Research

Cutting-edge technologies gave the world fake news, but researchers from the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering are developing even newer technology to stop it. Their innovative system — the first of its kind — relies on something already famous for underpinning Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies — blockchain. But in addition to sophisticated machines, these researchers are enlisting humans to establish the truth. Their goal is a world where people have greater trust in the news they see and hear. 

Mental health issues had been a concern before the pandemic, but they came into focus even more during this time. In a recent study, Dr. Mahmood Gohari from the University of Waterloo's School of Public Health Sciences used survey data from almost 5,400 Canadian adolescents to examine changes in depression and anxiety from 2018 until 2021. For World Mental Health Month, he discusses his findings:

An international team of interdisciplinary researchers has successfully created a method for better 3D modelling of complex cancers.

The University of Waterloo-based team combined cutting-edge bioprinting techniques with synthetic structures or microfluidic chips. The method will help lab researchers more accurately understand heterogeneous tumours: tumours with more than one kind of cancer cell, often dispersed in unpredictable patterns.

The University of Waterloo's Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) hosted its annual conference on October 12, 2023. The event brought together cybersecurity and privacy experts, students, faculty, entrepreneurs, government officials and businesses to delve into the pressing challenges and innovative solutions within the field. The conference was notably interdisciplinary, closely aligned with the University’s Waterloo at 100 framework — focusing on society, health and technology.

Mastercard and the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) at the University of Waterloo have announced a $550,000 partnership focused on research and talent advancement in cybersecurity. The funding will support projects that increase “Trust in Data” around:  fingerprinting, identification and validation, and data protection. 

Since January 2023, pharmacists across Ontario have been prescribing medications for 13 minor ailments. Nardine Nakhla, pharmacist and professor at the University of Waterloo, was a member of the advisory group that drafted regulations enabling this expansion in scope. Nakhla provides an update on the changing minor ailments landscape in Ontario.

How have the new regulations affected our health-care system, pharmacists and patients since minor ailments took effect this past January?  

While she is graduating with her MA in Clinical Psychology at fall convocation, Aliya McNeil is already working toward her PhD in the same discipline, here at Waterloo. She was recently awarded the Vanier Graduate Scholarship — one of the country’s most prestigious scholarships — to support her doctoral research and work.

For more than 50 years, the University of Waterloo has hosted an insightful and thought-provoking public lecture series: The Hagey Lectures. This premier event has featured a wide range of celebrated scholars, artists and change makers.  

Lookr, a new company at Velocity, University of Waterloo’s startup incubator, takes inspiration beyond the search engine and uses on-location spatial information and artificial intelligence to inspire creators to capture the perfect shot. 

The University of Waterloo hosted a global network of national news agency leaders on campus this week to share the expertise of our AI researchers.