President issues statement on Ottawa attack

Following yesterday's horrific events in our nation's capital, President Feridun Hamdullahpur issued the following statement:

"Today Canadians watched with grave concern as acts of violence transpired in our nation’s capital. The fact that these acts of violence were apparently aimed at fundamental institutions of our democracy, including the Parliament of Canada, makes them all the more shocking.

The University of Waterloo maintains an extensive network of co-operative education students, co-op employers, partners and stakeholders in the National Capital Region, and we remain in solidarity with them today, as ever. In particular, all efforts are being made to contact each of our more than 300 co-op students working in the National Capital Region. We believe all are safe at this time.

I remind our co-op students working in Ottawa this term that our Counseling Services team is available if you need to talk as a result of today’s events, and can be contacted through your co-op advisors.

On behalf of our University of Waterloo community of students, faculty, staff and alumni the world over, I extend our thoughts and condolences to the family of the Canadian soldier whose life was taken today, as he stood on guard at the National War Memorial.

Equally, we send our thoughts of compassion and solidarity to all those affected by today’s violence, including among them Ottawa’s first responders, as well as to all citizens and residents."

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School counsellors visit for annual breakfast

by Jody Berringer.

Waterloo is hosting 100 high school counsellors and colleagues from across campus this morning for an annual guidance counsellor breakfast gathering at the University Club.

The theme this year is "Putting the Arts into STEM to create STEAM" and we are excited to have Bill Chesney, Associate Dean of Arts, and Ray Darling, Registrar, as our featured speakers. Samantha Murray, Assistant Registrar (Arts & Environment) will provide counsellors with updates about the admissions process.

The morning will be rounded out with two student speakers, tips for counsellors to access resources at Waterloo, and a campus tour that includes a special stop at the new Health Services complex.

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Again, we're Research University of the Year

The University of Waterloo is Research University of the Year among Canadian comprehensive universities for the seventh year in a row, according to rankings Research Infosource released today.

"We are so proud to have this distinction of top research university among Canadian comprehensive universities for seven consecutive years," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. "This recognition is the result of so much hard work by tireless researchers who are finding innovative ways to improve lives, change the way we see the world and address the challenges of today and the future."

According to Canada's Top 50 Research Universities, Waterloo is first among Canadian universities when it comes to growth of research income. The majority of university research is conducted at institutions in the Medical/Doctoral category. Waterloo does not have a medical school yet it attracted nearly $167 million in research income last year. This number represents an increase of 21.8 per cent.

Considered one of Canada's leading consulting firms for organizations with interests in science, technology, and innovation, the firm ranks top research universities in three categories: Medical/Doctoral, Comprehensive, and Undergraduate. The group measures institutions based on research input and output/impact.

More detail on Canada's Top 50 Research Universities is available from Research Infosource.

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Remembering Ernie Lucy

Former personnel director and Dean of Students Ernie Lucy died October 14.

Lucy began working at the University of Waterloo in March 1963 as assistant to the director of Co-ordination and Placement (the forerunner of Co-operative Education and Career Action) after a career in personnel and manufacturing with companies in Canada and the United States. Born in Rochester, NY, Lucy served in the US Army Air Force during World War 2 and later pursued graduate studies in social psychology, receiving his PhD from the University of Illinois.

Lucy was an adjunct professor in Psychology, and a lecturer in the University's academic program in personnel and administrative studies (PAS) based in Sociology. In 1981 he was named Director of the PAS program.

In 1983 he was named Director, Personnel and Student Services, the equivalent of the associate provost (human resources and student services) role, which was divided into separate human resources and student associate provost positions in 2009.

In 1987 he added Dean of Students to his list of job titles.

Lucy retired from the University in June 1991. He is survived by his spouse Lorraine Beattie, who served as Director, Library Resource Management at the Library before her retirement.

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Science Open House this weekend; other notes

The Faculty of Science is hosting its 20^th annual Science Open House this Saturday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The milestone event showcases the largest number of family-friendly science activities in its history highlighting the 20^th anniversary theme with a touch of Halloween fun.

School-aged kids can pan for gold, enter a spooky mine tunnel, explore a giant cell, concoct slime from household products and jump inside a giant soap bubble, all while learning about chemistry, genetics, momentum and gravity.

"Please share this info with all your off-campus friends who are looking for an opportunity for children to have fun with science!" writes Heather Neufeld. "For all ages, the Gem and Mineral Show will be in EIT on Friday and Saturday, with vendors showing off spectacular specimens."

The event is free, and free parking is available in Lot C, off of Seagram Drive. For more information visit uwaterloo.ca/science/events or contact Heather Neufeld.

The retirement celebration for Professor Jon Sykes is being held today from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the University Club. Sykes joined the civil engineering department in 1975. Speeches begin at 3:30 p.m.

The Keystone Campaign invites faculty, staff and retirees to a talk celebrating the power of philanthropy on Wednesday, November 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in DC 1302. RSVP via email as space is limited.

At the event, attendees will learn how University of Waterloo students are working to provide safe transportation for rural communities with an international organization. Building bridges to prosperity, you might say.

Friends and colleagues of Lynn Crema are invited to a retirement open house taking place on October 29th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lynn has provided 38 years of service at the University with 14 of those years within Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Best wishes can be received in E5 3106.

Plant Operations has announced that the School of Optometry and Vision Science will be without water service on Sunday, October 26 from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Both domestic cold water and domestic hot water will be out of commission as new valves are installed.

The CBC's Dragon's Den is launching an online mobile program called Next Gen Den, a version similar to the original Dragon's Den concept made exclusively for the digital world. Next Gen Den will feature a panel of three new Dragons and shorter segments that "demonstrate more concise lessons and highlight a startup's first steps." The show's producers are looking for young entrepreneurs (40 years of age and under) who are looking for funding to fuel a specific aspect of their startup, idea or small business. Visit the show's website for more information. Shooting starts in mid-November.

Flu immunization clinics for Waterloo's "healthy population" have been scheduled for Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, November 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., located in the Student Life Centre multipurpose room.

The next immunization clinics for the high risk population (as defined on Health Services' website) are scheduled for Monday, October 27, Tuesday, October 28, and Thursday, October 29, and Monday, November 3, Tuesday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Health Services Room 1101.

Here are today's Get Up and Go Passport Challenge clues:

• Iron Warriors roam the halls of this faculty
• Author events are held here

Remember how this works: register your team, download your passport and head out to the two sites you think the clues match. Get a date/time/signature by someone from that area on your passport, and follow the same procedure each working day until the contest ends on October 31.

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