Office of the President | Fusion Conference Statement
Welcome to the 2023 Fusion Conference.
This conference highlights so many of the foundational characteristics that make the University of Waterloo unique. Led by students, the event connects students and industry while providing ample opportunity to uncover innovation through collaboration.
This year’s theme, “Ethical Implications of Emerging Innovations in Biotechnology,” is an important topic that society is grappling with today. Across sectors, technology continues to dramatically disrupt the way we work, learn, live and connect. At the University of Waterloo, we seek to address these disruptions through collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches.
Health and technology play key roles within our long-term vision, Waterloo at 100, and its Global Futures. Emerging technologies are often adopted before the full cultural and human impact is understood. Their impacts can often pose ethical challenges that are not easy to address. At the University of Waterloo we will continue to leverage our strengths in health and technology innovation as we seek to identify equitable, just and sustainable solutions for health challenges.
Hopefully this mindset will guide Fusion participants as you navigate through the conference. I hope you’ll not only be inspired by the experience, but that your ideas and actions inspire those around you.
Vivek Goel, CM
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Waterloo