Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Major grant will help University of Waterloo build a sustainable aeronautics sector

This article originally appeared on Waterloo News.

The University of Waterloo was awarded nearly $10 million in federal funding today for a major initiative to rebuild Canada's pandemic-battered aeronautics sector and position it for a more sustainable future.

The investment will support ground-breaking research by the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) as it explores new technologies, processes and policies to help the industry become more resilient and meet its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.

"I believe in a future where every flight we take is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Today's federal announcement is a vote of confidence that the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics will make that future possible," said Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. "This support will activate the transdisciplinary research and teaching needed to reduce emissions and prepare aviation professionals to transform this vital sector."

"Ontario-made parts are found in almost every passenger plane in the world," said the Houourable Filomena Tassi, minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). "And it's the workers who will continue to take this industry to new heights. That's why our government is investing directly in the organizations, businesses and people who will drive innovation across the sector and ensure workers have the skills needed to continue growing a strong, sustainable economy that works for everyone."

COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on aviation

The funding comes through the FedDev Ontario Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative.

"Canada's aviation industry is working to reverse the setbacks related to COVID-19. Disruptions caused by the pandemic left passenger aircraft parked at airports for months and worsened projected shortages of pilots, controllers and maintenance engineers," said WISA's director, Dr. Suzanne Kearns.

As the recovery from the pandemic continues, the aviation and aerospace industries have a unique opportunity to explore and embrace new, potentially revolutionary technology to do their part in the fight against climate change. Worldwide, these industries are responsible for two to three per cent of all emissions. Since the industry is expected to continue to expand, emissions produced by this industry will also grow unless steps are taken toward greater sustainability.

Kearns believes WISA — the first institute of its kind in Canada — can play a vital role in this shift towards sustainability. When WISA launched in the fall of 2021, its mission was to become the world's leading hub for research, technology and education to build a sustainable future for the aviation, aerospace and space industries.

"That is a goal of this funding … to take us to that mission," said Kearns.

Investing in a world-leading hub for research, technology and education

"Waterloo has the potential to be a global hub for sustainable innovation in aviation," said Kearns. "We have all the pieces here, and we would love to be the beacon where if you love aviation, sustainability and new technology — come to Waterloo."

WISA will mobilize the interdisciplinary research capabilities of Waterloo's six faculties to move forward with sustainable solutions.

The federal investment will support several initiatives with environmental, social and economic sustainability at their core. Examples include:

• Support for research that has a direct impact on the aeronautics sector. The approved projects could experiment with hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels, design solar-powered hangars, pioneer networks of electric chargers for e-planes or expand the capabilities for remotely piloted aircraft and autonomous flight.
• A new partnership between WISA, the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre and the Region of Waterloo International Airport, including a new "Innovation Hub" at the airport where the flight centre can expand its flight-training capacity. In addition, the Innovation Hub will be a testing ground for green technologies and new training methods.
• Support for innovative sustainable aeronautics start-ups, which will be identified through special pitch competitions and selected for their economic and job creation potential.
• Two new professional development e-learning courses are designed to teach the aviation workforce how to make the sector more sustainable and reduce its environmental footprint.

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) opens today

A message from Institutional Analysis and Planning.

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) opens on our campus today for first-year and graduating year students. The survey closes April 10^th, 2023. 

Every three years, the Indiana University Centre for Post-secondary Research releases NSSE to collect data from first year and graduating undergraduate students at over 1,650 participating North American post-secondary institutions.    

First-year and graduating year students will receive an email today, via their uwaterloo student account and upon logging into LEARN, inviting them to participate in the 15- 25-minute survey. Students who submit their NSSE survey responses will receive $5 on their WatCard, and a chance to win one of six $100 Amazon.ca gift cards.   

NSSE results identify where institutions are performing well, alongside areas that could use improvement. This survey has been an extremely valuable tool in determining and supporting best practices around Waterloo’s undergraduate student experience. By identifying student needs from their own perspectives, participating students play a significant role in bringing about positive change to policy and practice both in and outside of the classroom.   

By asking students about their own experiences, opinions, and ideas, we can continue to enhance and improve the Waterloo student experience.  

