Training the Next Generation of Scientists
Science at Waterloo is a global leader in research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge and imagination. From black holes and quantum computing, to ensuring the health of our great lakes, or creating new materials, medications and vision care, our research leads to disruptive innovations that will ensure a healthy and sustainable future.
Science by the Numbers
So, what’s being a Science student like?
Solving the problems of tomorrow through innovative research
News
Sustainable stretch: Creating the perfect ooey-gooey cheese melt
Alum Mathew Li (BSc ’24) uses his biochemistry degree to make cheese proteins sustainably
Recognizing excellence in senior undergraduate science research
The Faculty of Science Foundation bestows this award upon undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science for outstanding research outcomes in senior undergraduate Science research courses.
Banting Postdoctoral Fellow joins Waterloo to advance exoplanet research
Banting Postdoctoral Fellow Emily Deibert has joined the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics to advance research on planets beyond our solar system.
Events
Capturing and converting photons at molecular photoelectrode and perovskite nanocrystal interfaces
Harnessing sunlight to drive chemical transformations, or to store the sun’s energy in chemical bonds, begins with the development of molecules and materials capable of capturing visible light and converting that light into separated charge carriers. To this end, our lab has been investigating nanostructured wide bandgap semiconductor surfaces functionalized with light-absorbing molecules that can act as the working electrode in photoelectrochemical cells. Charge separation processes within such hybrid architectures are analogous to the first steps of the electron transfer cascade observed in natural photosynthesis, where light absorption generates redox equivalents that are shuttled to catalytic sites.
Highlighted here are our recent efforts to modify oriented metal oxide nanowires with purpose-synthesized Cu(I)-based donor-chromophore-acceptor triads or donor/acceptor-chromophore dyads and to validate whether the electron transport chain of the full triad is necessary for effective photoelectrode operation. These processes rely on efficient light capture and conversion. To this end, our latest efforts to understand how perovskite nanocrystals behave in matrices with long-range order will be highlighted. Finally, a marriage of these two research axes will be discussed, where molecular triads are installed on perovskite nanocrystal surfaces and are used to extract excitons and drive follow-on chemical transformations.
Perseids Sky-watching Party and Astronomy Lecture 2026
Explore the night sky with astronomers from the Faculty of Science and Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. The Perseids meteor shower will be at its most spectacular, so let's gather to learn something and then enjoy the view!
SCI-toberfest 2026
Ziggy Zaggy Ziggy Zaggy Oy Oy Oy!Get ready for an unforgettable Homecoming celebration as Waterloo Science launches its first-ever SCI-toberfest!
Support the Faculty of Science
Your support enables the Faculty of Science to empower the next generation of scientists; unleashing potential for discovery, innovation and ground-breaking scientific research. Together we will inspire our students to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Consider making a gift today or explore the Faculty of Science’s priority funds to support the areas that matter most.