Friday, June 16, 2023

Getting Convocation down to a Science

The Faculty of Science is holding two convocation ceremonies today. 899 undergraduates, 52 Master's, and 40 PhD candidates will receive their degrees.

You can watch the Convocation livestream beginning at 10:00 a.m. today.

10:00 a.m.

Yanxin Wang will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science and address convocation. Dr. Wang is professor of Hydrogeology and Environmental Engineering at the China University of Geosciences (CUG) in Wuhan. He is also the president of CUG and head of the State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology. Wang’s research has produced major advances in understanding of the sources, fate, and transport of contaminants in groundwater systems. Wang spearheaded the development of innovative remediation and management strategies that protect millions of people from contaminated drinking water. Under Wang’s visionary and effective leadership, CUG has become one of China’s top institutions in science and technology.

Valedictorian Tyler Jing will deliver the valedictory address.

2:30 p.m.

Dr. Mark Willcox will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science and address convocation. Dr. Willcox is a medical microbiologist and Professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW, Sydney, Australia. His laboratory focuses on understanding the etiology of adverse events and comfort during contact lens wear. His research includes examining mechanisms of adhesion of ocular microbes and the development of novel antimicrobial surfaces. He also studies tear film proteomics and lipidomics, their relationship to contact lens comfort and how tears may serve as biomarkers for diabetes and cancer. Recent awards include the Korb Award from the American Optometric Association (2020) and the Barry Collin Medal from Optometry Australia (2017).

Valedictorian Ahmed Adelkader will deliver the valedictory address.

Engineering ceremonies begin this evening and conclude tomorrow

Honorary degree recipient Dr. Joseph W. Tomecko (right) with Roy Hoffman and Robert Heinz at the University of Waterloo's 8th convocation ceremony in May 1964.

The Faculty of Engineering will have four convocation ceremonies over two days, beginning this evening. It's go big or go home for the Faculty of Engineering, with 1,408 undergraduates, 472 Master's, and 90 PhD candidates crossing the stage and receiving their degrees on Friday and Saturday.

You can watch the Convocation livestream tonight and tomorrow.

Friday, June 16, 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Cristina Amon will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering and address convocation. Dr. Amon is the Distinguished Alumni Professor and former dean at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Under her visionary leadership, U of T’s engineering program has become a global hub for interdisciplinary research and education and a shining example of diversity and inclusion for women, People of Colour and Indigenous peoples in the engineering profession. She has been elected a fellow or honorary member of all major professional societies in her field. A pioneer in computational fluid dynamics for thermal designs subject to multidisciplinary constraints, Amon’s research is in thermal transport in nanoscale semiconductors, energy systems, EV batteries and biomedical devices.

Muhammad Shehryrar Khan, PhD graduate in Mechanical and Mechatroncis Engineering, will receive the Governor General's Academic Gold Medal, which is awarded to the student with the highest standing in a doctoral program. 

Valedictorian Toluwalope Wright will deliver the valedictory address.

Saturday, June 17, 10:00 a.m.

Rola Dagher will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering and address convocation. Rola Dagher, a leading figure in the Canadian technology sector, has made it her mission to empower those around her. Immigrating to Canada from war-torn Lebanon with an infant in the 1990s, Dagher worked as a retail sales clerk before becoming the president of Cisco Systems Canada and currently as Dell Technologies’ global channel chief. Rola sees diversity as the foundation for building a high-performance workforce and is a vanguard of inclusive excellence. Dagher has been named a WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, the Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) Woman of the Year and is an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winner.

Dr. George Freeman will be named an Honorary Member of the University. Dr. Freeman is a retired electrical and computer engineering professor at the University of Waterloo. Freeman established a sterling reputation as an outstanding engineering educator throughout his career. He served as electrical and computer engineering’s teaching and learning champion from 2018 until his retirement in 2022. Freeman’s work promoted evidence-based practices for improved learning outcomes, mental health and community building. He also received the Dedicated Service Award from the Canadian Association of University Teachers for his exceptional service to their academic staff associations. Freeman’s research interests include signal processing for digital communications, optimal lossless data compression algorithms, and storage and recognition applications in speech and image coding.

Valedictorian Maya Bishop will deliver the valedictory address.

Saturday, June 17, 2:30 p.m.

The special guest speaker for the Faculty of Engineering's Saturday afternoon convocation is Dr. Lisa Aultman-Hall. Dr. Aultman-Hall is professor and chair of Systems Design Engineering. Before joining the University of Waterloo, she served as a professor of Civil Engineering at the Universities of Kentucky, Connecticut and Vermont. Aultman-Hall’s research focuses on sustainable transportation systems, especially methods to collect unique databases for modelling and analysis of long-distance travel, transportation sector emissions, network resiliency, streetscape design and non-motorized transportation. A common thread in her work is the pursuit of accessibility metrics that speak to equity. She served several leadership roles at the interdisciplinary University of Vermont Transportation Research Center and as the associate director of the National Center for Sustainable Transportation with the University of California Davis.

Nick Nolan Gharabaghi, Honours Nanotechnology Engineering, Co-operative Program, will receive the Governor General's Academic Silver Medal,  which is awarded to students with the highest standing in an undergraduate degree program.

Valedictorian Yonael Debebe will deliver the valedictory address.

Saturday, June 17, 6:30 p.m.

Dr. John Buzacott will receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering and address convocation. Dr. Buzacott, a former management sciences engineering professor, is a pioneering figure in production and operations management. Buzacott’s work in developing a unified framework and rigorous scientific foundation of the approaches currently used in the design, planning and control of manufacturing and service systems has inspired scholars worldwide. His innovative use of stochastic models to explain many phenomena occurring in manufacturing and service organizations has also distinguished him as an exceptional researcher and educator. As a founding member of the Waterloo Management of Integrated Manufacturing Systems research group at the University of Waterloo, his contributions to manufacturing analysis and modelling work continues to be globally recognized.

Valedictorian Matthew Linehan will deliver the valedictory address.

Sustainability Action Fund open for applications until June 30

A message from the Sustainability Office.

Have a project idea to advance sustainability on campus? The Sustainability Action Fund is now accepting applications for projects that will work towards the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Projects can include infrastructure improvements, campaigns, or activities to increase awareness of sustainability issues on campus, and programming to support sustainable behaviours.

Applicants can request between $2,000 and $30,000 in funding this term, and can be led by staff, students, or faculty members.

Some examples of past projects that have successfully received funding include:

• Reusable containers marketing;
• Sustainability literacy conference;
• Standardized waste receptacles;
• Arts/Environment gardens signage; and
• Electric landscaping equipment pilot.