June 2023 Newsletter

Friday, June 16, 2023
by Alison Baird

Events Highlight: 


Has the topic of machine learning ever interested you? Have you experienced uncertainty on where to begin with such a vast topic? Then, you should definitely join us for the Machine Learning 101 event WiCS is running! You will get the opportunity to learn basic machine learning concepts and hear from students about various projects they have leveraged ML in. 

A catered dinner will be provided from Vincenzo’s!! Make sure you sign-up with the link in our bio :) 

When: Tuesday, June 20th, 6:00 - 7:00 PM  

Where: DC 1304 

Sign up: Google Forms


Join us to learn more about diverse careers where you can apply your technological skills! The endless opportunities in tech can be quite overwhelming. UW WiCS will be hosting a Careers in Tech workshop with panelists who work in a variety of applications of computer science. We are working to line up speakers who can talk about careers in health, trading, cybersecurity, gaming, VR, autonomous driving, and more! Join us to learn more about diverse careers where you can apply your technological skills and remember to bring any questions you may have.   

We will have 1 hour in DC 1302 for you to walk around the panel, talking to the speakers whose careers you are interested in. Then we will switch to a networking event with the in-person speakers (and appetizers!) in DC 1301. 

When – June 22nd 4:00pm-6:00pm 

Where – DC 1302 (and DC 1301) 

Sign up Eventbrite


WiCS has just sent out feedback surveys for all our May 2023 and June 2023 events. This includes Lunch with Citadel, Resume Critiques with Meta, Fireside Chat with Zynga, Fireside Chat and Bubble Tea with BAM, Mock Interviews with Google, and Lunch with Scotiabank. 

If you attended any of these events, please check your email for a feedback form. We have extended the date for the raffle so 10% of all responses before June 23rd will win a $25 gift card.


WiCS is looking for volunteers from all CS programs (CS, SE, CFM, DS, BCS/BBA) for Waterloo Ready! We are looking for students who can mingle with incoming students and participate in a panel about being a university student. Waterloo Ready is on Thursday July 13th and our event will be at the end of the day (exact time still to be determined).  

Please fill out THIS FORM by June 30th to express interest in volunteering.


FLIGHT is a 2-week virtual summer camp that operates as an introduction to tech entrepreneurship for girls+ aged 13-18 who self-identify as Black and other underrepresented minorities. FLIGHT is organized by WiCS Outreach and BrainSTEM Alliance in partnership with the University of the West Indies. 

This year FLIGHT will run from July 17 – 28th and WiCS is looking to recruit approximately 10 WiCS volunteers to support with: 

  • Coaching and mentoring teams of students online (you will be paired with 1-2 teams) 

  • Support a one-day conference with industry speakers (Friday July 21st) 

  • Daily tech support  

This is a great opportunity to build mentorship skills with a young, diverse audience and add mentoring experience to your resume! We are looking for volunteers who are available ideally for the full duration of the camp, which runs daily from 10am – 4pm, but flexibility with availability is possible.  


The Math Faculty is holding an exclusive 'Ask Me Anything' event with Maya Ackerman, CEO & Co-founder of the musical AI startup, WaveAI, on June 20, 2023, in DC 1302 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. This event is part of Math Innovation’s Entrepreneurship and Impact series 

A social reception to follow immediately after in DC 1302 (Fishbowl), with refreshments. You must attend the talk to attend the reception. 

Come with your questions and be prepared to be inspired by Maya Ackerman's story! 


Join Waterloo Engineering for an inspired conversation with Rola Dagher, Dell Technologies' Global Channel Chief.  

Rola’s work in the global technology sector has revolutionized business and redefined what it means to be a leader. Fueled by her ambition to drive meaningful change, Rola’s formidable experience makes for a great storyone that she tells best. 

This is your chance to hear Rola’s insights into how transformative leadership can ignite positive change, triumph over adversity and reshape the future. This interactive conversation will leave you inspired, empowered and equipped with actionable strategies to elevate your own leadership capabilities.  

Reserve your spot now. 

When – June 16th  2:30pm-4:00pm 

Where E7 Event Space, 2nd Floor, Engineering 7 

Sign up Here


Hudson River Trading is thrilled to announce that they’re hosting a virtual tech summit on August 16, 2023! The summit aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the world of automated trading to underrepresented communities, specifically Black and Latinx candidates. Through talks and panels, attendees will get an inside look at what it’s like to work in quantitative finance, learn about the interesting technical problems we tackle on a daily basis, and get insights on how to land a job in this exciting field. Additionally, HRT has exclusive swag waiting for you! 

