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Thursday, May 26, 2011

  • New funding for green, global studies
  • Profs honoured for being outstanding
  • Wild picnic, commuter challenge, bikes
  • Editor:
  • Chris Redmond
  • Communications and Public Affairs
  • bulletin@uwaterloo.ca

Winning Warrior women, from top left: Caitlin Brydges, Kelly MacLean, Elora Brenneman, Sarah Endicott, Emma McMillan, and Brittany Holland (goalie) took top prize in their division in the CBC Play On! 4-on-4 street hockey tournament at Bayfront Park in Hamilton, May 14 - 15. They'll be heading to the national championships in Ottawa in September.

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New funding for green, global studies

News release from Waterloo Media Relations

Scotiabank and the University of Waterloo are today announcing a new initiative that will help Canadian students contribute to sustainability efforts in third world countries and support international students who choose to study in Canada.

A $500,000 gift will fund the Scotiabank International Endowment, which will in part support scholarships for international students studying at Waterloo. It will also provide awards for students involved in internship placements overseas as part of Waterloo's international development program offered by the Faculty of Environment in partnership with St. Paul's University College.

Larry Swatuk"This generous corporate investment will bring a very positive benefit to Canadian and international students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a deep commitment to studies focused on the environment, an important field at Waterloo," said Larry Swatuk (right), director of international development. "These students will also help Waterloo infuse international perspectives into existing courses and incorporate an international component in teaching and learning activities."

Waterloo's sixth decade strategic plan, Pursuing Global Excellence: Seizing Opportunities for Canada, calls for expanding Waterloo's presence around the world by providing new international opportunities for Canadian students and attracting more international students to study in Waterloo.

Jestin speaks on the new global economic realities
As part of today's announcement, Scotiabank chief economist Warren Jestin delivered a presentation on Canada's role in the global economy, entitled "New World Realities: Canada in the Global Economy." He discussed what the new realities in the world's economy, including the growing influence of China, India, and Brazil, will mean for graduating students.

"As an international bank based in Canada, Scotiabank shares the University of Waterloo’s strong interest in international experience and educational opportunities for its students," said Jestin. "Through our Scotiabank Bright Future global philanthropic program, we are pleased to support the University of Waterloo’s international focus with this new funding for scholarships and international placements."

Specifically, the Scotiabank International Endowment will fund:

  • Scotiabank International Development Placement Award. The $2,000 awards will be granted to fourth-year students in the international development program to assist them with the costs of an overseas eight-month placement. The first award is planned for the coming fall term.
  • Scotiabank International Student Scholarships. Valued at $1,500, the scholarships will be given to first-year international students enrolled in an environment-related program.

Sheila BallThe first of the international placement awards was presented to Sheila Ball (left), a fourth-year student in honours environmental studies. She will be doing a field placement with a municipal water utility in Peru, helping to educate members of the community on how to better preserve their water.

Since 1981, Scotiabank has committed more than $3 million in support of educational excellence at the University of Waterloo.

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Profs honoured for being outstanding

In a memo sent May 24, Geoff McBoyle, vice-president academic and provost, announced: “Effective May 1, 2005, in accordance with the 2003 Faculty Salary Settlement, the University of Waterloo established an Outstanding Performance Fund to reward faculty members for outstanding contribution in teaching and scholarship. I am very pleased to announce the award recipients for 2011, and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them for their outstanding contributions to the University of Waterloo.”

