Tuesday, March 3, 2020

All aboard: work-travel opportunities for Waterloo staff

A message from Human Resources and Waterloo International.

Are you looking to further your professional development through idea-exchange and learning alongside counterparts at other universities, colleges, research institutions or industry-partner organizations?

Join HR and Waterloo International for a brown bag lunch information session on staff work-travel opportunities at Waterloo. 

Attendees will learn about the Staff Enhancement Experience (SEE) Canada Grant and the Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF). These opportunities provide staff members with funding to travel to other institutions abroad or within Canada to engage in a collaborative learning experience. The info session will provide details about the two opportunities, the application process and give attendees a chance to hear from past recipients about their experiences. A question and answer period will help employees identify the right program for their own professional development needs. 

The brown bag lunch information session will be held on Tuesday, March 17 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Davis Centre 1302. Please confirm your attendance by registering here.

For more information, visit the SEE Canada Grant and the Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF) websites.

If you have questions about the grants, email seecanada@uwaterloo.ca for SEE Canada or ashley.mccarthy@uwaterloo.ca for SIEF.

Concept 5K finals to feature all-women judging panel

The upcoming Winter 2020 Concept $5K Finals pitch competition will be taking place on Tuesday, March 24 and for the first time in the competition's history will feature an all-women panel of judges.

Ten student teams will pitch for their share of $20,000 in funding at the event, with each competitor having just 3 minutes to pitch their startup idea to the panel of judges.

The panellists are:

• Jessica Chalk, President and CEO, of fast-growing digital marketing agency TrafficSoda. Prior to founding TrafficSoda, Jessica was the co-owner of DDE Media. In 2016, the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce nominated Jessica as Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and Traffic Soda received Gold recognition as Favourite Marketing Firm from The Record. Jessica holds a degree in International Business from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, and a Masters in Entrepreneurship from MIT. 
• Heather Galt, Vice President of Marketing, P&P Optica, which uses imaging and machine learning to assess the composition and quality of food, and prior to joining P&P Optica, she worked as a Growth Coach at WEtech Alliance. Heather is a leader and mentor with global experience, specializing in launching new products, B2B marketing, channel marketing, community building and privacy. Heather holds a degree in Psychology and Business from York University, and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. 
• Natalie Smith, Analyst, Whitecap Venture Partners, and prior to joining Whitecap, worked as an Innovation Consultant for Deloitte. She also has experience working in biomedical fields including tissue engineering, spine biomechanics, and user accessibility. Natalie holds a degree in Engineering Physics with a specialty in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University, as well as a Masters of Management in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (also from Queen’s University).

The event will also feature special guest speaker Martin Basiri, co-founder and CEO of ApplyBoard, who will sit down for a fireside chat with Camelia Nunez, director of Concept. ApplyBoard simplifies the study abroad search, application, and acceptance process by connecting international students, recruitment partners, and academic institutions on one platform. They will discuss Martin's entrepreneurial journey, the realities of founding a startup, and what it's like to be CEO of a rapidly growing company. The fireside chat begins at 11:00 a.m. 

The event takes place in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall on Tuesday, March 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Beyond the Headlines event talks political polarization

The first in the Beyond the Headlines Lecture series took place last night at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. President Feridun Hamdullahpur delivered opening remarks at the “Who is Defending Democracy?” event, which featured a panel of three University of Waterloo professors talking about the current age of increased political polarization and decreased level of trust in institutions in front of a capacity crowd.

“Ultimately, the democratic experience is facing its biggest challenges to date and we have our University of Waterloo community to address it,” said moderator Craig Norris.

When Norris asked why social media sites like Twitter were seen as so powerful, panellist Emmett Macfarlane pointed out that Twitter and Facebook were the primary mode in which people get the news.

“Our polarization is built into the technology we use today,” Panellist Bessma Momani said as she discussed how social media is a polarizing, personal experience with the other panellists.

Beyond the Headlines is hosted by the University of Waterloo in partnership with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

Leadership development program extends registrations; other notes

Organizational & Human Development is extending the registration of applications for its two immersive Leadership Development programs: Leadership Essentials and Leadership Foundations. "Whether you are a new or seasoned manager, these two development opportunities can help you maximize your full potential," says a note from OHD. "Both programs are aligned to support Waterloo’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, Connecting Imagination with Impact. The mission, vision, and values of the university are embedded within our programs, and OHD is proud to help advance and support the lifelong learning and professional growth of employees. Please review the program descriptions and program guide to learn more about the program requirements, the application procedure, and to assess which program may be best suited to your needs." 

Applications will be accepted until March 5. Anyone with questions about the programs is invited to contact John Fedy, learning & development specialist, about Leadership Essentials, or Susan Willsie, learning & development specialist, about Leadership Foundations.

Here's today's Nutrition Month "Myth vs. Fact" provided by Health Services Dietitian Sandra Ace:

Myth: Healthy eating is all about the food we eat.

Fact: Dietitians love food and believe in its powerful potential to improve health. But we also take a broad view of food’s ability to enhance our lives in more ways than physical wellbeing. Healthy eating is about much more than food – how we eat is important too, and is the theme underlying Nutrition Month 2020, More Than Food. Thanks to advocacy by Canadian dietitians and related organizations like Dietitians of Canada, Canada’s Food Guide now includes guidance on more than simply what foods to eat.

Healthy eating is not about eating more broccoli and giving up chocolate, as all foods can be a part of a nutritious eating pattern. Healthy eating is about having balanced, varied and regular meals but also means being mindful of our eating habits. Being mindful helps us become more aware of not just the foods we eat but why, when, where and how we eat them. Eating mindfully means taking time to eat, fully experiencing meals and noticing signs of hunger and fullness. This can help us improve our awareness of day-to-day eating decisions so that we can make positive changes to choices, portions or routines. Mindful eating doesn’t always come instinctively in today’s fast-paced world. Learn more about the benefits of mindful eating strategies and how to get started here.