Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Exceptional student teachers celebrated

The four winners of the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching By a Student (AETS) were named and celebrated at Monday's meeting of the University's Senate.

Abigale O’Reilly

Abigale O’Reilly is an undergraduate student in the department of Chemistry, recognized by students and faculty members for her enthusiasm, capability to create a supportive environment and dedication to teaching. It was highlighted that she can deliver content efficiently to her students allowing them to have a clear comprehension of the content, her students indicated that they would leave her labs understanding the content on a deeper level, not just “knowing the answer”. Abigale has also demonstrated that she goes above and beyond for her students, one student recalling, “during my roughest times, she was there to help me plan what to do and support me through my academics, without needing extensions or excessive accommodation.” Abigale is said to differentiate herself from some other TA’s by consistently putting the student first and being able to empathize with them. Abigale makes the teaching environment welcoming, and students can come as they are and ask questions without feeling belittled. Abigale’s supervisor highlights her work as impactful: “Attendance at these voluntary drop in sessions has increased over the term (from about 10 per day to 20-30 per day) as students hear from their friends about the value of the drop in sessions”. 

Abigale held a teaching assistant position for CHEM 121L and as a laboratory assistant for CHEM 125L and CHEM 123L. 

Justin Schrier

Justin Schrier is a Masters student in Physics and Astronomy. He has been described as inclusive and considerate in the learning environment. He considers that all students come from different learning backgrounds and takes the time to explain concepts in ways that his students can understand. His supervisor mentions that Justin goes above and beyond for his students - “Every morning he would get there 40 minutes early so he could draw colour diagrams for students who were visual learners.” Justin dedicates himself to both his teaching and students, ensuring that his students understand the course fully, often taking extra time to explain things until all his students truly understand the material. On, Justin’s impact on the course, a student noted, “Justin added colour to the course content solely through the energy he brought when speaking about material.” Justin is described as a memorable TA, and his students constantly look forward to his instructing. His students name Justin’s as “one of the most genuine Tas” – he welcomed questions, never becoming frustrated if he had to take extra time. Considering this is Justin’s first time taking on the TA role, he went above and beyond to approach the role confidently and passionately.  

 Justin has held a teaching assistant position for PHYS 111L. 

Mikaela Lewis

Mikaela Lewis is a Doctoral student in the department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Mikaela has been described as passionate, and adaptable in the classroom environment; if students are struggling in her course, she adjusts her teaching according to the feedback she receives. Mikaela goes above and beyond in her role as a TA and ensures that she is up to date on course material to better benefit her students, working with them until they understand the material. As told by a student, “Mikaela came to my lectures in order to stay up to date with what students were learning in class and ensure that she could use the same verbiage for clarity when talking to students”. As well, she holds additional office hours attended by many students, highlighting her impact in the classroom. Mikaela is also highly organized in her teaching; she creates preparatory notes and structures the course to provide students with a variety of teaching modalities. Her PhD supervisor mentions, “I received plenty of great feedback from students in her tutorials; this is quite rare that students go out of their way to complement a TA.” Overall, Mikaela demonstrates great efforts in her teaching and is shown to go above and beyond for her student's success. 

Mikaela has held a teaching assistant position for ME 351. 

Tandeep Sidhu

Tandeep Sidhu is a PhD Candidate in the Sociology and Legal Studies department. Tandeep relies on the use of critical approaches to examine a range of social issues in the classes he teaches. Known for prioritizing academic skill-building, Tandeep regularly provides his students with resources to aid in their future success beyond his class, such as organizing an Essay Writing Workshop in each class he teaches. A student who took that workshop mentioned that they are thankful for the new resource and have been implementing it into their papers. Tandeep is notable for creating a safe learning environment for his students. Finally, Tandeep is recognized for building a strong rapport with his students, where they feel he is very approachable. It was said that “[In] every single class, Tandeep would come into the room and light it up… his positive energy made a typical 3-hour lecture feel like a brief 1-hour lecture”. 

