Thursday, November 18, 2010

  • AHS prof wins top health research award
  • Notes on Glick, Think Pink, women swimmers, and a robbery
  • Sabbaticals: spineless critters, piano wire
  • Editor:
  • Chris Redmond
  • Communications and Public Affairs
  • bulletin@uwaterloo.ca

[Stage scene lighted in purple]

Cash transaction: Shaw Forgeron (as Antipholus of Ephesus) makes a little transfer to Dave Morgan (as Angelo) in the drama department's production of "The Comedy of Errors". Caitlin Robinson (as Adriana) looks on. The show continues tonight through Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Theatre of the Arts. The Humanities box office (518-888-4908) has tickets.

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AHS prof wins top health research award

Roy Cameron, left, and David Hammond.David Hammond, assistant professor in health studies and gerontology at Waterloo, was at the National Gallery in Ottawa on Tuesday evening to receive the Canada’s Premier Young Researcher Award at the 2010 Canadian Health Research Awards. (He’s pictured, far right, at the event with Roy Cameron, executive director of the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, in which Hammond is an affiliated scientist.)

Also attending were Governor General David Johnston and Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq. The event was hosted by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Prix Galien Canada to recognize researchers who have demonstrated excellence in their field and dedication to health research.

Hammond was being honoured for his influential research on how the tobacco industry designs its cigarette labels to recruit new smokers, and how that same packaging can be used to discourage people from smoking. His findings have been incorporated into the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first global health treaty, and he has helped countries develop warning label policies for tobacco products.

His other research focus is product testing and regulation – how cigarettes are designed, their chemical composition, and how much nicotine they contain. Very few people do that work outside the tobacco industry, Hammond says, and there are virtually no rules about what goes into or what comes out of a tobacco product. He hopes to apply some of his findings to the field of nutritional labeling and packaging as well.

“I congratulate all the award winners for their remarkable accomplishments,” said Aglukkaq. “These researchers have achieved extraordinary levels of excellence and their contributions to health research are continuously helping to improve the health and quality of life of Canadians.”

“Each of the researchers recognized tonight has contributed significant knowledge towards health research,” said Dr. Alain Beaudet, president of CIHR. “Their work has advanced our understanding of the human mind and body and is making Canada a healthier and happier place to live.”

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Notes on Glick, Think Pink, women swimmers, and a robbery

Bernie GlickBernie Glick has received the 2010 Career Achievement Award from the Canadian Council of Biology Chairs. Glick (left), biology professor and chair of Waterloo's biology department, 2002-08, “has made great contributions to the guidance of the Department of Biology, including the mentoring of a number of young faculty members,” says the nomination letter. “At the same time, he has maintained an internationally leading position in his research field and has contributed a major, popular textbook that has helped to educate many students in the area of molecular biology and biotechnology.” Among many other achievements, Glick was recognized for establishing “an international reputation as a leading figure in the study of microbial-plant interactions,” for publishing papers that were cited up to 420 times, and for encouraging young women to engage in research. Full details are here.

Bob Copeland and student The Waterloo athletic department’s third annual Think Pink Campaign has raised more than $21,000 — and counting — for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s Ontario chapter. The early goal of $10,000 was quickly exceeded, according to an athletics news release. On the weekend of November 13-14, “fans and students were treated to eight different varsity games, a spin-a-thon and a three-on-three indoor soccer tournament to help raise money for the campaign.” Athletics director Bob Copeland and student Emma Glofcheski (above right) both had their heads shaved to support the campaign. Glofcheski by herself raised more than $2,000. The Warrior women’s basketball team brought in $3,590. In an article by Christine Rivet in the Waterloo Region Record, November 15, Copeland said that he expects Waterloo to “top all universities in Canada” with this year’s fundraiser.

“As one of the founding directors of the Canadian University Synchronized Swim League (CUSSL)," writes systems design professor Carolyn MacGregor, "I would like to pass along the following note of early season success for the UW/WLU team. The team placed second behind McGill at the CUSSL McGill Invitational Meet on November 13, in which nine teams competed. The next meet is January 16 at Queen’s University. The CUSSL Championships will be held February 12 at the University of Toronto.” MacGregor explains that CUSSL was incorporated in 2001 as a self-sustaining, student-run league after OUA cut synchronized swimming as a varsity sport. “Recognizing that pool time and resources may be limited, CUSSL allows students from neighbouring schools to compete as a team: hence the UW-WLU team.”

