Community

Friday, April 21, 2023

Sustainable innovation needs societal change

by Stephanie Longeway, University Relations

“The climate crisis is our biggest existential threat,” said the University of Waterloo’s President, Vivek Goel, in his opening address at the Waterloo Innovation Summit on Friday, April 21. 

It’s no coincidence that the Summit, centred on sustainable transportation, took place on the eve of Earth Day.

The calls and commitments to reduce our carbon emissions have never been louder, but our global energy related CO2 emissions continued to climb in 2022.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Connecting through volunteer work

by Milana Madzarac, School of Pharmacy

Helping to develop future pharmacists plays an important role in Puja Sharma’s (PharmD ’15) life. She is a pharmacist at Baxter CIVA Pharmacy Services and first applied to be a PharmD interviewer during her last two years at Waterloo Pharmacy.

PharmD interviewers help to interview new prospective students looking to start a doctoral degree.

“Volunteering at the School gives me a sense of wholeness,” says Sharma. “I’m fortunate that I am able to make a difference by giving back in such a positive way to our profession.”

Friday, April 14, 2023

Quantum Connects Us

by Elizabeth Kleisath, Institute for Quantum Computing

Twenty years ago, a cross-campus collaboration in quantum science and technology was just a newly unfolding idea. Today, the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) has grown from this idea into a fully formed campus research community, and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. 

Today, on World Quantum Day, we proudly reflect on IQC’s impressive achievements made over the past 20 years, look forward to the future of quantum discoveries, and celebrate the new connections and collaborations that they have brought to the University of Waterloo community.

In April 2019, the government of Indonesia announced a 10-year plan to transfer all government offices away from its capital Jakarta to a new sustainable, planned capital city. Jakarta is well-known for its traffic congestion and poor air quality; however, sea level rise also played a role in the island nation’s unprecedented decision.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Alumni volunteers: Builders of our global community

by Erin Clark, Program Coordinator, Alumni Relations

University of Waterloo alumni volunteers are a group of people with vast skill sets, incredible passion and innovative minds who work to grow and inspire the future of Waterloo.

In honour of National Volunteer Week 2023, we talked to a diverse group of alumni volunteers who lead, teach and connect with other alumni, current students and future students. Each of our featured volunteers has a unique approach to their philanthropy with Waterloo, see below!  

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

The success of SDG Week Canada leadership at the University of Waterloo

by Jacqueline Ouellette and Andrea Bale, SDSN Canada and Sustainability Office

The University of Waterloo has illustrated how the “think local, act global” ideal could be realized across Canadian colleges and universities through its collaborative leadership of SDG Week Canada.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network Canada (SDSN Canada), which is housed at the University of Waterloo, worked with the Sustainability Hub at the University of British Columbia and Colleges and Institutes Canada to co-lead the inaugural campaign that took place this March.

Monday, April 3, 2023

"It's part of my history"

by Megan Vander Woude, Office of Advancement

Years ago, when Nancy (BA ’78) and Allan McCalder (BA ’78) came back to the University of Waterloo for a tour, they knew their kids needed to see the computer.

If you were also a Waterloo student in the 1960s or 70s, you probably understand why. At that time, the Math and Computer building (MC) housed the largest computer in Canada, the IBM 360 Model 75. It was housed in the centre of MC, and any student or passerby could peer in through the windows to see its gigantic size.