Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Founded in 1999, the institute is an independent research centre in foundational theoretical physics located in Uptown Waterloo. The public enjoy lectures by both accomplished and burgeoning physicists on topics ranging from black holes and quantum mechanics, to wormholes, time warps, and ever expansive galaxies. The Institute's founding and major benefactor is Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Mike Lazaridis. The original building, designed by Saucier + Perrotte, opened in 2004, and was awarded a Governor General's Medal for Architecture in 2006. The Stephen Hawking Centre, designed by Teeple Architects, was opened in 2011, and the Centre's grand opening in September 2011, included a video greeting from the physicist, who rarely traveled due to disability.
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is an internationally renowned public research university with a main campus on 404 hectares of land adjacent to Uptown Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. Public lectures have included Jack Dorsey, co-founder and co-creator of Twitter and one of the youngest tech executives in Silicon Valley, and Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to command the International Space Station.
Wilfrid Laurier University
The business school provides public lectures featuring the Economist & CEO-in-Residence Speaker Series. New ideas and perspectives in their fields are shared during public keynote addresses. The Financial Services Research Centre Seminar Series brings finance speakers from the most prestigious universities around the world to share their latest research. The MS2Discovery research institute connects researchers working in mathematical and statistical modelling in various disciplines. The new Lazaridis School of Business & Economics develops leaders with skills in management and economics for a rapidly changing and complex global environment.
Centre for International Governance Innovation
An internationally recognized think tank, the centre addresses significant global issues at the intersection of technology and international governance. As an independent, non-partisan research entity, support is provided for forums and networks to advance policy debate and generate ideas for multilateral governance improvements. From September to May each year, the CIGI Speaker Series are presented on important international topics to raise public awareness and understanding on a variety of current global issues. This series features some of the most prominent and acclaimed figures in their respective areas of global governance.
Balsillie School of International Affairs
At the centre for advanced research and teaching on global governance policy, the school focuses on teaching, international collaboration, and lectures on international public policy. As one of the largest social sciences initiatives in Canada, the school is a collaborative partnership between the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Admission is highly selective and the school is located within the north and west wings of the Centre for International Governance Campus.