Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Waterloo launches Sankofa Pathways to University program
By Tracelyn Cornelius.
The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism Office (EDI-RO), in collaboration with the other units across campus, has launched the Sankofa Pathways to University (SPU), an educational pathway program for Black youth ages 17 to 25, from the Waterloo Region, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The SPU, which commences late June, was conceptualized and developed by EDI-RO’s Anti-racism unit in conjunction with the Registrar’s Office. The initiative was developed to help Black youth who may be thinking about attending university, but because of pervasive systemic oppression, struggle to develop the confidence needed to succeed in these spaces.
“Even though I was a high-performing student and an engaged leader in high school, I never felt that I could succeed at university,” says Jennisha Wilson, director Anti-racism unit. “Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to enroll in the Steps to University program at the University of Toronto, which allowed me to experience university first-hand and realize that I could be good at it. That experience of excelling in a university setting was life-changing and gave me the confidence needed to thrive as a Black woman.”
The SPU is one of the recommendations of the President’s Anti-racism Taskforce Report and the Scarborough Charter, which both include strategies to identify and dismantle systemic barriers the Black community faces and empower them to thrive.
“As a signatory to the Scarborough Charter, the University of Waterloo committed to developing programs and initiatives that remove barriers and foster Black thriving,” said Dr. Christopher S. Taylor. “By providing positive experiences to Black youth to increase the likelihood of them participating in post-secondary studies, the Sankofa Pathways to University is creating pathways for Black communities to flourish.”
The SPU hopes to attract 50 students during the program's first year, which will run from late June to August 2023. Successful applicants will be enrolled in a free-of-cost university course titled “Taking B(l)ack History,” taught by Dr. Taylor and several Black guest lecturers, focusing on Blackness, Black history and Black futures.
Tracy Williams-Shreve, a retired Black instructor, who taught Wilson during her transitional year at UofT, is a consultant for the SPU and will be a co-instructor for the online section of the course. The successful completion of the seven-week course earns students a half-credit that they can use toward future post-secondary studies.
Several activities have been planned to provide a welcoming environment for the students, including an orientation session, campus tours, and a special graduation event, in addition to other events and activities.
Do you know of a Black youth from Waterloo, Toronto and the GTA, who might be interested in enrolling in the Sankofa Pathways to University program? Please help us spread the word by sharing the SPU website with them. Interested applicants can also email sankofa@uwaterloo.ca. Applications will remain open until midnight on May 31, 2023.
The Anti-racism unit will also host a virtual SPU open house for interested students and families on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Please register here to attend this information session.
Commercializing doctoral research with the Entrepreneurial PhD Fellowship
This is an excerpt of an article published on the Conrad School of Business and Entrepreneurship website.
Kelly Zheng has a lot on her plate. She’s a doctoral student at the University of Waterloo building a startup while also working towards a graduate business degree. It can be a balancing act, but she’s tackling it all.
Her PhD research in quantum machine learning for spatial temporal modeling can be difficult for many to wrap their heads around. This emerging, quantum-based branch of AI and machine learning allows large data sets to be analyzed in a fraction of time that a regular computer can manage.
The work has been noticed. Zheng was awarded the prestigious National Science, Engineering and Research Council of Canada's doctoral research scholarship. There are many possibilities for the application of this research, but Zheng is interested in how this could impact the world in a positive way. Taking these technological tools and putting them into hands that could benefit communities is what really drives her.
Her supervisors, mechanical and mechatronics engineering professors Dr. Roydon Fraser and Dr. Jesse Thé gave Zheng the support she needed to think about commercializing her research. And when she read about the Entrepreneurial PhD Fellowship, Zheng started to piece together how she could accomplish her goals.
“The knowledge that my supervisors were in my corner was a big reason that I felt comfortable to dream big,” she said.
As a recipient of one of the 10 fellowships offered to students across campus, Zheng is able to gain the business knowledge, skills and experience to help commercialize her research. The fellowship allows Zheng to take the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program part-time and tuition-free, while she also works on her doctoral studies. She is also building a new venture, Costal Carbon, with co-founder Thomas Storwick.
Coastal carbon
Planting seaweed in oceans is an effective way of sequestering carbon and can in fact be many times more effective than tree planting. Companies can reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing carbon offsets such as seaweed planting, but there’s a problem.
Coastal farmers who sell the carbon offsets need to prove that the seaweed has been planted and is growing. Traditionally, this is done by sending divers into the ocean to physically measure the seaweed – a costly and often inaccurate method.
This is where Coastal Carbon comes in. Using satellite AI technology to measure trees on land is relatively straightforward, but measuring plant growth under water's reflective surface is much trickier. Zheng is using the past three years of her PhD research to provide a solution that allows clients to measure seaweed with just a few clicks of a mouse, saving time and money.
