Friday, September 11, 2020

Researchers named Royal Society of Canada fellows and members of the College

This article originally appeared on the Office of Research website.

Five University of Waterloo researchers have been named fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and members of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

They are among 87 new fellows elected by their peers for outstanding scholarly, scientific, and artistic achievement and 50 new members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists across Canada announced today.

Waterloo’s new RSC fellows and members are:

Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Susan Horton (School of Public Health and Health Systems; jointly appointed with the Department of Economics) is known internationally for her work on global health economics. Her work on economics of nutrition contributed significantly to successful efforts to emphasize nutrition investments in international policy. Her current work on economics of cancer and of diagnostics aims to increase attention to these topics within the Sustainable Development Goal for Universal Health Coverage. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Imre Szeman (Communication Arts) is an internationally acclaimed cultural theorist. His landmark research establishes the shaping influence of fossil-fueled dependency on modern society. Professor Szeman’s work propelled a new discipline - energy humanities - which grapples with the cultural transformations required for a global shift to sustainable and renewable forms of energy. A highly collaborative, interdisciplinary and public-facing scholar, he is the co-founder of the Petrocultures Research Group and numerous initiatives advocating for energy transition.

Members of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

Jay Dolmage (English Language and Literature) is the Founding Editor of the highly impactful Canadian Journal of Disability Studies. Winner of the 2015 PROSE award, Professor Dolmage’s work brings together rhetoric, disability studies, and critical pedagogy, in an accessible yet ground-breaking body of articles, talks, and workshops. A fierce advocate for disability rights, Dolmage is committed to publishing Open Access and accessible material and helped to author the international guidelines for accessible electronic books.

Josh Neufeld (Biology) is an ecologist who characterizes microbial communities in terrestrial, aquatic, and host-associated habitats. By developing and combining cultivation-dependent and molecular techniques, his lab explores the “microbes that matter” to connect these novel microorganisms with the important roles that they play in their communities. His passion for microbiology and its communication has resulted in authorship of a microbiology textbook, multiple teaching awards, and service as Chief Editor for The ISME Journal.

Maria Strack (Geography and Environmental Management) is a Canada Research Chair in Ecosystems and Climate who leads an internationally recognized research program investigating greenhouse gas exchange in peatland ecosystems - the world’s largest natural terrestrial carbon stores. This work includes participation in some of the first peatland reclamation projects in Alberta’s oil sands. She works closely with industry, government and non-governmental organizations to translate her findings into improved land management in the face of climate change.

Grand Expressions: Bringing Indigenous youth voices to THEMUSEUM

Youth creating pieces during the art camp on February 15, 2020. Adriana Johnson works on 'drought', one side of a two-sided collaborative paddle work titled of 'Two Points of the Problem' (page 14 in the virtual tour). Clinton Bomberry-Smith works on his untitled painting on canvas.

This article was originally published on the Water Institute's website.

In July of 2018, a discussion between Paul General, then-Wildlife Manager at Six Nations of the Grand River, and Elaine Ho, PhD Candidate in Waterloo’s Social and Ecological Sustainability program and Collaborative Water Program, resulted in the idea to engage the Six Nations community through the arts.  Elaine then worked with co-creator Richelle Miller, Coordinator of Music for the Spirit and Indigenous Visual Arts, to develop the Grand Expressions exhibit - a project to capture the perspectives of Indigenous youth in a culturally appropriate and relevant way that would educate Canadian communities while informing water managers.

“The objectives of Grand Expressions were to feature young Indigenous people’s voices and creative works in a publicly accessible way, and to capture their relationships with water to inform management,” said Ho. “The stories range from personal experiences – such as lack of access to safe drinking water on reserve – to sharing teachings that have been passed down through generations.”

Ho’s PhD research focuses on the lower section of the Grand River, Southern Ontario’s largest watershed. The river, and many of the major cities around it, are situated in the Haldimand Tract – land promised to the Six Nations community to enjoy and control in perpetuity in return for their alliance during the American Revolution. However, only about 5 per cent of the original Tract remains in the hands of the Six Nations. Representatives of the Six Nations are not typically included in decision-making related to the management of the Grand River or other local natural resources, and, when engagement opportunities occur, many community do not have the procedural knowledge, technologies, or funding capacity to fully participate.

Youth from the Music for the Spirit and Indigenous Visual Arts program together with Elaine Ho, with posters and signage from the Grand Expressions in-person exhibit. Rattles and a water drum represent cultural aspects of the program, while the two beaded belts (wampum) represent historical treaties.  The dish with one spoon wampum sits in the background, while the two-row wampum - representing Indigenous and settler nations living side by side - joins the youth and researcher in the foreground.

Initially planned as an in-person experience, Grand Expressions is now being offered virtually through a tablet at THEMUSEUM’s ALARM exhibit. The project has resulted in new community relationships, empowered Indigenous youth, and sparked discussion among staff from local municipalities and the Conservation Authority. Specifically, the project inspired a commitment to a meeting between the youth and the Canadian Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth.

“The art exhibit was originally scheduled to rotate between nine events at eight venues across five cities over six months,” said Ho. “However, due to COVID, all venues shut down after our first location launched successfully. We converted the exhibit to a virtual tour and are thrilled that THEMUSEUM held true to their commitment to the youth, offering us a space alongside their highly-publicized ALARM exhibit so that the youth's work may have exposure to roughly 50,000 patrons over the next six months.”

Waterlily's Unraveling, digital drawing (11" x 14"), Adriana Johnson - pages 23-25 in the virtual tour.

Grand Expressions will be offered as part of the ALARM exhibit at THEMUSEUM until January 2021. Learn more.

Grad House reopens, athletics attractions and other notes

The Graduate Student Association has announced that the Graduate House is open for business as of Thursday, September 10, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

"As per guidelines from the University of Waterloo Safety Office and health guidelines from the province, the Graduate House operations are aligned with COVID-19 requirements, and strict protocols will be in place to ensure safety of members and patrons," says a note from the GSA.

Athletics and Recreation has announced that registration is open for Warrior Rec Intramurals. There are 8 leagues for students to choose from (6v6 indoor soccer, 7v7 soccer, beach volleyball, disc golf, spikeball, ultimate indoor, ultimate outdoor, and volleyball). Registration is open now until Monday, September 14. Sign up today.

In addition, Esports Registration is now open for the fall term. There are 11 different esports to choose from (League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Fifa 20, Smash Ultimate, Smash Melee, Hearthstone, Catan, NHL 20, NBA 2k20, Madden 20). Registration is open now until Monday, September 14. Sign up today. Warrior Rec Esports Tournaments are scheduled to take place on October 3, November 7, and November 30, so get those thumbs twiddling.

Athletics is also hosting a free Warrior Rec Zumba for Graduate Students on Monday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. Email gsa-wellness@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

Plant Operations has modified services in place that are changing regularly to support campus. For further information related to their modified services and support (including details of revised cleaning schedules, COVID-19 supplies, etc.) please refer to their website at https://uwaterloo.ca/plant-operations/.