The path to earning a PhD is rarely straightforward. It demands not only intellectual depth through rigorous coursework and research, but also creativity, resilience and interdisciplinary thinking.
The University of Waterloo is pleased to recognize three outstanding graduate students as recipients of the prestigious Governor General’s Gold Medal at Spring 2025 Convocation.
This distinguished award honours graduate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and a remarkable commitment to scholarly excellence. These recipients exemplify the brilliance and impact of our academic community, contributing transformative research and advancing knowledge for the betterment of society.
Lucas Shumaker (He/They) understands the importance of community and dialogue in driving action and change. Growing up Mennonite in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Shumaker witnessed various environmental and social justice issues, sparking their pursuit in community aid work.
Tech companies with University of Waterloo connections continue to climb the annual Narwhal list of Canadian unicorns.
The list assembled annually by the Narwhal Project, a group that monitors and analyzes the technology sector, offers companies supports to become more efficient and adopt best practices. Each year they evaluate close to 1,000 Canadian technology companies. The total number of unicorns in Canada has grown from only three in 2020 to 26 this year.
Quantum computers promise more than code breaking. They could unlock commercial value in areas like banking, automotive and optimization industries. Businesses need to not only prepare for quantum attacks, but also ready their organizations to tap into the economic benefit of adopting quantum technologies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep tech are revolutionizing how building developers and owners design, build and maintain their properties thanks to Adaptis, a Velocity startup. The decision-making platform supports optimizing cost-benefit and carbon usage from concept to completion by integrating financial, sustainability and operational data.
In its latest seed funding round, Adaptis has secured $4 million USD ($5.5 million CDN) from Building Ventures, including MetaProp, 2048 Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures and Blue Vision Capital.
Chris Albinson, co-founder and managing partner of Canadian venture capital fund True North Fund and co-founder of C100, says Canada is at a critical juncture in its continuing evolution as a global innovator. He says the country and its tech leaders need to work harder to retain the best and the brightest.
Ask a 10-year-old in Waterloo region about the University of Waterloo and they may tell you about the time they played with Nao or Talos, the humanoid robots housed in Waterloo Engineering’s RoboHub.
The National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People is recognized annually on May 5. The day is also known as “Red Dress Day” and it carries deep sorrow, love, accountability and responsibility.
This day was established because there is an ongoing crisis in Canada of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people and the issue is often overlooked and forgotten — hence the urgent need for awareness and action.
When an idea takes flight, it can soar — especially when it is supercharged. The University of Waterloo has long been known as one of Canada’s most innovative universities and ranks number one amongst Canadian universities for producing the most successful entrepreneurs with undergraduate degrees. In large part that stems from its exceptional students and researchers that actively uncover solutions to challenges facing humanity and the planet.