Friday, August 28, 2026

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• Waterloo welcomes inaugural Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs
• Dr. Heather Henderson appointed Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives
• Fundamentals of life in the lab: Celebrating Tan Dinh’s 34 years at Waterloo
• SEASON PREVIEW: Warriors look to “walk the walk, and not talk it anymore” ahead of 2026 campaign

Waterloo welcomes inaugural Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs

This is an excerpt from an article originally published on Waterloo News.

The University of Waterloo is thrilled to welcome internationally recognized researchers from the U.S. and the U.K. through the Government of Canada’s Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program, reinforcing Canada’s capacity to address complex health, societal and economic challenges through world-leading research. 

Dr. Talia Bettcher and Dr. James Wolffsohn will receive long-term funding and institutional support to lead ambitious research programs aligned with Canada’s strategic priorities. Their work will advance gender-based violence prevention and transgender community resilience, as well as innovations in equitable eye care and vision-loss prevention. 

The appointments are part of a broader $1.7 billion Government of Canada investment through the Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative, aimed at strengthening Canada’s research excellence through strategic international recruitment and talent attraction. At the centre of the initiative is the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program, which will provide up to $1 billion over 12 years to help Canadian post-secondary institutions recruit exceptional international researchers who will inspire the next generation of talented researchers, innovators and leaders. 

“At a time when parts of the world are turning away from science, Canada is doubling down,” says the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “Attracting top talent will deliver breakthroughs that improve Canadians’ lives and advance Canada’s position as a global leader in science and innovation. By expanding Canada’s talent pipeline and research capacity in areas that are vital to our prosperity and sovereignty, we are helping build the strongest economy in the G7.”

The program honours the late public servant and policy advisor Eddie Goldenberg, whose leadership helped shape Canada’s research and innovation landscape and reflected a longstanding belief that attracting exceptional global talent is essential to Canada’s prosperity and competitiveness.  

Read the full story.

Dr. Heather Henderson appointed Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives 

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Heather Henderson as Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives, effective September 1, 2026, for a 2-year term," wrote Martin Cooke, Associate Vice-President, Academic in a memo to the University's Executive Council yesterday afternoon.

Heather joined the University of Waterloo in 2014 as a faculty member in the School of Psychology and has recently served as Chair from 2019 to 2025. She will continue to serve as Director of the Social Development Lab, pursuing research that focuses on understanding individual and environmental factors that influence social engagement and development.

"Heather brings extensive academic leadership experience and a collaborative approach to the role. Before joining Waterloo, she served as Associate Director within the Child Division of the University of Miami's Department of Psychology. At Waterloo, she has contributed to a range of departmental, faculty, and University-wide initiatives that have enhanced academic planning, improved processes, and advanced institutional priorities," the memo continues.

In her leadership roles, Heather works across the University to provide a strong foundation for supporting academic leaders and advancing initiatives that span faculties and academic units.

As Assistant Vice-President, Academic Leadership and Strategic Initiatives, Heather will oversee the Academic Leadership Program and guide several initiatives within the Associate Vice-President, Academic portfolio, including supporting evaluation activities.
 

Fundamentals of life in the lab: Celebrating Tan Dinh’s 34 years at Waterloo

This is an excerpt from an article that was originally on the Waterloo Science website.

By: Vanessa Parks, Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist

Tan Dinh, senior lab instructor in Physics and Astronomy, is retiring after 34 years at Waterloo.

“I’ve been here more than half my life,” notes Dinh, flashing a charismatic smile. Whether he’s in the lab or just walking the halls, his smile has become familiar to students and colleagues alike. He loves what he does, and his enthusiasm is hard to miss.

Dinh came to Canada in 1980 as one of the Vietnamese Boat People and first set foot on campus in 1986 as a graduate student in physics. He accepted a position as a lab technician in 1992. While the field has changed significantly during his time here, Dinh remains rooted in the fundamentals.

“Innovation isn’t about new and shiny things,” says Dinh. “It comes from returning to the fundamentals and finding new ways to look at them.”

This approach informs Dinh’s innovative lab design, which he considers his most valuable contribution to the department. He’s a bit of a MacGyver when it comes to lab equipment, and over the years, he’s built labs across the department, including optic labs.

“Modifying equipment in the lab is often better than buying new,” he says. “We can make things that are unique to our purposes, repairable, and less expensive – and students learn in the process.”

He also encourages his students to focus on fundamental skills. With new technology, he’s noticed changes in how students take notes in class. He encourages them to go back to the basics here, too. Rather than just scrambling to take everything down, good notetaking focuses on areas of interest and challenging concepts.

“You don’t need to record what you already know,” he says. “Instead, focus on what’s new and interesting. If you cultivate knowledge and understanding in this way, the mark will follow.”

Read the full story.

SEASON PREVIEW: Warriors look to “walk the walk, and not talk it anymore” ahead of 2026 campaign

This is an excerpt from an article on the Waterloo Athletics website.

By: Cameron Stirrup

"Let's walk the walk, and not talk it anymore" is the message head coach Chris Bertoia is instilling into the mindsets of the 107 rostered, who will make up his football team in 2026.  

Your Warriors on the gridiron are gearing up for eight weeks of action, and a clean slate ahead of them. Armed with an encouraging mix of youth and experience, Bertoia enters his 11th season in charge, eager for more magic moments. 

Coming off a 2-6 season in 2025, The Warriors' opponent in week one remains as the Ottawa Gee-Gees for the second straight season. In total, the Warriors will face seven of the same opponents in 2026. In weeks two and three, the Warriors will play away, with trips to Queen's and Carleton respectively. Week five will see them on the road in Guelph, taking on the Gryphons for the first time in two seasons. The team will conclude the regular season with a week eight showdown at York on October 24. 

Apart from facing the Gee Gees in their home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Warrior Field, Waterloo rounds out their home schedule by welcoming in the: 

Windsor Lancers	Homecoming & Employee Day	Sep 19 (Sat)	1 p.m. (Warrior Field)
Laurier Golden Hawks	Battle of Waterloo	Oct 3 (Sat)	1 p.m. (Warrior Field)
McMaster Marauders	Senior Game	Oct 17 (Sat)	1 p.m. (Warrior Field)

Tickets for every regular season home game are on sale now at gowarriorsgo.ca/tickets. UW students receive free admission by tapping their WatCard at the gate. 

Read the full story.