Tuesday, May 14, 2024

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• Building Inclusive Research Capacity webinar examines the Decolonial "R's" of Research
• Big tech wants your attention. Not on Setori's watch
• Unlocking human potential through a universal basic income
• Participants needed for macular degeneration study

Building Inclusive Research Capacity webinar examines the Decolonial "R's" of Research

A message from the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International.

Indigenous communities often experience extractive research methods when they are approached by non-Indigenous scholars from western post-secondary institutions. While there has been a shift in understanding and research ‘best practices’ in recent years, it is also important to highlight that Indigenous scholars and community advocates have long championed a principled approach to working with Indigenous communities.

This presentation will cover highlights of deceptively simple concepts theorized by Indigenous scholars for community-engaged research projects—known as the “Decolonial “R’s” of Research”—and together, we will consider their expansive meanings and implications in a typical university-based research project lifecycle. 

Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate.

The Decolonial “R’s” of Research: Principled Approaches to Engaging Indigenous Communities

• June 11, 2024, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Presented by the Indigenous Research Team

Resources:

• Inclusive Resource Hub
• Our website

For more information or questions, please reach out to Indigenous.Research@uwaterloo.ca.

Big tech wants your attention. Not on Setori's watch

By Naomi Grosman. This is an excerpt of an article originally published in Waterloo News.

Velocity startup Setori developed an artificial intelligence companion to improve Gen Z’s focus and guard against procrastination and raised $1 million USD in pre-seed funding. 

Setori is co-founded by two University of Waterloo engineering alum Logan Jeya (BASc ’14) and Marc Simard (BASc ’14) and solely staffed with Waterloo co-ops and graduates.

Following a successful first test of 200 users across five countries in North America, Europe and Asia, the startup is launching a beta test of its browser extension, Tori.

“We are helping younger generations reduce procrastination and putting things off, which is a common, anxiety-inducing problem,” says Jeya, CEO of Setori. “Major tech companies are spending big dollars and hiring staff specifically to get people to stop doing what they are doing and spend time on various online platforms. It’s going to get worse. The growth of this problem will be exponential.”

After nearly a decade working at various tech companies and consultancy firms, including Microsoft, Uber and McKinsey & Company, Simard, along with Jeya, became increasingly concerned about rising procrastination trends. They worried that this struggle for the attention of Gen Z and even younger generations could hinder their ability to achieve educational, professional and personal goals.

“We have to adapt to this new reality, and we believe the only way to win this fight for attention is AI like ours and helping people figure out what they need to focus on to reach their goal,” Simard says.

Toris are AI companions that help users focus. They grow and evolve as users accomplish tasks and goals.

With design inspired by the popular Japanese virtual pet Tamagochi, Setori customers download the Tori browser extension and set up their individual goals. Tori tracks how users spend their time online, and users can proactively set up stretches of times for deep focus and divert attention from specific websites. As users achieve their goals, their Tori companion grows and evolves with them.

“Tori helps you say yes to starting and allows you to optimize your time by saying no to distractions,” Jeya says. “Our users who used to spend many hours a day on social media and experienced heightened feelings of anxiety due to putting off tasks, now see increased productivity and decreased anxiety.”

Waterloo grads make for ideal startup staff

As a budding startup, the co-founders prioritize hiring individuals not only for their technical skills but also for their ability to propel growth and execute the company's strategy. Jeya and Simard find that Waterloo alum stand out during the hiring process, resulting in the company hiring several Waterloo co-ops, two of whom have been offered full-time positions.

"We aim to recruit the best talent, regardless of their background," Jeya says. "While we consider candidates from major U.S. and Canadian universities, we find Waterloo grads stand out. Their co-op experience sets them apart. They're enriched with industry experience, having completed work terms at major tech companies in some cases," he explains.

Waterloo has the largest co-op program at a research-intensive university in the world with more than 70 per cent of students completing up to two years of employment experience during their studies.

"Waterloo alumni bring distinct strengths that are particularly powerful at a startup," Simard says.

Read the rest of the article on Waterloo News

Unlocking human potential through a universal basic income

This is an excerpt of an article published in the 2024 issue of Waterloo Magazine: Happiness.

Growing up in a family where money was scarce, Floyd Marinescu (BMath ’02) saw firsthand the psychological toll of working class poverty. When he learned about basic income, he felt he had discovered a key piece of the answer.  

He went on to launch UBI Works, a non-profit that shares knowledge and mobilizes support for basic income. Through the non-profit, he hopes to convince voters that basic income will not only reduce poverty, but also fuel our economy and help people lead more creative, fulfilling lives.   

Read more about Marinescu’s thoughts on universal basic income, and how it can help to improve lives and drive the economy.  

Participants needed for macular degeneration study

A message from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Researchers at the School of Optometry & Vision Science are currently seeking adults 18 years and over diagnosed with macular degeneration who use their side vision to see for a study which examines whether reading can be improved through a combination of practice and the use of a safe, well-established technique for modulating brain function called non-invasive brain stimulation. Recently published results from the group suggest that a single session of non-invasive brain stimulation may have a short-term effect on reading in adults with macular degeneration. The current study is exploring the possibility of longer lasting effects.

Participants will be asked to read words on a computer screen for 9 study sessions (each 2 hours per visit) spaced out over a period of 2 to 3 months. Participants should not be undergoing eye-based injections and must be eligible for non-invasive brain stimulation (researchers will screen for this). Eligible participants will receive $20 per session in appreciation for their time and regional transportation costs will be covered. If you, your family members, or acquaintances might be eligible and interested, please contact Melanie Mungalsingh for more information at mamungal@uwaterloo.ca.This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee.