The Daily Bulletin is published by Internal and Leadership Communications, part of University Communications
Contact us at bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
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Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.
Yesterday, the encampment which formed on Grad House Green on May 13 was peacefully dismantled. Grad House Green is being restored to its usual condition so that the whole community can once again enjoy the space together. The University is now withdrawing its claim and injunction proceedings, ending the legal actions it filed on June 25.
I’m grateful to everyone who worked so hard to ensure that the encampment came to a peaceful conclusion.
The University’s mandate is to advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship. This is only possible in an environment of free expression and inquiry. We have and will continue to fiercely protect these rights on our campuses. Complex ideas belong here. Diverging viewpoints belong here. Debate and scholarly disagreement have a home in our classrooms and in all university spaces; protest and protest movements do too. Everyone at Waterloo has a unique contribution to make to our community. Each and every one of you are valued. Each and every one of you belong here.
This has been a difficult and divisive time for our community. I know that some members of the community disagree with some of the actions taken by the University. I also know that many of you – employees and students alike – have experienced harms on campus. Instances of antisemitism and of anti-Palestinian racism have been reported on many occasions over these past few months.
Healing from this division will take time and effort. The Task Forces’ consultative processes will give us an opportunity for dialog on our principles for partnerships and investments. We are also examining opportunities for discourse and engagement that will bring our diverse community together to do what we are best at: learn about and identify solutions to society’s most complex challenges.
The Israel-Hamas war continues to devastate us and to affect many in our community very profoundly, and personally. I urge you to remember that you have access to supports if you need them.
As we look ahead, let’s reflect on the values that make our institution such a special place to work and learn: we think differently, act with purpose and most importantly, work together. I hope that these next few weeks will see us work together to bring healing and peace to our community.
Supports are available to University community members including the Employee and Family Assistance Program (for employees), Counselling Services (for students) and 211Ontario (for people with no affiliation to the University).
A message from Velocity.
Whether to help businesses increase profitability and productivity, or improve personal health management, students are drawing on real-life experiences and market research to influence their startup ideas. And many are employing artificial intelligence to solve these real-world problems.
The summer 2024 Velocity Pitch Competition semi-finals saw students embrace the newest technologies for their startup ideas. After two nights of live pitches, eight teams were chosen from a pool of 24 to advance to the Velocity Pitch Competition finals and pitch to win their share of $20,000.
Learn more about the top 8 finalists of Velocity Pitch Competition finals on July 25 from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.
Register on the Velocity website.
A message from the Department of Knowledge Integration.
The University of Waterloo will be running the Shad Waterloo program from June 30 to July 26 for 54 grade 10 and 11 students from across Canada.
We have been proudly hosting the Shad program on Waterloo’s campus since 1983. This transformational experience has a profound impact on these bright and curious students. Many students love the Shad Waterloo program so much, they decide that Waterloo is where they’d like to pursue their undergrad studies.
At Shad, students participate in hands-on learning, collaborate in design groups, explore post-secondary, engage with academic and entrepreneurial mentors, experience vulnerability training, and meet some of the most passionate peers in the country. There are over 22,000 alumni from this competitive-application program. This summer, Shad’s live-in program (ShadOnCampus) will be hosted at 20 campuses across Canada, while the virtual ShadAnywhere program will give students the Shad experience anywhere they have a digital connection.
We will be delivering the 2024 program with workshops, lectures, and mentorship from Waterloo faculty across the campus that focus on STEAM learning, design thinking, entrepreneurship, all while building a meaningful community. For the first time this year, we are hosting an Unplugged Shad experience, which means students will be leaving their smartphones behind as they engage in the program. After hearing from so many students how they wish to disconnect from the pull of social media, reconnect with the people around them, and engage in activities without the distraction of their cell phone, we are excited to be one of the two campuses offering this new version of Shad.
The Department of Knowledge Integration (KI) is proud to run Shad Waterloo on behalf of the campus. Rob Gorbet, Shad Waterloo Program Director and Associate Professor in KI, has been involved with Shad since 2008. “I love the diverse community that Shad brings together, and the impact it has on participants. Urban and rural, gender-diverse, from all across the country, participants are united by curiosity and a love of learning. It’s an incredible age and opportunity for them to explore and push the boundaries of their capabilities.”
Each year, Shads take on a group design challenge to solve a social and economic issue with a STEAM lens. Each campus tackles the same real-world problem in designated design groups, with assigned mentors, as they develop their solutions. This is an entrepreneurial experience with a social impact twist, and one of the most impactful aspects of Shad’s program.
This year the design project theme is “How might we help people in Canada integrate affordable and reliable green energy sources into their everyday lives to create more sustainable communities?”
Shads will hold a public open house to show off their achievements, including creative ideas they have come up with to tackle this year’s design project theme, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, in the Great Hall at Conrad Grebel University College.
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) has announced a number of workshops for students, faculty and staff this month, including:
Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence for staff and faculty, Wednesday, July 10, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., QNC 1506.
Featuring facilitators Taneah Ugwuegbula and Jay Love, this is a training session designed learn about sexual and gender-based violence, and best practices for supportively responding to disclosures of sexual violence, including building confidence in preparedness for response. Register here.
Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence for students, Thursday, July 11, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Featuring facilitators Taneah Ugwuegbula and Jay Love, this is a training session designed learn about sexual and gender-based violence, and best practices for supportively responding to disclosures of sexual violence, including building confidence in preparedness for response. The session location will be disclosed to attendees upon registration. Register here.
