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Articles by Stephanie Longeway
The people who make Waterloo convocation possible
Each graduand who crosses the stage at convocation carries a strong network of support. In the audience and on livestream, proud families, friends and mentors cheer as each name is called. But behind the scenes, another essential team made up of staff, alumni, and student ambassadors work tirelessly to make those moments possible. The University of Waterloo hosts 19 convocation ceremonies each year: five in the fall and 14 in the spring, conferring more than 10,000 degrees annually.
Working with purpose to solve big challenges | Waterloo News
“Across sectors, whether you work in government, industry or academia, we need to rethink how we work,” said the University of Waterloo’s Chancellor Dominic Barton in his opening remarks at the Waterloo Innovation Summit on April 25.
Nobel laureate launches the Trust in Research Undertaken in Science and Technology Scholarly Network at Waterloo
By Stephanie Longeway University Relations The spread of disinformation and misinformation often fuelled by skepticism is on the rise. Combating this trend and understanding why some people deny, doubt or resist scientific findings and explanations is crucial to addressing the complex and existential issues impacting our societies.
Nobel laureate launches the Trust in Research Undertaken in Science and Technology Scholarly Network at Waterloo | Waterloo News
The spread of disinformation and misinformation — often fuelled by skepticism — is on the rise. Combating this trend and understanding why some people deny, doubt or resist scientific findings and explanations is crucial to addressing the complex and existential issues impacting our societies.
Discussing ethical tech is a journey we should all be taking | Waterloo News
Building ethical technology is “not a destination, it’s a journey,” said Jennifer Boger, professor in the Faculty of Engineering and chief science officer at ESG.AI. As tech evolves, so must our approach to its responsible development. But the increasing complexity and speed of innovation make it feel impossible to keep up. “Technology is more and more pervasive and powerful [in our lives] … everyone now has this powerful tool in their pockets,” she explained.
How to disrupt industries using generative AI | Waterloo News
“Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past eight months, you’ve heard about ChatGPT,” said Jimmy Lin, professor and the chair of the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. “It is the fastest growing consumer application in history reaching more than 100 million active users in less than two months.
Sustainable innovation needs societal change | Waterloo News
“The climate crisis is our biggest existential threat,” said the University of Waterloo’s President, Vivek Goel, in his opening address at the Waterloo Innovation Summit on Friday, April 21. It’s no coincidence that the Summit, centred on sustainable transportation, took place on the eve of Earth Day. The calls and commitments to reduce our carbon emissions have never been louder, but our global energy related CO2 emissions continued to climb in 2022. “Innovation is essential.
Waterloo welcomes an Eagle Staff | Waterloo News
“The Eagle Staff will enter convocation first, before the mace or the flag. The Staff clears the way for everything that comes after it,” said Jean Becker, associate vice-president of Indigenous Relations. “An eagle represents love … Love is the first teaching because without love you cannot achieve the rest of your teachings. It takes love to lead the way.” Becker noted that the Eagle Staff will undergo a transformation led by a group of Indigenous students.
Making public transportation more equitable and sustainable | Waterloo News
Have you ever seen an empty bus drive by? It can be a common occurrence especially during off-peak hours or in less populated areas. Making transit equitable and convenient for everyone while balancing the needs to be efficient and sustainable can lead to difficult decisions for municipalities. Pantonium Inc. is a Toronto-based company looking to solve this challenge with an on-demand transit solution that responds in real-time to meet changing passenger needs.
Nobel laureate launches the Trust in Science and Technology Research Network at Waterloo | Waterloo News
The spread of disinformation and misinformation — often fuelled by skepticism — is on the rise. Combating this trend and understanding why some people deny, doubt or resist scientific findings and explanations is crucial to addressing the complex and existential issues impacting our societies.
Making a technological leap in air transportation | Waterloo News
Taking to the skies and delivering goods by plane is going pilotless. Ribbit’s new autonomous flight technology creates a more robust supply chain by deploying small autonomous airplanes that fly cargo shipments to provide just-in-time delivery, and they’re prioritizing remote communities. We asked Ribbit’s co-founder and COO, Jeremy C. H. Wang, how his technology advances air transportation and what is next for this exciting Velocity startup. What is Ribbit?
Waterloo ranks top university in Canada for entrepreneurs | Waterloo News
The University of Waterloo once again ranks in the first spot amongst its Canadian peers for producing the most successful entrepreneurs with undergraduate degrees according to the 2022 PitchBook university rankings. Waterloo also moves up one spot from last year to 21st in the world for founders. PitchBook says their annual university ranking attempts to answer the question of which colleges and universities do the best job educating entrepreneurs.
