Thursday, April 19, 2018

Norah McRae named Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Norah McRae as Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education effective 1 September 2018," wrote Vice-President, Academic & Provost George Dixon in a memo circulated to members of Co-operative and Experiential Education earlier this week.

"Norah McRae is known nationally and internationally as a leader in co-operative and experiential education and she has advanced through a series of leadership positions in the field while serving at the University of Victoria over the past 26 years, including her most recent appointment as the Executive Director of the Co-operative Education Program and Career Services," Dixon writes. "She completed her BA and MBA at the University of Alberta and her PhD (interdisciplinary in business/education) at the University of Victoria in 2014." 

"She holds an adjunct faculty appointment in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, and her scholarship in the area of co-operative and experiential education includes twenty-three refereed papers as well as numerous professional papers, presentations, and invited speaking engagements internationally. She has held many leadership roles in provincial, national and international organizations including with the World Association for Co-operative Education (WACE), the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), and the Accountability Council for Co-operative Education among many others." 

"Her significant career contributions in the field have been recognized with numerous awards including the WACE Donald MacLaren Jr. Academic Award for professional achievement in co-operative and work integrated education (2017), the CAFCE Albert S. Barber Award for outstanding contribution to the field of co-operative education in Canada (2015/16) and the CAFCE Dr. Graham Branton Research Award (2011/12)."

"As a prominent leader in the fields of co-operative and experiential education, I am delighted to welcome Norah to the University of Waterloo and look forward to seeing her dynamic and innovative leadership as she takes the reins of our world-leading programs," Dixon continues. "Please join Feridun and I in welcoming Norah to the Senior Leadership Team."

Projects fair will showcase Lean initiatives at Waterloo

On May 9 Human Resources is hosting a Lean seminar, which includes a project fair showcasing Lean initiatives happening at Waterloo. Employees who are interested in learning more about University of Waterloo Lean projects and Lean methodology are invited to the fair. Departments around campus will showcase Lean projects in a science-fair-style setting and share their experiences with continuous improvement. If you’re interested in attending, please register.

The event takes place on May 9 between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in UWP - Claudette Millar Hall, room 1101.

What is Lean?

Supporting the University's Robust Employer-Employee strategic theme and Excellence Canada initiative, Lean provides a consistent framework and set of tools for improving processes at Waterloo. It is founded on the principles of continuous improvement and respect for people, and empowers employees to step up to their roles as problem-solvers.

How can Lean help?

• Improve efficiency in your day-to-day work
• Analyze and improve processes within your department
• Eliminate activities that take up too much time and provide little value
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement

If you have any questions about the Lean Projects Fair, please contact Raghda Sabry, Project Coordinator Human Resources. You can find out more about Lean on the Waterloo Lean website.

Seed Grants germinate innovative interdisciplinary research

Four interdisciplinary teams led by University of Waterloo researchers are set to advance water research in creative, unconventional ways. New approaches to detect and manage micropollutants, techniques that predict the impacts of climate change on snow and lakes, and new modelling techniques will be explored through $69,000 in Water Institute seed grants.

Today, the Water Institute announced the winners of its most recent competition.

Some of the exciting anticipated outcomes include workshops linking researchers with stakeholders and end-users and collaborations with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ and the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries. All grants ultimately aim to develop larger collaborative research proposals to capitalize on the knowledge and expertise brought together through the seed grants activities.

One of the teams, led by Water Institute member Chris Fletcher, aims to respond to future societally-relevant problems in climate and water science. “Canadians receive much of their freshwater from melting snow and ice, and climate change poses a major threat to this precious resource.” he says. “We’re bringing together experts and stakeholders to predict the future of Canada's freshwater from melting snow. Involving end-users from the outset will ensure the science is actionable and directly beneficial to society.”

Seed grant projects are led by Water Institute members and include a minimum of three departments or two faculties per team. The interdisciplinary makeup of the teams is meant to encourage innovation. An evaluation committee comprised of Institute faculty members awards a total of $150,000 in seed grants each year to catalyze collaboration, facilitate interaction with national or international authorities, to encourage new areas of research and to encourage the development of innovative research proposals.

Water Institute Seed Grant Recipients - Winter 2018

• Informing investment decisions in Canada in drinking water and wastewater treatment technology to reduce environmental and human health risks of micropollutants

Roy Brouwer, Economics; Peter Huck, Civil Engineering; Wayne Parker, Civil Engineering; Michael Tam, Chemical Engineering; Mark Servos, Biology; Juewen Liu, Chemistry; Brian Laird, School of Public Health and Health Systems; Rob de Loë, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability

• Seasonal patterns of chlorophyll and temperature in lakes: Detection and attribution of climate change signal

Homa Kheyrollah Pour, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Philippe Van Cappellen, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Roland Hall, Biology; Andrea Scott, Systems Design Engineering; Georgiy Kitillin, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

• Toward actionable science to predict snow and water availability in a changing climate

Chris Fletcher, Geography and Environmental Management; Ed Sudicky, Earth and Environmental Sciences; John Johnston, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

• Upscaling approaches in watershed biogeochemical modelling

Geertje Pronk, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Philippe Van Cappellen, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Nandita Basu, Earth and Environmental Sciences/Civil and Environmental Engineering; Merrin Macrae, Geography and Environmental Management; Sabine Attinger, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ

Sticky notes support students and other, uh, notes

"Good luck with exams?" More like good luck getting past these geese, amirite?

Staff and faculty are showing their support to students as they write their final exams by decorating their windows with sticky notes, spelling out inspirational messages to those poor folks trudging to the PAC to get it all over with.

So far, messages have been spotted on windows in the Student Life Centre, EC1, the AHS expansion building and Needles Hall. Check out some other examples by following the hashtag #stickynotesupportUW.

Due to inclement weather and the afternoon campus shutdown on Saturday, April 14, the University of Waterloo Art Gallery had to close Saturday and cancel a performance by MFA candidate Tess Martens.

Tonight at 5:00 p.m., Martens will deliver a special make-up performance of A Second Hand Emotion.

While you’re at the gallery, be sure to also check out Restrictions of Routine paintings by MFA candidate Eryn O’Neill. 

Friends of Waterloo Park invite the University community to take 20 minutes of their lunch break to join them in the park for litter clean-up to celebrate Earth Day. On Friday April 20 between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. look for the bright green Friends of Waterloo Park tent near the Lion’s Lagoon parking lot concession stand. Wear close-toed shoes. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided.

Here are a couple of notes from our friends at Waterloo International:

The Waterloo Internationalization Fund supports innovative initiatives aimed at promoting international awareness and global perspectives across campus. This fund, totaling $100,000, will be distributed to an estimated 10-15 projects with the goal of helping the University community move ‘beyond ideas’ and generate new action. Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 30 by 11:59 p.m.  .

Additionally, staff members interested in participating in an international experience should consider applying for the Waterloo Staff International Experience Fund. This fund, available to regular full-time staff at the University of Waterloo (as defined by Policy 54), allows selected staff members to enhance their role, strengthen their professional development, and advance the university’s strategic objectives through an experience at some of the University of Waterloo's international partner institutions. For more information on this fund, visit the website. The application deadline is Monday, May 14 by 11:59 p.m.

Any questions or concerns regarding either of these funds can be forwarded to Tony Munro, either by e-mail at tmunro@uwaterloo.ca or by calling ext. 38656.

Human Resources would like to add another job to the "positions available" list usually published on Wednesdays. Here is the additional listing.

• Job ID# 2018-2685 - Undergraduate Advisor/Coordinator - USG 6, Electrical and Computer Engineering.