Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
New Special Collections & Archives collection strengths support emerging research areas
A message from Special Collections & Archives.
Since 1976, Special Collections & Archives (SCA) has been a place where students, faculty and researchers access primary resources to gain an understanding of the past and how it could impact the future. With over 500 archival collections and 70,000 rare books and periodicals, SCA’s collection is unique and tailored to the teaching, learning and research needs of the University of Waterloo.
Part of the work of the librarians and archivists within SCA is to periodically review how their holdings to meet the research and teaching needs of the campus community. With SCA’s 50th anniversary drawing near, there was a certain symmetry to taking on such a project now.
After completing an analysis of usage statistics and assessing areas of strength within the collection, the next step was to look to the future. Considering the Libraries’ as well as the University’s strategic plans, SCA worked with subject librarians to identify emerging areas of instruction and research.
To finish the project, the SCA website and Archives Database were both updated with fourteen new collection strengths so researchers can more easily draw connections between their own areas of inquiry and the unique materials found within SCA’s collections.
This work has already impacted how SCA librarians and archivists collaborate with instructors and students on campus. Jessica Blackwell, SCA librarian, is working with Carter Neal, professor in the Faculty of Arts, to incorporate archival materials into ARTS 160, a first-year undergraduate communications course.
Students will have the opportunity to explore the creation process as it relates to zines and other forms of DIY creation. Using the new Creative Process collection strength, Blackwell was able to easily direct students to “idea books” from the Tony Urquhart fonds, and both local and international zines from the rare book collections. These will provide inspiration for the “common place books” that students will be asked to keep through the course.
Updating SCA’s collection strengths to better align with emerging research areas will ensure that the Libraries’ archival collections remain vital to the learning and research happening at Waterloo for years to come.
The new collection strengths are detailed on the SCA website and are searchable in the archives database. SCA materials are available for use in the Doris Lewis Reading Room on the first floor of the Dana Porter Library. Contact SCA at archives@uwaterloo.ca to discuss your needs and set up an appointment.
Pharmacist delivers essential care after devastating storm
Fallen trees blocking the road to Mattawa, Ontario. Photo credit: Sarah Blythe.
This is an excerpt of an article published on the School of Pharmacy website.
When Sarah Blythe (Rx2017) woke up on June 21 she was looking forward to a day of tubing with friends at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. She had no idea how critical her skills as a pharmacist would soon be in a community-wide emergency.
Sarah Blythe.
That evening, as Blythe and her friends gathered for dinner, a dark sudden storm rolled in across the lake. A downburst – powerful winds that rapidly hit the ground during a thunderstorm – struck the park that evening, knocking down trees, flooding areas and levelling parts of the campgrounds.
Blythe, along with several other cars, were trapped behind a few fallen trees blocking the road to Mattawa, a small rural town in Northeastern Ontario. As they assessed the damage to try to find a way out, they encountered Dr. Patricia Ann Makuch who was urgently trying to get through to the Mattawa Hospital.
“I originally didn’t realize there was an emergency until I ran into Dr. Makuch,” Blythe says. “She mentioned Samuel de Champlain had been hit hard and that many people were being sent to the hospital.”
Using toe straps and chainsaws, the group worked together to clear the road just enough for cars to pass through. Dr. Makuch tried to call the hospital to let them know she was delayed but cell service was down.
Blythe returned home hoping emergency crews had things under control. But the next morning, she woke to a slew of missed calls from the Hospital. Cell service was still unreliable but when she finally got through, she discovered that the hospital was in a state of emergency with a higher-than-normal volume of patients and needed help.
“As the owner of the Mattawa pharmacy, it wasn’t a question of if I’d open the pharmacy on a Sunday when we’re usually closed – it was how I’d get there,” Blythe adds.
The highway was officially closed and the township workers had to co-ordinate a police escort to drive in front of Blythe into Mattawa. During the 30-minute drive into town, cell service held up and Blythe was able to co-ordinate with Dr. Makuch, who was now assessing patients in a temporary triage area set up in the arena next to the hospital. Around 70 families were evacuated from the park, many with only their pets and clothes on their backs.
“These families had to leave everything behind – vehicles, clothes, medications,” Blythe says. She and Dr. Makuch quickly came up with a plan to supply every patient with a one-week supply of medications, to give them time to return home and access their own pharmacy.
