Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Reception recognizes winners of awards, honours
Steven Mock, Karla Boluk, and Troy Glover – all from the department of Recreation and Leisure Studies – were among the awardees recognized at the2014-2015 Recipients of Distinguished Awards and Honoursreception held on Tuesday, April 28.
Professor Mock received an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, Professor Boluk was honoured with an Overall Inspirational Teaching Award from the Ulster University Students’ Union, and Professor Glover received The George Butler Lecture from the Academy of Leisure Sciences and the William Evans Visiting Fellowship from the University of Otago.
The reception, hosted by the Office of Research at the University Club, honoured more than 90 researchers who received an award or honour during the 2014-2015 year.
ݮƵ subjects rank amongst the world's top 50
Three subjects at the University of ݮƵ rank in the top 50 in the world and eight other subjects rank among the top 100, according to results published today.
The rankings,, put ݮƵ 20thin the world for its work in Mathematics and 24thfor Computer Science – second amongst Canadian universities in both subjects. ݮƵ is also ranked 48thin the world for Geography.
Social science subjects of Psychology and Sociology at ݮƵ join the list of subjects ranked in the top 100. ݮƵ is again ranked in the top 100 for Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Sciences and Statistics and Operational Research. Architecture, a new subject ranked by QS, and Mechanical Engineering complete a list of 11 subjects in the top 100.
“Universities know that rankings like these are not a perfect science, but they are a helpful guide to the kind of company that we are keeping,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of ݮƵ. “These results show that in many disciplines the University of ݮƵ is a force for innovation alongside some of the most recognizable world names in academia."
QS ranks close to 700 universities worldwide in 36 disciplines. ݮƵ is listed amongst the top 200 universities globally for 20 of the 36 subjects evaluated – with improved rankings in six subject areas. ݮƵ ranked in the top three in Canada for five subjects and in Canada’s top five in 12 subjects.
“Mathematics and Computer Science at ݮƵ are a cornerstones for the world-leading innovations for which our University and our region are known,” said Ian Goulden, dean of mathematics. “We attract outstanding students and faculty members from around the world and I am delighted that their hard work is reflected in these results.”
Geography at ݮƵ rises into the top 50 in the world for the first time. The Department of Geography and Environmental Management is one of the leading Geography Departments in Canada with a strong commitment to the discovery, dissemination, and application of geographic knowledge focused on the complex interactions within and between the human and natural environments.
ݮƵ Engineering is Canada's largest Engineering school. The Faculty works with more than 1,000 industry partners leading innovations in emerging areas including information and communications technology, advanced manufacturing, nanotechnology and smart energy. The ݮƵ Centre for Automotive Research housed in the Faculty has the largest concentration of automotive researchers in the country.
ݮƵ also ranked in the top-200 for Philosophy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Earth and Marine Sciences, Materials Science, Physics and Astronomy, Accounting and Finance, Business and Management Studies, and Politics and International Studies.
In 2014, ݮƵ became one of only 11 universities in the world to earn a 5+ star rating in therating, which evaluates universities against over 50 different factors. QS introduced the star rating system to help future students make decisions about which school to attend, looking at criteria such as the employability of graduates, teaching, sports facilities, and many others.
RefWorksaccounts to migrate to new servers
OnTuesday, May 5 at 12:00 p.m., all University of ݮƵ RefWorks accounts will be migrated to RefWorks’ main servers in the United States.
There is an anticipated downtime window of several hours while the account data is migrated, during which time no one will be able to accessRefWorks. All references, folders, attachments, and shares will be fully intact after the migration is complete.
Once migrated, there will be a new URL to accessRefWorks:. A redirect will be put in place from the University of ݮƵ Library’s website. Users will need to update any bookmarks/favourites.
Group codes are being eliminated and are no longer needed to access RefWorks accounts, however, unique login names are needed. Current login credentials will work, unless your current login name is already in use by another RefWorks user.If that is the case, you may receive a separate email notifying you of this with details on how to access your account and adjust your username.
