Picture of black hole in the centre of Sagittarius-A, as seen by the Event Horizon Telescope

What's Happening in Physics and Astronomy

Eyes on the future

September 11, 2026

Science alumnus Diego Lalla (BSc ’26) chose the Biological and Medical Physics program in the Faculty of Science to help him earn his spot at the University of Waterloo's School of Optometry. 

Robert Mann and Travis Craddock elected to Royal Society of Canada

September 9, 2026

Two researchers from the Faculty of Science are among the eight Waterloo faculty elected as Fellows and College Members of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). One of the country’s highest academic honours, these appointments recognize exceptional contributions to research, scholarship, and innovation.

Science that matters: Master’s student joins in the global fight against antibiotic resistance

August 31, 2026

Master of Science student, Shahrzad Tofighi is applying physics to one of today’s most urgent global health challenges: the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

Fundamentals of life in the lab: Celebrating Tan Dinh’s 34 years at Waterloo

August 27, 2026 

Tan Dinh, senior lab instructor in Physics and Astronomy, is retiring after 34 years at Waterloo. Dinh came to Canada in 1980 as one of the Vietnamese Boat People and first set foot on campus in 1986 as a graduate student in physics. He accepted a position as a lab technician in 1992. While the field has changed significantly during his time here, Dinh remains rooted in the fundamentals.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellow joins Waterloo to advance exoplanet research

June 29, 2026

Banting Postdoctoral Fellow Emily Deibert has joined the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics to advance research on planets beyond our solar system.

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium: Prof. Charles Gale

Some like it hot: melting nuclear matter into a quark-gluon plasma

Prof. Charles Gale
Department of Physics, McGill University

Thursday, September 24, 2026
4:00 p.m.

In-person: PHY 150

Science Grad School Fair

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Learn more about the master’s and PhD programs offered by the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo. Join us for an in-person Graduate School Fair to have all your questions answered by faculty members and admissions experts from each department. Popcorn, candy and soft pretzels will be provided!

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium: Prof. Marcel Franz

Altermagnets: A New Phase of Magnetic Quantum Matter

Prof. Marcel Franz
Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia

Thursday, October 8, 2026
4:00 p.m.

In-person: RCH 101

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium: Prof. Daniel Whiteson

Machine Learning for Fundamental Physics

Prof. Daniel Whiteson
Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California at Irvine

Thursday, October 22, 2026
4:00 p.m.

In-person: PHY 150

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium: Prof. Cliff Burgess

Thinking Effectively About Gravity

Prof. Cliff Burgess
Department of Physics & Astronomy, McMaster University and  Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

Thursday, October 29, 2026
4:00 p.m.

In-person: PHY 150