Friday, June 10, 2016

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• HeForShe writing contest launched for Fall 2016
• Honorary degree recipients named
• Thank you for another great Keystone Picnic!
• Friday's notes

HeForShe writing contest launched for Fall 2016

As part of the commitment to the UN Women’s HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 initiative, the University of Waterloo has launched a HeForShe writing contest that will take place this fall.

President Feridun Hamdullahpur announced the contest at Wednesday’s special public address by UN Under-Secretary-General Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka that marked the University’s first year of participation in IMPACT 10x10x10

“Achieving gender equality requires innovative, creative and inclusive approaches that reflect a shared vision for humanity,” says the announcement on the HeForShe website. “Toward this end, everyone in the University of Waterloo community — students, staff, faculty, and alumni — are invited to share experiences and stories about gender equity at Waterloo. Through poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, we welcome your reflections on the challenges you have faced, but also your hopes, dreams, and directions for the future. What does a gender equitable campus/world look like to you? Your stories are a part of the Waterloo landscape — today and tomorrow. In what ways are you #HeForShe?”

There will be prizes awarded for the top submission in the poetry, creative non-fiction, and fiction categories. Selected submissions will also be included in a special University of Waterloo anthology on gender equity that will be published on International Women’s Day on March 8, 2017.

The contest is open to all Waterloo students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and submissions must not have been previously published. Pieces submitted as part of Waterloo course work will be accepted.

Submissions will fall into one of three broad categories: fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry and should relate to the theme of gender equality, advancing the University’s HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 goals. Entries are capped at 5,000 words. The deadline for submissions is October 14, 2016.

For full submission guidelines and more information about the contest, visit the HeForShe website.

Honorary degree recipients named

A Waterloo alumna considered one of the leading architects of her generation and an alumnus who is a major international figure in leading soft matter physics research will be among the distinguished recipients of honorary doctorates at the University of Waterloo's spring convocation ceremonies next week.

Alison Brooks is founder, principal and creative director of Alison Brooks Architects. She has designed some of the most original and important buildings in the United Kingdom, and is the only architect in Britain to have won all three of the most prestigious awards for architecture. Brooks will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree and address convocation at the Faculty of Engineering ceremony taking place on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m.

David A. Weitz is Mallinckrodt Professor of physics and applied physics and director of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at Harvard University. He is a major international figure in leading soft matter physics research, and his group studies both synthetic and biological materials, with interests ranging from fundamental physics to technological applications, and from basic materials questions to specific biological problems. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree and address convocation at the Faculty of Science ceremony on Thursday, June 16 at 10:00 a.m.

Ming-ko Woo, professor emeritus in the School of Geography and Environmental and Earth Sciences at McMaster University, has made outstanding contributions to the field of hydrology. He pioneered the field of cold-regions hydrology in Canada. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Environmental Studies degree and address convocation at the Faculty of Environment convocation ceremony on Tuesday, June 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Patricia O’Malley is a prominent member of the Canadian accounting profession and has had a significant influence over its development and financial regulation in Canada. She is a leader in the development of international financial reporting standards. She will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree and address convocation at the Faculty of Arts ceremony on Wednesday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m.

Alex Neve serves as the secretary general of Amnesty International Canada and has had a long and distinguished career as an advocate of human rights. He spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at advancing human rights in areas related to Canadian anti-terrorism and refugee policies. Neve has also worked to remedy the ongoing problem of widespread violence against indigenous women in Canada. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws and address convocation at the Faculty of Arts ceremony on Wednesday, June 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Alan Tomlinson is research professor and was professor and head of the School of Health and Life Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University, as well as serving as director of the Centre for Vision in Health. His work has brought major improvements in contact lenses for patients with astigmatism, as well as in understanding the impacts of reduced oxygen on corneal health. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree at the Faculty of Science ceremony on Thursday, June 16 at 2:30 p.m.

Barry Mazur is the Gerhard Gade University Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Harvard University. He is one of the most influential mathematicians, and is considered a world-leading expert in number theory. In addition to his significant accomplishments, he displays a unique ability to engage biologists, economists, physicists and others to trace the ways in which mathematics is integral to the structure of knowledge in their disciplines. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Mathematics degree and address convocation at the Faculty of Mathematics ceremony on Friday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m.

S. Shankar Sastry is dean and Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering at University of California, Berkeley where he holds appointments in the electrical engineering and computer science departments, as well as the department of mechanical engineering. Sastry has made contributions to a broad range of high-impact application areas spanning robotics, embedded and autonomous software, machine learning and vision, virtual surgery, hybrid systems control, and more. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree and address convocation at the Faculty of Engineering ceremony on Saturday, June 18 at 2:30 p.m.

Thank you for another great Keystone Picnic!

A message from the Keystone Campaign.

Summer was in full swing in the DC quad last Friday, when faculty, staff and retirees gathered for the 15^th annual Keystone Picnic.

While enjoying build-your-own sandwiches and live entertainment by The Aboriginal Students Association Drum Group and The Ian & Kevin Blues Duo, our campus community celebrated the impact of philanthropy on Waterloo. Each year, Keystone donors give more than $1 million to the University, supporting everything from student health to scholarships to athletics.

Donors who wore their Keystone stickers were surprised with free portable chargers, courtesy of Retail Services. Congratulations to Wendy Diel, who won our first-ever trivia contest for a $100 gift card for UpTown Waterloo!

Thank you to all of our volunteers, who gave generously of their time to help make the Picnic a success. We couldn’t have done it without you!

See if you can spot yourself and your friends in our photos.

Friday's notes

"The University of Waterloo Staff Association is hosting its third annual Golf Tournament July 7, and is looking for golfers who want to enjoy some fresh air, fun, food or to just catch up with friends," says a note from the UWSA. "All UW staff and retirees are welcome to join us at 4 p.m. at Foxwood Country Club, near Baden. The deadline to register is June 23." 

A $10,000 Hole-in-One is being sponsored by Johnson Insurance, and prize sponsors include GoodLife Fitness, Canada’s Wonderland, Coldwell Banker, Bingeman’s, UW Food Services, Sue Fraser Crafts, Country Gardens, African Lions Safari and the Education Credit Union. Anyone wanting to sponsor prizes or needing more information should contact Catherine Bolger in the UWSA office at ext. 33566.

Associate Vice-President, Marketing and Strategic Initiatives Ellen Réthoré is moving on from her role in University Relations.

“Ellen served as Associate Vice-President of Marketing and Strategic Communications
 starting in October 2010 and most recently as Associate Vice-President of Marketing
and Strategic Initiatives,” wrote Vice-President, University Relations Sandra Banks in a memo circulated to University Relations staff yesterday. “Ellen has made many important contributions to University
 Relations, including building a highly talented team, launching the brand refinement
 project, as well as work on the University’s strategic plan.”

In her role at the University, Réthoré oversaw the evolution of Communications and Public Affairs into Marketing and Strategic Communications, managing a marketing and communications team, the creative services unit, and an expanded digital communications team.

“We wish Ellen the very best as she continues on to the next stage of her career journey,” Banks writes.

In the near term, Banks will be acting as interim Associate Vice-President, Marketing and Strategic Initiatives.