One of the benefits of moving to theRefWorksU.S. servers is that you can now take advantage of some updated features that were not available on the Canadian-basedScholarsPortalserver, including the removal of the group code for log in.
Write-N-Cite, now called ProQuest for Word, will need to be re-installed after the migration takes place. Users should uninstall their current version and go to Tools, Write-N-Cite, in their new RefWorks account to download the latest version of ProQuest for Word.Before installation of your new Word Plug-in, users should ensure that their computer has the latest update for the following programs:
Users who wish to continue running Write-N-Cite III will have that option available.
ճ²ٱǴڰ´ǰٱis available to answer any questions users may have about the migration.Feel free to let them knowif any problems arise. Computing offices on campus have been notified of the migration, and if youuseRefWorkson a University of ݮƵ computer andWrite-N-Citeis not working, please contact your system administrator.
The library offers hands-on RefWorks training sessions every semester.
Tobacco control talk and other notes
The International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation (ITC) Projectand the Propel Centre for Population Health Research will behosting a presentation on tobacco control in Japanthis Friday.
Dr.HajimeSonoand Dr.JunSono fromTobacco-Free Advocacy Japan will speak on Friday, May 1 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in BMH-LHN 2073 and will deliver a presentation about their efforts to support tobacco control in Japan, speaking about the goals and challenges of tobacco control advocacy and policy implementation in Japan, and their efforts to make Japan smoke-free before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dr.JunSonos a retired cardiac surgeon working as a civil servant and Director of theNishinomiyaCity Public Health Centre, Dr. HajimeSonois a visiting general practitioner and smoking cessation treatment physician in her clinic.
The presentation is sponsored by ITC, Propel, the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, and the University of ݮƵ.
Retail Services outlets and Watcardofficeswill be closed todayfor inventory. They will reopen with regular hours on Friday, May 1.
The Centre for Teaching Excellence's (CTE) seventh annualTeaching and Learning Conference: Opportunities and New Directionskicks off today. This year's theme is"Making Teaching and Learning Visible: Clarifying and Communicating Teaching and Learning Processes"and the event promises to be an exciting day of presentations, panels and workshops.
Vice-President, Academic & Provost Ian Orchard will deliver opening remarks, followed by the President's Colloquium, delivered bythis year'skeynote speakerDr. LindaNilson, director ofClemsonUniversity's Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation.
Following the colloquium is a series of sessions on topics such as academic integrity, active learning, effective use of slideware, international learning experiences, and instructional design, to name but a few. In the afternoon is theIgniting our Practice sessionthat will featureTroyVasigaof Computer Science and JonathanWittof Biology, moderated by the CTE's Donna Ellis.
A wine and cheese reception will close out the event.
Link of the day
When and where
Annual Teaching and Learning Conference:Opportunities and New Directions,Thursday, April 30, Hagey Hall.
Alumni Achievement Awards nomination deadline, Thursday, April 30.
, Thursday, April 30.
, Thursday, April 30, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., DC 1350.
featuring Dr. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Environment and Science, New Delhi, India, “Challenges for Water Security in the Poor’s World”. Thursday, April 30, 4:00 p.m. M3 1006.
, Thursday, April 30, 4:00 p.m., QNC 0101.
International Development Capstone Presentationsfor the Class of 2015, Friday, May 1, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. All welcome!
Staff Relations Committeemeeting, Friday, May 1, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., NH 3001.
Tobacco-Free Advocacy Japan talkfeaturing Dr.HajimeSonoand Dr.JunSono, Friday, May 1, 2:30 p.m., BMH-LHN 2703.RSVP toAdriaCehovin.
, Sunday, May 3, 2:00 p.m., The National Arts Centre, Ottawa.
Spring Orientation Week 2015, Sunday, May 3 to Friday, May 8.
Lectures begin, Monday, May 4.
Education Credit Union Lunch and Learn:RESPs: Planning for your children’s future now featuring speaker Eva Englehutt, CFP Wealth Management, Tuesday, May 5, 12:00 p.m., DC 1302.RSVP to Angela Burkholderby Thursday, April 30. Sandwiches and beverages provided.
