Friday, May 5, 2017

Flood awareness lacking in high-risk areas, study says

Nearly all Canadians living in high-risk flood areas not only don’t know it, but are increasingly paying out of pocket for damage.  

Researchers at the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change and the Partners for Action research network at the University of Waterloo surveyed 2,300 homeowners who live in communities that the Government of Canada’s Flood Damage Reduction Program designated as flood-risk areas.

The study found that 94 percent of respondents are unaware of their risk and don’t know that recent government policy changes puts the onus on homeowners to insure their homes.

“Canadians pay $600 million out of pocket for flood damage every year,” said Jason Thistlethwaite, a professor at Waterloo.  “With disaster-assistance costs expected to double over the next five years, homeowners can’t afford to remain in the dark about their options and responsibilities.”

More than half of property owners agreed that they should be responsible for protecting their homes, but few have acted to protect their own properties through measures, such as sump pumps and water-resistant materials in basements. Contrary to climate change projections, even fewer believe that the risk of flooding will increase over the next 25 years.

“Property owners deserve to know what a flood could mean for their families and homes to be empowered to act,” said Shawna Peddle, director of Partners for Action, based in Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment. “Governments and stakeholders, such as realtors and insurers, must meet homeowner demand for more information.”

The survey respondents overwhelmingly support the idea of policy changes that could substantially improve awareness of flood risk and agree that flood maps should be made publicly available.

The report was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) and International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Responsible Investing Working Group seeks feedback

The Responsible Investing Working Group is now in place and has held its first meeting, according to a memo from the Secretariat circulated earlier this week.

According to the working group's terms of reference, the group's mandate is to "make recommendations to the Board of Governors through the appropriate committees and subcommittees...as to whether and how to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into decision making re: the investment of the endowment and pension funds..."

The working group consists of a dozen members, 10 of whom will be "financially literate and have knowledge of investments generally." Furthermore, a majority of members will "have knowledge of the University's investment funds." Bruce Gordon is the chair of the working group.

The working group is tasked with making recommendations on investment decisions while taking into consideration:

• The legal and regulatory requirements including, among other things, fiduciary responsibilities, investing and investments, ESG reporting and contractual commitments;
• The goals and purposes of the University pension and endowment funds;
• Existing University investments, policy and governance frameworks;
• The financial context of the University;
• Research into options for incorporating ESG factors into investment decisions;
• Review of approaches taken at peer institutions;
• Consultation with University stakeholders e.g. retirees, alumni, donors; and
• Advice provided by University investment advisors.

The working group will report to the Board of Governors from time to time to provide status reports on its progress in meeting its mandate.

With the group constituted and its first meeting under its belt, the working group is inviting members of the University Community to "provide their comments/views concerning whether and how to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into decision making for the investment of the university’s endowment and pension funds."

Comments are welcomed from all community members, and it is requested that comments be directed to the working group via email through the working group's secretary Mike Grivicic at mgrivicic@uwaterloo.ca.

The working group anticipates that its work will continue into Fall 2017.

Jane's Walk will highlight computer science

The Red Room with the IBM 360/75 in full view. At the time it was the most powerful computer of its kind.

In the early days of the University, faculty and staff in mathematics and computer science were busy discovering and creating new research that would help launch the University's international profile. As part of the Faculty of Mathematics' and Waterloo computer science's 50^thanniversary celebrations the faculty is teaming up with Jane's Walk Waterloo Region to host a walk that explores the history of how Computer Science at Waterloo came to be. This walking conversation will explore the places where those initial ideas began to bubble to fruition and attendees will get to know the individuals who helped build the backbone of Waterloo's computing history.

The walk takes place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6.

The walk will start with a visit to the first floor of the Physics building, where Waterloo's mathematics and computer science programs got their start before heading to the Math and Computer Building, which opened in 1968 and became the home of the newly-christened Faculty of Mathematics. Though the fabled Red Room is long gone, the tour will revisit the space in the second floor stairwell, where a large mural has been installed. After a tour on the third floor of MC, the walk will continue across the bridge to the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre and the home of the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science.

For more information on the computer science Jane's Walk, visit their website.

A number of other Waterloo Jane's Walks will be happening on campus, including a tour of the Peter Russell Rock Garden.

Premier visits campus; other notes

Federation of Students President Antonio Brieva, University of Waterloo President Feridun Hamdullahpur, the Hon. Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Resources & Forestry, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, MPP Daiene Vernille, and Dean of Applied Health Sciences Jim Rush.

Premier Kathleen Wynne visited the University of Waterloo on Tuesday to talk about OHIP+ and how it will improve the lives of post-secondary students in the province.

She also spent some time touring the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences’ newly opened teaching labs where she met undergraduate and graduate students for a tour and demonstrations of histochemistry and biomechanics.

The next Retail Services Leather Jacket Day takes place on Thursday, May 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Waterloo Store in South Campus Hall. You can save $60 off the regular price of a custom uWaterloo leather jacket in all sizes.

The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) has issued a Call for Participants for its Teaching Squares Program. "For those of you teaching in the upcoming term and looking for a manageable teaching development opportunity, consider participating in the campus wide Teaching Squares Program," says a note from CTE. "The aim of the Teaching Squares approach is to enhance teaching and learning through a structured process of classroom observation, reflection and discussion (leading to a plan for revitalization of one's own teaching)."

The total time commitment over the term is approximately 6 hours. All interested instructors are invited to email Monica Vesely at mvesely@uwaterloo.ca indicating the term you would like to participate and the course you will be teaching.