Waterloo ranks fourth in Canada on the inaugural QS Sustainability ranking | Waterloo News
The University of Waterloo ranks fourth in Canada and 42nd globally on the QS World University Ranking: Sustainability. This is the first time that QS has published a global ranking on sustainability and has evaluated 700 institutions on environmental and social impact indicators. The ranking joins a growing list of international higher-education sector efforts to understand how universities impact some of the most prominent and intersectional ecological and societal challenges.
Quantum technology for real world impact | Waterloo News
On October 20, the Transformative Quantum Technologies team hosted a quantum showcase and the Quantum for Health (Q4Health) pitch competition where students and researchers demonstrated opportunities for quantum to advance health. Transformative Quantum Technologies is a collaborative research initiative led by the University and the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). It aims to accelerate the development of impactful quantum technologies and lead Canada into the quantum age.
Inspiring a sustainable future for aviation | Waterloo News
“Inspiration, technology, competency, structure and risk.” These are the pillars that Commander Chris Hadfield said are the requirements for advancing the future of aeronautics at the inaugural Sustainable Aeronautics Summit on October 5, 2022. Hosted by the University of Waterloo’s Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA), the summit brought together more than 200 researchers and leaders from academia, industry and government at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
Waterloo represents on the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences 2022 Fellows list | Waterloo News
The new 2022 Fellows elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) were announced last week and include David Edwards, professor in the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy and Ronald Schlegel, professor emeritus in the Faculty of Health and founder of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. CAHS brings together Canada’s top-ranked health and biomedical scientists and scholars to make a positive impact on the urgent health concerns of Canadians.
Velocity helps students build companies with real-world impact | Waterloo News
You’re probably familiar with the University of Waterloo’s world-renowned incubator, Velocity, but did you know that Velocity also leads student programming and resources on campus? Students exploring entrepreneurship can get support from Velocity at every step of their journey in turning an idea into an early-stage business.
Transitioning to a net-zero economy | Waterloo News
On June 29, the Canada’s Innovation Corridor Summit is taking place promote collaboration within our innovation region that is anchored by Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton. The Toronto-Waterloo corridor is one of the fastest-growing and densest innovation clusters in the world and was recently ranked 17th globally for startup ecosystems in the 2022 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Canadian students | Waterloo News
Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion of their country is nearing its fourth month. University of Waterloo is unwavering in our solidarity with the innocent victims of this invasion, and we stand in support of those who are calling for its end. On June 22, Waterloo students had the privilege of participating in a live virtual address from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Thursday, June 23, 2022 | Daily Bulletin
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Canadian students By Stephanie Longeway. This article was originally published on Waterloo News. Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion of their country is nearing its fourth month. University of Waterloo is unwavering in our solidarity with the innocent victims of this invasion, and we stand in support of those who are calling for its end.
Unleashing inspired talent | Waterloo News
“We have a unique opportunity for universities and businesses to work together to ensure we are equipping talent to find innovative solutions that will reshape our local and global economies,” said the University of Waterloo’s President, Vivek Goel, in his opening address at the Waterloo Innovation Summit on April 14.
Waterloo RoboHub helps Avidbots advance robotics innovation | Waterloo News
When Pablo Molina (BASc ’11), chairman, CTO, VP of Product and co-founder of Avidbots, went searching for additional talent to improve his company's flagship autonomous floor-scrubbing robot, he turned to his former University of Waterloo professor and mentor, William Melek, for help. “When I attended Waterloo, I co-founded a robotics team and Professor Melek was instrumental in helping us all the way through,” Molina says. “We now have a global company and have to solve really hard problems.
A win-win for both Waterloo students and Rogers | Waterloo News
When Jonah Eisen signed up for the Sportsnet Hockey Hack in his final year of his master’s program, he set his future career path in motion. Eisen was drawn to the week-long hackathon hosted in collaboration with Rogers Communications because it combined his favorite interests — sports and telecommunications.
Growing innovation in the agriculture sector | Waterloo News
Danielle Rose weighs leafy greens in Velocity’s development lab while her colleague prepares samples for whole genome sequencing. It’s an unusual sight in the buzzing space amongst fellow tech founders. Rose is currently growing several plant crops that her startup, Ceragen, is trying to improve. What makes her plants unique is a microbial technology that promotes growth and helps to increase crop yields.
Co-op students play an integral role in Canada’s fastest-growing tech company | Waterloo News
Named fastest growing tech company in Canada on Deloitte’s 2021 Technology Fast 50, Snapcommerce was co-founded by University of Waterloo alumni Henry Shi (BCS ’14) and Hussein Fazal (BMath ’05). The company has more than 20 million users, $1 billion in sales, and grew by more than 32,000 per cent between 2017 and 2021.
