Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Eight interdisciplinary projects receive funding to advance Waterloo’s Global Futures

A message from the Global Futures Office.

The Global Futures Office is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the Global Futures Fund,a key initiative supporting the university’s long-term strategic vision, Waterloo at 100, and its commitment to shaping the future of humanity and our planet through five interconnected Global Futures: Societal, Health, Sustainable, Technological, and Economic.

The Global Futures Fund is designed to catalyze interdisciplinary initiatives and networks that span faculties, disciplines, campus units, and external partnerships. Through a rigorous, multi-stage selection process, eight projects were selected from a highly competitive pool of 63 initial submissions and 15 full proposals. The total funding awarded in this first round is $2.260 million.

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who participated in the pitch process and submitted a proposal. The breadth and quality of ideas were inspiring, and we congratulate the successful teams whose initiatives will help propel Waterloo’s strategic vision forward.

Funded projects

Acting Locally, Leading Globally with Build Now Waterloo Region

Lead: Leia Minaker
Funding: $352,225 over 3 years
Impact: A living lab embedded in North America’s largest affordable home ownership project, this initiative integrates research, education, and service to scale sustainable housing solutions. It engages students through capstones, co-op, and bootcamps, and partners with the European Network of Living Labs.

The Future in Motion: Exploring the Future of Transportation

Lead: Suzanne Kearns
Funding: $375,000 over 3 years
Impact: This project fosters innovation in sustainable, safe, and equitable transportation through interdisciplinary research, co-op expansion, and a Sustainable Transportation Summit.

The Future of Work: Integrating Technology, Social Infrastructure, Ethics, and Education

Lead: Edith Law
Funding: $450,000 over 3 years
Impact: A multidisciplinary institute addressing AI and automation in work environments, this initiative includes research, education pilots, and community engagement to shape ethical and inclusive futures of work.

Building Canada’s Capacity to Address Climate Change

Lead: Sarah Burch
Funding: $350,000 over 3 years
Impact: Through professional training and a new certificate program, this initiative strengthens climate-resilient infrastructure and policy innovation across sectors.

Creating Canada’s Largest Capstone Ecosystem

Lead: Derek Rayside
Funding: $294,000 over 3 years
Impact: This initiative scales a cross-campus interdisciplinary capstone ecosystem, connecting students with real-world partners to address Global Futures challenges and build sustainable revenue models.

SIGNAL Network: Strategies for Intersectional Gender Justice

Lead: Brianna Wiens
Funding: $100,000 over 1 year
Impact: Focused on addressing the growing threat of tech-facilitated violence, radicalization, and systemic inequity online, SIGNAL will host public events, develop policy briefs, and create pedagogical tools to advance intersectional gender justice.

Indigenous Futures Circle

Lead: John Lewis
Funding: $138,338 over 2 years
Impact: Collaborating with Indigenous knowledge keepers and communities, this initiative supports culturally grounded solutions through workshops, publications, and capstone development.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute

Lead: N. Asokan
Funding: $200,000 over 3 years
Impact: A leading research institute advancing information security and privacy through education, conferences, and governance workshops, in collaboration with WatSPEED and industry partners.

These projects exemplify the collaborative spirit and innovative thinking that define Waterloo’s approach to addressing global challenges. We look forward to seeing their impact unfold.

Stay tuned for more activity from the Global Futures Office this fall, including the launch of the second round of funding. To learn more, visit the Global Futures website.

Outcomes from the Associate Vice-President, Academic portfolio review 

A message from Thomas Duever, Interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost.

Following a year-long review of the Associate Vice-President, Academic (AVPA) portfolio, several changes will be implemented to improve coordination and support for teaching and learning at Waterloo. Key outcomes include integrating the Centre for Teaching Excellence, the Centre for Extended Learning, and the Teaching Innovation Incubator into a single unit; transitioning the Writing and Communication Centre to the Associate Provost, Students portfolio; and redesigning the AVPA Office to centralize services.  

The full memo from Thomas Duever, Interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost, is available on the Provost’s website. 

Diana Fox Carney to speak on global environmental sustainability

By Media Relations.

Diana Fox Carney will deliver a keynote address in Waterloo next week on climate action and community-centred approaches to sustainability. Carney is an advisor to companies and investors that are seeking opportunities in the transition to a greener, more nature-positive economy.

Her talk, “Pathways to a Sustainable World,” will take place at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) at CIGI on Sept 17. A fireside chat will follow with Dr. Sarah Burch, professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo and BSIA. Burch is the Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Governance and Innovation and leads the TRANSFORM project, an international partnership supporting sustainability entrepreneurship at the local level.

Carney, a BSIA fellow, has worked with industry and not-for-profit organizations on three continents, using her background in the management of natural resources and climate policy to advise on ways that business and investors can move towards a greener economy.

“It’s clear that many of the solutions we need to address climate change already exist, but we’re faced with the incredible challenge of amplifying, spreading, and scaling them up,” Burch said. “We are so fortunate to have Diana Fox Carney share her vast expertise and insights on a sustainable future.”

Pathways to a Sustainable World is a free public event co-sponsored by BSIA, TRANSFORM, and the Waterloo Climate Institute. The event will not be recorded. Advance registration is required, and available at the event website. 

Update: This event has sold out, but there is a waitlist where you can register on the event website.

LITE Seed grants deadline coming up October 1

A message from the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE).

Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Grants fund projects that investigate innovative approaches to enhancing teaching and fostering deep student learning at Waterloo. Each grant is valued up to $7,500. 

For this themed round of LITE Seed Grants, the AVP-A Office strongly encourages projects that contribute to streamlining courses and programs in new ways while upholding Waterloo’s standards of academic excellence. You can consult the full Call for Proposals on the CTE website.

The application deadline for the Fall term is October 1 at 4:00 p.m., but applicants must meet with one of the grant program managers (Annik Bilodeau or Brianna Bennett) no later than September 19 at 12 noon.

Learn more about recently funded LITE Grant projects.

Tuesday's notes

Step right up and get ready for some midway mayhem at the WUSA Carnival, presented by CIBC, which makes its Welcome Week return for two nights of fun and excitement starting tonight.

The Carnival runs Tuesday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 10 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the SLC Green. There will be rides, there will be games, and there will be carnival food including funnel cake.

Admission and entry is free for all Waterloo undergraduate students–a WatCard is required showing proof of enrolment and fees for either the fall academic or co-op work term–and a waiver must be signed before you can ride. One lucky undergraduate student will win the Ultimate WUSA Prize Pack!