Tuesday, October 13, 2015


Viceregal Consort to visit campus for author event

Matrons and Madams cover photo.Please join Retail Services and the Bookstore in welcoming Her Excellency Sharon Johnston to discuss her new book Matrons and Madams, a novel that spans the decade following the Great War. The book details the lives of two women as they struggle to provide care to wounded soldiers and heal from the effects of the war, all the while being in the thick of a growing public health issue in the town of Lethbridge, Alberta.

The event will be held on Friday, October 30 at Federation Hall. The reading will commence at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Q&A session and discussion. To conclude the afternoon, at 4:00 p.m. Her Excellency will also conduct a book signing.

Her Excellency Sharon JohnstonSharon Johnston is the Viceregal Consort of Canada and the spouse of current Governor General of Canada and former University of Waterloo President David Johnston. Born in Sault Saint Marie, she studied physiotherapy at the Universities of Toronto and Western Ontario, and graduated as Doctor of Philosophy in rehabilitation science at McGill.

Matrons and Madams will be the first of three in a trilogy whose overall theme will be to show the long lasting effect of war on a family, beyond just the deaths in war, over the course of multiple generations. Matrons and Madams is based on Johnston’s own research into her grandmother’s actions in a Lethbridge hospital and the surrounding community.

You can register to attend the event online. There is limited seating available so sign up now to ensure your spot.

Sales from the book will go to support Mental Health at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. 

Wear orange for mental health

Three people wearing orange Mental Health t-shirtsThe orange wave is coming to campus on Tuesday, October 20 for Mental Health Wellness Day (MHWD).

Do you have your orange t-shirt yet?

Every year the University of Waterloo campus turns orange in October to signify support for mental health wellness. This annual campaign reminds us that one in five Canadians will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime. If you have participated in MHWD before, dig that orange t-shirt out of your closet (it should be easy to find!) And if you haven’t participated before, request an orange t-shirt and we would be happy to send it to you on campus.

The Recreation and Leisure Wellness Team will also host the second annual spin for mental health event on October 20 in the Student Life Centre Great Hall. Interested participants can sign up as a group or as an individual for 20 minute blocks of spinning (or take one of two 50 minute spin classes offered at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.). Registration information is available on the MHWD webpage.

Professors who are teaching classes on October 20 are encouraged to download a Mental Health Wellness Day powerpoint slide to include at the beginning or end of their lecture to remind our students that UWaterloo is a caring community, a safe place to ask for help and there are resources available.

Green Office Program seeks input at sessions

Are colleagues always asking you what goes in the recycling bins?  Do you enjoy networking, taking a leadership role, and mobilizing your peers?  Are you passionate about the environment? If so, the sustainability office invites you to two upcoming consultation sessions for the University of Waterloo’s pilot green office program.

As the University continues to improve our collective sustainability efforts, we recognize the need for broad involvement from all areas of campus.  A green office program can function as a hub for interested champions to share their experiences implementing initiatives in their own areas, receive support and tools from Waterloo’s Sustainability Coordinator, and celebrate successes.

We are looking to design a program unique to the University of Waterloo, and for that we need your input.  Any interested staff and faculty are encouraged to attend two upcoming consultation sessions:

Our hope is for attendees to shape the program at these sessions, and encourage their departments to join the pilot in January 2016.

Snacks and Fair Trade coffee will be provided for attendees. Space is limited, so please register for each session!

Tuesday's tales amid turkey leftovers

Professor Idrisa Pandit.Professor Idrisa Pandit, director of Studies in Islam at Renison University College, was named a recipient of a K-W Oktoberfest Women of the Year award in the Community Service category. 

"Idrisa Pandit exemplifies what it means to be truly engaged in one’s community as a tireless educator, organizer and social justice worker," says her nomination citation. "She brings communities together to discuss issues of social justice and helps people to overcome prejudices. Idrisa has a strong commitment to empowering marginalized women in our local community. She has organized panel discussions and workshops on faith, diversity, environmental sustainability, mental and physical health, trauma, and creating safer families."

K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year celebrates the achievements of women living and working in Waterloo Region in nine separate categories. 

Representatives from the Ministry of Transportation will be making an announcement today at 11:00 a.m. on the Village Green. The Honourable Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and President Feridun Hamdullahpur are inviting members of the University community to an announcement regarding automated vehicles in Ontario.

