Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Faculty of Science convocation today
There will be two Convocation ceremonies for the Faculty of Science today. 859 undergraduates, 48 Master's, and 26 PhD candidates will cross the stage.
Morning ceremony
The morning ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. Watch the livestream.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Carrying the mace will be Dr. Mario Coniglio.
Delivering a special Convocation address is guest speaker Therese Hayes. Hayes is chief executive officer of Good Man Brand – a sustainable B Corp apparel and footwear company. She has 25 years of experience in Canada and the U.S. including leadership roles at lululemon, ARITZIA and Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. She has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo, and two Master’s degrees from the University of Ottawa in Microbiology and Immunology and Health Administration. Hayes is an active mentor to young entrepreneurs as a board advisor and is chair of the Board of Fashion Revolution Canada.
Meera Thavarajah will deliver the valedictory address.
Afternoon ceremony
The afternoon ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. Watch the livestream.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Dr. Brenda Lee will carry the mace.
Paul Corkum will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science. Dr. Corkum is a pioneering Canadian physicist renowned for his foundational contributions to attosecond science – the study of ultrafast phenomena on the scale of attoseconds (10-18 seconds). He earned his PhD in theoretical physics from Lehigh University in 1972. Corkum joined the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in 1973, where he transitioned to experimental physics and developed groundbreaking models of atomic ionization. His recollision model enabled the generation of attosecond laser pulses, allowing scientists to observe electron dynamics in real time. Corkum holds a joint chair in Attosecond Photonics at the University of Ottawa and the NRC. His numerous accolades include the 2022 Wolf Prize in Physics and the 2025 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research.
Livia Yanover will deliver the valedictory address.
Outstanding graduating students who will receive major awards and medals include:
Esther Ai-Leng Foong-Reichert, who will be named University Finalist for the Governor General's Gold Medal at the Doctoral level. Foong-Reichert graduated in fall 2024.
Manuela Magid Morgan will receive the University of Waterloo President's Award of Excellence for highest standing in an undergraduate degree program. Morgan graduated in fall 2024.
Stanley Jinbo Miao will receive the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement.
Convocation concludes with Engineering ceremonies tonight and tomorrow
The Faculty of Engineering brings Convocation home with four ceremonies over two days. 1,479 undergraduates, 416 Master's, and 103 PhD candidates will cross the stage.
Friday evening ceremony
The evening ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Watch the livestream.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Dr. Sean Peterson will carry the mace.
Armughan Ahmad will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Armughan Ahmad is a global technology executive, investor and board director recognized for his leadership in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. He currently serves as executive chairman of Rx Food AI and general partner at Vision Studio Ventures, a venture capital firm backing early-stage AI founders. He also advises Service Now, TELUS, and OMERS as a senior AI strategist. Previously, Armughan was chief executive officer of Appen, a publicly traded company providing AI training data to leading technology firms including Google, Microsoft, Meta and Nvidia. He has also held senior leadership roles as president of KPMG Digital and Dell EMC, where he led global Data Center Cloud and High-Performance Computing business, and at HP and 3Com. Ahmad serves on the board of Trillium Health Partners and is the co-founder and board director of CILAR (Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing Respect), advancing AI skill development and inclusive economic growth.
Salahuddin Said will deliver the valedictory address.
Saturday morning ceremony
The morning ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. Watch the livestream.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Dr. Jeff Zarnett will carry the mace.
Neil Cawse will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering. Neil Cawse is the founder and chief executive officer of Geotab, the world’s largest commercial telematics company. An engineer by training and entrepreneur by instinct, he founded Geotab in 2000 to help businesses make better decisions through vehicle data. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a global leader and is recognized among the fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Known for his long-term thinking and hands-on approach, Cawse continues to guide product design and engineering for Geotab. In 2015, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Chinemerem Chigbo will deliver the valedictory address.
Saturday afternoon ceremony
The afternoon ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. Watch the livestream.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Carrying the mace will be Dr. Maud Gorbet.
Gina Cody will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering. Dr. Gina Cody is an engineer and business leader who has helped shape Canada’s cities and communities through decades of work in the private sector. As executive chair and owner of CCI Group Inc., she led complex engineering projects for major developers, financial institutions and public agencies across the country. Cody was the first woman to earn a PhD in building engineering from Concordia University, and she remains a strong advocate for inclusion in STEM. Her leadership and generosity led Concordia to name its Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science in her honour, recognizing both her professional achievements and commitment to the next generation.
Michael Hanley will deliver the valedictory address.
Saturday evening ceremony
The evening ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Watch the livestream.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Dr. Mark Hancock will carry the mace.
