Waterloo researchers have developed a new app to help young Canadians quit smoking. The app ... a team of Waterloo progr
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Building a better health system Seeing well-being on a global scale
Experience matters The many benefits of co-op
The
future
starts here
Welcome to the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre
“Samsung has great success recruiting some of the brightest thinkers from the University of Waterloo. These students truly have a passion to learn. Their innovative ways of interpreting information and solving problems reflect the quality of education at Waterloo. These highly motivated students really make a difference to our business.” Michelle Manglal-Lan Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition & Development Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.
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THE FUTURE STARTS HERE pg. 12
Research taking place inside the new Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre will change communication, medical treatment and more. Colin Hunter
Living well pg. 20
Waterloo’s School of Public Health and Health Systems looks beyond the individual to improve the lives of many. Carol Jankowski
EXPERIENCE MATTERS pg. 26
A world-leading co-operative education program gives Waterloo students and employers a key competitive edge. Kira Vermond
the future starts here pg. 12 editorial pg. 2 Commentary pg. 3
experience matters pg. 26
heard on campus pg. 4 Talk of the campus pg. 8 Class Notes pg. 32 Calendar pg. 38 living well pg. 20
last word pg. 40
On the cover Raymond Laflamme, (left), executive director of the Institute for Quantum Computing, and Arthur Carty, executive director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, inside the new Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre. PHOTO: Derek shapton
What’s inside
1
Editorial
Warriors on many fronts, we lead global change
THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO MAGAZINE
If you are a University of Waterloo graduate, a student, or someone who has contributed to their success, you have good reason to be proud.
FAll 2012
With an average entering grade of 87.2 per cent – and almost a third of our incoming students
publisher Tim Jackson
coming in above 90 per cent – Waterloo students start out as some of the top scholars from across
editor STACEY ASH
Canada and around the world. A culture that embraces experiential learning, mentorship,
contributing editors CHRISTIAN AAGAARD CHRISTINE BEZRUKI TENILLE BONOGuoRE
innovation and entrepreneurial drive means they graduate ready to lead real change in the world. Waterloo students, faculty and alumni have transformed our regional economy, creating hundreds of startups and spinoffs, and thousands of jobs. Our impact is felt across Canada
advisory board Sunshine Chen (BES ’95, BArch ’97) Martin DeGroot (BA ’79, MA ’81, PhD ’95) CAROLYN ECKERT (BA ’94) Chris Harold (BES ’00) AiméE Morrison Patrick Myles (BA ’87)
and around the world. Waterloo graduates lead industries, drive social change, and develop breakthrough research. They range from titans like Mike Lazaridis, who has poured millions back into transformational research at Waterloo, to young entrepreneurs like Eric Migicovsky, whose Pebble smartwatch obliterated crowd-funding records when building a better world.
ex officio JASON COOLMAN ELLEN RÉTHORÉ
Touting our accomplishments might be seen as boastful, even a bit
advertising and business manager ALISON BOYD
he posted it on the Kickstarter website earlier this year. We are
tacky. But how we define ourselves matters. There’s nothing wrong
creative director CHRISTINE GOUCHER
innovative and dynamic places to learn. By sharing our success with potential students, employers, investors and others, we build an even stronger community. It’s time to toot our own horn. Who are we? We are Warriors. Not just on the football field or in the hockey arena, but on the frontlines of research into diseases that include cancer and Alzheimer’s. At our new School of Public Health and Health Systems (pg. 20), faculty and students address health from a societal perspective, researching ways that better diet, lifestyle, and health systems can improve and prolong the lives of people across Canada and around the world. We are Warriors leading the charge on the frontier of ideas and innovation, revolutionizing the way the world works, communicates, lives and learns. Researchers at our new Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre (pg. 12) are on the brink of a global revolution. Quantum computing and nanotechnology have the potential to change how we share and store information, how we treat and diagnose disease, and the future of construction, energy and transportation technology. We’ve been Warriors from the beginning, bucking conventional thinking that viewed university education as esoteric and isolated. From the beginning, we’ve defied skeptics, and remained committed to the rightness of co-operative education as the best way to help students learn in a way that matters, and graduate ready to lead (pg. 26).
Photo: JONathan BIELaski
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2
The editor’s desk
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commentary | PRESIDENT’S message | commentary | PRESIDENT’S message | commentary | PRESIDENT’S m SIDENT’S message | commentary | PRESIDENT’S message |commentary | PRESIDENT’S message | COMMENTAR commentary | PRESIDENT’S message |commentary | PRESIDENT’S message | commentary | PRESIDENT’S m SIDENT’S message | commentary | PRESIDENT’S message | commentary | PRESIDENT’S message | COMMENTAR
PRESIDENT’s message
Innovation, intellectual freedom the keys to global academic vibrancy No matter how many times I experience it, campus always feels magical in the fall.
freedom and unfettered research across space and time, universities need to innovate, innovate, innovate.
I don’t know if it’s the turning of the leaves, the crispness of the air, the energy of the students, or any one specific thing. But there’s a magic.
As one of the world’s most innovative universities, Waterloo knows this well.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you know what I mean. That feeling of vibrancy and renewal, so beautifully set against the radiant tree lines and cooling breezes, feels perennial to many of us. It almost feels inevitable. But surely it isn’t. Expanding the experience of higher education across communities, and extending it deeply into the future for later generations, is our shared responsibility. And if you think about it, the odds of our success have gotten longer in recent years. Governments around the world, and particularly in western Europe and North America, are aggressively consolidating public finances. In the search for improved economic conditions, governments are slowing or reducing public spending, including on post-secondary education. At the same time, the balance of global economic power is shifting east, toward Asia. Though many great universities from that regions are on the rise, free-thinking institutions like Waterloo must seek and maintain partnerships with only those whose commitment to academic freedom equals our own. These are the key challenges facing great established universities, and equally, they are the challenges facing the future of post-secondary education globally. To thrive in this changing environment, and to preserve and extend the experience of intellectual
To grow in global stature and relevance, universities need to innovate by establishing partnerships across disciplines and industries and by addressing globalscale issues, like natural resource management and demographic challenges. We need to innovate by empowering students who have good, useful ideas to pursue them now – not later – and to accelerate their success in every way we can think of, including through liberal intellectual property policies. We need to tear down the barriers that separate disciplines and slow the utilization of good ideas. That’s how we will grow in global relevance and contribute to the general welfare. And as we do so, we need to use that relevance to advance the cause of intellectual and academic freedom without exception, reservation or equivocation. That’s why in September I was pleased to co-host, with President Max Blouw of Wilfrid Laurier University and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, a conference entitled “Perspectives on Academic Freedom”, right here in Waterloo. The freedom to inquire, challenge, teach and research is essential to the vibrancy and quality of a society, and the University of Waterloo intends to champion this conviction now and always and everywhere. Because without intellectual and academic freedom, there’d be no magic in the air this autumn. Feridun Hamdullahpur President’s message
3
Author Don Tapscott, considered a leading thinker about the impact of the digital revolution on business and society, was among high-profile speakers who took part in the Big Thinkers lecture series during the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Waterloo. Tapscott’s lecture, Macrowikinomics: Social Sciences and Social Change in the Age of Social Media, took place May 29 at University of Waterloo’s Theatre of the Arts.
