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Thank you for being part of our Giving Tuesday success
A message from the Office of Advancement.
There must be something in the water(loo)! Despite inflation and the looming threat of a recession, our campus community rose to the challenge on Giving Tuesday, smashing records once again with $761,934.57 donated by 1,633 people, including 564 of our own faculty, staff and retirees. Thank you for another amazing year!
A few highlights from the day:
- Most Donors Challenge: 239 donors made a gift to Optometry and Vision Science Challenge #2, unlocking an additional $10,000 for the Waterloo Eye Institute Fund.
- Most Dollars Challenge: $160,056 was raised through Optometry and Vision Science Challenge #1, which means $2,000 more for the Waterloo Eye Institute Fund.
- 25 of our challenges were completed, unlocking a total of $164,289.57 from our Challenge Champions.
You can see the results on the Giving Tuesday website. Thank you for bringing joy to our campus community — on Giving Tuesday and all year through.
Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland receives top honours from Canada and France
By Katharine Tuerke, Faculty of Science.
Waterloo's Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland received top honours from Canada and France last week in Ottawa for her contributions to science. She was appointed the Companion of the Order of Canada medal and named a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Donna Strickland is a global giant in the field of physics and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She is a co-recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, with Gérard Mourou, her doctoral supervisor at the time.
Strickland developed a technique called "chirped pulse amplification" that amplify beams without damaging the laser amplifier in the process. They realized that by stretching, amplifying, and then compressing the beams, they could boost the intensity of the light dramatically. It allowed more light to packed into a shorter time, increasing the intensity of the pulse, while allowing laser beams to cut into matter with extreme precision.
Chirped pulse amplification has revolutionized the use of high-intensity laser physics and presents tremendous possibilities both for scientists and industry leader. Laser tools based on chirped pulse amplification are now employed in scientific, industrial, medical, energy, military and security applications.
Companion of the Order of Canada
Strickland was given the award by the 27th governor general of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, who is currently the Chancellor for United College. The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, invested 5 Companions, 12 Officers and 31 Members during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on November 17th.
Canada's current Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, was ill and unable to preside over the ceremony.
Companion of the Order of Canada Donna Strickland and the 27th governor general of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean. Credit: MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall.
Strickland was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest level, for her contributions to optical physics and for her innovative developments in ultra-fast optical science. The appointment was announced in December 2019 but Strickland did not receive her medal until last week due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The contributions of these trailblazers are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. Their grit and passion inspire us, teach us and show us the way forward. They exemplify the Order’s motto: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country)."
The Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest honours and was established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Appointments recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. There are three levels to the Order: Companion, Officer and Member.
More than 7,600 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. These appointments are made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.
Knight of the Legion of Honour
The Ambassador of France to Canada, Mr. Michel Miraillet presented Strickland with the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honour at the French Embassy. It is France's highest honour and was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It rewards outstanding merit acquired in the service of France.
Ambassador of France to Canada, Mr. Michel Miraillet and Waterloo's Dr. Donna Strickland. Credit: French Embassy in Ottawa.
This award symbolizes the French Republic’s recognition of Strickland’s exceptional career, her commitment to scientific culture, but also the recognition of an example of the many fruitful scientific partnerships between France and Canada, in her exceptional work with the French Gérard Mourou.
"When it comes to science, I believe our two countries share a deep commitment to a variety of topics," said Ambassador Michel Miraillet. "The first one – and the most important one – is the dedication to ethical, globalized and open science. Let’s remind us that France and Canada scientific papers are produced collectively, involving multiple international partners. The outstanding work made by Gérard Mourou and yourself is only an example of what French-Canadian research has output. I am truly convinced there will be more to come, as much as I am dedicated to make it happen."
Congratulations Donna!
Remembering Distinguished Professor Emeritus Roger Downer
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Roger Downer died on November 19, 2022.
Born in 1942 in Belfast, Ireland, Dr. Downer graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast and received a PhD from the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) in 1970.
He started at the University of Waterloo in 1969 as a Lecturer in the Biology department, and was named Assistant Professor in 1970. In 1976, he was named Associate Professor and was promoted to full Professor in 1981.
His teaching focus was on animal physiology, with research focuses on insect physiology and biochemistry, neurochemistry, and insecticide discovery. He became widely known for his published work in the field of entomology.
