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The Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) hosted the “International Workshop on Nanotechnology for a Sustainable Future”. This virtual workshop brought together world leaders in nanotechnology to address current global issues, to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) in nanotechnology and society, policy and science diplomacy, industry and innovation, energy and environment, devices for healthcare and communications, and resource management and the circular economy.

Prof. Nathwani (Executive Director, WISE) and Prof. Nazar (Chemistry) participated as guest speaker. Prof. Nathwani discussed the unique challenges of a global energy transition to a clean energy future, whereas Prof. Nazar talked about the complexities of electrochemical energy storage at the nanoscale.

It was jointly held by University of Strathclyde and University of Waterloo. The principal of University of Strathclyde and president of University of Waterloo, Sir Jim McDonald and Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur, invited paper/abstract submissions for the first virtual research colloquium. The colloquium was for graduate students at any stage in their journey. The colloquium provided an interactive space for graduate students from each university to present to international scholars in the field. Graduate students received constructive feedback from international scholars, and offered an opportunity to be part of international research clusters that enhance research collaborations between the two institutes. Both presidents have committed to the possibility of funding post-doctoral fellowship opportunities to keep collaborations going. The research areas included: Sustainable energy, quantum technologies, nuclear engineering, digital health, and entrepreneurship.

The Balsillie School of International Affairs, in partnership with the Ditchley Foundation, created the first in a three-part series of ‘Critical Conversations’. This ‘Critical Conversations’ series serves as a forum which brings global thought leaders together to bridge important perspectives on intersectional issues currently challenging global world policy. This inaugural event was entitled “Building Resilient Futures: Covid, Climate and the Economy” - a discussion on possible measures to shape a future for global resilience that is economically sustainable and capable of meeting the twin threats of climate stress and the health burdens of COVID-19.

Prof. Nathwani (Executive Director, WISE) moderated a panel consisting of three speakers: (1) Diana Fox-Carney (Climate Policy Expert), (2) John Hancock (Senior Policy Adviser to the Director General, World Trade Organization), and (3) William White (Former Chairman of the OECD Economic and Development Review Committee, Head of the Monetary and Economic Department at the Bank for International Settlements, and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada). The dialogue at the event was based on three key themes that guided the sessions of the day: Bankability and Finance, International Competitiveness, and Climate Legitimacy. Each session had a thematic speaker who gave an overview of the topic and the key issues, a panel that discussed the topic and offered diverse perspectives and a pathway to an outcome, where roundtable participants discussed the topic in a workshop format and provided recommendations.