Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Celebrating the spirit of giving on National Philanthropy Day
A message from the Office of Advancement.
Tomorrow is National Philanthropy Day, when organizations across Canada and around the world will recognize the countless ways generosity shapes our communities. It’s a day to celebrate all who give of their time, talent and treasure to the causes they care most about.
Here at Waterloo, our faculty, staff and retirees bring that spirit of giving to life every day. You express it through your daily work with students or colleagues, through volunteering your time to strengthen our community, and through your ongoing involvement and pride in the university long after retirement.
Many members of our Waterloo community choose to extend that generosity even further by making charitable gifts through the Faculty, Staff and Retiree Giving Program.
Together, you support a range of initiatives including:
- Student financial awards that acknowledge their talent and make education more accessible
- Mental health and wellness programs that ensure students have the support they need to achieve their goals
- Research that drives discovery and problem-solving
- Community projects that support local needs and build meaningful partnerships beyond campus
Every act of generosity — big or small — reflects your belief in Waterloo’s mission and your pride in being part of this community. So, as we mark National Philanthropy Day, we’re celebrating you — our faculty, staff and retirees — whose kindness, curiosity and commitment continue to shape a better future. Thank you for all you do to keep the spirit of giving alive at Waterloo.
Peter Meehan represents St. Jerome's, other Catholic universities in Rome
Pope Leo XIV and Peter Meehan discussed, among other things, Cardinals and Blue Jays. Photo supplied by Peter Meehan.
A message from St. Jerome's University.
The World Conference of University Rectors descended upon Rome from October 31 to November 2 to gather under the theme of “University, the New Way for Peace.”
St. Jerome’s University President Peter Meehan represented Canada’s vibrant Catholic Universities and gave a lecture entitled “Catholic Universities: A Path to Peace Through Intellectual and Human Formation.”
Meehan’s talk aligns with the St. Jerome’s University Strategic Plan, where the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Integral Human Formation are front and centre. The title of the Strategic Plan, “Preparing People of the World— For the World” draws from the words and legacy of Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman.
While in Rome, Meehan was invited to meet personally with Pope Leo XIV, a distinct honour and for even the luckiest Catholics, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“We talked about how fitting it was that our conference was taking place at the same time Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman was designated a Doctor of the Church, meaning he was recognized as among the Church's top saint-scholars,” Meehan reflected.
The real human connection the two made, however, centred on a more relatable topic.
“The Holy Father is a huge baseball fan,” Meehan said. “Before I could make my plug to ensure the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Pope’s prayer list, he interrupted me to say ‘Tell everyone back home I am rooting for the Blue Jays!’.”
Some prayers, apparently, go unanswered at even the highest levels.
Notwithstanding the World Series disappointment, Peter left the conference on a high note.
“Representing Canada at this conference and meeting with Pope Leo filled me both with gratitude but also with confidence for where St. Jerome’s is headed,” he said. “We are purpose built to — as Cardinal Newman said — prepare people of the world for the world. We are preparing some major initiatives to elevate our work in this regard to even higher levels, and we’re going to have a lot to say about that in the new year.”
Waterloo strengthens partnership with Can Tho University
A message from Waterloo International.
The University of Waterloo recently welcomed a delegation from Can Tho University (CTU), Vietnam, reaffirming a strong partnership grounded in shared priorities of sustainability, research excellence, and student mobility. Dr. Bessma Momani, vice-president international at the University of Waterloo opened the visit with an overview of the growing relationship, followed by remarks from Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor for the University of Waterloo who emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for both Waterloo and Canada. He highlighted Waterloo’s commitment to expanding academic collaboration and increasing opportunities for students to engage with partners like CTU.
The delegation, led by Professor Tran Trung Tinh, president/rector for the CTU, expressed appreciation for the leadership of Dr. Chris Houser, dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo and Dr. Momani, noting the natural alignment between the two institutions’ strengths, especially in environmental sciences given CTU’s location in the climate-sensitive Mekong Delta. Discussions explored new opportunities in biotechnology and aquaculture, environmental sustainability, coastal resilience research, as well as potential collaboration in business, engineering, health and logistics. CTU also offered support in connecting Waterloo with a top local high school to enhance undergraduate recruitment efforts. Both universities noted that their academic calendars align well, paving the way for deeper student mobility initiatives.
