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Black, Gold and Red: United Way kick-off a great success
By Megan McGarry.
The spirit of community was alive and well at the United Way kick-off barbeque on Tuesday. Students gathered in the Arts Quad and on the Grad House Green with faculty and staff for games, live music, and most importantly, free food! Amidst a sea of red attire and branded cookies, the vibrant spirit was not only palpable but contagious. The barbeque is the second in a series of events held this week in celebration of Black and Gold Week, which will culminate on Saturday, September 21 with Homecoming.
Waterloo’s culture of philanthropy and community traces back to our founding. Whether it’s sharing ideas and skills, contributing time as a volunteer, or providing financial support for important causes, our University community is a proud partner and major contributor to initiatives that create impact.
Each year for the month of October, the University runs a charity campaign in support of United Way Waterloo Region, which distributes funds to nearly 130 local agencies and charities. This year’s goal is to raise at least $250,000 to help those most vulnerable in Waterloo Region.
Supporting the campaign is a meaningful way to connect with our local community. Learn more about how to contribute on the United Way Campaign webpage.
Take the 2024 Sustainability Survey
The Sustainability Office wants your insight on Waterloo’s sustainability directions.
The Sustainability Office is asking students, staff, faculty, and alumni to help shape sustainability at Waterloo by filling out the 2024 Sustainability Survey. Results from the Sustainability Survey will be used to help gauge current perceptions and knowledge about sustainability on campus, priorities for the campus community, satisfaction with existing efforts, as well as identifying opportunities for growth.
By completing the survey, participants can enter to win one of two $50 WatCard top-ups. The survey and contest close September 27 at 5:00 p.m.
Visit the Sustainability Survey webpage for more information.
Creating sustainable working conditions
A message from the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD).
In today's dynamic work landscape, the relationships between physical and psychosocial factors and mental and musculoskeletal health are complex. Guest speaker Dr. Jodi Oakman will explore interactions between work and health, starting from the premise that work can have beneficial health outcomes and support productivity. Drawing on contemporary and emerging research, the presentation will examine the requirements for healthy work environments to support the creation of sustainable working conditions to promote long working lives.
Oakman is a professor of public health and the leader of the Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors at La Trobe University in Australia. An accomplished ergonomist and human factors specialist, she has transitioned from a diverse range of industry roles into academia, where she leads research aimed at enhancing both physical and mental health in the workplace. Her approach uses systems thinking and principles of implementation science to advance work-related health and well-being and support sustainable working lives.
Join us for this free Hallman Lecture on Thursday, October 3 at 5:00 p.m. in HLTH EXP 1689, with a community reception to follow at 6:00 p.m.
The Library looks to navigate misinformation with panel discussion
Join the University of Waterloo Library for a panel discussion about misinformation on Thursday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m.
Panelists at the Navigating Misinformation: Trust in Information in the Digital Age event will discuss confirmation bias, information and data literacy, and developing AI confidence.
"Misinformation. Disinformation. Malinformation," says a note from the Library. "Navigating the vast amounts of information we encounter daily has never been more challenging. From social media to AI, information is spreading faster than many of us can keep up, let alone determine its authenticity and quality."
"Learn how to navigate social media with more confidence and understand the basics of large language models so you can discern the limits of your trust."
This live virtual talk is hosted by University Librarian Beth Sandore Namachchivaya and will feature librarians Brie McConnell and Kate Mercer, and associate professor and director of Waterloo's U&AI Lab, Lai-Tze Fan.
March of 1,000 Umbrellas today and other notes
Wear your black and gold, lace up your walking shoes, and bring your umbrella and community spirit to the United Way March of 1,000 Umbrellas today. Walk with your colleagues and community partners from Waterloo City Hall to Kitchener City Hall in support of the United Way campaign launch.
Participants can meet at the Waterloo Sign near the Arts Quad for a group photo before making their way to the march’s starting point.
The event is free to attend; please register. This event is being held as part of Black and Gold Week.
The UW Farm Market is back for the fall term. The first event in the weekly series will take place today from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. appropriately enough on the BMH Green. Local produce will be on offer as per usual.
United College will be hosting a UW-Essex Double degree program in human rights and law Information session today at 3:00 p.m. in UTD-201-B.
“Please join us for an information session about the University of Waterloo/University of Essex Double Degree Program in Human Rights and Law,” says a note from United College. “At this session, Anna Purkey, the Director of the Human Rights Program at University of Waterloo, and Graham Wise, International Officer for Essex University will be presenting the program and answering your questions.”
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Purkey at apurkey@uwaterloo.ca.
The Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend on Saturday, September 21, which also happens to be the International Day of Peace (gee, it’s almost like they planned it!).
“Join us to celebrate 10 years of collaborative peacebuilding!” proclaims a note from Conrad Grebel. Established as the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement (CPA) in 2014, the centre was renamed the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement in 2016 and supports initiatives such as a research fellowship, peace camps, the Grebel Peace Incubator Program (formerly the Epp Peace Incubator), and collaborations with organizations like the Tamarack Institute and Project Ploughshares, to name but two.
The celebration event will include a mix of structured and unstructured opportunities to connect with others, short speeches from a range of participants, a kids' space, and tasty refreshments. RSVP today!
Plant Operations is reporting that the driveway closure between Columbia Street and Bright Starts Daycare has been extended until Friday, September 20 as work continues to be carried out on an underground storm drain. The closure affects the School of Optometry client/visitor turnaround circle. Vehicle traffic to Bright Starts Daycare, Optometry Loading Area, X Lot and O Lot will have to take an alternate route using Hagey Boulevard.
Here’s today’s National Postdoc Appreciation Week fun fact:
Did you know there have been multiple changes made to the postdoc experience and administration at Waterloo over the last year? Check out our new postdoctoral scholars and postdoctoral affairs resources confluence sites for information on our new postdoc guidelines, minimum salary, and templates that are now in effect. We have also changed the way postdocs are referenced on campus. If you have reference to “postdoctoral fellows” on your webpages, you are encouraged to update this to “postdoctoral scholars”.