Colleagues,
It’s been over a year now since you’ve started receiving my monthly updates in this format. While we can measure the success of our communication efforts using metrics like distribution numbers or open rates, the goal of these updates has always been to keep you informed about what is happening in Applied Health Sciences (AHS) and highlight activities and initiatives that may be of relevance to you. To ensure we are achieving this goal, please take a moment to answer a short anonymous survey. Your feedback will help us continue evolving these updates to best meet your needs. Questions or additional feedback can be directed to Christine Bezruki, Manager Marketing & Communications.
In news this month:
- Congratulations are extended to all participants in this year’s 3MT competition. The diverse range of topics presented on February 13 truly reflected the breadth of our Faculty and provided an excellent example of the exciting and life-changing research happening under our roof. Special congratulations to the Faculty’s 3MT winner Christine Czoli (“Can E-cigarettes Successfully Replace Tobacco Cigarettes?”) and runner up Iman M’Hiri (“Fatty Kidneys Cause Diabetes”). Christine will move on to the University-level competition on March 23 at 3 p.m. in the Theatre of the Arts in Modern Languages (ML). Please consider attending the event to support Christine and represent the Faculty.
- The annual Hagey Lecture, presented by the Faculty Association and the Office of the President, will take place on March 22. This year’s speaker is Professor Carol Barnes, Evelyn F. McKnight Endowed Chair for Learning and Memory in Aging at the University of Arizona. Her talk, Memory and the Aging Brain, will explore how memory and the brain change during normal aging, highlighting some of the current thinking about how to optimize brain and mental functions throughout life. The School of Public Health and Health Systems and the Department of Kinesiology will co-host a student colloquium with Professor Barnes on March 23 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in LHI 1621. All students are invited to attend.
- On March 28, the University will welcome world-renowned professor of economics Jeffrey D. Sachs for the 2017 TD Walter Bean lecture. Professor Sachs’ talk, titled Rising Nationalism versus Global Cooperation for Sustainable Development, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in Humanities Theatre. Registration is required as space is limited. The same day, the School of Public Health and Health Systems will host professor Sachs’ spouse, Dr. Sonia Sachs — a Harvard educated pediatrician and influential public health leader — for an informal presentation on her work in health with the Millennium Villages Project. The presentation will be held from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. in AHS 2677. Students wishing to attend should RSVP to Susan Horton.
- On behalf of the Faculty, I’d like to congratulate Bill McIlroy on receiving an Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision. This award, established by the Graduate Studies Office (GSO) in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association (GSA), recognizes exemplary faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in graduate student supervision. Bill will be recognized at the Spring 2017 convocation.
- The Department of Kinesiology will be on-site at the Ontario Science Centre every day over March break (March 11 to 17) as part of the Biomechanics: The Machine Inside exhibit. In addition to a range of family-friendly activities, visitors can participate in live data collection for studies on binocular vision (led by Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo) and virtual reality and balance control (led by Michael Barnett-Cowan). A 20 per cent admission discount is available for all Waterloo faculty, staff and students. To purchase tickets ahead of time call 1-888-696-1110 and use the code 10510.
- I invite all faculty and staff to support our grad students by attending this year’s Grad Formal on Saturday March 11 at 7 p.m. in Fed Hall. A number of complimentary tickets (valued at $50) have been set aside for faculty and staff who would like to attend. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be requested by contacting Leanne Wright before 10 a.m. on March 1.
Wishing everyone a productive month ahead,
Jim
James W.E. Rush, PhD
Professor and Dean
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences