Two researchers from the University of Waterloo recently received funding for Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships.
The scholarship funding, awarded by Rideau Hall Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada and Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, allows Canadian students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to participate in internships or academic study for periods of three months to one year in another Commonwealth country.
Scholarships will also be available to students from Commonwealth countries to attend a Canadian university for masters or doctoral studies. The Scholarships form part of university-designed projects that address pressing local, national and global issues.
"This University set the exciting and ambitious goal to become one of the most internationalized universities in Canada," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor at Waterloo. "These Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships expose our students to extremely rich experiences that will prepare them to be leaders of tomorrow. The scholarships help our community embrace global viewpoints and experiences, and shows that this University is recognized internationally for excellence in education, research and scholarship."
Susan Elliott, a professor in the Faculty of Environment's department of Geography and Environmental Management is receiving $449,800. Elliott hopes to bring at least four fully funded graduate students to the University of Waterloo to develop a global wellbeing index (nicknamed GLOWING) similar to the Canadian Index of Wellbeing - a project developed at Waterloo.
The GLOWING will focus first on countries in east Africa to develop appropriate indicators that can realistically measure wellbeing in low to middle income countries. Elliot has already selected one PhD student who will be arriving at the University of Waterloo in September to begin work on the index.
"This is an amazing opportunity for students from LMICs," Elliott said of the funding. "These students will be fully funded. They'll have their tuition paid, travel paid, books, and a computer. It's a great opportunity for them."
Ashwin Nayak, Ashwin Nayak, a professor in the Department of Combinatorics and Optimization and Quantum Information Graduate Program Director at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) will receive $260,000.
The funding will be used to financially assist 24 Canadian undergraduate and graduate students from IQC to visit the National University of Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT).
"In addition to collaborating on quantum research with leading experts across the world, visiting students will have the opportunity to connect with the local community through scientific outreach activities," said Nayak. "Building on existing partnership between IQC and CQT, the program will create a strong network of young QIST researchers in the Commonwealth."
This program will also support 16 CQT students (Singaporean or from other Commonwealth countries) to come to IQC for a period of four months. Both institutions are two of the largest centres devoted to quantum research in the world
Jointly announced in June 2014, by Governor General David Johnston, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships will help develop the next generation of innovative leaders and community builders, both locally and globally.
Students selected for the scholarships will be named "Queen Elizabeth Scholars."
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