A MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Thank you for your interest in the Nanotechnology Engineering program’s Class of 2021 and their Capstone Design projects. Here, you’ll see twenty-one teams of senior students showcase how they’ve used nanotechnology to create innovative solutions to problems that affect us all.

These projects are the culmination of a year-long effort, during which students worked in teams to identify, conceptualize and create their own designs under the guidance of our program’s instructors and mentors. To identify and manipulate the unique properties of materials that occur at the nanoscale, students used their knowledge of many disciplines, including chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, physics, biology and materials.

Innovation, Resilience and Determination In addition to demonstrating our students’ inter-disciplinary knowledge, these projects reflect their creativity, resilience and determination. With many of their normal routines disrupted by the pandemic, they carried on – continuing courses remotely and meeting with supervisors and industry contacts online. They also followed special protocols, using protective equipment, physical distancing and strict scheduling to be safe while working in our labs, bringing their innovative ideas to fruition.

Vast Potential Nanotechnology touches every aspect of our lives: the environment, our food supply, manufacturing processes and healthcare, to name a few. The new messenger RNA (mRNA)-based COVID-19 vaccines, which use a nanotechnology platform to deliver the genetic material that produces immunity, are the latest example of the vast potential of nanotechnology to change our world for the better.

Not surprisingly, our soon-to-be graduates are already thinking about how to use nanotechnology to solve the world’s problems. On the following pages, you’ll see projects that enhance sustainable energy options, create affordable methods of water desalination, increase the advantages of new manufacturing techniques and detect viruses quickly and easily, among other innovative ideas.

Have a look, and you’ll see that the Class of 2021 has the knowledge, skills and determination to make a positive influence on our world. Enjoy!

If you would like to talk with any of our students to learn more about their project or discuss potential employment opportunities, please let me know and I will facilitate an introduction.

Sincerely,

Ting Tsui Professor and Program Director tttsui@uwaterloo.ca

PS. A special thank you to those who have contributed to the NE Capstone Design program through mentorship and/or sponsorship. Industry involvement, which helps our students develop their skills and ideas, is a crucial aspect of this exciting project. To learn more about how to get involved in the excitement next year, please contact Hany Aziz.