Thursday, October 26, 2023


Alumni Horizon Award recognizes Waterloo EDI director

Leslie Cove.

Dr. Leslie Cove, Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in Research, International & Commercialization.

A message from the Office of Research.

Dr. Leslie Cove, the University of Waterloo’s Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in Research, International & Commercialization, has won an Alumni Horizon Award from the University of Alberta. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding contributions to the community and exceptional professional achievements of University of Alberta alumni in their early career.

Since completing a doctorate in Sociology in 2013, Dr. Cove’s work has produced myriad initiatives that make the world more equitable. These include government policies to improve the safety of children in foster care, the first national Pride week celebrations by the U.K.’s National Health Service, and legislation that makes access to cultural industries more accessible to Indigenous women.

In 2021, Dr. Cove joined Waterloo to fill the new position of Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Research, International & Commercialization. Over the past two years, she has developed and implemented Waterloo’s Inclusive Research Strategy, which aims to make research more inclusive by removing barriers to equity, eliminating bias in research design, and making certain areas of research more welcoming for under-represented groups.

“The product of research goes out, and it influences policy, technology, and people – it  matters,” says Dr. Cove. 

Creating the EDI Learning Library and Inclusive Research Resource Hub is another of Dr. Cove’s initiatives that further equity and inclusion at Waterloo. The library contains materials that help researchers with EDI strategies and conversations, and was designed to allow researchers to access materials that match their learning needs. The Hub is a part of a broader strategy called Building Inclusive Research Capacity, which focuses on both research design and research delivery, and connects researchers with examples, guides, and training resources. Overall, these resources support faculty and graduate researchers in being inclusive research leaders and changing how we see their roles in the research enterprise. Demand for these resources continues to grow, as faculty seek to advocate for their disciplines and implement changes within their departments.

Dr. Cove received the Alumni Horizon Award last night at the University of Alberta Alumni Awards event in Alberta. When asked how she felt about winning the award, Dr. Cove said, “I’m so honoured to be considered among this amazing cohort this year, especially given all the other great work going on and all the impact I see from it. I hope that by bringing more attention to equity through an award like this, we will keep growing forward.”

United Way Photo Contest winner announced (and there's still time to give)

A message from the University of Waterloo United Way campaign.

It’s been a great campaign month – with plenty of events, bake sales, and silent auctions to raise money for the United Way.

Our campus-wide photo contest showed us some amazing spirit and creativity – it was hard to choose a winner! The campaign committee sent their top five photo selections to President Vivek Goel, who picked our winner.

Drum roll please….

Our winner is:

Chemical Engineering

People from Chemical Engineering wearing red, holding red items and so on.

This team showed us some serious love for the colour red and Waterloo energy. Congratulations on winning this year’s photo contest!

Runners up are:

Athletics

Two Athletics employees with King Warrior in red.

Marketing & Undergraduate Recruitment

The team in Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment wearing red putting their hands together.

All submissions can be viewed on our website.

Did anyone catch our Deans on Instagram and their flash mob for United Way? Check it out through the uofwaterloo account. And it’s not too late to make a financial contribution to our campaign! The month isn’t over and we’re still trying to reach our goal.

Thank you to all who participated in the photo contest! We had fun looking through all of the creative photos. We’ve got an awesome campus community!

Donate today

SJU presents the Lectures in Catholic Experience featuring Joe and Stephanie Mancini

Stephanie and Joe Mancini.

A message from St. Jerome's University.

As part of this year's theme, "Legacies and Lessons," St. Jerome's University has invited Joe and Stephanie Mancini from The Working Centre to come and speak about their life's work serving the region's unemployed and people experiencing homelessness. As graduates of St. Jerome's University in 1982, a federated partner at the University of Waterloo, they attribute their time at university to creating the foundation for their life's calling with the creation of The Working Centre, which offers several services to the local community.

"St. Jerome's is so pleased to welcome Joe and Stephanie Mancini to our Lectures in Catholic Experience," said Peter Meehan, president and vice-chancellor. "Dare I also say that we are immensely proud that they are alumni. They have shared with me that their experiences here, both academic and formational, played an important role in shaping their vocation, and their selfless commitment to serving the needs of others embodies the very highest values of our university and serves as a powerful example for our graduates." 

This lecture, "Living the Virtues in the Face of Homelessness," seeks to explore the ongoing tension between serving the most marginalized in our society while grappling with the continued social conditions on the ground deteriorating, the role of bureaucracy and how it impacts their work and the practices that help to hold the virtues of this work in a secular culture.

The Working Centre was founded by Joe and Stephanie Mancini in 1982 as a direct response to the unemployment crisis of the 1980s. They saw the potential for a collaborative approach to build a community of interest to respond to the growing unemployment and poverty crisis and the need for social analysis to respond to these challenges with creative action. The Working Centre has created projects that allow people to envision their work, incorporating new learning and collaboration methods. The Working Centre has developed projects in six key areas: the Job Search Resource Centre, St. John's Kitchen, Community Tools, Access to Technology, Affordable Supportive Housing and the Waterloo School for Community Development.

The Mancinis have been globally recognized for their commitment to this work through the creation of The Working Centre. They received the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Francis in 2014 and the Order of Canada in 2016. They were also awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Waterloo in 2019.

This lecture is on Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Notre Dame Chapel at St. Jerome's University. The event will be live-streamed for people who cannot attend in person. Please register for the event, as space in the Notre Dame Chapel is limited.

Complete the Employee Equity Census

This year’s Employee Equity Census (previously known as the Equity Survey) has launched in Workday. Learn more about the Employee Equity Census on the Equity Data Strategy website. Watch this short video on how to access the Employee Equity Census in Workday.

