Sustainable Futures

Monday, December 2, 2024

Giving alpaca waste new life

by Chantal Vallis, Faculty of Environment

Tucked between Waterloo and Hamilton, Maple Ridge Acres is home to a herd of alpacas plus owner and farmer Frances Stewart. After years of caring for her animals, Stewart has teamed up with researchers in the Faculty of Environment to unlock surprising new possibilities for alpaca waste.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

COP drives global air quality collaborations

by Elanor Waslander, Waterloo Climate Institute

Shahan Salim, a PhD candidate in the School of Public Health Sciences, continues to make strides in advancing air quality research and technology through his participation at the United Nations climate change negotiations, known as COP.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Turning table scraps into biodegradable, single-use plastics

by Media Relations

Researchers are using bacteria that eat food scraps to create a new kind of fully biodegradable plastic that reduces waste and could be less expensive to manufacture than current plastics are.

The team from the University of Waterloo says this new method produces plastics that are soft and flexible, leading to many potential applications such as food wrap, drug delivery and in the repair of damaged tissues and organs.

Friday, November 22, 2024

Bridging divergent worldviews for social good

by Darren McAlmont, University Relations

Since 1970, the University of Waterloo has hosted a thought-provoking public lecture series: The Hagey Lectures. This premier invitational lecture invites a wide range of celebrated scholars and artists to challenge, stimulate and enrich faculty, staff, students and members of the Waterloo community.  

For Global Entrepreneurship Week, we’re spotlighting some incredible University of Waterloo entrepreneurs making a difference for humanity and our world.

Julia Baribeau (BASc ’23) is advancing her career with a unique twist on entrepreneurship as part of her journey in tackling environmental challenges. Rather than jumping into creating her own company, she’s working as an intrapreneur, bringing an entrepreneurial approach to her role within an existing organization.

Friday, November 22, 2024

Facing climate challenges with community and hope

by Faculty of Environment, Waterloo Climate Institute and Office of Indigenous Relations

On November 14, the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment and Waterloo Climate Institute co-hosted Walking the Path of Hope: Climate Anxiety and the Healing Forest, a thought-provoking event that explored the intersections of climate change, Indigenous healing, reconciliation and Land Back. 

Amanda St. Marie, Environment Indigenous Initiatives Manager, welcomes attendees to the event and introduces speakers

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Founder spotlight: Kwaku Owusu Twum wins Velocity Pitch Competition in his first semester

by Jordan Flemming, University Relations

For Global Entrepreneurship Week, we’re spotlighting some incredible University of Waterloo entrepreneurs making a difference for humanity and our world.

Kwaku Owusu Twum’s (PhD and MBET in progress) entrepreneurial journey from Ghana to Waterloo is nothing short of inspiring. Alongside his co-founder, Daniel Buston Yankey, Twum is building Mapmate, a digital platform transforming the agricultural landscape for small-scale farmers.

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Nine Waterloo researchers awarded $7.5 million

by University Relations

Nine researchers at the University of Waterloo have been awarded $7.5 million in funding to support their research as part of the illustrious Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program.  

Each year, the CRC program invests up to $311 million to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds.