Wednesday, January 10, 2024

You're invited to experience Waterloo's Global Future

Join President and vice-chancellor Vivek Goel as the University of Waterloo launches the 2024 Global Futures report with a special campus kick-off event. 

Hear from campus thought leaders including Dr. Bessma Momani and Dr. Marcel O’Gorman, who will discuss current perspectives on our changing technological, societal, and economic futures. These scholars will be joined by graduate and undergraduate students, who will share their research, learning and entrepreneurial journeys as they navigate these complex futures. 

The event takes place on Wednesday, January 31 at Federation Hall. Networking and a hot breakfast will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with the formal program running from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Staff, faculty and students are all invited.

Waterloo researchers are transforming societies, economies, technologies, sustainability and health for humanity to thrive in our complex future. We will continue to build on our strengths in these five interconnected areas and it is in these intersections where Waterloo’s tenacity for identifying new opportunities, building solutions, and leading change will shine. 

Waterloo is at the forefront of fostering the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs poised to lead and thrive in the global innovation race. The talent we develop at Waterloo will continue to have a significant social and economic impact in our region and around the world.  

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming

A message from Campus Wellness.

“Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.”

- Dory, Finding Nemo

It can be easy for students to “just keep swimming” through the day-to-day hustle of life, whether it’s during times when things are going well, or when facing difficult moments. While students might encounter rough waves like Dory at times, it’s important to remember that they don’t have to face these challenges alone.

Campus Wellness provides a range of programs and services available this term to support a student's mental and emotional well-being. We hope you’ll share these resources with the students you support where possible.

Students can call Campus Wellness (519-888-4096) during daytime hours (8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) to book an appointment for the services listed below.

Counselling appointments provide programming and services to help students lead a healthy and balanced life, at no charge, in a private and confidential setting. Same-day appointments are available for students who may not want or require ongoing counselling on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Individual appointments are available to students looking for short-term counselling to address the current mental health concerns that are impacting their ability to attend to their academics. Crisis appointments are available to students in distress every weekday and will be scheduled for either an Immediate (within 24 hours) or Urgent appointment (within 3 to 5 days).

Primary medical care appointments provide comprehensive health support to registered University of Waterloo students. The Student medical clinic offers healthcare visits with both male and female Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. The Family health clinic serves immediate family members of registered international students, visiting scholars, visiting researchers, visiting faculty and post-doctorates

You can help protect yourself and others by washing your hands frequently, wearing masks when feeling unwell and by getting the flu vaccine and a booster shot for COVID-19 at Campus Wellness, Health Services. To book an appointment, please call 519-888-4096.

Wellness programs allow students to engage in wellness conversations in a variety of ways and focus on providing students the strategies to take care of their overall well-being. These programs are a great way for students to incorporate activities into their schedule, to help boost their motivation and contribute to long-term success.

Mental health training opportunities support faculty and staff to develop and practice mental health literacy skills. These programs encourage discussion and reflection on mental health through an equity-focused lens. They work to enhance an individual's understanding of barriers to mental health and competency in responding to a person in distress, and accessing resources and supports.

If you notice a student struggling with their mental health or in distress, you can provide useful information to assist the student in getting help.

• Learn to identify and support a student in distress
• On campus contact, students can call Campus Wellness between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 519-888-4096

After hours and emergency contacts provide resources to assist the students in getting help.

Driving up talent for Canada's electric vehicle sector

By Jordan Flemming.

Canadians are buying more electric vehicles (EV) than ever, with one in 10 now owning EVs. The number is set to increase as consumers look for ways to reduce their environmental impact and capitalize on government incentives.

With the growing market share of EVs, there is also an increasing need for talent in the design, development and maintenance of electric vehicles as well as support infrastructure from charging stations, improved battery technology and energy generation.

As the demand for skilled professionals in the EV industry continues to rise, the University is well-positioned to be a driving force behind Canada’s transition to electric vehicles.

The Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) has a legacy as a hub for cutting-edge research and development in the automotive sector. Going forward, the University will continue to focus on the development of solutions in sustainable transportation more broadly, including electric mobility. Waterloo promotes collaboration between academia and industry, providing a dynamic environment for researchers, engineers and students to work on trailblazing projects.

Waterloo Engineering’s student teams actively engage in the design, construction and modification of vehicles destined for international competitions and auto shows. These teams undergo evaluation based on design excellence, problem-solving, performance, crash-worthiness, fuel economy and environmental friendliness of their vehicles.

Industry partner support is crucial to the success of these students. This support takes various forms, including sponsorship, mentoring and product donations. Teams collaborate with industry partners not only for traditional support but also to utilize their technological capabilities in evaluating and enhancing new product concepts, promoting innovation and practical application.

Together with the Autonomous Vehicle Research & Intelligence Laboratory (AVRIL), the University is one of the largest and most comprehensive automotive research and training hubs in Canada.

AVRIL opened in February 2019 thanks tofederal and provincial government funding. The facility is a shared research space offering the opportunity to work on automated driving, vehicle connectivity and advanced driver assistance systems. AVRIL offers a space to work on a wide variety of mobility applications.

With the convergence of electric and autonomous vehicles on the horizon, AVRIL is equipping students with the skills needed to navigate this complex intersection of technologies.

“Advancing automotive innovation has been a driving focus for research work in Waterloo and we will continue to enthusiastically work with ecosystem partners knowing that true solutions, those that advance sustainable transportation, will only come through partnership,” says Mary Wells, dean of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering.

As the University strives to provide innovative solutions to global challenges, our commitment extends to local collaboration, ensuring we are serving the needs within our communities. The Waterloo Region continues to see investments in the automotive sector by the likes of Toyota, the federal and provincial governments and various automotive suppliers and manufacturers.

The University remains dedicated to collaborating with partners like the Waterloo Economic Development Corporation to collectively address the growing demands in talent development for our local automotive industry.

A Waterloo Values update

A message from the Waterloo Values Team.

As part of the Waterloo Values initiative, we are looking to hear from members of the campus community for input. From February 13 to 22, four focus groups will be hosted (virtually and in-person) to gather input and feedback on the Values at Waterloo. All perspectives, opinions, and feedback are welcome.

If you are interested in registering for one of these focus groups, please register. We look forward to sharing an updated draft of the Waterloo Values with you.

 Thank you for those who have contributed so far, and for more information on this initiative, please visit the Waterloo Values website. 

Wednesday's notes

The Faculty of Environment is hosting a book launch on Zoom today from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

"In their new book, Liability for Environmental Harm to the Global Commons, co-authors Neil Craik from the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development alongside colleagues Tara Davenport from the National University of Singapore and Ruth Mackenzie from the University of Westminster, examine emerging and prospective international legal rules addressing liability for environmental harm to areas beyond national jurisdiction," says a note from the Faculty of Environment. "The book highlights key challenges for states in devising effecting liability regimes and outlines possible ways forward. Join them at their upcoming book launch and panel discussion to learn about the main findings."

Employers hosting Employer Information Sessions this week include SGH, Christie Digital, Fairfax Financial Holdings, Boeing, MTE Consultants, Bloomberg, Radar, and Genesys. Make sure to register through WaterlooWorks and check the calendar for any updates.