Thursday, October 12, 2017

    Editor:
    Brandon Sweet
    University Communications
    bulletin@uwaterloo.ca


    From CCLR to CORE, eye research centre sharpens its focus

    For nearly three decades, the world’s optometry and ophthalmology communities have partnered with the Centre for Contact Lens Research (CCLR) at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science on pioneering studies. Beginning in January 2018, the organization will adopt a new name: the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE).

    “We have been fortunate to work with a broad range of sponsors and collaborators on many of the most dynamic developments in the field,” said the centre's Director Lyndon Jones. “Every day, our team dedicates itself to improving global eye health and vision through advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. CORE reflects our capacity to do so with uncompromising independence, by adopting the highest quality standards, and collaborating with world leaders in diverse research areas. It speaks to who we have become without forgetting where we began.”

    The Centre for Ocular Research and Education logo.A new logo echoes CORE’s primary focus on the eye. Interlocking elements in distinct blue, green, and orange colours represent biosciences, clinical research and education expertise, coming together in support of its mission.

    “We continue to partner with innovators in contact lens technologies on myriad programs, including materials formulation, care products, comfort initiatives, myopia control, dry eye, drug delivery and education. Yet we are also working with major and emerging pharmaceuticals companies, digital technology giants, and academic institutions around the world on complex and fascinating initiatives that hold incredible potential for vision correction and enhancement,” continued Jones.

    The CORE brand was premiered at the American Academy of Optometry’s 96th annual meeting, which began this week in Chicago. In conjunction, CORE commissioned Los Angeles-based artist John Park to co-create a massive 12-foot x 8-foot acrylic mural during the meeting, depicting the complexity and potential of the eye and sight. Conference attendees are being invited to visit the CORE booth, don a protective lab coat, and add their own distinctive brush strokes to the portrait. The mural will be completed on the show floor on Friday, October 13, then formally unveiled at an evening reception. It will be permanently installed at CORE headquarters at the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

    The official CORE name change will occur following final ratification by the University of Waterloo Board of Governors.

    Pharmacy student named Minister of National Defence for a day

    Munaza Saleem and Minister Harjit Sajjan walk towards Parliament Hill.

    Pharmacy student Munaza Saleem and Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan walk to the House of Commons for Question Period. Photo credit Jordan Owens.

    This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the School of Pharmacy's website.

    Munaza SaleemDoctor of Pharmacy student Munaza Saleem was selected from an applicant pool of young women across Canada to step into the role of Minister of National Defence for a day. Saleem is part of the Canadian #GirlsBelongHere initiative and one of 17 youth who are paired with government leaders, CEOs, and executives to illustrate every girl’s right to belong in influential roles.

    The Girls Belong Here campaign is to celebrate International Day of the Girl on October 11 and is part of Plan International’s global initiative which has over 500 participants in 60 countries. The purpose of the campaign is to put young leaders in positions of power to inspire girls to break down gender barriers preventing them from following their dreams. Saleem was first involved with Plan International Canada as part of the Because I am a Girl Speaker’s Bureau three years ago, where she delivered motivational speeches on female empowerment and creating positive change.

    Saleem began her day meeting Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. After that, she headed to the National Defense Headquarters to meet with the Minister’s executive staff including Zita Astravas, the Defence Minister’s Chief of Staff, and Jody Thomas, Senior Associate Deputy Minister for the Department of National Defence.

    “We had a discussion on the new Joint Suicide Prevention Strategy and the mental health of veterans and soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces. It was incredibly inspiring to talk to such accomplished and empowered women,” says Saleem. “They gave me sound advice on being a woman in politics and government, a career option I’m open to exploring as an aspiring pharmacist.”

    Saleem then prepped for Question Period with the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, Press Secretary Jordan Owens, and Director of Parliamentary Affairs Louis Landry.

    Read the rest of the article on the Pharmacy website.

    Stay connected with the new IST Newsletter

    A screenshot of the IST Newsletter.

    Information technology is constantly evolving, and staying informed of the latest IT services, terms, and technology can feel overwhelming.

