From space missions to pumpkin explosions, it's safe to say we had a busy term here in the Faculty of Science. Catch some stand-out moments that made Fall 2023 one of a kind!
Abiola Olaitan is one of the 2023 Gairdner Early Career Investigator Competition Award winners! Hear about his day at the Laureate Lectures in Toronto in this in-depth interview.
STEM with Disabilities was inspired by the frustration of being a student with disabilities and the epiphany of the power that comes from community. Through sharing lived experiences, the visibility project connects scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians with disabilities, offering diverse role models for postsecondary students.
For the past five years, the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics (WCA) has created a research-rich atmosphere where the sky is (literally) the limit. Whether they are exploring dark matter, dark energy, black holes, or mapping the unknown parts of our universe, the researchers at the WCA are pushing boundaries daily and exploring unchartered territory, so we can better understand our world.
Dr. Stephen Evans is a leader in geohazards research, focusing on landslides in Canada. His contributions to research and public education were recently recognized by the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (USA) and the Canadian Geotechnical Society, who honoured him with this year's Schuster Medal Award.
Together with the School of Optometry and Vision Science and the School of Pharmacy, 350 donors raised over $175,000 that will support our science initiatives. Whether supporting the SCI of Relief Fund, the Waterloo Eye Institute, or the Pharmacy Student Support Fund, know that your donations go a long way in assisting our students in receiving innovative education and achieving academic excellence.
The Faculty of Science's very own Dr. Rebecca Rooney and Dr. Nandita Basu were featured on the latest episode of The Water Brothers to discuss the importance of preserving wetlands and their economic and environmental benefits.
Vision impairments are on the rise, propelling the global ocular implants market to unprecedented growth, from $14.1 billion in 2022 to a monumental $22.1 billion by 2030. Yet, many potential breakthroughs stumble in clinical trials, often due to unforeseen toxicity and efficacy in preliminary research studies. Megala Ramasamy is developing a low-cost fabrication method for silicone polymers used to create advanced in-vitro eye models that simulate features of the human eye.
Congratulations to Juewen Liu (Chemistry), Linda Nazar (Chemistry), and Will Percival (Physics & Astronomy and the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics) for representing Science and the university of this list. Liu and Percival are both marking their second appearance on the list, while Nazar has been on the list nine out of the last 10 years. Their work clearly resonates with the research community and their findings have inspired others to push boundaries and explore what’s next in their own research.
Professor Mark Matsen is set to receive the Polymer Physics Group Founders’ Prize. Only 11 scholars have been awarded this prize since its inception in 2001. Matsen, who holds a joint position as a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is being honoured for his remarkable work on molecular self-assembly in polymeric systems involving block copolymers.