The members of the Optometry Rack Pack in their pink shirts.

The 2015 Optometry Rack Pack team completed the 'CIBC Run for the Cure' on Sunday, October 4 to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

"The Rack Pack was honoured with the ‘Post-Secondary Team Challenge Award’ for the institution with the most funds raised to support the cause - our current total is $7258!" says a note from Marie Amodeo. "The team would like thank everyone in Optometry who joined in Friday's "Think Pink Day" - the second year class impressed us with almost their entire class wearing pink!" 

"The Run for the Cure was inspiring to all who attended – so be ready to tie up your laces for next year’s event. Way to go, team! Donations are still being accepted if you would like to sponsor our team. 

Staff from the Registrar's Office in Blue Jays colours.Let's play ball: As the United Way campaign continues, academic support units and departments across the University are getting in on the act. The staff at the Registrar's Office was able to combine a dress-down fundraising day with pride in the Toronto Blue Jays.

Quest will be down and unavailable the morning of Wednesday, October 15 due to scheduled maintenance. The maintenance window will be from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Ring Road pedestrian access between east campus and central campus will be closed for about one week as ION work continues.

And finally, a reminder that the Library Service Road is closed as of today, October 13. Reconstruction of the service road running from the Dana Porter Library and Biology greenhouse to the Ring Road has begun, and during this time, there will be no access available to Lot D underneath Needles Hall, and all parking will be temporarily relocated by UW Parking Services.

Access to the interior of campus will be available via the EV3 roadway. Plant Operations anticipates construction to take approximately 8 weeks, or less than that if the weather holds.

Link of the day

International Day for Disaster Reduction

When and where

Velocity Science: Brainstorming, Tuesday, October 13, 7:30 p.m., QNC room 1506.

Advancement United Way campaign Dessert Extravaganza, Wednesday, October 14 (all day), EC1 foyer.

24 Hours of Waterloo, Wednesday, October 14.

Noon Hour Concert: Surprising Shostakovich, Epic Tschaikovsky, Wednesday, October 14, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.

Velocity Alpha: Setup Your Business Like A Boss, Wednesday, October 14, 7:30 p.m., Environment 3 room 4412.

Soup and Bannock Thursdays at Aboriginal Education Centre, Thursday, October 15, 12:00 p.m., STP 228.

Graduate Studies Information Session, Thursday, October 15, 4:30 p.m., EV3 Atrium.

Chemistry Department Seminar Series featuring Professor Jose Almirall, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and International Forensic Research Institute, Florida International University, “From Basic Research to Routine Use in the Courtroom: Elemental Analysis and Comparisons of Materials with LA-ICP-MS and LIBS”, Friday, October 16, 2:30 p.m., C2-361.

Knowledge Integration seminar: “The Healthy Weights Connection: A systems approach to reducing risk of obesity among First Nations and Métis children”, featuring Dr. Martin Cooke, Sociology & Legal Studies and the School of Public Health & Health Systems, Friday, October 16, 2:30 p.m., EV3 1408.

The Computer Science Club presents author Cory Doctorow, "The War on General Purpose Computing," Friday, October 16, 7:00 p.m., Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages.

Bridges Lecture - Deep Surfaces: Geometrical Challenges in Digital Design, Friday, October 16, 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's University.

Dragon Challenge Quidditch Tournament, Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Village 1 Green.

Student Portal Hackathon, Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m., Student Life Centre multipurpose room.

The wandering mind: Exploring the cognitive, neural and applied consequences of boredom, Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., QNC 1506.

2015 Federal Election, Monday, October 19.

Mental Health Wellness Day, Tuesday, October 20.

Spin for Mental HealthTuesday, October 20, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Student Life Centre Great Hall.

Eli Clare: A Dialogue on "Cure",Tuesday, October 20, 4:00 p.m., Federation Hall.

Together: A Workshop on GlobalDevelopment, Wednesday, October 21, 3:00 p.m., Alumni Hall, St. Paul’s University College. Mobile exhibit on October 21 and 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the St. Paul’s main parking lot.

Mitacs Step Workshop - Time Management, Wednesday, October 21, 9:00 a.m., TC 2218.

Velocity Alpha: Do People Want Your Sh*t?, Wednesday, October 21, 7:30 p.m., Environment 3 room 4412.

