Research

Ten University of Waterloo startup companies will pitch their businesses for a share of $100,000 in grant funding at the Velocity Fund Finals on Thursday, July 24. The rewards include four $25,000 prizes as well as workspace at Velocity.

The contenders come from diverse backgrounds spanning biotechnology, computer science, engineering, and nanotechnology. The companies are tackling current issues, such as more accessible vision care, health, food economics and efficient manufacturing.

On Thursday, Peter Braid,  MP for Kitchener-Waterloo, will highlight the Government of Canada’s support for University of Waterloo researchers to advance their discovery research.

University of Waterloo Strategic Advisor on Sustainability David McLaughlin is set to give the keynote address at meetings featuring the Canadian Minister of Environment Leona Aglukkaq, Mexico’s Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Juan José Guerra Abud and US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy.

The Province of Ontario renewed its investment in world leading quantum technology research today allotting $25 million to the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo over five years as part of the 2014 Ontario Budget.

University of Waterloo experts are available to comment on the flooding currently affecting Manitoba.

Carrie Mitchell is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, School of Planning and Fellow, Balsillie School of International Affairs. Carrie is available to talk about how the flooding in Manitoba affects all Canadians, in particular homebuyers, and why all Canadians should demand more from their federal, provincial, and local governments when it coming to planning for climate change. 

Waterloo researchers have used cell phones equipped with a GPS to prove there is a link between the geographical area a person covers in daily life and dementia in older adults.

The groundbreaking study compared the distance healthy older adults travelled on a daily basis to that of those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease showed a significantly smaller life space than their healthy counterparts.

Professor Emmett Macfarlane from the University of Waterloo is available to speak to print and radio journalists on the new prostitution legislation, Bill C-36, being discussed by the House of Commons Justice Committee today. 

The proposed bill cracks down on clients and pimps and includes new prohibitions on purchasing sex, advertising and public communication. According to Macfarlane, many of the provisions in the new bill raise the same set of concerns the Supreme Court addressed when striking down the old provisions last December.

The operators of corporate and government vehicle fleets can achieve big savings in fuel and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sending their drivers to eco-driving school, Waterloo researchers have found.

While the savings for each vehicle are small, the benefits over time for large fleets can be significant, says Jean Andrey, professor in Waterloo’s School of Geography and Environmental Management.

Resource extraction and mining are cornerstones of the Canadian economy, but current extraction techniques come at a severe environmental price. Limiting environmental impacts is a priority for companies as they look to a new generation of professionals for ways to manage waste and water quality while maximizing efficiency.

Beth Coleman thinks the awesome power of big data should be used to create great cities - not just to get an upgrade on your morning latte for liking a coffee shop on Facebook.