or the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard ampus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the reco or the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the record | Heard on campus | for the rec
heard on campus
Macrowikinomics: Social Sciences and Social Change in the Age of Social Media This is a time of very profound change.
to the intelligence in the cranium of other people
This is not just about the corporation, this is about
on a global basis. This is not just an information age.
civilization. The problem does not fall within the
It’s an age of networks of intelligence. It’s an age of
paradigm of traditional economists who worry
collaboration. It’s an age of collective intelligence.
about things like the business cycle, and if we should have more stimulation or fiscal austerity or whatever. This is not a cyclical thing we are going through. It’s a secular change. It’s a sea change. It’s a punctuation point in human history. Many of the institutions that have served us well for decades, or even centuries, have now come to the end of their lifecycle. Arguably, the industrial age is finally coming to an end. Look around and we have 16, at least, institutions that are in various stages of being stalled, or in atrophy, or are failing.
in Canada. There are 7.8 million Baby Boomers. Based on demographic alone, you will dominate the 21st century. Now, what is the defining characteristic of this generation? This is the first generation that grew up digitally. Time online is not taken away from hanging out with your friends, talking to your parents, learning the piano, kicking a football, or doing your homework. Time online is taken away from TV.
the contours of the sparkling new initiatives to
These kids are in front of a screen about the same
Internet. Seventy newspapers have gone bankrupt in the last decade in the United States. As one youngster said to us, if news is important, it will find me. There are all these new models of becoming informed now. Twitter is my new newspaper. And education – here we are in a lecturing theatre. This model of learning is the very best model that 17th century technology can provide.
For the record
and 1997 inclusive. There are eight million of you
For each of these failing institutions, you have transform it; a new set of principles around the
4
[You are] the Baby Boom Echo, born between 1978
amount of time maybe a little bit more [than their Boomer parents]. But they have three windows and they’ve got three magazines open and they are listening to mp3 files and maybe talking on the phone – more likely texting on the phone – and they’ve got a video game … Oh yeah, and they are doing their homework. When they are online, what are they doing? Rather than being a passive recipient of somebody else’s
All of these models place something in the centre –
video, they are reading, organizing, authenticating,
in this case, the stage – [and it] pushes out
researching, composing their thoughts, so-called
standardized ‘whatever’ to passive recipients. The
multi-tasking, and telling their stories. This is
Internet gives us access to not just knowledge, [but]
creating a generation that thinks differently.
© M. Neufeld, 2012
KEVIN MENDOZA BASc Applied Science ’99
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Talk of the campus what’s going on? talk of the campus | what’s going on what’s going on? talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campu talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campus | what’s going on what’s going on? talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campu
Head of Facebook Canada appointed to Waterloo Board of Governors In July, Jordan Banks, the managing director of Facebook Canada, was appointed to Waterloo’s Board of Governors. Holding a law degree from Osgoode Hall, Banks was part of the team that launched eBay in Canada in 2000 and currently sits on the advisory boards of Polar Mobile, the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Since April, Waterloo’s Board of Governors has been chaired by Kevin Lynch, Vice-Chair of BMO Financial Group, and former head of the Public Service of Canada. Jordan Banks
WEB see Board of Governors at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
Researchers develop app to help quit smoking Waterloo researchers have developed a new app to help young Canadians quit smoking. The app, Crush the Crave, provides users with a personalized plan to quit, tools to monitor habits and information on understanding craving triggers. WEB see Quit smoking at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
St. Paul’s University College opens Aboriginal Education Centre In May, St. Paul’s University opened a new 1,200-square-foot Aboriginal Education Centre. The new centre will offer student advising and cultural counselling in addition to providing a general gathering space for Aboriginal students, faculty and staff. St. Paul’s is the designated provider of Aboriginal education initiatives at Waterloo. WEB see Aboriginal Centre at
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links « MaryLou and Dan Smoke, Elders-in-Residence at St. Paul’s University College, speak at the grand opening of the Aboriginal Education Centre.
8
photo: Robert Wilson/Waterloo region recorD
n? talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campus the campus | what’s going on? talk us | what’s going on? talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campus what’s going on n? talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campus what’s going on? talk of the cam us | what’s going on? talk of the campus | what’s going on? talk of the campus what’s going on
Pebble Watch breaks records on Kickstarter Engineering alumnus Eric Migicovsky (BASc ’09, Systems Design) secured over $10.3 million in backing for his smartwatch, Pebble, after posting it to the project funding website Kickstarter. The watch syncs with iPhones or Androids to alert wearers of incoming calls and supports a variety of apps. Over a 37 day period, Migicovsky sold one watch every 38 seconds, making
President moves into student housing Despite being president of the university, Feridun Hamdullahpur has
Pebble the most-funded project in
chosen to live like a student. In July, Hamdullahpur and his wife,
Kickstarter history.
Cathy, moved into graduate student housing off Columbia Street
WEB see Pebble at uwaterloo.ca/
alumni/links
while they await the completion of their new home. They plan to live in the student complex until December, when construction is scheduled to finish on their new house. WEB see President at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
Waterloo beats Harvard in programming competition A team of Waterloo programmers beat
Arts shine at Congress 2012
Harvard and Stanford at the annual University
In May, over 7,500 delegates and 630 volunteers attended the
of Chicago Invitational Programming Contest.
Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, the largest annual
The team took home the gold medal and a $4,500 cash prize by solving a series of programming problems in the shortest time
multidisciplinary conference in Canada. The conference’s popular Big Thinking lecture series was open to the public and included
period. Harvard University placed second,
presentations by Don Tapscott, Margaret Atwood and His
while Stanford finished third.
Excellency, The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor
WEB see Programming at
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
General of Canada. WEB see Congress 2012 at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
What’s going on?
