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Defining Innovation: the state of the University
At the University of Waterloo, innovation is in our DNA. Building one of the world’s top innovation universities takes talent, curiosity, drive, passion and a single-minded focus on creating real-world change.
You’ll find the latest on how the University of Waterloo continues to redefine higher education in Defining Innovation, our 2015-16 State of the University Report.
From groundbreaking research in health, the environment, technology and frontier disciplines, to the elements that provide best-in-class students with an unparalleled education experience, this report will deliver Waterloo’s one-of-a-kind story to audiences around the world. As part of that story, we hope you’ll enjoy reading this report and be proud to share it with your personal and professional networks.
A more portable version can be found in the revamped Facts and Figures brochure, which will appear in mailboxes across campus this week and will be available to order through Central Stores.
For more information about Defining Innovation or the new Facts and Figures document, please contact Stacey Ash, director of integrated marketing and communications, at 519-888-4567, ext. 35719 or sn2ash@uwaterloo.ca. To order these and other institutional publications for University use, visit the Central Publications website.
Most innovative, 24 years running
The Maclean's annual ranking of Canadian universities has been released, and for the 24th year, the University of Waterloo has been named Canada's most innovative university.
In addition to retaining the top spot in the reputational ranking for innovation, Waterloo rose one spot to be named the second best university in the comprehensive category. Last year Waterloo was ranked third best overall.
In the comprehensive category, Waterloo ranked first in awards per full-time faculty, first in social sciences and humanities grants, third in medical/science grants, and in a new category for 2016, first in citations. Waterloo also rose from third to second place in total research dollars.
While Waterloo dipped from 12th to 13th in student services as a percentage of overall operating expenses, the University recently announced $10M to help fund renovations to existing classrooms, social space, student services and the Physical Activities Complex.
Maclean's ranks 49 Canadian universities across five broad-based performance indicators. Maclean's uses a number of data sources, including data submitted from universities, Statistics Canada, federal research grant agencies, and their own survey and bibliometric data extract. This year, Maclean's changed the methodology for its ranking. Changes included different indicator weightings, the introduction of two new indicators as well as modifications to the reputational survey and its administration.
The reputation survey results are based on survey responses from university officials, faculty members, high school principals and guidance counselors, and CEOs and corporate recruiters from across Canada. The sample size was expanded for the 2016 rankings.
Waterloo is included in a group of 15 universities in the "Comprehensive Category", owing to its significant research activity and wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Engineering appoints acting dean
Dean of Engineering Pearl Sullivan will be taking a leave effective November 1 until April 30, 2016, according to a memo from the Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard that was circulated to the Faculty of Engineering yesterday.
"Professor Wayne Parker of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been appointed Acting Dean of Engineering during this time," writes the provost. "Professor Parker previously served for over six years as Associate Dean, Co-operative Education and Professional Affairs in Engineering, providing leadership on the Faculty’s co-operative education portfolio and on the professional accreditation of engineering programs."
Sullivan started a five-year term as Dean of Engineering in July 2012. She joined the university as a professor of mechanical engineering in 2004 and later chaired the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.
"Dean Sullivan and I are very grateful to Professor Parker for taking on this role for the Faculty and the University," the provost's memo concludes.
Earth and Environmental Sciences celebrates 50 pioneering years
Over its fifty-year history, Earth Science faculty have earned an international reputation as pioneers in contaminant hydrogeology and leaders in outreach through their award-winning Earth Sciences Museum.
“Earth Sciences has achieved a superb reputation that extends far beyond Waterloo Region,” says William Taylor, Department Chair and Distinguished Professor Emeritus. “It’s an incredible story that continues today.”
Robert Farvolden: Bringing a vision to life
The Department of Earth Sciences was established on July 1, 1965. The first students in the new three-year General Earth Sciences program began classes in September 1965.
Today, much to the credit of the department’s diverse faculty, the department offers a broad array of Earth sciences courses, covering topics from classic geology to ecology and water management. The Science 2+2 Undergraduate Collaborative Education Program with China, headed by geologist Shoufa Lin, has brought in more than 200 students from some the best universities across China.
To reflect the changing curriculum and student population, the department changed its name to Earth and Environmental Sciences in 2008.
A field experiment like no other: Base Borden, Ontario
Groundwater contamination was not recognized as a serious problem until the 1970s. An experimental site at the Canadian Forces Base in Borden, Ontario, established by University of Waterloo hydrogeologists, led to the development of new remediation technologies like the permeable reactive barrier, used worldwide today, and the refinement of policy concepts like groundwater wellhead protection areas (WHPA).
By the mid-1990s, the members of the Waterloo Centre for Groundwater Research had 72 patents and were second only to the United States Geological Survey in terms of number of academic citations. Four of the ten University of Waterloo faculty ever named as Thomson-Reuters Most Highly Cited Researchers are from Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The University of Waterloo was also known through the popular textbook Groundwater by R. Allan Freeze (University of British Columbia) and John Cherry, one of the most widely referenced hydrology textbooks across Canada and the US.
Earth Sciences Museum
Conceived as a Canada centennial project, the University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Museum was opened in 1968 as the Biology−Earth Sciences Museum. The museum changed its name and mission to focus on Earth sciences in 1994.
Today, the Earth Sciences Museum welcomes nearly 80,000 visitors annually, mainly children, through its extended outreach program with local schools.
The museum continues to welcome new displays like Mastodon: Life, Death and Discovery, an augmented reality experience added last year in honour of the Department’s 50th anniversary, as well as the next generation of three-dimensional, augmented reality exhibits.
A diamond-studded future
Today, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences remains a powerhouse of research and discovery.
“In today’s world, we, as humans, have become the dominant geological force, “says Canada Excellence Research Chair Philippe Van Cappellen. “These are exciting times for Earth scientists to use their knowledge of the past to plan for a better future."
Please join the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in marking its 50th Anniversary this fall by attending the commemorative Farvolden Lecture featuring Professor David Rudolph on Friday, October 30.
A natural playground and other notes
Karen Buschert, an employee in Environmental Studies' Ecology Lab, and parent of a child who attended Waterloo as a 4 year old at the Early Childhood Education Centre, volunteered to visit the ECEC to help the staff in their efforts to naturalize the preschool’s current outdoor play space.
Karen brought along her 13 year old daughter Emily, who was a preschooler at the ECEC eight years ago, and a university student named Jessica, who has been involved in campus gardening projects, to plant some ornamental grasses with the preschool children. The three visitors brought their own shovels and trowels for the children.
"Together with the guest helpers, the children dug, sprinkled compost, planted and watered a variety of ornamental grasses to provide beauty, texture, shade, and a border to a newly established pathway in our outdoor learning space," writes the ECEC's Joyce Buckley. "The children will nurture and care for these plants while spending time in the evolving “Natural Playground.”"
The Waterloo men's and women's basketball teams will be hosting PD Day camps on November 13, January 29, April 22 and June 3 at the Physical Activities Complex for boys and girls aged 6 to 13.
"Use the day off from school to have fun and become a better basketball player!" says a note on the Athletics website. "These single day camps are a great way to stay active on a day off from school."
Campers will be on the court for 5 hours of fun and games designed to make them better basketball players. They will learn from the University of Waterloo Women’s and Men’s basketball team head coaches Tyler Slipp and Justin Gunter and their student-athletes, with an emphasis on fundamentals, ball handling, passing, shooting and team play. The camps also include a pizza lunch and one hour of swimming.
The cost is $40 per camp and will be held in the PAC gym. Parents can register their children online.