The future of specialist care in Africa | Waterloo News
Infertility is a health issue for many people around the world that can also lead to broader social and economic consequences. However, access to treatment can be difficult or nearly impossible in many regions. “Millions of people on the African continent are impacted by infertility,” says Margaret Mutumba, a PhD candidate in Public Health and Health Systems.
Waterloo alumni shine on the Deloitte 2021 Technology Fast 50 list | Waterloo News
Compiled annually by Deloitte, the Technology Fast 50 features eight companies founded by University of Waterloo alumni, and 10 additional companies with a Waterloo connection. Recognizing the world-class achievements of Canadian technology companies, the Technology Fast 50 program winners showcase innovation, leadership and rapid revenue growth between 2017 and 2020.
Waterloo co-op program sets record-highs in post-pandemic workforce | Waterloo News
When “business as usual” came to a screeching halt in March 2020, the University of Waterloo quickly pivoted to develop new ways for students and employers to continue to realize the co-op advantage. This resilient response helped retain 78 per cent of Waterloo’s co-op students through the beginning stages of the pandemic, and supported the shift to a remote, online workforce.
Moving beyond invention towards equitable innovation | Waterloo News
September 28, 2021 Waterloo Innovation Summit challenges us to think past traditional innovation models to create a more prosperous future for all Canadians By Stephanie Longeway University Relations
From startup to health tech leader – one entrepreneur shares his scale-up success | Waterloo Stories
Armen Bakirtzian > Alumnus, Faculty of Engineering (BASc ’08) > Co-founder and CEO, Intellijoint Surgical Inc. “Growing up with an orthopaedic surgeon for a father, there was always a motivation to go into medicine,” Armen Bakirtzian recalls while discussing his decision to sidestep medical school to pursue his passion for technology and engineering.
From startup to health tech leader – one entrepreneur shares his scale-up success | Waterloo News
Armen Bakirtzian > Alumnus, Faculty of Engineering (BASc ’08) > Co-founder and CEO, Intellijoint Surgical Inc. “Growing up with an orthopaedic surgeon for a father, there was always a motivation to go into medicine,” Armen Bakirtzian recalls while discussing his decision to sidestep medical school to pursue his passion for technology and engineering.
From startup to health tech leader – one entrepreneur shares his scale-up success | Waterloo Stories
Armen Bakirtzian > Alumnus, Faculty of Engineering (BASc ’08) > Co-founder and CEO, Intellijoint Surgical Inc. “Growing up with an orthopaedic surgeon for a father, there was always a motivation to go into medicine,” Armen Bakirtzian recalls while discussing his decision to sidestep medical school to pursue his passion for technology and engineering.
Upskilling for a digital workplace | Waterloo Stories
In response to COVID-19, many organizations have had to pivot their businesses to an online model. But the technical and digital skills needed to do this work can be hard to find. The University of Waterloo has partnered with industry experts to fill this gap by equipping students with the digital skills employers are looking for to help transform businesses and workplaces.
AC’s COVID-19 Support and Recovery Cohort | Waterloo Stories
The Accelerator Centre (AC) recently announced their new COVID-19 Support and Recovery Cohort of its AC JumpStart program, and two Waterloo students, Jaden Pereira and Aaron Paul, were selected to receive $30,000 in seed funding and $10,000 in-kind business supports to accelerate the launch of their startup TyltGo. TyItGo was founded by Pereira, a biology student, and Paul, studying management engineering, to provide fast, local delivery solutions to businesses.
Women in math are not alone | Waterloo Stories
As a little girl, Sophie Janszen-Spitman had always been good at math. She liked participating in math contests, but as she progressed through high school, she noticed fewer and fewer girls participating alongside her. Sophie Janszen-Spitman, current student In grade 10, Janszen-Spitman’s mom encouraged her to sign up for Waterloo’s Think about Math program, designed for high school girls to foster their enthusiasm for the subject.
Doubling down on Waterloo startups | Waterloo Stories
The devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt around the world, claiming lives and putting societies on lockdown. This health crisis quickly turned into an economic crisis as businesses closed and markets tanked, leading many to declare that Canada is officially in a recession. Early reports are showing some of the hardest-hit businesses are startups.
Protecting our mental health | Waterloo Stories
In the wake of COVID-19, many in our community are overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. Being separated from our loved ones and unable to go about our lives in any normal way, is adding to this stress and causing increased anxiety for many people. Christine Purdon is a Waterloo professor and expert in how these emotions affect our mental health.