9
Waterloo hosts second annual TEDxUW On November 17th, the University of Waterloo hosted its second annual TEDxUW conference. Speaking on the theme of “edge”, 12 experts gave 20 minute talks on what it means to have edge and how it will affect future generations of thinkers. Last year’s inaugural TEDxUW event received incredible international publicity
Environment launches new Master of Climate Change program
thanks to Professor Larry Smith’s
To meet the growing demand for climate change professionals, the University of
engaging talk titled “Why you will
Waterloo Senate recently approved a new Master of Climate Change program.
fail to have a great career.”
The one year professional program will be the first of its kind in Canada and is
WEB see TEDxUW at
alumni.uwaterloo.ca/links
designed to provide students with tools and techniques to address climate change challenges at the global, national and local levels. WEB see Climate change at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
“I survived nesting season” merchandise a hit on campus It wouldn’t be Waterloo without the Canada geese, and now there are t-shirts to prove it. In July the Waterloo Store began carrying merchandise marked with the phrase “I survived nesting season”,
Spring convocation sparks thousands of tweets For the first time, Waterloo’s convocation went social! In June, graduating
Beth Bohnert, a project manager
students, family and friends were invited to “Join the CONVO-sation” on Twitter
with Marketing and Undergraduate
with #uwgrad2012 and on Facebook at uWaterloo alumni. On convocation day, new
Recruitment, the phrase “I survived
graduates stopped to take pictures with the Athletics mascot, King Warrior, while
nesting season” quickly gained
sharing some of their favourite Waterloo memories. The pictures were made available
popularity after a series of
on the Alumni Affairs Facebook page. Meanwhile, large screens ran live Twitter walls
Facebook covers went viral
in the ceremony venue and at the reception. Over the convocation period, more
among Waterloo students.
than 2,000 tweets were marked with the hashtag #uwgrad2012. Among the most noteworthy tweets – a marriage proposal. WEB see CONVO-sation at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
10
much to the delight of students, staff and alumni. The brainchild of
WEB see Geese at
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS » Arthur Carty, Executive
Nanotechnology, a partnership between
Institute for Nanotechnology,
Waterloo and Soochow University in China,
won the Queen Elizabeth II
received close to $1 million in funding from
Diamond Jubilee Medal and was
Suzhou Industrial Park and Soochow University
awarded an honorary doctorate
for 12 collaborative research projects.
in science from the University of Western Ontario.
St. Jerome’s University welcomes new president On August 1, St. Jerome’s University welcomed its first female president, Katherine Bergman. A native of Waterloo Region, Bergman completed an Honours BSc (’81) in biology at Waterloo before pursuing graduate studies at
» The SUN-WIN Joint Institute of
Director of the Waterloo
» David Cory and Michele Mosca,
» Ten graduate students were awarded prestigious Vanier scholarships. The awards, which recognize academic achievement and
professors at the Institute
leadership skills, will allow the students to
for Quantum Computing,
complete doctoral degrees and conduct
each received grants worth
new research. The winners are:
$1.65 million to train promising
Ahmed Abdel Aziz
young researchers in quantum information. » English professor Neil Randall was awarded a $2.5-million grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Wilson Brenna John Doucette Kent Fisher Tanya Jonker Laura Sauder Paul Seli Lana Vanderlee
McMaster University. Prior to joining
(SSHRC) to spearhead a project
Mohit Verma
St. Jerome’s, Bergman was a member
on the effects of digital gaming.
Tracey Wagner-Rizvi
of the Faculty of Science at the University of Regina and served as the Vice-President, Academic and Research at Nipissing University. WEB see SJU at
Photo: JONathan BIELaski
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
Dragon boat team competes in world championships In July, Waterloo’s very own dragon boat team represented the university at the club crew world championships in Hong Kong. The team finished strong, winning a silver and three bronze medals. While overseas, the team was welcomed by
Stratford Campus grand opening
the Hong Kong alumni chapter,
Waterloo opened its new Stratford campus building to students in September. The
which hosted a dinner for the
$14-million, 42,000-square-foot facility houses two programs – Bachelor of Global Business
athletes and gave them a guided tour of the city. WEB see Dragon boat at
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
and Digital Arts (GBDA) and Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI). This is the first year for the undergrad program, and the second for the MDEI. Waterloo received more than 400 applications for the GBDA program and, due to the overwhelming response, admitted 97 students. Built in a former rail yard, the campus officially opened with a celebration on October 16. WEB see Stratford at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
What’s going on?
11
The
future starts here
12
The science of the incredibly small – atoms, electrons, photons and other inhabitants of the nano-scale world – is taking a giant leap at the University of Waterloo. The university’s newest and most scientifically sophisticated building, the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, opened in September and promises to further solidify Waterloo’s growing reputation as the world’s “Quantum Valley.” “This remarkable new building is unique in the world,” says University of Waterloo president & vice-chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur. “It adds tremendous capacity to the University of Waterloo’s global impact in research and discovery as a state-of-the-art research facility where scientists from many disciplines will work together towards the next big breakthroughs in science and technology.” Shared by the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), the 285,000-squarefoot facility is designed to give researchers the cutting-edge tools and collaborative opportunities they need to pioneer technologies unimaginable even a decade ago. The research conducted at the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre is expected to produce game-changing advances in quantum information science and nanotechnology. Scientists will pioneer technologies including ultra-powerful quantum
Professor Arthur carty
computers, unbreakable cryptography, ultra-precise sensors and unique nano-scale materials small enough to travel through the bloodstream for medicine delivery. Researchers have only begun to imagine the possible applications for quantum information and nanotechnology. “The new centre represents the next big milestone in the evolution of this research at the University of Waterloo,” says Raymond Laflamme, executive director of the Institute for Quantum Computing. “It’s incredibly exciting to think about the research and innovation that will happen here.” Such innovation is possible thanks to the namesakes of the new building – Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis – whose forward-thinking philanthropy launched IQC a decade ago and has served as an example of how the private sector, governments and academia can build partnerships that will ultimately benefit everyone. “Behind the building is the vision of Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis,” says Laflamme. “They understand the importance of fundamental science, and the value of applying that science to solve problems that are important to society.” »
Professor Raymond Laflamme
TEXT COLIN HUNTER | PHOTOGRAPHY JONATHAN BIELASKI
13
Philanthropists and namesakes of the building, Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis (centre) were joined by fellow donor Doug Fregin (left) and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Glen Murray (right) during the grand opening.
