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Ben Zhang (left) and Brian Mao (right) are in Las Vegas preparing for another race after a crash put their team out in an October 2021 event.

In October, two students linked to the Faculty of Mathematics participated in a unique autonomous racecar event at the famed Indianapolis Speedway, in which their hopes were dashed when their car crashed.

The Math Faculty Ambassador team is set to launch the first episodes of a new podcast focused on University of Waterloo Mathematics and their experiences as students.

Anthony Ilersich, a fourth-year computing and financial management student, is part of a team that developed a game to help kids overcome fears and anxiety about getting needles for vaccines.

Ilersich completed a co-op work placement with Immunize Canada, and then stayed on with the organization to support the launch of the video game, CARD.

“The problem is that math students get jobs,” said Larry Smith from the University of Waterloo’s Problem Lab. “They get good jobs and well-paid jobs, which means they often don’t think about their careers carefully enough.”

The K.D. Fryer Gold Medal is conferred at fall convocation to one graduating student each academic year. This year’s award goes to Jordan Long (BMath, ‘21).

Long graduated in June with an honours degree, having completed a major in pure mathematics and a minor in computer science. In every semester throughout his program, he kept up an excellent academic standing and graduated on the dean’s honours list.

Applied mathematics master's student Brian Mao is part of a team set to compete with rivals from around the world for a US $1-million top prize at the Indy Autonomous Challenge on Saturday.

Researchers in the Cheriton School of Computer Science are developing what could be the next big breakthrough in wearable technology. 

The new innovation in display tech, which the researchers are calling PocketView, uses LED lights to show basic information. It can function as a stand-alone piece of tech or could be incorporated into existing or next-generation smart devices.

Part of being a PhD student is about confronting significant issues in a field of study. For Shenghao Yang, a second-year PhD student in the Cheriton School of Computer Science, it’s not just about confronting issues in his field, but also one of the biggest problems facing the world, COVID-19.

What is the length of Britain’s coastline? How does a frost crystal grow? How many questions are there in the problem set? Finding an answer to each of these requires some exploration of fractals.   

The university experience extends beyond the classroom. It’s not just about coursework and studying, but about the connections and friendships that can last a lifetime.

But for many students, and especially for first-year students, it can be challenging to get over the feeling of discomfort that can accompany trying to meet new people.