President Goel highlighted two major initiatives that reflect the momentum of the partnership. The first is the launch of EARTH 490: Mekong Delta, a new field course that will bring Waterloo students to CTU in December 2025 as part of the Global Perspectives of Science program. The second is REMEDE, a research proposal submitted to Global Affairs Canada that, if funded, will support Waterloo graduate students, postdocs, and faculty conducting sustainability research in the Mekong Delta.
The visit underscored the shared vision between Waterloo and CTU and strengthened the foundation for future collaboration. Both institutions look forward to continuing to work together to advance knowledge, support student learning, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Make your list and check it twice for the University Winter Holiday Project
Since the 1980s, CEE has an annual tradition of working with the Region of Waterloo Home Child Care to sponsor children from working low-income families, with staff across the University donating gifts on the families’ wish lists. This has become known as the University Winter Holiday Project.
"At this time, we have been able to sponsor approximately 250 children!" says a note from organizers. "Thank you so much to everyone who has signed up — we couldn’t do this without your support. This leaves us with around 200 children remaining. In an effort to make the project more available to those off campus or who may not have time to shop, we are now providing the option to purchase gift cards for families in lieu of physical presents."
"While wrapped presents are still the preferred method, if you are interested in providing gift cards, please feel free to complete our survey and specify in the last question that this is how you would like to participate! In terms of which gift card would be most appropriate, this will likely depend on the family assigned. We also recommend “generic” places, i.e. the mall, Walmart, grocery stores, etc."
"We ask anyone who is interested to please fill out the Holiday Project Survey as soon as they can."
Please note that wrapped and labelled gifts must be delivered to the Tatham Centre on Thursday, December 11 and Friday, December 12.
“A huge thank you to anyone who has already sponsored a family!” says a note from CEE. “For any questions, please contact Shannon and Abigail at holidaydrive@uwaterloo.ca.”
Strivonix: innovation in motion
Co-founders Jordan Savage (BASc ’22, MASc ’24) and Caleb Horst (BASc ’02, MASc ’04).
By William Muir.
What began as research in the University of Waterloo’s Microfluidics Laboratory has evolved into a new frontier for sports recovery technology. Strivonix, a startup co-founded by Waterloo Engineering alumni Jordan Savage (BASc ’22, MASc ’24) and Caleb Horst (BASc ’02, MASc ’04), is harnessing the power of microfluidics to bring wearable compression therapy into motion.
Born from Dr. Carolyn Ren’s decades of research in microfluidics, the precise control of fluids at microscopic scales, Strivonix integrates this advanced technology directly into athletic wear. The result is activewear capable of delivering rhythmic compression to muscles, supporting recovery and performance without the bulk of traditional systems.
The innovation draws from Dr. Ren’s Air Microfluidics technology, which enables lightweight, mobile pneumatic pumps small enough to fit into clothing. By reducing a one-kilogram compression system to roughly the weight of a smartphone, the technology allows wearers to recover on the move a breakthrough with potential far beyond sports, including medical rehabilitation and health care applications.
For Dr. Ren, who has co-founded four startups in the Waterloo region and holds nine active patents, Strivonix represents the kind of research-driven entrepreneurship that defines Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem. “All our lab’s research has an end-user in mind,” she says. “Seeing something we’ve developed being useful in the real world is what drives us.”
Co-founder Jordan Savage helped bring the concept from prototype to wearable design. Together with Caleb Horst, an experienced engineer and entrepreneur, the team is working to translate years of research into practical, user-centered technology.
Strivonix’s Python Pants, which introduces the world’s first wearable, cordless, powered compression pants designed for real movement, has a campaign currently live on Kickstarter.
Caleb Horst demonstrates the Python Pants.
