Research

Waterloo engineers believe it's possible to harvest energy from the sunlight beating down on the province's roads. Photovoltaic panes embedded in the asphalt could be either hooked into the electricity grid or used to directly power streetlights and signs. In winter, the energy they generate could even melt snow and ice, eliminating the need for plowing and sanding.

WATERLOO, Ont. (Wednesday, July 11, 2012) - A recent theoretical study by a University of Waterloo doctoral candidate in nanotechnology engineering suggests that manufacturers may one day make lasers and LEDs out of silicon, with the potential to significantly lower their price.

And this fall University of Waterloo professor Philippe Van Cappellen plans to flood it.

Dr. Van Cappellen is hoping for a hot, dry summer beforehand too, because he wants the sudden deluge to make as big an impact as possible on Beverly Swamp and its downstream watershed.

Positive messaging is the elixir of the age, but what if all of those warm, supportive words were actually doing more harm than good?

In new research poised to shake up our upbeat-loving culture, University of Waterloo psychology professor Mark Zanna and colleagues have found that positive messaging can actually enforce negative ideas.

Predicting heart attacks

For 70,000 Canadians each year, a heart attack can mean the difference between life and death. But imagine there was a machine capable of predicting them minutes, hours or even days before symptoms appear. A machine so small and affordable, every potential coronary patient would have one.

Now imagine the lives that technology could save.

WATERLOO, Ont. (Tuesday, July 3, 2012) - Ten graduate students from the University of Waterloo received prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships that will help them pursue and complete doctoral degrees and conduct significant research.

The awards recognize top academic achievement and leadership skills, and were announced today. The awards include Vanier scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Waterloo, Canada –June 18, 2012  –A team of University of Waterloo researchers will launch an international study on the global implementation of community sustainability plans, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (“Rio+20”) later this week in Rio de Janeiro.

The study represents the quantitative research phase of the Implementing Agenda 21 through Local Agenda 21s project, which seeks to help local governments around the world more effectively transition toward a green economy.