,Tuesday, May 5, 6:00 p.m., Tannery Event Centre.
ݮƵ Institute for Nanotechnology Seminarfeaturing Professor Carlos Cesar Bufon, "Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Devices Based on Nanomembranes," Wednesday, May 6, 3:00 p.m., QNC 1501.
The DaCapo Chamber Choir, conducted by Leonard Enns, Professor Emeritus at Conrad Grebel University College, presents, Saturday, May 9 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m., with special guests Jennifer Enns Modolo, mezzo-soprano, and Lorin Shalanko, pianist.
Sunday, May 10 to Thursday, May 14.
AC Jumpstart application deadline, Monday, May 11.
Teaching Excellence Celebration, Tuesday, May 12, 3:00 p.m., University Club.
TransCanada Corporate Employment Information Session, Tuesday, May 12, 5:00 p.m., TransCanada Live-Link Facility, Engineering 5, Room 3102. Refreshments provided.
Wednesday, May 13, 4:00 p.m., HH 373.Details.
ݮƵ Unlimited 10th Anniversary Talk, Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel Great Hall.
,Wednesday, May 13, 6:00 p.m., Renison University College,REN 1303.
David Sprott Distinguished Lecturefeaturing William H. Woodall, Professor of Statistics, Virginia Tech, “Monitoring and improving surgical quality,” Thursday, May 14, 4:00 p.m., DC 1302.
Course add period ends, Friday, May 15.
Victoria Day holiday, Monday, May 18, most University buildings closed.
Senate meeting, Tuesday, May 19, 3:30 p.m., NH 3001.
Cultivating Learning Cultures (CTE744), Wednesday, May 20, 9:15 a.m., DC 1302.
Drop, No Penalty period ends, Friday, May 22.
You@ݮƵ Day, Saturday, May 23.
, Monday, May 25 to Friday, June 5.
Standing and official grades available in Quest, Friday, May 22.
Spring 2015 Convocation, Tuesday, June 9 to Saturday, June 13.
Public lectureby Dr. Krysta Svore, Microsoft Research, "Quantum Computing: Transforming the Digital Age," Tuesday, June 9, 7:00 p.m., QNC 0101.
Quantum Programming & Circuits Workshop, Thursday, June 11, all day, QNC 0101. Register by May 11.
UW Farm Market, Thursday, June 18, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., ݮƵ Centre.
Bombshelter Pub offers staff special this week
Term may be over, and students may be gone, but the Bomber is open for business this week daily from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
"We’d like to thank the staff members who visit us throughout the term with a week-long special: Every table of six people will receive 2 free appetizers to start the table off!" writes the Federation of Students' Alexander Kelly.
PhD Oral Defences
Systems Design Engineering.Shruti Nambiar, "Application of Nanomaterials for X-Ray Shielding and Dosimetry in Diagnostic Radiology." Supervisors, John TW Yeow, Ernest Osei. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, PHY 3004. Oral defence Monday, May 11, 10:00 a.m., E56002.
Earth & Environmental Sciences.Jianming Chen, "Impact of Climate Change on Canadian Water Resources: A Continental-Scale Hydrologic Modelling Study Using Multiple RCM Projections." Supervisors, Edward Sudicky, W.R. Peltier. On deposit in the Science graduate office, PHY 2008. Oral defence Monday, May 11, 2:00 p.m., EIT 3142.
Chemical Engineering.Mohammedali Sheikholeslam, "Self-Assembling Peptide-Carbon Nanotube Dispersions and Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and BiosensorApplications." Supervisors, Mark Pritzker, Pu Chen. On deposit in the Engineering graduate office, PHY 3004. Oral defence Wednesday, May 13, 9:30 a.m., E6-2022.
School of Public Health and Health Systems.Craig Ervine, "A Practice-Based Exploration of Knowledge Utilization in the Canada Post Rural Mail Safety Review: Applying Pragmatic Inquiry and Engaged Scholarship to a Workplace and Public Health." Supervisors, John Garcia, Philip Bigelow. On display in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, BMH 3110. Oral defence Wednesday, May 13, 2015.