Biology

Convocation is a time for celebration, reflection, and inspiration. It’s a time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of students and to celebrate accomplishments. And we also want to recognize those thought leaders and influencers who are advancing society across a spectrum of disciplines. They are leaders our graduates can look to for inspiration as they prepare themselves for the future.

Two Science students will be recognized for their outstanding academic achievements at the Spring 2022 Faculty of Science Convocation. Physics and Astronomy student Aviv Shaya Padawer-Blatt will receive the Governor General Academic Silver Medal for being one of the top undergraduate students with the highest academic standing upon graduation. Biology student Taylor Lynn Virgin will receive the Alumni Gold Medal Award for her outstanding academic achievement.

As we move towards a greener future, nuclear power is considered a viable energy alternative because it does not produce greenhouse gases. However, its use has created a new problem: how should we safely store radioactive waste?

Congratulations to Professors Andrea Edginton, Anna Klinkova and Rebecca Rooney for being awarded the 2022 Faculty of Science Excellence in Science Research Awards!

Rachel Beaver first became interested in microbiology during her undergraduate degree at Waterloo, when taking Fundamentals of Microbiology, taught by Professor Josh Neufeld. She was inspired to continue along this path, completing three co-op terms, her undergraduate thesis, and master’s degree in the Neufeld lab.

Decisions about COVID-19 vaccinations often come down to trust.

Trust in peer networks, in the information available to a person and in the health-care system as a whole.

Congratulations to Professor Jozef Nissimov from the Department of Biology who has been awarded John R. Evans Leaders research infrastructure funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Eugenia Dadzie, a master’s student from the Department of Biology, won first place in Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)’s GRADflix showcase for her video Microbes and enzymes: sustainable plastic degradation, describing her research into finding microbes that can break down plastics in the environment.

Congratulations to Professor Trevor Charles for being recognized with a Research Innovation and Impact Award from the BE-STEMM 2022 conference hosted by the Canadian Black Scientists Network!

Past and present members of the Faculty of Science community are saddened by the news that William David Taylor passed away on January 24, 2022. Bill had a long and distinguished career of service inside and outside the University of Waterloo. He will be remembered with great affection by the many professionals that he trained as students, and by the many colleagues who had the pleasure to work with him in research and administration.