Wednesday, September 9, 2015

New Royal Society Fellows announced

Four professors from the University of Waterloo are among the newly-announced fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) who have been peer-elected as the best in their field.

The fellowship of the RSC consists of individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the arts, the humanities, science, and Canadian public life.

"Waterloo attracts many of the best research talent from across the globe, and the selection of these four individuals as fellows of the Royal Society of Canada is further evidence of their excellent work in particular," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. "It is groundbreaking research like theirs that will help Waterloo achieve its goal of becoming one of the top innovation universities internationally, tackling some of the most complex issues in the world. I congratulate all of them on this important recognition."

The University of Waterloo's newest Royal Society fellows are as follows:

Philippe Van Cappellen, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science

• Philippe Van Cappellen's research is focused on the biogeochemistry of soils, sediments and aquatic ecosystems, the cycles of water, carbon nutrients and metal, global change and geobiology. In addition to fundamental contributions concerning surface precipitation theory for the formation of minerals, he is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the development and application of reactive transport modeling to complex aqueous geochemical systems. Professor Van Cappellen is the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ecohydrology.

David Cory, Institute for Quantum Computing, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

• David Cory’s work spans chemistry, engineering and physics. He pioneered one of the first laboratory demonstrations of a quantum computer by using the magnetic moments of nuclei as quantum bits and showing how this information can be initialized, transformed and measured. His influence bridges the foundations of quantum information science to industrial applications of magnetic resonance, including the development of practical quantum sensors for uses in medicine, resource exploration and material science. Professor Cory is the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Quantum Information Processing. Cory is cross-appointed to the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Eric Helleiner, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts

• Eric Helleiner is an award-winning scholar in the field of international political economy. Much of his most widely cited research focuses on the politics of global money and finance. He is the author of numerous publications, including five single-authored books analyzing financial globalization, the history of national currencies, Canada’s exchange rate policy, post-2008 global financial reforms, and the origin of the Bretton Woods international financial and monetary system. 

Xuemin Shen, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

• Xuemin Shen has gained a worldwide reputation as a foremost researcher in resource management and information security for wireless communication networks. His research contributions have been highly influential, set the direction for others in the research community, and led to the development of innovative networking algorithms/protocols and novel analytical techniques and models for engineering solutions.

The RSC names about 80 new fellows annually. This year's induction ceremony will take place on November 27 in Victoria.

The primary objective of the RSC is to promote learning and research in the arts, the humanities and the natural and social sciences. To learn more about the Royal Society of Canada, please visit the website.

How one co-op student used his skill-set to succeed

by Clare Flood.

David Tam, a 4A Honours Kinesiology student with a minor in Gerontology, learned how his Kinesiology skill-set could help him in any work position.

David decided to come to the University of Waterloo because it offered a unique co-op program, and exclusive opportunities to Kinesiology students. With the world’s first Kinesiology program, Waterloo boasts plenty of hands-on learning for Kinesiology students, including work with human cadavers as early as their second school term.

David recently finished his fifth and final co-op term, as a Business Analyst in Marketing Outreach for Co-operative Education & Career Action (CECA) at Waterloo. Previously, he worked as an Events Associate for Employer Recognition Programs at CECA, a Patient Flow Facilitator at the University’s Health Services, and a Student Kinesiologist at Chalmers Physiotherapy.

While working as a student Kinesiologist on his first work term, David had his proudest co-op experience. He was involved in creating and supervising exercise treatment plans. One patient he helped treat was a retired ski instructor that had slipped on black ice while going down the stairs one winter morning. Intensive surgery was required to mend the broken bones, allowing them to heal, but left the client unable to walk independently. Over the course of his term, David worked to help rebuild her functional strength, starting from seated isometric holds, and eventually moving on to weight-bearing exercises. By the end of course of treatment, she was able to walk out of the clinic without the use of any assistive devices and return home.

“Seeing this former athlete regain her confidence with each step was very motivating,” says David. “This was a big accomplishment to be a part of.”