Check the link that was sent to you in the UWaterloo’s Employee Equity Census email or click this link to complete the survey.

The Employee Equity Census will take only a few minutes to complete. Data collection for this year's annual report will close in mid-November. 

Link of the day

Clippy, come back! Microsoft Word at 40

When and Where 

Warriors Game Day Tickets: Season Passes, Black and Gold Alumni Passes and Single Game Tickets now available for the 2023-24 varsity season. Purchase your tickets today!

The Student health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is offering flu shots with no appointments needed daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 519-746-4500 or extension 33784 for more info. COVID shots will be available beginning October 23. You can register online at studenthealthpharmacy.ca.

Zero Waste Fair, Thursday, October 26, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., SLC marketplace and multipurpose room.

WIN & CENIDE Seminar Series on 2D-MATURE: Quantum Functionality in 2D Materials, Thursday, October 26, 10:00 a.m., QNC 1501.

Accessing national health statistics to improve health outcomes with Dr. Jeff Latimer, Thursday, October 26, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, DC 1302. Register now.

Gender Equity Lecture Series | Faculty of Science: Epistemic Injustice, Personal Responsibility, and Gender Equity in Academia, Thursday, October 26, 1:00 p.m., QNC 0101.

St. Jerome’s University Campus Ministry hosts KAIROS Blanket Exercise, Thursday October 26, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Notre Dame Chapel at St. Jerome’s University. Sign up here.

United Way Live Cooking Show, Thursday, October 26, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. online. Register now.

"Soulful Recitations: Celebrating Arabic Poetry in Canada", Thursday, October 26, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Federation Hall.

Graham Seed Fund networking event, Friday, October 27, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Enterprise Theatre (EC5, Room 1111), Register by October 24.

2023 Gem and Mineral Show, Friday, October 27, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EIT 1stand 2nd floors.

The Psychology of Fun and Frustration: Understanding the Demands and Interactivity in VR/AR and Video Games, Friday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., EC1 1323.

David Sprott Distinguished Lecture by Jeffrey Rosenthal, Friday, October 27, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., DC 1302.

Warriors Men’s Hockey vs. Nipissing, Friday October 27, 7:00 p.m., CIF Arena. 50th Anniversary celebration, Alumni Day. Free tickets for UW students. Purchase tickets.

Kids' Science Open House 2023, Saturday, October 28, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., STC and EIT.

Computer Museum Hardware Day, Saturday, October 28, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., DC 2585. See older computers up and running and attend talks by Cheriton School of Computer Science Professor Gregor Richards and Steven A. Garan, a Waterloo alumnus and the Director of Bioinformatics at the Center for Research & Education on Aging.

Board of Governors meeting, Tuesday, October 31, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., NH 3407 and Zoom.

The Case for Paratopian Design, Tuesday, October 31, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EC1 1323.

Halloween Party @ Graduate House, Tuesday, October 31, 6:00 p.m., Graduate House.

Noon Hour Concert: Women in Song, Wednesday, November 1, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College Chapel. Free admission.

Statistical Consulting and Survey Research Unit presents “Nonprobability Online Samples: Promises and Pitfalls” presented by Carina Cornesse and Olga Maslovskaya, Wednesday, November 1, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., M3-3001. Add the event to your calendar.

Unleashing the Power of 5G featuring armchair chat with Vivek Goel and Ron McKenzie, CTO of Rogers Communications, Wednesday, November 1, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Engineering 7 event space, 2nd floor. Please register by Friday, October 27.

University of Waterloo Knowledge Mobilization Community of Practice, Wednesday, November 1, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. “The Schegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and CHOICE+: An example of CoPs in action” with Dr. Heather Keller. Contact Nadine Quehl at nquehl@uwaterloo.ca to request a Teams invitation for this session.

Slowing Down and Showing Up: Leading with Presence (staff workshop), Thursday, November 2, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., EC5 1111 and online.

Sustainable Future Perspectives Series: Circular Economies: Electronic and Electrochemical Devices, Thursday, November 2, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., E7-7303/7363. Registration is required. Register in-person. Register for online event. Refreshments will be provided.

NEW - 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Collaborative Water Program, Friday, November 3, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., SLC Black & Gold Room.

When and Where to get support 

Check out the support listings for faculty, staff and students.

PhD oral defences

Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Ashkan Hashemi, "Characterizing a Novel Enzyme Involved in Cardiolipin Remodelling." Supervisor, Dr. Robin E. Duncan. Email Health Graduate Administration for a copy. Oral defence Monday, November 6, 1:00 p.m, EXP 1686 and hybrid.

Chemistry. Luke Menezes, “Investigation of Crystal Structures and Ultra-Low Thermal Conductivities in Novel Group 14 and 15 Chalcogenides.” Supervisor, Dr. Holger Kleinke. Please visit the Faculty of Science Thesis Submission Notices website for details on requesting a copy. Oral defence Monday, November 6, 3:00 p.m., Chemistry 2 Building (C2) Room 361 and remote.

Electrical & Computer Engineering. Samira Rasouli, "Exploring the Use of Social Robots in Promoting University Students Mental Well-being." Supervisors, Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn, Dr.  Moojan Ghafurian. Thesis available on Sharepoint; contact the Administrative Coordinator, PhD for a copy. Oral defence Wednesday, November 15, 2:00 p.m., EIT 3142.

Economics. Iuliia Nesterova, "Conspicuous Consumption and Inequality." Supervisor, Dr. Francisco Gonzalez. Available upon request from the Faculty of Arts, Graduate Studies and Research Officer. Oral defence Wednesday, November 15, 9:00 a.m., PAS 2464 and hybrid.