Blythe and her staff member worked together to manage the workload together. They picked up the prescriptions from the physician in the arena and brought them to the pharmacy, filled them and Blythe then delivered the medications directly to the patients in need.
“It was an intense and humbling experience — a reminder of how resilient and generous our community is when it matters most,” Blythe adds.
Read the full story on the School of Pharmacy website.
Macular degeneration study seeks participants
A message from the School of Optometry & Vision Science.
Researchers at the School of Optometry & Vision Science are currently seeking adults 18 years and over diagnosed with macular degeneration who use their side vision to see for a study which examines whether reading can be improved through a combination of practice and the use of a safe, well-established technique for modulating brain function called non-invasive brain stimulation. Recently published results from the group suggest that a single session of non-invasive brain stimulation may have a short-term effect on reading in adults with macular degeneration. The current study is exploring the possibility of longer lasting effects.
Participants will be asked to read words on a computer screen for 9 study sessions (each 2 hours per visit) spaced out over a period of 2 to 3 months. Participants should not be undergoing eye-based injections and must be eligible for non-invasive brain stimulation (researchers will screen for this). Eligible participants will receive $20 per session in appreciation for their time and regional transportation costs will be covered. If you, your family members, or acquaintances might be eligible and interested, please contact Melanie Mungalsingh for more information at mamungal@uwaterloo.ca.This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee.
Tuesday's notes
We're back after the Labour Day long weekend and the energy levels are ramping up for the 2025 fall term, which officially begins tomorrow. Co-op students get a head start today as the co-operative work term begins.
Orientation activities are in full swing this week - performances of To Be Honest: The Musical aimed at incoming students began on Labour Day Monday for students in Engineering, Science, and Health, and conclude tonight with two performances, one at 7:00 p.m. and the other at 8:45 p.m., for students in Arts, Environment, and Math. Faculties will be hosting events for their new students today across campus. A "Choose Your Own Adventure" event takes place tonight with options including an outdoor movie, mini-putt, or a game of everyone's favourite campus running battle, "Humans vs. Zombies." There will also be food trucks parked on the SLC green. It's all fun and games until the start of classes on Wednesday, September 3.
The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) is hosting a welcome brunch in the SLC green space tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and the first 500 students to attend will receive a Sephora gift bag.
Upcoming office and road closures
Eastbound traffic on University Avenue will be shut down between Seagram Drive and Phillip Street from Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 for water main work associated with the New Residence Building. Vehicle traffic will be diverted down Seagram for travel going eastbound only. Pedestrian traffic is still available on the north side of University Avenue. Bike traffic going eastbound will be diverted through the Ring Road.
The Arts Undergraduate Office (AUO) will be closed today from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Link of the day
When and where
The Campus Wellness Student Medical Clinic offers healthcare visits with Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. Services include: vaccinations, immunity testing, naturopathic services and more. Counselling Services offers appointments with counsellors in person as well as via phone and video. Students can book appointments for these services by calling Campus Wellness at 519-888-4096.
The privately-run Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Covid booster shots are available by appointment only – please call ext. 33784 or 519-746-4500. The Student Health Pharmacy’s summer hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Naloxone kits are still available – pick them up in the pharmacy at no charge.
Orientation Week, Sunday, August 31 to Saturday, September 6.Fall co-operative work term begins, Tuesday, September 2.
NEW - TBH: To Be Honest,Tuesday, September 2, 7:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre, for new students in the Faculties of Arts and Environment.
NEW - TBH: To Be Honest, Tuesday, September 2, 8:45 p.m., Humanities Theatre, for new students in the Faculty of Mathematics.
Fall term lectures and classes begin, Wednesday, September 3.
NEW - WUSA Welcome Brunch, Wednesday, September 3, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., SLC Green Space.
Free Try-it Opportunities (fitness classes), Wednesday, September 3 to Tuesday, September 9. Find out more.
Warrior Rec Club registration, Wednesday, September 3 to Monday, September 15.
NEW - First Year Fair, Thursday, September 4, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., SLC Green Space.