Dr. Peter Huck will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Dr. Huck is a retired professor of civil engineering at the University of Waterloo and a leading expert in drinking water treatment. He held the longest-running NSERC Industrial Research Chair in the program’s history, serving for more than 30 years. His work on advanced treatment technologies has shaped drinking water policy and practice across Canada and internationally. A trusted advisor to government and industry, Huck played a key role in the Walkerton inquiry into drinking water safety, and he has received numerous national and international awards for his research, mentorship and contributions to public health and environmental protection.
Mankirat Singh Sains will deliver the valedictory address.
Outstanding students who will receive major awards and medals include:
Aravind Ravi, who will be named University Finalist for the Governor General's Gold Medal at the Doctoral level.
Adam Franklin Huras will receive the Governor General's Academic Silver Medal for highest standing in an undergraduate degree program.
Aryan Kalia will receive the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement.
Ruth Anne Dora Meyer will receive the Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education Gold Medal.
The Pearl Sullivan Emerging Global Leaders Award will go to Jocelyne Murphy.
Khadija Abdi will receive the Roy Duxbury Leadership Award.
Ruth Anne Dora Meyer will receive the Albert Sherwood Barber Medal.
The John Fisher Award for Leadership will go to Jocelyne Murphy.
Receiving the Sandford Fleming Foundation Medals for co-operative work term proficiency will be Bassel Al Omari; Shawn Adam Benedict; Carina Victoria Chan; Susan Chen; Jason Gao; Kaveet Singh Grewal; Lucy He; James Patrick Hinsperger; Qi Zhi Hu; Adam Franklin Huras; James Michael Kampen; William Najib Mazhar; Brendan Thomas Ng; Nicolas Pamar; Aniq Premjii; Sara Miriam Wiebe; Raymond Rui Ming Wu; and Evan Dezhi Zhang.
The Sandford Fleming Foundation Medals for academic excellence will go to Nicholas Huie Barton; Evan James Dodd; Cole Martin Fredericks; Michael John Frew; David Reid Hardy; Sien Kin Julien Hau Fai Tseung; Jiashuai Huang; Cedric Jean-Charles; Aryan Kalia; Dominique Sara Levesque; Jorge Andres Marcano; Natalie Nader Nabil Nabih Mekhael; Wyatt Douglas Sullivan; Gabrielle Kayla Tang; Kathy ZiYuan Tang; Srihari Vishnu; and Paige Joyce Westeinde.
Friday's notes
Flags on campus will be lowered on Saturday, June 14 to mark the celebration of life for staff member Monica Beal, who passed away on February 24. Beal worked as a staff member in the Department of Biology.
Link of the day
International Albinism Awareness Day
When and where
The Campus Wellness Student Medical Clinic offers healthcare visits with Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. Services include: vaccinations, immunity testing, naturopathic services and more. Counselling Services offers appointments with counsellors in person as well as via phone and video. Students can book appointments for these services by calling Campus Wellness at 519-888-4096.
The privately-run Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Covid booster shorts are available by appointment only – please call ext. 33784 or 519-746-4500. The Student Health Pharmacy’s summer hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Naloxone kits are still available – pick them up in the pharmacy at no charge.
Convocation, Tuesday, June 10 to Saturday, June 14, Physical Activities Complex.
UW Matthews Golf Classic - faculty and staff golf tournament, Monday, June 16.
Table Talk Series: Collecting and Understanding Queer, Trans and Non-Binary Data, Monday, June 16, 12 noon, - Office of EDI-R, EC5 2nd floor or online.
Menopause Café, Tuesday, June 17, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., DC Fishbowl. No registration required.
Queer Life Fair, Tuesday, June 17, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., SLC Great Hall.
WUSA Thrift Sidewalk Sale, Wednesday, June 18, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., location TBA.
Community Wellbeing Fruit and Veg Market, Wednesday, June 18, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., E7, 1st floor by the C&D.
An afternoon with Kai Potts, Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., SLC Black and Gold Room.
Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series: Student Experiences with Assistive Technology (CTE7040), Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., online.
National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration, Thursday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., BMH Green.
Buckthorn pull, Thursday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, meet between Village 1 South 3 building and the forest.
Master of Taxation Virtual Information Session, Wednesday, June 18, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 12 noon. Please note the new date and time.
Juggling Institutional Priorities: Strategies for Instructors - Online (CTE7700), Thursday, June 19, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., online.
Inuit Identity: Who Is Resilient Inuk by Resilient Inuk, Thursday, June 19, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., East Campus 5, Room 1111 and Zoom.
