Three McMaster researchers studying fish physiology, silver chemistry and water geochemistry have won a national innovation award recognizing outstanding university-industry research and development partnerships.

Biology professor Chris Wood, Canada Research Chair in Environment and Health, and professors emeriti Russell Bell and James Kramer are winners of the Synergy Award.

Bell, who contributed research on silver chemistry, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry and Kramer, who studies the area of water geochemistry, is a professor emeritus in the School of Geography & Geology.

The trio won for their multidisciplinary partnership with researchers from Universiti du Quibec and Wilfrid Laurier University and Kodak Canada Inc.

They contributed to collaborative projects measuring silver released into the environment during the photofinishing process and researching the effects of silver on aquatic organisms.

This research will help set criteria for new water quality guidelines for metals in the environment.

Click on Kodak and Canadian universities develop better water quality guidelines to read more about the partnership and projects.

The Synergy Award, sponsored by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Conference Board of Canada, includes $25,000 research grants for the university partners.

The prize-winning partnerships were selected from 37 entries in this year's competition.

The Synergy conference and awards dinner takes place Nov. 20 in Montreal.