Tuesday, December 4, 2018


Senior Leadership videos continue with University Secretary Karen Jack

This is the sixth entry in the Daily Bulletin's senior leadership video series.

Karen Jack.Karen Jack was named University Secretary in May 2017. Jack has worked at the University of Waterloo for 18 years, with 15 of them spent in various roles within the Secretariat.

She had served as the University’s privacy officer since 2006, ensuring that the University meets its statutory obligations under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The University Secretary is a member of the senior administrative team, providing advice and guidance on effective University governance for the Board of Governors, the Senate, and the executive group. The portfolio of responsibilities also includes liaising with legal counsel, coordinating internal audits and risk management, and overseeing the departments responsible for policing, safety, and records management. 

Jack has a bachelor of arts and a master of arts, both in history, from the University of Waterloo.

Wednesday's Research Talks explores the impact of supercomputer Graham on big data

Research Talks logo

The largest computer in Canada, Waterloo’s supercomputer Graham is built for big data. Find out how three researchers are tapping into this computing power at the next Research Talks.

 Andrea Scott, Scott Hopkins, and Regis Pomes.

Please register to attend this panel presentation on December 5 (11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) featuring:

  • Scott Hopkins (Chemistry): Understanding the structures and properties of nanoclusters by engaging supercomputing
  • Andrea Scott (Systems Design Engineering): Processing remote sensing data using supercomputing to improve knowledge of sea ice
  • Régis Pomès  (Biochemistry, University of Toronto): Developing novel computational methods with supercomputing to study biomolecular systems

A light lunch will be provided.

Research Talks is a regular series hosted by the Office of Research and supported by the Research Support Fund to provide Waterloo staff, faculty, and students with an opportunity to learn about world-class research at Waterloo.

Diary of a Nobel Laureate - a visit to PhysiX

Professor Donna Strickland and a student volunteer demonstrate the power of a laser.

This content was originally posted on Waterloo Stories, part of the Diary of a Nobel Laureate series. Keep scrolling down on that page for new entries and updates to the story.

December 1

Strickland surprised over 125 girls at the PhysiX: Girls Matter event. PhysiX is a one day seminar for girls in grades 7 and 8 to encourage and engage them in exploring physics and science. 

 Girls Matter event.

Strickland performed a laser demonstration and explained how lasers are so much cooler than lightsabers. (editor's note: I was going to contest this assertion but then I realized that Professor Strickland has a Nobel Prize and all I have is a collection of Kenner action figures)

Link of the day

The Thriller video at 35: still terrorizing y'all's neighbourhood

When and where

Holiday Luncheon Buffet at the University Club, Wednesday, November 28 to Friday, December 21, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University Club.

Pre-examination study days, Tuesday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 5.

Salt Use in the Winter, Tuesday, December 4, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 pm, MC 5501.

Strategies for Success: CIHR grant information session for spring 2019 applications, Wednesday, December 5, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., DC 1304.

Research Talks: Pushing back the frontiers of knowledge with supercomputing, Wednesday, December 5, 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Math and Computer Building, Room 2017.

NEW - Copyright and Your Thesis, Wednesday, December 5, 12:00 p.m., LIB 329 FLEX Lab.

More Feet on the Ground - Mental Health Training, Wednesday, December 5, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., NH 2447.

Retirement party for Vera Korody and Vic DiCiccio, Wednesday, December 5, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., University Club.

Retirement reception for Rohan Jayasundera, Wednesday, December 5, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., IQC main atrium.

Better Birth Experiences: Empowering Partners, Preventing Trauma, Wednesday, December 5, 6:00 p.m., AHS 2677.

NEW - Coping Skills Seminar - Cultivating Resiliency, Wednesday, December 5, 6:00 p.m., HS 2302.

Examination period begins, Thursday, December 6.

LGBTQ+ Making Spaces workshop, Thursday, December 6, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., NH 3318.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women vigil, Thursday, December 6, 10:30 a.m., Engineering 7 (E7) - Second Floor Atrium.

Online course examination days, Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8.

Lectures in Catholic Experience featuring Christine Gervais, PhD, Beyond the Altar: Canadian Women Religious Confront Patriarchal Power in the Roman Catholic Church, Saturday, December 7, 7:30 p.m., Vanstone Lecture Hall, SJU Academic Centre.

QPR Mental Health Training, Monday, December 10, 9:30 a.m., Counselling Services.

Donna Strickland Nobel Ceremony Viewing Party, Monday, December 10, 10:30 a.m., Science Teaching Complex Main Commons. Livestream.

NEW - Coping Skills Seminar - Challenging Thinking, Monday, December 10, 4:00 p.m., HS 2302.

NEW - Eating Disorder Support Group, Tuesday, December 11, 4:00 p.m., NH 3308.

NEW - Germanic and Slavic Studies presents Fall 2018 Poetry Walk and Golden Boar Awards, Thursday, December 11, 5:00 p.m., HH 1102.

NEW - Guest Lecture featuring Professor Alison Marshall, Brandon University, "The doing and undoing of religion in the field: ethnographic approaches to religion and migration," Wednesday, December 12, 11:00 a.m., PAS 1055.

NEW - Waterloo Women's Wednesdays Holiday Party, Wednesday, December 12, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., HH 334.

Holiday Dinner Buffet at the University Club, Wednesday, December 12, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., University Club.

Alleviating Anxiety Seminar, Wednesday, December 12, 5;00 p.m., HS 2302.

Deadline to get "Fees Arranged", Thursday, December 13.

President's Holiday Luncheon, Friday, December 14, 12:00 p.m., Federation Hall.

Retirement celebration for Jerry Hutten, Friday, December 14, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., University Club. RSVP by Wednesday, December 5 to Sharon Rumpel - srumpel@uwaterloo.ca.

Holiday Buffet Luncheon in Federation Hall, Tuesday, December 18, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Federation Hall.

Advent Jazz Vesper Service, Tuesday, December 18, 7:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College Chapel.

NEW _ Portfolio & Project Management Community of Practice (PPM CoP) session, “Community of Practice: What is it and future direction,” Wednesday, December 19, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., East Campus 5 (EC5), 1111. 

UWRC Book Club, “The Steady Running of the Hour” by Justin Go, Wednesday, December 19, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., LIB 407.