Special event

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 11:30 am - 3:30 pm EST (GMT -05:00) Wednesday, February 4, 2026 11:30 am - 3:30 pm EST (GMT -05:00) Thursday, February 5, 2026 11:30 am - 3:30 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Designing Climate-Ready Education for the Next Generation of Professionals

The University of Waterloo’s Climate Institute is hosting a National Forum “Designing Climate-Ready Education for the Next Generation of Professionals”. This forum will explore what knowledge and skills students need most, and how we can teach in ways that cultivate hope, agency, and purposeful learning.

Join us for an inspiring event  centered on Indigenous knowledge, storytelling, and climate activism, with special guest Isaac Murdoc. The event will open with a keynote address by  Isaac,  followed by a thoughtful conversation between  Isaac  and  University of Waterloo’s Elder  Myeengun Henry and Amanda St. Marie.

On November 13th, SYDE will be hosting Prof. Rachel Davidson here at the University of Waterloo. Prof. Davidson is a core member of the Delaware Disaster Research Center, the first center dedicated to the study of disasters in the world. 

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Climate Speed Hack

Come race against the clock to find innovative solutions to climate challenges!

Open to all UW students, regardless of technical background. NO TECHNICAL BACKGROUND REQUIRED!

Rapid version of a hackathon, participants will be teamed up at the event and work together to ideate, research and brainstorm solutions to problems in climate change, climate adaptation, reducing GHGs, and generating climate hope, all in 3-hours.

Thursday, January 23, 2025 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Student Forum: Climate Change in your Curriculum

Calling all students from professional degree programs at UWaterloo! 
Join us for a lively and interactive session where you’ll get to share your experiences and ideas with students from other disciplines and help shape a project to integrate climate change into the curriculum of your program.   

Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:00 am - 4:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)

Student Pitch Competition – Design a Community Cooling Space - CLIMATE CON 2025

Join the Student Climate Action Program for Student Climate Con 2025 on February 7th at Federation (FED) Hall. This full-day convention features inspiring keynotes, panels, workshops, and a student showcase addressing climate anxiety and hope. Highlights include interactive sessions, poster awards, networking, and lunch. The event's objectives are fostering climate action, building community, and supporting climate emotions. Themes like Climate Hope and Youth Climate Anxiety take centre stage, empowering attendees as catalysts for change. 

Monday, September 16, 2024 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Charting a Course in the Sea of Climate Misinformation

Join the University of Waterloo and the Waterloo Climate Institute for a conversation on how we find trusted information on climate action in a sea of misinformation. We’ll discuss ways to overcome the confusing and overwhelming options for climate action and build trust in climate science so that we can build resilient communities and live better together. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

How to be a Climate Optimist: A talk by Chris Turner

Join the Climate Institute and the Faculty of Environment for an evening with Chris Turner, the award-winning author of How to Be a Climate Optimist. Turner will share insights from his groundbreaking book, which offers a refreshing and optimistic perspective on the climate crisis.