This year, 79 faculty members were named:

  • in applied health sciences: John Hirdes, Laurie Hoffman-Goetz, Richard Hughson, William McIlroy, Marina Mourtzakis, Paul Stolee, Richard Wells
  • in arts: Katherine Acheson, Richard Eibach, Andrew Faulkner, Richard Helmes-Hayes, John Holmes, Doris Jakobsh, Douglas Kirton, Veronica Kitchen, Alice Kuzniar, Christine McWebb, François Paré, Michael Ross, Jennifer Simpson, Steven Spencer, Alexander Statiev, Bruce Taylor, S. Lynne Taylor, Alan Webb, Christine Wiedman, Mark Zanna
  • in engineering: Hany Aziz, Slim Boumaiza, G. Wayne Brodland, Catherine Burns, Giovanni Cascante, P. Robert Duimering, Ramadan El Shatshat, Xianshe Feng, Michael Fowler, J. David Fuller, Jan Huissoon, Hamidreza Jahedmotlagh, Amir Khajepour, Alexander Penlidis, Dereck Revington, Xuemin Shen, Siva Sivoththaman, Tze Wei (John) Yeow, Norman Zhou, Weihua Zhuang
  • in environment: Marvin (Ed) Jernigan, Paul Parker, Ian Rowlands, Daniel Scott, Steven B. Young
  • in mathematics: Gladimir Baranoski, Raouf Boutaba, Timothy Chan, Charles Clarke, Richard Cook, Kenneth Davidson, James Geelen, Penelope Haxell, Craig Kaplan, Kevin Lamb, Alejandro Lopez-Ortiz, Alfred Menezes, B. Doug Park, Levent Tuncel
  • in science: Michael Balogh, Carey Bissonnette, Vivian Dayeh, Christine Dupont, Thomas Edwards, James Forrest, Tadeusz Gorecki, Patricia Hrynchak, Jan Kycia, Shoufa Lin, Pierre-Nicholas Roy, Mark Servos, Nancy Waite

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Wild picnic, commuter challenge, bikes

Alison ZorianThe annual Keystone Campaign celebration, this year called Wild Wild Waterloo, takes place Tuesday, June 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on the Grad House green (Student Life Centre if it rains). Invitations go out to staff, faculty, and retirees this week. The math faculty's Alison Zorian (right), this year’s Keystone event chair (a.k.a. the Sheriff), welcomes everyone to the event. The celebration will feature live DJ, line dancing instructor, food, prizes, games, a western-themed photo booth, and horse-drawn carriage rides. Prize draws and speeches take place at 12:30. You're encouraged to bring a reuseable bottle or cup for water. Questions? Call Gillian Martin, ext. 37915. Note, A corresponding celebration will be held for evening staff on June 10 at 6 p.m., in Environment 1, room 250.

The annual Commuter Challenge is not far off, notes Mark Lisetto-Smith, the university’s Commuter Challenge co-ordinator. It starts Sunday, June 5 and continues through Saturday, June 11.  “The University of Waterloo is encouraging all employees to participate. Waterloo Region is competing against other regions and cities across the country in the Canadian Commuter Challenge.  If you’ve ever thought of starting to ride your bike to work, this is the time to do it! You can also walk, run, in-line skate, carpool, take transit!  If you are already doing these actions, we want you to register, too!” To register, visit http://www.commuterchallenge.ca and register as an individual. Select the University of Waterloo from the list of employers in the region. Then you can calculate your commute and see how much fuel you saved, or how many calories you burned on a bike ride or walk. “Let’s have fun and be part of the solution to enjoy our clean, spring air!” says Mark, who can be reached, if need be, at mark.lisetto-smith@uwaterloo.ca.

Need to tune up that bike? The Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) and the UW Bike Centre are offering Bike Repair Workshops for Beginners this Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., and June 4 and 18, same time, in the Bike Centre in SLC 101a. Space is limited, so you're advised to register soon. More details from WPIRG's Erin Oldynski: "There is a a $15 deposit. $10 will be refunded when you attend the workshop. You must stop by the WPIRG office (SLC 2139) to confirm your attendance and to deposit your registration fee. Please bring your own bike to work on and be sure to wear work clothes. One bike per person. Children's bikes are not admissible." Questions? Call 519-888-4882.

CPA staff

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Link of the day

Australia says sorry

When and where

Co-op employer interviews (pharmacy students) for fall work term begin May 25; rankings open May 27, results May 31.

