I want to thank everyone who helped us to celebrate our golden anniversary in 2017. Around the world, we were lucky to connect with our alumni and toast to 50 years of mathematical and computer science talent.
Since January, we have continued to connect with our alumni. We hosted an alumni event at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) in San Diego and held a productive Alumni Roundtable in the UK. Closer to home, we gathered with alumni at the Ontario Science Centre on February 25 to take advantage of the Inventorium – a hands-on learning space where art and design meld with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
This month, we head to Asia and we look forward to meeting with several alumni and talking about our research in cryptography, fintech and artificial intelligence.
Congratulations again to our Alumni Achievement Award winners: Patrick Hayes, Dora Vell, Niky Kamran, and Brian Arbogast. We were grateful that each of our winners presented for students the day they were on campus for the 31st Annual Mathematics Awards Ceremony and Dinner. Another four alumni, Sina Sadeghian, Shawn Brunsting, Paulina Chin, and Laura Ramsahai, returned to campus February 27 to speak to our students as part of a Math Career panel. We are very fortunate that our alumni continue to inspire our current students.
Two of our alumni, Mayor Dave Jaworsky and his wife Jan (both BMath ’88), with the help of alumna Adele Newton (BMath ’78), inspired 100 grade 7 girls at their inaugural Women in STEAM event. The girls from around Waterloo Region had the opportunity to network and be mentored by female role models in the “STEAM” industries.
Making math and computer science accessible to everyone is a priority within the faculty. A group of students hosted StarCon, a software engineering conference, January 6-7 to foster learning and community building with people of diverse backgrounds. On January 14, Jo Atlee launched Technovation Waterloo. This exciting program guides small groups of 10- to 18-year-old girls to build an app and a business plan over a 12-week period. One of our students co-founded StarterHacks which took place March 3-4. This hackathon for newbies, sponsored by the Faculty of Mathematics, not only boasts gender equity, but includes 10% high school student participation.
When our students, faculty and alumni continue to work together to build the critical mass of mathematical and computer science talent, we know great things will happen. Through mentorship, hiring co-op students, and supporting scholarships and programs, we will find great opportunities together in our next 50 years.
We hope that you enjoy this issue of Math e-Ties, and please do stay in touch.
With best wishes,
Stephen M. Watt
Dean, Faculty of Mathematics
P.S. Let Kate Dal Castel, Senior Advancement Officer, know if there is something you would like to see in future editions.
