Feature

A Year of Growth at the Physics Tutorial Centre: A Community Success Story

As we mark the first anniversary of the Physics Tutorial Centre, we reflect on the journey that has transformed a modest initiative into a cornerstone of academic success and community for students in the Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Chair's Message

Professor Brian McNamara shares some final thoughts during his last term as Department Chair.

A Year of Celebration for Dr. Rajibul Islam: Quantum Innovations, Teaching Excellence, and Philanthropic Efforts on a Global Scale

The Department of Physics & Astronomy is proud to congratulate Dr. Rajibul Islam on his election as Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), a prestigious recognition reserved for those who make groundbreaking contributions to physics and science education. In addition to this prestigious recognition, Dr. Islam was awarded the Excellence in Science Teaching Award for his innovative and inspiring approach to teaching quantum mechanics and optics.

New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins

Exploring Competing Origin Stories with the Author of Battle of the Big Bang

The Entangler recently had the opportunity to talk with Niayesh Afshordi, author of the upcoming book Battle of the Big Bang, a compelling exploration of competing cosmological origin stories.

Kaylee Biggart: Researcher, Advocate, and Artist for Change

Kaylee Biggart is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo and she is not your typical graduate student! Balancing innovative research in experimental condensed matter physics, leadership as the Chair of the Graduate Student Association’s Board of Directors (GSA), and a deep commitment to reclaiming her Indigenous heritage, Kaylee has crafted a life that reflects her unique blend of passions and identities.

Daniel Wang’s International Journey in Materials & Nanosciences

Meet Daniel Wang, a driven international student from Nanjing, China who is currently completing his third year of the Materials and Nanosciences (MNS) program at the University of Waterloo.

Local high school student receives the highest score in the world on SIN exam

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at UWaterloo hosts The Sir Isaac Newton (SIN) Exam every year and this year, Zander Li from Waterloo received the highest score in the world, beating out 3076 other students from around the globe. This year, over 1200 students outside of Canada participated in the exam from countries like Australia, India, China and Japan, making it a truly international competition.

CUPC 2024

For 60 years the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC) has provided undergraduate students the opportunity to network and collaborate with their peers and industry professionals.

A Great Year for the MNS Society

The Materials and Nanosciences Society (MNS Soc) proudly represents undergraduate students in the Materials and Nanosciences program and summarizes an entire set of events over the past couple of terms.

Supporting Student Success: Creation of the Physics Tutorial Centre

In response to the evolving needs of students within the Department of Physics & Astronomy, the Physics Tutorial Centre was established in September 2023 to provide free tutoring services to our undergraduate students.

Message from the Chair

I am thrilled to present you a packed edition of The Entangler. Read more about our students, our faculty/staff, our alumni, and our latest events and initiatives.

How to Watch the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse!

On Monday, April 8th, 2024, the total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. Dubbed the “Great North American Eclipse”, this will be the first total solar eclipse to be visible in provinces of Canada since February 26, 1979 and the only one where totality will be visible in the 21st century.

LumeNeuro: Pioneering Early and Affordable Detection of Neurodegenerative Diseases

LumeNeuro is gaining widespread attention across the world! The Alzheimer’s Association and MATTER (a premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub) started an annual pitch competition a couple of years ago – a place where startups and entrepreneurs compete to showcase their solutions, this year for increasing access to quality, person-centered care for underserved people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Waterloo, Wavicles, and the Weakest bond!

One thing you may miss about hanging out in UWaterloo Physics is a chance to have great physics conversations with friends. Well, two alumni want to share the fun of one of their conversations with you! Their bavardage focuses on the question: can 2 helium atoms bind together to exist as a molecule?

Coding the Future: Mirko Vucicevich’s Journey from Physics Undergrad to Science’s Lead Developer

If you’ve been present at the University of Waterloo within the last decade, whether staff, student, or faculty you’ll have encountered some of Mirko Vucicevich’s work. Learn about how he used his Physics degree to solve problems on campus through code!

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of FemPhys!

This coming fall will mark the 10th anniversary of FemPhys, and looking back on the club’s growth and achievements throughout the past decade is truly amazing.

Our Department Hosts CUPC for the First Time Since 1989!

October 2023 was an important milestone for our Department and the University of Waterloo – it was the first time we hosted the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC) since 1989!

A Longstanding Tradition of Fun at Student-Prof Night

The hall was empty, and the only noises came from the PhysClub and Materials and Nanoscience Society (MNS) executives frantically discussing logistics. Where would the pizza go? Is the sign-up sheet pulled up on the correct laptop? How do we properly check IDs? How many tickets were reserved for professors again? The conversation had only just finished when the first students entered the hall, with many more trailing behind. Suddenly, the Fall 2023 Physics x MNS Student-Prof Night was in full swing.

Women of Waterloo: A Cross-Faculty Collaboration for International Women's Day

Women of Waterloo is a cross faculty collaboration across numerous student clubs to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th! The event aimed to celebrate the success of underrepresented people in STEM, while allowing students to socialize in a casual environment.

Another Successful Mentoring Night with FemPhys, Winter 2024

FemPhys, a student club under the department of Physics and Astronomy, hosts a yearly Mentoring Night which is one of the well-known events of the club that students and mentors both look forward to.

Michelle Kao: Exploring the Versatility of Astronomy

Meet Michelle Kao, a 3rd-year Physics & Astronomy student who is nothing short of extraordinary. In her pursuit of diversity in co-op experiences, she explores the relation between research, industry, and academia in the field of astronomy.

Courtney Kates: An Outreach-Fueled Journey Towards Physics Teaching

Courtney Kates is a 3rd year student in the Honours Physics program and one of our Department’s champions in the realm of science outreach and recruitment efforts. But her love of science didn’t start here, it began from her childhood.

Maggie Bérubé: A Shining Star in our Physics & Astronomy Program

Meet Maggie Bérubé, a remarkable 3rd year student that is currently pursuing a degree in Physics & Astronomy at the University of Waterloo. In the vast number of students within our programs, Maggie has not only demonstrated academic excellence but has also showcased outstanding research prowess and student leadership that makes her stand out amongst her peers.

Exploring the Cosmos Together: The Rise of the UW Astronomy Club

A group of passionate students at the University of Waterloo has come together to form the UW Astronomy Club. Operating under the umbrella of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, this stellar initiative aims to ignite an innate sense of curiosity and fascination for the captivating field of astronomy among students.

Paranormal activities

On the 31st of October 2023, 4pm local time in Waterloo, an unusually large quantum fluctuation caused a tear in the spatio-temporal continuum on campus, close to J.R. Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall.

PHYS 10: The Student-Run Weekly Stop for Physics Seminars

Like many other initiatives on campus, PHYS10 struggled over the pandemic. Despite this, PHYS10 is back and it's better than ever with a fresh team of dedicated undergraduate students. The new team has one hope, to make Phys10 the highlight of your week with approachable seminars about the frontiers of the field with some snacks on the side.

Return of the Annual Physics Teaching Retreat – A Focus on Active Learning & EDI in the Classroom

As times change, we too must evolve and adapt to the new generation of learners coming through our institution.

SIN Bin

1977, Problem 7

Can you solve it? The Sir Isaac Newton Exam, as we all know and love it, continues to offer challenging problems to high school students around the world. Flex your Physics brains with this problem from a past Sir Isaac Newton Exam!

SIN Bin

1978, Problem 13

Can you solve it? The Sir Isaac Newton Exam, as we all know and love it, continues to offer challenging problems to high school students around the world. Flex your Physics brains with this problem from a past Sir Isaac Newton Exam!