Monday, March 27, 2023

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• Register for tomorrow's Research Talks on Sustainable Urban Environments
• GSPA presents a Wicked Problem of Climate Change Symposium
• Nutrition Month: how to find the right Registered Dietitian for you
• Waterloo students collaborate on sustainable solutions at SDG Impact Challenge
• A sure sign of spring: the 2022 sunshine list is now available
• Eagle Staff welcome ceremony; Senate meets today; other notes

Register for tomorrow's Research Talks on Sustainable Urban Environments

A message from the Office of Research.

How will environmental sustainability and innovative sustainable design shape our future?

Register to attend Research Talks, a community event open to all Waterloo faculty, staff, students, and the general public on Tuesday evening (March 28) at Four Fathers Brewing Co. in Cambridge.

Join experts on the future of sustainable urban environments for a panel discussion and Q&A featuring:

• Mohamad T. Araji, School of Architecture, University of Waterloo (High performance architecture: Towards a zero-carbon mandate for environmental sustainability);
• Amelia Clarke, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), University of Waterloo (Reaching net-zero: Climate mitigation at the city scale);
• Matthew Day, WR Community Energy (Energy in the built environment); and
• Alex Tedesco, LGA Architectural Partners (What is the future of “building” communities and where we are now?).

GSPA presents a Wicked Problem of Climate Change Symposium

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) will be hosting a Wicked Problem of Climate Change Symposium on Tuesday, March 28.

"In winter 2023, a pilot interdisciplinary undergraduate course was co-taught by six doctoral students, representing all six faculties at the University of Waterloo," says a note from GSPA. "The Wicked Problem of Climate Change brings the disciplinary expertise of both doctoral and undergraduate students together, as they tackle one of the world's biggest and most complex problems."

"This interdisciplinary course provides a comprehensive overview of the wicked problem of climate change," says the course information page. "Unlike ordinary problems, which are well-defined, self-contained, and come with a limited set of potential solutions, wicked problems resist definition, are mixed up with other problems, and cannot be solved in a way that is simple or final. As the pace of climate change accelerates and environmental and social impacts are increasingly being felt at the individual, community, and global level, there is a growing need for responses and solutions that crosscut disciplinary boundaries. This course approaches the wicked problem of climate change from diverse disciplinary perspectives (i.e., applied sciences, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences) to investigate the various dimensions of this global challenge."

Tuesday's event will showcase the final projects of the undergraduate students as they propose solutions to a chosen climate change problem. The event will include poster presentations, special guests and food and drink.

The event takes place on Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Life Centre's Black and Gold Room. Register for the event.

Nutrition Month: how to find the right Registered Dietitian for you

March is Nutrition Month! This month is a time to celebrate the diverse field of nutrition and the many ways that Registered Dietitians (RDs) strive to help Canadians understand the connections between food, nutrition, and health. The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Unlocking the potential of food: Find a Dietitian.”

Over the past four weeks, we have explored the role of RDs, what they do, how they offer support to Canadians, and how you can go about seeking out RD services. We have also celebrated the diverse RD roles that are present right here on the UWaterloo campus! Miss any of these? Not to worry - you can catch up on this year’s Nutrition Month posts here:

• Monday, March 6, 2023;
• Monday, March 13, 2023;
• Wednesday, March 15, 2023; and
• Monday, March 20, 2023.

Last week, we looked at various ways that you can seek out RD support for yourself and/or your family. If you do not have access to an RD through your family doctor, family health team, or a local community health centre – or if you have needs that would best be met by an RD with specific expertise - a private practice RD may be the best fit for you. Remember that RD services are often included in many health insurance plans, including that offered to UWaterloo employees by Green Shield Canada. Be sure to check out what your coverage includes and what reimbursement you may be eligible for.

Now how do you go about finding a person with the right fit?

To make things easy for you, we’ve compiled some tips to assist you in your search for the right RD match:

• When doing a web search, be as specific as possible in what you are looking for and what your needs are (if you know what they are!). For example, use terms like “Gut health dietitian in Kitchener” or “Pediatric dietitian in Cambridge” or “Sports dietitian in Oakville” etc. Private practice RDs will note their areas of expertise on their websites. Being specific in your search parameters will help to bring RDs with an appropriate skill set to the top of your search
• Databases exist that can help you find the right fit:
  • ‘Find a Dietitian’ hosted by Dietitians of Canada: https://members.dietitians.ca/DCMember/s/find-dietitian?language=en_US
  • Dietitian Directory: https://dietitiandirectory.com/
  • *Note: These resources only include RDs in private practice that subscribe to these databases in order to have their services listed, therefore, they do not represent all support that may be available 
• Be critical in your search! Remember that RDs are the only regulated health professionals with advanced training in nutrition. This means that you can feel safe knowing that RDs are only going to provide you with advice and recommendations that are based in the best available evidence and science – no fads or gimmicks!
  • Look for the credentials of the practitioner you are considering. Among them, you want to see RD or PDt (DtP in French). These titles are specific to RDs in Canada. If you are accessing information from the United States, you may see titles such as RDN, LDN, or others. Be critical and ensure they are a dietitian registered with an appropriate college based on their location
• Do your research! If there’s more than one RD in your area that offers what you are looking for, explore their websites. Many private practice RDs offer free brief consultations and/or discovery calls. Explore your options to determine which feels like the best fit for you
• Did you find a good fit but they aren’t close to you? Virtual counselling options are often available and can connect you to experts across the province. Take some time to reflect on how you’d like to meet and what would provide the most value to you. *Note: Provincial college regulations in Ontario mandate that to work with an RD licensed in Ontario, you must reside in Ontario during the time of your interactions. These regulations can vary by province.

