Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca

We're back for 2017, Waterloo's anniversary year

It's a new year and a new term for Waterloo, and it will be one to remember as we celebrate the University's 60th Anniversary.

Today, lectures have begun, and the co-op work term started up this week as well.

Campus operations are getting back up and running, including:

  • Food Services locations are back in action. Check the locations and hours page for details.
  • Athletics facilities are open from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday to Friday, Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sundays from 9:00 to 12:30.
  • The Book Store, Waterloo Store, and Write Stuff are open today at 9:00 a.m. Special extended hours will be in effect for the first week of January - check the Retail Services website for more information.
  • WatCardCampus Tech, and Media.Doc also open their doors today at 9:00 a.m. Check the Retail Services hours page for a full listing of their extended hours.
  • The Dana Porter and Davis Centre libraries are back to regular hours for January, with Dana Porter open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekends, and the Davis Centre open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to midnight on weekends.
  • Feds Used Books is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today and tomorrow, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6, and will be open on Saturday, January 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They will return to regular business hours on Monday, January 9.

Winter Orientation is now in full swing for all incoming students, including first years, exchange/study abroad, transfer and graduate students.

Waterloo named a destination for Al Ghurair Scholarships

Waterloo is one of a handful of global universities named as eligible destinations for the Al Ghurair STEM Scholars Program. This program is part of a 10-year, $1.6 billion CAD initiative from the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education to create opportunities for at least 15,000 academically gifted Arab youth from underprivileged backgrounds and help them prepare for university, work and life.   

These scholarships provide support up to and including all tuition, housing, insurance and living costs for a range of undergraduate and graduate STEM programs at Waterloo. In additional to financial assistance, recipients will also be engaged in a network of other supports including mentoring, advising, career services and a dedicated scholars’ network with the Foundation.  

“We welcome this partnership as we continue to attract a diverse and growing group of the best and brightest international students and faculty to our campuses,” said Ian Rowlands, Associate Vice-President, International.  “Waterloo is committed to ensuring access to higher education for eligible students in Canada and around the world. The Al Ghurair Foundation scholarships complement the many merit-based and need-based scholarships already available to international and domestic students.” 

The STEM Scholars must compete for admission just like any other student, however the scholarship means that finances won’t be a barrier to pursuing their goals at Waterloo. Applications to the Foundation for the first round of scholarships and studies commencing in Fall 2017 will close on Sunday, January 15. Interested students apply separately to the foundation for the scholarship and to the University of Waterloo for admission to their chosen program(s).

Joanne Shoveller joins Waterloo as VP Advancement

Joanne Shoveller, Vice-President Advancement.

Joanne Shoveller joins the University of Waterloo today as Vice-President, Advancement.

Shoveller comes to Waterloo from INSEAD, The Business School for the World, where she served as Associate Dean, Advancement and Alumni Relations. Previously, she served as vice-president advancement at the University of Guelph from 2004 to 2012.

“Joanne Shoveller brings to the University of Waterloo a tremendous depth of experience in building relationships and fundraising on a global scale,” wrote Feridun Hamdullahpur in the initial announcement of Shoveller's appointment in August 2016. “I am delighted to welcome her to the University’s leadership team. I’m confident that she will help drive our collective efforts to develop a strategic link between our academic mission, our fundraising goals and the interests of alumni, donors and volunteers.” 

A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and Western University’s Ivey Business School, Shoveller will lead the development, principal gifts, advancement services, faculty advancement and alumni relations teams with responsibility for advancing the University’s goals through strategic fundraising locally, nationally and internationally.

Remembering Michael Sharratt

MIchael Sharratt.

Michael (Mike) Sharratt, distinguished professor emeritus, former dean of applied health sciences and president of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, died on Friday, December 23, 2016.

He joined the University of Waterloo in 1974 as assistant professor of kinesiology in the recently formed Faculty of Human Kinetics and Leisure Studies. He served as chair of the Department of Kinesiology from 1980 to 1986 and associate dean, graduate studies and research from 1991 to 1995. He was appointed dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences in 1998 and re-appointed through 2005.

An expert in physiology and the plasticity of aging, he built an impressive record of teaching and of service to his profession and the community. He was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008 and inspired decades of students with his profound knowledge and passion for helping people with heart disease. He was a former president of the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation, and of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and co-chaired the development of Health Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth. Off-campus, Sharratt spent many years as an international wrestling official including two Olympic Games, dozens of world championships and was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994.

Michael Sharratt in 1991.

Throughout his time at UWaterloo, Sharratt was a visionary, catalyst and collaborator. He excelled at bringing together people with a vision and capacity to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. He was a founding member of the Waterloo Regional Cardiac Rehabilitation Foundation Inc. (Hardy Hearts). He was instrumental in establishing the Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion and the Manulife Wellness Centre where he was the major energy behind the development of community and clinical exercise programs including UW Fitness, UW WELL-FIT and Teens in Motion. After more than a decade of planning and lobbying, an innovative partnership spearheaded by Ronald Schlegel led to the creation of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and Ontario’s (RIA) first purpose-built teaching long-term care home on a university campus. As part of his legacy, these programs have not only changed lives but provide models and lessons to be replicated for years to come.

Sharratt retired from UWaterloo in 2007 but continued his role as executive director and later president of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging until earlier this year.

“Mike was a force of nature, seizing opportunities to build and develop this Faculty that he cared passionately for,” says James Rush, dean of Applied Health Sciences. “His dedicated leadership of AHS was instrumental in assembling and nurturing what is now his legacy of outstanding people, programs and places. As we grieve his passing we are strengthened by his example of dedicated servant leadership.”

The Sharratt family will receive family and friends at Knox Waterloo Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 14. The visitation is from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the University of Waterloo Michael T. Sharratt Award, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging or University of Waterloo WELL-FIT may be arranged online through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home or 519-745-8445.

Director of Health Services starts today

Dr. Clark Baldwin has taken on the role of Medical Director for Health Services on a permanent basis beginning this week.

Dr. Baldwin obtained his medical degree and family medicine residency from the University of Toronto. He completed undergraduate work and obtained a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. 

He practiced at Student Health Services at the University of Western Ontario from 2007-2010 and in Waterloo's Student Health Services from 2002-2007. In addition to his work with post-secondary students, he has provided medical services in a Community Health Centre, for the Department of National Defense and in a family practice.

Since July 2015, Dr. Baldwin has filled the part-time role of Interim Director at Health Services. 

Link of the day

J.R.R. Tolkien's 125th birth anniversary

When and where

Lectures begin, Tuesday, January 3.

The Return of Ancient Lives, Thursday, January 5, 1:00 p.m., DC 1304.

Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony, Thursday, January 5, 5:30 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

Knowledge Integration Seminar featuring Professor Susan Elliott, "Medical what?? The role of geographers in shaping health policy through integrated knowledge translation," Friday, January 7, 2:30 p.m., EV3 1408.

Winter Welcome Week, Monday, January 9 to Friday, January 13.

Beyond 60 anniversary kick-off lecture, Monday, January 9, 7:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

The Writing Centre presents "Professionalism in your communication: How to talk to your professors", Tuesday, January 10, 10:30 a.m.

The Writing Centre presents "Say it in your own words: paraphrase & summary," Wednesday, January 11, 10:00 a.m.

Faculty Writing Café, Wednesday, January 11, 2:00 p.m., SCH 228F.

Student Success Office presents "Get This Term Started!" Wednesday, January 11, 5:30 p.m., SCH 108A.

The Writing Centre presents "STEM lab reports: Improve your lab report writing," Thursday, January 12, 1:00 p.m.

WaterTalks Series featuring Christian Stamm, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, "Unravelling the Impacts of Micropollutants in Stream Ecosystems," Thursday, January 12, 2:30 p.m., QNC 0101.

The Writing Centre presents "Literature reviews for grads (Part A): Organizing research," Friday, January 13, 1:00 p.m.

Knowledge Integration Seminar: Summer off? No — summer on! Friday, January 13, 2:30 p.m., EV3 1408.

The Writing Centre presents "clarity in scientific writing," Tuesday, January 17, 10:30 a.m.

The Student Success Office presents Test Preparation and Test Anxiety, Tuesday, January 17, 3:00 p.m., SCH 108A.

Health City Panel Discussion, Wednesday, January 18, 7:00 p.m., Kitchener Public Library main branch.

Grammar Studio Series, "Nuts and bolts: Basic grammar and sentence structure," Tuesday, January 24, 1:00 p.m.

MAREP presents "Paving the Way: Excellent Dementia Care and Support: A three-part learning series," Part 1, Tuesday, January 24, 11:30 a.m., DC 1302.

WICI Talk: Blake LeBaron presents "Self-Generating Economic Forecast Heterogeneity", Tuesday, January 24, 2:30 p.m., QNC 1501.

KWCSSA 2017 Chinese New Year Festival Gala: Year of the Rooster, Tuesday, January 24, 7:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

Grammar Studio Series, "Putting it together: Advanced grammar and sentence structure," Thursday, January 26, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Research Talks featuring Professor Joanne Atlee, “Detecting and resolving software errors,” Friday, January 27, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1302. Please register – seating is limited.

Noon-Hour Concert: From Vienna With Love, Friday, January 27, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University Chapel.

Waterloo Women: Ideas, Makers and Innovators, Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29, 

Master of Taxation Open House, Saturday, January 28, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 220 Yonge St, Unit 115, Toronto.

Grammar Studio Series, "Connecting the dots: Structure and organization," Tuesday, January 31, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Noon Hour Concert: Russian Songs & Sonatas, Wednesday, February 1, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.

Grammar Studio Series, "Making it shine: Conciseness and revision strategies," Thursday, February 2, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bechtel Lectures in Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies featuring Dr. Kenneth Nafziger, “Melting the Boundaries of Our Being: Explorations in Singing Together,” Friday, February 3, 7:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel Great Hall.

PhD Oral Defences

English Language and Literature. Kasandra Arthur, "We are Having All Kinds of Fun: How Harry Potter Fanfiction Functions." Supervisor, Neil Randall. On deposit in the Arts graduate office, PAS 2428. Oral defence Friday, January 6, 1:00 p.m., MC 2009.

Civil & Environmental Engineering. Reza Noroozisanani, "Real Time Prediction of Travel Time Characteristics on Freeways," Supervisor, Bruce Hellinga. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, SWE 3520C. Oral defence Friday, January 6, 1:30 p.m., E2 2350.

Chemical Engineering. Aashish Gaurav, "Catalytic Distillation: Modeling and Process Development for Fuels and Chemicals." Supervisor, Flora Ng. This thesis is restricted but on display in the Engineering graduate office, DWE 3520C. Oral defence Monday, January 9, 1:30 p.m., E6 2022.

Statistics and Actuarial Science. Chunlin Wang, "Empirical likelihood and bootstrap inference with constraints." Supervisors, Pengfei Li, Paul Marriott. Thesis available from MGO - mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Monday, January 9, 2:00 p.m., M3 3001.