Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Attend the World's Challenge Challenge event this week

On Thursday, March 2, six teams of diverse students will each pitch their solution to a United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goal at the World’s Challenge Challenge UWaterloo. 

Teams pitching have a chance to win $1,000 towards an international travel experience for each team member, and the opportunity to compete at the international level for $45,000 in prizes at the international round of the World’s Challenge Challenge at Western University.

The six World’s Challenge Challenge UWaterloo finalists are:

• Bugs Abroad - By providing micro-loans to developing nations, Bugs Abroad hopes to harness investor funds to allow the creation of small-scale insect agricultural operations in order to reduce world hunger.
• Cultured - Cultured is creating a sustainable and efficient in-vitro meat production process, effectively, the growing of meat from cell cultures without the need for slaughtering animals.
• MoguHaus - MoguHaus is developing MycoMade, a line of food packaging made from agricultural waste and mycelium, the roots of fungi. The packaging creates zero waste, and is carbon neutral.
• Raptrs - Raptrs is creating a Rapid Anti-Poaching Technological Response System to prevent the poaching of Elephants and Rhinos in Africa, which are essential to the region’s biodiversity.
• Roots to Remediation - Roots to Remediation aims to reduce carbon emissions by partnering with farmers and co-operatives in high CO2 regions to increase carbon sequestration in rice farming.
• Women Ambassadors in Menstrual Sanitation (WAMS) - WAMS is creating period pouches to fund menstrual hygiene programming that empowers women to become menstrual sanitation ambassadors in their communities.

Join the audience to watch the pitches. Free pizza will also be served to attendees!

The World’s Challenge Challenge is a collaboration between Velocity, Waterloo International, and Western University. 

Women's hockey playoff run continues

On Sunday, February 26, the Waterloo Warriors Women's hockey team advanced to the second round of the OUA playoffs for the first time in the program's 15-year history, beating the Western Mustangs 2-0 in game 3 of the quarter-finals.

Athletics and Recreation has a complete recap of the game on its website.

The next leg of the hockey team's playoff journey takes place on Wednesday, March 1 as the Warriors take on the Guelph Gryphons with Game 1 taking place in Guelph and Game 2 scheduled for Saturday, March 4 at 2:30 p.m. on Warrior home ice at the CIF Arena at 2:30 p.m.

Purchase tickets for Game 2 in the Athletics Office or online in advance or on Saturday after 1:30 p.m. at the CIF. Note that the CIF has a limited seating capacity. Free parking available in Lot X.

Looking for some black and gold gear for the game? The Waterloo Store is offering a 25 percent off in store discount on Warrior Gear during playoffs.

Celebrating 50 years of vision care and research

On Wednesday, February 8 students, faculty and staff from the School of Optometry and Vision Science took part in a lively, passport style event to launch their 50^th Anniversary year. Over 300 passports were picked up, 500 cupcakes and 1,000 pieces of pizza consumed and many prizes won by those who participated.

The day’s festivities had everyone exploring the depths of the building to find the answers to trivia questions and learn some historical and current fun facts. This included everything from naming a founding faculty member to finding out that the “flying people” in the clinic waiting room once wore diapers thanks to some adventurous students.

Speeches over the lunch hour from President Feridun Hamdullahpur, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies Marlee Spafford (a faculty member and grad of both the optometry & vision science program) and Interim Director Debbie Jones all reflected and applauded the success of the last 50 years since moving from Toronto (where the program was known as the College of Optometrists of Ontario) to the University of Waterloo in 1967. Participants were encouraged to think Beyond 50 to the future of vision care and research. 

“As the only English language optometry program in Canada you have a great responsibility to safeguard and manage the vision of Canadians, said President Hamdullahpur. "Through your innovative research, and your approaches to vision care provision, everyone involved in the School over its long history has had a role to play in how the profession has developed.”

The event was a successful kick-off to a busy and exciting year of anniversary celebrations. Events to come include a day of public lectures on June 3^rd, a weekend of continuing education and celebratory events September 22^rd – 24^th and finishing up with a vision science research conference, joint with the University of Montreal School of Optometry, December 7^th to 10^th. Stay tuned!     

Tuesday's notes

The Bomber Wednesday series will be holding a special event next week as part of International Women's Day on March 8. FemTalk will celebrate the progression of women's equality and raise awareness for what's left to accomplish with UW Because I am a Girl.

"This Bomber Wednesday will be featuring a special performance from renowned spoken word poet and performing artist Sabrina Benaim, as well as appearances from the University of Waterloo's very own FemiNINE and The AcaBellas," says an official statement from the organizers. "Come out to FemTalk for a fun night with your friends, support a great cause, and enjoy free catering courtesy of The Bomber!"

The University Club will also be celebrating International Women's Day next week with a special menu selection. Chef Richard Cramm will feature recipes from renowned female chefs who have inspired his culinary career from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come to the University Club and sample signature dishes from some of the world’s most celebrated chefs including double Michelin Star holder April Bloomfield, pioneer of the Organic Food Movement Alice Waters, Food Network mainstay and Oxford graduate Nigella Lawson, Momofuku Milk bar’s Christina Tosi and Samoan-born Monica Galette who rose to become the first female Michelin rated MasterChef.

If midterms have you in a pickle, then the hands-on pickling workshop presented by Hillel, Market Garden and Shoresh might be just the distraction you need. The workshop, in which attendees will learn about fermentation and bring a jar of homemade pickles home with them, will take place on Wednesday, March 1 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in AL 208.

For more information check out the Facebook group.

eCampusOntario is seeking students to attend the SXD: Kickstart event on Monday, March 13.

"We are excited to kickstart student innovation in Ontario," says a statement from eCampusOntario. "With your help, we can make online learning in Ontario even better!"

The SXD Kickstart event is designed to map out the future of online and technology-enabled learning. Students have the opportunity to engage with, offer feedback to, and join student-driven projects with key technology companies.

Admission is free and eCampusOntario will pay students to attend if they live 65 kilometres or further from the MaRS Discovery District. Registration is open to students, but if you are a faculty member or university employee who wishes to attend, send an email to emma@ecampusontario.ca and indicate your name, title and institution.

Questions about the event can be emailed to Chris Fernlund of eCampusOntario at cfernlund@ecampusontario.ca.