The Games Institute acknowledges that we are living and working on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (also known as Neutral), Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.
Welcome to the Games Institute
The Games Institute (GI) is an interdisciplinary research centre at the University of Waterloo, advancing the study of interactive and immersive technologies and experiences
News Items
Games Institute members are busy people! We bring you the latest news to keep you informed on the latest research and activities of all our members.
Research Spotlights
Every Research Spotlight offers an insider’s look into the interdisciplinary research done at the Games Institute.
News
- Apr. 12, 2023GI Faculty Member is Hiring an RA
GI faculty member Dr. Gerald Voorhees is hiring a resesarch assistant for the Spring 2023 turn.
- Apr. 10, 2023GI Faculty Member Craig S. Kaplan Discovers Elusive Einstein Tile
A major mathematic discovery has been found with the help of GI faculty member Dr. Craig S. Kaplan (Computer Science) called the “einstein.” The shape called the ‘hat’ is an aperiodic tile that can cover an infinite plane without creating a repeating pattern. Thought to be impossible, it was discovered by David Smith, a retired engineer based out of England who reached out to Dr. Kaplan about his discovery.
- Apr. 6, 2023Terrorarium by Stitch Media Nominated for Canadian Game Award
Terrorarium by Stich Media, a GI Industry partner, has recently been nominated for the Best VR/AR Game by the Canadian Game Awards. We want to take a trip down memory lane to look at the great work the developers and researchers did back in 2007.
Blog
- Dec. 5, 2022PhD Student Sid Heeg speaks at GI about refuting misinformation around farming on social media
On October 19th, 2022, PhD student Sid Heeg (School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development) presented “Reap What You Sow: Refuting Misinformation about Farming and Farm Practices.” The talk was an overview of Heeg’s dissertation research focusing on the misinformation that circulates on social media about farmers and farming, including the effects and harms this misinformation has on the farmers themselves.
- Dec. 5, 2022GI Members take part in Dibaajimowin exhibition at Waterloo Region Museum
On September 27th, the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum unveiled a new exhibit to the public—”Dibaajimowin | Stories From this Land.” The exhibit was assembled by Anishinaabe curator Emma Rain Smith, an MA student from Waterloo. The exhibit highlights Indigenous contributions to the region’s history with an emphasis on Urban Indigeneity. GI members Dr. Aynur Kadir (University of British Columbia) and PhD student Sid Heeg (Environment, Enterprise, and Development) took part in the design, curation, and research associated with the exhibition. The entire project is the result of the collaborative work between researchers, activists, and community members from the region, including the University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University.
- Oct. 25, 2022"A Discussion on Games and Health” Highlights the Effectiveness of Interactive Technologies
On July 5th, Drs. Lili Liu (School of Public Health Sciences), John Muñoz (Systems Design Engineering), and Michael Barnett-Cowan (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) were brought together to share their knowledge and expertise on how games and interactive technologies are being used in the healthcare industry. The panel was hosted and moderated by the Games Institute’s Research Communications Officer Dr. Emma Vossen.
Meet our people
Leah Zhang-Kennedy
Assistant Professor, Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
Leah Zhang-Kennedy is an Assistant Professor in interaction design and user experience research, a member of the Games Institute and the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute. Leah's research aims to understand and improve people’s digital experiences, knowledge, and technology practices, with particular focuses on computer security, online privacy, and digital literacy. She directs the Safe Interactions Lab at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, University of Waterloo.