Canada's Largest Engineering School

A Waterloo Engineering research team has received federal funding to develop a made-in-Canada solution to one of the country's most pressing environmental challenges.

Dr. Sushanta Mitra, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, along with chemical engineering professors Dr. Boxin Zhao and Dr. Nasser Mohieddin Abukhdeir, has been awarded $600,000 through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Call for Proposals on Plastics Science and Innovation for a Cleaner and More Sustainable Future. 

Researchers at Waterloo Engineering used nanotechnology to develop a new formulation that is both greener and more effective than existing methods for applying pesticides to plants.

Their water-based solution reduces costly waste and environmental contamination by making pesticides stick to plant leaves better – even in wind and rain – minimizing splash and runoff.

A PhD student in the Faculty of Engineering has been recognized for exceptional contributions to teaching and learning at the University of Waterloo.

Ryan Tennant, a systems design engineering doctoral student, is the recipient of the 2026 Certificate in University Teaching (CUT) Award, presented by the Centre for Teaching Excellence. The CUT program recognizes graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate a strong commitment to evidence-based, inclusive teaching.