    Information Systems & Technology (IST) has launched a new, term-based newsletter that will highlight campus tech news and services, and help keep you in the know.

    Don’t miss an issue! Subscribe to the IST Newsletter to have future issues delivered to your inbox and be entered to win a $25 gift card to Starbucks or Tim Horton’s.

    There will be a total of three chances to win (i.e. fall 2017 issue, winter 2018 issue, and spring 2018 issue). Contest winners will be contacted directly by IST Communications.

    Student Service Centre build delayed

    A message from the Student Services Transformation Needles Hall (SSTNH) Project Team.

    The fall term is well on its way and while we have not been able to begin the physical build of the Student Service Centre (SSC), a lot of behind-the-scenes work has been done. You can learn about accomplishments to date from the October 2017 Project Update video.

    We are still focused on the four goals of phase one, and to date we have:

    • finalized the Student Service Centre as a new campus unit
    • started hiring and training staff to help shape the new unit
    • hired Nancy Heide as the Director, Student Service Centre to join the team in November
    • awarded contract to Q-nomy to provide queuing and appointment booking solution
    • began the transition of core office employees to Skype for Business from traditional phone systems
    • confirmed the set of services from the core offices that will be offered in the centre
    • submitted ideal build requirements for the centre and three core departments to WalterFedy
    • completed an infrastructure assessment of Needles Hall

    Now that we know our ideal build requirements are out of scope, the Steering Committee is re-evaluating its approach while remaining fully committed to the key deliverable of this project: To improve student service delivery on campus.

    While we revise plans for the build, work will continue to improve service processes and implement service changes in existing offices. We are also exploring opportunities to include front-line services from Student Financial Services into the centre.

    Link of the day

    60 years ago: Pearson named Nobel Peace Prize winner

    When and where

    Naismith Basketball Tournament, Thursday October 12 to Saturday October 14, PAC Main Gym

    Fall Makeup Days, Thursday, October 12 - classes will run on a Tuesday schedule; and Friday, October 13 - classes will run on a Wednesday schedule. 

    LGBTQ+ Making Spaces workshop, Thursday, October 12, 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please register - Seating is limited.

    Distinguished Lecture Series, “Communication-avoiding algorithms for linear algebra and beyond,” James Demmel, Computer Science Division and Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley, Thursday, October 12, 3:30 p.m., DC 1302.

    The Department of Music presents Noon Hour Concerts: The Three Tenors(no, not those three tenors) Friday, October 13, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel chapel.

    PhD seminar in formal methods, “Model slicing,” Sandy Beidu, David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, Friday, October 13, 1:00 p.m., DC 2310.

    Make Networking Count, Friday, October 13, 1:30 p.m., TC 1208.

    PhD seminar, “WeBike retrospective: results and lessons learned from a multi-year e-bike study,” Christian Gorenflo, David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, Friday, October 13, 1:30 p.m., DC 1331.

    Lectures in Catholic Experience series featuring Anton Koekemoer, PhD, Astrophysicist, Hubble Space Telescope, “Science and Faith in Harmony: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God,” Friday, October 13, 7:30 p.m., Vanstone Lecture Hall, St. Jerome’s University Academic Centre. Please register.

    Velocity Fund $25K and $5K applications open, Monday, October 16.

    Data systems seminar, “Universal information extraction,” Heng Ji, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Monday, October 16, 10:30 a.m., DC 1304.

    University Senate meeting, Monday, October 16, 3:30 p.m., NH 3407.

    Keeping Well at Work Day, Tuesday, October 17. Please register by Tuesday, October 10.

    Earning a Degree with ADHD: A unique event about succeeding at university and life with comedian Rick Green, Tuesday, October 17, 4:30 p.m., Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages.

    Pizza and a movie: “The internet’s own boy: The story of Aaron Swartz,” Tuesday, October 17, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., SLC Great Hall.