A robbery took place on campus earlier this week, reports Dan Anderson, director of the university’s Police and Parking Services. “Early Tuesday morning, four males in the process of stealing a projector from a classroom in the Math and Computer building were interrupted by a custodian. One of the males threatened the custodian with a bolt cutter and the four made good their escape.” The suspect with the bolt cutter is described as a “brown male heavy set,” with gloves; another is described as a “brown male, thin, unknown color of hoodie and gloves,” and the other two were both “brown male, thin, unknown color of hoodie.”

The suspects as described are very similar to suspects involved in a home invasion robbery on Regina Street this past weekend, Anderson says. “Anyone with information on either of these events is asked to contact UW Police at extension 22222 or Waterloo Regional Police at 519-650-8500, extension 3300. Additionally, we encourage people to be mindful of their personal safety when in isolated areas of the campus, particularly when alone at night.”

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Sabbaticals: spineless critters, piano wire

Here’s another list of Waterloo faculty members who are currently on sabbatical leave, working at institutions around the world or right in their labs at home. All these sabbaticals began September 1, 2010, and run for twelve months. The plans noted are as submitted to the university’s board of governors, which has to give approval for all sabbatical leaves.

Andre Unger, earth and environmental sciences: “My research focuses on assessing the risk associated with securing water supplies using groundwater/surface water hydrologic models at the watershed scale. This involves using project finance strategies to optimally operate the infrastructure needed to deliver water to and collect wastewater from households given uncertainty in water demand, hydrologic watershed properties, and capital works expenses of the infrastructure.”

Amir Khandani, electrical and computer engineering: “I will spend the time to reshape my industrial collaborations. This in particular includes starting an Industrial Research Chair funded by RIM. During this period, I also plan to visit some research institutions in Europe and United States to start new collaborations, revise and submit journal papers produced during my NSERC-Nortel IRC, and develop a new graduate course.”

Valerio Rynnimeri, architecture: “I am applying for a sabbatical so I can complete a book on the history of the founding of the new town of Don Mills for which I have already prepared extensive research materials and a draft. I also intend to initiate research into the planning and design history of the Greater Toronto Area as it evolved from Metropolitan Toronto.”

David Barton, biology: “I will analyze data compiled over 30 years from a variety of studies in order to define reference communities of benthic macroinvertebrates [editor's note: bottom-dwelling spineless critters] for the purposes of monitoring and assessment of water quality. These results will be of immediate value to environmental managers in Ontario, and the general principles will be applicable much more widely.”

Hector Budman, chemical engineering: “I will be joining Sanofi Pasteur (Toronto) as visiting scientist. At Sanofi I will conduct research on vaccine process optimization.”

Jean Duhamel, chemistry: “My sabbatical leave will allow me to be off teaching and committee duties. The time gained will help me write up papers and grant proposals. I am also planning short trips to visit colleagues to investigate possible future collaborations.”

Stephen Birkett, systems design engineering: “Will use the sabbatical opportunity to consolidate and complete his research on analysis and production of phosphorus-Iron music wire, prepare journal papers, and start a spinoff company to produce and market the wire developed. He will remain at Waterloo apart from short trips for collaborative work, continuing his research program in the Piano Design Lab.”

Alfred Menezes, combinatorics and optimization: “The primary purpose for taking a sabbatical is to strengthen my research program. I will use the opportunity to pick up some background material in cryptographic protocols and foundational aspects of cryptography, and to explore some new application areas including leakage-resilience and cloud computing. I intend to use this knowledge to pursue some new research directions in cryptography.”

CPA staff

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Link of the day

Beaujolais nouveau

When and where

International Education Week November 15-19, details online and to be announced.

Flu immunization clinic November 17-19, 10 to 5, Student Life Centre multipurpose room.