The building officially opened on September 21 with a
The building took several years to design
ceremony attended by 1,200 guests, including representatives
and construct because of stringent scientific
from the federal and provincial governments, the university
standards. In the atomic and subatomic realm,
and the research community. Over the following week, the
even the slightest disturbance (a passing
building was showcased during a series of events, from
truck, for instance, or even water flowing
scientific symposia to a public open house and a quantum-
through nearby pipes) can disrupt an
themed rock concert led by Jay Ingram, science populizer
experiment, so the facility has rigid controls
and longtime host of television’s Daily Planet.
for humidity, temperature, electromagnetic
Quantum: Music at the Frontier of Science – a mind-bending fusion of music and science created by IQC and the Kitchener-
The 6,700-square-foot cleanroom/fabrication
Waterloo Symphony – capped off the festivities. More than
facility, shared by IQC and WIN, sits on its own
5,000 guests toured the new building during the various
foundation, atop deeply embedded, shock-
grand opening events.
absorbing material. Even if the main building
The building is designed to nurture collaboration among scientists in two great fields, producing discoveries that fuel the 21st century economy. “I don’t really think there’s anywhere else in the world where two large institutes of increasing international renown are co-located in the same building, sharing the same facilities, the same tools and instruments that we have in this building,” says WIN executive director Arthur Carty. “It will be a tremendous powerhouse in terms of research and innovation.” What’s more, the location of the building on the main
vibrates a little from the typical bustle around a university campus, the cleanroom won’t budge by more than a micrometre (a fraction of the width of a human hair). The cleanroom itself is rated as a Class-1000 facility. A cubic foot of its air contains no more than 1,000 particles, as opposed to the one million to five million particles in typical outdoor air. Some parts of the facility are Class-100. This pure environment is necessary for work inside the facility, such as lithography systems
campus allows scientists to deepen collaborations with
so precise they can pattern designs as small
affiliated departments at the university, such as applied
as 20-billionths of a metre across. In other
mathematics, physics and astronomy, computer science,
labs, the temperature never fluctuates more
chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, and
than a degree Celsius.
combinatorics and optimization.
14
radiation and vibration.
In parts of the building, water pipes rest
“Quantum devices of the future will be built with nano
on shock-absorbing springs, and labs have
materials, and will be enabled by nanotechnology,” Carty
independent electrical systems that inhibit
says. “So in a very real sense, nanotechnology will serve as a
any electromagnetic interference. These
bridge to quantum technologies. In this building, people
rigid controls are necessary when exploring
will meet with one another, they’ll share experiences, ideas,
the world of quantum mechanics – a realm
and approaches – and I think that’s where a lot of great
in which simply observing a particle changes
science starts.”
its state.
The grand opening of the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre featured a performance by the KitchenerWaterloo Symphony of Quantum: Music at the Frontier of Science (above), a special address from Stephen Hawking (far left) and an interactive rock show featuring science popularizer Jay Ingram
Research at IQC aims to harness these
and IQC scientists (left).
unique properties of quantum mechanics to build unprecedented technologies, such as unbreakable cryptography, highly efficient sensors and computers that can solve problems considered impossible for present-day information processors. Quantum systems are indeed highly delicate, but such sensitivity can be turned
Jonathan Baugh is one of the scientists whose work bridges
into an advantage, as is the case with
both quantum information and nanotechnology research.
quantum cryptography systems or sensors. And thanks to some phenomena unique to quantum mechanics – such as the “superposition” principle in which
A faculty member at the Institute for Quantum Computing, Baugh’s experimental work aims to harness the “spin” properties of electrons to use as quantum bits (or “qubits”) for computation.
quantum objects can be in multiple states
This is one of the most promising present-day avenues toward
at once – quantum technologies will
building full-scale quantum computers that are incredibly more
achieve powers and efficiencies far
powerful that even today’s best “classical” supercomputers. To
superior to their “classical” counterparts.
achieve the delicate task of wrangling electrons with precision,
At WIN, scientists are developing devices on a scale of billionths of a metre – the scale at which the properties of materials can fundamentally change. These nanotechnologies promise important applications in medicine, materials design, electronics, instrumentation and more. Researchers need a place where they have
Baugh builds nano-scale devices called “quantum dots,” which act like artificial atoms that can be “tuned” to behave in desired ways for computation. The ultra-sophisticated research facilities in the new building enable researchers to conduct these types of experiments with greater-thanever precision, Baugh says. “Temperature control, humidity control, vibration control – these are
the intellectual freedom, collaborative
certain things that experimentalists look for, and we have them at
opportunities and inspiring surroundings
this building,” says Baugh. “We’ll be able to accomplish more on a
to think differently.
quicker time-scale.” » The future starts here
15
Quantum-Nano Centre Quick facts » Shared cleanroom/fabrication facility enables design of Peter Kovacs, IQC
structures billionths of a metre in size
» An architectural marvel at the heart of campus. Vertical windows of varying reflectivity/transparency on the IQC side metaphorically signify quantum superposition; a honeycomb pattern on the WIN side represents strong nanostructures
Peter Kovacs, IQC
» Auditorium with multi-tiered retractable seating splits into two or four rooms to accommodate up to 220 people
» Meets highest scientific standards for control of vibration, humidity, electromagnetic radiation and temperature
» Highly convertible “mind spaces” accommodate conferences, public lectures and more
» Labs constructed underground to minimize electromagnetic interference and vibration
» 285,000 square feet, shared
16
» Six-storey atrium with floating
between the Institute for Quantum
staircase provides common,
Computing and Waterloo Institute
collaborative space for
for Nanotechnology
scientists of all disciplines
What’s happening here in Waterloo is truly special – from theory to experiment and beyond. This dedication to deep, fundamental science will benefit generations to come. While we don’t know exactly where the research that happens here will lead, it will no doubt have impact – and to me, that’s the most exciting part. stephen hawking
Besides stringent technical specifications, the
There is a convenient place to sketch out ideas and theorems
Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano
at practically every turn.