Meet Kelly and other fellowship recipients at our live session next Thursday
Read the rest of the article on the Conrad website.
Innovation Arena issues second call for members
A message from Marketing and Strategic Initiatives.
It’s an exciting time at the University of Waterloo as we make a second call for Members in Residence for the Innovation Arena– our newest collaboration space which will also serve as Velocity’s new home, with generous support from the City of Kitchener and the Government of Ontario. FedDev Ontario also continues to be an important supporter of Velocity.
Last fall, we received strong interest from public and private sector health innovators following our first call for Members in Residence.
Located in the heart of Kitchener’s Innovation District, renovation of the new 90,000 sq ft Innovation Arena is underway. With Velocity’s experience and leadership, this collaborative space will connect like-minded innovators who are transforming technologies into solutions and provide the supports needed to launch ambitious new ventures, create skilled jobs, and improve the health and prosperity of our community.
The purpose of the Innovation Arena is to:
- Amplify collaboration within Canada’s health tech sector and beyond,
- Expand Velocity’s footprint in the entrepreneurial ecosystem,
- Co-locate cross-disciplinary teams and ventures,
- Streamline commercialization pathways for businesses,
- Fast-track delivery of health technologies, and
- Support social and economic prosperity in Canada.
We ask that you share this second call for Members in Residencewith your networks who are looking to advance health innovations and technologies, specifically:
- Those keen to assemble teams or systems to fast-track solutions for commercialization and/or health innovation,
- Organizations, big and small, seeking collaborations to develop new products or services, and
- Groups that provide care looking to challenge traditional approaches to health care delivery.
The deadline to express interest in becoming a Member in Residence at the Innovation Arena is June 30, 2023. You can find more information about the Innovation Arena and application process here.
W Store faculty and staff appreciation discounts and other notes
"As we get under way for the spring term, the W Store team wants to show their appreciation for the hard-working University of Waterloo staff and faculty who continue to support and promote a positive campus community," says a note from Print + Retail Solutions. "On May 18 and 19, UWaterloo staff and faculty are invited to enjoy 20 per cent off UWaterloo branded items in-store at W Store, located in SCH and W Store Essentials, located in MC."
No coupon code required. Any additional questions may be directed to the W Store team at wstore@uwaterloo.ca.
Employers hosting Virtual Employer Information Sessions (VEIS) this week and next week include Bettermode, Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan, Home Hardware, Formlabs, Oliver Wyman, Cooperative Education, International/Powering Change Award, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management, NimbleRX and Bloomberg. Make sure to register through WaterlooWorks and check the calendar for any updates.
Link of the day
Tell me what's on your mind: It's World Information Society Day
When and Where
Warrior Recreation Registration for the spring term is now open.
Waterloo Warriors Youth Camps. Spring and Summer camps available for Boys and Girls ages 5-18. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Hockey and Multi-Sport and Games. Register today.
Fitness and Personal Training - Registrations now open for Personal Training and Small Group Training, as well as a Free Warrior Workout Program.
Warrior Rec FREE Club Try-It Sessions: Karate, Judo, Chinese Martial Arts, Triathlon, Women's Football, Lacrosse, Quidditch, Running, Artistic Swimming, Lifesaving, SERVE, Table Tennis and more), Monday, May 8 to Wednesday, May 31. Find out more.
Student Health Pharmacy in the basement of the Student Life Centre is now offering Covid booster shots (Pfizer and Moderna) and flu shots. Call 519-746-4500 or extension 33784 for an appointment. Walk-ins always welcome.
Speak Like a Scholar applications open, Monday, May 1 to Friday, May 26.
UW MFA Thesis Two: Clara Laratta | Stephanie Florence, Thursday, May 11 to Saturday, May 27, UWAG, East Campus Hall. Opening reception Thursday, May 11, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Games Institute hosts International Conference on Games and Narrative 2023, Monday, May 15 to Friday, May 19.
Seedling Swap, Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., EV3 atrium.
Procurement & Contract Services trade show, Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., DC 1301 fishbowl.
WUSA Campus Life Fair, Wednesday, May 17, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., SLC Great Hall.
Valuation of wetlands in agricultural landscapes of Canada, presented by Pascal Badiou, Ducks Unlimited Canada. Part of the The Value of Water in Canada webinar series, Wednesday, May 17, 12:00 p.m.
Lunch & Learn: Talking to Children About Consent, Wednesday, May 17, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Registration.
4RepairKW event, Wednesday, May 17, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., E7 1401.
Continuous Improvement and Change Management Community of Practice presents Deep Health: Setting a Foundation virtual session, Thursday, May 18, 2023, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 am., online. Please note: event cancelled.
