Tuesday, March 17, 2026

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• Waterloo to host national women’s hockey championship

• Beating cancer by eating cancer

• Waterloo expands global AI partnerships in India

• Student group hosts celebration of Black culture

Waterloo to host national women’s hockey championship

The University of Waterloo Warriors in partnership with U SPORTS will once again host the top eight women's hockey teams from universities across Canada. 

The 2026 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship will feature 11 games, all taking place at the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira from March 19 to 22. All games will air on CBC Sports' digital platforms, including CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca and CBC Sports' YouTube channel, while the gold medal game will be broadcast live on CBC-TV for the first time in the championship’s history. 

The eight best Women's Hockey teams in Canada will compete for the Championship. The teams competing represent the University of British Columbia, the University of Manitoba, Concordia University, l'Université de Montréal, the University of Guelph, the University of Ottawa, the University of New Brunswick and the University of Waterloo.  

Get Gold Rush Rally Student Packages for a pre-event party and transportation from campus to the Championship (and back). 

The tournament begins Thursday afternoon with the first quarter-final game at 3:00 p.m. and the second game at 7:00 p.m., which will also include the formal opening ceremonies. The quarter-finals continue on Friday with two games, and the consolation semis and semifinal games take place on Saturday. The bronze medal game takes place at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, with the gold medal game taking place at 3:00 p.m.

The full schedule is available on the U Sports website. 

Beating cancer by eating cancer

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

A research team led by the University of Waterloo is developing a novel tool to treat cancer by engineering hungry bacteria to literally eat tumours from the inside out. 

“Bacteria spores enter the tumour, finding an environment where there are lots of nutrients and no oxygen, which this organism prefers, and so it starts eating those nutrients and growing in size,” said Dr. Marc Aucoin, a chemical engineering professor at Waterloo. “So, we are now colonizing that central space, and the bacterium is essentially ridding the body of the tumour.” 

Key to the approach is a bacterium called Clostridium sporogenes, which is commonly found in soil and can only grow in environments with absolutely no oxygen. 

The core of a solid, cancerous tumour is comprised of dead cells and is oxygen-free, making it an ideal breeding ground for the bacterium to multiply. 

But there is a biological catch: when the cancer-eating organisms reach the outer edges of tumours, they are exposed to low levels of oxygen and die without completing their mission to fully destroy them. 

To solve that problem, the researchers first added a gene to the organism from a related bacterium that can better tolerate oxygen, enabling it to live longer near the outside of a targeted tumour. 

They then found a way to activate the oxygen-resistant gene at just the right time – critical to preventing bacteria from inadvertently growing in oxygen-rich places such as the bloodstream – by leveraging a phenomenon known as quorum sensing. 

In simple terms, quorum sensing involves chemical signals released by bacteria. Only when many bacteria have grown in a tumour is the signal strong enough to turn on the oxygen-resistant gene, ensuring it doesn’t happen too soon. 

In one study, researchers demonstrated that Clostridium sporogenes can be modified to tolerate oxygen. In a follow-up study, they tested their quorum sensing system by making bacteria produce a green fluorescent protein. 

“Using synthetic biology, we built something like an electrical circuit, but instead of wires we used pieces of DNA,” said Dr. Brian Ingalls, a professor of applied mathematics at Waterloo. “Each piece has its job. When assembled correctly, they form a system that works in a predictable way.”  

Researchers now plan to combine the oxygen-resistant gene and the quorum-sensing timing mechanism in one bacterium and test it on a tumour in pre-clinical trials. 

The promising project grew out of work by PhD student Bahram Zargar, who was supervised by Ingalls and Dr. Pu Chen, a retired professor of chemical engineering at Waterloo. The work reflects Waterloo’s broader emphasis on interdisciplinary health innovation. Our engineers, mathematicians and life scientists are collaborating to design technology-enabled solutions that translate discovery into practical care.  

Waterloo researchers partnered with the Center for Research on Environmental Microbiology (CREM Co Labs), a Toronto company co-founded by Dr. Zargar, on the project. The group includes Dr. Sara Sadr, a former Waterloo doctoral student who had a leading role in the research.   

Waterloo expands global AI partnerships in India

Waterloo delegation members Vivek Goel, Mary Wells, and Sanjeev Gill pose with the Honourable Evan Solomon at the AI Impact Summit following the MOU signings.

By Emma Pavlovich. This article was originally published on the WatSPEED website.

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries and economies, the University of Waterloo is deepening its engagement in India to strengthen the leadership, research, and talent systems needed to compete responsibly in a global AI economy.