Centre was designed to meet ambitious architectural and aesthetic standards. The chief scientists behind both IQC and WIN, along with Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis, helped create the vision for the centre. To bring that vision to reality, they teamed up with the renowned Toronto firm KPMB Architects, whose previous projects include the Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox, The National Ballet School of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Nature. The very earliest design was literally scribbled on a scrap of paper by IQC’s Laflamme. He drew a circle, with one part labelled “labs” and another part labeled “offices.” Laflamme’s doodle was inspired by the Cénotaphe à Newton, a building conceived by a design by French neoclassical architect Étienne-Louis Boullée. The idea, Laflamme told the architects, was to create a building in which all occupants are visible to one another from all angles. Although a truly circular design wasn’t feasible, the
“Whiteboards are everywhere,” says Hall. “We literally covered the walls in glass, so you can engage in discourse with your colleagues and draw on the walls to work through a problem.” A versatile and highly convertible auditorium will be the venue for scientific conferences, public talks and other events. During the September grand opening events, the auditorium served as the venue for events as diverse as a policy symposium on information security and a full symphony concert. The space features retractable seating, and can be subdivided into combinations of smaller areas to accommodate a broad range of events. Just as the inside of the facility is designed to best enable and inspire quantum science and nanotechnology, the outside conveys fundamental concepts of the research. The building consists of three distinct but interconnected sections – the IQC portion, the WIN portion and the shared cleanroom/fabrication facility. IQC is housed in what the architects describe as a “bar” building – a six-storey structure with an east-west orientation and a glimmering façade of glass that represents the concept of quantum “superposition” through the degrees of transparency, translucency and reflection of light.
architects found an innovative way to bring
The WIN section has a distinctive “honeycomb exoskeleton” that
Laflamme’s vision to reality.
evokes some of the strongest nano-scale structures of nature.
They came up with a six-storey sunlit atrium in
“Although the halves of the buildings work very well
the centre of the IQC portion of the building,
together, they’re very clear identities,” says Hall. “It is a
and a “floating” staircase (no pillars or other
really remarkable place.”
visible means of support) zig-zagging from the basement to the top floor.
Canada has already established itself as a world-leading hub of quantum information and nanotechnology research,
“We created an interdisciplinary interaction
and the University of Waterloo’s newest facility will surely
space,” says chief architect Mitchell Hall.
enhance that reputation.
“Anybody, from any floor, needed to see anyone else. If you take people who can generally be somewhat introverted and spend a lot of time in their offices or labs, and you give them a space where they’re almost forced to interact, they’re
Scientifically and aesthetically, the building will become a magnet that will draw many of the world’s top minds to Waterloo, further enhancing the university’s long-standing renown as an international hub of research and innovation.
going to bump into one another, have a cup of
“We can lead the world in these areas,” says Hamdullahpur.
coffee and perhaps discuss ideas and see things
“And with this building, we have something you won’t find
from different perspectives.”
anywhere else.” WEB See Quantum-Nano at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
The future starts here
17
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«
Public health is both an art and a science, says Susan ElliotT, dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.
Let’s train students to be agents of constructive social change. Paul McDonald
20
Living well It takes a village of experts to make one great health school. Waterloo’s new School of Public Health and Health Systems
“Our strategic plan said that to have as much
doesn’t look or work like any other public health school in Canada.
impact as we wanted, we needed to do it differently,” says Paul McDonald, director of
That’s part of the plan. It teaches by tackling contemporary
the new school.
problems. After the SARS crisis in 2003, Waterloo’s academics and scientists took up the call for greater collaboration, and began
Public-health training hadn’t changed much
talking about expanding the scope of public-health education.
in 100 years, he says. Graduates tended to
It was a big challenge, but they could build on a tradition of solid scholarship: From obesity to aging, smoking to fitness, applied health sciences at Waterloo continues to explore issues that are important to the lives people lead.
work in nutrition, child and maternal health, occupational health and epidemiology. The world had fundamentally changed, but little attention was being paid, for example, to the social impact of aging. “We want to look for the next best idea,” McDonald says. “The majority of academic papers describe problems, the rest offer solutions. We decided to commit to that – to organizing around solving problems, not just describing them. “Let’s train students to be agents of constructive social change.” Waterloo’s health studies program dates back to 1978. That’s when the university created one of North America’s first multidisciplinary departments dedicated to advancing health promotion rather than traditional, medically oriented treatment. The early focus on gerontology, which brought together care providers and academics, remains as strong today as it was 35 years ago. George Heckman, a geriatrician, internist and Schlegel Research Chair at Waterloo, maintains a clinical practice while carrying out research and advocating for better long-term care for seniors. Heckman believes that frailty and chronic diseases can be proactively managed, with the goal of keeping seniors as functional as possible wherever they live, decreasing the need for hospitalization, and ultimately reducing pressures on long-term care. »
« As director of Waterloo’s new School of Public Health and Health Systems, Paul McDonald believes it’s time to look at health in new ways.
TEXT Carol Jankowski l photography Jonathan bielaski
21
His work involves assembling an inventory of services and identifying barriers to seniors’ care. “Many seniors end up in alternate levels of care because of preventable problems such as falls, fractures and complications associated with heart disease,” says Heckman. “The solution is to prevent it from happening in the first place.”
Breaking down barriers Susan Elliott joined the University of Waterloo two years ago as the new dean of applied health sciences. She had just completed her first term as dean of social sciences at McMaster University when the position at Waterloo became available. A multi-disciplinary faculty such as applied health sciences seemed a natural fit, given her profession as a medical geographer. Elliott knew there was an intention to transform an existing department into a school, but as the scope of planning grew, it became much more than a simple transition and name change. She liked what she was hearing about cross-faculty co-operation. “My job is to facilitate those dreams – to get rid of barriers,” she says. « G eriatrician and internist George Heckman maintains a clinical practice in addition to his research into aging and long-term care for seniors. He holds the Schlegel Research Chair at Waterloo.
A number of collaborations are already underway. Professors specializing in occupational and environmental health are working with experts in engineering to investigate the potential influence of wind turbines on human health. Others teach public health courses as part of the country’s first health-focused, online Master of Social Work (MSW) program, a collaboration between Renison University College and the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. Public health and health systems faculty members themselves contribute expertise from a cross-section of disciplines. Health researcher John Hirdes, who develops clinical decisionmaking tools to improve health-care services, has a doctorate in sociology, which Elliott sees as a vital component of improving health.
22
A SCHOOL ON THE MOVE The School of Public Health and Health Systems is an academic unit within the Faculty of Applied Health
“Public health is both an art and a science,’’
among different experts. Waterloo’s
Sciences, as are the
Elliott says. “We need to understand
public-health researchers are deeply
departments of Recreation
biological mechanisms, but also the art of
involved, examining ways in which
and Leisure Studies, and
changing human behaviour. For example,
informatics might be used, for example,
Kinesiology. Planning is
how can we motivate people to get up at
to share a rehabilitation plan for an
underway for a capital
5 a.m. to exercise?”
injured elderly person, or bring a social
campaign to raise money
worker up to date as a patient moves
for a new building to house
from one facility to another.
the school.