For more information on Registered Dietitians or on Nutrition Month, check out the following links:

• https://www.collegeofdietitians.org/public.aspx
• https://www.dietitians.ca/About/Learn-About-Dietitians#
• https://www.dietitians.ca/About/Learn-About-Dietitians/The-difference-between-a-dietitian-and-nutritionis

Waterloo students collaborate on sustainable solutions at SDG Impact Challenge

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education.

Proposing environmental and upskilling solutions to help scale the efforts of India-based Avani Bio Energy was the focus of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Challenge. 

The third annual hackathon-styled competition invited Waterloo undergraduate and graduate students across all faculties to design sustainable solutions to impact communities in the Uttarakhand villages (Avani’s headquarters). The challenge took place on Friday, March 10 and Saturday March 11, 2023, in Alumni Hall at Waterloo’s United College. 

The SDG impact challenge is a collaboration between Waterloo’s Co-operative and Experiential Education unit, the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) and Impact Alliance.

Learn more about the intent of the challenge and the solutions presented by reading the full article on the CEE website.

A sure sign of spring: the 2022 sunshine list is now available

The University of Waterloo has released a list of the 1,903 employees who were paid more than $100,000 in 2022.

Public-sector employers in Ontario are required to publish the list every March since the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was passed in 1996. Other universities, school boards, hospitals, colleges, municipalities, and the government itself are now making similar information for last year public.

The $100,000 list includes most of Waterloo's professors, and a number of staff members and senior administrators. It includes people employed by Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, and United College. St. Jerome’s University reports its salary disclosure list separately.

In addition to the salary, a figure is given for taxable benefits received by each individual, for such extras as employer-paid life insurance.

Last year's salary disclosure is also available online.

Eagle Staff welcome ceremony; Senate meets today; other notes

A scene from the sunrise ceremony taking place inside Fed Hall this morning.

An Eagle Staff will be presented to the University of Waterloo in a ceremony at Federation Hall at 10:00 a.m. this morning. The entire University community is invited to participate in this ceremony, which is expected to take up to 90 minutes, including an opportunity for refreshments afterwards.

The University's Senate meets at 3:30 p.m. today in NH 3407. Among the agenda items:

• A motion to approve a new course-based Master of Future Cities (MFC) offered by the Faculty of Environment, effective 1 September 2023;
• A motion to approve adding a direct entry Co-operative program/option to the MEng in Chemical Engineering, effective 1 May 2023;
• A motion to approve updating the MEng in Chemical Engineering degree requirements to include one new Graduate Specialization in Entrepreneurship, effective 1 May 2023;
• A motion to approve updating the MKin degree requirements in the Faculty of Health to include two new Graduate Specialization in Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) and Movement and Exercise Sciences (MES), effective 1 May 2023.

President Vivek Goel will give a presentation on the draft Waterloo at 100 vision paper, and Senate will then consider a motion to recommend that the University of Waterloo’s Board of Governors endorse the draft vision document, Waterloo at 100, dated March 17, 2023.

Vice-President, Academic & Provost James Rush will give an operating budget presentation as Senate considers a motion to recommend that the Board of Governors approve the 2023-24 Operating Budget.

Senate will also consider a motion to approve amendments to Policy 3 – Sabbatical and Other Leaves for Faculty Members, and recommend the amendments to the Board of Governors for approval.

Also on the agenda are a pair of proposals that make changes to the schedule of Senate meetings, as well as changes to Senate's membership:

The first proposal is to amend the annual meeting schedule of Senate, and the formats for meetings of Senate, reducing the normal number of general Senate meetings from 10 to 8 annually and adding provision for holding meetings electronically as well as in hybrid format (e.g. with simultaneous in-person and electronic participation). Senate will be asked to give first reading to amendments to Senate Bylaw 1, and endorse the guidelines for the annual schedule of meetings, and approve the changes to the annual work plan.

The second proposal is to amend the ex-officio membership of Senate to provide for the appointment of five members of University administration by the president, reflecting requirements for Senate operations and considerations for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the membership of Senate. Specifically, the amendments to Senate Bylaw 4 will see the removal of five (5) named ex-officio members, namely the Vice-President, Advancement, the Vice-President, University Relations, the Vice-President, Research and International, the Associate Vice-President, Acdemic, and the Deputy Provost, Integrated Planning and Budgeting, and the addition of a section that will see five ex-officio members drawn from the University administration as designated by the president. Senate will consider a motion to give first reading to the amendments to Senate Bylaw 4 as presented in this report, with said amendments to effect: a. Removal of five (5) named ex-officio members, items (a)-(e) in the bylaw b. Addition of five ex-officio members drawn from the university administration, as designated by the president and that Senate endorse the “Note to Reader on Presidential Ex-Officio Appointments”, to be included as a statement separate from Senate Bylaw 4.

President Vivek Goel will also make official the Open Call for Nominations for Honorary Degrees.

Among the items to be passed as part of the Consent Agenda is a motion that Senate approve the proposed academic regulation revision of the invalid combination of the Diploma of Sustainability with the Environment, Resources and Sustainability Honours and Joint degrees for the Faculty of Environment, effective 1 September 2024. Other items in the Consent Agenda include updates on the University Professor Designation and a report from Vice-President, Research and International on Research outputs and outcomes: Awards, Distinctions, Successful Grants, and Waterloo International Engagements.