Friday, September 26, 2025

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• Insert coin to play: Ontario eSports scholarship renewed for 2025/26

• Advancing Huntington's disease research

• Gear up for an art bike tour on October 4

• Annual pow wow this weekend and other notes

Insert coin to play: Ontario eSports scholarship renewed for 2025/26

A message from the Games Institute.

In a follow-up to the 2022 program in which the University of Waterloo Games Institute secured $50,000 of funding for student scholarships, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities has allocated additional funding to eligible post-secondary institutions in support of scholarships for high-achieving students with financial need enrolled in programs related to the video-gaming industry that may lead to a career in the videogaming or esports fields.

Several scholarships valued at $2,500 to $5,000 each will be awarded in 2025/26 for a total of $25,000.

Candidates must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program in the 2025/26 academic year and be in a funding-eligible video-gaming, game development, game design, or a similar program that may lead to a career in video-gaming and/or esports. Programs include, but not limited to:

• Communication Arts;
• Computer Engineering;
• Computer Science;
• Data Science;
• Digital Media Studies;
• Economics;
• English Language and Literature;
• Experimental Digital Media;
• Global Business and Digital Arts;
• Kinesiology;
• Knowledge Integration;
• Mathematics;
• Psychology;
• Public Health;
• Recreation and Leisure Studies;
• Recreation and Sports Business; and
• Software Engineering.

In support of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and supporting Indigenous initiatives (EDII), preference will be given to equity-deserving candidates or to applicants who are addressing underrepresentation issues in the gaming and esports industry.

The application deadline is October 20, 2025. Learn more about the eligibility criteria on the application form.

Advancing Huntington's disease research

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

In Dr. Dale Martin’s lab at the University of Waterloo, his team is leading biomedical research, making innovative advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and ALS.

Among the team is Yusra Kureshi (BSc ’25), recipient of the 2025 Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) Student Fellowship. Kureshi first joined the Martin lab in January as a volunteer, where her potential as a researcher quickly stood out.

Supported by the fellowship and the Faculty of Science’s summer research assistantship program, Kureshi was welcomed to Martin’s lab as a research assistant after graduating in June. Now, she is working with the research team to tackle one of the field’s greatest challenges: non-invasive delivery of gene therapeutics for treating Huntington disease.

In the Martin lab, the team is exploring nanodiscs as a non-invasive solution to deliver gene therapeutics, or small molecules known as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), into the brain. These are tiny lipid-based delivery vehicles designed to carry therapeutics deep into the brain’s tissue. Previous research has shown that attaching gene therapies to nanodiscs enhances their distribution.

“In the lab, my goal is to further refine these nanodiscs by improving how they bind to gene therapeutics,” says Kureshi. “I’m making the nanodiscs and testing them in cells and neurons to analyze their performance.”

Improving the delivery of ASOs could transform how patients receive treatment, which currently involves invasive spinal injections. Instead, patients would receive therapy through a simple vein injection with potentially better results.

For Kureshi, this research assistantship was more than gaining hands-on experience; it has been a transformative opportunity to grow as a scientist.

“When I first joined the lab, my main goal was to learn techniques and understand what doing research is really like,” she says. “But this experience has been so much more than that. I’ve worked with an advanced confocal microscope, learned about the delicate process of working with cells, and designed experiments.”

As her research assistantship comes to an end, Kureshi leaves with the confidence of having gained meaningful, hands-on experience in scientific research. She hopes that the work she contributed this summer will help improve the lives of those living with Huntington disease. The significance of this research has inspired her to pursue graduate studies in the future, with a newfound passion for advancing the field of neurodegenerative disease research.

Gear up for an art bike tour on October 4

You're invited to join the Conrad Grebel Centre for Peace and Advancement and the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) for an exciting art bike tour on Saturday, October 4 that includes visits to two on-campus art galleries. "Galleries and Gears" is a free fund-raising event, and participants are encouraged to donate to COMPASS Refugee Centre or the Social Development Centre who will be hosting their annual Ride For Refuge fundraisers that day.

"This guided cycling tour visits four exceptional galleries in one memorable day with support from CycleWR," says a note from organizers. "Our leisurely-paced rides between galleries allow plenty of time to appreciate each collection while showcasing why Waterloo region leads in both arts and cycling infrastructure. Expert marshals from Cycle WR will take you on a memorable cycling gallery tour discussing the exhibition themes of displacement, housing, cultural heritage, and environmental sustainability."

Starting at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, participants will cycle through the region's bike paths to visit and explore the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, the Grebel Gallery, and the University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UWAG).

Annual Pow Wow this weekend and other notes

This weekend, the University of Waterloo will host the 22^nd annual Powwow, a celebration of Indigenous cultures and traditions through song, dance, art and cuisine. This non-competition powwow is a one-day event featuring vendors, dancers, and singers from Waterloo Region and beyond.  

Members of the community are invited to attend this event, which is intended to be a safe, welcoming and vibrant opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to gather in celebration of Indigenization, decolonization and reconciliation. The event takes place on Saturday, September 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Columbia Icefield. Admission is $5 per person, free for students with a valid ID, seniors 50+, and children under 12. Registration is not required and all are welcome to attend.

Retiring professor Shaun Frape.

The Earth and Environmental Sciences alumni celebration takes place today beginning at 3:00 p.m. in EIT 3142. "During this event, we will also be recognizing the lasting contributions of Professor Shaun Frape, whose mentorship and dedication have shaped our department and students over the years," says a note from Earth and Environmental Sciences. "In appreciation of his impact, we will be celebrating the establishment of the Professor Shaun Frape Perseverance Award, made possible through the support and generosity of many of our alumni. We invite you to leave a message, fond memory, or photo for Shaun via our Kudo Board."

The Registrar's Office has announced that the final examination schedule for the fall term has now been published. The exam period runs from December 5 to December 18.

Information Systems & Technology (IST) has published the latest in the Atlassian blog series entitled Get a Clear View of Your Work with the Project Summary Page.

Flags on campus will be lowered on Sunday, September 28 to mark Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day.