Ottawa Summit: The future of talent | Waterloo Stories
In our rapidly changing economy, corporate leaders must respond to the opportunities and challenges of the shifting nature of work. Canada and the world need creative minds who can expertly navigate disruption and leverage new technologies to ensure a prosperous economic future. Executives from the private and public sector explored how to future-proof the Canadian workforce by attracting and retaining top talent at the Waterloo Innovation Summit in Ottawa.
Wanted: Waterloo co-op students | Waterloo Stories
Cheri Chevalier Alumnus, Faculty of Arts (BA ’95) > Global Director, Emerging Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics at Microsoft When Cheri Chevalier interviewed at Microsoft Canada as a fourth-year University of Waterloo co-op student, she was surprised by the ambitious task assigned to her. Chevalier was given a shiny ornament and asked to build a business plan for this unfamiliar object.
Ethical by design | Waterloo Stories
We have an intimate relationship with technology. It is infused in our daily life, from our home and car to our finances and health care. As we welcome new technologies into our most personal spaces, there is a growing recognition that design-based thinking needs to consider ethics and the users it serves.
Canada’s leadership role in global cybersecurity | Waterloo Stories
The Government of Canada recently announced a new national cybersecurity action plan to counteract the growing threat to our online security and privacy. And Canada’s role in fighting global cybersecurity was top of mind for speakers at the University of Waterloo’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute’s (CPI) annual conference on October 2.
HealthTech leaders share what it takes to bring innovations to market | Waterloo Stories
Leaders in HealthTech today called for policymakers and health providers to urgently adapt to emerging technologies and respond to the fast innovation cycles of industry, researchers and entrepreneurs.
Monitoring cancer at the nano-level | Waterloo Stories
The development of medical imaging and monitoring methods has profoundly impacted the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These non-invasive techniques allow health care practitioners to look for cancer in the body and determine if treatment is working. But current techniques have limitations; namely, tumours need to be a specific size to be visible.
Enhanced Mobility Wheelchair wins first-place at the 2019 IDeA competition | Waterloo Stories
Five mechanical engineering students created the Enhanced Mobility Wheelchair for their 2019 capstone design project, and now their work is being nationally recognized for improving accessibility and inclusivity in Canada. Wheelchair users often face challenges when deciding which device to use to get around. Regular wheelchairs are easy to manoeuvre, but hand-cycle wheelchairs offer better speed efficiency.
Meet the lawyer disrupting her profession | Waterloo Stories
She has been called the most dangerous lawyer in America for her research and advocacy on technology-assisted review (TAR). Maura R. Grossman is a practicing attorney in New York. In 2016, she joined the University of Waterloo’s David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science to further her research on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to the field of law. Her ground-breaking research has some people in the legal community feeling pretty threatened.
What does the future of work look like? | Waterloo Stories
If you are reading this, you are on the internet, and this is thanks to Sir Tim Berners-Lee, True North 2019’s keynote speaker. He invented the World Wide Web, which spawned the internet revolution, fundamentally changing the way we communicate and do business. With the growing adoption and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, AI is poised to be the most disruptive revolution since the invention of the internet. What does this mean for humans in the workforce?
Is a robot a social being? | Global Impact
What makes a machine more than just a piece of hardware? Do we form relationships with our technology? How should we be teaching robots to act? And what are they teaching us? These are just some of the questions that Kerstin Dautenhahn is exploring as the Canada 150 Research Chair in Intelligent Robotics. Dautenhahn joined the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering in 2018 to establish the new Social and Intelligent Robotics Research Laboratory.
Emotionally intuitive AI | Global Impact
People suffering from the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease often have difficulty remembering things that recently happened to them. As the disease takes root, a person’s reasoning and behaviour can change. Day-to-day routines — like handwashing— may become challenging for them and they begin to need more assistance from caregivers for simple at-home tasks. But now there is technology that can help.
Building robots with a humanitarian mission | Global Impact
Children learn to walk differently in Cambodia Most children take their first steps with a carefree excitement to explore the world around them. But for Cambodian children, potential danger lies hidden beneath every eager step. They’ve inherited a landscape cursed with landmines from years of deadly conflict. Richard Yim grew up in Cambodia and recalls dinner table conversations where his family warned him of the explosive devices concealed underground.
Designing responsible artificial intelligence | Waterloo Stories
How is the University of Waterloo contributing to the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Given Waterloo’s leading role in innovation in the technology sector, and the developing research and commercialization of AI, this is an important question to consider. Professor Alexander Wong believes that Waterloo has an important role to play in helping to shape and guide the ethical use of AI.
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