Friday, August 9, 2024


International Experience Centre opens August 12

A brightly-coloured mural adorns the walls of the renovated International Experience Centre in Needles Hall.

A message from the Student Success Office.

Soon immigration consulting appointments, international student programs and supports, intercultural skills training and opportunities to study abroad will be offered through the International Experience Centre (IEC). You can find the IEC in Needles Hall, conveniently located across from the Centre.   

"The IEC represents a significant milestone in our mission to promote intercultural understanding and enrich the overall experience of international students,” shared director Pam Charbonneau. “We are thrilled to provide a welcoming space where students can connect to community and explore new possibilities." 

There will be no interruption in services at the Student Success Office or IEC during this transition, however some appointments will be offered in a virtual-only format until August 9. 

Learn more about what the IEC has to offer.

Remembering Professor Eric Roy

Dr. Eric Roy stands next to an x-ray scan of a human brain on a wall projector in a 1991 photograph..

A message from the Faculty of Health.

The Faculty of Health mourns the loss of Dr. Eric Roy, Professor Emeritus, former Coordinator of the Neurobehavioural Assessment Option and an important person in building the neuroscience area of the department’s program.

In his obituary, his family shared that he will be remembered for his dedication to his work at the University of Waterloo, his passion for research and developing his students and for his great sense of humour and caring manner.

Dr. Eric Roy in a more current photograph.He joined the University in 1976 and retired as associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2017, cross-appointed with Psychology.  Eric was a member of the first graduation class in Kinesiology, completing his undergraduate degree and later his PhD at Waterloo.

His research focused on neurologic disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's Disease, Down syndrome and Parkinson's Disease. Eric was a Past President of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology and was appointed a Fellow of the Society in 2013. The Society promotes the study of motor control, motor learning, motor development, and sport psychology in Canada.

“Eric's work on movement disorders is legendary as well as testimony to the potential in the first BSc Kinesiology program,” said Ian Williams, retired professor and former associate chair of the department. “The catalyst of course was Eric himself, a brilliant independent scientist.”

His memory is felt throughout the department and those he used to work with. 

Read Eric Roy’s obituary.

Watch the skies! Perseid meteor shower, public lecture on Monday

A time-lapse photo of people using telescopes to scan the night sky.

A message from the Faculty of Science.

Explore the night sky with astronomers from the Faculty of Science and Royal Astronomical Society of Canada on Monday, August 12. The Perseids meteor shower will be at its most spectacular, so let's gather to learn something and then enjoy the view! We will meet first at 7:30 p.m. in the nearby Optometry building for a short lecture by the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics' Dr. Liza Sazonova entitled "300,000 Years of Looking Up!"

"Humans have looked up at the sky for as long as we have existed," says the talk's abstract. "Planets and stars have been by our side, seemingly almost within reach, taunting us to get closer. They were our first guides in the dark thousands of years ago, and continue to drive us to leave our planet and explore others. What are they? What makes up our Universe? Where did we come from?"

"These questions remained at the heart of astronomy for centuries, and as we learned more about how vast and distant celestial objects are, we too reached deeper into space with our knowledge. I will talk about the history of astronomy: from the first recorded observations of the night skies to the modern breakthroughs in our understanding of how the Universe was billions of light-years ago. And of course, the mysteries we are still yet to solve!"

This is a family-friendly event, but if your kids will have trouble sitting through a lecture, you're welcome to join us on the Columbia Fields around 8:30 p.m. for the stargazing portion of the evening.

Note that if the skies are cloudy, the lecture will still take place on August 12, but we will not gather on the fields for stargazing. Please register so that we can keep you updated.

Parking is available in Lot X ($7) near the lecture venue, and in the OpenText lot (free) on Frank Tompa Drive, north of Brubacher House. It is an easy walk between both parking lots, the lecture, and the fields. Please do not park in the small gravel lot adjacent to the field, as your car lights interfere with our stargazing.

Ontario Mennonite Music Camp kicks off this weekend and other notes

Ontario Mennonite Music Camp image showing a collage of students singing.

The Ontario Mennonite Music Camp (OMMC) is set to begin on Sunday, August 11 and will run to Friday, August 23 at Conrad Grebel University College. OMMC is "a place where youth develop and enrich relationships, faith, musicality, and leadership in a fun and supportive summer camp environment," says an announcement from Conrad Grebel. "OMMC provides an exciting summer opportunity, pairing exceptional musical instruction with traditional camp activities!" The OMMC provides an in-person, overnight camp adventure for 12- to 17-year-olds.

A Food Services employee dresses a submarine sandwich on a counter.Order up: The University of Waterloo Food Services Recruitment Fair is set for Saturday, August 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Federation Hall. "Bring your resume, and there's the option to be interviewed on the spot based on interviewer availability," says a note from Food Services. "Casual Part Time positions are available. and no experience is necessary!"

Information Systems & Technology (IST) has published the latest in their Atlassian Blog Series today entitled Get Ready for Atlassian’s Fall 2024 Drop-In Sessions.

