Current students

The importance of liquid fuels in transportation is well established, yet, there are presently no viable options for their cost-effective production from renewable feedstocks.  During the past 15 years we have been developing in my lab a system for the conversion of gas mixtures of hydrogen (or CO) and CO2 to oils or alkanes. The two-stage system comprises anaerobic fixation of CO2 and conversion of the CO2 fixation product (for example, acetate) to lipids, from which biodiesel can be produced. In another application, the CO2 fixation product is converted to alkanes. Our work includes both the engineering of the microbes and development of a process to achieve gas to liquid conversion in prototype systems. These systems are scalable, make no use of land (beyond what is needed for generating renewable electricity for hydrogen production), do not compete with food and are cost competitive based on high level cost analysis. I will present the essential features of this process in my talk; full details can be found in the 5 papers cited.

IPR Distinguished lecture featuring Professor Timothy Swager. Speaking on Intrinsically Porous Organic Polymers in Sensing and Catalysis

Join us for a special milestone marking the 10th Anniversary of the University of Waterloo Water Institute Collaborative Water Program (CWP)! It's time to celebrate 10 remarkable cohorts of CWP graduates from the most interdisciplinary water graduate program in Canada.

The Water Institute and the Collaborative Water Program team are delighted to organize this anniversary celebration welcoming our alumni back to Waterloo,
offering a platform to exchange your experiences and insights from the water sector and beyond. Be part of this exciting gathering and get ready to reminisce and forge new connections at the upcoming event!

The anniversary celebration program includes:

Welcome

Nandita Basu
Director, Collaborative Water Program
Canada Research Chair in Global Water Sustainability and Ecohydrology
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Environmental Sciences

CWP Alumni Panel

Rob De Loë
Facilitator, Director Emeritus, Collaborative Water Program
Professor & Associate Dean, Research
Faculty of Environment, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS)

Catherine Brown
Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, Ducks Unlimited, CWP Cohort 2 (2014/15)

Sabrina Bedjera
Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Canada, CWP Cohort 3 (2015/16)

Thadshayini Chandrakumaran
Associate, Miller Thomson, CWP Cohort 3 (2015/16)

Frederick Cheng
Postdoctoral Fellow, Colorado State University, CWP Cohort 3 (2015/16)

Chris Muirhead
Water Resources Engineer | Integrated Water Management Service Line Coordinator, GHD, CWP Cohort 4 (2016/17)

Laina Timberg
Indigenous Community Relations Specialist, Metrolinx, CWP Cohort 8 (2020/21)

Keynote Address

Bruce MacVicar
Director Emeritus, Collaborative Water Program
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Tony Maas, Senior Policy Officer, Office of the Prime Minister of Canada

Special Announcement

Mark Servos
Director Emeritus, Collaborative Water Program
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Water Quality Protection
Faculty of Science, Department of Biology

Closing remarks and adjournment

Dustin Garrick
Director Designate 2024-25, Collaborative Water Program
Associate Professor & University Research Chair
Faculty of Environment, School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability

Reception

The evening reception offers a chance to unwind and connect with fellow alumni, CWP faculty, and current students over refreshments and appetizers. Do not miss this special anniversary celebration filled with knowledge sharing, networking, and reminiscing.

We can't wait to welcome you back to Waterloo!

Friday, November 3, 2023
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (Program)
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Reception)
SLC Black and Gold Room
University of Waterloo

Join David Correa, Associate Professor in the School of Architecture for a seminar on the implementation of state of the art digital fabrication tools (robotic manipulators, 4D printers and CNC milling) to develop innovative and high-performance design solutions for industrial and architectural applications.

With recent waves of layoffs, high-profile workplace harassment cases, and a notoriously short career length for gender minorities and people of colour, the transition of new workers into the game industry involves navigating a spate of barriers to equity and success that have been understudied in academic research. The First Three Years is an ongoing longitudinal study of graduates of game programs in Canada and the United States, following the journey of 207 students as they move into the game industry. In this workshop, our research team will summarise the primary challenges students have identified in their game programs. This summary includes equity and diversity issues inherent in common curricular practices such as the efficacy of capstone courses and internships, the inclusion of crunch-like practices in the classroom, the systematic failure to inform students of actual workplace conditions, and the mismatch between student preparation and industry hiring practices. Afterwards, participants will address whether/how these problems manifest in their own institutions, and what solutions might improve equity outcomes for students seeking careers in games.

This event is part of the “ADE for Game Communities: Enculturing Anti-Racism, Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ADE) in Games Research and Creation” series from the ADE Committee of the Games Institute, University of Waterloo, and is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, increase balance and stillness, increase awareness, and even expand acceptance and compassion for yourself and others.  Each week will vary slightly. “Practices” include breathing, mindfulness, body awareness, earthly grounding, spacial awareness, centring, and more.

Sessions are facilitated from a well-being perspective. No religious affiliation is needed. Everyone is welcome to participate. All experience levels are welcome from advanced practitioners to those who are trying meditation  for the first time.

Why not give it a try! Gift yourself with a few moments of stillness to reset and recharge. It’s as true for  people as it is with technology as well as people...we can all benefit from shutting down for a few moments and recharging.

This session is open to all members of the FoE community. Please bring your own meditation pillow or mat to sit on.

Taking a course this term? Your feedback matters! The Student Experience Survey (SES) will help the university understand students' learning environment and experience, challenges, and successes. 10,000 randomly selected undergraduate students will be invited to take the survey. Check your @uwaterloo email or LEARN to see if you have been invited on Oct 16, 2023. Those that submit their responses will receive $5 on their WatCard. The survey is open until Oct 31, 2023.

Are you concerned about the state of the Great Lakes? Here's your chance to make a difference and win up to US$20,000 with the AquaHacking Great Lakes Challenge!

The AquaHacking Challenge is a unique competition for passionate change-makers like you, who are ready to tackle critical freshwater issues and advance climate adaptation. Embrace this opportunity to transform your innovative ideas into viable business solutions and:

🏆 Win Big: Seize the opportunity to claim US$20,000 for first place, US$10,000 for second, and US$5,000 for third.
📚 Get Certified Knowledge: Gain valuable certification in Freshwater and Blue Economy, amplifying your credentials.
🌿 Experience an Unforgettable Expedition: Embark on a 3-day learning adventure filled with mentorship sessions, team-building activities, and traditional indigenous knowledge.
💻 Enjoy free access to +120 IBM's digital tools to kickstart your Entrepreneurial journey... and so much more!

To find out more, attend the information session on October 5 at 12:00 p.m. at the ECE conference room (EIT 3142). Register for the session here https://bit.ly/467pelW

The Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) is pleased to present a Distinguished Lecture by Prof. Gehan Amaratunga, Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cambridge.

This seminar is titled "Quantum Dots to Light" and will be held on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM in QNC 1501.

Registration is required!

An opportunity for campus community members to engage in conversations, activities, and events focused on consent, in an effort to build a #ConsentCulture.