Sustainable Futures

Warming temperatures mean shorter ice seasons in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. As a result, the stretches of landfast ice formed from frozen seawater that Inuit use to travel and hunt on are increasingly unpredictable and unsafe.  

Polynyas, areas of open water and thin ice, occur where ocean currents or wind prevent pack ice from forming. They’re typically found in the same locations each year enabling travellers to plan their routes safely. But climate change is affecting this predictability, causing smaller, unexpected polynyas that make travelling across the pack ice risky.  

Strawberries could be fewer and more expensive because of higher temperatures caused by climate change, according to research from the University of Waterloo.  

Small island communities contribute less than one per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions but suffer disproportionally from climate change effects and are struggling to adapt to the crisis. Their experiences underscore a critical need for solutions that cut across sectors to help address social inequities and enable a more climate-resilient future for everyone.  

Waterloo researchers are renowned for challenging perspectives in their pursuit of truth and to produce knowledge that leads to transformative solutions for humanity to thrive in a complex future.   

Although universities are environments where new ideas and discoveries are cultivated, and a space for curiosity to flourish, researchers in many fields also experience hostile responses to their work.  

A group of Indigenous students from the University of Waterloo were among a delegation who visited Cape Town, South Africa this spring to gain international perspectives on environmental issues.

With the rising cost of housing, aging infrastructure, climate change and disruptive technology at the forefront of urban planning, cities require data-driven tools and expertise to prosper today, and into the future.

Waterloo researchers, students and alumni approach challenges differently. They unlock barriers by working together to develop creative approaches across disciplines. The futures they are transforming are not independent islands but an interconnected landscape of opportunities representing a path for Waterloo to foster lasting, impactful global change.

Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies saw family, friends, staff and faculty come together to recognize students for their hard work and perseverance during some of the world’s most challenging circumstances. 

For five consecutive days, across 14 ceremonies, Waterloo’s campus was full of beaming pride and jubilation. The 128th convocation was made even more special with the University officially ushering its 250,000th graduate across the stage. This major milestone was achieved during the Faculty of Arts ceremony on Thursday, June 13.  

As she prepares to cross the stage at Spring 2024 Convocation, she smiles broadly recounting how her interest in geography has taken her to so many unique places around the world in pursuit of her degree.