Community

Canada is facing a health care crisis due to escalating costs, a shortage of health-care professionals and increasing needs from an aging population. The effects of this crisis are felt more profoundly in remote, rural and Indigenous communities, where the shortage of health-care workers is greater. That’s where the University of Waterloo’s partnership with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSM University) comes in.

The University of Waterloo is known for educating future-ready graduates. Our students have earned a reputation for having the skills, knowledge and experience to add value within their first days on the job. Much of this learning happens on campus, but at Waterloo the learning continues during co-op work terms at leading companies across Canada and around the world.  

As Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023 kicks off, we are highlighting the remarkable achievements of just some of the University of Waterloo alum companies making a splash on the global stage.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is an annual, worldwide event that celebrates and promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and the spirit of startups.

As we mark Remembrance Day this year, we are reminded that the shadow of violent conflict is not confined to the pages of history books; it is a present and pressing reality. November 11 is our opportunity to honour the sacrifices of those who have put themselves in harm’s way to preserve our freedoms.

While we are fortunate that Canada has been spared the direct impact of on-going conflicts, it does not mean we are untouched. The consequences of these wars ripple across communities, time and distance, affecting us all in profound ways.

Dr. Carla Fehr is a professor in the Department of Philosophy and serves as an advisor to the Gender and Social Justice program. She is an expert in gender diversity in STEM and feminist philosophy of science.

Fehr’s research explores the social nature of science and technology and how our culture influences the knowledge we produce. Across our academic and research activities we must consider the impacts on society. We asked Fehr how we can strengthen science and technology to positively advance society and ensure all members of our communities thrive.   

Updated COVID-19 boosters are available this fall to help protect against severe COVID-19 infections. Each person is affected differently by the virus, from a high fever to aching muscles and a sore throat. Getting the COVID-19 booster, will contribute to broader community protection.Dr. Kelly Grindrod, pharmacist and associate professor at the University of Waterloo, answers questions about this year’s COVID-19 booster vaccines.

Are there different boosters available? How do I know which one I should receive?

There was the young woman who’d suffered an eye injury in an attack and was left with only one functioning eye. The man who had low vision due to blunt force trauma and was desperate to find ways of coping so he could work. The teenager who’d been using a pair of glasses several years old despite her sight having worsened significantly since the last time she’d been able to get an eye exam.

Every year, around 10 million people contract tuberculosis (TB) — a treatable disease where bacteria attack a patient’s lungs. Globally, only about half of those who contract TB yearly are diagnosed. Many other people with TB are undiagnosed and untreated, partly due to a lack of access to quality health-care systems, particularly in resource-limited settings and among marginalized groups.  

Witnessing how charitable donations helped University of Waterloo students complete their education and achieve their goals demonstrated the importance of the Faculty, Staff and Retiree (FSR) Giving Program for Heather Mair, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and the FSR co-chair for the past six years. 

An interdisciplinary, multi-institutional team with a University of Waterloo professor as a core member, has been named the winner of the prestigious Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering on November 1st.