Link of the day

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

When and Where

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!

Warriors Game Day Tickets. Purchase your single game tickets or season packages today to cheer on your Warriors this season. Tickets on sale now for Basketball, Football, Hockey and Volleyball. Check out the schedules and purchase today!

Warriors Football Home Opener vs. Toronto, Sunday, August 25, 6:00 p.m., Warrior Field. Camps and Minor League Day, W Store Pop Up Shop, King Warrior’s Kids Zone and more. Purchase your tickets today!

WatITis 2024 call for proposals, Saturday, June 15 to Friday, August 23.

Final examination period, Friday, August 2 to Friday, August 16.

Deadline to submit a proposal to the Fall P3 Showcase, Friday, August 9.

Ontario Mennonite Music Camp, Sunday, August 11 to Friday, August 23. 

Perseids Sky-watching Party and Lecture: 30,000 Years of Looking Up! with Dr. Liza Sazonova of the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, Monday, August 12, 7:30 p.m., lecture in OPT 347 and meteor-watching on Columbia Lake fields from sunset. Registration requested. 

Postdoctoral affairs update: Information session for staff and faculty, Tuesday, August 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, MS Teams.

WISE Public Lecture,The problem is global, but must be solved local” by John Avdoulos, President and Chief Executive Officer, Essex Power, Tuesday, August 13, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., W.G. Davis Computer Research Centre (DC), DC 1302., in-person and on Zoom. Register today!

Invasive Species Pull, Wednesday, August 14, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., DWE parking lot. Register today.

Retirement celebration for Sue Koebel, Wednesday, August 14, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., University Club. RSVP.

New Faculty Teaching Days Spring 2024, Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, MC 2036.

WICI Speaker Series: Embracing Complexity in Sustainability Transitions with Dr. Enayat Moallemi, Monday, August 19, 10:00. a.m. to 11:30 a.m., DC 1302.

Deadline to get "Fees Arranged," Tuesday, August 20. 

Knowledge Gathering and Sharing Consultation Sessions: an open session for employees who wish to remain anonymous or protect their identities (e.g., cameras off; pseudonyms used), Wednesday August 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., virtual, Register .

New Writing and Communication Support Services for Grad Students: Focus Groups, Wednesday, August 21, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., online.

Co-operative work term ends, Friday, August 23.

PhD oral defences

Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering. Adham Elmalky, "Building facade optimization to generate heat and algal biomass as renewable energy sources in urban environments." Supervisor, Dr. Mohamad Araji. Thesis available via SharePoint - email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Wednesday, August 14, 9:30 a.m., E5 3006.

Electrical & Computer Engineering. Nham Van Le, "Verifying Neural Networks Explanation." Supervisor, Dr. Arie Gurfinkel. Thesis available via SharePoint - email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Wednesday, August 14, 2:00 p.m., remote.

School of Pharmacy. Samuel Dubinsky, “Use of Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling To Support Dose Optimization in The Critically Ill.” Supervisor, Dr. Andrea Edginton. Please visit the Faculty of Science Thesis Submission Notices website for details on requesting a copy. Oral defence Thursday, August 15, 9:00 a.m., Pharmacy Building (PHR) Room 7007 and remote.

School of Environment, Enterprise and Development. Maryam Mohiuddin Ahmed, Three Tales in Journeys Towards Wisdom: Decolonial Impetuses in Social Innovation." Supervisor, Dr. Sean GeobeyAvailable upon request from the Faculty of Environment, Administrator, Graduate Studies. Oral defence Friday, August 23, 10:00 a.m.

Chemical Engineering. Yi Yuan, "Novel Wide Bandgap Polymer Donors Containing Benzodithiophene and Substituted- Thiophene as Donating and Accepting Units for High Performance Non-Fullerene Acceptor Based Organic Solar Cells." Supervisor, Dr. Yuning Li. Thesis available via SharePoint - email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Tuesday, August 27, 9:00 a.m., QNC 5402.

Upcoming service interruptions

Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:

  • MC to QNC Pedestrian Bridge temporary closure, Monday, June 17 to Friday, September 27, no access to bridge between QNC to MC due to construction.
  • School of Pharmacy, Integrated Health Building, Avril Building fire alarm testing, Friday, August 9, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • University Club, Bauer Warehouse fire alarm testing, Friday, August 9, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • Douglas Wright Engineering, Rod Coutts Hall, South Campus Hall, Carl Pollock Hall, Graduate House fire alarm testing, Monday, August 12, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • Central Services Building, General Services Complex, Commissary fire alarm testing, Monday, August 12, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • Engineering 2, Engineering 3, Math & Computer, Davis Centre fire alarm testing, Wednesday, August 14, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • Biorem fire alarm testing, Wednesday, August 14, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • Fire Research Facility fire alarm testing, Wednesday, August 14, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
  • ESC building electrical shutdown, Saturday, August 24, 6:00 a.m. for 14 hours, building will be closed, all power to ESC will be shut down, elevators will not be functional.