disciplines to highlight the interdisciplinary connections of groundwater.
When: November 12-14, 2025
Where: Morwick Groundwater Research Centre, 360 College Avenue E, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Workshop Themes:
Wednesday, November 12: Concepts, Tools & Methods, and Global Perspectives—identifying shared interests
Thursday, November 13: Groundwater and Agriculture Policy, with insights from Ontario producers
Friday, November 14: Groundwater for Municipal Water Supplies & Community Environmental Health
Spaces are limited, and early registration is encouraged. Click here to secure your spot!
Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute’s Role in Groundbreaking Hydrogeological Characterization
A collaboration between GeoSonic Drilling, i3 Decommissioning Partners, the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute (MG360), and Sellafield Ltd has achieved a critical milestone in the understanding of the complex subsurface environment beneath one of the UK’s most sensitive nuclear sites. This collaborative achievement was recognized at the UK Ground Engineering Awards 2025, where a project utilizing the G360 Multiport Sampling System (G360 MPS) was shortlisted in the Technical Excellence category and took the highly commended 2nd place, an impressive feat given the range of competition (more information on the entries can be found here).
GeoSonic and Sellafield implemented the installation of several G360MPS as part of investigations at the Sellafield Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS) which has ongoing issues due to leaks of radioactive liquor into the ground. The MSSS is a legacy facility that has long posed a challenge in understanding the movement of contaminants in a geologically complex and technically hazardous environment. State-of-the-science drilling technologies and advanced subsurface instrumentation (the G30MPS) were designed to operate in one of the world’s most logistically and radiologically demanding settings. MG360 played a critical role in the success of this effort, including provision of G360MPS components, technical support and training of GeoSonic drillers including a trial installation at the GeoSonic yard in Alloa, Scotland in August 2023, overseen by Steven Chapman of MG360 and attended by GeoSonic drillers along with Sellafield representatives, regulators and other consultants and stakeholders (see photos).
The recent investigations at Sellafield are helping provide the conceptual framework and meaningful understanding of groundwater flow and contaminant pathways, using data collected from the newly installed multi-level monitoring wells (G360 MPS) and high-resolution geological profiles. By combining cutting-edge geophysical interpretation with field-based hydrogeological insight, MG360 helped transform a previously opaque subsurface into a well-characterized hydrogeological system. This success at Sellafield sets a new benchmark for characterizing complex contaminated sites, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, where engineering innovation, environmental science, and hydrogeological expertise intersect to deliver practical solutions for some of the world’s most challenging environmental legacies.
