Humanity is in a transformational period in history resulting in challenges that have never before been faced. Bold and curious pioneers are needed to find solutions that are acceptable, workable and scalable. Those who are willing to think differently, ask questions and challenge the status quo.
Dr. Lai-Tze Fan
Professor, Sociology and Legal Studies
> Canada Research Chair in Technology and Social Change
> U&AI Lab
Digital technologies play an integral role in our everyday lives, and since the rapid growth shows no signs of slowing down, Dr. Lai-Tze Fan cautions about the many invisible aspects to the technologies we use.
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.
Dr. Linda Nazar
Professor, Chemistry
> Canada Research Chair, Solid State Energy Materials
> Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry-research Centre
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption speeds up, Canada's capacity to produce batteries is struggling to keep pace with the growing demand.
Jeff Shiner (BMath ’92)
Alum, Mathematics
> CEO, 1Password
From its beginnings as a small startup of just 20 employees, 1Password has grown under the leadership of CEO Jeff Shiner into a global powerhouse.
CT Murphy (BASc '23, MASc in progress)
Graduate student, Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology)
> Founder, CELLECT.
> Velocity
Dr. John Hirdes
Professor, School of Public Health Sciences
> WatSPEED
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.
Global and individual health care is experiencing disruption through a variety of technologies. Building disruptive technologies is at the core of what we do, and since our inception, the University of Waterloo has also been disrupting the boundaries of health. In 2024, the University opened the doors of the Innovation Arena, a new collaboration space within the Health Sciences Campus in downtown Kitchener, to further streamline commercialization pathways for businesses, fast-track delivery of health technologies and drive Canada’s next wave of economic growth.