    Algorithms and complexity seminar, “The art gallery problem is $\exists \mathbb{R}$-complete,” Tillmann Miltzow, Université libre de Bruxelles, Wednesday, October 18, 2:30 p.m., DC 1304.

    Problem Pitch Competition, Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 p.m., Location TBD.

    Medieval Lecture Series featuring Professor Genevieve Dumas, Université de Sherbrooke,"Waterworks in Medieval Montpelier," Wednesday, October 18, 4:30 p.m., SJ2-2007, St. Jerome's University.

    Velocity Start: Follow the Money,  Wednesday, October 18, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2ndFloor.

    Office of Research United Way Bake Sale, Friday, October 20, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or while supplies last, Main Lobby, East Campus 5.

    NEW - 50th Anniversary Earth Sciences Museum Tour, Friday, October 20, 1:00 p.m., Peter Russell Rock Garden.

    PhD seminar, “Energy system control with deep neural networks,” Fiodar Kazhamiaka, PhD candidate, David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, Friday, October 20, 1:30 p.m., DC 1331.

    Fall 2017 Convocation, Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21, Physical Activities Complex.

    Warriors Women's Hockey Home Opener vs. UOIT, Saturday October 21, 2:30 p.m., CIF Arena.

    Mental Health Wellness Day, Tuesday, October 24.

    Interviews: preparing for questions, Tuesday, October 24, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., TC 1208.

    WaterTalk: The importance of ecosystem-based ecotoxicology for advancing environmental policy, with special reference to Canadian Oil Sands development, presented by professor Diane Orihel, Tuesday, October 24, 3:00 p.m., EIT 1015.

    NEW - Gairdner Lecture 2017 featuring Dr. Rino Rappuoli, “For pioneering the genomic approach, known as reverse vaccinology, used to develop a vaccine against meningococcus B which has saved many lives worldwide.", Tuesday, October 24, 4:30 p.m., B1 271.

    Department of Music presents Noon Hour Concerts: Songs For My Mother, Wednesday, October 25, 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel Chapel.

    Vision Science Research Seminar Series featuring Dr. Vincent Billock, The Ohio State University, “Visual psychophysics and theoretical neuroscience,” Wednesday, October 25, 4:30 p.m., OPT 347.

    Velocity Start: Setup Your Business Like A Pro, “Wednesday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., Velocity Start, SCH 2nd Floor.

    WaterTalk: From the Exxon Valdez oil spill to the BP Deep Water Horizon oil spill: A story of economic damages from major environmental contamination events, presented by professor Kevin Boyle, Thursday, October 26, 2:30 p.m., QNC 0101/1103A.

    FAUW and the Waterloo Way – 60 Years of Collegial Governance: The Faculty Association’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, Thursday, October 26, 3:30 p.m., NH 3407. 

    Retirement celebration for Manfred Grisebach, Thursday, October 26, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Federation Hall. RSVP to Michelle Mank - mank@uwaterloo.ca.

    NEW - University of Waterloo 2017 Gem and Mineral Show, Friday, October 27, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 28, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EIT 1st and 2ndfloor. 

    Research Talks Series, "Global Assessment of Payments for Watershed Services" featuring Economics Professor Roy Brouwer, Friday, October 27, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1302. Please register. Seating is limited.

    Warriors Volleyball Home Opener vs. Windsor, Friday October 27, 6:00 p.m., PAC Main Gym

    CrySP Speaker Series on Privacy, “Rearranging power through law and code: Deciphering the Canadian encryption debate,” Lex Gill, The Citizen Lab, Friday, October 27,  2:30 p.m., DC 1304.

    NEW - Science Open House, Saturday, October 28, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., STC.

    Warriors Basketball Home Opener, Staff and Faculty Appreciation, Big Ticket and Donor Appreciation Day vs. Western, Saturday October 28, 12:00 p.m., PAC Main Gym.

    Distinguished Lecture Series, “Data science: Is it real?” Jeff Ullman, Stanford University, Monday, October 30, 3:30 p.m., DC 1304.

    Board of Governors meeting, Tuesday, October 31, 1:30 p.m., NH 3407.