Monday, December 4, 2017

Gala celebrated sixty years of innovation

A gala event hosted by President Feridun Hamdullahpur celebrated the outstanding alumni, partners, students, faculty and staff who have invested in the University of Waterloo's past, present and future.

The President’s 60^th Anniversary Gala took place on Saturday, December 2 and was the latest celebration in a year of events and activities that have taken place during Waterloo's anniversary year.

The event honoured those who have made a significant contribution to the institution, including recipients of the 60^th Anniversary Alumni Awards and the winners of the inaugural President’s Community Impact awards. 

"You have been part of our collective history, but more importantly, you are part of our future," said President Hamdullahpur during his introductory remarks. "Through your dedication to the University of Waterloo community you are helping build a legacy that continuously impacts the world in so many positive ways. I thank you for this tremendous legacy."

Stay tuned for more information in the Daily Bulletin this week about the gala event and check out the highlights on social media with the hashtag #UWaterloo60.

60th Anniversary Alumni Awards recognize outstanding Waterloo alumni

Left to right: John Pollock, Danny Ying, Blair McArthur, Karen Wilkinson, David McKay, President Hamdullahpur, Toby Jenkins, Tom Jenkins, Robert Ewen, and Marta Witer.

by Dana Ciak.

On December 2, the recipients of the inaugural 60^th Anniversary Alumni Awards were honoured at the President's 60^th Anniversary Gala.

This was the pinnacle 60^th anniversary celebration event for the University and celebrated the award recipients’ extraordinary citizenship to Waterloo.

The 60^th Anniversary Alumni Awards recognized 10 outstanding alumni for their personal commitment and citizenship to Waterloo, building on the legacy of the 50^th Anniversary Alumni Award, created by the Alumni Council in 2007. The Alumni Council commissioned an alumni artist, Paul Roorda (BA ’88) to create a piece of art as a memento for each of the recipients.

Awards were given to:

• Robert Ewen (BA ’71)
• Toby Jenkins (BES ’82) and Tom Jenkins (LLD ’13 Honorary)
• Brigette Lau (BASc ’99) and Chamath Palihapitiya (BASc ’99)
• Ophelia Wai Fong Lazaridis (BMath ’85)
• Blair McArthur (BASc ’85)
• David McKay (BMath ’87)
• John A. Pollock (LLD ’07 Honorary)
• Karen Wilkinson (MAcc ’90)
• Marta Witer (OD ’79)
• Danny Ying (BMath ’80)

We thank these outstanding alumni and donors for investing in Waterloo’s future.

Research Talks explores societal impacts of technology

How is 21^st Century technology affecting society? Find out at the next Research Talks – a special panel discussion for Waterloo staff, faculty, and students.

Please register for the December 15 event featuring four researchers who will discuss a range of research and its impact on society:

• Ian Goldberg (Cheriton School of Computer Science): privacy enhancing technologies
• Kate Larson (Cheriton School of Computer Science): artificial intelligence and game theory
• Jennifer Whitson (Stratford/Sociology and Legal Studies): social influence and impact
• Alexander Wong (Systems Design Engineering): artificial intelligence, computational imaging, and multimedia systems.

Light refreshments will be provided but feel free to bring your lunch. Research Talks is a regular series hosted by the Office of Research and supported by the Research Support Fund to celebrate research and provide an opportunity for the Waterloo community to learn about the world-class and life-changing research at Waterloo.

Monday's notes

Director of Police Services Alan Binns would like to remind campus that all buildings will be locked during the holiday break.

UW Police Services will start locking doors at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 22 and will reopen them for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday January 2, 2018. Please ensure anyone needing entry to your buildings during this time have keys available to them for that purpose.

Also, as done previously, many of you leave building access keys with UW Police to be signed out. This practice will continue. Keys may be signed out only to those people you have specifically authorized. Please provide this list as soon as possible. Persons signing out these keys will be required to deposit a WatCard or driver’s licence, to ensure their return.

Director Binns also informs us that this is a vulnerable time for the campus and valuables should not be left unsecured.

The Faculty of Arts Associate Dean of Research, Professor Tim Kenyon (Philosophy), is leaving the University to take up his position as Vice-President of Research at Brock University. Please join his colleagues and friends as they celebrate Tim's time at Waterloo and wish him the best for the future on Friday, December 15. Drop in anytime between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. in HH 373. Brief remarks will be given at 4:00 p.m.

Human Resources is reporting that the following employees retired as of December 1, 2017:

• Anne Turnbull, who joined the University in September 1998, retires as Administrative Officer in the Cheriton School of Computer Science;
• Karen Walo, who started as regular on-going staff in June 2007, retires as Administrative Co-ordinator and Advisor, Undergraduate Studies in the political science department; and
• Professor Robert Varin, who began working at the University in September 1983 as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, received tenure as Associate Professor in July 1998, and was named Professor in July 1992.

Congratulations to all!