Hydrogen is frequently (and perennially) lauded as a versatile tool with the potential to decarbonize a wide range of industries and end-use activities. However, a more nuanced view is needed. While hydrogen has a critical role to play in the energy transition, its capabilities are often overstated. A strategic approach is necessary, focusing on areas where hydrogen is truly indispensable and avoiding its deployment where better alternatives exist.
Currently, over 96% of hydrogen production comes from fossil fuels, resulting in significant carbon emissions (Eloffy et al. 2022...
Research at University of Waterloo has quantified sources and flows of microplastics in Canada that are released to the environment. The 2023 masters thesis by Cassandra Sherlock examined tire wear, paint degradation, clothes washing and other sources of microplastic generation (particles smaller than 5 mm). The method of materials flow analysis was used to track flows from source to release and estimate loads into different environmental compartments. Tire wear accounts for the majority of the load. The total amount works out to about 1.5 kg of microplastic release per person per year...
I developed this simple framework while consulting in the late 1990s. IIT became a first step in the screening of a new opportunity or a new client relationship. Today I teach it to undergraduate students, to encourage them to understand the world and to find their professional pathway.
IIT framework is a useful shortcut to categorize and analysis problems and opportunities, and to frame discussions around business and sustainability. Each of three components gives a dimension for considering problems and solutions for companies:
The Flipped Classroom is an approach to teaching in a blended format where students learn material through asynchronous videos or readings, and then class time is spent on actively applying the material. There are lots of great tips for designing flipped courses but I wanted to create a quick rubric to decide if flipping is right for your course. The following is based on the APGAR score (for newborn babies) where each of 5 criteria is given a simple score of 0, 1, or 2, giving a final score out of 10. Try it for your own course!
My name is Marshall Cowie, and I am a third-year student studying Mathematical Physics here at the University of Waterloo. For the past four months I have had the opportunity to work as an Educational Research Assistant with Diana. I worked on the Enhancing Assessment Practices project, focusing on understanding math assessment practices through collecting data from math course syllabi, as well as researching concerns surrounding generative artificial intelligence (genAI).
Introduction: The Current State of LLMs and the Promise of Autonomy
Recently, an announcement was made concerning the creation of the first autonomous software developer—amid multiple other similar announcements. As someone deeply involved in working with large language models (LLMs), I can assert two key points: First, such developments are inevitable at some point in the future. Second, the present does not yet embody this future, and I harbor significant skepticism regarding the uniqueness of their creation compared to existing...
I joined the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science as a Lecturer at the University of Waterloo in September 2022. It’s now a year later and reflecting on my first full-time year of teaching has brought up many memories of blissful excitement, daunting confusion (e.g., first hearing about Learn, Crowdmark, Odyssey, Workday, Quest, OAT, etc. all in the same week!), steadfast determination, and lessons learned.
This reflection began when I spoke at FYMSiC’s online conference in May...
Guest post by Sachin Kotecha, Math Sessional Instructor (sachin.kotecha@uwaterloo.ca)
This past February, I (virtually) attended the 25th SIGMAA on RUME conference. Across three days, I attended 15 talks on mathematics education research, with a particular focus on attending talks on inclusivity in mathematics (and on assessment techniques - but that’s not the topic of this blog post!)
One talk in particular resonated with me - it connected both with my experience in my days as a math (and...