News

The University of Waterloo’s TRuST network, an interdisciplinary project investigating the importance of building trust in scientific and technological research, is pleased to welcome its inaugural postdoctoral scholar Dr. Paula Catalina Sanchez Nuñez de Villavicencio. 

Funded by the Provost’s Program for Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars, Nuñez de Villavicencio’s research looks at Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our everyday lives, understanding how and why people trust or distrust wearable technologies.

Waterloo Engineering researchers have developed a new material that shares many of the same traits as bone tissue. Using it in 3D printers provides a new and innovative treatment option for patients undergoing major skeletal repair and reconstructive surgery.

The team, led by Dr. Thomas Willett, a professor in systems design engineering, has created a biopolymer nanocomposite material that can be 3D-printed into a customized bone graft engineered to meet a patient’s unique needs. 

Nicholas Levinksi, a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, has been awarded a Women’s Health Scholar Award by The Council of Ontario Universities.

These yearly awards recognize individuals conducting groundbreaking research in Women’s Health.

A Waterloo Engineering research team has contributed to an international collaboration that reduces the risk of patient complications from heart valve implants. 

Dr. Sushanta Mitra, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, led the Waterloo team in collaboration with researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Their shared research proves that a heart valve implant with a textured surface is less likely to lead to the formation of blood clots — or thrombosis.

Imagine a coat that captures solar energy to keep you cozy on a chilly winter walk, or a shirt that can monitor your heart rate and temperature. Picture clothing athletes can wear to track their performance without the need for bulky battery packs.

A research team led by Dr. Yuning Li, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has developed a smart fabric with the potential to harvest energy, monitor health and track movement. It works by converting body heat and solar energy into electricity, potentially enabling continuous operation with no need for an external power source.

The Waterloo Space Soldering Team (WSST), a team of students from the University of Waterloo’s Faculties of Engineering and Arts, participated in Canada’s first microgravity research competition for students — the Canadian Reduced Gravity Experiment Design Challenge.

The team won the Overall Excellence Award for researching and successfully conducting a microgravity experiment aboard an aircraft to test whether solder joints can be improved using a centrifuge.

This opinion piece by Dr. Mary Wells, dean of Waterloo Engineering Dr. Donna Strickland, a professor in the department of Physics and Astronomy and Dr. Ashley Rose Mehlenbacher, an associate professor in the English Language and Literature department, appeared in the Hill Times, a popular news source for Canadian politics and government news.

The Ontario Science Centre closed in June, while New Brunswick lost its centre in February. The loss of these vital bridges is short-sighted, and presents a significant blow to public engagement with science and technology.

Dean Mary Wells emphasized the significant role the University of Waterloo's engineering program can play in advancing agriculture technology through partnerships and co-op experiences.

Speaking at the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation symposium, Wells highlighted the university’s unique approach, which includes mandatory co-op terms for engineering students, fostering a diverse range of experiences that cultivate global perspectives and creativity.

Two Waterloo Engineering student teams were among the four winning companies that pitched their business ideas at the Spring 2024 Velocity Pitch Competition and won $5,000 each.  

The winning startups — Automax AI and PyroGuard — each delivered a three-minute pitch to a panel of judges in front of a live audience.

A group of international and local researchers gathered at the University of Waterloo for the 2024 NSERC CREATE Training Program for Graduate Students in Scalable 2D-Materials Architectures.  

This interdisciplinary seminar led by Dr. Michael Pope, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, engaged 53 researchers in a collaborative program focused on leveraging 2D materials for advanced manufacturing applications.