Friday, September 8, 2023

Royal Society of Canada honours Waterloo researchers

By Angelica Marie Sanchez. This article originally appeared on Waterloo News.

Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada, recognizes excellence, advises the government and promotes a culture of knowledge and innovation with other national academies around the world. In 2014, the RSC then established the College of New scholars, Scientists and Artists. 

Each year, the RSC and its members elect their new cohorts — fellows of the RSC and members of the RSC College — who are recognized for their outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievements. Five new fellows and four new RSC College members from the University of Waterloo are among other Canadian researchers elected today. 

“Congratulations to the University of Waterloo’s 2023 Royal Society of Canada College Members and Fellows. We are proud of your significant achievements, testament to your high-calibre research and leadership in your respective disciplines,” says Dr. Charmaine Dean, vice-president of Research and International at Waterloo. “This year we are recognizing an outstanding group of researchers whose work spans cyber security, artificial intelligence, understanding societal change, health, robotics, materials research for energy, with substantive impacts to this research in areas related to climate and sustainability. We are also so proud of the recognition of the work on the Black and Free research projects.” 

Waterloo is proud to host the RSC for the 2023 Celebration of Excellence and Engagement conference this November when the official induction ceremonies will be held.   

The following Waterloo researchers will be joining the incoming cohorts of the RSC fellows and the new members of the RSC College.

Read the full list of Royal Society of Canada Fellows and Members

Centre for Extended Learning conducting service review survey

A message from the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL).

CEL is currently conducting an extensive review to assess how it can better support digital teaching and learning at Waterloo. By completing this short survey, you can provide important and timely data that will help us better serve you.

Please take 5 to 10 minutes to complete this survey. The survey link is:

https://uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Rvo5WaNkEcIp02

The survey is also available as a news item on our website.

Your feedback will help inform potentially significant changes. Please note this survey is for instructors only.

If you have any questions about this survey or CEL, please contact Aldo Caputo, CEL Director at acaputo@uwaterloo.ca. 

The survey will remain open until September 15. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Saddle up, gear up or lace up for the Ride for Refuge

A message from United College.

On Saturday, September 23, charities across Canada will come together to walk and bike in support of people seeking safety and hope.   

WALK + BIKE with United College and Reception House around the University of Waterloo to support the resettlement of government assisted refugees in Waterloo Region.    

United College is partnering with Reception House Waterloo Region to host this signature annual fundraising event, Ride for Refuge, marking the launch of an official partnership. The ride has 2.5/5km walk and 10/20km bike routes in support of Reception House youth programming. This is a family-friendly event open to all! There is a rest stop halfway through the route with drinks and snacks.   

The walk and bike routes start and end at United College (190 Westmount Road), and will encompass the University of Waterloo area including Ring Road and Research + Technology Park.    

The Ride for Refuge takes place on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Participant registration begins at 10:00 a.m. with welcome remarks at 10:30 a.m. A reception/lunch will follow at 12 noon at United College.      

Proceeds from the event will support Reception House’s work with local refugee children and youth helping families build new lives in Waterloo Region.    

How can you help?  

Get involved: Ride for Refuge | United College (uwaterloo.ca)

• Sign up as a biker and walker participant You can join the Reception House-United College team or create your own team in support of “Waterloo Westmount – Reception House Waterloo Region.”     
• Donate to the Reception House-United College team here.  
• Sign up as a day-of event volunteer (Select “Waterloo Westmount – Reception House Waterloo Region” as your location).   

Learn more about this cross-country movement and please direct any questions to the United College Director of External Relations at rwagner@uwaterloo.ca. We look forward to seeing the University of Waterloo community on September 23 as we walk and bike in support of refugees.     

Remembering Chandrika Anjaria

With files from Neal Moogk-Soulis.

Longtime Information Systems & Technology staff member Chandrka Anjaria died on August 19, 2023.

After receiving a degree in psychology from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University in India, Anjaria emigrated to Canada in 1972 and settled in Kitchener with her husband. She joined the University as a key punch operator for the Department of Computing Services (the forerunner of today's IST) in April 1974.

At the time of her hiring, the University of Waterloo had a single computer centre that handled all of the institution's data (from payroll to student registration information to library records) and for more than a decade Anjaria input data into the processing system before shifting to handling quality control for the data centre. Over the years Chandrika traded punch cards for data tapes as she moved from quality control to the operations side of things, scheduling computer runs and data retrieval. 

In 2000, she shifted to the client services side of the department at the Computer Help and Information Place (CHIP), where she remained for the rest of her career at the University. Chandrika's work at the CHIP desk included helping students, staff and faculty manage their computer accounts and to acquire software licenses, and her face soon became a familiar one to anyone who darkened CHIP's door in search of support.

Chandrika Anjaria (right) presents a cheque for the St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation with more than $15,000 raised from a community walkathon.

Chandrika was well known for her volunteer efforts both inside and outside the University. She served as past chair of the University of Waterloo's United Way Campaign in 2000-2001. Outside of work, Chandrika volunteered extensively with the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, the East Indian Community Walkathon, the India Canada Association of Waterloo Region, the Gujarati Association of Waterloo Region, the South Asian Cultural Festival Mela, and CGI outreach for Indian International Students at Conestoga College. She founded Club 55, now known as the South Asian Seniors of Waterloo Region, and the East Indian Ladies Club, formed as a network for the spouses of professors that now provides scholarships to secondary school students

In 2010 the organization Focus for Ethnic Women recognized Chandrika for her volunteer efforts. She also received Oktoberfest awards and a City of Kitchener Leadership Award. In February 2013, Chandrika received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her tireless volunteer work in the community.

She retired in 2013 after more than 39 years at the University.

In retirement, Chandrika travelled with her husband and continued her volunteer involvement in community groups. She is survived by husband Rajiv, her children and grandchildren.