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Dreaming in colour
This is the latest in a series showcasing articles in Waterloo Magazine.
Stephanie Boutari’s (BAS ’11, MArch ’14) is a successful artist, and her colourful murals appear in commercial and public spaces across Ontario. However, her journey to this point has been a long and winding one as she gained the confidence to pursue her true passion.
Art was one of Boutari’s favorite things to do, but she didn’t think it was a realistic option to pursue professionally - as a teenager, she decided to enrol in architecture, hoping that it would provide her with a stable career path while also being a creative outlet.
But the 9 to 5 grind wore her down, and a health scare made her realize that trusting her gut and pursuing her passion for art would lead her to true success, happiness and fulfillment.
Read more about Boutari’s experience in the Waterloo Magazine.
More than 2,500 innovators join Waterloo's alumni club
This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.
With jubilation and excitement, family, friends, faculty and staff came together this past weekend to recognize hard work and perseverance and usher more than 2,500 changemakers from students to alumni.
Behind the five ceremonies at the 129th convocation was a team of ambassadors, ushers, wayfinders, stage support and accessibility assistants, including 84 staff and alumni volunteers and 55 students who ensured a memorable experience for thousands of Waterloo graduates and their families.
“As we celebrated convocation this past weekend, I was inspired by the countless achievements and successes of our graduates,” said Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor. “Waterloo graduates are known for integrating knowledge and innovation across disciplines. They are known for their courage, creativity and resilience. Above all, they are known for approaching challenges in unique ways and uncovering impactful solutions.”
A total of 154 doctoral, 1,072 master’s and 1,217 undergraduate degrees were conferred during Fall 2024 Convocation.
Installing a new chancellor
Dr. Jagdeep Singh Bachher (BASc ’93, MASc ’94, PhD ’00) was installed as Waterloo’s 12th Chancellor during the first convocation ceremony. The chancellor serves as the University’s ceremonial head, representing the institution at public events, presiding over convocation ceremonies and conferring degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Read the rest of the article on Waterloo News
Dr. Geoffrey Fong named to Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
This article was originally published on the Faculty of Arts website.
Congratulations to Dr. Geoffrey Fong, FRSC, who has been named a Canadian Medical Hall of Fame inductee! Fong is recognized for being a world-leading public health researcher, and will be one of six Canadians to join the hall of fame at an induction ceremony in June 2025.
A professor in the Department of Psychology and cross-appointed to the School of Public Health Sciences, Fong is the Founder and Chief Principal Investigator of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (the ITC Project), the first international cohort study of tobacco use. The ITC Project evaluates the psychosocial and behavioural impact of policies of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s first health treaty.
Induction to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is an addition to Fong’s long list of national and international honours and awards for his work addressing the global health threat of tobacco use — the number one preventable cause of death in Canada and the world. Among those honours, Fong was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2021.
Read recent Waterloo News stories on Fong’s research impacts: Strengthening actions to end tobacco use; How science improved the health of millions worldwide; More than a million smokers likely to quit after U.S. bans menthol cigarettes.
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world and fosters future generations of health professionals. Fong and fellow inductees will be celebrated at a ceremony held in association with McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences on June 19, 2025.
Congratulations, again, Dr. Fong!
A Trojan horse treatment for neurodegenerative disease
By Vanessa Parks. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Faculty of Science website.
When asked about his research, Dr. Dale Martin has a simple answer. “We study why cells in the brain die in the hopes of developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases,” he explains. On the other side of his office wall, his lab hums like something big is in the works. And it is.
Martin is a recipient of Brain Canada’s 2023 Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program, which supports emerging brain researchers working to develop cures for anything from depression to Alzheimer’s disease to brain injury.
Martin’s research explores genetic mutations that lead to neurodegenerative diseases. An emerging therapy for these diseases includes antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small molecules that can target genetic changes to prevent mutant proteins from forming, thereby delaying the progression of diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy. ASOs are also showing great potential in treating Huntington’s disease.
To get ASOs past the blood-brain barrier, standard treatments involve injections directly into the spinal cord. Martin’s team has come up with a less invasive treatment solution. They have developed small carriers, called nanoparticles, that use proteins expressed in the liver to carry ASOs across the blood-brain barrier. These nanoparticles can be injected into the bloodstream.
“What we’ve done is hijack high-density lipoprotein (HDL), a cholesterol transporter,” Martin explains. “This protein needs to get to the brain, so we’ve modified it to carry ASOs, sort of like a trojan horse.”
With the funding from this Brain Canada grant, Martin and his team will focus specifically on a rare cluster of diseases called multisystem proteinopathy (MSP), which affect the brain as well as the bone and muscle. MSP is caused by mutations in the Valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene. Patients with this mutation, even members of the same family, can develop disease in any combination of these systems, while also developing ALS.
