News

Congratulations to Juan Moreno-Cruz, a professor in the Faculty of Environment’s SEED department, on their findings on AI's energy usage. Contrary to popular belief, new research finds that the use of artificial intelligence has a minimal effect on global greenhouse gas emissions and may actually benefit the environment and the economy.

SEED Graduate Seminar Series 

SEED and the Faculty of Environment are thrilled to share that Professor Komal Habib received the Best Presenter Award at the World Resources Forum in Geneva, Switzerland (September 2025) for her talk on “Critical Minerals for Electromobility in Canada.”

First-year students in Waterloo’s Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) program—an innovative initiative offered by the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) in partnership with the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED)—came together to plant 100 native trees and shrubs on Waterloo’s north campus last week. 

The University of Waterloo’s Lumet – Illuminating Metal Supply Chains project has secured an additional $50,000 in collaborative funding through a new joint grant with researchers at University College London (UCL). The boost builds on Lumet’s existing $1 million NSERC Alliance Missions grant (2024-2027), bringing fresh momentum to efforts that aim to make supply chains for critical minerals such as nickel, germanium and lithium more transparent, responsible and resilient.

Congratulations to SEED graduate student Ruyel Miah for winning the Kawazana Commendations Award by the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) during the 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum 2025 (14AFAF) in New Delhi, India. The conference was organized by the Asian Fisheries Society in association with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Department of Fisheries (DoF), the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, and the Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch (AFSIB).

Congratulations to Alex Cimprich, for his work on unveiling the first full environmental footprint of a Canadian hospital, revealing critical emissions hotspots—energy, water and medical supplies.

Congratulations to Dr. Neil Craik who's book, Liability for Environmental Harm to the Global Commons (Cambridge University Press, 2023), was awarded the 2024 Canadian Council on International Law’s Scholarly Book Award. The Award recognizes the work of Canadian scholars of international law that makes a substantial contribution to international law literature.

Bethany Poltl, an undergraduate student in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, was recognized as one of Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 in 2024; an award program that celebrates and rewards young leaders for creating positive change in their communities.