Thursday, February 14, 2019

Nominating committee recommends next Dean of Arts

The nominating committee tasked with selecting the next dean of the Faculty of Arts has announced a recommended candidate. The committee unanimously recommends Professor Sheila Ager for a five-year term as dean beginning July 1, 2019.

Professor Ager completed her BA and MA degrees at Queen’s University, and earned her doctorate from the University of British Colombia. She joined the University of Waterloo in 1987 and has served her department, Faculty and the university in a variety of roles over 30 years including: Chair of the Department of Classical Studies (2009-17), Associate Dean Of Arts for undergraduate studies (2001-07), interim Chair of the Department of Fine Arts (2017-19), Director of the University of Waterloo’s Academic Leadership Program (2016 to present), along with two terms as a member of Senate and one term as a member of the Board of Governors.

The Arts community will be given the opportunity to review Professor Ager’s curriculum vitae and cover letter, and to meet her on Friday, February 15. Regular Arts faculty and staff, as well as regular faculty from the Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo, will then vote on her acceptability as the next dean of Arts.

More information about Professor Ager, the search process, and opportunities to meet with her are available on the committee website.

Your child's myopia: Three things you need to know now

A message from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Rates of myopia (near-sightedness) in Canadian kids are growing and a recent study by researchers at Waterloo’s Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) found that roughly a third of these cases go undiagnosed and uncorrected. Though optometrists used to see myopia in children starting around ages 12 and 13, the condition is becoming more prevalent in kids as young as six.

While myopia is usually not a cause for concern, some children experience a rapid progression of the condition. And progressive myopia is a serious problem. Because the worse myopia gets, the higher the risk of retinal deterioration, which can lead to vision loss.

Genetic and environmental factors

1. Researchers aren’t certain what causes myopia, but genetic and environmental factors seem to be at play. Your child’s risk of developing myopia is 26 per cent if one parent is near-sighted and almost doubles to 45 per cent if both parents have myopia.
2. Excessive close-up work (like looking at a phone) and insufficient Vitamin D may be factors in why some children develop myopia. The Waterloo study found that reducing screen time and spending one additional hour per week outdoors lowers the odds of children becoming myopic by 14 per cent.
3. We can’t prevent progressive myopia, but we can slow it down. At our clinic at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, optometrists use specially designed contact lenses and atropine eye drops which have been shown to be effective in controlling the progression of myopia.

If you’d like more information about progressive myopia and its management, please call the School’s Cornea, Contact Lens and Myopia Control Clinic at 519-888-4414 or 519-888-4567, extension 84414.

If your child wears glasses for nearsightedness and is between the ages of 6-9, they could be eligible to participate in a new study at CORE. Receive $690 and a free pair of spectacle frames for 9 visits over 3 years. To register, or for more information, visit www.COREstudies.ca/cypress.

Applications open for Gender Equity Research Grants

The application deadline for the Gender Equity Research Grants is Friday, June 14.

Continuing to work toward Waterloo’s HeForShe IMPACT commitments and gender equity on campus, the University is proud enter the fourth of year of the grants. Individual grants of up to $10,000 will be funded to support research that investigates or addresses gender equity.

Preference is given to projects that are of demonstrated relevance to the University of Waterloo or advance Waterloo's three IMPACT 10x10x10 commitments:

• boost girls’ participation in STEM experiences to build future female leaders
• enhance female faculty representation to drive toward parity in the future
• advance women into positions that lead the university

For information on eligibility and to review the guidelines, visit the Gender Equity Research Grants website.

Questions can be directed to Diana Parry, Chair, University of Waterloo Gender Equity Research Grant Committee, at extension 43468.