Wilfrid Laurier University

Recent Laurier research found that decreased sound tolerance may be contributing to mental health issues for young people. 🔊

Among a sample of 2,000 undergraduate students at Laurier, 18 per cent met the clinical cut off for misophonia, an aversion to trigger sounds that can elicit psychological distress. Seventeen per cent experienced hyperacusis, which causes individuals to perceive noises as painfully loud.

Nichole Scheerer, an assistant professor of Psychology, found a strong correlation between misophonia and mental health issues, which can lead to social isolation.

“It’s very likely that these students are encountering trigger sounds in their everyday environments that are leading to increased levels of depression and anxiety,” says Scheerer. “If one of your trigger sounds is chewing, for example, that has significant social repercussions. One of my collaborators is developing devices that selectively filter sounds so we can improve quality of life.”

Scheerer is one of many Laurier researchers who are deciphering the mysteries of the brain. Learn more about our inspired research: https://ow.ly/RAxA50X8waN

🌎 Top 12% globally 🌍

Throughout our university community, Laurier is made up of individuals striving to make a real impact. Now we are being recognized for our collective impact internationally.

Times Higher Education has ranked Laurier among the top 12% of global universities and the top 10 universities in Canada in its 2026 Sustainability Impact Rankings thanks to our impressive contributions toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Laurier ranks among the top 100 universities in the world for five SDGs, including:
⚧️ SDG 5: Gender Equality
💧 SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
♻️ SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
🌳 SDG 13: Climate Action
☮️ SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Read more about our progress: https://ow.ly/uT3Z50Zgkrn

Get your tickets today! Laurier Homecoming is back for another year of fun and it’s a celebration for all ages: alumni, students and friends!

🗓️ Check out the schedule and mark your calendars for your reunions and favourite events (including new events added this year)!
• Friday, Sept. 25: Throwback Homecoming Party
• Saturday, Sept. 26: Pancake Breakfast, Football Game & Alumni End Zone, Wilf's Night with Black Water Trio and Class Reunions (1966, 1976, 2001, 2006)

💜 Be part of the tradition and get ready to bust out your Purple and Gold spirit. Join us in Waterloo from Sept. 24 – 27!

https://bit.ly/HomeComing26

From a Laurier classroom to The Wealthy Barber, and now a final chapter. 📖

David Chilton (BA ’95, DLitt ’06) is preparing to retire at the end of 2026. But before stepping away, the Laurier alum returned to the book that changed his life – completely rewriting The Wealthy Barber for a new generation of Canadians.

Nearly 40 years after the original, Chilton says the world of personal finance has changed dramatically. The fundamentals, however, remain.

Read how Laurier helped shape the career and lessons behind one of Canada’s most influential financial books: https://bit.ly/4zir6aG

As Laurier prepares to welcome its largest-ever incoming class of Indigenous students this fall, the Brantford and Waterloo campus Indigenous Student Centres are ready to provide the culturally grounded supports, community and sense of belonging that help students thrive.

“There’s something about having a space on campus where you’re not the only Indigenous person in the room or being put on the spot to provide the Indigenous perspective in a class discussion,” says Emily Daniel, director of Laurier’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives. “Being able to sit with other folks who understand where you’re coming from and to be your authentic self creates a real sense of community.”

Learn how Laurier's Indigenous Student Centres are empowering student success and celebrating a record year for Indigenous enrolment and graduation: https://ow.ly/HUfF50ZxEHf

Laurier researchers are regularly celebrated for their impactful research. Last year was no exception.

In our annual research report, learn about award-winning faculty members, including:

• Homa Kheyrollah Pour, associate professor, Geography and Environmental Studies: 2025 Northern Science Award from Polar Knowledge Canada
• Jennifer Williams, assistant professor, Kinesiology and Physical Education: 2025 Ontario Brain Institute - Banting Discovery Award
• Nirosha Murugan, assistant professor, Health Sciences: 2025 Ontario Early Researcher Award
• Kate Rossiter, associate professor, Health Studies: 2025 Canada Prize
• Shohini Ghose, professor, Physics and Computer Science: 2025 Trailblazer Award in Policy for Science
• Percy Lezard, associate professor, Indigenous Studies: 2025 Steinert and Ferreiro Award from the Community One Foundation

https://ow.ly/eScu50ZxCT9

If we want to think like humans, then we need to understand how humans think. 🤔

Studying humans is tough, so Laurier researcher Nicolas Rouleau is creating miniaturized brains in petri dishes. Just a couple of millimetres wide, they contain millions of cells that signal to each other like the human brain.

🧠 Rouleau is pairing bioengineered brains with robots to study learning as a fundamental principle. Devoid of a body, what does it mean to think?

📈 “Currently, AI models do all sorts of interesting things, but they don’t really think like us,” says Rouleau. “Human thinking is highly parallel, as opposed to AI, which is much more linear. Once we understand more about biological intelligence, we can greatly improve artificial intelligence.”

Rouleau is one of many Laurier researchers who are deciphering the mysteries of the brain. Learn more about our inspired research: https://ow.ly/LFgf50WZ17l

🌎 Laurier ranked in the top 7% of global universities for our efforts toward Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

☮️ Laurier is fostering peace, justice, transparency and inclusivity locally and globally.

Learn how Laurier is supporting SDG 16 on our campuses and beyond:

1) International Students Overcoming War is a student‑funded scholarship initiative that supports students from conflict‑affected regions to pursue education in Canada. Laurier has supported 50 scholars to date.

2) Members of the Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa produce timely knowledge and discourse about issues affecting Continental Africa and its diaspora.

3) In response to ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza, Associate Professor Nuha Dwaikat-Shaer is part of a research effort examining its impact on Palestinian, Muslim and Arab scholars and students in Canada.

4) For more than 30 years, Laurier staff, faculty and retirees have banded together to support our communities through Brant United Way and United Way Waterloo Region.

5) The Migration + Technology Hub at the Balsillie School of International Affairs facilitates research on contemporary migration technologies and migrant rights.

Are you supporting an incoming Laurier student this September?🐥

Visit students.wlu.ca to explore the supports, services and resources available to help your student prepare for a successful transition to university and make the most of their Laurier experience.

Find answers to your questions about:
• Tuition, fees, scholarships and bursaries, OSAP, and money management workshops
• Academic supports, accessibility services, and student success resources
• Orientation Week, clubs, and opportunities to get involved on campus
• Residence life and off-campus housing support
• University operations, the SafeHAWK app, and SMS alerts

🔗 https://students.wlu.ca

You may think is closed during the summer, but the truth is that many students and faculty members use the slower summer academic months to welcome the local community to campus.

Nichole Scheerer, an assistant professor of Psychology, hosts BrainWorx, a day camp for nearly 100 children aged four to 12.

What sets BrainWorx apart from other day camps is its focus on neurodiversity. Individualized supports and specialized programming make it an accommodating environment for autistic children and those with ADHD and anxiety, who otherwise may not be able to go to camp.

Additionally, BrainWorx is a thriving research hub. In between swims and craft time, campers can volunteer to participate in research studies about child development. Scheerer and her colleagues collect invaluable data about sensory processing and other research topics, such as how childhood honesty is developed.

Learn more about this unique camp experience: https://ow.ly/9XGX50ZwbIz