Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Take the Big Ideas Challenge
A message from St. Paul's University College
Are you interested in developing innovative approaches to pressing social and environmental problems? Come find out what the Big Ideas Challenge is all about. The grand prize is a Fellowship at St. Paul’s GreenHouse over the summer – plus, you then have access to up to $10,000 in startup funding!
Fellows from previous years who used this funding to successfully create or test their ventures include: Richard Yim and The Landmine Boys, who developed a robotic device to defuse landmines; Zied Etleb, who started Curiato, a company that is developing a smart mattress to eliminate bedsores, and Rachel Thompson, whose venture, Marlena Books, is developing reading material for older people with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The information night is on Thursday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall at St. Paul’s University College. The deadline for your Big Ideas isSunday, February 26. Contact Lexi Salt if you’d like more details.
Federation of Students elections in full swing
A message from the Federation of Students
The election campaign for student representatives in University of Waterloo’s student-led government are currently underway. The Federation of Students—the undergraduate student union since 1967—would like to ask for your support in encouraging undergraduate students to vote.
In recent years, only a small portion of the entire undergraduate student population has come out to vote. According to Feds Research and Policy Officer Aaron Francis, Waterloo’s voter turnout has rarely been over 10 per cent in the last five years. Feds needs your help to spread the word about elections and help increase voter turnout.
Why is voting important?
Feds lobbies the government on behalf of undergraduate students; operates seven commercial services; oversees six student-run services, encompasses more than 200 clubs, and supports student societies; in addition to running day-to-day operations and special events.
The elected Executive is comprised of a President, VP Operations and Finance, VP Internal, and VP Education, who oversee the daily operations of the student union.
Student Council is comprised of representatives from each Faculty and College at the University of Waterloo.
These representatives determine the course of action Feds takes. Students have a say in this by choosing the candidate that best represents their interests – and we want to serve, empower and represent the interests of the entire undergraduate student body, not just those of a small percentage.
Co-op Students
Historically, Feds has seen a particularly low voter turnout from co-op students, often due to the fact that many are off campus, out of city or even out of the country on work terms.
Co-op students make up a large majority of the undergraduate population, and Feds wants to make sure their voices are heard by choosing their representatives. We ask those who connect with co-op students to encourage their engagement and voter turnout.
Voting Information
For more information on elections, including candidate bios and platforms, please the Feds election website.
Voting opens February 13 at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. on February 15. Students can vote at polling stations, online at www.vote.feds.ca, and through UW Portal.
Thank you for your support in encouraging an engaged and informed undergraduate student body at University of Waterloo!
Focusing a lens on 50 years of vision science at Waterloo
The School of Optometry and Vision Science is celebrating 50 years at the University of Waterloo in 2017 with a kickoff event today.
Speakers, including President Feridun Hamdullahpur, will reflect on the School’s past, acknowledge contributors and talk about the future, 50 and Beyond.
The College of Optometry of Ontario was founded in Toronto in 1925, when the notion of an “eye doctor” was a relatively new idea. In 1967, the College picked up and moved to the University of Waterloo, joining the Faculty of Science. Its first home was off campus at the former post office on King Street in Uptown Waterloo (later home to the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics). In 1973 the School moved to its current location on the University's north campus. The building was expanded in 1996 and 2009. The School of Optometry became the School of Optometry and Vision Science in 2012.
To celebrate, the School is inviting members of the community to grab their passports and get ready to go on a historical scavenger hunt of Canada’s largest Optometry school. The event will help bring the community, students, faculty, staff and retirees together to launch the School of Optometry and Vision Science’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration.
Participants will get to enjoy pizza and cupcakes and there are 50th anniversary prizes to be won.
The fun begins at 8:30 a.m. this morning with the scavenger hunt passport pick-up, with prizes, pizza, cupcakes and speeches happening at 12:30 p.m. The event takes place at the School of Optometry and Vision Science on the north campus.
A conversation with Charlie Angus and other notes
The Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre will host Charlie Angus, member of parliament for Timmins-James Bay and NDP critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, for a public talk on Thursday, February 9, at 1:00 p..m in Theatre of the Arts.