Libraries Indigenous Mural Unveiling, Friday, June 20, 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dana Porter Library lobby.
Engineering the Future: design, build & maintain your workforce, Tuesday, June 24, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.
IBPOC Student Writing Cafés, Tuesday, June 24, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., SCH 228F.
Campus Plan drop-in open house, Wednesday, June 25, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., SLC multipurpose room.
In-person Grad Writing Cafés, Wednesday, June 25, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., SLC 3216.
Glow at the Toronto Pride Parade, Sunday, June 29.
University holiday, Monday, June 30, most operations and businesses closed.
Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1, most operations and businesses closed.
In-person Grad Writing Cafés, Wednesday, July 2, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., SLC 3216.
IBPOC Student Writing Cafés, Tuesday, July 8, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., SCH 228F.
PhD oral defences
Computer Science. Nabil Bin Hannan, "Using a Capability Sensitive Design Approach to Support Newcomers Well-being." Supervisor, Dr. Edith Law. Thesis available via SharePoint - email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Thursday, June 19, 10:00 a.m.
Statistics & Actuarial Science. Hu Dingding, "Statistical Inference in ROC Curve Analysis." Supervisor, Dr. Pengfei Li. Thesis available from MGO - mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Friday, June 20, 9:30 a.m., M3 3001.
Management Science and Engineering. Yekta Amirkhalili, "Essays on Mobile Banking Adoption." Supervisors, Dr. Stan Dimitrov, Dr. Brian Cozzarin. Thesis available via SharePoint - email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defenceTuesday, June 24, 1:00 p.m., online.
School of Pharmacy. Rahul Karuturi, “Novel 1,4-Diazepane Derivatives as Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Aggregation Inhibitors.” Supervisor, Dr. Praveen P Nekkar Rao. Held Without Public Disclosure: Please visit the Faculty of Science Thesis Submission Notices website for details on requesting a copy. Oral defence Wednesday, June 25, 1:00 p.m., PHR 7007 and remote via MS Teams.
Upcoming service interruptions
Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:
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Village 1 localized steam shutdown, Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 13, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., steam to the various portions of the building will be isolated at the beginning of each day, impacting equipment serviced downstream, including AHUs, space heating will still be available at wall radiators.
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Villages Road sidewalk repair, Friday, June 6 to June 18, the sidewalk along Villages Road (around V1 West section) will be closed for construction, pedestrians are advised to find alternate routes around the construction zone, the road to the V1 loading dock will remain open with minor bottlenecks where construction equipment is active, vehicles on the construction side of the road will be expected to yield to oncoming traffic. A contractor flag person will be on-site to coordinate traffic where required.
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Environment 1, 2 and 3, Modern Languages, Dana Porter Library, Needles Hall fire alarm testing, Friday, June 13, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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East Campus 4 and 5 fire alarm testing, Friday, June 13, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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Math & Computer partial second floor closure to create fire-rated emergency exit, Monday, June 16 for approximately four weeks, access to MC at Loading Dock Entrance 2039 will be closed, access to corridor 2078 will be closed, women's washroom 2040 will be closed, access to 2nd floor from elevators 2079 and 2080 will be closed, exit from stairwell 2077 to 2nd floor will be closed.
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Science and Teaching Complex hot water maintenance, Friday, June 13, 2025 from 7:30-11:00 a.m.
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Science and Teaching Complex maintenance to process system, Friday, June 13, 2025 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
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Environment & Info Tech, Earth Science & Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry 2, fire alarm testing, Monday, June 16, 2025 between 6:30 to 8:15 a.m.
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Village 1 fire alarm testing, Monday, June 16, 2025 between 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
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Physical Activities Complex, Student Life Centre, RAC 1 and 2, Federation Hall fire alarm testing, Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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Ring Road between the Commissary (COM) building and the General Services Complex (GSC) building road closure, Tuesday, June 17, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., one lane will be closed, vehicle traffic may be backed up within this section of Ring Road throughout this time.
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Carl Pollock Hall, Douglas Wright Engineering, South Campus Hall, Rod Coutts Hall, Grad House fire alarm testing, Wednesday, June 18, 2025 between 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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General Services Complex, Commissary, Central Plant fire alarm testing, Wednesday, June 18, 2025 between 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
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UWP - Eby Hall elevator maintenance, Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - Wednesday, July 2, 2025
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Architecture, fire alarm testing, Friday, June 20, 2025 between 6:30 to 8:15 a.m.
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Digital Media Stratford fire alarm testing, Friday, June 20, 2025 between 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
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South Campus Hall and Grad House electrical shutdown, Sunday, June 22, 2025 between 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.