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Celebrating excellence in online teaching
A message from the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL).
It’s that time again to recognize the great work that Waterloo’s instructors are doing in the virtual classroom. The Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic and the Centre for Extended Learning would like your help to identify these remarkable people by nominating an instructor or an online course author.
Were you a student in a fully online course this term? If you had an exceptional experience in your online course, consider nominating your instructor for the Online Teaching Award.
Students, teaching assistants, instructors, chairs, directors and deans can also submit nominations for the Online Course Design Award.
The University of Waterloo’s Online Teaching Awards recognize teaching and course design excellence in fully online undergraduate or graduate-level courses.
Changing the climate of discourse in academia
By Harminder Phull. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.
Climate change is real and human activity contributes to the problem. For most, this statement is undisputed. With an increase in forest fires, unusual weather patterns and drought, it’s hard to not acknowledge the changes around us. For environmental researchers, it’s a passion, a question, a problem to better understand, and something we can help mitigate. Yet, climate science researchers experience hostility, aggression and opposition.
Coordinated by the Faculty of Arts and the Office of Research, “Antagonistic Responses to Environment and Climate Change in the Academy,” the fourth and final panel discussion in the Antagonism and Intimidation in Academia Speaker Series took place on March 26, 2024. This speaker series came about as a response to the hate-motivated attack that took place on June 28, 2023. The speaker series will culminate with an international conference on antagonism in academia “From Targeting in Academia to Promoting Trust and Understanding” taking place at the University of Waterloo on June 27 and 28, 2024.
“We all aspire as institutions of higher learning to be environments where ideas, insights and discoveries are cultivated,” says Dr. Charmaine Dean, vice-president, Research and International in her opening remarks. “We know issues, misinformation and challenges related to climate research exist not just in the broader community but also on our campuses.”
The panellists included Dr. Nandita Basu, professor in the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth and Environmental Sciences; Dr. Ashley Rose Mehlenbacher, associate professor in the department of English Language and Literature; Dr. Juan Moreno-Cruz, associate professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) and Dr. Kirsten Müller, professor and the department chair of Biology.
Read the rest of the article on Waterloo News
Want to make a change? Check out these Changemaker Labs events
GreenHouse's Changemaker Labs has two new programs coming up for the spring term.
GOODHack Spring 2024
Registration for the Go Open Data (GOODHack) Hackathon is now open! Registrations are accepted on a rolling basis as space allows. If you have any questions or require accommodations, contact Lily Viggiano at lily.viggiano@uwaterloo.ca For additional information, please visit the Go Open Data website and the GreenHouse website.
Climate Food Series - Spring 2024
Join GreenHouse from May-August in our Climate Leaders monthly food systems series. We are excited to meet with you monthly and build a climate leaders community together!
GreenHouse's Changemaker Labs program is rooted in the TransformWR strategy, which guides Waterloo Region towards a low-carbon, equitable, and resilient community. The plan identifies six transformative changes needed to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals. The spring term is focused on "transforming the ways we move" and "transforming the ways we relate." You can get involved in developing eco-projects, food gardening, walking tours, hackathons and more.
Last chance to register for the Waterloo staff conference
A message from Organizational and Human Development (OHD).
The countdown is on! More than 1000 Waterloo employees have already registered for the 16th annual Waterloo Staff Conference happening on April 10-11, 2024. Are you joining us for this exciting opportunity? With four renowned keynote speakers, two special sessions, and a multitude of employee-led workshops crafted by your campus colleagues, this year’s conference promises to be unforgettable.
This two-day hybrid conference is free for University staff and can be experienced in the following formats:
- Day 1: April 10 – In-person spaces throughout Hagey Hall (HH) and the School of Accounting and Finance; virtual options via MS Teams for keynotes and special sessions;
- Day 2: April 11 – Virtually via MS Teams and in-person viewing room options for keynotes in East Campus 5 (EC5) and Arts Lecture Hall (AL).
April 10 is also the International Day of Pink, a worldwide anti-bullying and anti-homophobia event, and we’re inviting all attendees to wear pink while attending the conference.
Visit the Waterloo Staff Conference website for all the details and to register on Portal today!
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Sustainability Office issues call for BioBlitz experts; other notes
"Do you know how to identify certain species like plants, insects, trees or birds?" asks the Sustainability Office. "Consider leading a hike during the second annual BioBlitz with the Sustainability Office! This year, our BioBlitz will occur between May 6 to 12. If you are interested in leading a hike, please contact us at sustainability@uwaterloo.ca. Stay tuned for more information about our BioBlitz to follow."
This Friday, the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir’s end of term concert will feature the premiere performance of the choral collaborative project Gradiva.
"Gradiva, or the “woman who walks,” has been a long-time figure within artistic circles," writes Jiho Mercer of Conrad Grebel University College. "Believed to originate from Greece in 4th-century BCE, the image of the walking woman has inspired many notable 20th-century artists and scholars, including Sigmund Freud. This simple, yet powerful image has continued to ignite artist creativity; most recently, the famous bas-relief has inspired Karen Sunabacka, Associate Professor of Music at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo."
Gradiva is the result of a collaboration between Dr. Sunabacka and visual artist and writer Zsuzsanna Ardó. "Karen’s musical interpretation is based on Ardó’s poem and is an outcry against the neglect women and mother nature have faced throughout history," Mercer's article continues.
The concert will be held at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Kitchener on Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m.