Dr. Downer served as the chair of the Biology Department from 1986 to 1989, and as acting Dean of the Faculty of Science in 1989. In 1989 he was named Vice-President, University Development, the forerunner to the current Vice-President, Advancement and Vice-President, University Relations positions, focusing on institutional development and fundraising. The position was renamed Vice-President, University Relations in 1990 and oversaw the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (today’s Office of Advancement) and Information and Public Affairs (today’s University Relations department). He served as advisor to the Vice-President, Academic for the University’s research institutes, centres and groups and was a source of expertise in high-level research activity at the University.
During his career he served on the Biological Council of Canada, was president of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, was director of the Entomological Societies of Ontario and Canada, and was named Director of the Huntsman Marine Biology Lab. He consulted with several agricultural chemical companies and served on the editorial boards of several academic journals. He published more than 130 research papers and articles
Among his many awards and accolades, Downer received the FEJ Fry Medal of the Canadian Society of Zoologists in 1990, a Gold Medal from the Entomological Society of Canada in 1991, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1992. In 1982 he received the Distinguished Teacher Award. His award citation highlighted his successes in teaching by correspondence and his reputation as an outstanding lecturer.
Downer took early retirement from the University in 1996. In 1997 he was awarded the title Distinguished Professor Emeritus in recognition of his teaching, research and service to the University.
In 1998, Downer was named President of the University of Limerick in Ireland. He served in that role until 2006.
Join the antimicrobial resistance
By Milana Madzarac. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.
Unnecessary use and misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials are increasing the serious problem of antimicrobial resistance. Over time bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change, and as a result, drug resistance can occur where infections that were previously easily treated become difficult to treat.
Antimicrobial resistance ranks among the top ten global public health threats, according to the World Health Organization.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) runs annually from November 18 to 24 and promotes better understanding of this issue through global reach, education and training. This year’s theme was centered on preventing antimicrobial resistance together.
Last week across Canada, landmarks were illuminated in the colour blue to mark the end of WAAW.
On November 24, City of Kitchener’s Carl Zehr Square joined the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, a partner in the national WAAW effort, in the Go Blue for WAAW illumination program.
“While the world has been focused on adapting to the ongoing presence of COVID-19, another pandemic lurks in the shadows,” says Brett Barrett, Clinical Lecturer and Teaching Fellow at the School of Pharmacy.
“Antimicrobial resistance and its impact on patients is less visible but no less damaging, leading to extended hospital stays and death. In order to preserve the usefulness of antibiotics, healthcare providers need to redouble their antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Our program gives frontline pharmacists and prescribers the tools they need to use antibiotics wisely.”
Together we can help combat antimicrobial resistance and preserve effective treatments for future generations.
For more information
- Visit our resources on antibiotic stewardship
-
Learn more about the Antimicrobial Stewardship in Primary Care Continuing Education Program
Waterloo student flourishes in the online learning environment
By Janice Cooke, Centre for Extended Learning.
The University of Waterloo's J.D. Leslie Undergraduate Prize is awarded by the Centre for Extended Learning annually to a graduating student who has achieved a first-class standing and who has earned 50 per cent or more of the credits for their undergraduate degree through online courses.
Kassie Harker, this year’s winner, graduated in June 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Therapeutic Recreation and a Minor in Psychology.
Kassie believes that “education isn’t linear, it is a fluid and evolving system of building knowledge over one’s lifetime through many experiences.”
When asked about her experience with online learning Kassie says “online courses allow greater flexibility with navigating the various challenges mature students face such as work and family responsibilities by providing opportunities to engage with course requirements during off hours and reduces travel time by being able to access material remotely.”
This $1,000 prize is named for the late James D. Leslie, PhD., who began the University of Waterloo's Correspondence Program in 1968 (now the Centre for Extended Learning).
Friday's notes
The Games Institute will be hosting a final talk in its Brown Bag Lunch series, and it's a double feature. "Feminist and Responsible Design with Drs. Brianna Wiens and Daniel Harley" will feature two presentations: "From IG Grids to IRL Tables: Feminist Design Praxes for Small-Scale Community Building by Dr. Brianna Wiens of English Language and Literature, and "A Question of Space: Towards Responsible Narrative Design Questions for Virtual Reality" by Dr. Daniel Harley (Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business. The talks take place today from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Games Institute space in East Campus 1. You can watch the event in person at the Games Institute or online via Teams.
The University of Waterloo Retirees Association (UWRA) will be hosting a holiday reception on Wednesday, December 7 with President Vivek Goel in attendance. The reception will be held in the Faculty of Health Expansion building's 2nd floor lobby from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and all Waterloo retirees are invited. Visit the UWRA events page for more details and to register for the holiday reception.