Friday, March 23, 2018

Learn how to make research connections in Europe

Faculty members interested in building research connections and creating collaborations in Europe are invited to attend the EURAXESS information session: European funding and networking opportunities on Wednesday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. in QNC 1501.

Join presenter Viktoria Bodnarova, Regional Representative, EURAXESS North America, to learn about EURAXESS, a free networking tool that supports researchers. The presentation will provide an overview of their services and highlight two related Horizon 2020 programs: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and European Research Council Grants.

Please register to attend.

If you have questions, please email Tim Weber-Kraljevski, Administrator, International Research & Partnerships.

Remembering Paolo San Gabriel

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the death of Paolo San Gabriel, a fourth-year environmental engineering student at Waterloo. Paolo passed away suddenly on March 18 surrounded by his family and friends.

Paolo was passionate about his studies and very involved in campus life.  He participated in orientation week every year, where he would share his love for engineering and UW to make new students feel welcome. The former co-president of UW Hip Hop has greatly impacted the community with his uplifting spirit and caring personality. He leaves them with outstanding choreography, a contagious smile, and many fond memories.

The University will continue to support Paolo’s family. His funeral information can be found here.

If you are grieving or need any support, there are people who can help you. Please contact any of the following resources:

Counselling Services - 519-888-4567 ext. 32655
Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247
Health Services - Student Medical Clinic - 519-888-4096
Grand River Hospital - 519-749-4300
St. Mary's Hospital - 519-744-3311
Good2Talk - 1-866-925-5454
Crisis Services Canada - 1-833-456-4566 or by text 45645

Inaugural lecture to honour gerontology pioneer William Forbes

The University and broader communities are invited to attend an inaugural lecture honouring William J. Forbes, a pioneer in the field of gerontology and founding director of the Gerontology program at the University of Waterloo, Canada’s first English-language graduate program in gerontology.

The lecture, ‘A (self) reflexive lens on gerontology: Over time, through change, in aging,” will be given by UBC Sociology Professor Anne Martin-Matthews, now an acting vice-president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and a former colleague of Professor Forbes.

Following the lecture, a panel discussion will take place, with panelists sharing memories of Professor Forbes.

In a long and diverse career at the University of Waterloo that began in 1962, Forbes held faculty appointments in the Departments of Chemistry, Sociology, Statistics and Actuarial Science, and Health Studies, and was the Dean of the faculty of Mathematics from 1972-1980. He was also the founding president of the Canadian Association on Gerontology and the Ontario Gerontology Association. The university-wide Network for Aging Research is hosting this event.

The event takes place on Monday, April 6 with coffee and light refreshments beginning at 9:30 a.m. in AHS 1689. The lecture begins at 10:00 a.m.

For more information on the keynote and to register, see the Network for Aging Research event page.

SEE Canada Grant for work-travel opportunities

The University of Waterloo is pleased to launch the SEE Canada Grant this spring. The grant will provide an opportunity for regular full-time University staff members to further their professional development through idea-exchange and learning alongside counterparts at other Canadian universities, colleges, research institutions or industry-partner organizations. 

In alignment with the Robust Employer-Employee Relationship theme within the University’s Strategic Plan, and funded through the Staff Excellence Fund, the SEE Canada Grant will be modelled after the Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF), which allows employees to gain experience abroad and has been running for the past four years.

The purpose of the SEE Canada Grant is to allow University staff to expand their knowledge and return with the intention to apply what they’ve learned to their role at Waterloo. The SEE Canada Selection Committee will review proposals from staff for travel to one or more Canadian organizations for a period of one to two weeks. Up to five proposals will be funded each year.

To find out more, please register for a brown bag lunch information session on the Human Resources events page:

• Monday, April 9, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.. EC5 1111
• Wednesday, April 11, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1302

The deadline for proposals is May 11. Application details and forms are available on the SEE Canada Grant web page.

If you have questions about the grant, please email seecanada@uwaterloo.ca.

Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" for March 23

Here's the latest Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" supplied by Health Services Dietitian Sandra Ace:

Myth:  Eating after a certain time will make you gain weight.

Fact:  Eating in the evening can lead to weight gain, but it’s not due to the time on the clock. Large evening meals or late night snacking can add more calories than your body needs in a day, especially if you’re mindlessly munching on sugary, salty or high fat treats or drink sweetened beverages. Eating too much at night can also disrupt sleep or give you heartburn. Before you automatically head to the kitchen for a snack when you’re relaxing, watching a show or studying, stop to consider if you are truly hungry or, instead, are bored, tired or stressed. 

If you are hungry and want a snack, try to keep it healthy most of the time by opting for a balanced snack that includes some protein. Some examples are frozen berries with Greek yogurt, hummus with raw veggies or fresh fruit with a handful of unsalted nuts. Check out this factsheet from Dietitians of Canada for more tips on choosing nutritious and satisfying snacks.

If you’re a late night stress-eater, learn more about how to spot the problem and find support that can help you work towards a healthier pattern of eating. 

Robots rise in PAC this weekend; other notes

The University of Waterloo is hosting the FIRST Robotics Waterloo Regional Competition in the Physical Activities Complex today and tomorrow. Thirty-two high-school teams from across Ontario and the USA will converge on the Waterloo campus for the two-day competition, where they will demonstrate their robot in this year's challenge, FIRST Power Up.

Taking a page from TRON, the scenario for Power Up envisions players trapped inside an 8-bit computer game world, where teams must co-operate as well as compete to use power cubes to defeat the final boss.

The event is open to the public and admittance is free. Final rounds will occur on Saturday afternoon.

A new Velocity event aimed at helping graduate students start businesses will take place on Wednesday April 4. Turn Your Research Into a Startup will feature a panel made up of local startup founders and Waterloo professors and will take place, appropriately enough, in the Graduate House from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

At this panel discussion, attendees will learn how the skills and research gained through their graduate studies can enable them to be great entrepreneurs.

Speakers include:

• Greta Cutulenco; MASc, and Co-founder, Acerta;
• Neil Sarkar; PhD, and Co-founder, Adhawk Microsystems;
• Farnoud Kazemzadeh; PhD, and Co-founder, Elucid Labs;
• Zac Young; MASc, and Co-founder, H2nanO; and
• Alex Wong; PhD, and Associate Professor, Systems Design Engineering

Director of Velocity Jay Shah will moderate the panel discussion.