Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
It's been a long time coming, but today is the inaugural National Truth and Reconciliation Day, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day, established to commemorate the residential school experience.
There are many ways to approach this day, and I hope that you will take time to reflect on the meaning behind it and why we need it in the first place. Several events, including "A Brief History of Colonization" co-organized by members of the School of Public Health, have been compiled by the President's Anti-Racism Task Force and by the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion office. For those on campus, you can visit the booth outside BMH 1035 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. to contribute to an orange wall display, or do it virtually by completing this Truth and Reconciliation Display form.
At our last Faculty Council meeting, I shared examples of how we are creating an environment that invites Indigenous ways of knowing, a signature commitment of our strategic plan. We are also working on other initiatives that build on this commitment that will share with you soon, along with the rest of our strategic plan implementation. For today, though, let's take time to deepen our knowledge, reflect on our relationships and honour the Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools.
Yours sincenrely,
Lili Liu
This month I Events I Tips and reminders
THIS MONTH
AMTD Fellowship nominations are open
Faculty members: If you know high-caliber postdocs or final-year doctoral students from outside the university, consider inviting them to apply for the 2022 AMTD Waterloo Global Talent Postdoctoral Fellowship for a prestigious one- or two-year fellowship at Waterloo. Funding includes a $75,000 annual salary, an engagement fund of $7,500 plus access to additional funds to create disruptive research dissemination opportunities. The application deadline is November 18.
Jack Callaghan elected as CAHS Fellow
Jack Callaghan (Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences) is one of 74 newly elected Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Fellows from across the country. The Academy brings together and recognizes top-ranking health and biomedical scientists and scholars across Canadian universities, health-care and research institutes to create positive impact on the urgent health concerns of Canadians. Election to Fellowship in the Academy is considered one of the highest honours for scholars in the Canadian health sciences communities.
Funding spotlight: Peter Hall receives CIHR grant
This summer, Peter Hall from the School of Public Health Sciences received a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant worth almost $500,000 for "Mitigating COVID-19 variant spread by leveraging social psychological and neurobiological markers to optimize public health communications during the first vaccine rollout." Geoffrey Fong, cross-appointed to the School, is a co-principal investigator, along with another co-investigator from Zurich.
Graduate Studies Guide now online
Faculty of Health graduate studies recruitment has launched a Graduate Studies Guide. Replacing the printed brochures for our graduate programs, this digital publication allows prospective graduate students to view dynamic content featuring videos, tips on how to apply, information on our graduate programs, current grad student stories, career outcomes and more. It's available on all Faculty and academic unit websites. Contact Jasmin English for details.
#ElderWisdom benches available for use
The Faculty of Health unveiled two #ElderWisdom benches this week, donated by the Schlegel family, which will be available for use by University groups for teaching and learning. The benches will be housed in or near the Health Expansion building and invite us to sit beside an older adult or Elder and share a conversation or insights. To book a bench for your initiative or campaign, please use the #ElderWisdom Bench booking form.
Check out the latest Health Hub magazine
The fall edition of the Health Hub alumni magazine is live, featuring stories about the impact some of our alumni have made over the years. The issue also highlights the launch of a new Student Experiential Learning Fund, established by Dean Lili Liu and her family. Open to undergraduate students, the Fund is designed to prioritize positions in not-for-profit and social impact organizations.
New Journal of Undergraduate Health Research
Please let your undergraduate students know about the Journal of Undergraduate Health Research, a new student-led initiative for undergraduate students at the University looking to publish work in a peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of the health field. The project is led by two Honours Health Studies Co-op students, with Ellen MacEachen and Diane Williams as senior advisors. Submissions are now open for the fall.
Alumni Office Hours event series
New this fall: We are bringing students and alumni together for the Alumni Office Hours event series. Throughout the term, alumni from various fields will host small group sessions providing students and new grads an opportunity to grow their networks and expand their knowledge and awareness of career opportunities. For upcoming events and alumni hosts, visit the Alumni Office Hours web page.
Teaching Fellows membership update
The Faculty of Health Teaching Fellows team would like to thank Robyn Ibey for serving as the Kinesiology and Health Sciences (KHS) Teaching Fellow over the past year. She was a key contributor to many initiatives that supported and celebrated teaching excellence during this unique (and sometimes challenging) teaching climate. Tamara Maciel is back on the team following parental leave; KHS instructors looking for support are invited to connect with her. Zara Rafferty (RLS) and Elena Neiterman (SPHS) are the other two members of the team.
UPCOMING EVENTS
A brief history of colonization in Canada: September 30
Join Michael Dan on Thursday, September 30 for a virtual event called “A brief history of colonization, intergenerational trauma, and genocide of Indigenous peoples in Canada.” At this event, learn about the impacts of colonialism, genocide and, ultimately, the intergenerational trauma that persists today. All members of the UWaterloo community – faculty, staff and students – are welcome to attend. Follow the link above for details and to register.
Graduate Studies Information Week: October 4-8
Know someone interested in graduate studies in the Faculty of Health? Invite your network to the Faculty’s Graduate Studies Information Week, starting Monday, October 4. The series of online sessions hosted via Zoom will discuss graduate studies and the comprehensive graduate programs in the Faculty of Health.
Kinesiology Lab Days: October 4-November 12
This year, Kinesiology Lab Days, a popular high school student outreach event, is being offered in two formats: synchronous and asynchronous. If you know of kinesiology teachers who might appreciate using these workshops, please have them register through the Kin Lab Days website.
Safeguarding Science workshop: October 6
UWaterloo faculty, staff and students involved in research using biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear materials or technology are invited to join Public Safety Canada for the Safeguarding Science workshop. Hosted on Microsoft Teams by the Office of Research, the event will take place on Wednesday, October 6, 1:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Abstracts submission deadline: October 12
Students, faculty and staff are invited to submit presentations for the second annual Student Mental Health Research Conference, which will take place November 10. The conference aims to bring together members of the UWaterloo community to share knowledge, connect researchers and promote mental wellness. The deadline for submissions is October 12; please view the Thrive website for details.
Convocation: October 22
This fall's Faculty of Health convocation ceremony will be held online on October 22 at 1 p.m. To view the ceremony and engage with the graduands, please register for the link on the Health Convocation web page. The ceremony is open to everyone.
Gairdner global health lecture: October 22
Faculty and students are invited to join Vikram Patel for this online Gairdner Lecture research talk on October 22 at 2:30 p.m. Patel is a world-leading researcher in global mental health, generating knowledge on the burden and determinants of mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries and pioneering approaches for the prevention and treatment of mental health in low-resource settings. Please register in advance to get the event link.
CTE workshops: October onwards
A reminder that the Centre for Teaching Excellence continues to offer several workshops that may be of interest, including an Introduction to PebblePad, 30-minute sessions to learn about a feature in PebblePad, and an Online Instructional Skills Workshop. You are welcome to enroll in independent courses, including iReCoDE, iBlend, Supporting Student Mental Health, and Copyright Overview for Waterloo Instructors and Staff.
TIPS AND REMINDERS
New agile development process
The Centre for Extended Learning (CEL) has established an agile development team to offer support for smaller development requests such as developing online learning materials without structured timelines or deadlines associated with scheduled projects. For more information, see the agile development webpage or contact Natalie Chow for support.
New minor in the School of Public Health Sciences
Did you know? There is a new Addictions, Mental Health, and Policy minor in the School of Public Health Sciences as of this fall.
Waterloo Ready to Write
If you are teaching first-year courses this term, you may wish to let your students know about a new initiative from the Writing and Communication Centre: Waterloo Ready to Write. It’s a collection of online resources aimed specifically at first-year students. Through self-guided workshops, learning resources, one-to-one appointments and undergraduate writing groups, it aims to help students tackle different communication tasks they encounter throughout the term.
Reminder to complete the Equity Survey
If you have yet to respond to the University-wide Equity Survey, which was sent to your inbox, please do it before the end of October, where there will be a pause in data collection. By participating now, you are contributing to Waterloo’s vision of a more equitable work and learning environment for all.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.