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ryantennant.ca
Ryan Tennant
@ryantennant.ca
8.2K followers 1.3K following 230 posts
He/Him • PhD Candidate - Systems Design Engineering • BASc - Biomedical Engineering • Opinions own

Email: ryan.tennant@uwaterloo.ca

Website: ryantennant.ca
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ryantennant.ca
Some highlights!

The session was recorded, and I’ll try to access a version for sharing online.

H/T @angelarooke.bsky.social for these screenshots!
MS Teams meeting screenshot showing Ryan’s camera turned on. He is wearing a light blue shirt with short brown hair. The other participant icons are blacked out to maintain their privacy. Title slide with purple stripes and faded respiratory aerosols in the background. Integrating Health-Inclusive Principles in Course Design Addressing Shared Indoor Air as an Accessibility Barrier 10/14/2025 Ryan Tennant, BASc, MASC, PhD Candidate Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo - Accessible Education Day 2025 University of Waterloo Logo Faculty of Engineering MS Teams meeting screenshot showing Ryan’s camera turned on. He is wearing a light blue shirt with short brown hair. The other participant icons are blacked out to maintain their privacy. Slide with purple stripes and faded respiratory aerosols in the background. Today's Reality Globally, we are also experiencing increases of several non-covid infectious diseases. 1-4 Graph showing influenza cases increasing to higher levels since 2022, compared to before the pandemic. MS Teams meeting screenshot showing Ryan’s camera turned on. He is wearing a light blue shirt with short brown hair. The other participant icons are blacked out to maintain their privacy. Slide with purple stripes and faded respiratory aerosols in the background. Unhealthy shared indoor air is a barrier to accessibility and inclusion.
October 15, 2025 at 7:39 PM
ryantennant.ca
It's Accessible Education Day at #UWaterloo!

This afternoon, I'm looking forward to joining the panel "What are instructors doing to integrate accessibility in their courses?"

My talk will focus on how shared indoor air quality is a fundamental barrier to accessibility and what we can do about it.
A title slide for a presentation, with purple coloured striped at the top and faded pathogen-containing aerosols in the background. Integrating Health-Inclusive Principles in Course Design Addressing Shared Indoor Air as an Accessibility Barrier 10/14/2025 Ryan Tennant, BASc, MASc, PhD Candidate Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo – Accessible Education Day 2025 University of Waterloo crest (orange, black, red, and white shield) Faculty of Engineering
October 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
ryantennant.ca
Last week, I was invited to be a panel respondent to a Keynote presentation by Dr. Maurita T. Harris at the Ethical Tech for a Global Future Symposium at #UWaterloo. Dr. Harris's talk was titled, "Human Factors, Ethics, and the Future of Responsible Innovation."

🧵1/4
A group of seven people standing at the front of a lecture hall in front of a projector screen. The title on the slide of the screen says: "Ethical Tech for a Global Future" The text below reads: "A symposium presented by the University of Waterloo Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism, in partnership with the University of Waterloo's Black Faculty Collective/Black Studies and the Critical Media Lab (CML). Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)."
October 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
ryantennant.ca
The culminating student symposium for The Wicked Problem of Accessibility course happened this afternoon @uwaterloo.ca, thanks to support from the Teaching Innovation Incubator!

It was nice for the students to have this opportunity to share their projects with the #UWaterloo community. 😷
Entrance to the symposium room. Dark grey carpet and opened glass doors. A brown table with boxes of N95 respirator mask, a sign that says masks make shared spaces more accessible taped to the front, and a UWaterloo vertical banner behind the table. A poster board with papers pinned to it (anonymized student reflections), a notice of photography, and a reminder for voting for a people’s choice award. A sign also says Masks make shared spaces more accessible. We strongly encourage you to wear a complimentary respirator mask to protect yourself and others in this shared space. A close up photo of a 20 inch box fan attached to four MERV 13 filters. An Aranet monitor sitting on top of it shows 630 ppm. You can see a blue shoe in the image on the dark grey floor. A screenshot of the Aranet4 co2 reading from 12:30 to 2:30. The values range from 660ish to 850ish
July 24, 2025 at 9:41 PM
ryantennant.ca
And we’ll have 2 PC-fan air cleaners plus a traditional #CRbox running, of course.
Boxes of CA-N95 respirator masks sitting on top of a brown cabinet in a lecture room. Two black PC fan air cleaners sitting in the corner of the room on blue carpet in front of an orange wall (they are in storage for use at the symposium event)
July 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
ryantennant.ca
At next week’s symposium for the course “The Wicked Problem of Accessibility,” I’ve requested that masking be at least ‘strongly encouraged’, as I was told that a requirement is not possible.