Supported by the Waterloo Commercialization Office (WatCo), Velocity, the University of Waterloo innovation community, and Waterloo’s unique creator-owned IP policy, Strivonix exemplifies how academic innovation can move swiftly toward real-world impact. The company’s technology, built to enhance mobility, recovery, and performance, demonstrates how the boundary between medical and athletic applications continues to blur, driven by Waterloo researchers and alumni who turn ideas into action.
CareNext Collective event today and other notes
The next CareNext Collective event takes place online today at 12 noon and is entitled From bottleneck to breakthrough: Reducing ambulance offload times through organizational innovation. "The final CareNext Collective event for 2025 showcases one of the most meaningful operational shifts at WRHN this year: the sustained reduction of ambulance offload times across both the Queen’s Blvd and Midtown sites," says a note from organizers. "The initiative demonstrates how targeted, system-level innovation can emerge from cross-sector collaboration between emergency department leadership, paramedic services, informatics teams, patient partners, and frontline staff."
Join the conversation to explore the origins of the work, the technical and relational enablers of change, and what it takes to move a local breakthrough into a sustainable system shift. The event runs from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. online via Slido.
The Warriors Women’s Hockey team is in Owen Sound as part of the annual three-day Owen Sound Hockey Fest and will be playing a game against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at 2:00 p.m. at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
Hockey Fest is a partnership between Owen Sound Girls Hockey, local elementary and high schools, and the City of Owen Sound, with the support of the Waterloo Warriors. Read the full story on the Athletics website.
The Music department's end-of-term concerts begin tonight with the Balinese Percussion Ensemble performing at the Humanities Theatre at 7:30 p.m. "Gamelan ensembles are primarily percussive instruments made of bronze and bamboo but may include drums, bells, flutes, strings, and voice," says a note from the music department. "An oral tradition taught and learned collectively; repertoire is transmitted in a group setting without the use of sheet music. This concert will feature both the UWaterloo student Gamelan and the Grebel Community Gamelan Warga Santi."
The Gamelan is directed by Balinese artist I Dewa Made Suparta. General admission is $10 with students paying $5.
Link of the day
50 years ago: Another Green World
When and where
The Campus Wellness Student Medical Clinic offers healthcare visits with Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. Services include: vaccinations, immunity testing, naturopathic services and more. Counselling Services offers appointments with counsellors in person as well as via phone and video. Students can book appointments for these services by calling Campus Wellness at 519-888-4096.
The privately-run Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Covid booster shots are available by appointment only – please call ext. 33784 or 519-746-4500. The Student Health Pharmacy’s summer hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Naloxone kits are still available – pick them up in the pharmacy at no charge.
The Waterloo Eye Institute optometry clinics in Waterloo and downtown Kitchener offer comprehensive eye exams and eyewear, including glasses and contact lenses, with the Waterloo location offering various specialized services including urgent eye care. Discounts apply for University of Waterloo students and employees. The Waterloo Clinic is at a nearby interim location, 419C Phillip St, during construction at the School of Optometry and Vision Science. The Kitchener Clinic remains at the Health Sciences Campus, 10B Victoria St. S. Book online or by phone at 519-888-4062.
CareNext Collective event: “From bottleneck to breakthrough: Reducing ambulance offload times through organizational innovation,” Friday, November 14, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online via Slido.
Balinese Percussion Ensemble Concert, Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m., Humanities Theatre. Admission $10 general/$5 students.
Warriors Women’s Hockey vs. Toronto, Saturday, November 15, 2:00 p.m., Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, Owen Sound. Part of Owen Sound Hockey Fest. Buy your tickets today!
Film screening, “Thinking Beyond the Market: A film about genuinely affordable housing,” Sunday, November 16, 12:30 p.m., Princess Twin Cinemas, Waterloo, organized by MPP Catherine Fife’s constituency office. Register to attend.
Balsillie Technology Governance Survey deadline, Monday, November 17.
Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie promotion, Monday, November 17 to Sunday, November 23, cookies are $2 with 100 per cent of proceeds donated to charity, available at Tim Hortons locations across campus.