During a high-level executive breakfast on February 20, convened in collaboration with the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC), the University signed two strategic Memoranda of Understanding with upGrad and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to strengthen Canada–India cooperation in responsible AI leadership and next-generation talent development.

The agreements reinforce Waterloo’s long-term global engagement strategy by connecting academic excellence, industry leadership, and international education platforms to accelerate responsible AI adoption.

“AI is reshaping not only how organizations operate, but how economies grow and societies function,” says Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor, University of Waterloo. “This moment requires leaders who can translate technological advancement into responsible strategy and sustainable growth. Through these global partnerships, we are strengthening executive capability and the connections needed to guide transformation with confidence and integrity.”

Timed to coincide with the AI Impact Summit, the invitation-only breakfast brought together approximately 60 C-suite leaders from Indian industry and members of the University for dialogue focused on AI, workforce transformation, talent development, and Canada–India collaboration.

The engagement underscores Waterloo’s role as a catalyst for cross-border innovation, connecting Canadian academic and research excellence with international industry networks. The presence of the Honourable Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation as well as Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, reinforced the strategic importance of Canada–India collaboration at a pivotal moment for AI-driven economic transformation.

“Canada’s strength in AI has always been rooted in research excellence and trusted institutions,” says Solomon. “By deepening partnerships in India, we are expanding the global networks that turn discovery into real economic opportunity. This collaboration between Waterloo, upGrad, and TCS reflects the kind of practical, forward-looking cooperation that will define the next chapter of the Canada–India innovation relationship.”

The partnerships reflect Waterloo’s commitment to advancing technology and economic systems through interdisciplinary, globally connected collaboration. By integrating research excellence, applied innovation, and executive capability-building, the University is working to ensure AI advancement is matched by responsible governance and long-term economic resilience.

The agreements bring together Waterloo’s research and academic expertise — mobilized through its professional and executive education arm, WatSPEED — alongside upGrad’s international higher education platform and TCS’s global industry network. Waterloo’s longstanding integration of co-operative education, research excellence, and industry collaboration provides a distinctive foundation for this model of international talent development.

“Enterprises need leaders and teams who can integrate emerging technologies into strategy, operations, and customer experience,” says Soumen Roy, executive director and country head, TCS Canada. “Through this partnership, we are strengthening the capabilities required to modernize industries and build future-ready organizations across global markets.”

Under the agreements, the partners will deliver immersive executive learning experiences, co-design modular workshops and masterclasses in areas such as AI governance and digital transformation, and establish graduate mobility pathways that enable eligible learners to be considered for Waterloo graduate programs, subject to admissions criteria.

"upGrad is proud to partner with the University of Waterloo at a time when AI has become the core operating layer of global industry,” says Myleeta Aga Williams, CEO, upGrad International. “This collaboration to deliver executive education in AI capability building creates a high-capacity bridge between India’s tech talent and world-class Canadian innovation. This is a critical step in building the global workforce for a digital-first economy."

As AI becomes foundational to economic growth worldwide, Waterloo’s partnership with upGrad and TCS strengthens the systems that develop talent, deepen industry integration and enable responsible AI innovation at scale.

Student group hosts celebration of Black culture

A message from UW BASE (Black Association of Student Expression).

UW BASE (Black Association of Student Expression) is proud to present the Legacy in Motion: Melanin Masterpiece Showcase, a vibrant celebration of Black culture as a living, evolving force. Here, we define “legacy” as the active contributions to creativity through self-expression and community.

This theme operates on two powerful levels. Legacy in Motion captures the foundational influence of Black artistry across the span of generations. It captures our culture as present and innovative contributions, rather than confined to history books. On the other hand, Melanin Masterpiece shifts the focus inwards. It frames Black identity as a unique work of art, cultivated from one’s lived experiences and perspectives.

Ultimately, these two themes converge to create a cycle of inspiration: the culture informs the artist, the artist reshapes the culture, and the legacy continues through expression.

This year’s Showcase brings these concepts to life through a joyous celebration of excellence. Guests will be treated to a powerful setlist of performances, including singing, dancing, and poetry, all curated to move your soul! Of course, we are also thrilled to feature two powerful keynote speakers who will offer deep reflections and insights on our theme and the future of Black expression.

Beyond the stage, attendees are highly encouraged to browse local vendors with traditional African and Caribbean jewelry, fashion pieces, and hair/skin care. Lastly, what makes an event without a proper meal? We are thrilled to be partnering with Island Queens this year, a Hamilton-based Caribbean restaurant. Guests can enjoy signature barbify chicken, rice and peas, and more!

Secure your ticket now.