Community

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

University of Waterloo's distinguished teachers

by Staff, Centre for Teaching Excellence

The Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA), Waterloo’s most prestigious teaching honour has been given to four recipients “in recognition of a continued record of excellence in teaching at the University of Waterloo.”

The recipients are chosen by a committee of students, faculty, staff and alumni based on nominations from the university community. The 2015 award winners are:

Friday, March 20, 2015

Waterloo student designs new clay filter for unsafe drinking water

by Christine Bezruki, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

It may use the most simple of technology, but a new water filtration system is transforming thousands of lives in the Dominican Republic. Designed by Master of Public Health student, Timothy Muttoo, in partnership with the non-profit organization FilterPure, the new filters use locally sourced clay, saw dust and particles of silver to remove 99.99 per cent of all water contaminants in households without access to safe water.

Friday, March 20, 2015

At what cost? The forgotten needs of young carers

by Christine Bezruki, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Tasked with caring for family members with special needs, young carers’ own needs are often overlooked by community agencies, according to researchers at Waterloo’s Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP). 

A study of 58 adult and children’s community services in Waterloo region found that just 24 per cent of agencies routinely ask if there is a young person living in the household of a client they serve, and less than a quarter of those ask what responsibilities the young person is expected to shoulder.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Supermassive black holes: Physicist to investigate with x-ray telescope

by Victoria Van Cappellen, Faculty of Science

A University of Waterloo physicist, along with two Canadian astronomers will be part of the science working group directing ASTRO-H, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) newest flagship x-ray astronomy observatory.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Canada and Canadian astronomers,” says Brian McNamara, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who also holds a University Research Chair in Astrophysics.

The University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University will celebrate World Water Day on March 23 with a variety of events, including a graduate fair, keynote speakers and a screening of the award-winning documentary, Watermark.

The United Nations established World Water Day in 1993 to increase global awareness of the importance of freshwater to the environment, agriculture, energy, health and trade. This year’s theme is Water and Sustainable Development.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Canada’s best co-op student of the year

by Faculty of Engineering

Andrew Andrade was halfway around the world when the mechatronics engineering student discovered he had not only won Waterloo Engineering’s top co-op student award, but the national award as well.

Andrew Andrade posing in a suit

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Waterloo student wins top co-op student of the year in Canada

by Staff, Marketing and Strategic Communications

A Waterloo student who co-founded an oil and gas startup has won a national award for best co-op student of the year in Canada. He is among six students who received the University of Waterloo's top award for co-op students in their Faculties.