Tandeep has held teaching assistant positions for SOC/LS 280, SOC/LS 227, and SOC/LS 223. Tandeep was an instructor for SOC/LS 263, SOC/LS 370, and SOC/LS 419. 

The Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (AETS) awards are open to all students who have a formal teaching role at the University of Waterloo. Up to four awards are given annually in recognition of excellence in teaching of all kinds by registered students (e.g., teaching assistant, laboratory demonstrator, sessional lecturer).

Campus clean-up event to be held Friday in support of Earth Day

A message from the Sustainability Office and Faculty of Environment.

In advance of Earth Day, the Sustainability Office and others from the community are organizing a campus clean-up on Friday. Earth Day is recognized on Saturday, April 22, and people around the world will celebrate the planet and commit to climate action. At the University of Waterloo, protecting biodiversity is a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy. 

Waterloo’s 1,200-acre property is home to a wide variety of species in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including birds, mammals, fish, and insects. Recognizing the responsibility of stewardship for this land, the Sustainability Office and Plant Operations have been developing a standard for how we maintain and care for our natural spaces on campus. This has led to initiatives with students, employees and faculty to identify opportunities for improvement, like using only native plant species in green spaces and creating a permeable pavement project that helps control runoff during heavy rainfall. The work has also included building a master plan designed to maintain existing open areas by moving new buildings and development to the edges of campus.  

However, initiatives are by no means limited to the Sustainability Office or Plant Operations. There are many others advocating for nature and environmental protections on campus. The Society for Ecological Restoration – UW is a student group that hosts a variety of events to raise awareness and advocate for the protection of nature on and off campus. The Ecology Lab in EV1 supports lab and field activities, courses, projects, and outreach initiatives related to the study of our environment and helps students connect with the natural world through hands-on experiences. The EcoMap project plotted natural, semi-natural and landscaped areas on campus in order to enhance biodiversity data collection and monitoring.  

Safeguarding nature is important for mitigating the climate crisis, but it also helps us live healthy and happy lives. Interacting with nature has many physical and mental health benefits, such as lowered stress, improved memory, and restored attention. The practice of mindfully walking through natural areas, known in English as “forest bathing” or Japanese as “shinrin-yoku,” helps reduce depression, fatigue, and anxiety. As an increasing number of people experience eco-anxiety, nature can help address feelings of anger and sadness associated with observing the effects of climate change. Intentionally spending time in nature helps cultivate a feeling of belonging to and a sense of the responsibility for the land.

Campus Housing clean-up volunteers from 2017.

While green space may not be so visible on Waterloo’s main campus, nature is all around us. If you need a mood boost, take a walk by Columbia Lake in the north part of campus, explore the woodlot by Village 1, or stroll along Laurel Creek by the University colleges. Efforts are also underway to incorporate more greenery within the built environment through public green space such as the Peter Russell Rock Garden, pollinator gardens such as at Conrad Grebel and green roofs like at EV3.  

On Friday, April 21, join the Sustainability Office and others from our community for a campus clean-up of litter hotspots. This is a great way to celebrate Earth Day, spend some time outdoors, and make an impact to the health of our planet and each other. Staff will be in the EV3 atrium from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to distribute supplies and direct groups.  

Winners of the Map the System pitch competition named

By Selah Woelk. This article was originally published on the Conrad Grebel University College website.

A culmination of several months of work and research for student teams, the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement hosted the University of Waterloo campus finals of the Map the System research competition on Wednesday, April 12.

Out of 55 applicants, 5 finalists were chosen to present their research and systems maps to the judges on Wednesday afternoon for the chance to move onto the Canadian finals in May. With topics ranging from sustainability in the fashion industry to food insecurity among Syrian refugees, the student presentations were engaging and informative. Not only were student teams able to present their research, but there were also opportunities to network with campus and community innovation partners such as Velocity and GreenHouse.

