Dr. Talena Atfield
Professor, History
> Canada Research Chair, Tentewatenikonhra'khánion
Dr. Talena Atfield’s work to restore and regenerate Hodinohso:ni cultural knowledges starts with the title of her Canada Research Chair: Tentewatenikonhra’khánion, which translates to “We Will Put Our Minds Together.”
Dr. Leia Minaker
Professor, School of Planning
> Future Cities Institute
Cities drive the global economy and are home to vibrant and diverse communities. Yet they’re also facing complex challenges. From rising housing costs and aging infrastructure to climate change, the disruptive impacts of technology and an aging population, the need to address overlapping issues has never been higher.
The new guide, Getting Nature into Financial Reporting, authored by the University of Waterloo's Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, and supported by the Standards Council of Canada, KPMG LLP and Natural Assets Initiative, was developed with over 120 experts across the country. The guide outlines how local governments of all sizes can start integrating nature into their financial reports today.
When Dr. Mihaela Vlasea’s (BASc ’08, PhD ’14) high school teacher encouraged her to apply to Waterloo’s inaugural mechatronics program, she didn’t imagine that less than 20 years later, she’d be a renowned expert in additive manufacturing (3D printing).
“I didn't really know what mechatronics was, and there was nothing to base my enthusiasm around at that time,” she says, “but I was really intrigued that Waterloo had put this together because every time they put a new program together, it skyrockets into success.”
Choosing a real Christmas tree is a cherished tradition in many families and a proven environmentally friendly choice. But like all agriculture sectors, Canadian Christmas tree farmers are facing the impacts of climate change on their growing operations.
Pests plague both the trees and farmers who work the land. Rising temperatures affect summer labour conditions, extreme storm events have triggered crop losses, and reduced snowfall in winter impacts families' experiences when selecting and bringing home their trees during the holiday season.
The City of Kitchener has partnered with GreenHouse, a
Twenty-two researchers at the University of Waterloo have been awarded more than $10 million to support their research from the Ontario Research Fund (ORF).
The ORF Research Excellence program provides up to one-third of the total value of a research project with major strategic value to the province.
When choosing a Christmas tree, the decision between real and artificial trees should go beyond personal preference and tradition. Dr. Kelsey Leonard, an assistant professor and Director of the Christmas Tree Lab, discusses the importance of considering the environmental impact when deciding between real and fake Christmas trees.
Which Christmas tree (real or fake) is better for the environment?
University of Waterloo students and alumni are changing the game by launching companies with global impact for humanity and our planet. Their remarkable achievements have earned them spots on this year’s illustrious Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.
The annual list highlights young entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their fields. Waterloo-linked founders were named in artificial intelligence (AI), green tech, education, food and drink and manufacturing categories.
University of Waterloo researchers have made a key breakthrough in developing next-generation batteries that are made using magnesium instead of lithium.
When the idea to create batteries using magnesium was first shared in a seminal academic paper in 2000, that novel design didn’t provide enough voltage to compete with lithium-ion batteries, which are predominantly used in the marketplace. Magnesium is much more abundant and less costly than lithium, which would help further sustainable energy storage.