news 2023

We put ChatGPT 4 to the test, asking it to read two scholarly studies produced at the university and summarize them in a pair of newsy articles for UdeM Nouvelles. The results were.. mixed. Credit: Miriam Beauchamp (Marc Antoine Charlebois) and Laurence Perreault-Levasseur (Mila Quebec) How good is ChatGPT at reading and synthesizing science, specifically the highly detailed science published as peer-reviewed studies in scholarly journals? To find out, we put the chatbot to the test, twice.

Researchers use AI to identify toxic substances in wastewater with greater accuracy and speed An interdisciplinary research team from the University of Waterloo is using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify microplastics faster and more accurately than ever before. Microplastics are commonly found in food and are dangerous pollutants that cause severe environmental damage - finding them is the key to getting rid of them.

Now that ChatGPT can "see" and "hear," could it be useful for people with mobility, sensory or cognitive disabilities? Whether it's a question of analyzing medical images, detecting drug interactions, or creating brain-computer interfaces, it seems like the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry are endless.

University of Waterloo researchers are pioneering a method to detect breast cancer in women early enough for them to receive life-saving treatment. The innovative technology will be cheaper and safer than common cancer diagnostic tools. The innovative technology aims to be more accurate as well as cheaper to provide than today's most common diagnostic tools such as X-ray mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

McGill researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a 'lab on a chip' that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible. As part of a recent study, the results of which were published in the journal  Advanced Materials, the McGill team developed capillaric chips that act as miniature laboratories.

University of Waterloo engineers use AI to advance cancer treatment monitoring  Engineers from the University of Waterloo are harnessing artificial intelligence to help doctors better see and control a non-invasive cancer treatment and, in the process, save lives. Their imaging system will allow for the safer and more effective use of high-intensity, focused ultrasound to destroy a wide range of cancerous, often deadly, tumours.

Waterloo Engineering researchers are developing new technologies to combat disinformation - a robust solution to fake news By John Roe Faculty of Engineering Cutting-edge technologies gave the world fake news, but researchers from the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering are developing even newer technology to stop it.

Areas in Vancouver with the greatest need for restorative nature often have the least exposure to it, according to a new UBC study published recently in Ambio. These neighbourhoods include Strathcona, downtown Vancouver, the West End, southern Sunset and Marpole. The researchers developed a new tool, the local restorative nature (LRN) index to assess spaces for the presence of qualities that promote mental well-being.

The Western Institute for Earth and Space Exploration is leading a new project to measure methane released by London's dump, with a multi-disciplinary team of researchers helping to track the potent greenhouse gas. The team will use drones, satellites, as well as stationary and hand-held devices to determine exactly how much methane is produced at the city landfill on Manning Drive - officially named W12A - and whether any of it is escaping the collection system currently in place.

SFU engineering science professor Mirza Faisal Beg is spearheading research that could help to redefine cancer treatment. Using artificial intelligence (AI) his breakthrough research enables imaging of the human body and organ measurements much faster than traditional methods, signaling a leap forward in harnessing AI for individually personalized healthcare solutions.

Science, Health & Technology Lou Corpuz-Bosshart Most navigation apps can show you the fastest possible route to your destination and some can even suggest an eco-friendly route calculated to produce the least amount of carbon emissions. But what if they could also map the safest route with the lowest possible risk of a crash? A new algorithm developed by UBC researchers could make this a reality.

Novel technology could be useful in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, cosmetic and personal care industries Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a simple, low-cost method for accurately encapsulating core materials (which could be pure liquid or liquid containing suspended functional ingredients) that could make important contributions to a wide range of industry applications.

May 15, 2023 Robots can help find objects you've lost, thanks to new 'artificial memory' Engineers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a new way to program robots to help people with dementia locate medicine, glasses, phones and other objects they need but have lost. And while the initial focus is on assisting a specific group of people, the technology could someday be used by anyone who has searched high and low for something they've misplaced.

Chemistry professor teams up with local startup company to pilot technology at safe consumption sites across the country Inside a nondescript black cube no bigger than two shoeboxes, there is sophisticated technology that can analyze the composition of street drugs in under fifteen minutes. The aim is to allow those who use drugs at safe consumption sites to understand what dangerous fillers and other drugs like fentanyl analogues might be in their sample, so they can make informed decisions about their use.

Pantonium's on-demand transit model is helping cities accelerate their energy transition By Stephanie Longeway University Relations Have you ever seen an empty bus drive by? It can be a common occurrence especially during off-peak hours or in less populated areas. Making transit equitable and convenient for everyone while balancing the needs to be efficient and sustainable can lead to difficult decisions for municipalities.

How Western researchers used remote sensing to better understand our cities By Justin Zadorsky , By Justin Zadorsky , March 16, 2023 When professor Diana Mok was completing her PhD, she had a chance encounter with a roommate that has since inspired novel research into housing more than 20 years later.

A team of University of Toronto researchers, led by Professor  Yu Zou  in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, is working to advance the field of metal additive manufacturing at the university's first metal 3D printing laboratory.

Science, Health & Technology Brett Goldhawk A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia and BC Cancer have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that predicts cancer patient survival more accurately and with more readily available data than previous tools. The model uses natural language processing (NLP) - a branch of AI that understands complex human language - to analyze oncologist notes following a patient's initial consultation visit-the first step in the cancer journey after diagnosis.

The entire world would benefit if the U.S. and China acted as partners instead of rivals Reports of globalization's death are premature, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Waterloo, the University of British Columbia and the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai.

New authentication method helps protect data from privacy attacks Working closely with blind and low-vision (BLV) users, researchers at the University of Waterloo and the Rochester Institute of Technology have developed a new authentication method that could help BLV technology users more securely access their devices.