August 8, 2025

The University of Waterloo has established the Dieter Schwarz Chair in the Physics of Information and AI, supported by the German-based Dieter Schwarz Foundation. Housed in the Faculty of Mathematics, the chair will advance research at the intersection of quantum theory, machine learning, and emerging technologies, with potential applications in medicine, cybersecurity, and materials science. The chair will be held by UWaterloo Professor Dr Achim Kempf, who will lead the creation of a global research hub connecting Waterloo and the Bildungscampus in Heilbronn, Germany.

Some academics are turning to an unconventional medium to showcase their research in academic journals: Cartoons and comic strips. Maxime Bilodeau of University Affairs explains that while comics have previously been used to convey technical content to the public, using comics to formally communicate information between experts in the field is less common. These comic strips—which may be published alone or as aids to illustrate components of an article—are held to the same standards as other journal articles, requiring peer review and citations. Université du Québec à Rimouski Professor Isabelle Arseneau explained the value of the approach: “Graphic novels are intended for all kinds of audiences, including experts. The illustrations don’t dumb down the message — they reinforce it by showing the content from a different angle.”

The City of Saskatoon has announced that it will be removing the pedestrian overpass that crosses College Drive to the University of Saskatchewan’s campus as part of its upcoming bus rapid transit project. The city plans to replace the overpass, which no longer meets accessibility standards, with a street-level accessible crosswalk. The decision has faced some pushback, as Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block told CBC that the overpass has been a part of the city’s architecture for quite some time. 650 CKOM and Global News also noted that the change will impact students who use the crossing to access the university. However, Saskatoon Special Projects Manager Rob Dudiak told CKOM that the removal is necessary for the rapid transit project and that the university supports the removal.

Red Deer Polytechnic, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology have formed a consortium that will embark on a new applied research project to transform asphalt shingle waste into paving stones. This collaborative applied research initiative aims to find sustainable and cost-effective solutions for recycling asphalt shingles and pavement for industry partner Sustainable Paving Stones (SPS). The partners will design and build a commercial production unit, which will integrate a biomass furnace to further reduce production-related greenhouse gas emissions. The project will include iterative simulation and modeling, testing for durability, and a comprehensive lifecycle assessment of SPS’s commercial system.

Some humanities instructors are taking a creative, community-centred approach to adapt their teaching for the age of AI, writes Jessica Gross, columnist for the New York Times. Rather than banning AI-use outright, many professors are rethinking assignments to emphasize in-person engagement, student-led policy making, and collaboration with local communities. Grose highlights examples from individuals such as Chris Weigel (Utah Valley University), who redesigned her ethics course so students could teach philosophical concepts to youth in crisis, and Tamara Ketabgian (Beloit College), who integrated student-led discussions at public libraries and seniors’ centres into a science fiction class. These instructors—and others across the US—see AI not as the end of the humanities, but as a catalyst for more personal, meaningful pedagogy. “We don’t need to surrender to bots,” Grose concludes.

Conestoga College has reported a $121M surplus in its 2024-25 fiscal year and is anticipating a fiscal deficit in 2025-26, report CBC and City News. Conestoga Associate Director of Corporate Communications Erika Kastner stated that the college plans to reduce labour and operational costs in order to “position the college for a stable and sustainable future.” Union leaders spoke to City News to express their frustration with the posted surplus, given the layoffs and job cuts experienced this year. While Conestoga intends to continue to pursue capital projects at its campuses in Cambridge, Waterloo, and Brantford, Guelph Today reports that the college’s Guelph campus project has been deferred until further notice due to a drop in enrolment.

Six Nations Polytechnic has received a letter of support from the Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) Elected Council, enabling the institution to participate in Indigenous Services Canada’s funding application process. SNP Director of Advancement Matt Ferlin appeared before the council to formally request the letter of support. Ferlin explained that Indigenous Services Canada expected Indigenous and educational organizations to signal their interest and needs in a survey and submit a letter of support from the First Nations communities that they represent. Councillor Audrey Powless-Bomberry noted that the council has also submitted an application for funds to support lifelong learning in the community.

A competition at the University of British Columbia recently gave engineering physics students the opportunity to showcase their skills while rescuing “pets” in distress. Teams of students spent their summer designing autonomous robots for a competition in which they sent their robots to save pets—represented by plush toys—from a burning animal hospital. The robots worked without human control to find the animals, avoid obstacles, and rescue them in a variety of different ways, including carrying them out, tossing them out a window, or dropping them down a construction chute. “This is the start of a practical and theoretical skill set that will carry them through to working careers at the forefront of technology,” said UBC Engineering Physics Project Lab Director Dylan Gunn.

International students—particularly those from China—are increasingly seeking postsecondary options outside the United States due to factors like US visa process changes and delays and the high-profile deportations of some international students. According to NAFSA, new international enrolment in the US could decline by 30–40%. While countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom are expected to benefit from this uncertainty, the Associated Press states that Western universities’ satellite campuses in Asia and the Middle East have also seen a rise in applications. The UK in particular is predicted to benefit most from this shift away from the US, despite the UK government’s plans to reduce migration.

A man has been arrested in relation to the shooting of Mohawk College student Harsimrat Randhawa that occurred in Hamilton in April. Randhawa, an international student from India, was an innocent bystander who was killed by a stray bullet. The man has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder; police are continuing to search for the other suspects. Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen called the events a “senseless act of gun violence” with no regard for public life.