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April's Research Talks explores Indigenous issues in Canada
Interested in learning about Contemporary Indigenous issues in Canada?
Register for Research Talks on April 5, a panel presentation for Waterloo faculty, staff, and students that will explore knowledge, history, and research related to Indigenous issues.
Local Haudenosaunee member of the Grand River territory Kelly Davis will open the session followed by presentations from:
- Lori Campbell, Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre: Indigenous issues
- Jasmin Habib (Political Science): Engaging in meaningful collaborative research
- Dan McCarthy (School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability & Waterloo Institute of Social Innovation): Social and environmental justice and innovation
- Susan Roy (History): Indigenous histories in Canada
Light refreshments will be provided but feel free to bring your lunch. Research Talks is a regular series hosted by the Office of Research and supported by the Research Support Fund to celebrate research and provide an opportunity for the Waterloo community to learn about world-class and life-changing research at Waterloo.
Join the conversation at the Global Populism and Democratic Futures Summit
Global Engagement Program students tour the Evidence Room installation at the Royal Ontario Museum.
The outcome of the Brexit vote, the election of President Trump, the erection of border walls across the European continent, and recent populist gains in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Canada raise important questions about democracy and the power of citizen’s disillusionment with the current state of affairs.
An exciting two-day Global Populism & Democratic Futures Summit will bring together students, academics, practitioners, dignitaries and the broader Waterloo community to discuss the meanings and implications of the global rise of populist movements.
Unlike more conventional scholarly conferences, this summit offers participants the unique opportunity for exchange with a select group of students involved in the Global Engagement Seminar Program, who will bring together their creative and research skills from across the disciplines of Engineering, Math, Health Sciences, and the Arts.
On the first evening of the summit (March 28), Dr. Kurt Huebner, the Interim Director of the European Studies Institute at UBC, will tell us about populist movements and parties across Europe and the challenges they pose to European integration. That same evening, Dr. Ann Komaromi, an Associate Professor at the Centre of Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto, will present a critical cultural analysis of the negative effects of social media on democracy, drawing on her research about Soviet dissident networks.
On the following day (March 29), Dr. Henry Giroux, the University of Waterloo’s 2018 Jarislowsky Fellow and the McMaster University Chair for Scholarship in the Public Interest, will give a keynote presentation on the threats of a Trump presidency for higher education and democracy.
On the afternoon of March 29, the Global Engagement Seminar Program’s students will showcase a number of interactive exhibits on such topics as The Effects Of Populism On Science And The Effects Of The Anti-Science Movements, M(Other)Land: Cultural Belonging In The Wake Of Populism, and You Don’t Know what Your Social Media is Doing to Your Democracy.
A panel discussion has also been organized on the topic #Feminism: When a Movement Goes Mainstream. Antonio Brieva, the President of the Feds, and a representative from the UW Equity Committee will join the discussion on university policies and practices to advance gender equality on- and off-campus.
If you can’t join us through the day, you will be able to learn about the students’ ideas in the evening of March 29 when they will deliver formal presentations about their projects.
The Global Engagement Seminar Program is a new pilot-program that brings together a select group of students from across the six university faculties in order to engage with pressing global issues. The program’s Director and this year’s instructor Dr. Jasmin Habib has worked closely with Dr. Henry Giroux to think critically about the global challenges posed by populism and the implications for democratic engagement.
To learn more about the program, visit the Global Engagement Seminar Program website.
Three Minute Thesis final competition today
With the faculty heats behind them, the finalists for the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) will compete today for the top Waterloo spot and the chance to represent our institution at the provincial finals.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final competition is being held this afternoon (Wednesday, March 21) from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Modern Languages Theatre of the Arts. The competition is open to the public, and attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the People's Choice award and vote for their favourite 3MT competitor using their smart device.
Winners will be announced at the competition after a short deliberation by the judges.
The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) is a competition for research-based master’s and doctoral students at Waterloo. Competitors have 1 static slide and 3 minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research to a non-specialist audience.
The first place winner receives a $1,000 prize and moves on to the provincial competition. The runner-up receives a $500 prize.
Executive actions in Saudi Arabia and beyond
It’s Wednesday, March 21. Do you know where your president is?
Here is a non-exhaustive list of President Feridun Hamdullahpur's recent activities on and off campus and a look ahead at what's on his calendar.
