By Chris Houser
Dean of Science
Launched in February 2024, the IDEAL Scholar program recognizes Science students who seek out opportunities beyond the classroom in the areas of Innovation, Discovery, Engagement, Application, and Leadership. Many of our students are incredibly active outside the classroom and we wanted to reward them for the impact they’ve made.
Participating in activities that fall into the categories of Innovation, Discovery, Engagement, Application, and Leadership, gives our students the soft skills employers are seeking, like the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, think critically, have a global perspective, perform selfless service, and solve complex problems creatively.
What is most impressive is the diverse list of extracurriculars our students completed at the University of Waterloo. They are active across campus and in the community representing Waterloo well at every turn.
Examples of some of our student's accomplishments:
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Working with Velocity Science to develop an at-home pasteurization device for farmers and communities within African countries
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Conducting cutting-edge experiments in stem cell and leukemia research with clinicians from Princess Margaret Hospital
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Developing computer models of how planets formed in the early solar system
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Exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica through our new Global Perspectives of Science program
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Exciting the next generation of scientists as a member of Let’s Talk Science or as Science Ambassadors
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Serving as an executive within the Science Society, and
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Representing the University as a member of the Track and Field team.
The list of achievements from this year’s IDEAL Scholars goes on and on, and we are so proud of them all. And if they are anything like me, their Innovation, Discovery, Engagement, Application, and Discovery activities will be what they will remember most about their time at Waterloo.
What I remember most fondly from my time as an undergraduate student is watching the sunrise over the dunes of southern Nevada as a research assistant, seine netting in Lake Simcoe as an intern for the Ministry of Natural Resources, evaluating wetlands for the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority, being on the executive for the Environmental Science Student Society, and being published for the first time as an undergraduate student.
Just as I am proud of what I did as an undergraduate student, I know our IDEAL Scholars are proud of what they have achieved during their time in Science at Waterloo. Their accomplishments are a reminder of the high-impact extracurricular learning experiences that can go along with the world-class education available at the University of Waterloo. They have shown that the student experience is what you make of it. And they made it great.
Wear your Medallions with pride, Class of 2024. You earned them!