Monday, July 20, 2015

Globe and Mail: Waterloo an "indispensable institution"

They like us. They really like us.

This weekend, the Globe and Mail, Canada's newspaper of record, published an article on Waterloo Region's reinvention as a technology hub as part of an occasional, ongoing series exploring how startup hubs across Canada are nurturing its entrepreneurs while grappling with challenges.

The University of Waterloo features very prominently in the report, which is available both online and in print in the Report on Business. President Feridun Hamdullahpur, Dean of Engineering Pearl Sullivan, Velocity Director Mike Kirkup and several current student entrepreneurs all had their say in telling the University's story.

The piece looks at the regional coordination effort led by Communitech, the role of the University of Waterloo at the heart of the ecosystem, and Kitchener's ongoing downtown transformation.

The University's influence is identified throughout each segment, and, notably, nearly every startup or company mentioned in the article can trace its origins to the University of Waterloo.

"This is about a generation that grew up alongside BlackBerry and seeks to forge a new identity for the city," says the article, which was written by technology report Shane Dingman. "At the centre are an indispensable institution, the University of Waterloo, a bunch of young people starting companies, and a dedicated group of community leaders eager to support the region’s ambition to become a world-class technology centre."

Design exhibit showcases Internet of Things

Systems Design Engineering students will exhibit product designs that are themed around the Internet-of-Things (IOT) this week.

15 student groups in a third-year Systems Design Engineering course will present and demonstrate various product design prototypes.

The student groups were each required to select from a taxonomy of IOT application areas, namely:

• Smart Cities;
• Smart Environment (not water);
• Smart Water;
• Smart Metering;
• Security & Emergencies;
• Retail;
• Logistics;
• Industrial Control;
• Smart Agriculture;
• Smart Animal Farming;
• Domotic & Home Automation;
• eHealth;
• Education; Sports; and
• Automotive.

Each group chose one of these application areas, defined a problem in this space, and solicited needs from stakeholders, all to lay the groundwork for developing innovative concepts that are prototyped for display at the upcoming exhibit.

Design prototypes that will be demonstrated include:

• IOT technology for engaging public transit users;
• a solar panel IOT wireless tool;
• an interactive IOT water fountain; 
• a solution for ice on hydro lines;
• a solution that aims to monitor police gun use;
• an IOT package handling solution;
• a chemical sensor for oil drilling;
• IOT sensors for ensuring clean milk production;
• a farm rodent solution;
• a safe kitchen solution;
• a system for weightlifting injury prevention;
• a wearable UV analysis system;
• a wearable student stress coping system; and
• a solution for learning automotive drivers.

The exhibition runs from 12.30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday July 22 in the DC fishbowl.

Faculty of Arts adds new associate dean positions

The Faculty of Arts has added a new Associate Dean (AD) to its leadership team. In fact, the role of Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies has been split into two portfolios: Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs and Associate Dean Undergraduate Students.

Effective July 1, Kathy Acheson (English Language & Literature) is AD Programs, and Bill Chesney (Drama & Speech Communication), who has led Arts Undergraduate Studies as Associate Dean for nearly eight years, will refocus as AD Students.

The new AD Programs role was established to provide leadership for our ongoing efforts to ensure compelling and innovative curriculum – these include implementing a streamlined curriculum across the 28 majors, launching a set of new first-year core courses, and ongoing course and programming administration. Kathy will also chair the Undergraduate Affairs Group.

The AD Students will be focused on student experience, including recruitment, retention, and engagement of students in Arts at Waterloo. Bill welcomes the opportunity to focus more closely on these aspects of his previous role.

The redefined Associate Dean roles for Undergraduate Studies respond not only to the increasing workload associated with the Undergraduate Studies portfolio overall, but will also enable the Faculty to achieve important objectives for the undergraduate experience as outlined in the Faculty of Arts 2014-19 Strategic Plan.