Eric (Ric) D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station open house, Thursday, May 18, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Columbia Lake. Cupcakes and refreshments will be served. Register for the open house online.
WUSA retirement reception for Dave McDougall, Thursday, May 18, 4:00 p.m., Grad House. If you are interested in attending please email to RSVP.
Creating Safer Spaces In Sport with Brock McGillis, Thursday, May 18, 5:30 p.m., Lazaridis Hall, WLU.
Warrior Rec Instructional Programs registration deadline, Friday, May 19, 11:59 p.m. Find out more.
Deadline to register for Centre for Extended Learning (CEL) "Getting Ready to Facilitate Online Courses: TA Training – Spring 2023" course, Monday, May 22.
Victoria Day holiday, Monday, May 22, most University operations closed.
Testing Hiring Discrimination in Canada’s Blue-Collar Industry, Wednesday, May 24, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.
Pathways to Addressing (with Care) Disclosures of Racism | Faculty and Staff, Wednesday, May 24, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., online.
NEW - Staff International Experience Fund and Staff Enhancement Experience Canada Grant Info session, Wednesday, May 24, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Teams.
NEW - Chemistry Seminar: Improving Nature’s antibiotics through (semi)synthesis featuring Prof. Dr. Nathaniel I. Martin, Biological Chemistry Group, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands,Wednesday, May 24, 2:30 p.m., C2-361 (Reading Room).
Entrepreneurial PhD Live Panel Q&A, Thursday May 25, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Zoom.
Rock this Town Exhibit Launch at Special Collections & Archives, Thursday, May 25, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Speak Like a Scholar applications close, Friday, May 26.
Anti-Racism Reads Book club event, Tuesday, May 30, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., Dana Porter Learning lab, third floor.
NEW - Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays Year-end Picnic: Mapping Community and Care at UWaterloo, Wednesday, May 31, 12 noon, St. Jerome’s courtyard.
NEW - Colin Linden Live: WEI Fundraiser, Friday June 2, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Theatre of the Arts, ML – Modern Languages.
2023 Summer School: Water and Energy Security in a Changing Climate, Monday, June 5, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., onlne.
Spring 2023 PhD graduates dinner reception, Monday, June 5, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fed Hall.
Quantum for Environment Design Challenge Launch Event, Tuesday, June 6, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., QNC 0101.
When and Where to get support
Check out the support listings for faculty, staff and students.
Positions available
On this week's list from the human resources department, viewable on the UWaterloo Talent Acquisition System (iCIMS):
- Job ID# 2023-10234 - Administrative & Financial Coordinator - Math Faculty Computing Facility (MFCF), USG 6
- Job ID# 2023-10338 - Associate Director, Development - Dean of Mathematics, USG 12 – 13
- Job ID# 2023-10324 - Exam Centre Manager - AccessAbility Services, USG 7
- Job ID# 2023-10357 - Registered Nurse - Campus Wellness, USG 9
- Job ID# 2023-10369 - Graduate Program Coordinator and Advisor – Chemistry, USG 6
- Job ID# 2023-10358 - HR Coordinator - Human Resources, USG 6 – 7
- Job ID# 2023-10356 - Director, Information Technology and Facilities Services – Library, USG 13
- Job ID# 2023-10337 - Academic Services Coordinator - Engineering Undergraduate Office, USG 6 – 8
- Job ID# 2023-10053 - Manager, Academic Services and Engagement - Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, USG 9
- Job ID# 2022-9530 - Prospect Research Data Specialist - Office of Advancement, USG 7
- Job ID# 2023-10298 - Client Service Representative - CEE - Centre for Career Action, USG 4 – 5
- Job ID# 2023-10367 - Communications Specialist - CEE - Centre for Career Action, USG 9
- Job ID# 2023-10355 - Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving - Annual and Planned Giving, USG 9 - 11
- Job ID# 2023-9939 - Senior Project Officer - Statistics and Actuarial Science, USG 10
Secondments/Internal temporary opportunities
- Job ID# 2023-10319 - Manager, Marketing and Brand - Marketing & Strategic Initiatives, USG 11
- Job ID# 2023-10293 - Process Improvement Specialist - Campus Wellness, USG 10
- Job ID# 2023-9994 - Purchasing Assistant - Print + Retail Solutions, USG 5
- Job ID# 2023-10363 - Online Learning Consultant - Centre for Extended Learning, USG 10 – 11
- Job ID# 2023-10335 - Events and Communications Specialist - Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, USG 6
- Job ID# 2023-10339 - Research Assistant II - Kinesiology and Health Sciences, USG 5
Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo opportunities