Monday, October 21, 2024

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• Reminder: inclusive research tools webinar coming up on October 28
• Unite for a cause: special events to support the United Way Campaign
• Waste Month, Sustainability Quiz and Sustainability Office volunteering opportunities
• International Conference on Games and Narrative 2025 puts out call for participation
• Senate meets today and other notes

Reminder: inclusive research tools webinar coming up on October 28

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

A question that often comes to the Inclusive Research team from researchers is “what are the top three things I can do to embed EDI in my work?” In response, a virtual webinar on “Inclusive Research Tools: Identifying and Addressing Barriers” has been scheduled for Monday, October 28, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This session will help researchers identify ways to understand potential barriers that may exist in their research program, project and/or teams and will provide ideas for concrete actions to meaningfully address them. 

Please  register to receive the Zoom link to participate.  

About the Inclusive Research Resource Hub 

The Hub  is a resource library of important documents focused on EDI to support the UWaterloo community as they integrate EDI into their research designs and teams. The Hub was created as part of the Inclusive Research Team’s commitment to ongoing development and capacity building to support equitable and inclusive research practices. 

Upcoming webinars: 

• The Foundation: Building Inclusive Teams, Thursday, November 14, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Register to receive the Zoom link.
• The Decolonial “R’s” of Research: Principled Approaches to Engaging Indigenous Communities ,Friday, November 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Register to receive the Zoom link. 
• What is GBA+ Anyway? An Introduction, Monday, December 9, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Register to receive the Zoom link. 

Unite for a cause: special events to support the United Way Campaign

A message from the University of Waterloo United Way Campaign Committee.

As we enter the third week of our United Way Campaign, we’re reaching out to you with a heartfelt call to action. Our goal is to exceed last year’s campaign total of $230,000. A target that may seem ambitious but with your support, it’s within our reach. We’re already more than halfway to reaching our goal!

Join us for special events

To further energize our campaign, we’re excited to announce a series of special events over the next two weeks. Here are a few highlights:

• Book Sale: Now until October 31

Join the Chemical Engineering department for their book sale that is running until October 31. The book sale is in their main office, E6 3024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed over the lunch hour (12 noon to 1:00 p.m.) so avoid coming at that time. 

• Arts Silent Auction: Now until October 30

The Arts Silent Auction is running until October 30at noon. The auction is filled with amazing items to bid on like Kitchener Rangers tickets, massage vouchers, and much more. All proceeds are going towards our United Way campaign. Visit UW ARTS Silent Auction for the United Way (kambeo.io) to place your bids!

• “Burst a Balloon” Event: starts October 21

We’re thrilled to announce that nearly 50 local restaurants have donated gift cards for our upcoming event partnered with Domino’s Pizza! Just like last year, you can participate in our fun balloon pop to win:

$5 Balloon: Win a gift card valued at $10-$15.

$10 Balloon: Win a gift card valued at $20-$25.

Balloons will be available for popping starting Monday, October 21 at noon in the Arts Undergrad Office (PAS 2439). Get yours before they’re gone—last year, it took just 9 days to pop all 300 balloons!

• School of Pharmacy Silent Auction: Now until October 30

School of Pharmacy will be hosting a Silent Auction in support of UWaterloo’s campaign for the United Way Waterloo Region Communities, running until Wednesday, October 30 and featuring exciting items such as: a one-night stay at The Walper Hotel, restaurant gift cards and much more. For more details and to start bidding, please visit the auction event page!

• Fall Foodie Fundraiser: October 23

Join the Office of Indigenous Relations at the University of Waterloo for a Fall Foodie Fundraiser supporting United Way on Wednesday, October 23, from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at EC5 4201 (4th floor). Enjoy soup (three varieties, including a vegan option) and baked bannock for $5.00 per bowl/piece. There will also be an in-person silent auction featuring Indigenous-themed items. Please bring cash for your purchases and consider bringing your own dishes or containers to reduce waste. Google Map

• Spooky Plant and Craft Sale: October 31   

Join the Chemical Engineering department’s spooky plant and craft sale being held on October 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., located at E6 in the 1^st floor lobby.

Please visit the United Way campaign website to learn more about special events happening on campus in support of the United Way.

Can’t attend? You can still support the campaign!

Even if you can’t join us for an event, you can still make a difference. The United Way funds essential programs that support food, shelter, education, and health resources for those in need.

Why your donation matters

1. Local Impact: Contributions stay within our community, addressing critical issues and supporting families.
2. Amplified Efforts: The United Way collaborates with local organizations to maximize the impact of every donation.
3. Transform Lives: Your generosity helps over 215,000 people through United Way Waterloo Region Communities.

How to donate

Visit Donate to the United Way. Popular ways to donate include payroll deductions and credit card donations. Every contribution helps to bring us closer to our goal.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment. Together, let’s reach that goal and raise more than last year!

Waste Month, Sustainability Quiz and Sustainability Office volunteering opportunities

 A message from the Sustainability Office.

October is Waste Month – The Sustainability Office has been working to share different ways we as a campus are working towards a goal for zero-waste. Join us as we celebrate the start of waste reduction week today from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the SLC Multi-purpose room. This will featuring games, Halloween candy, prizes and a special Free Store pop-up. That’s right, a free store with things for your homes, offices and more!