WISE Lecture Series - The Impact of "Energiewende" on Renewable Energy in Germany, Thursday, October 22, 10:30 a.m., DC 1302.

Soup and Bannock Thursdays at Aboriginal Education Centre, Thursday, October 22, 12:00 p.m., STP 228.

111th Convocation ceremonies, Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, Physical Activities Complex.

English Language and Literature Series featuring Lisa Hager, University of Wisconsin - Waukesha, "Towards a Queer Literary History of Gender Identity: Steampunk, Gender Nonconformity, and Victorian Studies," Friday, October 23, 1:00 p.m., PAS 2438.

Science Open House and Gem & Mineral Show 2015, Saturday, October 24, 10:00 a.m., Centre for Environmental and Information Technology.

Dogwhistles, Philosophy of Language and Political Manipulation, Monday, October 26, 7:00 p.m., LHI 1621.

“Generics Don’t Essentialise People; People Essentialise People,” public lecture by Jennifer Saul, University of Sheffield, UK, Wednesday, October 28, 10:00 a.m., HH 373.

Velocity Alpha: How To Find Your Customers Online, Wednesday, October 28, 7:30 p.m., Environment 3 room 4412. 

UWSA Annual General Meeting,Thursday, October 29, 9:00 a.m., DC 1302.

“Misleading and Morality,” public lecture by Jennifer Saul, University of Sheffield, UK, Thursday, October 29, 10:00 a.m., HH 373.

CBB Biomedical Discussion Group featuring Alfred C. H. Yu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, “Ultrasound imaging innovations for live monitoring of complex flow dynamics,” Thursday, October 29, 10:30 a.m., EIT 3142.

Soup and Bannock Thursdays at Aboriginal Education Centre, Thursday, October 29, 12:00 p.m., STP 228.

Water Institute WaterTalks Lecture Series featuring Dr. Dustin Garrick, McMaster University, “Pathways to Water Security for Rivers under Pressure: Water Markets and Transboundary Governance in Australia and Western North America.” Thursday, October 29, 2:30 p.m., DC 1304.

“Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat and Women in Academia,”
 public lecture by Jennifer Saul, University of Sheffield, UK, Friday, October 30, 11:00 a.m., HH 373.

Noon Hour Concert: Attacca Quartet plays Haydn, Friday, October 30, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.

President's Town Hall Meeting, Tuesday, November 3, 10:30 a.m., Humanities Theatre.

Velocity Alpha: Pitch Like A Pro, Wednesday, November 4, 7:30 p.m., EV3 4412.

Soup and Bannock Thursdays at Aboriginal Education Centre, Thursday, November 5, 12:00 p.m., STP 228.

Post-Conflict Columbia: Writing trauma and the challenges of translating it, Friday, November 6, 11:00 a.m., HH 1108.

CBB Bioinnovations Seminar featuring Charles Cooney, Robert T. Haslam (1911) Professor of Chemical Engineering Emeritus, and Faculty Director, Emeritus Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, MIT, “Accelerating Academic Research into Commercial Impact,” Friday, November 6, 11:00 a.m., DC 1302.

Remembrance Day, Wednesday, November 11.

Noon Hour Concert: Songs My Mother Never Taught Me, Wednesday, November 11, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University Chapel.

Velocity Fund $5K Qualifier – Night 1, Wednesday, November 11, 7:00 p.m., Quantum-Nano Centre room 0101.

"The Terrible Truth about Canadian Crime: No Justice for Women" featuring visiting lecturer Professor Kim Pate, Wednesday, November 11, 7:00 p.m., Alumni Hall, St. Paul’s University College.

Soup and Bannock Thursdays at Aboriginal Education Centre, Thursday, November 12, 12:00 p.m., STP 228.

Velocity Fund $5K Qualifier – Night 2, Thursday, November 12, 7:00 p.m., Quantum-Nano Centre room 0101.

TEDxUW 2015, Saturday, November 14, CIGI Campus.

Velocity Science: Brainstorming, Tuesday, November 17, 7:30 p.m., QNC room 1506.

Velocity Alpha: How Not To Run Your Company Into The Ground (From People Who Did), Wednesday, November 18, 7:30 p.m., EV3 4412.

CBB Biomedical Discussion Groupfeaturing Thomas Willett, PhD, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering Program, “A tissue mechanist found in translation,” Thursday, November 19, 2:30 p.m., E5 2167.