Friday, March 10, 2017


UWaterloo subjects rank among world’s top universities

Thirteen University of Waterloo subjects are among the top in the world, the UK’s Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) rankings have confirmed.

According to QS, 13 subjects offered at Waterloo rank among the top 100 when compared to other universities in the world, up from 11 subjects last year. The subjects include civil engineering, chemical engineering and electrical engineering as well as the natural science subjects of geography, environmental sciences and materials sciences. Also making the top 100 were architecture, psychology, sports related subjects, and statistics and operational research.

Three of Waterloo’s subjects were also among the top 50 in the world, including Hospitality and Leisure Management Studies, Computer Science, and Mathematics.

“As Canada’s most innovative university, it is validating to see that Waterloo’s efforts are being noticed,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur. “The results show that Waterloo’s focus on innovation and excellence in teaching and research across all subjects places it among some of the most reputable institutions in the world.”

QS released the 4th edition of the World University Rankings by Subject this week. In the rankings, QS evaluated 1,117 universities in 46 subjects, including four new subjects: theology, divinity and religious studies; anatomy and physiology; hospitality and leisure management; and sports-related subjects.

Waterloo is listed amongst the top 200 universities globally for 20 of the 46 specific disciplines measured.

Supporting entrepreneurship at the Library

Rachel Figueiredo at a workstation.

This article was originally posted on the Library News site.

Through proactive stewardship of collections, the Library is dedicating more resources to key strategic areas of the University of Waterloo, including entrepreneurship. The Library supports this growing culture of entrepreneurship with a curated selection of databases and a dedicated Entrepreneurship Librarian.

Seeing an increase in users from Velocity, St. Paul’s Greenhouse, the Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre (CBET), and across the University, we recognize a need for more resources to support this rapidly emerging field of study. With a strategic reallocation of funds, the Library has purchased one-year subscriptions to two new market research databases:

  • IBISWorld provides market research reports for over 2000 industries worldwide
  • MarketLine provides industry, company and country information, allowing for straightforward market comparison

These databases enable the success of entrepreneurs entering into new markets by helping them determine supply chains, difficulty of entry and competitors across specific industries.

At the end of these one-year subscriptions (February 2018), the Library will review these resources to ensure they are meeting user needs, and determine whether to continue subscribing and/or purchase other products that support entrepreneurship.

Library resources and services are available to all Waterloo students, faculty and staff. Anyone interested in training or assistance with these new resources can contact Waterloo’s Entrepreneurship Librarian, Rachel Figueiredo (ext. 32648).

Play examines the institution's Unconscious Curriculum

Unconscious Curriculum Poster with students in a theatre.

The University of Waterloo’s Theatre and Performance Program is presenting a play entitled “Unconscious Curriculum: Rape Culture on Campus” next week in the Theatre of the Arts.

Directed by Andy Houston, the play examines how the university community has become complicit in the normalization of sexual violence.

“When post-secondary education addresses difficult, personal and even traumatic subject matter, what kind of learning outcome should we expect?” says a statement from the department. “Unconscious Curriculum: Rape Culture on Campus is a performance project that tackles the complicated layers of rape culture in an educational context.”

“In a multimedia performance, student-performers dig deep to discover how rape culture is perpetuated in their classrooms and on their campus. Part of a yearlong project with the working title “Arresting Rape Culture”, the upcoming public performance is drawn from the research and creative work developed by students and faculty in three fall 2016 courses in performance, writing, and design.”

“Unconscious Curriculum asks the audience to be witnesses, and even participants, in an exploration of mutual complicity in rape culture, including hidden factors and post-secondary educational practices, that normalize gender-based violence.”

“Acting as characters not so far removed from their actual lives, the performers strive to articulate ways of experiencing and understanding themselves in relation to others, with the overarching goal to arrest - to see, to apprehend, and to understand - the causes of rape.”

Following each performance, there will be audience talkback session led by the director, allowing audience members to engage in conversation about rape culture and the performers’ creative process.

Performances will take place on March 16, 17, and 18 at 8:00 p.m., March 19 at 2:00 p.m., and March 23 at 7:00 p.m.

General admission is $17, with students and seniors paying $13.

