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Ontario's agricultural sector plays a significant role in the province's economy. In 2021, agriculture contributed nearly $10 billion to Ontario's GDP, employing 67,000 people directly and over 740,000 in related agri-food industries. However, the environmental impact of modern farming practices cannot be overlooked. Especially, large-scale industrial farming practices can contribute to soil erosion, water and air pollution and biodiversity loss.

And as climate change impacts continue to escalate, the imperative for sustainable farming practices becomes ever more pressing.

“International Women's Day is a celebration of ideals such as diversity, equity and inclusion, and it is a celebration of the achievements of all women,” said Vivek Goel, University of Waterloo’s president and vice-chancellor, in his opening address at the International Women’s Day (IWD) breakfast event held at Federation Hall. 

Fahim Ahmed is a computer science and finance student at Waterloo, and the president and co-founder of Waterloo Blockchain. But what feels like a direct path to success now, took him a while to find.

Ahmed was only 12 years old when he started crypto-mining.

“I had seen people talking about it a lot online, so I set up my own hardware to do mining in my bedroom,” he recalls. “I just wanted money to buy video games!”

In elementary and high school, Ahmed switched schools frequently, and had trouble staying focused.

Dr. Nadine Ibrahim, a professor in the University of Waterloo’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Turkstra Chair in Urban Engineering, never misses a chance to inspire her students to think about how the application of their knowledge could create solutions that improve and sustain our humanity and prosperity.  

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a celebration of the achievements of women. It is an opportunity to recognize the exceptional women faculty, students and staff at our institution. Today also serves as a reminder of the work we still need to do to accelerate equity for women in our community and society.

This spring, the University of Waterloo is expanding its global alumni network with the new Ottawa Alumni Chapter. UWaterloo chapters build community among local alumni, students and friends by bringing them together for a variety of programs and events. Led by alumni volunteers, chapters provide a wide variety of programming tailored to the culture in their local region — including mentorship programs, socials, networking events and family-friendly activities.   

On March 5, eight local charities pitched their organization’s story and impact at the Perfect Pitch 2024 event, presented by the philanthropic organization, Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region (SVPWR). The Perfect Pitch workshop series provided each charity with a team of dedicated coaches, including University of Waterloo alumni, who offered personal coaching, practice opportunities and feedback, all leading up to their final pitch at Federation Hall.  

Digital Health 2024 at Stanford University showcased successful collaborations among tech and life science companies, government organizations and academia in advancing digital health solutions. As health technologies evolve, they present unprecedented challenges and opportunities to improve patient care and individual health outcomes. From remote monitoring to artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostics, these technologies facilitate data collection, analysis and innovative life-changing therapies.

Rapid technological progress is reshaping health care on a global and personal level. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the future of health by enabling predictive analytics, personalized treatment plans and medical image analysis. By 2027, the global AI in health care market is expected to reach $51.3 billion USD, as AI-driven solutions become increasingly integrated into health practices globally.

Announced at Times Higher Education (THE) Digital Health 2024 summit in Stanford, California, the University of Waterloo will take up the banner as host of next year’s Digital Health summit. The event, slated for April 10 to 11, 2025, will mark an important occasion in the University's continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of health care delivery through technological innovation.

President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel underscored Waterloo's commitment to sustainable and responsible innovation in a video message.