Friday, June 30, 2017

Ian Orchard’s term as provost ends today

Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard has stepped down from his administrative duties as of today. Orchard will continue as a faculty member in the Department of Biology on sabbatical leave effective July 1 of this year.

Orchard joined the University in July 2014 from the University of Toronto, where he was a highly respected neurobiology professor and accomplished senior administrator.

During his time at Waterloo, Orchard created an accountability framework to support the implementation and tracking of progress for the eight priorities and themes of the University’s strategic plan. Orchard was tasked with leading the implementation of the strategic plan and as provost was responsible for the relevant budget allocations necessary to fuel the achievement of the strategic plan goals.

His support was instrumental in a number of initiatives that moved the needle on Waterloo’s strategic plan goals, including:

• Co-op 2.0;
• Strengthening research infrastructure;
• Supporting the transformation of the international portfolio;
• Building, strengthening and diversification of student entrepreneurship (e.g. funding for Velocity Science and the Velocity Garage);
• gender and other equity initiatives; and
• More than $10M invested in student space.

During his tenure, Waterloo began making significant strides towards achieving its goals and objectives.

Orchard also worked with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (formerly the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) to complete Waterloo’s second Strategic Mandate Agreement with the Ontario government. This agreement outlines the role that Waterloo currently performs in Ontario’s post-secondary education system, highlights the strengths that differentiate it from other institution, and outlines how it will build on those strengths to achieve its vision.

Orchard’s most recent contribution was the development and launch of the Waterloo Budget Model, a process that ensures resources and funding support for institutional priorities with a focus on delivering academic excellence.

“Ian has built a strong foundation of academic leadership and strategic supports that will serve the University and our students, faculty and staff in the coming months and years,” wrote President Feridun Hamdullahpur in a memo announcing Ian’s department in April 2017. “On behalf of all of us, I would like to express my gratitude to Ian for his leadership, commitment and dedication to the University of Waterloo and wish Ian and Angela all the very best.”

George Dixon reflects on a decade of research growth at Waterloo

If there’s one word that sums up George Dixon, it’s approachable.

Recently, as part of a celebration to thank him for his contribution as Vice-President, University Research, a sentimental word cloud was presented as a gift. The most common word was approachable, with friendly and supportive not far behind.

For George, his ability and joy of engaging in meaningful conversation with academic colleagues, staff, and students at Waterloo embodies what he will miss the most about his role – the people.

“My favourite memories stem from my contact with a wide diversity of people,” says George. “People are at the core of any job. If you don’t enjoy the people, you won’t enjoy the job. It’s important to like what you do.”

As George steps into a new role next week as the University’s Vice-President, Academic and Provost, he leaves behind a full decade across two terms as the senior leader for research at Waterloo. With 36 years’ experience on campus including roles as professor and chair of the department of biology, as well as associate dean and dean of the Faculty of Science, George has devoted his career to research and education. He was also recognized with the University’s Award for Excellence in Research and the Distinguished Teaching Award.

The role of vice-president, university research, however, is one that’s far-reaching for an organization with membership in Canada’s 15 research-intensive universities, a long history of being named Canada’s most innovative university, as well as Research University of the Year, and a goal of becoming one of the most innovative universities in the world.

During the last 10 years there were many successes for research at Waterloo but a few in particular stand out for George.

“Waterloo is a unique institution. It’s not so tied up in policy and tradition that one cannot effect change. One can achieve things here that might be more difficult elsewhere. We’re forward thinking. We know how to get things done.”

Advancing the role of centres and institutes generated new opportunities for researchers to move into interdisciplinary activities that weren't typically within the scope of faculties and departments. Increased expertise spanning a variety of research areas benefited knowledge transfer, a valuable element of research.

“We’ve become much more active in that space,” says George.

University partnerships expanded significantly over the last decade both in size and scope with new partners in government and the private sector, producing additional opportunities to leverage funding. Ten years ago, only a couple of roles on campus were dedicated to cultivating new research funding. Since then, staffing to support the development of new research funding has grown to about 20.

All of this has helped create new opportunities for his academic colleagues and a steady climb in annual research funding that has grown from $127 million in 2006-07 to more than $205 million in 2016-17.

“As a whole, over 10 years, we’ve become much more aggressive in identifying funding opportunities for colleagues,” says George.

With a global mindset, research at Waterloo has also extended beyond Canadian borders that George expects will continue to increase.

“When I first started at the Office of Research, the University had some involvement in international research activities and agreements. Now, approximately 20 per cent of our funds come from international sources,” he says.

As George passes the torch to Waterloo’s next Vice-President, University Research, Charmaine Dean, he welcomes the opportunities in his new role.

“I’m looking forward to understanding components of the University that I haven’t had a high level of involvement in previously,” he says. “I’m also looking forward to interacting with new people. I expect to have equally rewarding relationships with people as I have in my current role.”

Welcoming microbiologists from across Canada

Last week, the University of Waterloo hosted the 67^th annual Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM) conference.

Organized by a committee co-chaired by Professor Josh Neufeld and Canada Research Chair Laura Hug from the Department of Biology, the CSM 2017 conference brought together 450 participants for a four-day gathering aimed at promoting new ideas and advances in microbiology.

