Challenge Briefs

2026 Challenge Briefs

Map the Systems gives student teams the chance to work with community partners, offering real world opportunities for research. The following organizations are keen to work with students. See their challenge briefs below for more information. If you're a student interested in any of these challenges, reach out to Gabriel, the Campus Lead.

Organization:	Challenge Brief:
Local Futures	Barriers to Implementing the SDGs Framework at a Municipal Level in Canada
Enabled Talent	Accessibility Gaps in Post-Secondary Institutions
Food System Roundtable of Waterloo Region	Ecological Impacts of Manicured Lawn Culture
University of Waterloo's School of Social Work	Strengthening Connections - A Systemic Approach to Student Well-being
FindSuri	Needs of Syrian Families who's Loved Ones are Missing
Beyond Housing	Affordable Rental Housing in the Waterloo Region
Green Care Farms	Mapping Therapeutic Care Farms in Canada
Home Range Story Kitchen	Opportunities for Local Media
University of Waterloo's Office of Sustainability	Student Engagement with Sustainability on Campus
Reception House Waterloo Region	Housing Stability for Newcomers in Waterloo Region
Mennonite Central Committee	Calls to Action in Relation to Prison Pipelines for Indigenous Women
Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience	Bioregional Belonging
Waterloo Institute for Complexity & Innovation	The Housing-Labour-Climate Trap