Angus was first elected to Parliament in 2004, and has a history of advocating for the equal rights of Indigenous children, especially equitable funding for on-reserve education. He played an active role in the 'Shannen’s Dream' movement, which helped build a new school for the children of Attawapiskat.
Today’s Waste is Tomorrow’s Energy! The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) will be hosting a webinar today in DC 1302 featuring expert panelists Guy Desautels of Lafarge Canada Inc. and Brian Lisk of the Hawthorne Green Key Group.
The webinar begins with introductory remarks by Fergal McDonough, president of Envise Consulting Inc., followed by the panelists. Check out the livestream.
Questions for the panelists can be sent in by email.
The latest in the Department of Music's Noon Hour Concerts series takes place today with a performance by the Full House Brass, who will be playing both classical and modern favourites. The group includes:
- Debra Lacoste and Dave Manning - trumpet
- Carolyn Culp and Susan Follows - trombone
- Randi Paterson - French horn
The concert takes place at 12:30 p.m. in the Conrad Grebel University College Chapel.
Employers on campus next week hosting employer information sessions include Nulogy, FCT, TD Technology Solutions, Kenaidan Contracting LTD, Tesla, CIBC – Data & Analytics, Fintech Career Panel, Hannover Re, Qualcomm, Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, Wish, and Wealthfront. Visit the employer information sessions calendar for more details.
Link of the day
Europe, then and now: 25 years after the Maastricht Treaty
When and where
Carpool Month,February 1 to February 28.
Noon Hour Concert: Full House Brass, Wednesday, February 8, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.
Chemistry Department Seminar Series featuring Professor Masaki Hada, Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University, “Molecular Movie of Photoactive Liquid Crystal Displaying Excited-State Aromaticity”, Wednesday, February 8, 2:30 p.m., C2-361.
Velocity Start: Setup Your Business Like A Boss, Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2nd Floor.
Chemistry Department Seminar Series featuring Professor Elia Psillakis, Department School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, “Sample Preparation: Think Big, Act Small”, Thursday, February 9, 10:30 a.m., C2-361.
A Conversation with MP Charlie Angus, presented by the Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre. Thursday, February 9, 1:00 p.m., Theatre of the Arts.
Computer Science Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Eric Horvitz, Technical Fellow and Managing Director, Microsoft Research, “Data, Predictions and Decisions in Support of People and Society,” Thursday, February 9, 3:30 p.m., DC 1302.
Curtis Memorial Lecture, "Canadian Counter-Terrorism In the Age of Trump," Thursday, February 9, 5:00 p.m., PAS 2083.
Big Ideas Challenge Info Night, Thursday, February 9, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Alumni Hall.
Computer Science Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Eric Horvitz, Technical Fellow and Managing Director, Microsoft Research, “The One Hundred Year Study on Artificial Intelligence: An Enduring Study on AI and its Influence on People and Society,” Friday, February 10, 10:30 a.m., DC 1302.
Hagey Hub Grand Opening, Friday, February 10, 2:00 p.m., Hagey Hub.
Knowledge Integration Seminar featuring Sara Ross-Howe, “VITALITI: The Cloud DX team entry in the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE competition”, Friday, February 10, 2:30 p.m., EV3-1408.
Philosophy Humphrey Chair Colloquium featuring Professor Heidi Grasswick, George Nye and Anne Walker Boardman Professor of Mental and Moral Science, Middlebury College, “Trust, Science, and Epistemic Injustice,” Friday, February 10, 2:30 p.m., Hagey Hall 334.
Lectures in Catholic Experience featuring Mary Hynes, "52 Minutes of Silence: Finding Words for the Inexpressible,"Friday, February 10, 7:30 p.m.,St. Jerome’s University: Vanstone Lecture Theatre, Academic Centre - SJ2 1004.
Confederation Debates Public Lecture featuring J.R. Miller, "Confederation and Indigenous Treaty-Making in Canada 1871-1921," Saturday, February 11, 7:00 p.m., Vanstone Lecture Hall, STJ 1004, St. Jerome’s University.
Centre for Mental Health Research Public Talk, “Overcoming Anxiety and Depression,” Sunday, February 12, 2:00 p.m., Waterloo Public Library Main Branch.
WISE Public Lecture featuring Professor Srinivasan Keshav, "Solar + Storage + ioT +LED = $30 Trillion," Monday, February 13, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., DC 1302.
