I am happy to share with you our latest issue of E-Ties, packed with exciting stories and updates from the Faculty of Mathematics community. Before diving into the stories, however, I want to take a moment to reflect on some recent highlights.
Your support during Giving Day was truly overwhelming. While we are still finalizing the counts, the generosity and enthusiasm shown by our community was nothing short of incredible. This support is vital to the work we do every day. Please see our message of thanks to all who donated.
Financial contributions are not the only way you can support the Faculty. Many of you also give your time as volunteers, whether by marking contests for the Centre of Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) or mentoring our students. During the last week of April, we said thank you to our remarkable volunteers and featured profiles of some of these individuals. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we have numerous opportunities available that you can explore.
I am excited to share a diverse group of stories about our Math community, including:
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Honouring William Tutte: Waterloo professor and WWII codebreaker Dr. William T. Tutte (1917-2002) is one of ten individuals being honoured by Great Britain’s Royal Mail in a stamp series commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. We are proud to share this feature story on his life and work.
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New Industry-Sponsored Research Chair: Dr. David Del Rey Fernández has been named Pratt & Whitney Canada’s new Industry-Sponsored Research Chair in Industrial Artificial Intelligence. This exciting new Chair will help shape the future of intelligent aviation.
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Mathematics 4 (M4) Update: This issue’s M4 update invites you to learn more about the building’s “Green Room,” a unique computing facility that will bring a new focus on efficiency to computing research and education at Waterloo. Additionally, we shine a light on M4’s stunning event space, “The Gradient Gallery.”
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Alumni Spotlight: This Q&A shares the story of Kristy Gao (BCS ’22), whose emergency room visit led to the launch of her startup, CeNote. CeNote was recently accepted into the Y Combinator. Her journey is an example of the amazing work our alumni are doing.
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Favourite Waterloo Math Memories: When we celebrated Pi Day in March, we asked our alumni to share their favourite Waterloo Math memories. We received some truly wonderful responses that we are excited to share with you.
This will be my last E-Ties as Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics. In July, my colleague, Dr. Jochen Koenemann, will assume the role. Join me in welcoming Dr. Koenemann to the position. I am confident that his leadership will continue to drive our Faculty forward, and I know he will be excited to connect with you.
As I approach the end of my term as Dean, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Waterloo Math alumni. One of the most rewarding aspects of this job has been the chance to meet with you all over the world. There’s no better reminder of why we do what we do than hearing about your remarkable journeys, seeing your impact on society and knowing that Waterloo played a part in your success.
Thank you, once again, for your continued support and engagement, and please stay in touch.
Warm regards,
Mark Giesbrecht
Dean, Faculty of Mathematics
University of Waterloo