Co-op work terms have taught David how to effectively manage his time and overcome the most challenging part of co-op; balancing academics, extra-curricular activities, and a social life while trying to secure a work term.

“Looking back, I wish I could tell myself what I know now: be open-minded and try new things. You never know what you can gain from a work experience. Use each work term to build on your skill-set and you will be successful,” says David. “Pursue something that interests you; you’ll be more motivated to perform your best.”

David has previously been a Dry-land Conditioning Coach for Waterloo’s Dragon Boat Club, a Student Athletic Therapist for Waterloo athletics, and a member of the Waterloo Dissection Club preparing cadavers for academic use. This fall, he is completing his final two school terms, before pursuing his interest in physiotherapy at grad school.

Independent Studies program thanks Ted McGee

by Susan Gow.

Many contend that retirement means “no pressure, no stress, no heartache … unless you play golf.”

Ted McGee, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, does play golf but that’s not all he’s been doing since his official retirement in 2011 from St. Jerome’s University as a specialist in Shakespeare and Early English Drama.

Professor McGee is a long-time supporter of the Stratford Festival in a variety of roles as board member, lecturer, and educational consultant. He also continues to provide research for several international theatre history projects. Currently, he is member of the prestigious Records of Early English Drama North-East, a group of distinguished scholars and experts of medieval and early modern history, theatre, the visual arts, dance, and music. They are preparing “critical edition[s] of all surviving records of performance and entertainment in England’s North-East from the ninth century to 1642.” Dr. McGee is co-editor of the REED West Yorkshire volume.

Dr. McGee has also been an Academic Advisor with the Independent Studies program since January 2013 and has retired from this position as of the end of the summer 2015 term to pursue his remaining “retirement” interests.

All of us in the IS community will miss his involvement and his presence, and it is with gratitude that we wish him well on the other parts of his retirement journey.

Thank you, Ted, for your participation and contributions to the Independent Studies program. Come say hello … whenever time and golf permit!

Wednesday's whats, whens, and wheres

Dean of Arts Douglas Peers takes a selfie with hundreds of his newest friends at the Arts Orientation Dean's Welcome event yesterday. Photograph courtesy of @uwaterlooARTS.

Orientation 2015 continues today with a number of events:

• Bomber Breakfast in the Student Life Centre Great Hall at 9:00 a.m.;
• Environment students will pose for an aerial photo at 10:00 a.m. and proceed to Waterloo Park at 11:00 a.m. (though a rain plan is currently in effect)
• A Mayor's Lunch for Students at the School of Architecture in Cambridge will take place at 12:00 p.m.;
• Applied Health Studies Barbecue on the BMH Green at 5:30 p.m., where students, faculty and staff will get together;
• World of Waterloo for first-year, transfer and exchange students in UpTown Waterloo at 7:00 p.m., which will feature a variety of events taking place at venues that include the Button Factory, UpTown Square, Willis Way, Waterloo Public Library and Waterloo City Hall.

Full schedules for each faculty can be found on the Orientation website.

Student parking passes sold like hotcakes last week and as of September 1 Parking Services is sold out of Student Unreserved Permits. However, there is a waiting list. To join said list, just e-mail Parking Services at uparking@uwaterloo.ca or call 519-888-4567 ext 33100 with your student number, phone number and e-mail.

Employers on campus next week hosting employer information sessions include: Suncor Energy Inc., PwC, PDT Partners, Capital One, PepsiCo Canada, Wish, PointClickCare, EY, WeMesh, Genesys, Munich Re, Google, London Life Insurance Company/ Great-West Life Assurance Company, Mckinsey & Company, Sandvine, RBC - Technology & Operations, PWO Canada Inc, Loblaw Digital, Bank of Montreal, Canadian Tire Corporation, TD Insurance, Clearpath Robotics, Loyalty One, Ginger.io, Accenture, AppDynamics, and Google.