Warriors Football Black and Gold Day vs. Carleton, Saturday, September 6, 1:00 p.m., Warrior Field. Pregame Orientation Carnival, W Store Pop Up Shop and Pass, Punt, Kick Student Contest for $5,000. Purchase tickets.
UWSA Election Information Session, Tuesday, September 9, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.
Velocity Innovation Open House, Tuesday, September 9, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Federation Hall.
Velocity Presents Cornerstone Idea Session, Wednesday, September 10, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 2nd floor Ideas Clinic, E7 2409.
UWSA Election Information Session, Friday, September 12, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.
Warrior Rec Intramurals registration deadline,- Monday, September 15, 11:00 a.m. New and improved registration system this term, over 15 leagues to choose from. Find out more and sign up today!
Warrior Rec Instructional Programs registration deadline, Monday, September 15, 12 noon. Dance, Martial Arts, Skating, Skipping and Climbing lessons available. Find out more and register today.
Manulife presents CareNext Collective: The potential of robotics in health care, Monday, September 15, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online. Register now.
UWSA Election Information Session, Monday, September 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., online.
PhD oral defences
Psychology. Jatheesh Srikantharajah, “Eye Movements: Measuring Fatigue and Attention in Natural and Urban Scenes.” Supervisor. Dr. Colin Ellard. Available upon request from the Faculty of Arts, Graduate Studies and Research Officer. Oral defence Friday, September 12, 9:00 a.m., PAS 2464 and hybrid.
Physics and Astronomy. Amir Arqand, “Information-Theoretic Tools for Analyzing Non-IID Structures in Quantum Key Distribution.” Supervisor(s), Dr. Norbert Lütkenhaus. Visit the Faculty of Science Thesis Submission Notices website for details on requesting a copy, Oral defence Friday, September 12, 9:30 a.m., QNC 2101 - hybrid examiner.
Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Kalsha Hansini Diaguarachchige De Silva, "The Effects of Chronic Psilocybin Administration on Physiological, Metabolic and Behavioural Outcomes in Control and High-Fat Diet-Fed Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice.", Supervisor, Dr. Robin Duncan; Email Health Graduate Administration for a copy. Oral defence Monday September 15, 2:00 p.m., HLTH EXP 1686 and hybrid.
English Language and Literature. Carolyn Eckert, "Punctuated Ethos: Addressing Trust, Credibility and Expertise in Times of Crisis.” Supervisor, Dr. Ashley Mehlenbacher. Available upon request from the Faculty of Arts, Graduate Studies and Research Officer. Oral defence Tuesday, September 16, 1:00 p.m., PAS 2464 and hybrid.
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:
- Optometry washroom closure, Tuesday, September 2, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., men's and women's washrooms 307 and 308 will have their water turned off during a sanitary drain tie-in, alternate washrooms on the 2nd and 4th floors will remain operational.
- School of Pharmacy, Integrated Health Building, Innovation Arena fire alarm testing, Wednesday, September 3, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
- University Club, Bauer Warehouse, Avril fire alarm testing, Wednesday, September 3, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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Optometry building air handler shutdown, Friday, September 4 and Tuesday, September 9, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., airflow throughout the older areas of the building will be reduced while the 2009 addition will be operating normally.
- Energy Research Centre, Math 3, Burt Matthews Hall fire alarm testing, Friday, September 5, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
- Minota Hagey, Mackenzie King Village, Ron Edyt Village fire alarm testing, Friday, September 5, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Needles Hall electrical shutdown, Sunday, September 7, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., all power will be off in the building, emergency lighting and the new addition's elevator will be operating.
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Douglas Wright Engineering C wing steam shutdown, Monday, September 8, 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., steam and hot water will not be available during the shutdown as a meter is being installed.
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Carl Pollock Hall steam shutdown, Monday, September 8, 9:00 p.m. to Tuesday, September 9, 4:00 p.m., steam and hot water will not be available during the shutdown as a meter is being installed.
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Physical Activities Complex steam shutdown, Wednesday, September 10, 10:30 p.m. to Thursday, September 11, 7:00 a.m., steam and hot water will not be available during the shutdown as a meter is being installed.
- Carl Pollock Hall and Douglas Wright Engineering electrical shutdown, Sunday, September 14, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., normal power including elevators will be off, emergency power operational.