News

University of Waterloo students from the faculties of Engineering and Science wowed Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) with their interdisciplinary ingenuity at an innovation challenge hosted by the University’s Pearl Sullivan Engineering Ideas Clinic.

The weekend-long event, funded by Canada’s national nuclear science and technology organization, challenged 71 students from any year of study to form teams and design and prototype systems to safely transport spent nuclear waste from across Canada to an underground storage facility — called a deep geological repository (DGR) — in Ontario.

Four companies founded by graduates of Waterloo Engineering were named this week to a prestigious list of the fastest-growing technology businesses in Canada.

Announced annually by professional services firm Deloitte Canada, the Technology Fast 50 program “recognizes the world-class achievements of Canada’s top technology companies, highlighting their resilience, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation.”

An international team led by researchers at Waterloo Engineering has found a way to dramatically strengthen smart, rubber-like materials to replace rigid motors and pumps in robots with flexible “artificial muscles.”

Soft robots differ from hard robots in that they are pliable and flexible, making them safe for interaction with people, but the materials now used for components enabling their movement aren’t strong enough to be effective.

Celebrating this fall’s convocation, the University of Waterloo recognized five graduate valedictorians who exemplified academic excellence and community impact. Among them, one Faculty of Engineering graduate stood out for her contributions to human-robot interaction and global youth empowerment.

Andrea Chakma (MASc ’25) was named valedictorian for the Faculty of Engineering after completing her Master of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering. 

Each graduating class brings stories of exploration, growth and innovation that define the Waterloo experience.

For Audrey Chen (BAS ’25), the most rewarding part of her studies was the Faculty’s renowned co-op program, which took her to placements in the United States, Japan, Singapore and Australia.

Twelve professors from Waterloo Engineering received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) to support pioneering research infrastructure that advances discovery and innovation across Canada.

The JELF program provides institutions with funding to help recruit and retain outstanding researchers and to acquire the specialized tools they need to conduct leading-edge research. Each recipient may receive up to $600,000 to support work that strengthens Canada’s research capacity, fuels innovation and delivers real-world impact.

Waterloo Engineering alum Dr. Madelaine Liddy (BASc ’14, PhD ’22) is building an exciting career in quantum tech in Germany, working on a mobile quantum computer for non-expert, everyday use.

As a Canadian-trained engineer, Liddy wears her iron ring proudly, a constant reminder to uphold engineering ethics and do work that serves society — wherever the world takes her.

Technology developed at Waterloo Engineering uses radar and artificial intelligence (AI) to unobtrusively monitor people in hospitals and long-term care facilities for early signs of health problems based on how fast they walk.

“Walking speed is often called a functional vital sign because even subtle declines can be an early warning of health problems,” said Dr. Hajar Abedi, a former postdoctoral researcher in electrical and computer engineering at Waterloo.

Local cleantech company Friendlier recently closed a $4.5 million funding round to support their national expansion plan and make it easier for Canadians to choose reuseable plastics. 

Launched in 2019 by Waterloo Engineering alumni Kayli Smith and Jaqueline Hanton (both BASc '20, chemical engineering), Friendlier has kept nearly 3.7 million food and beverage containers out of landfills and currently operates at more than 200 locations across Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Quebec.

A company founded by two Waterloo Engineering graduates has been granted approval to sell a device for predicting post-surgery complications in the huge United States market.

FluidAI, which is based in Kitchener and has 85 employees, was launched by alumni Youssof Helwa (BASc ’15, nanotechnology engineering, MASc ’18, electrical and computer engineering) and Amr Abdelgawad (BASc ’16, nanotechnology engineering, MBET ’17) in 2014.