Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA)

We're proud to support our partner, the Accelerator Centre, as they launch Cohort 2 of the Aerospace Accelerator Program alongside AeroWR and NAVBLUE, an Airbus Company.   This 9-month, high-impact program is designed to accelerate startups in advanced air mobility, sustainable aviation, and space systems. If you're building the future of aerospace, this is where you take off.   Spots are limited - apply by Aug 11: https://hubs.li/Q03zS3N-0 Programming is fully funded for participating companies.

Female pilots may outperform their male counterparts in high-pressure flight situations, according to a new study led by University of Waterloo researchers.  The findings challenge traditional assumptions in aviation and suggest that women pilots may have unique strengths that could be better recognized in pilot training and evaluation systems. “These findings are exciting because they push us to rethink how we evaluate pilots,” said Naila Ayala, PhD, lead author of the study and postdoctoral scholar in Waterloo’s Multisensory Brain and Cognition Lab.  More: https://lnkd.in/gdVCYDca | #UWaterlooNews

New research led by Dr. Rebecca Rooney, Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Waterloo, demonstrates that a single, targeted herbicide application using a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) can suppress common reed invasions with more than 99% effectiveness. Compared to conventional ground-based methods, which can be disruptive to native vegetation and wildlife, RPAS technology offers a more efficient and less invasive approach to managing wetland ecosystems. This innovative method has the potential to transform conservation and land management practices. 🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4lQ29fa

This week, we welcomed senior leadership from Airbus and NAVBLUE, an Airbus Company, as well as key regional and government stakeholders, for a roundtable discussion on fostering collaboration in research and talent development in the Waterloo Region. This event builds upon the successful 5-year partnership between NAVBLUE and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA), and we look forward to more great conversations.

Still reminiscing over the last two weeks when I had the incredible opportunity to take part in the Catalyst Program at the University of Waterloo! From July 7th to 18th, I got to explore various engineering disciplines alongside 25 like-minded students through the Traditional stream. The experience was rich with hands-on learning, faculty-led workshops, and discussions that deepened my interest in the field. A few of my favourite activities included building Arduino-powered mini boats using C++, assembling circuits & soldering, and testing airfoil designs in a wind tunnel. We also explored forensic fingerprinting, chemical drug diffusion, and got to tinker with and assemble real engines. I found our thought-provoking conversations on AI ethics and algorithmic bias truly important in highlighting the need to pair technical work with social awareness. We also had the privilege of learning directly from esteemed faculty. From a hands-on chemical engineering demo by Dr. Angelo on removing CO₂ from the atmosphere using a simple neutralization reaction between HCl and CaCO₃, to environmental engineering fieldwork with Dr. Maricor Jane Arlos, where we collected and tested water samples from Columbia lake, each workshop offered a practical, engaging look at real-world engineering. Another fascinating highlight was visiting one of Waterloo’s cutting-edge robotics labs, where we got to control a robotic exoskeleton that kicked a soccer ball just by flexing our arms. The same lab is building game-based GUIs to support rehab patients in regaining strength. Seeing how muscle signals and brain activity (through EEG monitoring) can control machines in real time was incredible, thank you to Atusa Ghorbani Siavashani and the other kind researchers for walking us through it! A truly memorable experience was getting to tour the AVRIL Lab with the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA). We had the chance to explore their research vehicles, ask questions, and even fly their $500,000 flight simulator used by real Waterloo pilot trainees!! A huge part of Catalyst was just being on campus and living in residence! I got to meet & create friendships with passionate students from around the world, have insightful conversations with current engineering undergrads, meet faculty, and speak with an admissions officer. We also may have crashed Engineering Day!🫣 It’s hard to sum up everything in one post, but I’m beyond grateful to have had this opportunity. A huge thank you to the program facilitators Ben and Sarah, as well as all of the dons at United College, for making this experience so memorable, enriching, and well-organized! #WaterlooCatalyst #SummerProgram #UniversityofWaterloo

Changing the future of flight doesn’t happen overnight. It takes vision, persistence, and a community of people who believe in something better. Thanks to students, researchers, regulators, and industry partners, electric aviation is now a reality in Canada. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eXSpDJyn

Researchers at the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics are using advanced eye-tracking technology to study how pilots process information during complex flight scenarios. This interdisciplinary study - featuring experts from neuroscience, optometry, systems design engineering, and aviation - offers valuable insights into cognitive load, attention, and decision-making in high-stakes environments. The findings could help shape the future of pilot training and cockpit design, contributing to safer and more sustainable aviation. Read the full study published in JoVE: https://lnkd.in/dWtACufB

Electric aircraft have officially been approved for pilot training in Canada - a major step forward in sustainable aviation. With support from the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA), the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC), and Sealand Flight, this initiative is helping to reduce emissions, noise, and operational costs in flight training. Over 400 flights have already demonstrated the potential of electric aviation to transform how we train future pilots - and how we think about the future of flight. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gY9kMr2E

We’re excited to announce our partnership with the University of Waterloo | Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) to offer a series of entry-level online courses designed to build foundational knowledge in sustainable aviation. Whether you’re starting your career or looking to broaden your expertise, these flexible and engaging courses are the perfect place to begin. Courses include a choice between: - Fundamentals of International Aviation (FoIA) - Aviation Sustainability - Aviation & Climate Change #sustainableaviation #sustainableaviationfuel #aviation #aviationdaily #aviationnews #aviationindustry #aviationinnovation #airlinesandairplanes #airlines #airlineindustry #renewableenergy #renewablesindustry #renewables #cleanenergy #hydrogen #hydrogentechnology #greenhydrogen #cleanenergytransition #cleanenergyfuture #netzero #netzerocarbon #climatechange #innovation #leaders #airlinenews #sustainable #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment #sustainablefuture #saf #aircraft #airlinenews #aircrafts #decarbonisation 

Huge congratulations to our incredible Collaborative Aeronautics Program (CAP) graduates, Dr. Allison Lynch (PhD in Vision Science - Aeronautics) and Dr. Hyun Su Seong (PhD in Systems Design Engineering - Aeronautics)!