“I’m excited to be able to do more research directly into VCP disease because it is so rare and not a lot of research has been done in this area,” Martin says. “I’m happy to use this platform to help VCP disease patients and do a deeper dive into this space and how it relates to ALS. Through the Cure VCP Disease foundation, I’ve had the opportunity to meet multiple MSP patients and listen to their stories, which has inspired me and my lab to try to find new treatments for MSP. We are grateful for their co-operation and support for this project, which includes patients’ genome sequences.”
Read the full article on the Faculty of Science website.
Board of Governors meets today and other notes
The University's Board of Governors has its last meeting of 2024 today in NH 3407 at 1:30 p.m. Among the agenda items:
- From the Building & Properties Committee, a motion that University of Waterloo lands be utilized for a Geothermal Bore Holes Project; that university administration be authorized to finalize the location of the project and report back to the Building & Properties Committee for information; and that material changes to the use of land proceed through the regular approval channels of the Building & Properties Committee and Board of Governors, as appropriate.
Some background on that motion: In 2022, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering submitted a Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant application for a geothermal bore holes project with the goal of creating a site on campus to conduct geothermal energy research. In 2024, the University implemented a new approach to CFI grants to ensure that grant applications include appropriate oversight and planning for building impacts, costs, and location prior to submission. This process will ensure that appropriate planning and approvals are in place prior to the CFI award. To proceed with the project, appropriate approvals for zoning and bylaws will also be required for the installation of the geo-exchange system and drilling of boreholes in an area near Columbia Lake.
From the Finance & Investment Committee:
- a motion to approve changes to the Endowment Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures;
- a motion to approve changes to the IQC Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures.
From the Pension & Benefits Committee:
- A motion to approve Amendment Number 10 to the University of Waterloo Pension Plan for faculty and staff;
- a motion to approve changes to the Pension Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures (SIPP).
From the Governance Committee:
- A motion to approve changes to Board By-law 1;
- a motion to approve the proposed Guidelines for Visitors to Board meetings.
From the consent agenda:
- A motion to approve the sabbatical and special leaves in accordance with Policy 3–Sabbatical and Other Leaves for Faculty Members.
The Board will also hear an update on the Campus Master Plan, the annual report from the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office and receive a mid-year update on the 2024-2025 Operating Budget.
The Quantum Nano Fabrication and Characterization Facility (QNFCF) and Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) are hosting a Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Open House today from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at QNC 0101 to celebrate one year since the launch of the QNFCF's advanced S/TEM capabilities.
"The morning will start with a series of engaging presentations covering the latest advancements in TEM technology, sample preparation techniques, and data analysis methods," says a note from organizers. "Speakers will include QNFCF staff and expert engineers from JEOL and Gatan. Following the talks, there will be opportunities to tour our metrology facility to explore advanced instrumentation and learn about the processes involved in sample preparation and characterization.In the afternoon, participants will have opportunities to attend live TEM sessions hosted by Nicki Shaw and JEOL engineer Dr. Patrick Phillips."
Join EDGE and CCD for the Fall 2024 Volunteer Fair today in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This annual event offers students an opportunity to meet local organizations that are recruiting volunteers. Representatives from 30 local organizations, including Grand River Hospital, Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and the Mennonite Central Committee will be present to speak with current students about their organizations' mission and volunteering needs. "Volunteering is a great way to develop skills and gain experiences that can be showcased on a résumé and discussed in an interview," the Volunteer Fair's website reads. "For those looking to give back to the community, it is a fulfilling way to contribute to local causes. It also provides an excellent opportunity for networking."
Oh, and there will be free popcorn for all participating students. Just follow your nose to the Great Hall.
Stiff neck? Low back pain from sitting at a desk all day? Wrist or elbow pain from computing? Myofascial rolling can help! The next W3+ event, Stretches and Myofascial Rolling for the Office Job, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 30 from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. in PAC Studio 3.
"Myofascial rolling (MFR) is a form of self-massage using small foam massage balls," says a note from the W3+ organizers. "Similar to foam rolling or getting a massage, MFR helps break down places where connective and muscle tissues are stuck to each other, providing pain relief and returning connective tissues to their natural length. This gentle practice helps relieve postural strain for desk workers or those who work on their feet all day. It's also an excellent complement to running, sports, or strength training practices. Join Alana Rigby as she walks you through the basics of MFR, providing choices for you to find the best self-massage techniques for your posture and lifestyle. Attendees should bring: a yoga mat (or borrow a studio mat), comfy clothes to move in, and a water bottle. Tune-up balls for self-massage will be provided. Register here."
W3+ bills itself as Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays and is "a community of womxn and nonbinary grad students, post-docs, staff and faculty. We aim to foster a social and support network among womxn and nonbinary members of the UW community."