Thursday, December 12, 2024

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca

Promote your department with custom branded items

W Store branded items - hats, mugs, hoodies, USB sticks, and so on. "Order yours today" says the script.

A message from Print + Retail Solutions.

Looking to boost your department鈥檚 visibility or celebrate your team? W Store and W Print make it easy to create custom-branded products tailored to your needs. With quick, reliable, and hassle-free service, our team is here to guide you through the process from start to finish.

Offering personalized support for your orders, our experts are dedicated to helping you find the perfect fit for your department. Whether you鈥檙e interested in innovative promotional products or customized items for your department, we鈥檙e here to assist.

Explore a variety of customizable items that have been popular this year:

  • Soft Shell Jackets: Starting at $65.00 for 12+ (3-4 weeks)
  • Sublimated Lanyards: $3.60 each for 250-499 units (2-3 weeks)
  • Basic 1-Colour Screen Print T-Shirts: Starting at $7.70 each (3-4 weeks)
  • Branded Pens: Starting at $1.10 each for 300+ (2-3 weeks)
  • Quarter-Zip Sweaters: Starting at $40.00 each (4-6 weeks)

W Print offers a range of professional printing services with quick turnaround times for all your needs. Custom sizes and finishing are available upon request.

  • Business Cards:听 Starting at $19.99 for 50 (minimum) 1-2 days
  • 叠谤辞肠丑耻谤别蝉/叠辞辞办濒别迟蝉/惭补驳补锄颈苍别蝉:听 Starting at $8.66 for 1 1-3 days
  • 狈辞迟别辫补诲蝉:听 Starting at $39.47 for 25 pads of 50 sheets (minimum) 3-4days
  • Banners/Banner Stand Hardware:听 Starting at $290.00 for 1 3-4 days
  • Wide-Format Posters:听 Starting at $6.00/Sq. ft. for 1 1-2 days
  • 贵濒测别谤蝉:听 Starting at $4.03 for 12 (minimum) 2-3 days
  • 笔辞蝉迟肠补谤诲蝉:听 Starting at $4.24 for 12 (minimum) 2-3 days
  • 狈补尘别迟补驳蝉:听 Starting at $3.53 for 6 (minimum) 2-3 days

From retirement gifts and event giveaways to bulk orders and office essentials, we handle it all. Our experts ensure the process is seamless, working with trusted vendors to provide competitive pricing and fast turnarounds. By working with us, you avoid the hassle of coordinating with external suppliers.

As a bonus, we offer exclusive perks for internal accounts. All purchases from P+RS made by internal account number are tax-free and in-stock U蓝莓视频-branded items charged to an internal account at W Store (SCH or MC locations) are eligible for a 15 per cent discount! Some exclusions apply. Plus, on-campus shipping is free and there are no hidden fees. Not only can you feel confident that our experts will ensure your satisfaction, but know that you are benefitting the entire University! On average, more than 35 per cent of the revenue P+RS generates remains right here on campus in some form.

If you鈥檙e planning to order custom items before the term ends, now is the time to get started! Not sure where to begin? Reach out to us at wstore@uwaterloo.ca or wprint@uwaterloo.ca, and we鈥檒l connect you with the right expert to bring your ideas to life.

Make W Store and W Print your go-to destination for all your custom branding needs!

Building an iconic movie car for the fun of it

Ben James, Rishi Kothari, Shivam Sharma, Santiago Del Solar, Hudhayfa Nazoordeen and Emmanuel Nera stand in front of the "Gru Mobile.". Photo credit: Anson Yu.

Ben James, Rishi Kothari, Shivam Sharma, Santiago Del Solar, Hudhayfa Nazoordeen and Emmanuel Nera with the iconic "Grumobile." Photo credit: Anson Yu.

By Jack Weatherston and Charlotte Danby. This article was originally published on 蓝莓视频 News.