Co-op employer interviews for fall work term begin today (main group) and continue through June 16.

Surplus sale of furniture and equipment, today, 12:30 to 2:00, East Campus Hall.

Enterprise Co-op launch event hosted by Conrad Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology at the Communitech Hub, today, 2 to 4, by invitation.

Career workshop: “Exploring Your Personality Type” (Part I) today, 2:30, Tatham Centre room 1113. Details.

Water Institute Distinguished Lecture: Tony Allan, King’s College London, “Water Security and the Role of Trade” today, 3, EIT room 1015.

Retirees Association annual general meeting today, 3:30, Sunshine Centre, Luther Village.

Centre for Family Business, based at Conrad Grebel U College , gala awards night today, 6 p.m., Bingemans Conference Centre, Kitchener.

PAS (Psychology) building hot water shut off Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Country presentations: Ontario and the Prairies, Friday; St. Maarten, June 2, 12 noon, Needles Hall room 1116.

Dance Odyssey competition May 27- 29, Humanities Theatre.

Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry, annual general meeting Friday, 1:00, Thornborough building room 1200, University of Guelph. Seminar by Guy Guillemette, Waterloo, “Mapping the Binding and Calmodulin-Dependent Activation of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isozymes”, 3:00, followed by graduate student poster session and awards.

You @ Waterloo Day open house for future students, May 28. Details.

Heritage Resourcs Centre workshop on “Architectural Styles” May 28-29, Oakville Central Library. Details.

‘Hairspray’ at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, outing sponsored by UW Recreation Committee , Sunday, May 29, 4:00.

Start-Up Chile program presentation by Nicolas Shea, Gov't of Chile advisor. Monday, May 30, 9:30 a.m. - noon, Needles Hall room 1101. RSVP to e2barnes@uwaterloo.ca

Career workshop: “Interview Skills for Academic Positions” Monday, May 30, 12:00, Tatham Centre room 2218. Details.

Final date for fee arrangements, spring term, May 31.

May Court Club of KW lunch & learn about volunteering. Tuesday, May 31, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Davis Centre room 1302. Details.

Career workshop: “The Power of LinkedIn” Tuesday, May 31, 2:30, Tatham Centre room 1208. Details.

Library workshop: "Find Books and More" June 1, 10:00, Flex Lab, Dana Porter Library. Details.

Career workshop: Business Etiquette and Professionalism, Wednesday, June 1, 10:30 a m – noon, Tatham Centre room 1208. Details

Centre for Teaching Excellence workshop: “Faculty Teaching Philosophies” Wednesday, June 1, 2:30, Flex Lab, Dana Porter Library. Details.

Perimeter Institute lecture: Freeman Dyson, Institute for Advanced Study, “Living Through Four Revolutions” Wednesday, June 1, 7:00, Waterloo Collegiate Institute. Details.

Conrad Grebel University College presentation of building plans Wednesday, June 1, 7:30 p.m., Grebel great hall.

Warrior hockey PA Day camp for students aged 7-12, Friday, June 3, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Columbia Icefield, information ext. 32635.

Child care festival organized by day care centres, guest performer Erick Traplin, Friday, June 3, 9:45 a.m., Village green.

Department of English debate: author Christopher Hitchens and academic Barry Brummett, “Religion, as a literary value, is a force for good” Saturday, June 4, 7 p.m., Humanities Theatre, tickets $20 from Humanities box office; part of Literature, Rhetoric and Values conference .

President’s Golf Tournament in support of Athletics Excellence and Awards Fund, Monday, June 6, Westmount Golf and Country Club. Details.

Retirement party for Vic Neglia of Arts Computing after 39 years at Waterloo, Friday, June 10, 3-5 p.m., Laurel Room, South Campus Hall. RSVP to barb.yantha @ uwaterloo.ca or ext. 35206  by this Friday, May 27.

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