Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, and Inclusion

Our core mission is education. Not just in terms of chemistry as a science, but also in terms of training future professionals who respect each other and recognize the strength that diversity brings to furthering discovery.

This page aims to raise awareness about our diverse academic community, provide tools to make us better allies and mentors, empower our future graduates, and promote success across all groups studying chemistry at the University of Waterloo.

Our Territorial Acknowledgement

The University of Waterloo and the Department of Chemistry acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.

Featured this month

2023 International Women's Day High Tea Social
Hosted by the Faculty of Science

Once again, the Faculty of Science is thrilled to present our annual High Tea Social, celebrating International Women's Day.

Grab your favourite afternoon drink, cozy up in your favourite chair and spend an hour with some truly inspirational women. Whether you'd like to just listen, or engage over text in the online chat forum, this virtual high tea social will be a lively commentary and round-table discussion.

Join our panel of Waterloo alumni who want to share and discuss International Women's Day, and the importance of equity in the workplace, society and at home. Around the world, women are identifying intentional and unintentional barriers to obtaining equity and making adjustments to combat those imbalances. Come hear the stories, share your own stories and celebrate how women Embrace Equity.

This event will be held Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 3 pm ET over Zoom.

Resources

Training and FAQs

Science Indigenous Initiatives: The Faculty of Science is the first faculty at the University of Waterloo to have an embedded Indigenous Initiatives Office. Learn more about current initiatives and resources on campus.

Science Anti-Racism Taskforce (SART) includes frequently asked questions about racism on campus and a survey.

University of Waterloo Inclusive Communications Guide. Developed by more than 30 dedicated and caring communicators, this guide serves to provide advice on ways to make professional communications at UW more inclusive.

HART Book Club: The HART Book Club, launched in February 2022, is a student-focused space to discuss books related to and written by racialized people. It meets 2-3 times per term.

PART reading list: a list of 12 must-read books for all compiled by members of the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART)

UW Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism

Resources & Allyship | Office of Indigenous Relations, including a "Did you know?" learning section.

UW Black Faculty Collective resources, including academic resources, training and allyship links.

Beyond Waterloo

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC): Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process. Interested in a virtual workshop on “How to develop an effective #EDI Action Plan”? Details and registration.

Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC): Canadians Working for Inclusivity in Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Network promotes inclusivity, equity and diversity for women and minorities in the chemical sciences across Canada