Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Where in the world?! co-op photo contest takes you on a global tour

Marcus Yurchuk's winning photo of Mount Taranaki reflected in water.

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

Every year, Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) celebrates International Education Week by hosting the international co-op photo contest to showcase experiences while working abroad. The photos submitted highlight living in a multicultural society, capture a feeling or show how students are supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by making a difference in the world. This year, more than 60 photos were submitted and ten finalists were shared with the Waterloo community for voting. 

The 2024 first place winner is Marcus Yurchuk, Faculty of Science, for his photo submitted from Mount Taranaki, New Zealand from his co-op work term in fall 2023.  

The second place winner is Lokesh Patel, Faculty of Engineering, for his photo submitted from the Dolomites, Italy from his co-op work term in spring 2024.  

Congratulations to our two winners and all the students that submitted breathtaking photos from their co-op work terms abroad! 

First place – Marcus Yurchuk

In the west-central region of New Zealand’s north island, in Egmont National Park, lies a 2,518m tall dormant volcano called Mount Taranaki. Pictured above is a photo of Mount Taranaki from a neighbouring tarn, which is a glacier formed lake at about 700m elevation. The hike to this site began 2 hours before sunrise to arrive at the tarn before daytime winds disrupted the calmness of the water, allowing for a near perfect reflection.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals represent a call to action for all countries to protect the future of our planet. In Egmont National Park, elements of Goal 15: Life on Land are prevalent and demonstrate New Zealand’s effort to create a sustainable future. Sustainable Taranaki reports over 30 documented extinctions of organisms in New Zealand over the last 100 years. In the Taranaki region, loss in forests, wetlands, and indigenous coastal vegetation have been observed at astounding rates. Recent efforts have shed light on the role that land use and farming methods have on irreversible environmental loss. Biodiversity efforts are now at the forefront of their initiatives in hopes of attracting native wildlife and encouraging regrowth. Learning about these efforts, as well as adopting the principals of environmentally conscious hiking, helped me to further appreciate our life on land.

Second place – Lokesh Patel

This moment captured my heart like no other.  After waking up at 4:30 a.m. and scrambling to the nearest peak, I found myself completely alone with this breathtaking view. Standing 2,600 meters above sea level at Rifugio Alpe di Tires in the Italian Dolomites, all I could do was watch the sunrise paint the sky while clouds danced below my feet.  As someone who has always dreamed of exploring the Alps but never thought it would happen so soon, this moment felt surreal.

My co-op journey with Intrinsic in Munich has been more than just professional growth - it's been about pushing boundaries and embracing the unknown. Moving to Germany to work in robotics was way outside my comfort zone, but it opened doors I never imagined were possible, including the chance to explore these magnificent mountains on weekends.

Standing there, watching the sunrise over the clouds, I realized I wasn't just witnessing my dream - I was quite literally standing above it. This photo captures not just a beautiful moment, but represents everything my international work experience has given me: the courage to venture into the unknown, the reward of pushing past comfort zones, and the pure joy of discovering what lies beyond the horizon.

Making a difference: exploring international development opportunities

A message from Waterloo International.

As we celebrate International Education Week on campus, it is important to reflect on the ways we, as a community, can share our knowledge and time with higher education institutions in other countries. The University of Waterloo is a proud member of Academics Without Borders (AWB). AWB collaborates with Canadian universities and colleges through a membership program to send academic volunteers to low and middle-income countries where they share their experience and skills. They engage in various projects, including curriculum development, faculty training, and research collaboration. The ultimate goal is to empower local institutions to deliver high-quality education, which in turn supports sustainable development and economic growth.

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) operates with a similar mission but focuses on engineering solutions to address pressing global issues. EWB chapters worldwide work on projects providing communities access to clean water, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and improved infrastructure. These projects are designed and implemented in collaboration with local communities to ensure they meet the specific needs and are sustainable in the long term. EWB also emphasizes the importance of education and capacity building, as well as training local engineers and technicians to maintain and expand upon the projects initiated.

Both organizations work to harness the power of academic expertise in driving positive change in the global landscape. We welcome Waterloo faculty to connect with AWB and EWB by attending the information session in Needles Hall, Room 3318, on Wednesday, November 20, at 10:30 a.m. or contacting Waterloo International to facilitate a meeting.  

Environment researchers are the first invitees to the International Science Council's roster of experts

Dr. Michelle Rutty of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management and Dr. Jeremy Pittman of the School of Planning.

This article was originally published on the Faculty of Environment website.

Dr. Michelle Rutty and Dr. Jeremy Pittman have been invited to the International Science Council’s newly formed Global Roster of Experts. Designed to bridge the gap between science and policy, the roster was formed to ensure that global decision-makers have access to credible, timely, and context-specific scientific advice that can drive progress on the most urgent global challenges. 

Rutty’s research examines the behavioural response of tourists to environmental change (past, present, future), as well as the climatic risks and emerging opportunities for tourism operators and destinations in a warming and decarbonizing world. Pittman is an expert in environmental policy and governance with a focus on biodiversity conservation, climate change, agriculture, and fisheries.

As members of this roster, Rutty and Pittman will be called upon by the ISC to provide ad-hoc science advice to the UN Secretariat and Member States, develop policy briefs, contribute to statements that amplify the voice of the global scientific community and potentially speak at high-level debates and policy forums where their expertise can make a difference.

This is the first year the ISC has established a Global Roster of Experts, which includes academics, government bodies, policy think tanks, NGOs and private sector innovators. Rutty and Pittman are among the first that were selected out of 1,000 exceptional candidates considered for the honour.

Farewell Foleon: upcoming changes to digital publication software

The 2023-2024 Report on Giving website, an example of a site created with Foleon.

A message from Creative Studio.

We’re reaching out to let you know that our current digital publication software, Foleon, will be retired on December 13, 2024. Rest assured—your sites will remain active, with no interruptions to access or functionality.

If minor updates are needed, please submit requests by December 2 to ensure completion before retirement. In 2025, we’ll transition to Ceros, chosen for its interactive design capabilities and engaging user experience. Guidelines and processes for Ceros are coming soon.

For questions or assistance, please reach out to the Creative Studio at creative@uwaterloo.ca.

Science ranks high in Shanghai rankings and other notes

"The Faculty of Science has been ranked #1 in Canada for Physics and is among the top 5 for Chemistry in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy!" says a note from the Faculty of Science. "In Science, we’re dedicated to driving innovation, advancing research, and delivering a world-class education that empowers the next generation of scientific leaders!"

Waterloo faculty, staff and retirees are invited to Navigating the New Tax Rules: Insights from University of Waterloo alumni and faculty experts. This Zoom webinar takes place November 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and features a panel discussion on capital gains tax, cross-border taxation and bare trusts, followed by a Q&A. Register by November 24.

The Balinese Percussion Ensemble will be holding an end-of-term concert on Friday, November 22 at Knox Presbyterian Church in UpTown Waterloo at 7:30 p.m. "Gamelan ensembles are primarily percussive instruments made of bronze and bamboo but may include drums, bells, flutes, strings, and voice," says a note from the Music department. "An oral tradition taught and learned collectively; repertoire is transmitted in a group setting without the use of sheet music. This concert will feature both the UWaterloo student Gamelan and the Grebel Community Gamelan Warga Santi."

The Gamelan ensemble is directed by Balinese artist I Dewa Made Suparta.