Honouring Asian Heritage Month 2026

“Share President and Vice-Chancellor, Vivek Goel celebrates the achievements, contributions, and fellowship by those of Asian heritage Each May, we recognize Asian Heritage Month at the University of Waterloo . It’s an opportunity to reflect on the histories, cultures and contributions of Asian communities, and to celebrate the many ways these perspectives continue to shape our university and our world. Across our campuses, students, faculty and staff of Asian heritage contribute to every aspect of university life. They are researchers advancing discovery, educators shaping the next generation, staff supporting our community, and students enriching our shared experience. Their perspectives strengthen our teaching, deepen our research and expand our impact. Asian Heritage Month is a time to recognize these contributions while reflecting on the kind of community we are building together. At Waterloo, we believe that discovery must be accessible to all if it is to have real impact. Dr. Rajibul Islam, a professor in Physics and Astronomy, demonstrates this through his work co-founding Bigyan.org , a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible in Bengali. Since 2014, he and his collaborators have built Bigyan—which means “science” in Bengali—into a platform that brings credible, peer-reviewed science to readers in their first language. With more than 1.5 million views and hundreds of articles spanning both emerging research and foundational scientific ideas, Dr. Islam is helping readers in India and Bangladesh engage more deeply with science and build confidence in understanding it. This is what it means to t hink d ifferently and to challenge assumptions about how knowledge is shared and to expand access in ways that empower communities around the world. That same spirit is evident in the achievements of this year’s Asian Co-op Students of the Year. This is what it means to t hink d ifferently and to challenge assumptions about how knowledge is shared and to expand access in ways that empower communities around the world. Vinayak Bector , a Computer Science student, demonstrated exceptional technical leadership during his work term, contributing to systems used by millions worldwide. His work required coordination across global teams and showcased the kind of bold, innovative thinking that defines Waterloo. Giang Tran , a Global Business and Digital Arts student, brought creativity and vision to her role as a designer, producing work that reached audiences in Times Square while transforming user experiences for hundreds of enterprise clients and pioneering AI workflows that amplified her team's output. Her story is one of courage, initiative and the pursuit of impact. Christina Yang , a Health Sciences student, made an extraordinary difference in clinical research by accelerating timelines for a cancer study and improving patient care through both innovation and compassion. Her ability to combine technical excellence with empathy speaks to the kind of leadership our world needs. At Waterloo, our values guide us in this work. We strive to think differently by embracing diverse perspectives, to act with purpose in addressing the challenges that matter most, and to work together in ways that foster inclusion, trust and shared success. As the weather improves, I encourage members of our community to engage in opportunities for dialogue and learning taking place on our campus this month . A ligned with Asian Heritage Month, the University of Waterloo will welcome to our campus the 2026 Aspire to Lead Chinese Canadians Leaders’ Summit , hosted by Action: Chinese Canadians Together ( ACCT ) Foundation, from May 15 to 17 at Federation Hall. This national gathering will bring together established and emerging leaders to explore leadership, belonging and the future of Chinese Canadian communities. Through keynotes, panels and mentorship sessions, participants will share perspectives and advance dialogue on addressing the underrepresentation of Chinese Canadians in leadership across Canadian society. The Summit’s focus on leadership and belonging is reflected in the work of leaders across our own campus. One example is Dr. Lili Liu, Dean of the Faculty of Health, who serves as a board member of ACCT. At Waterloo, Dean Liu has championed equity and anti ‑ racism efforts and has supported interdisciplinary and community ‑ engaged work that strengthens inclusion within the Faculty of Health and across the broader campus. Her involvement helps connect Waterloo’s local leadership with national conversations on representation, equity and the future of Chinese Canadian communities. We encourage members of our community to engage in this important conversation, and any other events to help shape a more inclusive future. Alumni in Asia gather to celebrate the global University of Waterloo community Waterloo’s rising profile in Asia strengthened by alumni and outreach Exploring Asian-Canadian identity, perceptions and belonging Campus Community University President Share

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