Theatre and Performance presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Reimagined, Tuesday, November 18 to Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m., Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages.
Chemistry seminar, "Self-immolative polymers: Designing, synthesizing, and applying polymers that fall apart," featuring Elizabeth R. Gillies, Professor, Department of Chemistry; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Tuesday, November 18, 11:00 a.m., C2-361 (Reading Room)
Campus meditation session, Tuesday, November 18, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., HLTH EXP 1686. No registration required. Contact fmcalist@uwaterloo.ca if you have any questions.
Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) Webinar, Driving Towards the Future: Deployments, Designs, and Challenges of Autonomous Vehicles, Tuesday, November 18, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. online via Zoom. Register on the WatCAR website.
WaterLeadership - Sharing Science: Effective presentations, presented by Elise Vist, Workshops and Integrated Programs Coordinator, Writing and Communication Centre, Wednesday, November 19, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., DC 1304. Part of the Water Institute WaterLeadership training series.
Community Well-being Fruits and Veg Market, Wednesday, November 19, 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. (while supplies last), Engineering 7 first floor (by the Robohub) and Health Expansion Building first floor foyer.
Noon Hour Concert: Duo Oriano, Bards of Bloor Street, Wednesday, November 19, 12 noon, Conrad Grebel University College Chapel. Free admission.
Science in the City, Wednesday, November 19, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Velocity Information Arena, 280 Joseph Street, Kitchener. Register today.
2025 Sawatsky Lecture featuring the Rev. Dr. Braxton Shelley, “The Gospel Imagination,” Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.
WaterTalk - Compound flood and drought hazards in a changing climate: Implications for risk and resilience, presented by Reza Najafi, Professor and head of the Hydroclimate Extremes and Climate Change Lab, Western University. Thursday, November 20, 11:00 a.m., DC 1302.
Gospel Music Workshop by Rev. Dr. Braxton D. Shelley, Thursday, November 20, 7:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel chapel.
Warriors Women’s Volleyball vs. Lakehead, Friday, November 21, 6:00 p.m., Carl Totzke Court, PAC. Camps and Minor Leagues Day, Employee Day (Limited free tickets available sponsored by Hilton. Email WarriorsTickets@uwaterloo.ca for coupon code). Buy your tickets today!
Warriors Men’s Volleyball vs. RMC, Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m., Carl Totzke Court, PAC. Camps and Minor Leagues Day, Employee Day (Limited free tickets available sponsored by Hilton. Email WarriorsTickets@uwaterloo.ca for coupon code). Buy your tickets today!
If the Earth Could Sing: University Choir and Chamber Choir in Concert, Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m., St Matthew’s Centre, 54 Benton St, Kitchener. Admission $10 general/$5 student.
NEW - Love Letters from Bohemia: Orchestra@UWaterloo concert, Sunday, November 23, 7:30 p.m., Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb St. West Waterloo. Admission $10 general/ $5 students.
XChanges Speaker Series: Vincent Kuber, “Mentorship Through Play,” Monday, November 24, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m., SLC Black and Gold Room.
WCMR: Beyond the Search Bar: AI Tools for Smarter Literature Reviews, Tuesday, November 25, 11:30 a.m., EV1 221. Please register to attend.
WISE Public Lecture, "Strategic Role of Energy Storage in Clean Energy Transitions"byJason Rioux, Chief Development Officer, NRStor, Tuesday, November 25, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., in person in Engineering 2 (E2), Room 2350 and on Zoom. Register today!
NEW - Campus meditation session, Tuesday, November 25, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., HLTH EXP 1686. No registration required. Contact fmcalist@uwaterloo.ca if you have any questions.
Years of Service event, Tuesday, November 25, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Federation Hall.
Global Futures Ideas Exchange, Wednesday, November 26, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, SLC Black and Gold Room.
Responding to a student in distress training sessions: Virtual sessions to feel more confident when supporting students in distress, Wednesday, November 26, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Register on Portal.
Connected and Collaborative Research Panel event, Wednesday, November 26, 3:00 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. (panel), 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (reception), TC 2218. Please register to attend as seating is limited.