University of 蓝莓视频 student Anson Yu loves a design challenge, particularly one that she can work on with friends. Looking for an extracurricular project that was exciting yet achievable, Yu hit upon the idea of recreating a fun vehicle from pop culture. But which one?听听

Yu teamed up with her Systems Design Engineering classmates Rishi Kothari, Shivam Sharma, and Chloe Nguyen, and Hudhayfa Nazoordeen from the Faculty of Mathematics and Emannuel Nera and Santiago Del Solar from Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, to brainstorm some ideas. They also enlisted support from their good friend Ben James, an engineer from the University of Cambridge visiting from the U.K. They had a lot of great ideas but there was one that charmed them all 鈥 building the legendary Grumobile from Despicable Me.听

The team used the Faculty of Engineering鈥檚 Sedra Student Design Centre, a cutting-edge facility dedicated to student teams and their creative projects, as their workshop. 鈥淭he real MVPs (most valuable players) were the staff in the machine shop鈥, Yu says. 鈥淭hey were so patient showing us how everything worked.鈥澨

To raise the stakes, they set a tight timeline of just four days to complete the challenge. Yu recalls a friend coming by, looking at their pile of metal and sticks and wheels, and asking them if they were going to be able to do it.听

With the clock ticking, the team learned new skills on the fly, including welding and how to use a lathe, a machine tool that produces precise parts. As their Grumobile started taking shape, other students noticed and often stopped to lend a hand, contributing additional expertise and encouragement.听听

鈥淲e hit some road bumps,鈥 Yu says. 鈥淏ut overall, we were having lots of fun, and I think others just wanted to be part of that听too."

The team鈥檚 Grumobile hit 蓝莓视频鈥檚 main campus streets on schedule.

The electric vehicle was an instant hit, surprising and delighting everyone who saw it 鈥 even Dr. Mary Wells, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, who took it for a spin.听

Anson Yu, 蓝莓视频 Engineering student and Grumobile team leader.

Anson Yu, 蓝莓视频 Engineering student and Grumobile team leader.

鈥淭hese kinds of projects are invaluable, highlighting the importance of creativity in engineering education,鈥 Wells says. 鈥淲hen students collaborate on bold and unconventional ideas, they push the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible and create lasting memories that inspire the entire campus community.鈥澨

Yu and Nguyen, both Loran Scholarship recipients, along with others from the team, are part of , an organization founded at 蓝莓视频, that provides participants with the space and network to create together. Its collaborative events focus on empowering people to design, play, build, to turn their ideas into reality. The organization鈥檚 framework and toolbox have resonated far beyond 蓝莓视频, leading to its rapid expansion across Canada and internationally.听听

Rooted in the Socratica ethos, Grumobile represents much more than a fun side project 鈥撯 it embodies the creative and collaborative energy that thrives on campus. Student-led initiatives like this showcase how skills from different disciplines can unite to bring imaginative ideas to life.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e big proponents of prank culture and doing whimsical things that make people do a double take鈥, Yu says 鈥淲hen we were testing and driving the Grumobile around, it was like wearing a force field that made people smile.鈥澨

Nominate an instructor or a course author for an Online Teaching Award

A person interacts with their course instructor via onilne interface as they take notes in a notebook.

A message from the Centre for Extended Learning.

Please help us recognize the great work 蓝莓视频鈥檚 instructors are doing in the digital classroom.

The Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic and the Centre for Extended Learning would like your help to identify these remarkable people by nominating an instructor or an online course author.

Online Course Design Award

Students, teaching assistants, instructors, chairs, directors and deans are encouraged to submit nominations for the Online Course Design Award for courses that are well organized, contribute to students learning and are highly engaging.

Online Teaching Award

Were you a student in a fully online course this term? If you had an exceptional experience in your course and your instructor helped you succeed, stay motivated and encouraged participation, consider nominating them for the Online Teaching Award.

The University of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Online Teaching Awards recognize teaching and course design excellence in fully online undergraduate or graduate-level courses.

Nominations for this year鈥檚 awards, which include the Fall 2024, Winter 2025 and Spring 2025 academic terms, must be received by听August 31, 2025.

Upcoming office closures

TheCampus Housing Office in REV will be closed today from 12 noon onward due to a department-wide event. It will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, December 13.

The University Relations office in East Campus 5 will be closed today from 12:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. due to a staff celebration.

The Human Resources office will be closed on Friday, December 13 for the afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a department event.

Link听of the day

Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie emptying his RV's septic tank into the sewer in an iconic scene from the 1989 movie "Christmas Vacation."

When and Where

The听听(located in the lower level of the 蓝莓视频 Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Call for appointments to register for the vaccination at 519-746-4500 or dial extension 33784. Walk-ins are welcome.

Purchase your single game tickets or season packages today to cheer on your Warriors this season. Tickets on sale now for Basketball, Football, Hockey and Volleyball. Check out the听听and听!

Examination period, Friday, December 6 to Thursday, December 19.

, Monday, December 9 to Friday, December 13.

Deadline to get "fees arranged" for Winter 2025, Thursday, December 12.

, Thursday, December 12,听10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Global Lounge, International Experience Centre, Needles Hall.

