In 2002, the Canadian Rivers Institute initiated its annual lecture series by conferring of an Honorary Doctoral Degree to Dr. H.B.N. Hynes (1917-2009).

Dr. H.B. Noel Hynes was the world’s most renowned freshwater biologist and a Distinguished Emeritus Professor at the University of Waterloo. Referred to as "the father of running water ecology", he has published extensively, including his definitive textbook on river ecology, The Ecology of Running Waters.

Dr. Hynes was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and held honorary degrees from his Alma mater, the University of London, and the University of Waterloo.