Thursday, January 11, 2018

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• Hagey Lecture looks at the dark side of Big Data
• New employee benefit information booklet available
• Tis the season for flu and norovirus
• Problem Pitch Competition applications now open
• Thursday's tales grow in the telling

Hagey Lecture looks at the dark side of Big Data

“Big Data has plenty of evangelists, but I’m not one of them,” writes 2018 Hagey lecturer Cathy O’Neil in her latest book, Weapons of Math Destruction. The goals in using Big Data might be laudable—more objective advertising or policing policies, for example. But, as O’Neil argues, “these models are constructed not just from the data but from the choices we make about which data to pay attention to — and which to leave out.” If those choices are flawed from the start, as often happens, the models confirm our errors, prejudices and biases. Find out just what kinds of damage these flawed algorithms are causing when O’Neil delivers the 2018 Hagey Lecture at the University of Waterloo on February 7.

O’Neil completed a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard and a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT, and was a professor at Barnard College/Columbia University. She left academia to work as a quantitative analyst at a hedge fund in 2007. In 2008, she became painfully aware of the role that mathematics can play in the world’s problems, and vowed to become part of the solution. She is now a successful author and public speaker, and the founder of ORCAA, a consulting firm that audits algorithms for racial, gender and economic inequality. She also writes a popular blog at mathbabe.org.

O’Neil’s Hagey Lecture, Weapons of Math Destruction, takes place on Wednesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre. A student colloquium on the ethical challenges of AI, “Data Disarmament: A Fireside Chat with Cathy O’Neil,” hosted by Maura Grossman, will follow on February 8t at 10:00 a.m. in MC 5501. Registration is required for both events.

The Hagey Lecture, named in honour of the first president of the University of Waterloo, has been presented nearly every year since 1970, featuring such distinguished speakers as Ursula Franklin, Seymour Hersh, John Polanyi, and David Suzuki. The free event is co-sponsored by the University and the Faculty Association, and supported by the HeForShe campaign and the Faculty of Mathematics.

New employee benefit information booklet available

Human Resources has launched a new booklet with information for active University employees regarding pension and benefit arrangements.

The information contained in this new booklet describes coverage and provisions, as they exist on January 1, 2018.

"The purpose of this booklet is to provide a description of the pension and benefits arrangements that are provided to employees of the University," says the booklet's introduction. "These arrangements are an important component of employees’ total compensation package."

Employees can find information about pension, healthcare benefits, disability benefits, life insurance, and the Employee & Family Assistance Program.

The booklet is available in an electronic version on the HR website and print copies are available at the Human Resources office located in EC1.

Anyone with questions is advised to contact HR Help at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or by phone at extension 35935.

Tis the season for flu and norovirus

Amid reports of confirmed flu cases across Waterloo Region, Occupational Health here on campus is currently seeing two common illnesses affecting Waterloo employees - influenza and gastroenteritis/norovirus.

Occupational Health has prepared a document that provides signs and symptoms of both illnesses, and how to protect you and your colleagues.

Influenza

The influenza virus (the flu) affects most Canadians between November and April. Here’s how to recognize, prevent, and recover from the flu this season.

Flu symptoms typically include the sudden appearance of a high fever (39°C and above), cough, muscle aches, and a headache.

The flu causes more severe symptoms than the common cold, and can lead to serious health problems like pneumonia. Fever and aches are typically characteristic of the flu and not the cold.

The flu shot is the best defense against influenza. You can get the shot for free at pharmacies or at your doctor’s office. It’s important to get the shot as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to fully take effect. Hand hygiene is essential in protecting you against the flu. The influenza virus can live on your hands for up to 3 hours, and washing your hands with soap and water will help prevent the spread to yourself and others.

It’s important to take precautions even if you’re feeling healthy. Flu symptoms can appear up to 4 days after you’re exposed to the virus, but the flu is contagious on day 1.

If you think you have the flu, it’s important to get plenty of rest. Public Health Canada recommends staying home, drinking lots of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Advil to help with the fever and pains as appropriate.

Most otherwise healthy people will recover from the flu within 7 to 10 days. Contact your health care provider if your symptoms worsen or persist past this. Make sure your fever and other symptoms are no longer present for 24 hours before returning to work.

Though mass immunization clinics are done for this season you can still contact Health Services and ask to book an appointment for influenza immunization.

Norovirus

Every winter, Canadians also suffer from a different kind of infection. Norovirus—the stomach flu—is not related to the influenza virus, but causes outbreaks of vomiting and/or diarrhea. You can become infected through physical contact with a contaminated person or object.

This infection causes sudden nausea, vomiting, and watery diarrhea that lasts up to 3 days. Symptoms usually appear within the first 2 days of becoming infected, and otherwise healthy people will recover 2 to 3 days afterwards.

Keep your hands and work surfaces clean to prevent becoming infected. If you do become infected, stay home and drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Public Health Canada recommends staying home until you are symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

Problem Pitch Competition applications now open

The Problem Pitch Competition invites teams of up to four students to choose an important industry problem, and thoroughly research it to understand its history, scope, and impact, before pitching the findings to a panel of judges on February 15, to compete for a share of $7,500 in grant funding.

The 1^st place team will demonstrate the best understanding of an important problem, and will win $5,000 to be used to fund R&D for a venture that solves the problem identified. The 2^nd place team will win $2,500, and the audience will decide which team wins the 3^rd place People’s Choice Award!

Applications are now open and will close on January 21, 2018, at 11:59 p.m.

Submit applications online.

The Problem Pitch Competition is a collaboration between Velocity, and the Problem Lab. 

Thursday's tales grow in the telling

Former member of the University's Board of Governors Bruce Gordon is this year's winner of the Waterloo Region Record Barnraiser Award. Gordon served on the board from 2004 to 2010.

The Barnraiser Award was inspired by the University's sixth president David Johnston who in 2007 called on Waterloo Region to strive to become Canada's Knowledge Capital. Among the 10 goals was the establishment of an award celebrating community leaders who exemplify Waterloo's tradition of collaborative achievement.

Past Barnraiser Award winners include Ginny Dybenko, former executive director of the Waterloo Stratford Campus, Ron Schlegel, retired AHS professor, and former Vice-President, University Relations Tim Jackson.

The award ceremony takes place today at 11:30 a.m. at The Waterloo Region Museum. 

Registration is open for the Alumni Big Ticket. The Alumni Big Ticket offers uWaterloo alumni and one guest free entry into Waterloo Warriors home games during the 2017-2018 athletics season for basketball, hockey, and volleyball. Check the Alumni Big Ticket site for details on how to register and how to watch out for upcoming Alumni Big Ticket Days, where Waterloo swag and free snack offers will be up for grabs.

The Registrar's Office is reminding students that the last day to add classes for winter 2018 is Tuesday, January 16. The last day to drop a class with a 100 percent tuition refund is Tuesday, January 23. Students are invited to contact their academic advisor if they have questions.