Participate in our Sustainability Quiz - Test your sustainability knowledge from October 21 to November 29 for your chance to one (1) of two (2) $50 WatCard top ups ($50.00 retail value).

Get involved with the Sustainability Office – upcoming volunteer opportunities:

• Buckthorn Battle – Thursday, October 24, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.
• Halloween Tree Planting – Thursday, October 31, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
• Buckthorn Battle – Tuesday, November 5, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.
• Buckthorn Battle – Wednesday, November 13, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.

International Conference on Games and Narrative 2025 puts out call for participation

A message from the Games Institute.

The Games Institute is excited to announce the call for participation (CfP) for the upcoming International Conference on Games and Narrative 2025 (ICGaN'25). This year’s conference theme, “Adapt, Adopt, Adjust: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Adaptation, Storytelling, and Simulation” asks us to consider the power of adapted and adaptive narratives, experiences, genres, and mechanics.

Researchers from a variety of disciplines (such as humanities, digital media, human-computer interaction, culture studies, psychology, computer science, communication studies, engineering, etc.) are invited to submit their papers to discuss the plethora of factors impacting games and interactive storytelling. This conference is also open to independent scholars, journalists, and industry professionals.

For those interested in submission, deadline is November 20 at 11:59 p.m. Additional details can be found on the Games Institute website, where we also are hosting a full copy of the CfP. We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming you to ICGaN’25!

Senate meets today and other notes

The University's senate meets today at 3:30 p.m. in NH 3407 and on Zoom. Among the agenda items:

• A motion to approve the proposed new academic programs of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and research-based Master of Applied Science (MASc) degrees in Biomedical Engineering (BME), and, That the effective date be either January 1, 2025 or May 1, 2025, to be confirmed and subject to the date of review and approval by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities;
• A motion to approve the proposed major modification to create a new option, Quantum Information (Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management, Bachelor of Mathematics, Bachelor of Software Engineering), effective September 1, 2025;
• A motion to approve the proposed academic regulation revisions to Mathematics: Averages and Academic Standings, Addition of First Term Withdrawal Policy, effective September 1, 2025;
• A motion to adopt the Guidelines for Visitors to Senate Meetings (an item that was tabled at the September meeting);
• A motion to approve the establishment of a curriculum subcommittee for Senate Undergraduate Council;
• A motion to elect Neela Hassan as the graduate student member of the Academic Quality Enhancement Committee.

The Senate Finance Committee will provide a mid-year update on the 2024/2025 University Operating Budget.

And as has become custom, the Faculty Deans will make a presentation for the United Way campaign.

The full senate agenda and supporting documents can be found on the Secretariat's website.

The Fall 2024 Student Experience Survey is open from Monday, October 21 until November 8. "The Fall 2024 Student Experience Survey (SES) is administered by the University of Waterloo Statistical Consulting and Survey Research Unit (SCSRU) in collaboration with the Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP) department, the Associate Vice President, Academic, the Associate Vice President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), the Keep Learning Team, and the Student Success Office (SSO)," says a note from the Statistical Consulting and Survey Research Unit. "This survey is intended to be ongoing (once per semester), as a “pulse-check” for students and a way to gather feedback on strategic initiatives and to understand students’ learning environment and experience."

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to complete the survey, and those that submit their responses will receive a $5 credit on their WatCard. 

The next entry in the CrySP Speaker Series on Privacy features Alex Ozdemir from Stanford University speaking on “Collaborative zk-SNARKs: Zero-Knowledge Proofs for Distributed Secrets.” "We introduce collaborative zk-SNARKs: zero-knowledge proofs about secret data distributed among different parties," says the talk's abstract. "These generalize conventional zk-SNARKs, which apply to secret data held by one party. Since collaborative zk-SNARKs do not require secrets to be centralized to create a proof, they might allow for distributed systems with better privacy properties."

Alex Ozdemir is a PhD student at Stanford advised by Dan Boneh and Clark Barrett. He studies the full stack of programmable cryptography using ideas from cryptography, programming languages, and formal methods. Programmable cryptosystems (such as zero-knowledge proofs, multi-party computation, homomorphic encryption, ...) are tools for complex systems that are private and secure---without cryptographic expertise.

The lecture takes place today at 1:30 p.m. in DC 1304 and Zoom.

The Staff Association is looking for vendors for their 2024 Winterfest Handmade Market (formerly the UWSA Craft Show & Sale), taking place in the Student Life Centre on Tuesday December 3 and Wednesday December 4. "This year, the UWSA is asking vendors to apply to ensure that this opportunity is accessible to all members of the UWaterloo community," says a note from the UWSA. "Staff, faculty, students, retirees, and alumni are all welcome to apply! All items sold must be handmade by the applicant. Applications are due October 25."

"Get spooky at the Climate Institute’s student Halloween Bonfire Night!" says a note from the Climate Institute. "Wear your costume, make s'mores, drink hot chocolate and enjoy the fall vibes." The event takes place on Monday, October 28 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Columbia Lake Fire Pit #2, which is a fitting place for a bonfire if you ask me. Dress for the weather, bring your own mug, and have fun! RSVP for the Climate Action Program event.