Friday, January 3, 2025

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• Vivek Goel appointed to the Order of Ontario
• Management Science and Engineering celebrates the career of Dr. Jatin Nathwani
• From UpStart to Cornerstone, Velocity deadlines coming up
• January's first batch of notes

Vivek Goel appointed to the Order of Ontario

By Sam Charles. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

Management Science and Engineering celebrates the career of Dr. Jatin Nathwani

This article was originally published on the Management Science and Engineering website.

The Department of Management Science and Engineering recently gathered to celebrate the remarkable career and well-deserved retirement of Professor Jatin Nathwani. As the founding Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) and an esteemed faculty member at the University of Waterloo, Professor Nathwani has dedicated his professional life to shaping the future of sustainable energy.

Professor Nathwani joined the MSE department, together with the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2007, and in that time he's come to be known as a voice that promotes positive change, both in the progress of the MSE department, but also in global sustainability. His visionary leadership in the realm of energy transition, policy, and innovation has paved the way for groundbreaking research and transformative solutions.

Through the Global Change Initiative - Affordable Energy for Humanity, Professor Nathwani has brought light to many who previously lived in energy poverty, changing lives and communities around the globe. His influence extends far beyond the academic sphere, leaving a lasting legacy that inspires future generations to continue the quest for a zero-carbon future.

The MSE department extends its gratitude to Professor Nathwani for his years of hard work and leadership. Though he is stepping down from his official duties, his impact will continue to resonate for years to come.

At his retirement celebration, Professor Nathwani was presented with a plaque of the Engineering Pin. Although the original purpose of this pin was as a dedication from students to the values and meaning of being an Engineer, this bigger version can now signify Professor Nathwani's dedication to these same values over his career, and continued dedication to them in his retirement. 

From UpStart to Cornerstone, Velocity deadlines coming up

Velocity has put the termly call out for the UpStart funding opportunity and the Cornerstone experience.

UpStart

Turning technology into a product is challenging, which is why Velocity and the Waterloo Commercialization Office (WatCo) are combining expertise in startups and technology transfer to accelerate your ambitions.

UpStart - up to $15,000 in funding and advisory support available

“We are looking for research projects that have commercial potential and researchers with an interest in bringing those ideas to market, as well as students or alumni actively working on businesses with high commercial potential,” says a note from Velocity. 

Applications for the Winter 2025 are due Thursday, January 9 11:59 p.m.

Cornerstone

Ready to take your idea to the next level? Applications for Cornerstone are open!

“So, you’ve got an idea?” says Velocity. “Before building anything in startups, you have to validate that it’s actually something somebody wants. And that’s exactly what you will learn without fooling yourself and others with bias.”

“Join us for a reimagined Cornerstone experience. Lead by Eric Blondeel, a two-time YC alumni, you’ll learn how to validate your idea. Learn about the mistakes of the teams that came before you and maybe earn some prizes along the way, too.”

Applications for the Winter 2025 term are due Tuesday, January 14 at 11:59 p.m.

January's first batch of notes

Students are gearing up for the start of a new term. The winter 2025 term and the co-operative work term begin on Monday, January 6.

Here's a resolution for you: Information Systems & Technology (IST) has published the latest entry in the Atlassian blog series entitled New Year, New Goals: Setting Up Atlassian Goals for Success in 2025.

Human Resources has provided employees and managers with a holiday from the usual annual performance evaluation process in 2025, according to a memo sent by Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle Hollis before the break in December.

"We continue to work towards a new Strategic Talent and Performance Framework that includes an updated approach to performance reviews," Hollis writes. "As we transition to the new framework, we will not require managers and employees to complete forms for the 2024 performance year. Instead, we are asking managers to have performance conversations with their direct reports to review 2024-25 plans, to provide feedback for the 2024 year, and to set goals for the coming year."

"In the new year, Human Resources will be sharing new performance conversation guides that integrate Waterloo’s institutional values," Hollis's memo continues. "We will also be offering workshops to support performance conversations and provide information on the Strategic Talent and Performance Framework."

Keep your eyes peeled for info on those workshops.