Unconscious Curriculum will be accompanied by three events intended to provoke thoughts, contextualize and deepen the performance experience:

  • The Arresting Rape Culture Dramaturgy Hub, which will provide students and faculty with pedagogical, curricular, and theatre and performance creation resources in order to facilitate a deeper contextual understanding about the complexities of rape culture, including support networks, a range of media, theatre and performance information, and collaborative course-related projects, among others.
  • The Arresting Rape Culture Installation, held in the Theatre of the Arts Gallery from March 14 to 19, one hour prior to the performances. Students of DRAMA/SPCOM 440 will provide creative reflections, through multi-disciplinary art works, on the prevalence of gender-based violence within contemporary North American society.
  • Gendered Violence on Campus: Institutional Policy and Practice, Thursday, March 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., a panel discussion that addresses gendered violence, with specific attention to institutional challenges and UWaterloo’s response. Invited speakers include Constance Backhouse, Professor and University Research Chair on the Sexual Assault Legislation in Canada, University of Ottawa; Ian Orchard, Vice President Academic and Provost, UWaterloo; Chris Read, Associate Provost, Students, UWaterloo. This panel is hosted by the Department of Drama and Speech Communication, the Equity Office and the Special Adviser to the President (Women’s and Gender Issues).

Friday's notes

A rainbow in the sky over the Dana Porter Library.

If you happened to look up into the sky on Tuesday evening, you were treated to the sight of a spectacular sunset in the west, and a brilliant full rainbow in the east. Marta Bailey of the Graduate Studies Office captured this image of said rainbow framing the Dana Porter Library.

Islam Awareness Week (IAW) will be taking place from March 14 to 16 in the Student Life Centre Great Hall.

Islam Awareness Week 2017."IAW is an annual initiative organized by UW Muslim Students' Association, geared towards breaking stereotypes about Islam and Muslims," says a statement from the club. "It attempts to create a safe and engaging platform where Muslims and people of other faiths or none can interact with each other and engage in fruitful dialogue about matters that concern both. It also provides opportunities for people to meet with Muslim scholars, listen to their lectures, and ask them questions. Additionally, IAW provides Muslim students the opportunity to represent their faith on campus, bring to the forefront challenges facing them specifically, and to speak about what it means for them to be Canadian Muslims. At the end of the day, the IAW team aims to provide an inspirational retreat where one can question their own spirituality and broaden their understanding of Islam."

Winners of the Social Impact Fund and Big Ideas Challenge will be announced at the St. Paul’s GreenHouse Social Impact Showcase on Wednesday, April 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in Alumni Hall at St. Paul’s University College.

Don't forget that Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend, so be sure to turn your clocks forward at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 12.

Link of the day

20 years ago: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 

When and where

Lectures in Catholic Experience: Bugs in the Bible: An Intertextual Approach featuring Fr. Michael Patella, OSB, Friday, March 10, 7:30 p.m., St. Jerome’s University, Vanstone Lecture Theatre, Academic Centre - SJ2 1004.

Knowledge Integration eXhibition: KI-X 2017, Monday, March 13 to Saturday, March 18, St. Jerome’s University, Siegfried Hall Residence Wellness Centre.

Interviews: Preparing for Questions, Monday, March 13, 2:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

Waterloo Centre for German Studies presents "Luther Year 2017: Luther & Henry VIII," with historical biographer Sabine Appel. Monday, March 13, 5:00 p.m., PAS 1229. Note: this event has been cancelled.

Medical School Panel, Tuesday, March 14, 5:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

Translating Academic Experience to Industry for Master’s Students, Wednesday, March 15, 10:00 a.m., Centre for Career Action.

Exploring Your Personality Type - Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Part 1, Wednesday, March 15, 10:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

UWRC Book club featuring Rhidian Brook, “The Aftermath,” Wednesday, March 15, 12:00 p.m., LIB 407.

Noon Hour Concert, “The Licorice Allsorts Clarinet Quartet – Birdwatching,” Wednesday, March 15, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.

Getting a US Work Permit, Wednesday, March 15, 1:00 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

Silver Medal Award Guest Lecture featuring Professor Homa Hoodfar, Concordia University, “Politics and the Right to Critical Thinking: My Time in Evin Prison,” Wednesday, March 15, 5:00 p.m., STC 0020.

