Monday, November 21, 2016

    Editor:
    Brandon Sweet
    University Communications
    bulletin@uwaterloo.ca


    Did you get it? Pharmacy faculty research the flu shot

    As flu season continues the question is - did you get it?  Dr. Nancy Waite and Dr. Sherilyn Houle hope the answer is “yes, I got the flu vaccine!”  Here’s why:

    It’s vital that patients, especially the elderly, young, or those with chronic diseases, get the flu shot to stay healthy and prevent long-term illness. By taking preventive measures, the whole healthcare system benefits.

    “Getting your flu shot usually means staying healthier throughout the winter,” explains Waite. “This results in fewer sick days or time off work and keeps hospital and physician wait times down so that more Ontarians can receive health services.”

    Ontario pharmacists have been able to give the influenza vaccine to patients since 2012. Dr. Waite, Dr. Houle and their team of researchers with the Ontario Pharmacist Research Collaboration have been investigating the impact of this service ever since. In the 2014/2015 flu season, pharmacists administered nearly 1 million flu immunizations in Ontario.

    “Patients who are healthier, wealthier, and busier tend to get their flu-shot from a pharmacist.” Dr. Waite elaborates: “These are patients who are on the go, such as active professionals on their way home from work. The convenience of popping into the pharmacy for your flu shot fits with their life schedule, not someone else’s schedule.”

    Consider getting your flu shot at a pharmacy today.

    On-campus housing available at St. Paul's

    A layout of the two-bedroom suite.Graduate students, visiting scholars, or faculty new to Waterloo who need a place to live for the winter term are encouraged to apply to live in the Graduate Apartments Building at St. Paul’s. The on-campus accommodations are apartment or suite-style, and come in various configurations. Families are welcome.

    The Grad Apartments offer laundry facilities, recreation spaces, and a small fitness facility – and of course, they’re minutes away from classes, offices, and labs. Short-term leases are available, so it’s very convenient for those who will only be at UWaterloo for a term or two.

    Check out the Graduate Apartments page for housing styles and details, or contact Lisa Thompson at l5thompson@uwaterloo.ca.

    Library unveils new archive of digitized texts

    A map of Waterloo township.

    This map of Waterloo Township schools is from Families and communities of Waterloo Township in 1861.

    A message from Special Collections and Archives

    Students, researchers, and regional history enthusiasts will be happy to learn that 61 titles by historians Elizabeth Bloomfield and Gerald T. Bloomfield have been digitized and made available via the Internet Archive.

    Comprising indexes, bibliographies, biographical overviews, and historical maps, the titles are exhaustive and invaluable resources for anyone interested in the early economic and social development of both the Region of Waterloo and Ontario as a whole.

    Drawing on holdings from the University of Waterloo Library Special Collections & Archives, the project was made possible by a generous donation from the Bloomfields. Their foreward-thinking approach to access has ensured that these important historical resources will be available for years to come. Thanks is also due to Andrea Mills and Gabe Juszel at the Internet Archive for their assistance with this effort.

    Uploading, offloading, and other bits in the data stream

    Digital Dependencies image.The University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts will host a free public lecture and panel discussion, entitled Digital Dependencies: How we upload and offload ourselves tonight at the Kitchener Public Library’s Central Branch. The lecture explores the impacts and implications of social media, fitness apps and smartphone reliance on our everyday lives. Three experts along with Douglas Peers, Dean of Arts at Waterloo, will share insights and research on the perks and pitfalls of uploading and offloading ourselves.

    There will be a moderated Q&A session with the speakers following their formal remarks. The event takes place tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the main branch of the Kitchener Public Library. Register now.

    The University's Senate meets today at 3:30 p.m. in NH3407. Among the agenda items:

    • A motion to approve the option for undergraduate students to provide the gender-neutral designation of “Baccalaureate” on the bachelor’s degree diploma and for graduate students to provide the gender-neutral designation of “Magisteriate” on the master’s degree diploma, effective January 2017;
    • A motion to approve the 2017-2018 academic calendar dates;
    • New academic plans in the School of Public Health and Health Systems and changes to academic plans in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability and Computational Mathematics;
    • Changes to doctoral thesis regulations in the Graduate Studies Office;
    • the inactivation of the Tourism Option in the master's program in Geography and Environmental Management; and
    • a motion to consider changes to the composition of the Dean of Engineering Nominating Committee.

    The University of Waterloo is hosting the second annual 2-day women’s ideathon called “Waterloo Women: Ideas, Makers, and Innovators” on January 28 and 29, 2017.

    Waterloo WIMIn is focused on inspiring University of Waterloo students, alumni, and faculty from multiple disciplines to collaborate in developing world-changing ideas that could lead to potential products, businesses, and a shift in mindset on pressing social issues. Building off the success of WWIMIn 2016, this year’s event will leave a direct and sustainable impact in supporting and connecting women to become trailblazers in cutting edge environments.

    Registration is now open. The ideathon is open to women only.

    Waterloo is also hosting the Excellence and Quality of Academic Life in STEM (EQUALS) conference this May 11-12, 2017.

    EQUALS is a venue for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and young scholars considering an academic career in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field.  The purpose of this conference is to explore the spectrum of pathways of academic success in STEM with an explicit focus on gender equity and its intersections with other identity markers.

    Participation is open to all genders and non-binary individuals, however, sessions will primarily focus on issues related to the under-representation of women-identifying aspiring scholars in the STEM fields, the associated challenges in academia, and identification of potential practical solutions and career advice for women. Everyone interested in these issues is welcome to attend. This will be a safe space for open discussion of identity-based challenges faced by those interested pursuing a career in academia in STEM fields.

