The University of Waterloo was delighted to host the British High Commissioner to Canada and her team during the High Commissioner’s first trip to southern Ontario.
HE Susannah Goshko, accompanied by Consul General Toronto, Ms. Jenny Young and Director of Investment, Ms. Emily Addison, travelled to Waterloo on 6 October 2021.
The delegation started their visit with a meeting with University of Waterloo President and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Vivek Goel. The two shared perspectives on activities and priorities, with the President providing an overview of the University of Waterloo and highlighting the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.
A discussion around sustainability issues – particularly climate and energy – followed. Profs. Sarah Burch and Claudio Cañizares – the Executive Directors of, respectively, the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) – gave presentations, highlighting their organizations’ contributions to sustainability research, teaching, and service – which led to a lively discussion recognizing the United Kingdom’s forthcoming hosting of ‘COP26’ (the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference).
The delegation then had a tour of the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). Hosted by Prof. John Watrous – Interim Director of IQC – the High Commissioner and her colleagues toured facilities and were given introductions to two laboratories. Given that quantum technologies are a priority area for cooperation between Canada and the United Kingdom, the tour was perceived as particularly timely.
The visit concluded with a trip on the WATonoBus – Waterloo’s Autonomous Shuttle Bus. Escorted by Prof. Amir Khajepour, the trip was one of the highlights of the delegation’s time in Waterloo. Successfully returned to their own electric vehicle, the delegation returned to Toronto after a productive and enjoyable visit.
The United Kingdom continues to be one of Waterloo’s primary partners in virtually every aspect of our international agenda, with the country being among Waterloo’s ‘top three’ international partners in terms of, for instance, publications with international co-authors, exchange students, and contactable alumni. The visit permitted celebration of these connections and identification of areas for additional collaborations for impact.
Waterloo International will continue to steward the university’s relationship with the United Kingdom, supporting the many connections and collaborations that exist and that are being developed. Waterloo members who would like to learn more – or who would like to share their own work – are encouraged to reach out to the Waterloo International, International Relations Manager, whose areas of responsibility include United Kingdom, Eric Jardin (international.relations@uwaterloo.ca).
