Thursday, January 6, 2022

Remembering Firas Mansour

A message from the Faculty of Science.

Firas Kamal Mansour, 50, passed away on 29 December 2021. An exceptional teacher and colleague, Firas dedicated his professional life to physics education and to the well-being of his students. With a larger than life personality replete with wit and charm, Firas had a passion for physics and physics education. He frequently offered extra help sessions and extended office hours intended to assist struggling physics students. Firas had a unique ability to make physics accessible and enjoyable. He was a master teacher.

Firas joined the department of Physics & Astronomy as a graduate student in 1995. Appointed to a teaching assistantship, Firas was assigned demonstrations in first-year labs. This experience fuelled his passion for teaching. While leading a physics tutorial later that year, his unique teaching ability caught the department’s attention. Finding himself in demand, Firas earned the departmental award for the outstanding teaching assistant. His brilliant teaching career was set on course shortly thereafter when he was appointed to a sessional teaching position. Firas was appointed to a Continuing Lectureship in 2007, where he remained in service until his passing. His outstanding teaching was recognized by students and faculty with a Distinguished Teacher Award in 2012. The citation highlighted his unique classroom style which “provokes” the most hesitant physics students to learn and enjoy physics. Firas was an early adopter of Active Learning Techniques in the classroom setting. He understood that each student learns and understands uniquely. This realization propelled his scholarship into alternative learning techniques. Firas was a devoted colleague who contributed so much life to the Department of Physics & Astronomy through service on many departmental and University committees. Firas made great things happen by combining a sharp intellect with his outsized, magnetic personality.  

Firas will be remembered foremost as a kind, generous, and gentle man. The outpouring of grief from across the University and beyond is only one indication of how much Firas meant to all of us. Firas leaves behind his beloved wife Melissa Finn and three young sons.  

The funeral will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at Waterloo Masjid, 213 Erb St W, Waterloo. Burial will follow at Parkview Cemetery, 335 University Ave, Waterloo.

A fund has been established to assist Melissa and the children in this most difficult moment. Donations can be made via the following link: https://gofund.me/90dcec7b.

Supports and resources for a successful term

By Kayla Snyder. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

Despite the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many opportunities for you to experience campus life and community beyond the classroom.  

“Making the most of your time at university really means developing relationships and growing who you are as a person — these are the things that lead to success in life and what a great university experience is all about,” says Chris Read, associate provost, Students. “Find your community, ask questions and enjoy the experience.” 

Your UWaterloo life is just one click away, meaning you can find all your resources and supports for a successful term in one place. Bookmark the page now or start exploring what Waterloo has to offer below. 

COVID FAQs and campus check-in 

• Once your device connects to the Eduroam Wi-Fi network, you will automatically receive an email with a link to complete COVID-19 screening. Be sure to complete it every day that you’ll be on campus.  

• Visit the uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus to access the latest COVID-19 updates and frequently asked questions. 

Navigating campus 

• Download the Portal app. It’s designed exclusively for Waterloo students to keep them informed of campus services, events, and news and to provide tailored academic information in one convenient platform. The interactive map will help you navigate to class or find a quiet place to study.  

Academic success 

• If you’re a new graduate student, continue to connect with your peers through Waterloo Grad Ready until March. Log in to your LEARN account to access live chats with your discipline specialists, message boards and review important content that will set you up for success. 

• Develop the strategies you need to study smarter, not harder. Discover the Student Success Office’s learning resources. 

• For some extra support, book a Peer Success Coaching appointment to develop a plan for academic success.  

• Writing a paper? Designing a portfolio? Giving a presentation? The Writing and Communication Centre can help you work through all stages of the communication process. 

• Review the guide for graduate research and supervision to understand the roles and responsibilities of those who contribute to a graduate education. 

• Explore the Library’s resources for undergraduate and graduate students. 

• Order your course materials and stock up on school supplies with the W Store. 

Physical and mental health 

• Prioritize your mental health by exploring the Health and Wellness resources available to you. 

• Physical activity goes a long way to supporting your overall health. Find a way to move that works for you. 

• Participate in physical activities virtually at home, or in-person on campus.  

• Learn from Nicole Pin, UW Food Services Registered Dietician. She covers topics like grocery tips, making the most of what you have on hand + more. 

• Overcome re-entry to campus and in-person experience anxiety with tips to support some of the challenges you may face.  

• More on managing social anxiety, feeling good about your routine and what life will be like back on campus. 

Student experience 

• Join a student club or association and participate in a variety of events across campus. There are lots of opportunities for both our undergraduate and graduate students to find your community. 

