Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Like a bolt from the blue, a Nobel news roundup

You'll have to forgive us if we shoot a few celebratory laser blasts into the air in triumph. Donna Strickland, a University of Waterloo professor who helped revolutionize laser physics, has been named a winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics.

Strickland, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, shares half the $1.4 million prize with French laser physicist Gérard Mourou. The other half was awarded to U.S. physicist Arthur Ashkin.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences stated that Mourou and Strickland paved the way toward the shortest and most intense laser pulses created by humankind. Their revolutionary article was published in 1985 and was the foundation of Strickland’s doctoral thesis.

Check out the livestream from yesterday's press conference in celebration of Professor Strickland.

Here's a roundup of items of interest about our Nobel laureate, which can be read in their entireties on Waterloo Stories:

• Waterloo Professor wins Nobel Prize in Physics: read about how Professor Strickland's research was chosen for this year's prize;
• Nobel Prize-winning physicist helped make lasers ubiquitous: read about the impact and legacy of Professor Strickland's pioneering work in laser physics;
• Words of recognition: see how the world is reacting to the news of Professor Strickland's Nobel win; and
• Women of the Nobel Prize: Read about how Professor Strickland is in very good company in the physics category alongside Marie Curie and Maria Goeppert-Mayer.

The news of Professor Strickland's win made a media splash nationally and internationally. Here's a taste of the news coverage from yesterday:

• The New York Times;
• The Globe and Mail;
• The Washington Post;
• The Boston Globe;
• Forbes;  
• CNN;
• Scientific American;
• The Daily Telegraph (UK);
• Nobel;
• San Francisco Chronicle; 
• The Toronto Star;
• ABC (Australia); and
• The Vancouver Sun.

Finally, a heartfelt congratulations to Professor Strickland.

Waterloo launches new recycling and organics bins

What is black, green, blue, and grey and has popped up at food outlets across campus? The University of Waterloo is excited to launch its first wave of standardized waste and recycling bins at Food Services areas and cafeterias. This is a key step in the Zero Waste UW Action Plan.

Implemented in early September, the new bins feature clearer instructions, standard colours, and public organics collection for food waste, paper towels, and paper plates. The project is led by Custodial Services in partnership with Food Services, the Sustainability Office, Housing and Residences, Central Stores, and many more.

“This is a big improvement to help students and employees sort waste properly,” says Mat Thijssen, Waterloo's Sustainability Manager. “We heard continual feedback on barriers to the previous system from students, employees, and even class research projects that interviewed people who were trying to recycle.”

Waterloo’s 2017 waste audit found that over 80 percent of all items sent to landfill from the University could have been composted or recycled. Through the improvements to the bins, this can be dramatically reduced.

“Individual action is incredibly important,” says Thijssen. “We want to make sure our infrastructure helps people reduce waste. Now we need all members of campus to play our part and take a couple seconds to sort.”

The standard was created after two years of barrier identification, signage testing, piloting, and an open house to select the final product. Plant Operations is looking to phase-in the standard across all waste receptacles on campus over the next four years. Outdoor bins are scheduled for implementation this fall, while lobbies, common spaces, hallways, lunch rooms, and some classrooms will be converted in future phases.

Departments wishing to purchase new bins ahead of schedule can submit a work request through Plant Operations. If you’d like to learn more about the standard and Zero Waste UW Action Plan, visit the Sustainability website.

Register for the Waterloo Experiential Learning Symposium

Interested in experiential learning? Want to know more about experiential learning opportunities and associates resources on campus? Join us on Wednesday, October 17 for the Waterloo ExL Symposium!

On Wednesday, October 17, Waterloo ExL is hosting a symposium on experiential learning (EL). This event will highlight EL initiatives and associated resources on campus. This event is geared towards instructors who want to integrate, or enhance their integration of EL within their courses. Additionally, any campus or community partner who engages with and supports experiential learning at Waterloo will benefit from attending. The event features two keynote speakers and 11 concurrent sessions including presentations from instructors, students, and community partners on best practices, challenges, and innovative ideas on how EL may be integrated into teaching and learning.

The Waterloo ExL Symposium is free to attend for all University of Waterloo community members and includes lunch. The Symposium will be followed up with an event in February to help you integrate EL opportunities into your course/program.

Register now: waterlooexlsymposium.ticketfi.com

Rack Pack runs for the Cure and other notes

The 2018 Optometry Rack Pack team completed the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure on Sunday, September 30 to support breast cancer research. "The Rack Pack was again honoured with the ‘Post-Secondary Team Challenge Award’ for the institution with the most funds raised to support the cause - the current total is $12,200! That brings the team’s six year total to over $65,834!" writes Marie Amodeo, captain of the team, who was also the survivor speaker at the open ceremony.

Donations are accepted until the end of October. 

"The Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure was inspiring to all who attended," writes Amadeo. "Be ready to tie up your laces for next year’s event. Thanks for supporting a great cause!"