“That has less to do with biology and much more to do with changing behaviour. We need to understand what is important
“Right now we can’t follow people
to people.”
through the system, which is fundamental,”
New ways of thinking Changing attitudes about public health begins with the men and women who enroll in Waterloo’s program.
McDonald says. “It may take several providers to get to the type of care a person really needs. That’s a systems problem. “We want students to excel at systems thinking. We build it into assignments.
“We find that the majority of students
They need to think, assess, analyze
interested in health sciences want to be
differently. We are all interconnected.
physicians,” McDonald says. “We introduce
We need a whole new generation of
them to a new way of thinking about health.
thinkers who look at social systems to
“Many are not aware of public health, not aware that policy is far more effective than a pill or surgery in bringing about change
develop solutions.”
points out that older persons are among the primary users of acute-care hospital beds.
Better health care, in Waterloo’s view,
these people can avoid hospital stays.
With a strong network of supports, more of
information and sound social planning.
For that to work, hospitals, community-care
In times of fiscal restraint, cuts to
support staff need to collaborate. Urban
transportation, education and environmental protection can adversely affect mental and physical well-being. Cuts to health care come with their own set of challenges as an aging population raises the demand for service.
enrolment in public health
2012 » 460 2017 » 505
FACULTY 2012 » 24 2017 » 35
As an example of systems thinking, Elliott
at a population level.”
combines good medical treatment, timely
Undergraduate
Chairs, fellows, post-PhDs
2012 » 5 2017 » 10
access centres, primary-care physicians and planners could also be part of the discussion to ensure future communities are more senior-friendly. Research involving Waterloo’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and the
One area that shows promise as both a
School of Planning is already looking at
money-saver and tool for better health care
neighbourhood designs that make walking
is informatics – the electronic management
a convenient, healthy alternative to quick
of information across different platforms
trips in a car. »
In development » Bachelor degrees in public health and health promotion
» Online Master’s degrees in health program evaluation and health informatics
» PhD program in public health practice
» Master’s and PhD specializations in health informatics and knowledge exchange
Living well
23
« Waterloo’s approach to public health problems is strengthened by a willingness to share knowledge and openness to different perspectives, says Shannon Majowicz, an assistant professor who spent a decade researching food- and water-borne diseases with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Rhona Hanning works to improve nutrition and health among youth in First Nations communities . »
Masters of collaboration A review of Canada’s SARS outbreak, which killed 43 and sickened more than 200 others, found gaps in the public-health skill set. At Waterloo, applicants to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program must have at least one year of experience in a relevant position. The program was established in 2006 almost entirely online. Students established in jobs and communities don’t have to leave home or uproot their families. It also attracts international students who bring different experiences and approaches to promoting and protecting the
“During the H1N1 pandemic (in 2009),
health of populations.
there was a lot of informal connectivity
MPH students start on campus for two weeks. They connect, develop an understanding of the methods and goals of the courses, and learn the technology. Five terms and a practicum later, they return for two final weeks of assessment and evaluation. At any given time, MPH enrolment totals about 160. “We are attracting phenomenal applicants,” McDonald says. Despite distances separating them and primarily online communication, “the cohort bond in the public health program is unlike any other. They elicit feedback from each other: it’s a network with unrivalled power.”
Open to different perspectives The words “partnership” and “real-world” pop up again and again in conversations with faculty at the new public health school. Assistant Professor Shannon Majowicz joined Waterloo last spring after a decade researching food- and water-borne diseases for the Public Health Agency of Canada.
24
that happened,’’ Majowicz says. “Folks who had something to offer stepped forward. Regardless of where you’re sitting, you want what you do to make a difference. “There is a lot of sharing,” Majowicz says. “It’s a fine example of systems thinking. My ideal is a multi-pronged approach to problems.”
Building trust Associate Professor Rhona Hanning has had a diverse career in nutrition research. From her early career as a dietitian, through clinical research with kidney disease patients and preterm babies, she has focused on nutrition and dietary assessment. Since joining Waterloo 12 years ago, her prime areas of investigation have focused on public and population health issues. These have included dietary surveillance of school children and adolescents, including First
“It’s a point of pride that what they do (at Waterloo) matters
Nations students, obesity prevention, and
to the real world,” Majowicz says. “They’re very open to
evaluating school-based food and nutrition
different perspectives.”
program and policy interventions.
The Public Health Agency of Canada talked about “surge
Currently, her research group is evaluating
capacity” – including tapping into the expertise universities
physical activity programs and breakfast-and-
have to help manage a crisis.
snack programs in First Nation schools.
Many are not aware of public health, not aware that policy is far more effective than a pill or surgery in bringing about change at a population level. Paul McDonald
“Celebration feasts are part of native culture and they draw people who might not ordinarily be interested in what we’re doing. Raffling off prizes such as bags of milk, which are difficult for them to access, is very popular.”
The look of the future Involvement with outside agencies will help ensure the School of Public Health and Health Systems fulfills its mandate of leading thoughtful, informed change, McDonald says. He regularly gets calls from health organizations seeking analysis or research in a particular area. Typically, they want the material in a hurry because funding may evaporate with the next budget. “Currently, we’re not prepared to respond to immediate requests, but we are setting up practice centres that will have the capacity to respond quickly,” he says. “Students will be closely supervised as they work with researchers on real-life problems, getting experience in analytics, designing and conducting evaluations, devising and testing new technologies.” Waterloo’s long tradition of co-op education also makes the healthsciences program stand out. Elliott, the dean, says the faculty’s students are serious and focused, committed to future success, and well-suited to the type of real-life health research that shows well on their resumés. A proponent of international research, Elliott is actively seeking more links like the one established with the Uganda Christian In Fort Albany, Ont., a new greenhouse will help the children learn about gardening as they grow fresh food for their own school snacks. A web-based eating behavior questionnaire developed by
University in 2010 to build health research and education capacity. She also supports more collaboration with experts in health informatics and evaluation. “Good things happen when techies and health people are in the
Hanning while at Waterloo (WEB-Q), has been
same room,” she says.
used to assess the food intake and physical activity
The goal, McDonald says, is to become one of the world’s top
of 250 Cree schoolchildren in grades six to 10.
10 public-health programs.
One challenge she sees is getting the research
“Our expertise is to build capacity for national and international
findings back to First Nations communities.
health systems,” he says. “It is do-able. We have a five-year plan and
“We use numerous channels to disseminate research findings – radio, newspaper articles” Hanning says, “but where we’re having more success is with organizing healthy community feasts.”
the university is completely supportive. We intend to add five new degree programs. With them, we should have sufficient resources to meet and exceed expectations.” WEB See Public Health at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
Living well
25
Experien
Ryan East was barely 19 when he was asked to represent SailorJones Media at a digital media conference in Toronto. “Just walking through the door, it was like I was walking into my future,” he says.
