Future students

Jagdeep Singh Bachher is chief investment officer and vice president of investments at the 10-campus University of California, where he oversees an investment portfolio of $164 billion. He is a triple alum of the University of Waterloo, having earned a Bachelor of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering in 1993, a Master of Applied Science, Management Sciences in 1994, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences in 2000.

Foodborne viruses are a worldwide health concern, with types, severity and impacts of illness changing over time and across communities and countries.

The buzz of pride and celebration was palpable across campus over the past few days as convocation ceremonies took place. Convocation season is always special because it’s the one time when family, friends, faculty and staff all come together to celebrate the hard work and achievements of Waterloo students.  

As artificial intelligence (AI) challenges us to reimagine new ways of doing and being, Dr. Marcel O’Gorman, professor of English Language and Literature, embraces emerging technologies and applies them to his pedagogy in the classroom.  

O’Gorman has published widely about the impacts of technology, and his most recent research focuses on how critical and inclusive design methods might help tackle some of the moral and ethical issues faced by contemporary technoculture. 

Laura Lester combines her passions for aeronautics and health sciences through her Master’s of Science in Kinesiology and Health Sciences 

It’s convocation season again — a time when our graduating students reflect and feel a sense of pride for completing their post-secondary academic journey. For many of our graduating students, their time at Waterloo has included a level of learning that amplifies regular classroom instruction, and this statement is true for graduating biology science student, Tharindya Abeyratne. Her co-op work placements and involvement in student-led extracurricular activities have proven to be just as valuable and rewarding as her time in the classroom.

Obtaining a PhD can sometimes be considered a daunting task because the voyage often seems endless. The path is not straight. The process is never quick. In fact, one can expect to encounter many challenges and setbacks. Challenges that push the boundaries of your imagination and intellect. 

The goal is to find opportunities in those challenging moments because the result is massively rewarding. Upon completion of the dissertation defence — the culmination of years of hard work and research — candidates are congratulated for bringing new knowledge to our world. 

Cutting-edge technologies gave the world fake news, but researchers from the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering are developing even newer technology to stop it. Their innovative system — the first of its kind — relies on something already famous for underpinning Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies — blockchain. But in addition to sophisticated machines, these researchers are enlisting humans to establish the truth. Their goal is a world where people have greater trust in the news they see and hear. 

The University of Waterloo is proud to welcome three new honorary doctorates at our fall convocation ceremonies.  

Honorary doctorates are an integral part of each convocation ceremony as recipients are awarded for their substantial contributions to the Waterloo community, to their profession or to society at large.  

An honorary doctorate is one of the highest recognitions of the University and is bestowed to honour individuals whose character and extraordinary intellect, creativity and service to society set a standard of excellence that merits this honour.