Wednesday, December 18, 2019


WCGS 2018 Book Prize announced

A message from the Waterloo Centre for German Studies

2018 Waterloo Centre for German Studies book prize badgeWe are pleased to announce the winner of our 2018 Book Prize, Disruptive Power: Catholic Women, Miracles, and Politics in Modern Germany, 1918-1965written by Michael O'Sullivan and published by the University of Toronto Press. The book was selected from a shortlist of eight excellent academic works on German studies published in 2018. 

Disruptive Power tells the story of Therese Neumann, a Bavarian mystic who developed a cult following that lasted through the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and the early years of the Federal Republic. By examining the revival of belief in Catholic miracles and its role in influencing many thinkers, politicians, and other actors, O'Sullivan has painted a nuanced and many-sided portrait of the local, religious, social and political history of twentieth-century Germany.  

Profile shot of Michael O'Sullivan

Jury members were impressed by O'Sullivan's ambitious analysis and attention to a variety of issues that in concert offer a refined look at the complexity of German regional and religious identities. As one juror commented, "this is an important book - it makes a person think again about the larger narratives that have so long shaped the story of German culture and history." For another juror, the book's ability to "be seen as women’s history, or as a history of political and identity struggles of rural Germany in times of upheaval" makes it a valuable contribution to German studies. A "fascinating and engrossing read," Disruptive Power asks important questions about the relationship between religion and mainstream culture.

Michael O'Sullivan teaches a broad range of courses on European history at Marist College in New York. He earned his BA from Canisius College, and his MA and PhD from the University of North Carolina. 

The WCGS Book Prize was established to raise awareness, within academia and the broader public, around the engaging and dynamic knowledge being produced by newer German Studies scholars. An international jury chaired by James M. Skidmore, Director of the Waterloo Centre of German Studies, made the selection. Other members of the jury were Ann Marie Rasmussen (University of Waterloo), Carrie Smith (University of Alberta), Karina Urbach (Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton), and Joachim Whaley (University of Cambridge). 

Nominations for next year's prize, for first books published in 2019, will open in early 2020. Visit the WCGS Book Prize page for more information.

Winter term Sustainability Certificate offerings

A picture outside campus with green trees that says "sustainability certificate"

A message from the Sustainability Office

We are excited to offer the Sustainability Certificate once again to all University employees for the upcoming Winter 2020 term. This series of in-class courses is intended to help Waterloo embed sustainability into campus culture, one of the major goals of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. This series includes seven modules that cover key local and global sustainability issues, what the University is doing, and tools and resources for employees to integrate sustainability into their own departments, homes, and beyond.

In Winter 2019, the Sustainability Office was pleased to award a completed certificate to its 100th graduate; as of Fall 2019, nearly 140 employees have completed the certificate and an additional 120 employees have started the series.    

Registration is managed through Workday. For a list of session dates and more information, please visit the Sustainability Certificate webpage.

Capture your research for the chance to win

Science Exposed competition banner image showing pictures of projects.

A message from the Office of Research.

Researchers can win up to $2,000 in this year’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and l’Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS) Science Exposed contest.

To enter, researchers must submit a research photo with a catchy title, explanation, and comments on the technique used to create the image. Researchers from any field of study are welcome to enter the contest and can enter individually or as a group.

The contest will be open until January 13, 2020. Be sure to review NSERC’s website for full contest details and rules before entering. 

Wednesday's notes

The University of Waterloo Chamber Choir performs in a church.

"Thinking ahead to next term?" asks the Department of Music at Conrad Grebel University College. "Sign up for an audition now with one of our seven ensembles." Check out https://uwaterloo.ca/music/ensembles for more details. The ensembles are open to all Waterloo students, including undergraduates and graduate students.

The Turnkey Desk in the Student Life Centre has discounted tickets for Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas and Princess Cinemas. They make a great gift!

Upcoming office closures

University Relations will be closed today from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

The Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Office will be closed today from 2:00 p.m. until the end of the day for its Staff Holiday Celebration.

