\u00a9 shutterstock\/Terelyuk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDr Trevor Charles, professor in the Department of Biology and director of Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research at the University of Waterloo, said: \u201cThe full inclusion of Canadian scientists in international activities will have a transformative impact on research and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Dr Charles\u2019 current research areas intersects with Waterloo\u2019s Health and Sustainable Futures. It addresses the challenges of food waste and plastics pollution by applying bacterial genome engineering and microbiome analysis within a circular bioeconomy concept to develop innovative methods for converting food waste into biodegradable plastics.<\/p>\n
Through the startup company MetaCycler BioInnovations, members of Dr Charles’ research group are driving commercialisation by working with dairy companies to produce the bottles they package milk in, using the waste from the process. Opening pathways from research to commercialisation is another key differentiator at the University of Waterloo. The upcycling of waste lactose from the dairy industry to biodegradable plastics suitable for food packaging materials maximises resources and vastly reduces waste.<\/p>\n
International collaboration is crucial for addressing complex global challenges and Dr Charles agrees that Horizon Europe\u2019s expansion into North America enhances such collaboration. He said:\u00a0 \u201cScience is international by nature. Our experience with the Horizon2020 project MicrobiomeSupport was enlightening. Rather than taking a human health-first approach to Microbiome, the concept was centered around food. By doing this, it touched on the impact of microbiome in all corners of society, without neglecting human health.\u201d<\/p>\n\u00a9 shutterstock\/Urte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe MicrobiomeSupport project, with Canada represented by the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research, led to the establishment of the MicrobiomeSupport Association, of which Waterloo is a founding member.<\/p>\n
The official inauguration of the MicrobiomeSupport Association will be at the first Food System Microbiomes 2024 International Conference, which will take place in Torino, Italy, from 14-17 May 2024. These strides would not have been possible without financial contributions from the European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Horizon\u2019s Pillar II programme is especially noteworthy as it provides increased funding across multiple disciplines, including energy, technology and culture.<\/p>\nFrom left to right: Dr Charmaine Dean, Dr Myra Fernandes, Dr Trevor Charles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDr Myra Fernandes, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo, has also experienced the tremendous advantages of working with researchers in Europe. She is collaborating with Dr H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Sauz\u00e9on and Maxime Adolphe, PhD student at INRIA (National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology) and the University of Bordeaux. Dr Sauz\u00e9on and Adolphe use augmented reality to study ways to improve cognitive behaviour and spatial navigation.<\/p>\n
Dr Fernandes said: \u201cFrance is using augmented reality to enhance basic research. The French company that PhD student Maxime is partnering with is interested in developing augmented reality glasses. One idea we had was to extend our project to look at the effect of different ways of implementing guided navigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seniors experiencing spatial memory decline could show signs of improvement if they were provided with some guidance through the use of aids.<\/p>\n
On a global scale, this sort of discovery aligns with Waterloo\u2019s Technology and Health Futures. It is significant as route memory problems are often the first sign of Alzheimer\u2019s disease or dementia \u2014 diseases that are becoming more common as the world\u2019s population continues to skew older.<\/p>\n
Dr Fernandes continued: \u201cFrance is advancing the way that my lab is thinking in terms of using the basic science findings and applying them. Translation of ideas is facilitated when the graduate students themselves here at the University of Waterloo and in France are involved in thinking of novel, cutting-edge solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the current climate of global uncertainty, Waterloo is looking to strengthen relationships with our trusted EU partners. Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research and International at Waterloo, said: \u201cThe University of Waterloo welcomes the opportunity to forge new European partnerships to advance innovative research that will leave a lasting footprint around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWaterloo facilitates large numbers of outbound and inbound student exchanges annually. The goal is to remain at the forefront of innovation by cultivating new collaborations with international partners. We welcome the opportunity to deepen our ties with the EU countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Developing relationships and leveraging diverse perspectives through internationalisation is a top priority for the university.<\/p>\n
Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our\u00a0quarterly publication<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The University of Waterloo, Canada\u2019s number one comprehensive research university, is excited to tap into \u20ac53bn in new funding opportunities offered by Pillar II of Horizon Europe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":44545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24429],"tags":[529,24564,24618,24589,24555,24546],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
University of Waterloo is strengthening EU connections for global impact<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n