Societal Futures

“The world continues to face compounding major crises, and education and research are essential to ensuring society is equipped to tackle these challenges head-on,” said Vivek Goel, University of Waterloo’s president and vice-chancellor, in his opening address at the Global Futures 2024 launch event on January 31. 

Waterloo researchers and entrepreneurs are committed to finding and addressing the world’s most pressing challenges with a multi-disciplinary approach. Goel added that in order to achieve this vision, we must start by thinking globally and acting locally. 

Recent studies have suggested that firefighters are three times more likely to die of cancer than the general population. This is partly attributed to their gear, which contains polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), a large group of chemicals that are used in many applications, and often elevates the risk to cancer.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced today that Dr. Laura Middleton, a researcher in Waterloo’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, received a grant of more than $979,000 over four years for a project called Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT). Middleton leads the project alongside Dr. Heather Keller and Dr.

Susan Roy is a University of Waterloo researcher and professor in the Department of History and at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Her research examines the history of Indigenous-non-Indigenous relationships with attention to land rights activism and cultural performance, along with resource and urban development disputes in Canada.

We asked Roy how fundamental research and collaborating with Indigenous partners help deepen our knowledge and understanding of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Opinion by Susan Roy

Helen Huang (BSc ’17) 
Alum, Faculty of Science
> Co-founder, Co.Lab 

An industry serving a global audience should reflect global diversity. Yet diversity in tech, with people of different backgrounds bringing unique perspectives and lived experiences to the table, still feels a way off. 

Edith Law is a professor at the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, where she co-directs the Human-Computer Interaction Lab. Her research delves into social computing technology, machine intelligence interactions and the design and user experience of technology that upholds important human values.

We asked Law how we can ethically harness the power of new technologies for the betterment of humanity.

Opinion by Dr. Law

Dr. Mary Wells is the dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. An accomplished materials engineer, she chaired the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering from 2013 to 2018.

Wells is a founding member of the Trust in Research Undertaken in Science and Technology scholarly network. We asked her how we can strengthen trust in science and technology to positively advance society.

Opinion by Dr. Wells

Dr. Will Percival is the distinguished research chair in Astrophysics and director of the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics. His research delves into the properties of the universe on a vast scale, offering insights into the physics following the big bang and the forces driving today's cosmic evolution.

His work is at the forefront of observational cosmology, where he assumes key roles in space missions such as the Euclid satellite. We asked Percival why fundamental science is important for humanity’s future.

Since our founding in 1957, the University of Waterloo has sought to uncover solutions to the most pressing, complex challenges facing humanity and our planet. As these challenges evolve, we are evolving too.