Chemistry Seminar: One-by-one: Single-molecule techniques for quantitative bioanalysis featuring Casey Platnich, Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Thursday, December 12, 1:30 p.m., C2-361 Reading Room, MS Teams.

Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Professor Virginia Vassilevska Williams of MIT's EECS and CSAIL, "" Friday, December 13, 10:00 a.m., DC 1302 and via Zoom.

Winterfest: 36th Annual Celebration, Sunday, December 15, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., CIF.

Holiday Dinner in a Box ordering deadline, Monday, December 16. Check out the menu and ordering details.

, Monday, December 16.

NEW - Fall 2024 Joint University of 蓝莓视频鈥揝t. Jerome鈥檚 University Legal Studies Seminar, 鈥Defending Jews from the Definition of Antisemitism,鈥 featuring Dr. Itamar Mann, Dr. Lihi Yona, University of Haifa, Monday, December 16, 1:00 p.m., Zoom.

NEW - Master of Taxation virtual information sessions, Tuesday, December 17, 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative 鈥 Challenges and opportunities for freshwater cities in an era of transformation, Wednesday, December 18, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.

Examination period ends, Thursday, December 19.

Holiday Lunch Buffet at Fed Hall, Thursday, December 19, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Federation Hall, $38.50 per person. Book today by calling Catering Services directly at 519-888-4700 or emailing your request to听catering@uwaterloo.ca.

Christmas holiday break, Monday, December 23 to Wednesday, January 1, 2025, most University buildings and operations closed.

PhD oral defences

Psychology. Michelle Ashburner, "How hard was that? Context effects on judgments of effort." Supervisor, Dr. Evan Risko. Available upon request from the Faculty of Arts, Graduate Studies and Research Officer. Oral defence Tuesday, December 17, 1:00 p.m., PAS 2464 and hybrid.

Applied Mathematics. Mehrshad Sadria, "Deep Learning Models of Cellular Decision-Making Using
Single-Cell Genomic Data." Supervisor, Dr. Anita Layton. Thesis available via MGO - mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Tuesday, December 17, 3:30 p.m., MC 6460.

School of Public Health Sciences. Melissa (Ji Won) Kang, "Understanding the Individual and Combined Impacts of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Memory: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study." Supervisor, Dr. Mark Oremus. Email Health Graduate Administration for a copy. Oral defence Wednesday, December 18, 10:00 a.m., online.

School of Planning.听Eleonora Ignatovich,鈥淭rendy Dorms for Grown-Ups? The Creation of The Corporate Co-Living Submarket and The Production of Youthified Space鈥.Supervisor, Dr. Markus Moos. Available upon request from the听Faculty of Environment, Administrator, Graduate Studies. Oral defenceTuesday, December 17, 12 noon.

School of Planning.听Margaret Bakelaar,听鈥淟ocal Government Planning and Maintenance of Ecological Connectivity in a Fragmented Landscape鈥.Supervisor, Dr. Michael Drescher. Available upon request from the听Faculty of Environment, Administrator, Graduate Studies. Oral defence Wednesday, December 18, 1:00 p.m.

Upcoming service interruptions

Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on听the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:

  • Driveway between Columbia Street and Bright Starts Daycare lane closure, Monday, November 11 to December 31, 2024, Staff O Lot and Visitor O parking lots will have closures as an underground high voltage duct bank is installed. Vehicle traffic to Bright Starts and the Optometry loading area, X Lot, and O Lots will have to take alternate routes using Hagey Blvd.

  • School of Architecture fire alarm testing, Friday, December 13, 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

  • Digital Media Stratford fire alarm testing, Friday, December 13, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.

  • Biology 1 steam outages, Monday, December 16 to Friday, December 20, localized air handling unit outages during steam trap replacement.

  • Physics, Earth Science & Chemistry, Chemistry 2, Centre for Environment & Information Technology fire alarm testing, Monday, December 16, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

  • Village 1 fire alarm testing, Monday, December 16, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

  • East Campus Hall, Engineering 5, 6 and 7 fire alarm testing, Tuesday, December 17, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

  • Engineering 2 and 3, Math & Computer, Davis Centre fire alarm testing, Wednesday, December 18, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

  • Biorem - Aberfoyle fire alarm testing, Wednesday, December 18, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

  • Environment 1, Arts Lecture Hall electrical power shutdown, Friday, December 20, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., all 600v and 120V non-essential power will be off for 2 hours to facilitate the tie-in of a new electrical panel.