The Organizational and Human Development office will be closed on Thursday, December 19 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. for a full departmental meeting and event. Normal operations will resume at 1:30 p.m.

The Office of Research will be closed on Thursday, December 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a staff town hall and annual holiday lunch.

The Human Resource office will be closed on Thursday, December 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a full staff meeting. The HR reception desk will be closed during this time. Normal operations will resume at 1:30 p.m.

University Relations will be closed on Thursday, December 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a staff event.

AccessAbility Services will be closed on Friday, December 20 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The Exam Centre will remain open during this time.

The Safety Office will be closed on Friday, December 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Link of the day

70 years ago: The Battle of the Bulge

When and Where

University Club Holiday Lunch Buffet, Thursday, November 28 to Monday, December 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University Club.

2019 President’s Town Hall survey, open until Friday, December 20.

Free Exam Fitness, Monday, December 2 to Friday, December 20.

Portfolio & Project Management Community of Practice (PPM CoP) session, "Small 'p' Project Management" Wednesday, December 18, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., East Campus 5 (EC5), 1111. 

Research Ethics drop-in session for faculty and students, Wednesday, December 18, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Dana Porter Library (study booth on the main floor).

Retirement celebration for Phil Knipe, Wednesday, December 18, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Graduate House green room. RSVP to edoede@uwaterloo.ca.

Statistics and Actuarial Science Department seminar by Yuqi Gu, University of Michigan, "Uncover Hidden Fine-Grained Scientific Information: Structured Latent Attribute Models," Thursday, December 19, 10:00 a.m., M3 3127.

Co-operative work term ends, Friday, December 20.

On-campus examinations end, Saturday, December 21.

Unofficial grades begin to appear in Quest, Sunday, December 22.

University closed for the holidays, Tuesday, December 24 to Wednesday, January 1, 2020. The University re-opens on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

Classes and lectures begin, Monday, January 6, 2020.

Co-operative work term begins, Monday, January 6, 2020.

Workday Support, Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EC1 1021. No registration required.

Coping Skills Seminar - Challenging Thinking, Wednesday, January 8, 6:00 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

Workday Support, Thursday, January 9, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EC1 1021. No registration required.

More Feet on the Ground Mental Health Training for Faculty and Staff, Thursday, January 9, 2020, 9:30 a.m., HS 2302 – Register on Workday

NEW - Knowledge Integration seminar: “Summer off? No — summer on!”, KI student summer experiences, Friday, January 10, 2020, 1:00 p.m., EV2-2002.

NEW - Student Leadership Program – Communication Styles. Saturday, January 11, 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., NH 1110. Register on UWaterloo Portal.

NEW - Student Leadership Program – New to a Team. Saturday, January 11, 2020, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., NH 1110. Register on UWaterloo Portal.

QPR Mental Health Training for Students, Monday, January 13, 1:30 p.m., NH 2447 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

Coping Skills Seminar – Thriving With Emotions, Monday, January 13, 3:30 p.m., HS 2302 – Register on GoSignMeUp.

NEW - Student Leadership Program – Motivating Others. Tuesday, January 14, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., NH 1110. Register on UWaterloo Portal.

Positions available

On this week's list from the human resources department, viewable on the UWaterloo Talent Acquisition System (iCIMS):

  • Job ID# 2019-4981 - Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Co-operative Education – Co-operative Education, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2019-4997 - Fire Systems Serviceperson (Mechanic II) - Plant Operations-Electrical, CUPE
  • Job ID# 2019-4998 – Groundsperson - Plant Operations-Grounds, CUPE

Internal secondment opportunities:

  • Job ID# 2019-5021 - Academic Administrative Supervisor - Stratford Programmes, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2019-5003 - Instructional Digital Media Developer – WatPD, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2019-5037 - Parking Enforcement Officer – Parking, USG 4
  • Job ID# 2019-4971 - Software Developer – Geography, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2019-5011 - Custodian I - Plant Operations-Custodial, CUPE