The judges, John Abraham, Academic Dean at United College, Nada Basir, Assistant Professor in the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, and Sharon Kirkpatrick, Associate Professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, analyzed the team’s presentations, asked insightful questions, and finally chose the winning teams to receive prizes from generous sponsors. 

The third-place prize of $500, sponsored by the Waterloo Institue for Complexity and Innovation, was presented to a team of master's students whose research focused on “Sustainable Consumption and Production in Canadian Fashion.” Studying at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, Yvonne Anaekwe, Shweta Dhuliya, Noor Dhaliwal, Oksana Fedorenko, Camille Goldson, Carla Valerio Pena, and Victoria Van Hezewyk explored the fast fashion industry’s environmental impact and the culture shift needed for consumers to spur on more sustainable production methods.

The second-place prize of $1,000, sponsored by MEDA, was awarded to Eden Dale, Njoki Gacheru, Shamily Shanmuganathan, and Ming Yang who explored the topic of “Risks to Maternal and Young Child Health Posed by Climate Change in Coastal Bangladesh.” Coming from a master’s class in the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development that focused on systems thinking in international development, the team presented important health insights on one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.

The first-place prize of $2,000, sponsored by Kindred Credit Union, was awarded to Adriana Ceric, Jordan Li, and Sukhmani Sadiora for their presentation on “Wetland Management in the Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario.” This group of undergraduate students chose the topic of wetland management out of a passionate interest for the devastating wetland loss in Southern Ontario due to increased development. They described being “speechless” upon hearing they were chosen as the winners, feeling “honoured to simply be there, and even more honoured to be chosen as the winners.” The students’ co-op experience doing research into wetland health and composition as well as urban development informed both their research and passion for the topic. Team member Jordan noted that “the research process opened [her] eyes to how complex and interdisciplinary the issue of wetland management is.”

Jordan, Adriana, and Sukhmani will move onto the Map the System Canadian finals, which will be held virtually from May 10-12th. Jordan says that although it will be a challenge, it is one their team is up for; “we’re really excited to work with the support of the Centre’s Map the System mentors to improve our report and presentation for the Canadian finals.” 

Congratulations to Jordan, Sukhmani, Adriana, and all of the teams who presented their research! Be sure to watch the Centre for Peace Advancement social media closely as their team progresses to the Map the System Canadian finals!

Interested in being a part of the Map the System competition in a future year? Learn more about what it entails and how to apply!

You're invited to IQC's inaugural Quantum Connections conference

A message from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC).

The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) invites you to join us on Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4 for  our inaugural Quantum Connections Networking Conference.

Quantum Connections promises to be an invigorating conference experience spanning two half days, with a focus on fostering connections within Canada’s quantum community. Network with entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders, explore the quantum innovation cycle, and engage in new collaboration opportunities.

Focusing on the themes “Facing the Quantum Challenge” and “The Future of Quantum in Canada”, the conference features an engaging agenda full of dynamic speakers and panel discussions with the brightest minds of entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators in Canada, as well as abundant networking opportunities, including an evening networking mixer at The Walper Hotel on May 3.

Registration closes April 25. Registration includes lunch and coffee breaks on both days, a networking mixer on May 3 including two drink tickets and hors d’oeuvres, and breakfast on May 4. 

Wednesday's whys and wherefores

The Office of Indigenous Relations is hosting an Earth Day Teaching with Lotunt Honyust and Myeengun Henry today.

"Please join us for an evening of learning surrounding Earth Day and Indigenous perspectives," says a note from Indigenous Relations. "We will hear Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe teachings, including stories and discussion about Indigenous relationships to Mother Earth, and our responsibilities as stewards of our shared home." 

Please note that this is a hybrid event with in-person and virtual attendance options available during registration. The event takes place tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in AHS EXP 1689.

The Secretariat has announced the results of the election of a staff representative to the Board of Governors. Jennisha Wilson will be one of the staff reps on the Board for a term from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2026. Wilson is director of anti-racism within the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism Office (EDI-RO).