NeuroMinds Collective for students, Thursday, July 11 and Thursday, July 25, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Featuring facilitators Chris Martin and Rania Ibrahim Ambrad, NeuroMinds Collective is a safe haven for students where neurodiversity is celebrated, understood, and supported. We're a community of students who share diverse cognitive profiles, including ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and more. Our aim is to build a tight-knit network where you can freely express your thoughts, concerns, and achievements in a judgment-free zone. These virtual sessions are open to any and all self-identified neurodivergent UW students – no diagnosis necessary. To learn more and/or to register, please contact Chris Martin.
You may notice an influx of students and parents on campus today as Faculty Ready Days kick off this week. Dates are as follows:
As part of the programming, new students and their supporters will have the opportunity to attend mock lectures and tutorials, meet their upper-year student peers, staff and professors, and learn more about the services available to undergraduate and graduate students.
150 years ago: The Mounties March West
The Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is offering flu shots with no appointments needed daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 519-746-4500 or extension 33784 for more info. COVID shots will be available on appointment basis only. You can register online at studenthealthpharmacy.ca.
Warriors Youth Summer Camps. Basketball, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Multi-Sport and Volleyball. Register today!
Safeguarding Science workshop and more, throughout May and June. Public Safety Canada invites faculty, staff and students to attend a series of virtual event via MS Teams. Register to receive a link.
Food Truck Wednesday, Wednesday, May 8 to Wednesday, July 24, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Arts Quad.
WatITis 2024 call for proposals, Saturday, June 15 to Friday, August 30.
Student Life Tours, Monday, July 8 to Thursday, July 11, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., SLC Multipurpose room.
Safeguarding Science: Raising awareness of security risks and mitigation tools in the research ecosystem, Tuesday, July 9, 1:00 pm. to 2:30 p.m.
NEW - Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence for Staff and Faculty, Wednesday, July 10, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., QNC 1506. Register here.
Midterm Meltdown, Wednesday, July 10, 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., SLC Green Space.
NEW - NeuroMinds Collective for Students, Thursday, July 11 and Thursday, July 25, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. To learn more and/or to register, please contact Chris Martin.
NEW - Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence for Students, Thursday, July 11, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, location to be disclosed upon registration. Register here.
Chemistry Seminar, "How electron poor can we make gold(III)?" featuring Dr. Jason L. Dutton, Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia , Friday, July 12, 2:30 p.m., C2-361 Reading Room.
Gaining Insight into SSHRC merit review: a Q&A panel with SSHRC Insight Grant and Insight Development Grant Committee Members, Tuesday, July 16, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., virtual. Please register by July 9.
Free Public Astronomy Lecture, “The Gravity of Tinkering with Einstein” featuring Dr. Cliff Burgess, Tuesday, July 16, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fed Hall. Register today.
Tim Hortons Camp Day, Wednesday, July 17.
Student Life tours, Wednesday, July 17, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., SLC Multipurpose room.
Exploring CIHR Project Grant Committee Culture: A Q&A panel with Reviewer Committee Members, Wednesday, July 17, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Microsoft Teams. Email the UW CIHR team to register for the session.
NEW - WISE Public Lecture, “Keep decarbonising and carry on: what are the GB network stability challenges on our way to net zero?” by Agustí Egea-Alvarez, Associate Professor, Electronic & Electrical Engineering department, University of Strathclyde, Wednesday, July 17, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., W.G. Davis Computer Research Centre (DC), Room DC 1302., In-person and on Zoom. Register today.
University of Waterloo Knowledge Mobilization Community of Practice, “Municipal NetZero Action Research Partnership (N-ZAP),” with Dr. Amelia Clarke, Thursday, July 18, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Contact Nadine Quehl to request a Teams invitation or for more information.
Invasive Species Pull, Thursday, July 18, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., DWE parking lot.
NEW - Shad Design Project Conference, Friday, July 19, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Great Hall, Conrad Grebel University College.
Wild Forces: University of Waterloo Choir, Saturday, July 20, 7:30 p.m., St. John the Evangelist Church, 22 Water Street, Kitchener. $5 students/$10 general
tickets available at the door.
Instrumental Chamber Ensemble concert, Sunday, July 21, 7:30 p.m., Chapel at Conrad Grebel University College. Free admission.
Biomedical Engineering and Technology Research Day, Wednesday, July 24, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, poster showcase from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register on the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology website by July 10 to reserve a poster space.
Shad Waterloo 2024 Open Day Exhibits, Thursday, July 25, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel Great Hall.
NEW - NeuroMinds Collective for Students, Thursday, July 25, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. To learn more and/or to register, please contact Chris Martin.
Sweet Dreams: UWaterloo Jazz Ensemble, Sunday, July 28, 2:00 p.m., Great Hall (room 1111) at Conrad Grebel University College. Free admission.
Serenades, Ships, and Tombs: Orchestra@UWaterloo, Sunday, July 28, 7:30 p.m., Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb St. West Waterloo. Free admission.
Last day of lectures and classes, Tuesday, July 30.
Pre-examination study days, Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1.
Safeguarding Science: Raising awareness of security risks and mitigation tools in the research ecosystem, Wednesday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Ontario Mennonite Music Camp, Sunday, August 11 to Friday, August 23.
Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:
Villages Road - Columbia Street link sidewalk construction, Thursday, July 4 to Thursday, July 11, on the exit lane of Villages Road connecting Columbia Street, exit lane might be closed during the day, vehicles will be able to enter Villages Road from Columbia through the right lane but cannot exit. Vehicles are advised to connect to Columbia via Hagey Boulevard.
The Daily Bulletin is published by Internal and Leadership Communications, part of University Communications
Contact us at bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Submission guidelines
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.