• Grab a bite to eat on campus. Choose from a wide variety of flavours to satisfy any craving. 

• It’s never too early to embrace your leadership potential. Student Leadership Program workshops will be offered online for the fall 2021 term. 

• Enhance your degree with the Globe Experience Certificate (GEC). Position yourself as a future leader with a competitive advantage. 

• Build your entrepreneurial skills and get advice from experienced coaches. Explore all of our campus innovation partners. 

Co-op and career 

• Develop skills and gain experience to prepare for the future workforce. Review WaterlooWorks job boards or identify your skills through EDGE.  

• Graduate students can register to participate in the Professional Skills Foundations program to develop skills in career preparation, communications, leadership and personal effectiveness. 

Important dates and documents 

• Connect with The Centre to get your paperwork sorted out and bookmark the important dates calendar to stay on top of deadlines.

These are just the beginning, Warriors: keep exploring your UWaterloo life student resources, just one click away. 

Pam Fluttert named Director, Instructional Technologies and Media Services

"I am pleased to announce that Pam Fluttert is the new Director Instructional Technologies and Media Services in IST, effective January 24, 2022, succeeding Andrea Chappell who retires January 21," wrote Chief Information Officer Bruce Campbell in a note circulated to the University's senior leadership earlier this week.

"Many of you know Pam as the manager of IST’s Project Management Office (PMO)," Campbell writes. "Since taking on that role in 2013, she has been instrumental in key campus projects that further our technologies and uses of those. Pam has established many collaborative relationships within IST and with campus partners, including with educational technology partners Centre for Extended Learning (CEL), the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE), as well as with the Registrar’s Office, Plant Operations, Student Success and others during projects such as the instantiation of The Centre for students. Earlier this year, Pam facilitated the Keep Learning team’s planning retreats for fall 2021 and beyond and the PMO has been involved in teaching and learning projects which contribute to the core business of the University. Pam has developed a broad understanding of the creation and execution of strategic plans, leading change within the University culture, and stewardship of technology portfolios. She recently completed her Masters of Management Science at the University of Waterloo."

"Please join me in congratulating Pam and welcoming her to her new role," Campbell's message concludes.

After a crash, grad students pick up the pieces and move on to the next race

Photo: Ben Zhang (left) and Brian Mao have been working in Las Vegas for six weeks to get their autonomous car ready for Friday's race against teams from around the world.

By Brian Caldwell. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

A pair of University of Waterloo graduate students have put a disappointing crash behind them as they prepare for the next historic step in autonomous racing this week.

Brian Mao and Ben Zhang are in Las Vegas as members of a multi-university team competing with a self-driving racecar against peers from around the world.

To be staged Friday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the event builds on the first-ever Indy Autonomous Challenge in October at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the winning car logged an average speed of almost 136 miles per hour (mph) to take the US $1-million top prize.

"It's been an amazing opportunity to advance autonomous vehicle technology once again,” said Mao, who has been in Las Vegas with Zhang for six weeks to prepare for the race.

Mao and Zhang were in the pits in Indianapolis with teammates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pittsburgh and the Rochester Institute of Technology – the only student-led team in the final - when their million-dollar entry had a GPS malfunction, crashed into an infield wall and failed to finish.

The race in Las Vegas, held as part of the annual Consumer Electronics Show, will be an even tougher test of cutting-edge autonomous hardware and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.

Nine modified Dallara AV-21 racecars at Indy took the track alone to complete an obstacle avoidance challenge and do two laps as fast as possible. In Las Vegas, the competition will include head-to-head, high-speed passing.

Clocking speeds over 140 mph

Mao and Zhang are the team leads for controls and vehicle modeling. They have been focusing on software integration, which includes accounting for noisy sensors and vehicle dynamics. 

Their car has reached speeds in testing of over 140 mph and they look forward to demonstrating its improved capabilities, including passing maneuvers.

At least five teams representing universities from countries including Germany, Italy, Poland, South Korea and Switzerland are scheduled to take part.

Event launched to advance tech

Mao earned a degree in mechanical engineering (BASc ’20) at Waterloo and is now pursuing a master’s degree in applied mathematics. Zhang has a degree in computer science (BCS ’20) and is studying for his master’s in electrical and computer engineering.

The autonomous racing challenge was launched in 2019 to advance self-driving technology and speed up its commercialization. It began with teams from more than 40 universities and included a series of simulated races leading up to the Indy competition.

Waterloo initially had a small team of its own called WATORACE before teaming up with three U.S. schools to pool resources and expertise. Team members Kyle Anderson, a software engineering student, and Ryan Larkin, who is studying computer science, have continued to provide valuable assistance.