Monday, March 21, 2022

Reflections on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

By Vivek Goel. This is the latest post on the President's blog.

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is an opportunity to reflect on the actions we can take to advance anti-racism, equity and inclusion, not just today, but throughout the year.

As places of higher learning, universities have an obligation and opportunity to take leadership in this area. We play an important role in educating our students and the public about the inequalities and injustices that continue to pervade society. We also have a responsibility to address these issues on our own campuses and in our communities.

We have to start by confronting the history of colonialism that has and continues to challenge so many people today, particularly Black, Indigenous and racialized people.

Advancing anti-racism and Truth and Reconciliation has always been critical work. The past two years have reminded us of the urgency of this work: the societal inequities that the pandemic has exposed, particularly against Black and Indigenous people, the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, and the continued discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools across the country.

These and other events remind us that racism is not just part of our past, but still very much a stain on our present—and so we must persist and be unrelenting in our efforts to stamp out racism from our future.

In Waterloo’s strategic plan, we acknowledge that having a diversity of voices and perspectives enriches our teaching and research. To truly honour the rich diversity of our community, we must proactively find, prevent and remove barriers, so everyone feels included and welcome at this institution, and can achieve their full potential.

It is challenging, but incredibly important work. I am heartened by the progress already underway at the University, including some recent initiatives:

• In October we announced the creation of two new organizational units: the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism, led by Dr. Christopher Taylor, and the Office of Indigenous Relations by Jean Becker.
• In November, the University of Waterloo was pleased to join more than 40 other institutions of higher learning in signing the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education.
• Additionally, Waterloo will offer two Black Studies diploma programs, through the Faculty of Arts. Both programs, developed by members of the Black Faculty Collective, under the leadership of Professor Vershawn (dr.vay) Young, and with campus-wide consultations, will be offered in fall 2022.

And across the University community, groups are taking coordinated actions to dismantle systems that perpetuate racial discrimination and build a more inclusive and equitable society.

I look forward to reviewing and taking action on the recommendations outlined in the final report of the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce in the coming months.

There is still much more work to do, but I am inspired by the action and dedication I have seen within our University community this past year. I look forward to continuing this work together.

W Store annual clearance event runs this week

A message from Print + Retail Solutions.

The Goose is Loose and they’ve marked down so many items. Starting today, Monday, March 21, be ready to shop in-store or online for savings up to 70 per cent off.

Come shop the event from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in South Campus Hall in W Store | Gifts + Apparel. Don’t miss out on some great deals on select apparel, technology accessories, and stationery, while supplies last.

Discounts are already applied. No coupon code is required. Any additional questions can be directed to the W Store team at wstore@uwaterloo.ca.

Follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss out.

World Water Day panel checks in on the state of Canada's groundwater

A message from the Water Institute.

The United Nations has chosen the theme Groundwater: Making the Invisible, Visible for the 2022 World Water Day celebrations.

Join the Water Institute on March 22 for a virtual panel exploring the vast diversity of Canada’s groundwater resources from coast to coast to coast with eight leading hydrogeologists from across Canada.

We will explore current and future challenges facing one of Canada’s most critical, yet underappreciated natural resources with a view towards sustainable management in a changing world.

Register for World Water Day celebrations on the event website.

History of neurological or psychiatric conditions increases the likelihood of developing more

This article originally appeared on Waterloo News.

People living with neurological or psychiatric conditions may have an increased likelihood of having a second such condition in the future, and their sex influences their risk, according to new research.

The study is Ontario’s largest, both in population size and length of time studied, and was also the first to examine the effect that being a man or woman has on the relationship between conditions. Researchers from the University of Waterloo and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Science conducted the work with funding from the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI).

“Globally, neurological and psychiatric disorders are leading causes of disability and death,” said Colleen Maxwell, a professor at the School of Pharmacy at Waterloo and lead author on the study. “Understanding which disorders or conditions are risk factors for, or early manifestations of, later disorders will help health-care providers and family provide proactive care for individuals living with these conditions.”

Maxwell and the study collaborators used provincial health databases to analyze data from more than five million Ontario residents aged 40 to 85 years. Over the course of 14 years, they examined the associations between pairs of particularly common neurological conditions­—such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke—and psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety.

