News archive - June 2022

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Remembering Colin Mayfield – a microbiologist pioneer

This article was originally published on the Faculty of Science's website.

Past and present members of the Department of Biology are saddened to announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Colin Ivor Mayfield. He was with the University of Waterloo for more than three decades. Mayfield was one of Biology's pioneering faculty who helped establish microbiology as a strength of the University of Waterloo.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

A Grand day of STEM activities for Indigenous high school students

Six Nations Polytechnic partners with McMaster University and the University of Waterloo to explore STEM field work in the Grand River.

On June 15, grade nine students from Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) and the STEAM Academy program donned their waders to join researchers Charles de Lannoy, Karen Kidd and Waterloo Biology Professor Mark Servos to conduct experiments in the Grand River.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Water Institute members awarded SSHRC funding

Three Water Institute researchers have been awarded funding by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support research on effective governance for climate change, data sovereignty and pro-poor policy approaches.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Celebrating water leaders at convocation

Congratulations to several outstanding water colleagues being recognized with honorary degrees and distinctions at the University of Waterloo convocation ceremonies this week.

Monday, June 13, 2022

Living water: Northern Indigenous communities’ use and perceptions of drinking water

Mylène Ratelle, University of Waterloo and Jessie Yakeleya

In Indigenous communities that have lacked access to safe water for years, getting access to a safe water supply is crucial. However, perceptions of the water supply — not just how it tastes and smells, but also trust in the source’s safety — affect consumption.

It is estimated that Canada is in eighth position of the most renewable freshwater resources per capita on the planet. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to safe drinking water. In particular, water security is a challenge for Indigenous communities. Twenty-eight First Nations still have long-term drinking water advisories, meaning no home access to safe drinking water.