On Wednesday, March 14 the President took part in the President’s Advisory Committee for Student Mental Health (PAC-SMH) Forum that brought together 550 students, staff, faculty and community partners to Fed Hall to have an open dialogue about the PAC-SMH’s report and recommendations that was released earlier in the week.
President Hamdullahpur delivered a keynote address at the Times Higher Education Middle East North Africa (MENA) Universities Summit in Saudi Arabia on March 20 on Fostering Research for the 21st Century University. The summit brought together university leaders from across the region to discuss and explore the trends in higher education. The presentation was extremely well received with highlights on the Times Higher Education website.
What’s next on the President’s schedule?
On Friday, March 23, the President co-hosting the BEYOND Impact event in Toronto as part of the Waterloo Innovation Summit Speaker Series with the Globe and Mail. Researchers and business leaders from around the GTA are coming to learn about the current trends in quantum and AI technology.
On Tuesday, March 27, President Hamdullahpur will be traveling to Singapore to take part in the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2018 Presidents’ Roundtable and share his thoughts and exchange ideas with other university presidents on how to help develop future-ready graduates.
On Thursday, March 29, the President will be traveling to Beijing, China to be part of the launch event of the Tsinghua University and University of Waterloo joint lab on micro-nano/energy centre. Later that day, President Hamdullahpur will be speaking at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing on the role of partnerships in driving university research, innovation and developing future leaders.
Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" for March 21
Here's today's Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" supplied by Health Services Dietitian Sandra Ace:
Myth: Drinking cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Fact: Proanthocyanidins are thought to be the active ingredient in cranberries that helps prevent UTI-causing bacteria from adhering to the cells that line the urinary tract. A 2012 systematic review of 24 studies concluded that cranberry’s preventative role is less effective than previously found in a 2008 review, although some small studies demonstrated a limited benefit for women with recurrent UTIs.
Current research does not clarify whether drinking cranberry juice or taking a cranberry extract supplement is more beneficial or what the most effective dose of either alternative is. If you’re considering trying cranberry juice to prevent a UTI, it is best to use 100% pure cranberry juice, which is costly, can be hard to find and may taste unpalatable to some people. Cranberry juice cocktail contains more water and sugar and is typically a blend of other less expensive juices so it has a much smaller amount of proanthocyanidins. If you are considering taking a cranberry extract supplement, check the label for a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Drug Identification Number (DIN). This means the product is regulated and approved for sale in Canada. Cranberry juice and cranberry extract capsules interact with some medications so check with a pharmacist or your physician before taking either for UTI prevention.
Cranberry products are not effective for treating existing urinary tract infections. If you think you have a UTI, contact your healthcare provider for assessment and treatment.
Wednesday's notes
The University of Waterloo’s Accounting and Finance Student Association (AFSA) is running its annual Tax Clinic for 2018, which is an opportunity for student volunteers to help and file the community’s income tax returns free of charge. This project is aimed towards students and low-middle income families who require any assistance in the tax-filing process.
The next clinics will run on:
- Saturday, March 24: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Science Teaching Complex (STC) Rm. 1012
- Sunday, March 25: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Science Teaching Complex (STC) Rm. 1012
For more information, including clinic eligibility and a list of suggested documents to bring, please visit the AFSA website.
The Policy 14 Drafting Committee needs your input. Policy 14, which was last updated in 2006, governs Parental, Adoption and Pregnancy leaves for all University employees. The Secretariat has struck a committee to draft a policy that will meet the needs of the university in the coming years. The members of the committee would like to hear from you about your experiences with the present policy and what modifications you think might provide a smoother transition between the employee’s leave and the subsequent return to work. Your feedback, which will be used to inform the sculpting of Policy 14, can be sent to Nadia Singh (nadia.singh@uwaterloo.ca) in the Secretariat.
Staff Conference Registration Closes March 26: A reminder from Organizational & Human Development that online registration closes on March 26 for the annual Waterloo Staff Conference on April 5 and 6. Those who are unable to register online can register for open session on the days of the event at the Information table. For information on this event, please contact Mark Lisetto-Smith, coordinator, communications & events, Organizational & Human Development at mark.lisetto-smith@uwaterloo.ca or extension 38257.
Employers on campus next week hosting employer information sessions include Health Canada and Deloitte. Visit the employer information calendar for more details.