Thursday, October 27, 2016


Canada's most innovative university, 25 years running

The University of Waterloo has been the most innovative university in Canada every year for the past quarter-century, according to Maclean’s magazine. The survey has named Waterloo Canada’s most innovative university every year since the ranking began to measure it.

The Maclean’s annual ranking of Canadian universities, released yesterday, also named Waterloo second in the Best Overall category. Waterloo also moved up to third place in Highest Quality and Leaders of Tomorrow.

In the comprehensive category of universities, faculty at Waterloo ranked first for awards and number of publications. Based on Maclean’s own student satisfaction survey, introduced last year, Waterloo is third overall among comprehensives and ranked first for experiential learning.

“The University of Waterloo came onto the scene nearly 60 years ago as a model of higher education reimagined—with experiential education, entrepreneurship and ties to industry at its core from the start,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. “We have continued to build on this solid foundation to provide an environment that enables us to attract the best and brightest students and produce top talent with global impact.”

Maclean’s reputational rankings are the result of a national survey of high school guidance counsellors, university officials, heads of national organizations, recruiters and CEOs of companies across Canada. 

Waterloo Releases 2015 Environmental Sustainability Report

The front cover of the 2015 Environmental Sustainability Report.The President's Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability has released the University's 2015 Environmental Sustainability Report.

The annual report tracks progress across academics, operations, and engagement indicators.

This year’s report explores case studies of the many projects and initiatives undertaken across the University in 2015. It also outlines changes to key metrics, such as sustainability-related curriculum, emissions and waste, and more.

All members of the University of Waterloo are encouraged to review the document.

The 2015 report can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF.

Students, staff, and faculty will also be invited to complete a sustainability survey in the coming weeks to help the University plan its next steps.

Reconnecting with partners from Singapore and Austria

Vice-President, University Research, George Dixon, President Feridun Hamdullahpur, and Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS president, reunite on campus.

Vice-President, University Research George Dixon, President Feridun Hamdullahpur, and Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, president of the National University of Singapore, sign a memorandum of understanding.

University of Waterloo leaders are celebrating the value of international relationships after reuniting with leaders from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and University of Graz in Austria.

Recently, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS president, joined by Professor Ashraf Kassim, vice provost of NUS, and Koh Li Ling, associate director of global education in the International Relations Office at NUS, participated in meetings to learn about Waterloo’s co-op and cybersecurity program, as well as the Water Institute. Meetings at the Institute for Quantum Computing and Velocity also included a tour.

While on campus, a Memorandum of Understanding for academic and research collaboration was signed by Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President Feridun Hamdullahpur, and Vice-President, University Research, George Dixon.

Earlier this month, Waterloo renewed its International Exchange Agreement with Graz, an agreement that allows students from Waterloo and Graz to participate in exchanges and pursue co-op positions with industry partners in Austria. The collaboration began in 2002 and has benefited both universities by promoting academic activities, building multicultural understanding, encouraging interests, and supporting the exchange of teachers and students, as well as the ability to learn from each other’s programs.

Opioid crisis lecture and other notes

Opioid Lecture poster.

"Hardly a day goes by without more news about overdoses and deaths from opioid misuse, even here in Waterloo Region," says a note from the School of Pharmacy. "Prescription opioids play an essential role in minimizing the pain and patient suffering, but opioids have quickly become a prescription drug problem. They are highly addictive, often misused, and can lead to injury and death."

The School of Pharmacy is hosting a discussion panel event entitled "The Opioid Crisis - a local perspective on an international epidemic" that deals with opioid use and misuse in Waterloo Region. Panelists include:

  • Dr. Michael Beazely, who will discus what opioids are and how we've reached the 'opioid crisis' of today;
  • Chris Harold, who will focus on the impact of and response to opioid misuse in Waterloo Region; and
  • Dr. Kelly Grindrod, who will shares how pharmacists and others can play a part in curbing the crisis.

Admission is free, but spaces are limited. Please register on Eventbrite.

The School of Optometry and Vision Science in engaged in a project to determine whether new colour vision tests for testing pilots and aircrew are as good as the current tests.

They are recruiting participants between the ages for 17 and 60 years who have a colour vision defect, or suspect that they a colour vision problem. There will be two sessions separated by approximately 2 weeks.  

Each session takes about 2 hours to complete. After participating in the sessions, participants will receive $45.

If you would like more information or are interested in participating, please contact the School of Optometry and Vision Science by sending an email to colourvision.study@uwaterloo.ca or by calling extension 36768.

This study has received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee. (ORE# 20996)

The Federation of Students is hosting a Fall General Meeting tonight at 5:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre Great Hall. All undergraduates are invited to attend and vote on a number of important issues. Students will also be able to ask their elected representatives questions, and share any concerns. Free taco bags will be provided to all attendees. The full agenda for the meeting is available online.

The Graduate Studies Office is hiring! PhD students from Math, Science and Environment are invited to apply to the GRADventure specialist role (3 positions) for the winter term. In addition to helping with outreach, communications, and events, GRADventure specialists will gain professional experience that will prepare them for their leadership roles post-PhD. Applications close October 31.

Quest migration begins on November 4

What is happening? Information Systems & Technology (IST) is migrating the Quest system infrastructure to a new environment for better disaster recovery support. As part of this project, Quest will be unavailable for the specified period below.

