Tuesday, September 16, 2025

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• Help shape the future of the Waterloo Libraries with campus engagements tomorrow
• Sustainable Transportation unveils new website with sustainable focus
• Protecting what's above
• Waterloo Forum debate looks at AI and democracy and other notes

Help shape the future of the Waterloo Libraries with campus engagements tomorrow

A message from the University of Waterloo Libraries.

The University of Waterloo Libraries are undergoing a 15-year strategic space planning activity and we need your help! Campus feedback is critical to shaping the future of the Libraries.

Tomorrow, on Wednesday, September 17, the Libraries are hosting a campus open house in the DC Great Hall from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. as well as student engagement activities in both our main campus locations: Davis Centre Library (1 - 2:30 p.m.) and Dana Porter Library (3 - 4:30 p.m.). Additional focus groups will be held throughout September and October to help shape the development of the space plan.

Early campus consultations started in 2024 with several student feedback sessions, more than 5,000 responses to a library services survey, and presentations to senior leadership, campus partners, faculty members and student government.

The former provost, Jim Rush, commissioned this work, beginning with the creation of a campus-wide library strategic space planning steering committee to develop guiding principles, in alignment with the campus plan. These principles were used for an RFP process to secure an architectural firm to create a 15-year space plan. This past spring, Perkins & Will was selected as the successful candidate.  

If you have questions or feedback about the Libraries’ strategic space planning project, please contact Beth Namachchivaya, university librarian, at universitylibrarian@uwaterloo.ca.

Sustainable Transportation unveils new website with sustainable focus

A message from Sustainable Transportation.

Sustainable Transportation is dedicated to responding to the ever-increasing demands of our growing community through innovative and sustainable means. Since 2023, our team has been focused on expanding and enhancing our services to better align with this vision.

Over the past few months, we’ve been working on a website redesign that aims to better communicate our current practices and offerings through a user-focused lens. From the visitor who is trying to quickly find information on where best to park and how to pay, to the new employee who wants to learn about our carpool program or purchase a parking pass for the first time, the website offers streamlined navigation for different use-case scenarios.

An important addition to our new website is the “Getting to and from campus” section that focuses on sustainable means of transportation for your daily commute. This amalgamates information about cycling, carpooling, public transit, and EV charging stations across campus, and promotes new offerings like our secure bike parking room.

We are committed to providing programs, services, and resources to help you integrate active and sustainable travel into your commute to and from campus. Visit the new website or contact us with any questions.

Protecting what's above

by Katie McQuaid. This article was originally published on the Faculty of Science's website.

Implementing and advancing atmospheric monitoring is an important part of Canada’s contributions to atmospheric science. Through the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) aboard the Canadian Space Agency’s SCISAT satellite, critical data on over 46 atmospheric trace gases is measured, including ozone and notable refrigerants like CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs. ACE, which was originally launched in August 2003 as a two-year mission, has been using high-resolution Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy by solar occultation to gather data for over 20 years now. 

The importance of projects like this one, led by scientists in the Chemistry department at the University of Waterloo, is even more notable on occasions such as World Ozone Day. This year’s theme, “From Science to Global Action,” reminds us of the ongoing need for data, and the subsequent research, that comes from projects like ACE because of the huge role it plays in moving atmospheric science forward globally. 

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985), in which nations agreed to take action to protect the planet from harmful radiation entering the Earth’s atmosphere. This convention provided the framework for the Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, which is widely regarded as one of the most successful environmental agreements in history. It has led to the phase-out of nearly 99% of ozone-depleting substances, contributing to the slow but steady recovery of the ozone layer. 

“ACE continues to deliver high-quality atmospheric data more than 20 years after launch,” says Peter Bernath, ACE mission scientist and research professor at the University of Waterloo. “No other satellite measures more trace gases that are regulated by the Montreal Protocol and ACE’s unique measurements help us track the recovery of the ozone layer and monitor the change in atmospheric composition.” 

ACEs satellite measurements are crucial for verifying the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol by understanding how changes in emissions are affecting the ozone layer and climate. ACE data is in high demand, as over 2000 researchers from over 40 countries have cited it in over 750 scientific publications. On top of that, ACE data has also been incorporated into United Nations World Meteorological Organization assessments that inform decision-makers on future policy decisions and Canadian controls to regulate the reduction of ozone-depleting substances. 

The recovery of the ozone layer remains a global priority and demands sustained commitment and scientific innovation. Missions like ACE exemplify how scientific innovation and technology continue to play a vital role in protecting our atmosphere on World Ozone Day and beyond. As we build toward a more sustainable future, it is essential to uphold the progress made under the Montreal Protocol and continue to build upon it for the generations to come. 

Waterloo Forum debate looks at AI and democracy, other notes

The Waterloo Forum, a student-run initiative aiming to build a culture of open dialogue on campus by hosting public debates, is hosting their next event on Wednesday, September 17.

“Artificial Intelligence is increasingly present in our lives,” says a note from the Waterloo Forum. “We see its impact on social media. We use it to translate, write emails, gain an edge on the stock market, drive cars, and even think for us. Many believe that this is just the start. Artificial Intelligence may have the power to disrupt the very foundations of how we live. One of those foundations is our country, Canada. Many of us are grateful to live in a country with an elected government, independent courts, social services, and civil liberties. In a time when the world anticipates the disruption that AI may bring.”

“The Waterloo Forum asks: Will AI undermine Canadian democratic institutions?”  

Dr. Paul Ward, Dr. Jesse Hoey, Dr. Florian Kerschbaum, and Dr. Matthew Silk will debate this pressing question on Wednesday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Engineering 7 2^nd floor event space.

“Bring your questions and an open mind!” say the event organizers. “Register your interest online.”

Today, there is an Accessibility Ally Network virtual presentation on "embedding accessibility into staff programming during uncertain times", which takes place online from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Additionally, a National Postdoc Appreciation Week yoga session is scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in SLC - Studio One. Attendees are invited to enjoy an hour of relaxation and balance with a guided yoga session hosted by Athletics and Recreation. Postdocs are welcome to bring their own yoga mat or use the ones provided. There's still time to register.

WUSA's Welcome Week continues this week with the infamous Sex Toy Bingo event from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Federation Hall.