“We were overwhelmed by the full-capacity turnout this year and so many outstanding presentations representing the best of microbiology from Canada and abroad,” says Neufeld.

Waterloo researchers from the Faculties of Science and Engineering presented talks and posters covering areas such as microbial diversity in many different environments, microbial processes and products, virulence and pathogenicity, antibiotic resistance, microbial evolution as well as advances in techniques such as mathematical modeling, bioinformatics, genome sequencing, metagenomics, and proteomics.

“This was an ideal opportunity to unite microbiology researchers from across campus. CSM 2017 was well timed with the recent establishment of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research, or WCMR, which will provide support for these researchers to conduct cutting-edge collaborative research on campus,” says Trevor Charles, member of the local organizing committee and professor in the Biology department.

Highlights included keynote addresses by Ed Yong, an award-winning scientific writer for the Atlantic and Prof. Barbara Sherwood Lollar, an internationally recognized Earth scientist at the University of Toronto who studies life in deep geologically active environments.

“We chose Yong and Sherwood Lollar as keynote speakers to underline the interdisciplinarity and universality of microbiology,” says Hug. “Highlighting such disparate areas of research, all under the umbrella of microbiology, helps to unite research that would normally not be seen as complementary.”

The conference organizers would like to thank countless volunteers, including volunteer coordinators Ashley Ross, Briallen Lobb, and Mark Lubberts, who are all grad students in the Department of Biology.

The University of Waterloo, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Office of Research, The Water Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, CIHR, and other industry and professional association sponsors supported the event.

A milestone long weekend for celebrations

Saturday, July 1, 2017 is a date many have been awaiting with much anticipation as Canada celebrates 150 years of Confederation. The 33^rd annual University of Waterloo Canada Day Celebration in partnership with our Federation of Students is bigger and better than ever thanks to our community and partner support. Attendees should plan to arrive early to enjoy a full day of fun with more than 60,000 community members, their families and the campus community sharing their 150 and Warrior Pride with a special nod to Waterloo’s 60^th Anniversary and the Federation of Student’s 50^th.

In a nice bit of anniversary synergy, now is a great time to remind you that the Canada 150 logo was designed by Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA) student Ariana Cuvin, who won the Government of Canada's Canada 150 logo competition back in 2015. Cuvin's logo design, which you've no doubt seen many times this year, depicts a series of diamonds arranged in the shape of a maple leaf.

The family fun begins at 4:00 p.m. with on-field activations, interactive activities, and live children’s entertainment by Juno award-winning children’s musical duo Bobs & Lolo. Kids won’t want to miss seeing them light up the stage with several performances.

Outstanding Canadian talent will headline the evening concert on the OpenText Stage, featuring supergroup Dwayne Gretzky playing all your favourite covers followed by classic rock icon Tom Cochrane with Red Rider. Back by popular demand is talented KW Glee whose energy shines on stage. Take in diverse entertainment on the Canada 150 Cultural Stage sponsored by the City of Waterloo.

Families can explore a number of activities from face painting and arts and crafts, to inflatable obstacle courses. Get snapped in the Canada Day photo booth, cool off on the University of Waterloo Engineering Society water slide, try henna, or even have your caricature done. 

There will be the usual tasty traffic jam of food trucks and adults can relax and enjoy a refreshing break in the beer garden with a special alumni twist.

Watch for Waterloo’s Special Event Green Team Ambassadors on Canada Day, appointed for on-field guest interaction and encouraging all our guests to be green. Help us minimize our impact and protect our environment for future generations of Canadians by bringing a reusable water bottle, composting and recycling on site and walk, bike or bus to the event. Be spotted riding your bike and you may get a free bike light from the UW Bike Centre and the City of Waterloo.

The highlight of the celebration—the spectacular fireworks display—will commence at 10:00 p.m.

Follow along on social media with the hashtag #UWCanadaDay.

What's open and closed this holiday long weekend

A long weekend beckons as Canada celebrates 150 years of Confederation on Saturday, July 1. The University will take taking Monday, July 3 off in celebration of Canada Day. Just up the street, Wilfrid Laurier University is taking today off. Takes all kinds, eh? But for Waterloo students cross-registered at Laurier, this serves as notice that Monday at WLU is following a Monday schedule.

While some campus operations have shifted into the highest of high gears to pull off the Canada Day celebrations on Columbia Lake Field on Saturday, the rest of the University will be taking a bit of an extended weekend break. In terms of campus closures for Monday, July 3:

Most Food Services locations will be closed Monday. Exceptions include Mudie's, which will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Monday.

The Dana Porter and Davis Centre Libraries will be open from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Check the Library's hours site for openings and closings at other locations.

Retail Services locations will be shuttered Monday.

Athletics facilities, including the PAC and CIF, will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

As always, even on holidays, the university police (519-888-4911) will be at work, the Student Life Centre and its Turnkey Desk at 519–888-4434 will be open, and the central plant will be monitoring campus buildings (for maintenance emergencies, call ext. 33793).

The Daily Bulletin will return on Tuesday, July 4. Enjoy the long weekend and have a Happy Canada Day!