Thursday, March 16, 2017

Session will explore research opportunities in Germany

Collaborating on a research project abroad can be of tremendous benefit to a research program.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) invites Waterloo faculty members, postdocs, and PhD students to attend an information session on Germany’s vibrant research landscape, and to learn about helpful tools for identifying potentials collaborators, as well as funding open to Canadian scholars. The session, which takes place March 22 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre, (Room 1304), will be presented by John Paul Kleiner, Senior Manager, University Relations at the DAAD Information Centre in Toronto. 

In 2015, Professor Kirsten Morris, Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics, received DAAD funds to visit Professor Birgit Jacob at the University Wuppertal in Germany to collaborate on control theory research. The funding enabled a month long visit and to make significant progress on a new research project.  Prof. Morris was also able to make brief visits to colleagues at nearby universities. 

For researchers interested in DAAD, she suggests that applicants think about how their research is beneficial to German research and universities, since the purpose is to promote and advance German research and academics.

Engineering students show their work

Engineering projects that push the boundaries of innovation will be on display at the annual Capstone Design symposia that begin this week.

Senior-year engineering students at Waterloo will exhibit projects ranging from snow-removal machines that use ultrasound technology to decaffeinating coffee filters for household coffee machines.

"The design projects represent months of hard work by our inventive students," said Rick Culham, acting dean of engineering. "As in past years, we anticipate that some of the projects will lead to successful start-up companies and the commercialization of new products and services.”

Capstone Design is a degree requirement for undergraduate engineering students at Waterloo. During the symposia from March 17 through 28, at least 700 students in 12 programs will present more than 150 projects.

On March 29, 15 qualifying teams will compete for $60,000 in a pitch presentation funded by the Esch Foundation. The winner of the Sedra People's Choice Award will receive an additional $3,000 in funding.

Additional project highlights this year include:

• Lightweight wearable technology featuring oxygen-absorbing nanomaterial designed to replace heavy oxygen tanks;
• Ergonomic gloves fitted with sensors to instantly translate sign language into speech;
• Drinking water generator for developing countries;
• Wearable sensor suit that provides masons with posture feedback;
• Short-wave vascular endoscope design;
• Golf ball you will never lose thanks to built-in GPS and wireless technology;
• Mobile robot for mapping and inspecting pipes in the boiler rooms of nuclear power plants;
• Tools to assist illiterate and innumerate adults in developing countries with financial planning;
• Design for a foldable and lightweight temporary bridge for post-disaster regions;
• Specialized 3D printer designed to produce biocompatible bone grafts;
• Online service for personalized storybooks using children’s names and photos

Members of the public and the media are invited to the Capstone projects on display, which are located in the Great Hall of the Davis Centre, Engineering 5, and Engineering 6.

For symposium dates and times, visit the Capstone website.

Pharmacists support patients with cancer

The Pharmacists Support series is issued by the School of Pharmacy for #PAM2017. It runs every Tuesday and Thursday in March.

“Cancer is a scary diagnosis,” says alumnus Michael Collins. “Not only do oncology pharmacists require complex therapeutic knowledge, we also require the soft skills needed to empathize in such a difficult part of a cancer patient’s life.”

Michael, a graduate of School of Pharmacy’s first class, knew he wanted to work in a hospital before he’d even begun pharmacy school.

“I worked in a retail pharmacy as part of co-op in high school,” he explains. “I enjoyed the experience but felt a lack of clinical involvement; it felt too much like a business.”

Now, he specializes in oncology at Grand River Hospital, just up the street from the School. He works closely with cancer patients, and meets regularly with those starting or undergoing chemotherapy.

“It’s a privilege,” Michael says, “to be a part of the patient’s journey here at the cancer centre.”

The Library remembers Rachel Hull

Staff in the Library are mourning their colleague Rachel Hull, who died March 11.

A Waterloo alumna, Hull graduated with a BES in Geography in 1997. As an undergraduate, she worked in the University Map Library. After her graduation she worked for several years in the non-profit sector, returning to the University where she worked in the Registrar's Office and later the Mathematics Undergraduate Office.

She rejoined the Library in March 2016 and worked as a Resource Sharing Supervisor.

“Rachel worked in the Library when she was an undergraduate student, and she was thrilled to come back here last year to work for us full-time,” says Samantha Gibbon, Manager, Resource Sharing & Reserves. “Her infectious smile and positive energy touched everyone, and she will be missed."

If you would like to contribute to a memorial tree on campus for Rachel, follow these instructions:

1. Go to the Support Waterloo website and "donate by Credit Card"
2. On the form, fill in your Waterloo affiliation (staff, faculty, retiree, student, friend, etc.)
3. Under Gift Type, select “One time Gift”
4. Enter the amount
5. Under “What area would you like to support” select “Other Faculty, College or University Projects”
6. In the table that appears below, Select “Other Projects” as the Area of Giving, type in the Project as “Tribute tree for Rachel Hull”, and enter 100 percent as the percentage amount

There is an option to make your gift anonymously.

HeForShe panel discussion and other notes

Strategies to boost the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs will be the focus of a panel discussion in the Science Teaching Complex this afternoon.

Panelists at the event, part of the ongoing HeForShe Impact 10x10x10 initiative, will include:

• Minister Bardish Chagger, member of parliament for Waterloo
• Mary Chong, vice-president of business development and operations, Revelo Electric Corp.
• Rachel Pautler, chief academic officer at Chalk.com
• George Freeman, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Rania Al-Hammoud, graduate attributes lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Also on the agenda is discussion of the many challenges related to improving access to educational opportunities for girls and women in developing nations.

The panel discussion is organized by the University’s HeForShe engineering chapter and takes place from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 0020 of the Science Teaching Complex.

The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) is hosting a guest seminar featuring Professor Josh Taylor from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto entitled "Leveraging Energy Storage and Demand Response in Power System Operations." The seminar takes place on Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m. in EIT 3142.

Here's today's Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" supplied by Health Services Dietician Sandra Ace:

Myth: Drinking cranberry juice prevents a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Fact: An important step in the development of a UTI is bacteria sticking to the cells that line the urinary tract. Consuming cranberry products can help prevent that adhesion, however, research findings are inconsistent and taking cranberry products have not always been shown to prevent UTIs. A 2012 systematic review of 24 studies concluded that cranberry’s preventative role is less effective than previously found in a 2008 review, although some small studies demonstrated a limited benefit for women with recurrent UTIs. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association failed to find a benefit over a year period in elderly women given cranberry extract capsules equal to drinking 20 ounces of cranberry juice verses a placebo group.

What is also unclear is whether drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extract supplements is more beneficial or what the most effective dose of either alternative is. If you choose to take a cranberry drink to prevent a UTI, it is best to use 100% pure cranberry juice, which is costly and can be hard to find. Cranberry juice cocktail contains more water and sugar and may be a blend of other less expensive juices so it has a much smaller amount of proanthocyanidins, thought to be the active ingredient in cranberry products. If you are considering taking a cranberry extract supplement, check the label for a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Drug Identification Number (DIN). This means the product is regulated and approved for sale in Canada. Speak to your health care provider before taking a supplement or if you think you have a UTI. Cranberry products are not effective for treating existing urinary tract infections.