NEW - 2025 Winterfest Artisan Market, Thursday, November 27, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, November 28, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Student Life Centre (SLC) Multipurpose Room.
PhD oral defences
Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Taha Waqar, “Design of high strength aluminum alloys for directed energy deposition additive manufacturing.” Supervisor, Dr. Michael Benoit. Thesis available via SharePoint – email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Wednesday, November 19, 12 noon, E5 2004.
English Language and Literature. Kem-Laurin Lubin, “Ethotic Heuristics in Artificial Intelligence: A Rhetorical Framework for Guiding Responsible Data Design Praxis in Healthcare and Surveillance.” Supervisors, Dr. Randy Harris, Dr. Lai-Tze Fan. Thesis available upon request from the Faculty of Arts Graduate Studies and Research Officer. Oral defence Friday, November 21, 1:00 p.m., PAS 2464 and hybrid.
School of Public Health Sciences. Cameron B. Chiarot, "Health System Resilience for Climate Change Adaptation: An Empirical Evaluation of Access and Utilization in Western Province, Zambia." Supervisor, Dr. Zahid Ahmad Butt; Email Health Graduate Administration for a copy. Oral defence Tuesday, November 25, 12 noon, EXP 1686 and hybrid.
Chemical Engineering. Qianyi Ma, “Electrolytes Design for Metal-based Anode Batteries.” Supervisor, Dr. Aiping Yu. Thesis available via SharePoint – email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Wednesday, November 26, 9:00 a.m., E6-2022.
Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Stephen Robinson-Enebeli, “Investigating the origins of observed data-model discrepancies during time-resolved laser-induced incandescence.” Supervisors, Dr. Kyle Duan, Dr. Christof Schulz. Thesis available via SharePoint – email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Wednesday, November 26, 11:00 a.m., E5 3052.
Upcoming service interruptions
Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:
- School of Optometry temporary washroom closures, Thursday, September 25 until further notice, washrooms in Rooms 2023, 2026, and 3040 are out of service.
- Science Teaching Complex main atrium skylight replacement, Monday, November 3 to Friday, November 21, installation of a crash deck system below the skylight to facilitate the installation of new glass, scaffold will be present on the 3rd floor by the elevator, limiting seating areas during the day.
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North parking lot at RAC-1 shoring activity, Monday, November 10 to January 1, 2026, shoring, pile driving, lagging and tie-backs will take place between November 10 to the end of December 2025 as part of WaterFEL construction, traffic restrictions and limited access to be in place, excessive noise and vibration may occur in the work area.
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Environment 1, 2 and 3, Modern Languages, Dana Porter Library, Needles Hall fire alarm testing, Friday, November 14, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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East Campus 4, East Campus 5 fire alarm testing, Friday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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Biology 1 domestic cold water shutdown, Saturday, November 15, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., domestic cold hard water shutdown to accommodate metering installation, no water to sinks.
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Biology 2 domestic cold water shutdown, Saturday, November 15, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., domestic cold water (hard and soft) to accommodate metering installation, no water to sinks.
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Centre for Environment & Information Technology, Earth Science & Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry 2 fire alarm testing, Monday, November 17, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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Village 1 fire alarm testing, Monday, November 17, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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Carl Pollock Hall, Douglas Wright Engineering, South Campus Hall, Rod Coutts Hall, Grad House fire alarm testing, Wednesday, November 19, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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General Services Complex, Commissary, Central Plant fire alarm testing, Wednesday, November 19, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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B.C. Matthews Hall building addition domestic hot water shutdown, Wednesday, November 19, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., domestic hot water shutdown for supply water to accommodate metering installation, no hot water to sinks.
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B.C. Matthews Hall and Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health domestic hot water shutdown, Thursday, November 20, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., domestic hot water shutdown to accommodate metering installation, no hot water to sinks.
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Chemistry 2 cold water shutdown, Saturday, November 22, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., domestic cold water shutdown to accommodate metering installation, no water to sinks.