I'm providing CA-N95 masks at the door, alongside a new poster, instead of previous alternative designs.
Poster 1: MASKS make shared spaces more ACCESSIBLE cartoon photos of a diverse couple of people on coloured background wearing N95s We strongly encourage you to wear a complimentary respirator masks to protect yourself and others in this shared space. Poster 2: We support your choice to wear a mask and ask you to respect other’s choices, too! MASKS AREN’T (in yellow font) REQUIRED BUT MAY BE PREFERRED. University of Waterloo logo Poster 3: Picture of a blue surgical mask. Please respect the choices of others. MASKS Aren’t required but they are ENCOURAGED When in close contact with others University of Waterloo logo QR code
July 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
ryantennant.ca
Next week is the final class for The Wicked Problem of Accessibility course I co-designed/taught this term.

If you’re a #UWaterloo student, faculty, or staff member, feel free to stop by the Black and Gold room on July 24th and check out the students’ projects (and hang out with me, of course!)
White, black and yellow accent colours bordering text that says “The Wicked Problem of Accessibility Symposium” July 24th 12:30-2:30 PM Black and Gold Room in SLC Open to all faculty, staff, and students! Enter the raffle to win a prize!
July 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
ryantennant.ca
You’re looking at the new Joint Health and Safety Committee Rep for CUPE 5524 Unit 1 (teaching and research assistants) at #UWaterloo going to his first JHSC meeting 😷
White man with short brown hair, stylish clear safety glasses, a white 3M n95 mask, dark green collared shirt, standing in front of a white brick wall with a silver sign that says occupational health and safety office with chevron directional arrows.
June 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
ryantennant.ca
Sharing this call for study participants about experiences of young people diagnosed with a chronic illness on behalf of Braiden Sunn at the University of Waterloo.

Please share widely!
Three coloured bars in blue, black, and grey with a white line underneath. A black background with white text that reads: RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A STUDY ABOUT: The Grieving Experiences of Young Adults Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness WHO? • You are currently between the ages of 18-29; and • You received a formal, medical diagnosis of a chronic illness during this same period (i.e., 18-29). WHAT? interview. • Approximately a 45-minute semi-structured virtual WHY? • Better understand experience of contracting a chronic illness during young adulthood. • How this change impacts various goals, age-based milestones, and self-perceptions. QUESTIONS OR INTERESTED TO PARTICIPATE? Contact Researcher: Braiden Sunn Email: bsunn@uwaterloo.ca THIS STUDY HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND RECEIVED ETHICS CLEARANCE THROUGH A UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO RESEARCH ETHICS BOARD University of Waterloo Crest
June 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
ryantennant.ca
Brought a new air quality monitor to class today.

The photo was taken at the beginning of class, before my air cleaners were running.

By the end of the 2h class:
PM2.5: ~9.0 µg/m3
PM10: ~16 µg/m3

I don’t think this is terribly surprising given the old building.

CO2 is still great though!
An Aranet CO2 monitor sitting on a wooden table showing 538 ppm beside a Temtop monitor showing PM2.5 at 13.8 ug/m3 and PM10 at 24.6 ug/m3. Some UWaterloo goose pride stickers can be seen on the table behind the monitors.
June 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
ryantennant.ca
CO2 levels on the GO Train from Kitchener to Union Station in Toronto (and back).

