While many students use the holiday closure to sit back and relax, Physics and Astronomy student Sierra Jess used her time to reach new heights on an exciting adventure in East Africa before her final term at the University of Waterloo.
Long-held theories on how black holes like the one at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way, evolve were proven right this week thanks to research made possible by Canadian scientists.
At the Faculty of Science, we are constantly inspired by the remarkable women in our faculty and their determination to make a difference through science. Continue reading to learn more about their stories, what inspiring inclusion means to them, and their advice for emerging young scientists.
For the past five years, the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics (WCA) has created a research-rich atmosphere where the sky is (literally) the limit. Whether they are exploring dark matter, dark energy, black holes, or mapping the unknown parts of our universe, the researchers at the WCA are pushing boundaries daily and exploring unchartered territory, so we can better understand our world.
Congratulations to Juewen Liu (Chemistry), Linda Nazar (Chemistry), and Will Percival (Physics & Astronomy and the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics) for representing Science and the university of this list. Liu and Percival are both marking their second appearance on the list, while Nazar has been on the list nine out of the last 10 years. Their work clearly resonates with the research community and their findings have inspired others to push boundaries and explore what’s next in their own research.
Professor Mark Matsen is set to receive the Polymer Physics Group Founders’ Prize. Only 11 scholars have been awarded this prize since its inception in 2001. Matsen, who holds a joint position as a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is being honoured for his remarkable work on molecular self-assembly in polymeric systems involving block copolymers.
Josh Crone, an undergraduate lab development specialist at the University of Waterloo, recently scored a win in the 2023 Gentec-EO Laser Lab Awards. This global competition is dedicated to enhancing optics labs in educational institutions, ensuring students have access to industry-leading measurement instruments. Collaborating with Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland, Crone paved the way for the win by developing a compelling narrative on how this equipment would benefit physics education at Waterloo.
The University of Waterloo was thrilled to welcome students and researchers from across the country over the weekend for the 59th annual Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC). The conference provided a platform for over 100 students to showcase their research through co-op work terms and internships to leaders in the industry.
It is with great sadness that the Faculty of Science shares that two-term Dean Don Brodie passed away in October.
Andree Coschizza’s research revolves around low-temperature physics for quantum computing applications. One of the main barriers in quantum computing is that the necessary two-level quantum systems only become prominent at very low temperatures (often below 100 mK).