Tuesday, February 13, 2024

    Editor:
    Brandon Sweet
    University Communications
    bulletin@uwaterloo.ca


    Lights, camera, action: GRADflix winners named

    The GRADflix event at Federation Hall.

    A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA).

    Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs hosted its sixth annual GRADflix showcase on February 6 at Federation Hall. 15 finalists had their videos premiered to an audience of other graduate students, staff, faculty, friends, family, and community members.

    A collage of the six winners.

    Congratulations to this years winners, Paul Sherk (1st), Liam Bursey (2nd), Siyavash Izadi (3rd), Nada Gohider (4th), Emma Wegener (Social Impact), and Norman Ly (People's Choice).

    You can view winning videos alongside other amazing submissions on YouTube and learn more about the competition on our GRADflix webpage

    President's Office display of the einstein tile showcases the global impact of UWaterloo discovery

    Aperiodic monotiles arranged to look like t-shirts.

    By Sam Toman.

    The new sensation in the University of Waterloo President’s office display case has many names. Some call it the “einstein tile,” German wordplay for ‘one stone.’ Formally it’s known as an aperiodic monotile, but that hardly works on a marquee.

    Its UWaterloo founders simply call it, “the hat,” as it resembles a fedora at first glance.

    The president's office display case with various iterations of the monotile including an interactive white board.Whatever its name, it’s the latest UWaterloo achievement to grab the curiosity of the world, and a perfect reflection of UWaterloo’s genius showcased front and centre as high-profile visitors enter the Office of the President in Needles Hall.

    When partners, donors, international delegations, visit the President in his office it serves as the ultimate conversation starter. What else better highlights the institution's commitment to innovation and academic excellence than showcasing ground-breaking research and inventions produced by students, faculty, and researchers?

    The einstein tile solves a 60-year-old tiling problem by indefinitely tiling without repetition. Discovered by David Smith, a tiling enthusiast from Yorkshire, England, and validated by Professor Craig S. Kaplan at the University of Waterloo, is a single shape capable of indefinitely tiling a plane without repetition. This breakthrough reduces the shapes needed for tiling from thousands to one.

    The tile made headlines around the world and made Time Magazine’s Best Innovations of 2023 list. It’s also been used to make a soccer ball, a beer can design, and more.

    The President’s Office staff have also set up an interactive display where guests can arrange and rearrange the tile in any of the infinite ways the tile allows—serving as an ersatz Rorschach test for those with enough imagination.

    While it clearly does look like a hat arranged one way, President’s Office Administrative Manager Carrie Jenks made a discovery of her own. “I think it looks like a cool t-shirt,” she said, flipping ‘the hat’ upside down.

    It’s hard to argue with her assessment. And if it is indeed more t-shirt than hat, someone should call Queer Eye star Tan France, because in its t-shirt form it definitely has a French tuck.

    Black History Month event takes place at the Kitchener Public Library tonight

    Inspiring Black Flourishing banner images featuring ilustrations of diverse people.

    There is still time to join the University of Waterloo for Inspiring Black Flourishing in Waterloo Region and Beyond, a free community talk and discussion tonight at the Kitchener Public Library from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Be inspired by University of Waterloo students, alumni and staff who are engaged in local and international community initiatives that aim to address barriers to Black flourishing or create opportunities for it.  

    Speakers at tonight's event include:

    • Jacky Beckford Henriques, Varsity Head Coach, Swimming, University of Waterloo;
    • Darren Baine, Waterloo undergraduate student and entrepreneur; and
    • Aaron Francis, Waterloo PhD candidate, Balsillie School of International Affairs.

    The talk will be moderated by Josette Lafleur, multimedia journalist and associate producer, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

    This event takes place at Kitchener Public Library at 85 Queen Street North in Kitchener and is held in partnership with the Kitchener Public Library and hosted by CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. Admission is free, but registration is recommended.

    Register for "Antagonistic Responses to Health Research in the Academy"

    Registration for the next event in the Antagonism and Intimidation in Academia Speaker Series is now open. Antagonistic Responses to Health Research in the Academy will take place on Tuesday, February 27 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre (Hagey Hall 159). This event is open to all faculty, staff and students.