Moving Together: Toward a Theory of Crip Spacetime, Monday, February 13, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., Renison Room 2106. Please register.
Creating a Culture of Access for Mental Disability in University Space – A workshop for faculty and staff with disability studies professor Margaret Price, Tuesday, February 14, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., DC1301. Please register.
University Club Valentine’s Day Luncheon,Tuesday, February 14, 11:30 a.m., University Club.
Noon Hour Concert, "Oshungo Drum & Dance," Wednesday, February 15, 12:30 p.m, Conrad Grebel University College Chapel.
Velocity Start: Do People Want Your Sh*t?, Wednesday, February 15, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2nd Floor.
WaterTalks Lecture featuring Alex Mayer, Professor, Geological Mining and Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Tech University, "Developing the Great Lakes’ Blue Economy: Water productivity, depletion, and virtual trade in the Great Lakes basin," Thursday, February 16, 1:00 p.m., QNC 0101/1103A.
Retirement celebration for Bob Harrison, Thursday, February 16, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fed Hall. RVSP to edoede@uwaterloo.ca.
2016/2017 Medieval Lecture Series featuring Professor Nichola Terpstra, Victoria College, University of Toronto, "Digital Mapping of Renaissance Florence: Tracking People, Sound, and Movement in the Pre-Modern City," Thursday, February 16, 4:30 p.m., St. Jerome’s University, SJ2-1002.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Distinguished Lecture featuring Professor Simon Haykin, "Cognitive Risk Control for Physical Systems," Friday, February 17, 1:30 p.m., EIT 3142.
Family Day holiday, Monday, February 20, most university operations closed.
Reading Week, Monday, February 20 to Friday, February 24.
Weight Watchers at Waterloo sign-up deadline and meet-up, Tuesday, February 21, 12:00 p.m., EV2 1001.Contact mmfloyd@uwaterloo.ca for more information.
Velocity Fund $25K applications close, Saturday, February 25, 11:59 p.m. Apply.
Centre for Mental Health Research Public Talk, “Mental Health in Childhood,” Sunday, February 26, 2:00 p.m., Waterloo Public Library Main Branch.
Velocity Fund $5K pitch signups open, Monday, February 27. Signup.
Senate meeting, Monday, February 27, 3:30 p.m., NH 3407.
Positions available
On this week's list from the human resources department, viewable on the UWaterloo Talent Acquisition System (iCIMS):
- Job ID# 2017-1478 – Academic Development Specialist – SSO-Learning Services, USG 8-10
- Job ID# 2017 -1470 – Administrative Supervisor – School of Computer Science, USG 7
- Job ID# 2017 – 1472 – AHS Dean’s Office Assistant – Dean of AHS Office, USG 5
- Job ID# 2017 - 1461 – Associate Director, Communications – Advancement Services, USG 12
- Job ID# 2017 – 1482 – Financial Administrative Assistant – Information Systems & Technology, USG 6
- Job ID# 2017 – 1444 – Freight and Mail Delivery Assistant – Central Stores, USG 4
- Job ID# 2017 – 1481 – Manager, Institutional Research – Office of Research, USG 8-10
- Job ID# 2016 – 1365 – Manager, Sedra Student Design Centre – Dean of Engineering Office, USG 10
- Job ID# 2017 – 1485 – SHARCNET System Administrator – Office of Research, USG 11
- Job ID# 2017 – 1450 – Truck Driver – Central Stores, USG 4
Internal secondments:
- Job ID# 2017 – 1468 – Administrative Officer – Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, USG 12
- Job ID# 2017 – 1487 – Admissions Assistant – Registrar, USG 5-7
- Job ID# 2017 – 1479 – Financial Aid Assistant – Registrar – Student Awards, USG 6
- Job ID# 2017 – 1476 – HR Reporting Analyst – Human Resources, USG 8
- Job ID# 2017 – 1474 – Information Technology Specialist – Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, USG 9-10
- Job ID# 2017 – 1486 – Records Assistant – Registrar, USG 5-7
- Job ID# 2017 – 1466 – Senior Manager, Research Insights – Institute for Quantum Computing, USG 12
- Job ID# 2017 – 1469 – Undergraduate Advisor – School of Computer Science, USG 6