Multiple-Mini Interview (MMI) Practice Session, Wednesday, March 15, 5:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

Velocity Fund $5K Qualifiers – Night 1, Wednesday, March 15, 7:00 p.m., Quantum-Nano Centre Room 0101.

Mitacs: Foundations of Project Management 1 – Day 1 of 2, Thursday, March 16, 9:00 a.m., Centre for Career Action.

Successfully Negotiating Job Offers, Thursday, March 16, 1:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

Water Institute lecture featuring Diane Dupont, “Floods and Droughts: Eliciting Customer Willingness-to-Pay and Adverse Event Likelihood,” Thursday, March 16, 2:30 p.m., QNC 1501.

CBB Biomedical Discussion Group, “Technology and Older Adults: Assisting Activities in the Home. Overview of intelligent systems to support aging-in-place.” Thursday, March 16, 2:30 p.m., STC 1019.

Water Institute and Department of Economics public lecture featuring Diane Dupont, Brock University, “Floods and Droughts: Eliciting Customer Willingness-to-Pay and Adverse Event Likelihood Priors for Public Utility Pricing and Infrastructure Decisions,” Thursday, March 16, 2:30 p.m., QNC 1501.

Law School Administrations, Thursday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

Arriscraft Lecture Series featuring Duane Linklater, "Artist Talk, "Thursday, March 16, 6:00 p.m., Cummings Lecture Theatre, School of Architecture.

Velocity Fund $5K Qualifiers – Night 2, Thursday, March 16, 7:00 p.m., Quantum-Nano Centre Room 0101.

Beyond 60 Public Lecture, "Post-truth. Fake news. Alternative facts". Thursday, March 16, 7:00 p.m., Kitchener Public Library Main Branch.

Mitacs: Foundations of Project Management 1 – Day 2 of 2, Friday, March 17, 9:00 a.m., Centre for Career Action.

Résumé Tips: Thinking Like an Employer, Friday, March 17, 10:30 p.m., Centre for Career Action.

March Break Open House, Saturday, March 18.

World Water Day, Wednesday, March 22, Wilfrid Laurier University Lazaridis Hall.

Research Opportunities with Germany, Wednesday, March 22, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., William G. Davis Computer Research Centre (DC 1304).

Paving the way for excellent dementia care and support: A three-part education initiative: “Enhancing communication in dementia care,” Wednesday, March 22, 11:30 a.m., DC 1302.

Velocity Start: The Startup Rollercoaster, Wednesday, March 22, 7:30pm, Velocity Start, SCH 2nd Floor.

Hagey Lecture: “Memory and the Aging Brain,” featuring Carol Barnes, Wednesday, March 22, 8:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

School of Computer Science Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Daniel Alan Spielman, “The Laplacian Matrices of Graphs: Algorithms and Applications,” Thursday, March 23, 3:30 p.m., DC 1302.

Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) finals, Thursday, March 23, 3:00 p.m., Theatre of the Arts.

Gendered Violence on Campus: Institutional Policy and Practice, Thursday, March 23, 3:30 p.m., QNC 0101.

UUfie - Recent Projects, Thursday, March 23, 6:00 p.m., Cummings Lecture Theatre, School of Architecture. 

Colourful X-rays featuring Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Karim S. Karim, Friday, March 24, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please register. Seating is limited.

Further Education Boot Camp, Saturday, March 25, 10:00 a.m., TC 2218.

Canadian Interdisciplinary Vision Rehabilitation Conference, Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, School of Optometry and Vision Science.

Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: Identifying Critical Steps for Canadian Impact, featuring Dr. Jeffrey Sachs and his wife Dr. Sonia Elrich Sachs, Tuesday, March 28, 11:00 a.m., Federation Hall.

TD Walter Bean Lecture in Environment featuring Jeffrey Sachs, "Rising Nationalism versus Global Cooperation for Sustainable Development," Tuesday, March 28, 5:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

CBB Workshop: UWaterloo Intellectual Property Part 4 -Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Industrial Designs, Wednesday, March 29, 10:30 a.m., QNC 1501.