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E7 opened with a bang, a reveal, and a special delivery
This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Faculty of Engineering news site.
Chamath Palihapitiya kept it light but heartfelt when he was announced Monday as the largest private donor to the new Engineering 7 (E7) building as hundreds of people gathered to celebrate its official opening.
A 1999 graduate of Waterloo Engineering who went on to tremendous success in business, Palihapitiya got a laugh when he joked via video clip about not being able to attend the event in person because an injury had forced him to fill for the Golden State Warriors, the NBA basketball team he partly owns.
But the venture capitalist and former Facebook executive went on to give his alma mater high praise while explaining why he gave back by contributing $25 million to construction of the seven-storey, 242,000-square-foot building on the east campus.
“I would not be anywhere if it wasn’t for the things that happened to me at this school and my hope, my deepest desire, is that for many students they get some part, if not more than what I was able to get, which was self-confidence, resilience, access to opportunity and the ability to believe in the bigger future, and a bolder future, and then the courage to try and do something about it,” said Palihapitiya, dressed in a casual sweater.
The reveal of Palihapitiya was one of the highlights as Waterloo Engineering both welcomed guests to its $88-million gateway building and announced that its Educating the Engineer of the Future campaign topped $100 million in private sector donations from alumni, corporations and foundations.
The campaign contributed $37.3 million to the state-of-the-art E7, which is connected to its sister Engineering 5 (E5) building by a soaring, seven-storey atrium and enclosed pedestrian bridges, including one that is fitted with embedded sensors to record the forces generated on it.
The remaining campaign funds are earmarked for initiatives to enhance student experience, support graduate students and establish research chairs in emerging technologies.
Waterloo Engineering Dean Pearl Sullivan told dignitaries, donors and other guests that even the initial campaign target of $70 million was considered "kind of a dreamy number" for such a young faculty when the effort began five years ago.
“We had an ambitious goal and we exceeded it," she said. "It was possible because we worked together, we did it together."
Read the rest of the article on the Engineering news site.
PeaceTech: a community for creators, innovators, and collaborators
Conrad Grebel University College is starting to ask prospective University of Waterloo students some new questions:
- Do you seek opportunities to reflect on the impact of technology in our world?
- Are you yearning to apply your creativity to advance peace?
If the answer is yes, then Grebel has an exciting new opportunity for these students to consider!
Leveraging the participants and networks of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement (CPA), in the fall of 2019 Grebel will be launching a PeaceTech Living-Learning Community, a cluster of students interested in exploring the intersection of technology and peace in society.
This community will be led by PeaceTech Peer Leaders, upper-year students from various Waterloo faculties who are actively involved in Grebel’s residential program and classes such as PACS 315, Engineering and Peace, taught by CPA Director Paul Heidebrecht.
“When I started school, there was no such thing as ‘PeaceTech’,” said Angela Krone, an upper-year Nanotechnology Engineering student. “Now, people understand the importance of combining social impact (‘peace’) with emerging and existing technology (‘tech’). It’s exciting to be a part of these defining conversations!”
Angela is also quick to underscore the inclusive vision of this community: “Don't let the ‘tech’ intimidate you. If you use a cellphone you're already a ‘tech’ person. If you are concerned about safety you are a ‘peace’ person. PeaceTech brings people together to discuss how we can make the world a better place.”
Arts and Business student Jon Shantz says, “living and learning with students from a diverse range of academic programs gives an invaluable breadth of knowledge and understanding. Conversations between friends in seemingly unrelated programs enables collaboration in ways that do not naturally happen.”
Grebel’s Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement is particularly well-placed to introduce students in the PeaceTech Living Learning Community to opportunities that connect technology and peace in Waterloo’s dynamic innovation ecosystem, including hackathons, discovery labs, and pitch competitions.
Students will also be introduced to experts in the field ranging from the founders of PeaceTech start-ups in the CPA’s Epp Peace Incubator to researchers with affiliate organizations such as Project Ploughshares who are exploring the connections between emerging technologies and conflict.
For more information, visit Conrad Grebel's Living Learning program website.
Legacy Project to be celebrated at Fall Open House
The winning design of the Celebration 2017 Legacy Project competition will be formally recognized as part of this weekend's Fall Open House, which promises to bring thousands of prospective students and their families to campus.
The event is a drop-in celebration in the Arts quad intended to engage parents and future students walking through the centre of campus in between the Fall Open House's presentations and activities.
Celebration 2017 was launched last year in celebration of the University of Waterloo's 60th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The competition sought student proposals for a creative and innovative design for a campus space that inspired and captured the spirit of the University of Waterloo community.
Team Interlace, the winning student design team, crafted a submission that was "conceived as a crossbreed between landscape and architecture" and the proposal "suggests a new paradigm in student space design: the "Urban Livingroom." The space is a network of "interweaving microcosms and amenities woven together by leading floor lines and outdoor furnitures."
A portion of the quad has been fenced off for construction and painting as the Legacy Project design takes shape with new ramps, tables and planters.
The celebration event takes place between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Photograph courtesy of the Faculty of Arts Twitter account.
Reflecting on Zero Waste Week
During the week of October 15 to 19, the University of Waterloo celebrated Zero Waste Week, with support from the Sustainability Office and Plant Operations to bring challenges and activities to employees and students across campus. More than 600 people took part in the Sort-A-Thon waste sorting game, waste reduction quiz, and the Zero Waste Challenge, while Waste Mountain by DC served as a powerful visual of how much waste is generated in one building for one week on campus.
More than 20 Green Offices participated in the Zero Waste Challenge, competing against one another for the title of Zero Waste Week Warriors 2018. Congratulations to the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo & Safety Office, the Dean of Environment, and the Dean of Engineering & Human Resources for taking first place in the small, medium, and large office categories! A special shoutout also goes to the Dean of AHS office for coming in close second to the Dean of Environment in their Dean’s Office Zero Waste Challenge competition!
Please visit the Sustainability Office website for a more detailed recap of Zero Waste Week 2018.
From Halloween to Movember, some quick cuts
More Halloween photos have come in from across campus, as employees got into the spirit of the season:
The Student Service Specialist team’s “Fruit Salad,” which won the Registrar's Office costume contest.
The Advancement communications team.
The Student Awards and Financial Aid Office team.
The Healthy Workplace Committee is supporting Movember for the month of November and is encouraging departments to also take part in Movember for men's health. Check out the Movember Canada website for more information. The Movember Foundation is not only supporting projects fighting prostate and testicular cancer but also on mental health and suicide prevention. How can you help? During the month of November, commit to doing a fund raising activity to have a little fun and contribute to a good cause. Check out the Healthy Workplace Committee website for ideas! Stay tuned for more details on a Campus-Wide Movember Scavenger Hunt!