Talent

In the current age of technological disruption, Waterloo students are striving to understand the needs of the business world and tackle the biggest challenges they face. Leveraging the University’s world-class co-op program, students gain valuable experience working at one of more than 8,000 employers connected to Waterloo. 

This past year, students, alumni, researchers and staff made significant strides in addressing global challenges and advancing technology. These top 12 stories of 2024 highlight some of Waterloo’s transformative work shaping the future.

Professor Jimmy Lin has been named a 2024 Fellow of the Association for Computational Linguistics in recognition of his significant contributions to question answering and information retrieval.

University of Waterloo student Anson Yu loves a design challenge, particularly one that she can work on with friends. Looking for an extracurricular project that was exciting yet achievable, Yu hit upon the idea of recreating a fun vehicle from pop culture. But which one?  

The University of Waterloo is partnering with UPES, a leading multidisciplinary university in India, to enhance global learning opportunities. With an initial focus on executive education, this collaboration aims to bring Waterloo’s expertise in professional, executive and corporate education to senior leaders and working professionals in India.  

University of Waterloo students and alumni are changing the game by launching companies with global impact for humanity and our planet. Their remarkable achievements have earned them spots on this year’s illustrious Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.  

The annual list highlights young entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their fields. Waterloo-linked founders were named in artificial intelligence (AI), green tech, education, food and drink and manufacturing categories. 

The University of Waterloo is strengthening its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) education with two initiatives: an open online AI literacy course for its community and a Waterloo.AI workshop on generative AI in K-12 education. Together, these initiatives highlight the University’s commitment to fostering responsible AI knowledge and shaping a future where AI is thoughtfully understood and applied across all levels of education and society.

The University of Waterloo held its annual Tech Horizons Executive Forum on Tuesday, offering leaders from business to academia exclusive insights into the disruptive forces shaping technology, business strategy and global transformation. 

Held at the CIBC Square auditorium in Toronto, the sold-out event drew hundreds of executives for a dynamic lineup of panel discussions and keynotes. The sessions focused on navigating global and geopolitical uncertainties and tackling the challenges of adopting and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) through a distinctly Canadian lens. 

Shahan Salim, a PhD candidate in the School of Public Health Sciences, continues to make strides in advancing air quality research and technology through his participation at the United Nations climate change negotiations, known as COP.