As part of Canada's largest engineering school and most innovative university, the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo is home to approximately 1,000 students, faculty and staff, and has thousands of alumni worldwide.
Our Department consistently ranks among the top two universities in Canada and the number one university in Ontario in Chemical Engineering according to the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
In addition to offering undergraduate and graduate programs in chemical engineering, the Department provides academic expertise and support to Waterloo's collaborative nanotechnology and biomedical engineering programs.
The department's collaborative research culture, engaging teaching practices and state-of-the-art facilities create a vibrant learning environment where students are empowered to solve the problems our world faces.
Professor Elisabeth Prince's Polanyi Prize-winning research in degradable and recyclable plastics
In this video, Dr. Elisabeth Prince discusses her research which addresses the plastic waste crisis by creating more degradable and recyclable plastics. Her disruptive research in advanced materials has the potential to have a huge impact on sustainability and environmental remediation and supports Canada’s ambitious goal of achieving zero plastic waste by 2030.
Professor Hamed Shahsavan's micro-medical robotics research
Check out this video about Professor Hamed Shahsavan’s research into developing smart polymers for applications in biomedical robotics. Shahsavan’s research group utilizes shape change to produce movement in the micro-robots. The micro-medical robots have the potential to be used for biopsies, cell transport and drug delivery. He also discusses the critical role of graduate students in research labs.
Chemical Engineering Lab Tour
Join us for a tour of the Chemical Engineering undergraduate labs in the Douglas Wright Engineering Building at the University of Waterloo.
Find out more by exploring the programs, research and news stories on this site.
News
Breakthrough in smart fabric for sensing and health monitoring
Imagine a coat that harnesses solar energy to keep you warm on a brisk winter walk, or a shirt that seamlessly monitors your heart rate and temperature. Picture athletes wearing smart clothing that tracks their performance, all without the burden of bulky battery packs.
Professor Yuning Li's research group has developed a smart fabric with these remarkable capabilities. The fabric can potentially harvest energy, monitor health, and track movement.
The new fabric, designed by the research team, can convert body heat and solar energy into electricity, potentially enabling continuous operation without the need for an external power source. Additionally, different sensors that monitor temperature, stress, and more can be integrated into the material.
New state-of-the-art equipment in undergrad teaching labs advances sustainability through collaboration
A new reverse osmosis (RO) water system was installed in the Chemical Engineering undergraduate teaching labs in the Douglas Wright Engineering Building (DWE) this summer. The new RO system eliminates the need for a large amount of hazardous chemicals and manual operations required for the outdated existing unit while providing a quality and sustainable supply of deionized (DI) water for teaching and research in DWE. The unit was partially funded through the Sustainability Action Fund.
International Research Training Group arrives on Campus: Advancing 2D Materials Research with Sustainability and Indigenous Perspectives
Researchers from the Universitat Duisburg-Essen in Germany and the University of Cambridge arrived at the University of Waterloo in June to participate in ongoing graduate student training aimed at leveraging 2D materials for various manufacturing applications. This international collaboration is supported by an NSERC CREATE grant, with Professor Michael Pope from the Department of Chemical Engineering serving as lead Principal Investigator. Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology are involved in the collaboration.
Events
Seminar| Catalyzing a Sustainable Future by Dr. Junjie Chen
Heterogeneous catalysis stands as a cornerstone of the modern chemical industry, with the pursuit of more efficient catalysts at its forefront. The inadequacy of sufficiently efficient catalytic materials emerges as the primary limiting factor, hindering the broader application of many sustainable technologies. Enhancements in catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability are crucial for advancing toward a sustainable future. Additionally, understanding the dynamic nature of catalysts under reaction conditions is essential for more efficient catalyst design.
Seminar| Environmental Catalysis and Sustainable Processes by Dr. Melanie Hazlett
Environmental Catalysis and Sustainable Processes
Graduate Seminar| Scalable industrial decarbonization through fluidized bed conversion and thermal plasma technologies by, Dr. Ivan Gogolev
Scalable industrial decarbonization through fluidized bed conversion and thermal plasma technologies