    Link of the day

    His Kung Fu Grip is as strong as ever: GI Joe turns 60

    When and Where

    Warriors Game Day Tickets: Season Passes, Black and Gold Alumni Passes and Single Game Tickets now available for the 2023-24 varsity season. Purchase your tickets today!

    Waterloo Warriors Youth Camps. Winter, March Break and PD Day camps available for boys and girls ages 5-18. Baseball, Basketball, Football and Multi-Sport and Games camps available. Register today!

    Warriors Youth Summer Camps. Registration opens Monday, January 22, 9:00 a.m. Find out more.

    NEW - Love Data Week, Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16.

    University Club Valentine’s Special Menu, Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16. Make a reservation today.

    WUSA voting days, Monday, February 12 to Wednesday, February 14.

    Chemistry Seminar: “Where there's a will, there's a way: How cells cope with eroding telomeres” featuring Lea Harrington, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Tuesday, February 13, 2:30 p.m. C2-361 (Reading Room).

    Inspiring Black Flourishing in Waterloo Region and beyondTuesday, February 13, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Kitchener Public Library, 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener.

    Bake for the Animals, Wednesday, February 14, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., United College front entrance.

    Stream restoration as a tool for water asset management, presented by Steve Brown, Senior Associate, Water Resources, Stantec, Wednesday, February 14, 12 noon.

    KHS Seminar Series: "I never planned on being here: using opportunities to build a research program" featuring Heather Keller, Wednesday, February 14, 2:30 p.m., EXP 1689. No registration required.

    Black History Month panel, "Building a Career Path for Black Talent," Thursday, February 15, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., Zoom. Register today.

    Q4Environment Information Session: How Can Quantum Address Environmental Challenges, held by Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) on Thursday, February 15, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., RAC 1 3003. Register by February 12.

    WaterTalk: Economics of valuing water resources, presented by Dr. Sathya Gopalakrishnan, Thursday, February 15, 11:00 a.m., TC 2218, lunch reception to follow.

    Reading Week, Saturday, February 17 to Sunday, February 25.

    Warriors Women’s Hockey vs. Laurier, Saturday, February 17, 4:00 p.m. (Elmira). In Elmira Battle of Waterloo, Camps and Minor League. Buy your tickets today! 

    Warriors Basketball vs. U of T, Saturday, February 17, women’s game 6:00 p.m., men’s game 8:00 p.m., Physical Activities Complex. (W) Senior Night. Buy your tickets today!

    Family Day holiday, Monday, February 19, most University operations closed.

    Family Day with the Warriors, Monday, February 19, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, CIF. Football, baseball, basketball, ice skating and more. Join us for a morning of FREE family fun! Register online in advance.

    Family Day at the Museum, Monday, February 19, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Earth Sciences Museum will be open to the public for Family Day. Drop in and explore our activity tables, touch dinosaur fossils and view mineral exhibits.

    UW Staff Board Foundations Workshop, Tuesday, February 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

    Grade 10 Family Night, Friday, February 22, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

    NEW - Antagonism and Intimidation in Academia Speaker Series event, "Antagonistic Responses to Health Research in the Academy," Tuesday, February 27, 3:00 p.m. to 5:10 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

    Inclusive Research Tools: Identifying Barriers webinarTuesday, February 27, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

    NEW - Chapters of Change: Anti-racism & Conversations, Wednesday, February 28, 1:00 p.m., SLC Black & Gold Room.

    Horizon Europe information session for Waterloo faculty and staff, Thursday, February 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (in person) or 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (online via Teams). Please register to reserve a seat or a link to participate.

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Wellbeing Community of Practice (CoP) Session: UDL as a Framework to Amplify Instructor Wellbeing, Thursday, February 29, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., MS Teams.

    International Women's Day Breakfast, Friday, March 8, 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Federation Hall. This event is currently SOLD OUT. To add your name to the waitlist, please visit the event page.

    Research Impact Canada Quarterly Touchpoint: New Members, Wednesday, March 20, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Contact Nadine Quehl at nquehl@uwaterloo.ca if interested in joining this online meeting.