Visit the Institutional Analysis and Planning websites for more information about the survey or project. You can also contact analysis@uwaterloo.ca. 

Exhibition at University of Waterloo Art Gallery concludes March 4

A message from UWAG and UW Fine Arts in conjunction with the UW Sexual Violence Prevention Response Office.

Please join us for a discussion between visiting artist Laura Magnusson and Meaghan Ross, Sexual Violence Response Coordinator at the Sexual Violence Prevention Response Office. They will discuss themes relating to trauma and resilience in relation to the artist’s current exhibition I was Wearing Golden Clamshell Earrings on display at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery through March 4.

In addition to the discussion there will be a participatory activity inspired by the artist’s drawing installation 74 Minutes. 

Ranging from video and sculpture, to drawing and archival materials, the artworks in the exhibition collectively express a form of “embodied testimony” based on the artist’s research and her lived experience as a sexual assault survivor. Drawing parallels between her own experience of gender-based violence with the violence routinely inflicted upon the ecology of the ocean floor, Magnusson’s work invites empathy and contemplation of difficult, often suppressed topics.

Please be advised that this exhibition includes themes of sexual violence and trauma, which some viewers may find distressing. It may also be the case that some viewers may not notice any impact until after engaging with the exhibit. A list of available resources and supports will be available at the front desk of the gallery, and we encourage you to consider accessing these as needed. Learn more about the exhibition.

Q and A with the experts: Bird flu spillover to mammals a cause for concern

The World Health Organization recently stated that the spillover to mammals of H5N1 influenza—commonly known as bird flu—should be monitored closely, and we need to be prepared to face infection in humans. Dr. Christine Dupont, a biologist at the University of Waterloo, is an expert on infectious disease in animals. This interview has been condensed.

This outbreak of bird flu is affecting domesticated and wild bird populations worldwide. How would you characterize it?

This strain doesn’t seem like a regular bird influenza. It’s referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza. Bird influenza is common, and these viruses evolve quickly. The big picture is that many influenza viruses, like this H5N1 bird flu, come from aquatic birds. It’s monitored intensely because they are potential pandemic viruses.

What is the concern about a jump to humans?

Spillover events are a worry, especially when you’ve got a virus like this that’s highly contagious among birds and causing infection in a lot of different organ tissues. And if it has been moving into other animal species, that means it could also not just jump the tissue barrier, but the species barrier. We know in the past that every pandemic we’ve had with influenza, like the swine flu and the Spanish flu, had their origins from spillover events that can all trace back to aquatic birds.

What should people do if they come into contact with sick or dead birds?

As migratory birds are moving and breeding, there’s probably going to be another peak of bird flu, and there may be sick or dead birds in the area. People shouldn’t be touching those, but we shouldn’t be leaving them there either because that increases the chances that a mammal or another bird might eat them. There’s a phone number people can call for someone to pick up the carcasses or deal with the sick birds. They are available on the website of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

This series is produced for the media, and its purpose is to share the expertise of UWaterloo researchers. If you’d like to contact this researcher, please reach out to media relations.

Wednesday's notes

The deadline to apply to be the next Assistant Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs is March 3. Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs is seeking to fill two positions. To apply, and to review the full details of the role, visit the GSPA website.

The latest in Conrad Grebel University College's Noon Hour Concert series continues with Poland Parables, today at 12:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College Chapel.

Poland Parables, music by Carol Ann Weaver (left), is a set of pieces based on text by Canadian Mennonite writer Connie Braun who recounted difficult, impossible, and heart-rending stories from her own family during WWII in Poland — stories of displacement, trauma, loss, and hardship. Carried by rhythms of words, music, and silence, Poland Parables pays tribute to the lasting grief of the Holocaust, to unfathomable human displacements, and stories of migration which, in the present day, rival that time. Eloquent portrayals of hope are also voiced here. Performers include Mary-Catherine Pazzano, soprano; Carol Ann Weaver, piano; Ben Bolt-Martin, cello. The work has been produced and is available as a combined book/CD, which can be purchased at the concert. Due to COVID, earlier performance plans had to be abandoned. It was premiered in the USA, October 2022. This Grebel performance marks its Canadian premiere. Admission is free.