News

Researchers at Waterloo Engineering are successfully using a robot to help keep children with learning disabilities focused on their work.

This was one of the key results in a new study that also found both the youngsters and their instructors valued the positive classroom contributions made by the robot. 

The QT robot was used to help teach children with learning disabilities.

We have achieved a great deal since the University first opened its doors in 1957. Now, with 2057 clearly in our sights, we must review our mission to stay on track in a rapidly changing and complex world.

This means we need to produce engineers with the critical thinking, social awareness, scientific rigour and innovative design skills to make meaningful differences – fast. This ultimately is the role of universities; to add value to society by helping to develop civic-minded people and engaged citizens who can solve problems.

Dystr, an AI-powered engineering platform, has launched a new product leveraging generative AI designed to automate tasks, run analysis with visualizations and perform complex calculations 10 times faster.

Co-founded by Nabeel Allana (BASc ’16, mechatronics engineering) in 2021, Dystr’s new product helps mechanical and electrical engineers write and run code in the cloud seamlessly without software experience.

The entrepreneurship ecosystem at Waterloo Engineering nurtures promising ideas into thriving enterprises. In our weekly Founder Fuel series, we look at new ventures and how they have benefited from that crucial early support.

Youssef Helwa (BASc ’15, nanotechnology engineering, MASc ’17, electrical and computer engineering) co-founded NERv (scheduled to be renamed FluidAI) in 2014 with Amr Abdelgawad (BASc ’16, nanotechnology engineering, MBET ’17). Their smart monitoring system detects bleeding, leaks and infections after abdominal surgery so doctors can treat complications sooner.

Waterloo Engineering professors Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn and Dr. Alfred Yu are among the scheduled speakers at an upcoming conference exploring the use of technology for safe and accessible health care.

Hosted by the Centre for Bioengineerng and Biotechnology at the University of Waterloo, the two-day event at the Student Life Centre will feature health researchers, clinicians and front-line workers, policy-makers and technology officers from industry.

Therapeutic oncology company RefleXion Medical has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for a cutting-edge treatment for early and late-stage cancers. 

Founded by Dr. Samuel Mazin (BASc ’02, computer engineering) in 2009, RefleXion’s mission is to advance innovative treatment in cancer care through a biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) it calls SCINTIX™. 

Ribbit’s new autonomous flight technology creates a more robust supply chain by deploying small autonomous airplanes that fly cargo shipments to provide just-in-time delivery, and they’re prioritizing remote communities.

We asked Ribbit’s co-founder and COO, Jeremy C. H. Wang, how his technology advances air transportation and what is next for this exciting Velocity startup.

Researchers led by a Waterloo Engineering professor argue in a new study that reports of globalization’s death are premature.

Dr. Victor Cui worked with collaborators at the University of British Columbia and the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai on findings that challenge widespread assumptions that the rivalry between the United States and China - recently highlighted during the Chinese spy balloon crisis - can only further escalate and split the world into two hostile camps.

The entrepreneurship ecosystem at Waterloo Engineering nurtures promising ideas into thriving enterprises. In our weekly Founder Fuel series, we look at new ventures and how they have benefited from that crucial early support.

Andrew Martinko (BASc ’15, nanotechnology engineering, MBET ’16) and his Capstone team developed UV-activated ink that one applies with a marker before slathering on sunscreen. When the ink turns purple, it’s time to reapply. The idea attracted all kinds of attention, especially after they were named runners-up for the prestigious international James Dyson innovation award.

Canadian health care is facing a perfect storm of challenges. Reduced health services and the struggle to train and retain health professionals will become a chronic problem if not urgently addressed.

Dr. Catherine Burns is the Chair in Human Factors in Health Care Systems and leads the University of Waterloo’s health initiatives. She discusses how we can redesign our health systems using advanced health-care technologies to create better patient outcomes and more equitable access to care.