26
ence matters OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE DECADES, CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION AT WATERLOO HAS RESHAPED HIGHER LEARNING When Ryan East stepped through the door at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre a few years ago, a strong and complex feeling swept over him and wouldn’t let go.
Early years The University of Waterloo’s co-operative education program, also known simply as co-op, has been building the future of its students since the school opened in 1957. Combining
Fear mixed with a healthy dose of nervousness
academic study with alternating work terms, co-op was a
and excitement.
founding feature.
And for just a moment, East, a Waterloo co-op
According to the article, A History of Cooperative Education
Arts and Business student, wondered whether
in Canada, by Bruce A. McCallum and James C. Wilson,
he was really in the right place – a digital media
businessmen familiar with co-operative education in the U.S.
conference attended by some of Ontario’s biggest
saw co-op as a means of meeting growing technical needs in
heavyweights in the business.
the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Some of them wondered if he was in the right
The 75 engineering students who made up Waterloo’s class
place, too.
were all co-op students.
After all, the room was populated with 40-
Not that the program was universally praised at the time.
to 50-year-olds standing by their booths and
Other institutions took aim at co-op, saying it would tarnish
mingling. East, by contrast, was in his first co-op
the reputation of academic learning in Canada and modify
term of his first year of university at the time –
the existing school year. Besides, no business would want to
and barely pushing 19.
take a chance on hiring students without experience.
To put it bluntly, he stood out.
The naysayers were wrong.
“Some of them asked me, ‘What are you doing
Fast forward to today. Waterloo boasts the largest co-op
here?’ or ‘Do you work here? Are you the camera
program in the world. Students gain up to two years of relevant
guy?’” says East, laughing about it now.
work experience in more than 120 academic programs and all
Rather than be offended, he simply told his story. He was a Waterloo co-op student, working for a boutique media company, SailorJones Media.
six faculties. Co-op annually involves about 16,500 students and 3,500 employers. In 2011/2012, co-op students earned $189 million.
His employer, Barbara Jones, assigned him to
In the fall of 2012, students will be working at co-op positions
represent the company at the conference.
in approximately 60 countries. A new Enterprise Co-op program
She wanted to give him a work experience that might lead somewhere. The conference was a
allows students to hone their entrepreneurial skills as part of their co-op training.
networking opportunity of a lifetime.
Not bad for a school not yet 60 years old.
“These were people I could only ever dream
“The scale of our operation really puts us in a class of our own,”
of working for, and I’m getting the chance to
says Peggy Jarvie, executive director of Waterloo’s Co-operative
introduce myself to them,” he says. “Just walking
Education & Career Action (CECA). “We offer breadth and
through that door, it was like I was walking into
depth in all sorts of programs. You could hire all the talent you
my future. That’s the best way to describe it.”
need here at Waterloo.” »
Text Kira vermond | photography Jonathan bielaski
27
By the numbers World’s largest co-op program of its kind – approximately
16,500 undergraduate co-op students
Indicative of its scope and influence, co-operative education has spread to more than 100 colleges and universities across Canada.
undergraduate programs that offer co-op (80% of all programs)
a tabloid newspaper for co-op job searchers. Numerous employees type each job
who was part of the first class and graduated
description onto a layout sheet. They’re
in 1962, still has only good things to say about
proofread overnight. The next day, corrections
the early co-op experience. It helped pay his
are made. Whiteout flies.
way through school, one of the reasons many students decided to take a chance on the young, upstart institution.
endeared itself to industry very quickly, so we
120
» Step one: Co-op department publishes
Ron Gotts, a chemical engineering alumnus
“The beauty of it was that the co-op program More than
Then
didn’t have difficulty getting co-op positions,’’ he says. “And we didn’t have difficulty getting
» Step two: Naese drives the sheets to Kitchener to have the paper printed. » Step three: Students line up early in the day at Needles Hall and swarm the halls. The line snakes behind the building. Co-op staff hand out the ads with a form to fill out.
jobs upon graduation either. We had already
» Step four: Students choose the jobs they
worked in fields that were related to our
wish to apply for and complete the form by
courses of study.”
the deadline. They hand the form back in
Gotts, who will attend his 50th-anniversary
for Monday.
class reunion in the fall of 2012, enjoyed a long
» Step five: Staff collect papers and call up
career in the environmental field, working
student ID numbers against the job numbers
with everything from water to industrial waste.
using very slow computers. Printout arrives
3,500
Now retired, he credits co-op for giving him
the next day.
regularly participating co-op employers worldwide
build his career.
$25,000$74,000 potential co-op earnings by graduation
95
per cent: Co-op student employment rate per average term
the post-secondary education he needed to
pull filed resumés of all applicants and then
Show me the money
couriers them in boxes to employers.
More than 50 years later, students still choose
» Step seven: Employers call Waterloo on
Waterloo co-op for some of the same reasons:
the telephone to indicate which students
It pays.
they want to interview.
“The financial situation that a co-op student
Naese’s verdict:
is in compared to another student is night and
“Oh, it was dreadful.”
day,” says East. “You’re in school learning, but at the same time, you’re making money to cover it.
Now
It’s spectacular.”
» Step one: Students check co-op
Besides offering money, mentoring and
opportunities online, through JobMine. As of
experience, co-op makes students more
fall 2012, students will be able to upload PDFs
marketable at graduation. And, as East
of their resumés.
discovered, they build a professional network
Naese’s verdict: “Everything is done
before leaving school. Graduates of Waterloo’s co-op program also typically earn 15 per cent more than non-co-op grads. The job-finding process is also more streamlined than ever, says Olaf Naese, a communications specialist for CECA. He should know. He’s been with Waterloo since 1976 and in the department since 1979. He remembers exactly how cumbersome the co-op system once was.
28
» Step six: A staff of 13 takes two weeks to
online. Students can apply for jobs, search for jobs and applications are all electronic … Of course, most employers still conduct interviews here on campus, but an increasing number are using our Skype option. They can still see and talk to their candidates, but they don’t need to travel to Waterloo.”