They explored the link between these conditions in both directions, including investigating how the experience of previous stroke related to future risk of dementia and vice versa. In almost all cases, the researchers found that the rate of developing a second condition increased. For example, individuals with prior Parkinson’s disease had four times the rate of developing dementia, while those with prior stroke had more than double the rate of developing dementia. They also found that having a psychiatric disorder previously was associated with an increased rate of experiencing dementia later. For some conditions, the risk of developing the second disorder remained for 10 years or more after the first.

The team showed that women and men differed in their risk for developing a later condition after experiencing an earlier one. For example, comparing men and women who experienced an earlier stroke, women were more likely than their male counterparts to develop dementia later.

The researchers hope their work can inform not just the care that individuals with these conditions receive directly, but also the planning of the health system as a whole.

“We also hope to provide information for those designing medical, educational programs to ensure health-care providers are informed of and equipped to address these common comorbidities,” Maxwell said.

The ONDRI supported the research through the Ontario Brain Institute. The study was recently published in the journal Age and Aging.

Remembering Professor Sally Lerner

This is an excerpt of an article that originally appeared on the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability website.

The School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability is saddened by the recent death of one of our founding members and former School Directors, Sally Lerner. During her tenure from 1971 (when the School was named Man-Environment Studies) through retirement in 1996 (when it was named Environment and Resource Studies), Sally established a strong focus on social and environmental justice in the School – a focus that is stronger than ever today.

She was the author of an influential early book, "Basic Income: Security for All Canadians" that helped lay the groundwork for the current debate on adopting the concept of a guaranteed annual income as a national policy. Later in her career, she was an active collaborator with her partner, Professor George Francis, building on George’s work in establishing and fostering World Biosphere Reserves as part of an international UN-led program to preserve critically important natural and socio-ecological landscapes.  

She championed the one-to-one model of student mentorship SERS became known for and was happiest in facilitating students’ choose-your-own-adventure – she practiced ‘flipped classrooms’ before anyone had invented that term. These students have moved across the planet in a variety of lives and careers ranging from pioneering sustainable agriculture to what became the Right-to-Repair and Maker social movements.

She was a supporter and former Board member of The Working Centre founded by Waterloo alumni Joe and Stephanie Mancini – she loved their dedication to social justice and efforts to help people struggling with poverty and unemployment.  This relationship reflects Sally’s impact at UW – she was not just a professor in one unit – she was a mentor across the University in various units and in the original Interdisciplinary Studies degree program. Her passion for teaching was recognized formally when she received the Distinguished Teacher Award (1987).

Most important was the legacy she has left with the hundreds of students who benefitted from her kindness and wisdom. She was a true professor and educator, building a university community and bettering all of our lives.

Read the full announcement.

Test your skills and win with the Waste Sorting Challenge; other notes

The Sustainability Office and Plant Operations challenge you to put your waste skills to a test. From March 7 to April 1, students, faculty and staff are welcome to play the Waste Sorting Game and enter to win one of 20 prizes. The goal of this challenge is to better manage waste on the campus and further the Shift:Zero Campaign. The app can be found online or through Apple and Android app stores. Play the game by clicking the 'Game' tab in the Shift:Zero app and enter to win a prize by submitting contest form found under the 'Contest' tab.

On March 23and 24, visit the Sustainability Office and Plant Ops at their Waste Sorting Booth in the Davis Centre near the library (from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) to play the game, grab free swag and enter for a chance to win one of 20 prizes.

The Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) is offering a writing workshop entitled Writing Op-Eds. An op-ed, which is also known as "opposite the editorial page" is an opinion article found in newspapers in print and online, usually written by guest writers who are not affiliated with a publication's editorial board. "We're going to teach you strategies to engage your audience, structure your argument, and integrate analysis into your op-ed to help you craft a piece that is both persuasive and exciting for your audience to read," says a note from the WCC.

The next GEDIx Exchange Webinar - A 30 Minute Exchange event will take place on Tuesday, March 22 at 1:00 p.m. and will feature Hyivy and Cosm Medical, . "Women’s pelvic floor disorders: half of all women will suffer from them and little is said about this silent epidemic," says a note from GEDI. "In recognition of International Women’s Day in March, we invite you to learn about how breakthroughs in technology are making a difference."