    Registration is now open. The conference is open to graduate students only.

    Link of the day

    50 years ago: Cabaret

    When and where

    Public Lecture: "Digital Dependencies: How we upload and offload ourselves," Monday, November 21, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Kitchener Public Library.

    Book Store Concourse Sale, Monday, November 21 to Wednesday, November 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., South Campus Hall concourse.

    Sustainability Office focus groups, Monday, November 21, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., DC 1301.

    Harry Potter trivia event, Monday, November 21, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Dana Porter Library lobby.

    Senate meeting, Monday, November 21, 3:30 p.m., NH 3407.

    President's Town Hall Meeting, Tuesday, November 22, 10:30 a.m., Federation Hall.

    Ecohydrology seminar featuring Wanhong Yang, Professor, Department of Geography, University of Guelph, “An Integrated Economic and Hydrologic Modelling System for Evaluating Cost Effectiveness of Agricultural Conservation Programs,” Tuesday, November 22, 2:00 p.m., EIT 3142.

    Waterloo Urban Growth & Change Research Group Symposium, Tuesday, November 22, 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., EV3 1408 and atrium.

    Leather Jacket Day, Wednesday, November 23, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., South Campus Hall concourse.

    Noon Hour Concert, “Erosonic,” featuring David Mott and Joseph Petric, Wednesday, November 23, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.

    University Club Open House, Wednesday, November 23, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., University Club.

    23rd annual UWSA Craft Sale, Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, DC fishbowl.

    Research Talks featuring Geoffrey Fong, Friday, November 25, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1302.

    Implementing the Paris Agreement for Climate Action: Legal and Institutional Challenges with Dr. Neil Craik and Dr. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Friday, November 25, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., EV3-4412.

    Balinese Gamelan Ensemble concert, Friday, November 25, 7:30 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

    UW Chamber Choir, “Maiden, Mystics, Myths, & Memories,” Saturday, November 26, 7:30 p.m., St. John the Evangelist Church, 23 Water Street Kitchener.

    Retail Services Book Store pop-up sale, Monday, November 28 and Tuesday, November 29, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday, November 30 to Friday, December 2, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., South Campus Hall. Save 25 percent on new titles and gift items.

    Waterloo Store Monster Event, Monday, November 28 to Wednesday, November 30, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., South Campus Hall concourse.

    University Club Christmas Lunch Buffet, Monday, November 28 to Friday, December 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University Club.

    From Agreement to Action on Climate Change:  Reflections after the COP22 UN Climate Summit, Monday, November 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Alumni Hall

    HeForShe Ideathon, Tuesday, November 29, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., DC 1568. AHS 1689. Please note the new location.

    Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology workshop, “Uwaterloo Intellectual Property Part 3 – Copyright” with Eric Luvisotto, Technology Transfer Office, University of Waterloo, Wednesday, November 30, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., DC 1304.

    Retirement reception for Professor John Medley, November 30, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., University Club. RSVP to clashbro@uwaterloo.ca.

    Velocity Fund Finals, Thursday, December 1, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Student Life Centre Great Hall.

    WaterTalks lecture series featuring Richard Luthy, Stanford University, “Urban Water Supply Re-invention for Dry Cities,” Thursday, December 1, 1:30 p.m., DC 1304.

    CrySP Speaker Series featuring David Murakami Wood, Queen’s University, “Hack the Planet! From phone phreaking to subverting planetary infrastructures,” Thursday, December 1, 2:30 p.m., MC 5501.

    UW A Cappella Club End of Term Concerts, Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3, 7:30 p.m., Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages.

    University Choir concert, “Classical Roots,” Saturday, December 3, 7:30 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 22 Willow Street, Waterloo.

    Jazz Ensemble concert, Sunday, December 4, 2:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel Great Hall.

    Instrumental Chamber Ensembles, Sunday, December 4 and Monday, December 5, 7:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College.

    Faculty Association Fall General Meeting, Tuesday, December 6, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., MC 4020. Lunch provided.

    Faculty Association Town Hall Meeting for Lecturers, Wednesday, December 7, 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., STC 0010.

    Retirement reception for May Yan, Wednesday, December 7, 4:00 p.m., Book Store.

    Gender and Equity Scholarship Series featuring Madhur Anand, “A Sample Size of None: Creating Your Own Career Path,” Tuesday, December 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., MC 5501.

    University Club Christmas Dinner Buffet, Wednesday, December 14, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., University Club.

    PhD oral defences

    Civil & Environmental Engineering. Behrooz Golzarpoor, "Industry Foundation Processes Development and Application." Supervisor, Carl Haas. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, DWE 3520C. Oral defence Friday, December 2, 2:00 p.m., E2 2350.

    Earth & Environmental Sciences. Zhanfeng Zhao, "Hydraulic Tomography in Unconfined Aquifers and the Importance of Geological Data: Laboratory and Field Studies." Supervisor, Walter Illman. On deposit in the Science graduate office, PHY 2013. Oral defence Monday, December 5, 1:30 p.m., EIT 2053.

    Chemical Engineering. Yiyi Yang, "Electrodeposition of p-Type Cuprous Oxide and its Application in Oxide Solar Cells." Supervisors, Mark Pritzker, Yuning Li. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, DWE 3520C. Oral defence Tuesday, December 6, 9:30 a.m., E 6 2024.

    Physics and Astronomy. Gregory Holloway, "Electron transport in semiconducting nanowires and quantum dots." Supervisor, Jonathan Baugh. On deposit in the Science graduate office, PHY 2013. Oral defence Tuesday, December 6, 2:00 p.m., PHY 352.