While individuals from all underrepresented communities are welcome to express their interest in attending, please note that HRT is specifically encouraging those who identify as Black or Latinx to apply.  

Attending this summit does not require prior knowledge of finance, only an interest in learning! If you’re interested in attending, please fill out THIS FORM and HRT will be in touch with registration information closer to the event.


Greetings from Jane Street! 

This August, Jane Street is excited to host our annual INSIGHT program in New York City! We’re inviting students who identify as women, transgender, and gender-expansive to spend four days in our office learning more about what we do and how we do it through a set of trading and programming classes and activities. Attendees will receive an in-depth look into the ways we use math and computer science across our firm to solve problems and foster collaborative thinking. 

Selected students will arrive in New York on the evening of August 21st and will depart the morning of August 26th. Jane Street will provide all travel to and from New York, including meals, housing, and a variety of social events. 

INSIGHT has two different program tracks students can apply for: 

  • Trading program — students will learn about mathematical and financial topics such as probability, market structure, and arbitrage through a combination of short lectures, group games, and mock trading sessions. 

  • Software engineering program — students will learn OCaml, the libraries and tools we use in our daily work, and how to put them to use by building a computer game. Participants will also learn the fundamentals of electronic trading systems and write a program that trades on a simulated stock exchange. 

Apply here to be considered for a spot. The deadline to apply is Sunday, June 25th at 11:59pm EDT. After the deadline, applicants moving onto the next round will receive an invitation to complete a puzzle or coding challenge based on which program track you applied for. 

If you aren’t a fit for INSIGHT, we run many other programs and events that you may be better suited for. Check out this page throughout the year for updates and information on our various programs and the application processes. 

Finally, if you are interested in our 2024 Summer Internship programs, applications will open up in late July! In the meantime, you can sign up to get notified when the role that you are interested in starts accepting applications. We will be looking for interns within Quantitative Trading, Quantitative Research, Software Engineering, Business Development, and more. We hire on a rolling basis. You can also explore our full time roles


SVPRO & WUSA are collaborating on a Consent Culture Art Contest!!! We are encouraging UWaterloo students to use their imagination, and create an original piece of art that expresses their interpretation of consent. We encourage artists to explore various aspects of consent, such as communication, respect, boundaries, empowerment, and personal experiences related to consent. Artwork will be selected for a calendar that will be freely distributed in the Fall semester. 

Here’s what students need to know: 

Themes 

  • Building consent culture 

  • Inspiring hope & healing 

  • Providing community care 

  • Supporting others & myself 

Process 

  1. Create your masterpiece (Any medium is ok!) 

  1. Submit your art + short artist statement (Make sure it’s high quality.) 

  1. Results (Artists will be directly contacted if their art will be included in the calendar.) 

All information here 

We are collecting digital submissions until Monday July 3rd!


CAN-CWiC is the premiere Canadian computing conference for women in technology. This annual event features networking, learning, sharing and mentoring. CAN-CWiC embodies the mission of encouraging curiosity and awareness for the digital innovations that change the community and world around us.  

CAN-CWIC 2023 will be in Toronto October 20-21. WiCS will fund the participation of 20 Waterloo students – including registration fee for the conference, transportation from Waterloo, and hotel accommodation. 


The WiCS Study Room (DC 3150) is a place where WiCS students know they can meet and study with other WiCS students, making it easier for them to find like-minded peers and role models. As a secondary benefit, the room also serves as a space where WiCS students can take a short break from being in the minority. 

To get the fob to the study room, you must fill out a request form for the access fob. The WiCS Event Coordinator will send you an email once it is ready for you to pick up! 

Learn more about the WiCS Study Room on our website (https://uwaterloo.ca/women-in-computer-science/wics-study-room)


The WiCS Innovation Fund supports student-initiated activities such as hackathons, workshops, conferences, and much more, that support women and non-binary students in computing. WiCS will give out two awards worth $500 this fall, and another two in the winter! 

If you’re interested, send an email to wics@uwaterloo.ca with an explanation of the use (e.g., organizing an event, attending a conference or hackathon) and what you will get out of attending. The Fund will sponsor future events only (not past events).