News

A common insecticide that is a major hazard for honeybees is now effectively detected in honey, thanks to a simple new method.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo developed an environmentally friendly, fully automated technique that extracts pyrethroids from the honey. Pyrethroids are one of two main groups of pesticides that contribute to colony collapse disorder in bees, a phenomenon where worker honeybees disappear, leaving the queen and other members of the hive to die. Agricultural producers worldwide rely on honeybees to pollinate hundreds of billions of dollars worth of crops.

Professor Mark Servos from the department of biology and Professor Emeritus Gary Dmitrienko from the department of chemistry have been awarded research infrastructure grants to support their COVID-19 research.

The University of Waterloo honoured 125 educators and researchers who have received the President’s Excellence in Teaching and Research awards 2020 in an online celebration that recognized their contributions to the Waterloo community and beyond.

Innovation, research and discovery are key factors in maintaining and growing Canada’s socio-economic well-being, to benefit all Canadians. The Canada Research Chair Program is investing $140 million towards 182 new and renewed Chairs at 34 institutions. The Unversity of Waterloo had three chairs renewed, including Chemistry's Derek Schipper.

Together, the University of Waterloo’s Science Society, Science departmental clubs and the Psychology Society donated $5,500 to help the local community fight COVID-19. The donation came from unused event funds and was shared among three organizations.

The University of Waterloo’s Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Grants fund projects investigating innovative approaches to enhancing teaching and fostering deep student learning at Waterloo. A student wellness check-in activity and a molecular augmented reality app are two projects led by Waterloo scientists that received funding.

Using data from the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) SCISAT satellite, atmospheric scientists from the University of Waterloo have confirmed that certain clouds draw pollution away from the surface of Earth.

During these unusual times of isolation and social distancing, Waterloo scientists have found a new way to engage with the local community and share their research.

New research is underway to develop a coating that will kill the COVID-19 virus immediately upon contact with any surface. The antiviral coating could be applied to all personal protective equipment and high-touch surfaces, greatly reducing the risk of community transmission of the virus.