When is this happening? Friday, November 4 from 4:00 p.m. to Tuesday, November 8 at 8:00 a.m. Quest may be available sooner if the migration completes earlier than scheduled, in that event notifications will be issued.

What is the impact?

  • New student accounts cannot be created
  • Updates to existing student records cannot be made
  • Updates to class lists cannot be made
  • Through this outage period OAT (Online Academic Tools) data will be valid from Thursday November 3 at midnight.

Note: Existing features or functionality will not be affected

Questions or concerns? Please contact Mike Gaspic, mgaspic@uwaterloo.ca

Link of the day

Chuck Berry, 90, to release new album

When and where

Complete the Annual Travel Survey, Monday, October 24 to Friday, November 4.

UWSA Annual General MeetingThursday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Needles Hall 3001.

Hallman Lecture Series featuring Dr. Laura Punnett, Distinguished University Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell, “Safe patient handling: highlights of current research and US public policy efforts to improve safety,” Thursday, October 27, 2:00 p.m., Sun Life Financial Auditorium, LHI 1621. RSVP to Betina Butler, bbutler@uwaterloo.ca, extension 33513.

Federation of Students Annual General Meeting, Thursday, October 27, 5:00 p.m., Student Life Centre Great Hall.

School of Architecture author event featuring Nathan Storing, “Vital Little Plans: Jane Jacobs on Cities, Economics and Ethics,” Thursday, October 27, 6:30 p.m., Cummings Lecture Theatre, School of Architecture. Part of the Arriscraft Lecture Series.

Velocity Garage grand opening, Friday, October 28, 10:00 a.m. to noon, 151 Charles Street W., Kitchener.

Knowledge Integration seminar, “CS798 Games for Health: Lessons Learned and Research Outcomes”, featuring Dr. Chrysanne Di Marco, Artificial Intelligence Group, Cheriton School of Computer Science, Friday, October 28, 2:30 p.m., EV3-1408

University Club Hallowe'en Luncheon, Friday, October 28 and Monday, October 31, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Gem and Mineral Show, Friday, October 28, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 29, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Earth Sciences Museum, CEIT.

Civil Engineering and Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology Graduate Poster Symposium, Friday, October 28, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sedra Student Design Centre, E5. RSVP to Jessica Rossi.

Waterloo Game Jam, Friday, October 28 to Sunday, October 30.

Lectures in Catholic Experience;Families, Love, and Justice: The Vision of Pope Francis featuring Julie Hanlon Rubio, Friday, October 28, 7:30 p.m., SJ2 1004.

Science Open House - Hands-on science activities for kids, Saturday, October 29, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., CEIT.

Women in Mathematics presents Professor Piper Harron, “How to Become a Liberated Mathematics in 13 Painful Years,” Monday, October 31, 4:00 p.m., DC 1302.

Waterloo Store Pop Up Shop, Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Student Life Centre Multipurpose Room.

Waterloo Centre for German Studies author event with Christopher Kloeble, “Almost Everything Very Fast,” Tuesday, November 1, 7:00 p.m., Kitchener Public Library’s central branch, Kitchener.

The Faculty of Mathematics and HeForShe present a public lecture by Brianna Wu, “Gamergate and the War Against Women in Tech,” Wednesday, November 2, 3:30 p.m., location TBD.

Men’s Hockey Battle of Waterloo at the Aud, Wednesday, November 2, 7:15 p.m., Kitchener Auditorium.

SJU HeForShe lecture featuring Erin Wunker, “Confessions of a feminist killjoy,” Thursday, November 3, 2:30 p.m., SJ1-3014.

Water Institute Public Lecture, “Help ensure a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Canada,” Thursday, November 3, 2:30 p.m., STC 0040.

Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (I.B.M.B.) Seminar Series featuring Dr. John Katsaras, Senior Scientist Biological Systems, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, “Model Membranes, Living Organisms and Lateral Membrane Organization” Friday, November 4, 10:30 a.m., QNC 1501.

Chemistry Department Seminar Series featuring Professor Jason Hein, Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, “Looking Deeply into Catalytic Systems: Mechanism and Optimization using Laboratory Automation,” Friday, November 4, 2:30 p.m., C2-361.

PhD oral defences

Biology. Meghan Fuzzen, "Does intersex matter? A case study of rainbow darter in the Grand River." Supervisor, Mark Servos. On deposit in the Science graduate office, PHY 2013. Oral defence Wednesday, November 2, 2:00 p.m., STC 3014.

Civil & Environmental Engineering. Amin Ganjidoost, "Performance Modeling and Simulation for Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Networks." Supervisors, Mark Knight, Carl Haas. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, DWE 3520C. Oral defence Friday, November 4, 10:00 a.m., E2 2350.

Economics. Yu Chen, "Skill mismatch in the labour market." Supervisor, Francisco Gonzalez. On deposit in the Arts graduate office, PAS 2428. Oral defence Tuesday, November 8, 1:00 p.m., MC 2009.

Systems Design Engineering. Limin Lu, "New Membrane Technologies for Dialysis." Supervisor, John Yeow. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, DWE 3520C. Oral defence Wednesday, November 9, 9:30 a.m., E5 6002.