Waterloo Engineering research in the news
Researcher awarded funds to turn waste into bioplastics
A University of Waterloo professor has received $100,000 from the Scotiabank Climate Action Research Fund to advance bacteria-powered technology that turns mixed waste streams into low-carbon products.
Dr. Christian Euler from the Department of Chemical Engineering is investigating how landfill gas by-products and other waste materials can be transformed into valuable bioplastics at industrial scale.
Researchers create better plastic from food scraps
An interdisciplinary research team at the University of Waterloo has developed a method to convert food waste into biodegradable plastics using bacteria. The plastics are soft and flexible, making them suitable for applications like food wrap, drug delivery systems and tissue engineering.
Led by Dr. Tizazu Mekonnen, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Trevor Charles, a professor in the Department of Biology, the team produced polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of plastic that decomposes into harmless byproducts.
Explore Sustainable Resources research labs and centres
- Applied Nanomaterials and Clean Energy Laboratory
- Canadian Cold Formed Steel Research Group (CCFSRG)
- Centre for Control of Emerging Contaminants (CCEC)
- Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT)
- Environmental Modelling and Analysis Group
- Green Energy and Fuel Cell Research Group (GEFC)
- Greener Production Group
- Institute for Polymer Research (IPR)
- Interdisciplinary Fluid Physics (Pan Lab)
- Vision and Image Processing (VIP) Lab
- NSERC Chair in Water Treatment
- Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry-research Centre (OBEC)
- Interdisciplinary Fluid Physics Lab (Pan Lab)
- Power and Energy Systems Group
- Water Institute
- Water Science, Technology, and Policy (WaterSTP) Group
- Waterloo Climate Institute
- Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA)
- Waterloo Institute Sustainable Energy (WISE)
Meet our researchers and discover their areas of expertise
Air Quality and Emissions
Air quality and emissions research measures pollutants, identifies their sources, and evaluates health and environmental impacts, developing strategies, technologies, and policies to reduce emissions and improve the air people breathe.
Architecture and Urban Planning
Architecture and urban planning shape buildings, spaces, and cities by integrating design, sustainability, and community needs, creating functional, inclusive, and resilient environments that support quality of life and long-term development.
Bioprocesses, Genetics, and Microbial Sciences
Bioprocesses, genetics, and microbial sciences explore cellular functions, hereditary mechanisms, and microorganism behavior to develop sustainable biotechnologies, enhance health, improve industrial production, and understand life’s fundamental processes through biological research.
Climate Change
Research examines causes, impacts, risks, and solutions to protect ecosystems, communities, and future environmental stability.
Contaminant Fate and Transport
Contaminant fate and transport studies how pollutants move, transform, and persist in air, water, and soil, using models and measurements to predict exposure, assess risks, and guide environmental protection strategies.
Cryosphere
Research examines their dynamics, climate interactions, sea-level impacts, and ecological significance to understand environmental change and planetary resilience.
Circular Economy
A circular economy is an economic model that eliminates waste and pollution by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling.
Energy Storage and Systems
Energy storage and systems research develops technologies and strategies to store, convert, and manage energy efficiently, supporting grid reliability, renewable integration, and sustainable power delivery across diverse applications and scales.
- Aiping Yu
- Joshua Pulsipher
- Kankar Bhattacharya
- Kshirasagar (Sagar) Naik
- Lan Wei
- Manoj Sachdev
- Mehrdad Pirnia
- Pu Chen
- Roydon Fraser
- William Wong
- XiaoYu Wu
- Yverick Rangom
- Zhongchao Tan
Earth Systems
Research examines their processes, feedbacks, and interactions to understand planetary function, environmental change, and impacts on ecosystems and human societies.
Groundwater and Hydrology
Groundwater and hydrology study how water moves, is stored, and interacts within soils, aquifers, and surface systems, informing resource management, ecosystem health, flood prediction, and sustainable water use under changing conditions.
- Andrea Scott
- Anh Pham
- Bill Annable
- Bruce MacVicar
- Bryan Tolson
- David Clausi
- James Craig
- John Quilty
- Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam
- Marios Ioannidis
- Nandita Basu
- Woi Sok Oh
- Zhao Pan
Modelling and Simulation
Modelling and simulation for sustainability use computational tools to represent complex environmental, social, and economic systems, enabling prediction, scenario testing, and informed decision-making to guide resilient, efficient, and long-term sustainable solutions.
Nanotechnologies
Nanotechnologies in sustainability develop materials and devices at the nanoscale to enhance energy efficiency, pollution reduction, water purification, and resource conservation, supporting environmentally friendly solutions and advancing sustainable industrial and technological practices.
- Aiping Yu
- Boxin Zhao
- Eihab Abdel-Rahman
- John Wen
- Leonardo Simon
- Maxime Van der Heijden
- Pu Chen
- Robert Nishida
- Simarjeet Saini
- Sushanta Mitra
- Ting Tsui
- Tiz Mekonnen
- William Wong
- Yverick Rangom
Plastics and Polymers
Plastics and polymers research studies the synthesis, properties, and applications of synthetic and natural macromolecules, focusing on durability, functionality, recycling, and sustainable alternatives to reduce environmental impact and support circular economies.
- Costas Tzoganakis
- Elisabeth Prince
- Leonardo Simon
- Maxime Van der Heijden
- Sushanta Mitra
- Tiz Mekonnen
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is the science of collecting information about Earth's surface, atmosphere, and oceans from a distance, typically using sensors on satellites or aircraft.
Soil Mechanics, Dynamics, and Geological and Geotechnical Engineering
Soil mechanics, dynamics, and geological engineering study soil and rock behaviour under stress, informing safe, efficient design of foundations, structures, and earthworks while addressing geotechnical hazards and environmental sustainability.
- Alana Lund
- Dipanjan Basu
- Giovanni Cascante
- Marie-Paule Macdonald
- Mark Knight
- Reem Roufail
- Shunde Yin
- Zhao Pan
Sustainable and Resilient Structures and Materials
Sustainable and resilient structures and materials focus on designing durable, eco-friendly construction solutions, using innovative materials and techniques to withstand environmental stresses while minimizing resource use, carbon footprint, and long-term maintenance impacts.
- Giovanni Cascante
- Hassan Baaj
- John McMinn
- Michael Benoit
- Mihaela Vlasea
- Pejoohan Tavassoti
- Rebecca Saari
- Solomon Tesfamariam
- Stanislav Potapenko
- Terry Boake
- XiaoYu Wu
Wastewater and Stormwater Treatment and Management
Wastewater and stormwater treatment and management involve collecting, treating, and safely discharging water, removing pollutants, preventing flooding, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring public health through sustainable engineering and environmental practices.
Water Resources
Water resources encompass the study, management, and conservation of surface and groundwater to ensure sustainable supply, support ecosystems, enable agriculture and industry, mitigate floods and droughts, and address human and environmental needs.
- Aiping Yu
- Bill Annable
- Bruce MacVicar
- Bryan Tolson
- Giovanni Cascante
- James Craig
- John Quilty
- Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam
- Marios Ioannidis
- Mark Knight
- Monica Emelko
- Nandita Basu
- Sushanta Mitra
- Wayne Parker
- Woi Sok Oh
Wildfire and Forest Management
Wildfire and forest management study fire behavior, ecosystem dynamics, and human impacts to prevent, control, and mitigate wildfires, promote forest health, biodiversity, and resilience, and support sustainable land and resource management.
