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Thursday, October 30, 2014

 

 

  • Most Innovative, 23 years running
  • Director, Graduate Academic Services named
  • Phishing: the hook, line and sinker
  • President's Town Hall today and other notes

 

 

Most Innovative, 23 years running

The University of Waterloo is Canada’s top university for innovation for the 23rd consecutive year and Best Overall for 2015, according to Maclean's magazine.

In addition, Waterloo moved up in the magazine’s 2015 national reputational rankings to become the Best Overall university in Canada as well as the one most likely to produce Leaders of Tomorrow.

“Innovation is at the heart of all we do at the University of Waterloo, and for 23 consecutive years, this University has been recognized as Canada’s leading institution for innovation," said Feridun Hamdullahpur. “We continue to build on our reputation as the driving force of a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, a world leader in co-op education and in transformational research, as we work towards our goal of becoming one of the world’s great innovation universities.”

The Maclean’s reputational rankings result from a national survey of high school guidance counsellors, university officials, heads of national organizations, recruiters, and CEOs of companies across Canada.

“Waterloo attracts some of the best and brightest students in the world. As a result of the hard work of our dedicated and talented faculty and staff, they receive a world-class education with the necessary supports to help them create positive change both in Canada and around the world,” said President Hamdullahpur.

 

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Director, Graduate Academic Services named

“I am delighted to inform you that Sarah Hildebrandt has been appointed as Director, Graduate Academic Services in the Graduate Studies Office”, writes James (Jim) Frank, Associate Provost, Graduate Studies. Sarah will take up her new position on October 27, 2014.  She will replace Lynn Judge, who will be retiring at the end of 2014.

Sarah’s career includes her most recent role at York University as Academic Affairs Officer, Faculty of Graduate Studies, and previously as Manager, Graduate Studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU). She holds a wealth of knowledge about graduate studies policy, academic integrity and appeals, strategic planning and governance. She has a considerable amount of experience in the development of new graduate programs. Sarah also possesses strong expertise in project management, internationalization, recruitment, marketing and admissions. In addition to her academic roles at York and OCADU, Sarah has also served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Graduate Studies at the Ontario University Registrar’s Association.  Sarah holds a Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University and an Honours Bachelor degree from the University of Waterloo. 

“The staff of the Graduate Studies Office and I look forward to working with Sarah as she transitions into her new role in the coming months”, Frank writes. “Please join me in welcoming Sarah to the University of Waterloo”.

 

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Phishing: the hook, line and sinker

by Terry Labach.

Phishing is an attempt by a malicious individual to obtain personal information from you by email. By persuading you that their message is genuine and important, they hope to trick you into giving up passwords, banking information, or other personal details that they can use to enrich themselves.

You might not have the technical expertise to identify a bogus email message. How can you protect yourself?

One non-technical method might help you: think about the story you are being told in an email message. Why does it make you want to respond to the message? Does it offer a cash prize or a free tropical vacation? Does it panic you by threatening to shut down your email account or computer access? Are you being rushed because it claims to be a limited time offer? Does it offer only a single way to respond to the message, by clicking a link or emailing your password?

Phishers seek to get a response by sending email that elicits a strong emotional response, so that you will answer quickly without much consideration. If an email message panics or excites you, it might have been crafted to do just that - so that you don't think about anything else.

When reacting to an email message, always slow down, relax, and ask yourself: what's the story I'm being told, why do I want to respond, and am I being manipulated? You just might protect yourself from becoming a phishing victim.

The University of Waterloo's Information Security Services (ISS) team can assist you and your team or department with computer security issues. Do you need someone to speak to your staff about phishing? Want a lunch and learn session about mobile phone security? Would you like a short course in protecting sensitive data? ISS can help you. Email the Security Operations Centre at soc@uwaterloo.ca to be put in touch with a consultant who can deliver the information to your group that you need to be secure
on the Internet.

 

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President's Town Hall today and other notes

The President's Town Hall Meeting gets underway at 10:30 a.m. this morning in the Humanities Theatre.

In his address to campus, President Hamdullahpur will be reflecting on the University's accomplishments this past year and will talk about the year ahead. President Hamdullahpur will also be previewing Waterloo's first-ever state of the university report, entitled "Defining Tomorrow," set for publication in November.

A luncheon will be held immediately following the conclusion of the town hall in the School of Accounting and Finance's Don Craig Atrium at noon.

The University community is invited to join the interactive dialogue and share their thoughts and ideas about where Waterloo is heading. Questions can be asked from the floor, they can be sent in via email, and posted on Twitter both before and during the meeting by sending tweets to @UWaterlooLIVE or by using the hashtag #uwth.

It's never too late to register for the town hall. Unless you do it after the town hall meeting begins. Then it's too late.

The event will be livestreamed for those folks unable to make it in person.

The official University of Waterloo United Way Campaign ends on October 31. Have you donated? The goal for 2014 is $250,000 and this amount will make a massive impact within the community. More information about how to contribute is available online.

International Spouses members pose with their jack o'lanterns.The International Spouses group had their annual pumpkin carving event on Tuesday, October 28, according to a note from Nancy Matthews, the international spouses coordinator. Countries represented included the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Iran, France, China, the US, Canada, Catalan (Spain), and Uzbekistan.

The annual Hagey Lecture is coming up on Monday, November 3.

"Research indicates that the more socially and economically privileged people are, the better their health," says the promotional material for the 2014 Hagey Lecture. On Monday, Sir Michael Marmot, renowned public health researcher, will explore this topic in a free lecture in the Humanities Theatre.

Recognized internationally as a leading expert on the social determinants of health, Sir Marmot will discuss findings from his 2010 report for the British government on ways to reduce health inequalities within populations in his talk, entitled "Fair Society, Healthy Lives."

In his earlier Whitehall studies, he found a link between British Civil Service members’ rank and their risk of cardiovascular disease and death, establishing the existence of social gradients in health.

The lecture will commence at 8:00 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre.

Friday, November 7 is Random Act of Kindness Day. Why not volunteer to help spread kindness across campus and in our community?

Several more Waterloo alumni have been identified as winning seats in Monday's municipal election across the province:

  • Nicholas Ermeta (BES '12), Ward 8 Councillor, Cambridge;
  • Peter Roe (PhD '63 and retired electrical engineering professor), re-elected as Ward 2 Councillor, Wilmot Township;
  • Neil Ritchie (BA '96), Ward 4 Councillor, North Dumfries;
  • Zeeshan Hamid (BMath '02), Councillor Ward 8, Milton;
  • Pat Saito (BA '69), Ward 9 Councillor, Mississauga;
  • Michael Van Holst (BASc '69), Ward 1 Councillor, London;
  • Lisa Osanic, (BSc '91), Councillor, District 3, Kingston.

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

  • A living wall is part of this faculty
  • The ice cube shaped location if full of “tomes"

Time is running out! The contest closes tomorrow.

 

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Send in your questions for the President's Town Hall Meeting

The President's Town Hall Meeting is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. today.

It's not too late to send in your questions, which are most welcome. Feel free to send them in via email or on Twitter by sending tweets to @UWaterlooLIVE and using the #uwth hashtag.

There will be opportunities for attendees to ask questions in person at the event as well.

Link of the day

Fall back: Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday

When and where

President's Town Hall meeting, Thursday, October 30, 10:30 a.m., Humanities Theatre. Luncheon to follow at 12:00 p.m.

UWRA Fall Luncheon, Thursday, October 30, 11:30 a.m., Luther Village Great Hall featuring Susan Mavor, "Westmount - The Tie That Binds the Twin Cities: An Illustrated History of Westmount's 100 Years." For tickets call 519-888-0334. Details.

Bookstore Author Event featuring Vanessa Ricci-Thode, "After the Dragon Raid," (costume launch party), Thursday, October 30, 6:00 p.m., Bookstore, SCH.

Arriscraft Fall Lecture Series featuring Joel Sanders, “Immersive Environments: Media, Architecture and Landscape,” Thursday, October 30, 7:00 p.m., Cummings Lecture Theatre, School of Architecture. Details.

Waterloo International Halloween Bake Sale, Friday, October 31, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Needles Hall.

Biology Seminar Series featuring Turlough Finan, Department of Biology, McMaster University," Functional and evolutionary insights gained by reducing a complex bacterial genome by half," Friday, October 31, 2:30 p.m. QNC 1501.

Chemical Engineering Seminar, Kathryn Mumford, lecturer, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Melbourne, “Separation Processes – Soil Remediation and Air Pollution Control.” Friday, October 31, 2:30 p.m., E6 2024.

Knowledge Integration seminar: “Summer off? No – summer on!” Friday October 31, 2:30 p.m., Environment 3 (EV3), room 1408. Details.

Fall Open House, Saturday, November 1, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Details.

Successful Aging seminar featuring Dr. Lynn Hasher, University of Toronto, Monday, November 3, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., DWE 3522.

Retirement celebration for Ray Butterworth, Monday, November 3, 3:30 p.m., DC 1301. Grad House green room.

Optometry & Vision Science Class of 2018 White Coat Ceremony, Monday, November 3, 6:00 p.m., Location TBA. Details.

2014 Hagey Lecture featuring Professor Sir Michael Marmot, "Fair Society, Healthy Lives," Monday, November 3, 8:00 p.m., Humanities Theatre, Hagey Hall.

Arts Major Showcase, Tuesday, November 4, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Student Life Centre Great Hall.

Velocity Science Brainstorming Session, Tuesday, November 4, 7:30 p.m., EV3 4408.

Velocity Alpha Pitch Like a Pro workshop featuring Bjorn Dawson, Founder and CEO of Grobo Inc., and Mike Kirkup, Director of Velocity, Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., EV3 4412.

10th annual UWSA Shopping Trip Weekend, Friday, November 7 to Sunday, November 9, Erie, Pennsylvania. Details.

PeaceQuest: Remembering for Peace featuring Jamie Swift, co-author, Warrior Nation: Rebranding Canada in an Age of Anxiety, Monday, November 10, 7:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College chapel. Details.

Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology Visionary Lecture Series seminar featuring Suneet Singh Tull, "The Next 3 Billion." Tuesday, November 11, 2:30 p.m., DC 1302. Details.

Waterloo Unlimited Grade 12 Road Map to Research, Wednesday, November 12 to Friday, November 14. Details.

Keystone Campaign presents Bridges to Prosperity, Wednesday, November 12, 12:00 p.m., DC1302. Details.

Velocity Fund $5K Qualifier Night 1, Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 p.m., QNC 0101.

Park and Veva Reilly Distinguished Seminar featuring Michael Pyne, Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Waterloo, “Genetic and Metabolic Engineering of Clostridium Pasteurianum for Production of Butanol as a Renewable Biofuel,” Thursday, November 13, 3:30 p.m., E6-2024.

Drama and Speech Communication presents The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, directed by Stewart Arnott, Thursday, November 13 to Saturday, November 15, 7:30  p.m., Theatre of the Arts, ML. Tickets are $17 general, $13 students/seniors. Box Office - 519-888-4908. Details.

International Education Week, Sunday, November 16 to Saturday, November 22, various locations on campus.

Velocity Fund $5K Qualifier Night 2, Tuesday, November 18, 7:30 p.m., EV3 4408.

 

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