Current students

The Waterloo Institute for Complexity (WICI) is  pleased to announce that we will cohost the premier International Conference on Artificial Life next year, 17-21 August 2026. The conference theme for ALIFE 2026 is "Living and Lifelike Complex Adaptive Systems". 

Plans are to host the meeting jointly with the prestigious Applied Mathematics, Modeling and Computational Science (AMMCS) conference at Wilfrid Laurier University, as part of the AMMCS-ALIFE Congress.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

WICI: Reading and Conversation with author Madhur Anand

Join Us for a Reading and Conversation with Madhur Anand

Celebrate the launch of To Place a Rabbit, the debut novel by acclaimed author and former WICI Director Madhur Anand.


📅 October 28, 2025
📍STC 2002
🕑1:30 -3:30PM

Enjoy a live reading, an intimate conversation with the author, and an opportunity to purchase signed copies.


This event is free and open to the public. Presented by the Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI), with support from Penguin Random House.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Imagining a Regenerative Future

 POSTPONED:  WICI event

Please register to be kept up to date with how to be involved in bioregioning and our events.  

Be part of a community effort to reimagine the future of the Grand River. The launch begins a shared journey of mapping next steps and building relationships to support resilience and thriving communities across the Grand River Watershed. All are welcome.

Monday, September 22, 2025 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Imagining a Regenerative Future

POSTPONED FROM SEPTEMBER 22

We invite you to join us for the launch of the bioregion initiative, a collective effort focused on the Grand River watershed. This gathering welcomes all those who share a commitment to reimagining the future of this vital watershed.

The event marks the beginning of a shared journey to imagine an aspirational future for the Grand River region—one that honors ecological integrity, deepens social and cultural connections, and advances regenerative economic pathways. Together we will explore the opportunities and responsibilities of stewarding the watershed, while building a collective vision for resilience, wellbeing, and thriving communities.

This launch will lay the foundation for an ongoing path forward—mapping next steps, identifying leverage points, and strengthening the relationships that will guide this initiative into the future.

All are welcome.

Register for further updates and how to be involved.

 

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

WICI Speaker Series Announced

The Waterloo Institute for Complexity & Innovation (WICI) is proud to launch our 2025 Speaker Series with two thought-provoking events.  

Join us for two inspiring talks on complexity, governance, AI, and relational futures featuring:.

Dr. Rik Logtenburg, June 26, 2:30 pm,

and

Dr. Vanessa Andreotti, June 27, 10:30 am.

More information and registration details can be found on our events page.  

Thursday, June 26, 2025 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Dr. Rik Logtenberg, June 26, 2025

We are excited to announce that a Dr. Rik Logtenburg will be joining us for a special event you won't want to miss!  Register online to stay updated.

🎤Workshop: The Futures We Can Build: Coordinating Complexity Across Canada

📅 Date: June 26, 2025

🕒 Time: 2:30 pm

📍Location: United College of University of Waterloo, Room 164 (Greenhouse)  |  190 Westmount Road N. , Waterloo, ON | (formerly St. Paul's College)

Stay tuned for more details soon—mark your calendars now!

Canada is at a crossroads—facing simultaneous crises in climate resilience, economic productivity, housing affordability, and institutional effectiveness. Traditional approaches often fragment efforts, limiting their impact.

How can we coordinate complexity, scale effective solutions, and catalyze systemic innovation across sectors, scales, and communities?

Join Rik Logtenberg, Director of CanAdapt, for an inspiring talk and interactive workshop demonstrating how complexity science, AI, and community-led systems thinking can accelerate Canada’s transition.

In this session, you’ll:

  • Learn how practical tools—systems mapping, adaptive governance frameworks, and AI-powered decision-support platforms—transform isolated efforts into coordinated action.
  • Engage in hands-on mapping exercises and collaborative discussions.
  • Identify leverage points and actionable pathways to scale resilient infrastructure and innovative governance.

Leave empowered, connected, and ready to build the shared futures Canada urgently needs.