Monday, November 20, 2023

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• President's Anti-Racism Taskforce: making progress
• International Education Week is here
• Waterloo researcher recognized for policy contributions
• Province re-launches Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship
• Monday's notes

President's Anti-Racism Taskforce: making progress

A message from the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (EDI-R). 

In 2020, the University of Waterloo launched the President's Anti-racism Taskforce (PART) with a mission to address systemic racism on campus. The Taskforce, made up of Black, Indigenous, and other racialized faculty, staff, and students, proposed 88 recommendations for the University to implement to foster an equitable culture. These recommendations have served as a comprehensive blueprint for addressing systemic racism and have since evolved into 125 projects across campus. Over half of these projects have either been completed or are in progress.  

Important to the success of the PART initiative is the recognition that the President is ultimately accountable for all recommendations, underscoring Waterloo’s dedication to long-lasting change. The Taskforce also emphasized that the University community shares responsibility for implementing these recommendations and proposed an accountability framework to ensure transparency and collective commitment.  

Review the progress to date

International Education Week is here

A message from Waterloo International.

Once again, it’s the time of year when we celebrate everything INTERNATIONAL here on campus.

As we embark on a week of events that highlight internationalization at the University of Waterloo, it’s an opportunity to focus on the many amazing stories that come from engaging with the global community. Over this week, Waterloo International will post some of these stories in the Daily Bulletin to inspire and educate campus members about the significance and impact of global connectivity.

2023 Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF) recipients 

Waterloo International is pleased to announce the recipients of the Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF) for the academic year 2023-2024. The SIEF award is designed to support staff members' international experiences, fostering personal and professional growth while contributing to Waterloo’s global presence and impact. This year, we had an outstanding pool of applicants, making the selection process quite competitive. 

 With great enthusiasm, we introduce this year's distinguished awardees: Dragana Kostic, Academic Development and Retention Specialist from the Student Success Office, and Krista Elena, Grants and Contracts Manager from the Office of Research. 

Dragana Kostic aspires to embark on a journey to the United Kingdom. Dragana plans to engage with key staff members and student leaders at a number of institutions to delve deeper into the research underpinning their peer-assisted learning programs. Dragana aims to understand the origins of these programs, ongoing assessment, and the impact it has on the students' overall academic success at her host institutions in the UK. Moreover, she seeks to learn about modifications made in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Krista Elena is set to explore the Netherlands. Her mission is to facilitate the exchange of best practices concerning faculty support in the grant application process. In addition to this, Krista aims to hone her leadership, networking, and communication skills through close collaboration with her counterparts at the host institutions. She aims to transfer the knowledge she will acquire back to her colleagues at the Office of Research as a learning tool.  

We extend our warmest congratulations to both recipients. Their proposed projects and initiatives were selected based on their potential to bring significant contributions to our institution. We are confident that their work will not only serve to advance the University's strategic objectives, but it will also equip them with invaluable skills and insights that can be directly applied to their roles at the University of Waterloo. 

If you would like more information about the SIEF program, please contact Aisha Shibli, Manager, International Funding Opportunities.

Waterloo researcher recognized for policy contributions

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

School of Public Health Sciences professor Dr. David Hammond has received the 2023 Trailblazer Award in Science for Policy by the Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) for his application of research to make informed, evidence-based decisions in scientific policy and regulations, namely in tobacco control. 

“Perhaps no other public policy has saved as many lives, yet we still have 4 million Canadians who smoke,” said Hammond in his acceptance speech. “It remains one of the leading causes of death, and science and evidence has been absolutely critical in demonstrating the need for these policies.” 

Hammond's research focuses on three of the largest risk factors for chronic disease: tobacco and vaping, nutrition and cannabis. He has led three large international studies in each area that examine consumer trends and evaluate the impact of interventions at the national level. 

His work has had a direct impact on national regulations and international standards for health policies, such as in marketing and advertising, warnings and product labeling, product standards and public education campaigns. 

“I’m delighted to receive the Trailblazer Award in Science for Policy,” Hammond said. “An award that recognizes impact on health policy is the highest compliment for my work.” 

CSPC is a non-profit organization with a diverse science and innovation policy community who contribute to the well-being of Canadians through inclusive and effective science policy. The Trailblazer Award recognizes individuals who spearhead positive and significant change in Canadian science, technology and innovation. 

Watch Hammond’s acceptance speech to learn about the highlights of his career and the importance of health warnings, product labels, public health law and more: 

Watch video on YouTube

Province re-launches Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship

A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and Student Awards & Financial Aid.

Initially announced on April 6, 2022 in response to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, the province reiterated its support through the continuation of the Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship. The provincial government is providing $1.9 million to continue supporting students attending Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities. The purpose of these funds is to provide support to undergraduate and graduate students directly or indirectly impacted by the Ukrainian conflict or other conflicts.

Four scholarships will be awarded to students registered at Waterloo in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Full details and instructions on how to apply can be found in the application. Applications and required supporting documentation (as outlined on the form) must be submitted by January 15, 2024. 

Monday's notes

Flags are being lowered on campus today to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance. "Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to recognize the lives of those lost to transphobic violence," wrote President Vivek Goel in a social media post today. "Today and everyday we are proud allies of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We are committed to ensuring our campuses remain welcoming and inclusive for all."

Part I of the First Nations principles of OCAP® virtual workshop series take place Tuesday, November 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Register today. The two-part workshop series is hosted by the Inclusive Research Team in the Office of Research and will be facilitated by Leslie MacGregor from the First Nations Information Governance Centre. The second event in the series is set for Thursday, November 23, also from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon.