Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Faculty of Mathematics convocation ceremonies will go by the numbers

The Faculty of Mathematics will hold three convocation ceremonies today. 1,070 undergraduates, 170 Master's, and 32 PhD candidates will cross the stage at 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. in the Physical Activities Complex. You can watch the Convocation livestream on the Convocation website.

Morning Ceremony (10:00 a.m.)

Michael Klein will sing the national anthem.

Troy Vasiga will bear the mace.

Lawrence Folland will be named Honorary Member of the University. Folland joined the University of Waterloo’s nascent Computer Science Computing Facility (CSCF) in 2003, after previously working as a technology specialist in the software industry. He oversaw the formation and evolution of CSCF’s outstanding research computing support group which he led until his retirement in 2022. He also served as the president of the University of Waterloo Staff Association from 2019 to 2020, and ensured operational continuity during the lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Folland also distinguished himself as a tireless Waterloo community volunteer. He co-founded the University of Waterloo Computer Museum and remains committed to this initiative, which will serve as a focal point for community outreach and public relations.

Dr. Ian Munro will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Dr. Munro is a world research leader in data structures and algorithms, most notably in highly space efficient data structures. He served as a faculty member in computer science at Waterloo for almost 52 years, including 21 years as Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Algorithm Design, and supervised 26 PhD students and more than 70 master’s students. Munro has authored over 250 research papers and has been recognized as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Association for Computing Machinery. He is a recipient of the Canadian Association for Computer Science Lifetime Achievement Award and Pioneer of Computing in Canada and was given the designation University Professor by the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Vinton Cerf will receive a degree of Doctor of Mathematics, honoris causa and will address convocation. Dr. Cerf is widely credited as one of the “fathers of the internet”, having co-developed the original suite of TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the internet. He also contributes to global policy development and currently works as chief internet evangelist at Google. Cerf has received numerous awards, including the Turing Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour of the United States. He has also received numerous honorary degrees from universities including ETH Zürich and Yale University, and fellowships of learned societies in his field. Cerf received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, and his master’s and PhD degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Wendy Zhang will deliver the valedictory address. Read more about Wendy in Waterloo News.

Nils Hendrik Lukas will be named the University Finalist for the Governor General's Gold Medal at the doctoral level.

Ava Pun will receive the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement.

Afternoon Ceremony (2:30 p.m.)

Michael Klein will sing the national anthem.

Stefan Steiner will bear the mace.

Akam Pabla will deliver the valedictory address. Read more about Akam in Waterloo News.

Evening ceremony (6:30 p.m.)

Bearing the mace will be Barbara Csima.

Dr. Ian Stewart will receive a Doctor of Mathematics, honoris causa, in absentia and will address convocation. Dr. Ian Stewart received his PhD from the University of Warwick, where he is currently an Emeritus Professor in Mathematics. He divides his time equally between research into nonlinear dynamics and furthering public awareness of mathematics. In 1995, he received the Michael Faraday Medal for excellence in communicating science to
U.K. audiences and in 1997 he gave the Royal Institution Christmas Lecture on The Magical Maze. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
of London in 2001, and was the first recipient of the Christopher Zeeman Medal, awarded for his work on promoting mathematics.

The Governor General's Academic Gold Medal for highest standing in a Master's Program will go to Jeremy Chizewer. "Jeremy Chizewer completed a Master of Mathematics (Combinatorics and Optimization) degree under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Melczer," a Waterloo News story says. "Chizewer’s research adapts mathematical results to develop general tools for the study of combinatorial structures. His results — published in three journals during his master’s program — rely on a deep understanding of several areas of pure mathematics and a strong knowledge of computer science. Chizewer gave several talks on this work at national and international conferences and supervised a group of undergraduate researchers through Waterloo's Women in Mathematics directed reading program. He previously won an Editor's Choice Award from the Discrete Mathematics journal for work completed during his undergraduate degree at Princeton University. Chizewer will begin his PhD at the University of Chicago in September 2024."

Scott Xu will receive the Governor General's Academic Silver Medal for highest standing in an undergraduate degree program.

Ontario Summit elevates student experiences with disabilities

A message from the Teaching Innovation Incubator.

In February 2024, Samantha Fowler and Emma Collington, University of Waterloo students and alumni, spearheaded an online event called the Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities (the Summit). This one-day online conference aimed to amplify the voices of post-secondary students across Ontario, allowing them to share their firsthand experiences navigating disability within academic settings.

Drawing from the barriers they faced as disabled students, Fowler and Collington recognized the pressing need for a platform to prioritize these experiences. The Summit served as a gathering point for students to come together and shed light on the often-overlooked obstacles they face as campuses work to acknowledge the necessity for greater accessibility and inclusion.

The Summit brought together 131 registrants from across Ontario and fostered a safe environment for students to express their experiences and concerns regarding the accessibility challenges they encounter daily. Emphasizing anonymity, Fowler and Collington encouraged open dialogue, ensuring participants felt comfortable to share their experiences.

Following the event, with much consideration given to the anonymity of participants, the Summit organizers compiled the shared concerns and experiences of Ontario students and assembled the Summit Report. This comprehensive document outlines students’ needs for adequate institutional support, highlights common barriers encountered in post-secondary education, and presents actionable recommendations that universities can take to promote accessibility and inclusion from the outset of academic decision-making.

The Summit Report is publicly available for those interested in learning more about its findings. To learn more, visit the Ontario Summit for Students with Disabilities website.

For inquires or further information, please reach out to the Summit organizers at stemwithdisabilities@gmail.com.

Register for the Trauma-Informed Lunch and Learn sessions

A message from Campus Wellness.

Join us for a trauma-informed Lunch and Learn, where we will discuss strategies for resilience and healing in a supportive and inclusive environment.

 As we approach the one-year mark of the Hagey Hall attack on June 28, 2023, Campus Wellness invites faculty, staff and students to build their capacity to understand and support those affected, especially Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming (2STNBGNC+) campus community members. Traumatic experiences, like the one that occurred last June 28^th, often affect both the individual and the community. Healing and post-traumatic growth also often require support for the individual and the community.

This is a great opportunity to learn about some trauma informed approaches that can support our diverse campus communities. These sessions will be led by mental health professionals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, who will share their lived experience and expertise. They will provide insights into trauma-informed approaches and practical strategies to support individuals affected by last summer's violent hate crime on campus or similar incidents of violence.

• In-Person Session: June 19, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Bring your own lunch and register on Portal.
• Virtual Session: June 24, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Register on Portal.

Join us in fostering a more supportive and understanding campus environment. Visit our Pride Month web page to explore other upcoming events, initiatives, and resources dedicated to celebrating Pride Month and supporting those around us.

CEE launches new Gen Z guide for employers

By Matthew King.

Did you know that work that helps others is more important to Gen Z workers than job security? Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) has launched a new guide for prospective and current employers: Harness the Power of Gen Z talent! Take our quiz to find out how well you know the future workforce?

The University of Waterloo’s Work-Learn Institute (WxL) surveyed more than 2,000 co-op students to gain deep insights into this intriguing and fearless generation of talent.

We’ve shared this guide with employers and other stakeholders through our Insights for Impact newsletter. Be sure to look out for it on CEE’s social media channels (LinkedIn). 

For more information, visit our Gen Z employer resource page or download the guide directly.