June 10, 2025

Peak CO2 reaches 2434 ppm on the way back to Kitchener.
CO2 graph from Kitchener to Toronto at 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Showing increasing CO2 levels from 800 to 1400 ppm (peak) at the end of the 2h trip CO2 graph from Toronto to Kitchener at 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Showing a sharp increase in CO2 levels from 720 to 2434 ppm (peak) in the first half of the 2h trip, which decreased over the final hour to about 800 ppm
June 11, 2025 at 11:42 PM
ryantennant.ca
Classroom CO2 levels are surprisingly great in this old physics building classroom with 16 people.
Aranet CO2 graph showing a green line hovering around 580 parts per million.
May 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
ryantennant.ca
Any way you can make this work for Instagram too?
Screenshot of adding a link to Instagram but an error message appear saying news links can’t be shared in Canada.
May 20, 2025 at 2:20 AM
ryantennant.ca
If you’re wondering how my first class went today, it was great!

We started exploring definitions and models of accessibility and disability and ended with a fantastic guest lecture from the Associate Provost, Campus Support and Accessibility.

The great ventilation was a plus!
A black framed pc fan air cleaner with white filters sitting on a semi-oval table with light blue chairs on blue-speckled carpet, in front of a wall-mounted tv a brown bricked wall. Assorted N95/CAN95 masks sitting on a brown rectangular table on a blue-speckled carpet in front of a brown bricked wall. A black framed pc fan air cleaner with white filters sitting on a brown rectangular table with light blue chairs on blue-speckled carpet, in front of a white wall with an orange honeycomb decoration. A CO2 monitor on top of the air cleaner reads 511 ppm. A chair beside the table has a blue jacket draped over it. A hallway with in a university building with black and white speckled floors and fluorescent ceiling lights. Two orange doors can be seen propped open.
May 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
ryantennant.ca
Almost ready to teach my first class tomorrow!

Just figuring out the best placement for these NorthBox/DIY PC fan air cleaners…
A photo of a university classroom with blue-speckled carpet, round tables and chairs near the walls with TVs. Three PC fan air cleaners sit in the middle of the floor.
May 7, 2025 at 8:06 PM
ryantennant.ca
It was exciting to present my research project on developing Health-Inclusive Pedagogy at the University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference this morning!

I'm hoping to publish some of this work soon, and will try to get a recording up on my YouTube channel at some point.

#UWTL2025
A photo of a white man in a white button up shirt wearing a white respirator, standing behind a large podium. The projector screen behind him shows a slide with the title “Is your learning environment health-inclusive? Reimagining accessibility and inclusion in higher education in the age of crowded classrooms and shared air”
May 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
ryantennant.ca
Thank you to everyone who joined, supported, spread the word, and helped organize our Long COVID Awareness campaign at #uwaterloo this week!

Also, a big thank you to the Faculty of Health Dean’s Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism, and Canada Masq, for supporting us.
March 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
ryantennant.ca
Some selfies from today’s Long COVID Awareness booth at #UWaterloo!

Today we were joined by a representative from MaskBlocWR and CanadaMasq (who kindly donated CA-N95s for our Care Kits). 😷

Stay tuned for our walk at noon on Thursday! We’ll also livestream it on Instagram @care_coalition_uw
A group of people wearing white N95s and and teal long COVID t shirts standing around a table with gift bags and a long COVID banner sign A group of people wearing white N95s and and teal long COVID t shirts standing around a table with gift bags and a CanadaMasq banner sign
March 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
ryantennant.ca
On May 1st, I’ll be presenting my research project on health-inclusive pedagogy at the University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference.

Looking forward to sharing what I’ve been developing as part of UWaterloo’s Certificate in University Teaching program!

🔗: uwaterloo.ca/uw-teaching-...
Black text on a light blue background. 101b: Is Your Learning Environment Health-Inclusive? Reimagining Accessibility and Inclusion in Higher Education in the Age of Crowded Classrooms and Shared Air Ryan Tennant (Systems Design Engineering)
March 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
ryantennant.ca
Today we hosted our first Long COVID Awareness booth at the University of Waterloo, and it was fantastic!

We shared information, listened to personal stories, answered questions, and distributed around 70 kits!

If you want to get involved, sign up for our walk next Thursday:

bit.ly/walk-register
A selfie of a group of four people wearing teal shirts that say care for long covid on them with the long covid awareness ribbon. On person is wearing a purple N95 mask. The other three are wearing white N95 masks. Three people are holding up postcards about long covid. There is a black banner sign that says long covid awareness with a giant ribbon on it. You can somewhat make out the text at the bottom of the banner that says #recognition and #research A photo of a table in the Faculty of Health building at uWaterloo. On the table are bags filled with items, holographic long covid ribbon stickers, white circulate care for long covid stickers, long covid postcards, and QR codes. Two people in teal shirts are standing on one side of the table talking to two students on the other side of the table. A photo of the Long COVID awareness banner standing inside the faculty of health building. The banner is black with white text. It says Long COVID Awareness, #recognition, #research, #remedy. There is a large long covid awareness ribbon in the centre (teal, black, and grey). At the bottom in small text is says Funded by the faculty of health Dean’s advisory committee on equity diversity inclusion and anti-racism.
March 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
ryantennant.ca
If you know any undergraduate students in Canada interested in completing a 30-minute anonymous online survey about health-inclusive learning, please share these study details with them. Thank you!

🔗: bit.ly/edu-ca-survey
Participants Needed! [Picture of a yellow and blue megaphone] Researchers are looking for participants to anonymously complete a 30-minute online survey about health-inclusive learning at university who meet the following criteria: Currently or previously enrolled in an undergraduate program at a Canadian university, with at least one class taken in 2024. Have health-related concerns, a health condition, disability or illness, or caregiving responsibilities*, and Have experienced health-related challenges, concerns, or risks with in-person learning in 2024. Learn more & participate at: bit.ly/edu-ca-survey *You do not need to currently have a health condition, disability or illness, or caregiving responsibilities. If you have questions about this study, please contact Ryan Tennant: ryan.tennant@uwaterloo.ca. 
QR code
 University of Waterloo Logo This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (REB 46972).
March 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
ryantennant.ca
What's in our Health EDI-AR funded CARE Kits? 👀

If you're a @uwaterloo.ca student, staff, of faculty member, stop by our booth on March 20 or 25 from 11:30-1:30 to pick up a kit!

At the March 25 booth we'll be hosting a CanadaMasq representative to help you find the best size mask for your face!
March 14, 2025 at 12:27 AM
ryantennant.ca
Thanks for promoting our @uwaterloo.ca Long Covid Awareness event, @cupe5524.bsky.social!

🔗: 5524.wp5.cupe.ca
[White text on a red background] CUPE 5524 University of Waterloo Academic Workers [Black text on a white background] Long COVID Awareness: Silent Walk March 7, 2025 Hello everyone! Recently, the Faculty of Health Dean’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism wanted to share an event with all of the members of Local 5524! So, coming from them, here is the Long COVID Awareness Event!
March 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
ryantennant.ca
Posters are up across campus!

🔗: bit.ly/walk-register

#longcovidawarenes
A selfie of a white male with short brown hair and grey/clear glasses wearing a white 3M Aura mask standing in front of a poster board on UWaterloo campus. Behind him there are several posters, but the one that is the most salient in the image is for the Long Covid awareness walk on March 27th
March 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
ryantennant.ca
On March 27th at 12:00 pm, students, staff, faculty, and community members will gather outside the Health Expansion Building @uwaterloo.ca to silently walk around Ring Road, raising awareness about Long COVID.

Everyone is welcome!

Learn more and register here: bit.ly/walk-register
[White text on a turquoise-black gradient background] Long COVID Silent Walk March 27 @ 12 noon [Long Covid awareness ribbon] HLTH EXP Building @ University of Waterloo bit.ly/walk-register Funded by the faculty of health dean’s advisory committee on equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
March 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM