Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Waterloo Innovation Summit set for September

Everyone is talking about innovation, but who is actually saying anything?

Top global thinkers in business, government and academia will have plenty to say about what it takes to build world-class innovation ecosystems when they convene at the Waterloo Innovation Summit from September 16 to September 18.

More than a dozen international speakers, including Silicon Valley sage and entrepreneur Steve Blank, economist Mariana Mazzucato (author of the Entrepreneurial State), strategist and entrepreneur Salim Ismail, venture capitalist Ajay Royan and John Chen, CEO of BlackBerry, will join tech leaders, academics, scientists and policy makers for in-depth conversations on how to win in the global innovation economy.

Communitech and the University of Waterloo are teaming up to present a lively, frank and informed discussion that will explore factors that drive the world’s best innovation regions, from universities and governments making big bets on science, to the shifting roles of the public and private sectors, to what entrepreneurs really need – and don’t need – to succeed. 

The event begins Wednesday, September 16 and runs through Friday, September 18.

The summit will begin with a tour of Waterloo region's innovation ecosystem at noon on September 16. Additional schedule information is available on the event agenda. All summit-related events take place in Kitchener or Waterloo at the University of Waterloo, Communitech, the Centre for International Governance Innovation and the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts.

For details on how to join in the discussion, visit the Waterloo Innovation Summit website. 

Phony presidential emails contain malware

by Terry Labach.

You're probably tempted to drop everything and pay attention when the President of the University decides to email you. 

Many Waterloo staff members felt that over the past few weeks as they checked their inboxes. To their disappointment, the message was merely the latest in targeted attacks against universities in North America. The content was not an official missive, but malicious software designed to take control of their computers.

In mid-August, many Waterloo staff received email claiming to be from University of Waterloo President Feridun Hamdullahpur.

The message followed a familiar pattern:

• It was sent by a respected senior official, from an unusual but familiar-looking email address (feridun.hamdullahpur@outlook.com)
• It had a vague but alarming subject line ("IMPORTANT NOTICE")
• It contained text about a surprising and worrisome development ("terminated in duties")
• It was written with less than perfect grammar and style ("staffs are relief of their duties until further clarifications")

Finally:

• It contained a request to download and open an attached file ("Please find the attached and download to view list").

In this case, the file was a zip archive, containing malware designed to attack your computer. When the attack was identified, IST took steps to block this file from being sent to campus email addresses.

Inevitably, though, some of these files will arrive in mailboxes. The University needs your help to prevent computer infections. When you receive email messages, always consider whether they are legitimate.  Even if they seem plausible, if you have any doubts, take a close look and consider whether you detect any warning signs. If anything looks suspicious, do not open attachments or reply to the message. Contact the purported sender directly using their official email address or other means and verify the legitimacy of the message.

Tuesday's notes

The Graduate Studies Office (GSO) will be closed today from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

"On Monday, August 31, Byron Murdock from Plant Operations Design and Construction Services will be retiring," says a note from Dan Parent in Plant Operations. "Byron has been a Waterloo Plant Operations employee since September 1968. He joined the Design Section in 2000 and has been involved as Construction Coordinator with a number of renovation and construction projects, the main one being the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre. Byron has also been active in various social and committee functions."

Friends and colleagues are invited to celebrate with him on Thursday, August 27 at 3:30 PM in the Davis Centre Room 1301.

Joining Murdock in retirement at the end of the month are:

• Peter Jordan, who started at the University in October 1985, retiring as Supervisor, Cleaning Services in Housing and Residences;
• Eugene Starchuk, who joined the University in September 1990, retiring as Director, Business Services in Plant Operations;
• C. Joanne Heimpel, who started at Waterloo in November 1974, retiring as Library Assistant: Knowledge Base and Citation Linking in the Library; and
• Dr. Barbara Schumacher, who started at the University in December 1986, retiring as University Medical Director in Health Services.

Seats are filling up for the University of Waterloo Staff Association's 11th annual Shopping Trip to Erie, Pennsylvania, set for November 6 to November 8. Details can be found on the UWSA's website. Anyone with questions can contact hosts Sue Fraser (fraser@uwaterloo.ca) and Peggy Day (pday@uwaterloo.ca).