Waterloo Unlimited “Roadmap to Research” residential program for grade 12 students, November 18-20. Details.

Ideas Start series at Stratford campus: Anita Gaffney, Stratford Festival, “Marketing the Arts in the 21st Century” today 9 a.m., 6 Wellington Street, Stratford. Details.

Where in the World? Photo contest: view pictures taken by students who had work terms outside Canada, vote for favourites, today 10 to 3, Tatham Centre.

Career workshops Thursday: “Law School Bound” 12:30, Tatham Centre room 1208. “Preparing for the LSAT” 1:30, TC 1208. “Career Interest Asssessmsent” 2:30, TC 1112. “Foreign Lawyers and Law Graduates” 2:30, TC 1208. “GRE Information and Preparation” 4:00, TC 1208. “Getting a US Work Permit” 4:30, TC 1112. “Teaching English Abroad” 5:00, TC 1208.

St. Paul’s University College celebratory service and reception with Waterloo Presbytery, United Church of Canada, today 4 p.m., Wesley Chapel, St. Paul’s.

Reading at St. Jerome’s: Janice Kulyk Keefer, poet and novelist, today, 4:30, St. Jerome’s U room 2017.

Arts exchange programs information session today 4:30, Humanities room 373.

Waterloo Centre for German Studies presents David Blackbourn, Harvard University, “Nature and Environment in Modern Germany” today 5:00, Davis Centre room 1302.

Communitech annual general meeting today 5:00, Federation Hall. Details.

Engineering Outreach public lecture: Catherine Burns, systems design engineering, “Health Care Star Date 2010”, followed by panel discussion on health care research, today 7:00, Humanities Theatre.

Alumni in Seoul, Korea: networking reception today 7:30, Embassy of Canada. Details.

Headphone disco at the Bombshelter pub, Student Life Centre, today from 8 p.m.

‘Drop, penalty 1’ period ends Friday (date changed from what was originally announced).

Centre for Family Business, based at Conrad Grebel UC, breakfast seminar: “What Happens When Equal Parties Sit at a Round Table?” Friday 7 a.m., Bingemans.

Spirituality and aging seminar: George F. Handzo, HealthCare Chaplaincy, “Integrating Spiritual Care into Health Care” Friday 9 to 3, Conrad Grebel UC, $50, information ext. 24264.

Country presentation: “Netherlands, A Tiny Country Home to the Most Progressive and Liberal Ideas” Friday noon, Needles Hall room 1116.

Ontario-Jiangsu (China) exchange program information session Friday 2 p.m., Needles Hall room 1116.

Knowledge Integration seminar: Ray Cao, “My Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster Ride” Friday 2:30, Rod Coutts Hall room 307.

International Development guest speaker, David Pell, CEO of Streetkids International, on "Street Business for Urban Youth in Kenya," Friday 2-3:30 p.m., St. Paul's MacKirdy Hall. Faculty and students welcome.

Philosophy colloquium: Jamie Tappenden, University of Michigan, “Natural Properties in Mathematics” Friday 3:30, Humanities room 373.

Nanorobotics Group discussion of the year’s progress, including entry in the 2010 NIS Mobile Microrobotics Challenge, Friday 4:15, Davis Centre room 1302.

Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets, bus to Toronto for the game, Friday evening, tickets at athletics department, Physical Activities Complex.

St. Jerome’s University lecture: Robert Ellsberg, Maryknoll, “Dorothy Day: A Saint for Today” Friday 7:30, Siegfried Hall.

Benjamin Eby Lecture, Conrad Grebel University College: Nathan C. Funk, Peace Starts Now: Religious Contributions to Sustainable Peacemaking” Friday 7:30, Grebel chapel.

‘Masquerade’ all-ages event presented by off-campus dons, Friday from 8 p.m., Federation Hall.

Warrior Weekend Winter Carnival and International Celebration Day, Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m., Student Life Centre. Free with WatCard. Details.

Math Charity Ball in aid of Canadian Blood Services, Saturday, 6 to midnight, Federation Hall, tickets $25 single, $45 couple at Math Society office.

Centre for Career Action open house events November 22-26, Tatham Centre. Details.

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