Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) has announced their winners and finalists for the 2022-2023 GRADflix competition, which included a strong turnout of grad students from the water sector!
If you are not familiar with the competition, GRADflix is an annual research communication competition where participants create a video or animation no longer than 60 seconds that describes their research.
The GRADflix 2023 Showcase was streamed live on the GSPA YouTube channel and after a tough deliberation, a judging panel comprising Tania Del Motto (GreenHouse), Nam Kiwanuka (TVO), Matt Regehr (Creative Studio), and Candace Stewart-Smith (Centre for Career Action) selected four winning videos that best exemplified and communicated the amazing research being carried out by UWaterloo grad students.
The winners are:
- First place - $750 prize; and People's Choice - $250 prize:Andrew Stella, MASc student from the Department of Chemical Engineering, for his video: Robust, wearable sensors for firefighters made using conductive polymers
- Second place - $500 prize: Caitlin Laidlaw, MES student from the School of Geography and Environmental Management, for her video: Local attitudes towards snow leopards in western Nepal
- Third place - $250 prize: Chuan Tian (Ben) Zhang, MASc student from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, for his video: Sensor malfunction detection
- Fourth place - $250 prize: Kiran Dhuga, MSc student in the School of Public Health Sciences, for her video: Parental depressive symptoms and physical-mental multimorbidity in children
- Social Impact - $250 prize:Chi-en (Amy) Tai, MASc student from the department of Systems Design Engineering, for her video: Improved treatment of breast cancer
Congratulations and special mention to our water finalists:
Amerald Fang (he/him), MES student, Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment
GRADflix video title: Hydraulic erosion with game engines
Supervisor: Dr. Derek T. Robinson
Biography: Amerald is an Environment student currently pursuing his Master's in Geography. He received his undergraduate degree in Geomatics and has a strong interest in spatial data analysis and game design. In addition to his studies, Amerald is actively involved on campus as the Environment Graduate Student Association President. He is passionate about using creative problem-solving to advocate for positive change through his leadership role.
Anika Chiang (she/her), MES student, Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment
GRADflix video title: Comparing the effects of management practices on nutrients
Supervisor: Dr. Merrin Macrae
Biography: Anika Chiang is a Master's student in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology and Environmental Sciences at McMaster University, with a minor in Geographic Information Systems. Anika has a strong interest in environmental sustainability and the challenges of climate change and is passionate about using her research and communication skills to make a positive impact in these areas. In her free time, Anika enjoys playing ultimate Frisbee, board games, and exploring the outdoors with her friends and pets.
Kiyoumars Zarshenas (he/him), PhD candidate, Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
GRADflix video title: An innovative solution for thirsty world
Supervisor: Dr. Zhongwei Chen
Biography: Kiyoumars Zarshenas is a PhD candidate in the Chemical engineering at the University of Waterloo. His research interest is on the development of nanomaterials and membranes for separation, and filtration applications. His hobbies include hiking, camping, playing volleyball, swimming, and travelling. He likes to have new experience and learn new things whenever is possible.
Larissa Gospodyn (she/her), PhD student, Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment
GRADflix video title: Groundwater and phosphorus transport: Friend or foe?
Supervisor: Dr. Merrin Macrae, and Dr. Helen Jarvie
Biography: Larissa Gospodyn is a PhD student in the department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. Her area of research is hydrology and biogeochemistry, with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba and an Master of Applied Science from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on agricultural water quality issues, using chemical and hydrological tracers to better understand water and nutrient transportation. Outside of her research, she loves hiking, travelling and hanging with her cat.
Meredith Watson (she/her), MSc student, Biology, Faculty of Science
GRADflix video title: Temporal analysis of microplastics in the Grand River watershed
Supervisor: Dr. Roland Hall
Biography: Meredith Watson completed her Bachelor of Science at Queen’s University in Biochemistry, and is now a Master of Science student in the UWaterloo Department of Biology supervised by Dr. Roland Hall. Her research is looking at microplastics in the Grand River Watershed using paleolimnological techniques. A fun fact about her is that she’s vegan and her favourite author is Sally Rooney.
Navya V. Nair (she/her), PhD student, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, Faculty of Environment
GRADflix video title: Coastal wetlands for small-scale fisheries
Supervisor: Dr. Prateep Nayak
Biography: Navya V Nair is pursuing her PhD in Sustainability Management (Water) at the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development and Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) part-time at Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. Her thesis explores viability of small-scale fisheries by restoring wetlands and protecting water quality. She completed her Master's in the same program. She also holds a Master of Technology in Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering. In her spare time, she likes to dance and sketch. Navya actively participates in international student transition and engagement activities with various campus partners.