Staff

10:00–11:30 am — PLENARY, “Methods of Solidarity and Care in Research and Activism”

Speakers:

• Alana Cattapan, Associate Professor, Political Science, Canada Research Chair in the Politics of Reproduction, University of Waterloo
• Kimberly Lopez, Associate Professor, Recreation & Leisure, University of Waterloo
• Trish Van Katwyk, Associate Professor, Director, School of Social Work, Renison University College

Please feel free to register for any—or all—of the sessions you’d like to attend. 

10:00–10:30 am — Opening Reception and Welcome Kick off the event with drinks, introductions, and a warm welcome as we bring together researchers, practitioners, and community members for a few days of collaboration and conversation. Light breakfast provided. Location: LIB 323

The Libraries are excited to introduce a new format for our next installment of Anti-Racism Reads: a six session, in-person book club designed to support deeper conversation and sustained engagement. This term, we'll be reading Safiya Umoja Noble’s book, Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism, examining how search engines and digital platforms reinforce racism and inequality.

We are wealthier and more technologically advanced than ever, yet loneliness and social fragmentation are rising. This talk by Andrew Welch, author of "The Value Crisis", introduces the Rekhi–Environment Initiative and a new framework for understanding the “value crisis”: the disconnect between numeric success and lived human experience.

Join us for for conversation, music, and joy shared over delicious food, followed by a film screening of the first episodes of the acclaimed series I'm A Virgo--including an introduction to Afrofuturism in celebration of Black History Month.

Join us as we explore the impact of open educational resources (OER), current provincial requirements related to sharing textbook costs and strategies instructors can use to offer zero-textbook-cost courses.

Celebrate Black authors, their stories, and their voices! Join Black Studies in this opportunity to connect with writers, explore new books, and support Black scholarship and creativity. 

The Nether, by Jennifer Haley, presents a thought-provoking exploration of the ethical, psychological, and moral implications of virtual reality and, by extension, the challenges and ramifications of contemporary digital life. Set in a near-future world where immersive virtual environments (the Nether) allow people to fully engage in dark, curated experiences, the play raises questions about identity, personal responsibility, free will, and the consequences of these digital spaces. 

Join us for a cozy micro‑retreat and skill sessions with limited spots to keep things intimate, celebrating International Women's Day. The evening will start by grounding us into the space with some breath work, and then you’ll move through four short micro‑sessions, each led by a different speaker offering a practical skill or perspective you can actually use.

Cooperathon is a Canada-wide free entrepreneurial program that helps develop an innovative idea to start a business or advance academic research, culminating in a competition offering cash prizes and personalized support to empower projects with the highest social, environmental, or economic impact potential come to life.