Beyond the Bulletin Podcast

Professor Christine McWebb, the director of the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, looks at its history and future as we mark its tenth anniversary. President Goel discussed recent in-person events and an overview of Waterloo at 100 at the President's Forum. Waterloo celebrates its 125th convocation. And it's Zero Waste Month. Links and resources in this episode: President’s Foru...

Anwar Jaber, an AMTD postdoctoral fellow in the School of Architecture, discusses the effect politics and conflicts have on the built environment and vice versa. The University observes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. The Canadian Foundation for Innovation awards more than $3.8 million t...

Vivek Goel, Waterloo’s president and vice-chancellor, provides an update on the Waterloo at 100 initiative, with details on the new discussion paper. Consultations with campus and external stakeholders continue as we envision Waterloo in 2057. The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre's powwow celebrates Indigenous culture. And fall convocation is recruiting volunteers. Links and resources: Welcome B...

Ghazal Geshnizjani, professor and chair of Women in Math, appears with performance artist Gioia De Cari to discuss the latter’s experience in what she’s described as the male math maze at MIT and the show it inspired. Jacinda Reitsma, who has an excellent background in audit, finance, and corporate administration, is the new vice-president, administration and finance. The Royal Society of Canada h...

Myeengun Henry, the Faculty of Health’s first Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, discusses Indigenization, reconciliation, and his role at Waterloo. The provider for extended health and dental benefits is changing. Waterloo holds a special ceremony that is the first of its kind on a university campus. And it’s that time for campus move-in and orientation. (The interview first aired on April 29, 2022) LI...

Adanna Amechi, a third-year engineering student from Nigeria, discusses the history and significance of braids in Black culture and why she created a startup to train more stylists. The president and provost provide a safety and operational update for the upcoming fall term. Special Collections and Archives is working on an oral history project to document Waterloo history. And Black and Gold Day...

Math professor and Canada 150 Research Chair Anita Layton discusses using computer models to modernize medicine and make it more equitable. IC3 becomes the Waterloo Climate Institute. Orientation, campus move-in, and the University’s United Way Campaign seek volunteers. And registration is open for the Mental Health Literacy Certificate. Links and resources: IC3: https://uwaterloo.ca/climate-insti...

Jean-Paul Lam, professor of economics, discusses the highest inflation in decades and tells us why things are so much more expensive now. The annual Global Ranking of Academic Subjects is out, with strong results from the University in a wide range of subject areas. Waterloo students may soon be able to order pizza or a burger from a nearby plaza and have it brought to campus by Canada’s first all...

Kelly Grindrod, a professor in the School of Pharmacy, discusses the second COVID boosters, recently made available to all adults in Ontario. The president and provost urge everyone on campus to ensure their vaccination status is up to date. Four start-ups each won $5,000 at the Concept $5K pitch competition. And the Office of Research hosts a Pivot-RP workshop for faculty and graduate students. L...

Mark Weber, Eyton director of the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, discusses the new entrepreneurship fellowship for PhD students. The University launches an institutional commercialization framework that contains information about the management and protection of intellectual property and more. And W Store introduces a series of virtual meeting peripherals, including one with a 360...

The School of Pharmacy’s Wasem Alsabbagh discusses what led to the opioid crisis, who’s affected, and ways to get us out of it. The University suspended its mask requirement following a number of similar changes to mask mandates at the municipal and provincial levels. Waterloo students had the privilege of participating in a live virtual address from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine....

Vivek Goel, the University of Waterloo's president and vice-chancellor, discusses the Waterloo at 100 initiative, where we ask ourselves as an institution what we aspire to become by our 100th anniversary. Our 124th convocation ceremonies are underway. The Faculty of Health formally welcomes Myeengun Henry as Indigenous knowledge keeper and commemorates a new relationship of reconciliation in work...

Edris Madadian, is one of the first AMTD postdoctoral scholars, and is just wrapping up his work at Waterloo. He discusses his process for removing substances in drugs and personal care products from wastewater to turn what’s left into renewable energy. The University is welcoming more than 30 Ukrainian students whose studies were interrupted by the ongoing war in their country. The School of Opto...

Shawn Gilbertson, manager of course materials, discusses the shift to digital in the textbook market, what’s behind it, and what it means for students. Bruce Frayne will soon begin his tenure as the new dean of the Faculty of Environment. Two pop-up COVID vaccination clinics happen in May and June. And the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration releases an image of Sagittarius A, a black hole at th...

Environment student Baxter Naday is on a personal mission to identify 1,000 plants not far from campus this year. He discusses the value of citizen science and what he’s found so far. Volunteers are needed for Convocation ceremonies and celebrations. The Waterloo at 100 initiative looks ahead to the University in 2057. And the next President’s Forum will discuss the work of the President’s Anti-Ra...

Charmaine Dean, vice-president, research and international, leads engagement and action for the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce, and shares the recommendations from its report. The President’s Excellence in Teaching and Research celebration highlighted 189 professors, grad students, and postdoctoral fellows who earned awards for excellence in teaching, distinction in research, or service. There...

Myeengun Henry, the Faculty of Health’s first Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, shares his goals and motivation as he approaches in this new role at Waterloo. The President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce, or PART, has developed 88 recommendations aimed at rooting out and eliminating racism at the University. The University of Waterloo has published its first report to reflect on some of the work being done ac...

Sarah Burch, Canada Research Chair and executive director of the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change, discusses her work on the UN Climate Report and the relevance of Earth Day. The University is extending the face-covering requirement until further notice. Waterloo joins the Scholars at Risk Network. And W Store and the Office of Indigenous Relations curate a new collection of Indigenous p...

Fatma Gzara, a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and an expert on supply chain management and logistics, tells us how world events drastically affect manufacturing, shipping, and the prices we pay. Take your remaining vacation days or arrange to defer them. There are many volunteer roles and shifts available for spring convocation. And the next Waterloo Innovation Summit features a global li...

James Downey led the University of Waterloo for six years during a challenging time of provincial budget cuts by two consecutive Ontario governments. Ken McLaughlin, historian and distinguished professor emeritus, discusses the lasting impact Downey made. The University remembers Edward Lank, a professor of computer science. Students return to writing final exams in person. And six women win co-op...

Trevor Charles, a professor in the Department of Biology and an entrepreneur, discusses the LiftOff program for Black entrepreneurs. The University has announced changes to public health restrictions on our campuses for the Spring term and beyond. Employees are invited to take a survey capturing worker and workplace experiences with remote work during the pandemic. And the Sustainability Office la...

Rob Danisch, a professor in communication arts, discusses misinformation, disinformation, and the ways the things we share online and the language we use could have negative implications for our society. Waterloo’s staff, students, and faculty come together to facilitate a broad range of support for people affected by the attack on Ukraine. Convocation is back to in-person ceremonies. And the Joyc...

Just back from her first Olympic Games, first-year planning student Madeline Schizas discusses balancing world-class figure skating and her studies. The University shares support for the people of Ukraine. As Ontario moves to reopen, some safety measures remain in place at Waterloo for now while others change. And registration is open for both the staff conference and the teaching and learning con...

The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics is geared to shape the future of aviation at a pivotal moment for the sector and the climate, and professor Suzanne Kearns, founding director, discusses what’s needed to make flying more sustainable in three big ways. Students return to campus. The Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo funds scholarships for UWaterloo students from Six...

Clive Forrester, a continuing lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature, is one of the lead organizers of Waterloo’s Ujima Black History Month, and he discusses its meaning and its potential. The president’s forum featured senior leaders of the University providing updates on the return to in-person experiences. And there was a data breach at Homewood Health, the provider of Wa...