The William M. Tatham Centre for Co-operative Education & Career Action –
Co-op students are our (human resources) talent pipeline. You start to see their work ethic, passion, cultural fit, determination – all the determinants of success you see only in real life. Bill Tatham
the first building in Canada dedicated to co-op – was named after him. Giving back to co-op just makes sense, says Tatham, a systems design engineering grad from 1983. “Co-op teaches you something important at school,” he says. “You’ve got to learn, you’ve got to work hard, it’s pass or fail, and you’ve got to go all out. You’re always doing something new.” While students are known for bringing fresh ideas to the companies they work for, hiring them is also a great business move for another reason: Cost. Tatham estimates that when a company accounts for the tax credits and rebates it receives for hiring students, the average annual cost for a full-time, senior co-op is $10,000. Outsourcing a similar job to India costs
Photo: Jaime Hogge
about $40,000 per year. “More importantly, it’s the investment you’re making in personnel development, Tatham says. “Co-op students are our (human resources) talent pipeline. You start to see their work ethic, passion, cultural fit,
Coming full circle While today’s co-op job-searching tools and system are far better for students, they’re not the only ones who benefit. Jarvie at CECA says that within the last couple of years, employers were asked what they liked most about Waterloo’s co-op program. Time and again, they mentioned how smoothly the process runs. “When you’ve been doing this for as long as we have and are as big as we are, we’ve been able to learn the best way to do co-op. Scale teaches you a lot,” Jarvie says.
determination – all the determinants of success you see only in real life.” Laura Victoria, a talent acquisition manager for Towers Watson in Toronto, agrees. The risk-management and human resources company has primarily hired actuarial students from Waterloo as far back as the late 1990s. The positions have real-world relevance. “We get to challenge them and throw them into real-life client situations,’’ she says.”
Little wonder that co-op at Waterloo runs like a well-oiled
It gives us a preview of what they could be
machine. More than 100 employees are fully dedicated to the
capable of down the road. A lot of these
department, and close to 50 work out of off-campus offices to
students do walk out of their co-op
be closer to employers and offer support. Thirty are posted to
placements with job offers in hand.”
the Greater Toronto Area alone.
Jordan Sheldon graduated in 2006 with
Bill Tatham, chair and CEO of NexJ Systems Inc. in Toronto,
a degree in mathematics and computer
hires about 50 Waterloo co-op students every year to work in
science. He works for Bloomberg Sports
his company of 350 employees.
in New York City. »
Experience matters
29
International student adviser Merrirose Stone combined conversation with a care package of Canadian treats to help one co-op student cope with homesickness on an overseas placement. »
His co-op experience seems to have come full circle. In school, he held co-op positions at CIBC, the Ontario Ministry of Health, and Triversity, a point-of-sale software company. All that experience paid off, not only in how quickly he’s able to jump into any softwaredevelopment environment, but in his leadership skills. He says he went back to each employer for a second term so he could take on bigger roles and act as a mentor for new co-op students. Sheldon uses those skills to hire and manage Waterloo co-op students for Bloomberg. “The first time I went back to Waterloo, and I was on the other side of the table interviewing students, I was pretty nervous,” he says. “The students were really smart and I was just out of school. I was thinking, ‘Do I really know much more than these people I’m interviewing?’ ’’ That feeling has passed.
International scope Like many co-op employers in the U.S., Bloomberg prefers to hire Waterloo students. It isn’t just because of the talent. Waterloo’s program runs year-round. That is one of the reasons why the
Stone remembers one engineering student who took a position in China for a four-month work term. Homesickness set in. Over the first few weeks, he called Stone daily in tears, ready to throw in the towel. They talked about coping strategies.
international side of co-op continues to grow
“There were two things he said he missed from home: Tim Horton’s
with hundreds of students taking jobs around
and Swiss Chalet,” says Stone. “So I bought him a little packet of Swiss
the world, says Merrirose Stone, the student
Chalet sauce and some vacuum-sealed Tim Horton’s coffee and mailed
adviser for the international side of CECA.
it to him.
Getting visas and sorting through paperwork
He stayed and received an outstanding mark on his evaluation when the
can be a challenge. Waterloo works with a visa
work term ended. The employer asked him to come back, and he did.
sponsor, “Cultural Vistas” in New York to help employers and students through the process in the U.S. They also employ two International Employment Specialists – one for USA visa advising and one for students who are outbound to locations outside of North America and require a work permit or visa. It can take several years to sell the idea of co-op to an employer in a country unfamiliar with the concept. Students also have to be prepared for change and cultural adaptation.
30
But when it works, it works
Waterloo’s co-op program, and the staff behind it, helped East choose Waterloo over other universities. He listened in awe as the presenter talked about the program, the high employment rates and the money that could be earned over his years of study. “I looked at other schools and other programs, but most seem like an additive to a degree,” he says. “Co-op at Waterloo, it’s not so much an additive, it’s a major part of your education. Half of your degree is co-op. The program is so spectacularly done because Waterloo gives it the attention it deserves.” WEB See Co-op at uwaterloo.ca/alumni/links
There are other ways to leave a legacy…
WATERLOO, ON TA
RIO, JUNE 3, 195 8*
The university’s gift planning experts are here to help you explore all kinds of options to make a lasting impact at Waterloo – ones that don’t require late-night engineering feats.
Planned Giving | Office of Development 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 To find out more about how you can leave a legacy at Waterloo, contact Sharon McKay-Todd at 519-888-4567, ext. 35413 or
[email protected] uwaterloo.ca/support/planned-giving
“BEER” on top of the Lester Street water tower UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO LIBRARY, KITCHENER-WATERLOO RECORD PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE COLLECTION
907395
* In 1958, in an attempt to get Waterloo on the map, three students painted the word
not online? You can mail class note submissions to: University of Waterloo Magazine Communications and Public Affairs University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
CLASS NOTES who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class not notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | w doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing wh notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | w
1970 David Hogg (BASc ’70, Electrical Engineering) was inducted into the Association For Manufacturing Excellence’s International Hall of Fame in 2011, and in June received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contribution to manufacturing.
1975 Bob Ryerson (PhD ’75, Geography) received the Gold Medal of the Canadian Remote Sensing Society in June for “pioneering contributions and leadership in domestic and international remote sensing.”
1978 David Petroff (BMath ’78, Mathematics) has been appointed to Foran Mining Corporation’s board of directors. Bryan Tuckey (BES ’78, Urban & Regional Planning; MA ’80, Regional Planning & Resource Development) is the new CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association.
1980 Ted Ens (BASc ’80, Civil Engineering) has joined the Board of Directors of Mahdia Gold Corp, a Canadianbased company with interests in three gold-bearing concessions in central Guyana.
Jim Estill (BASc ’80, Systems Design Engineering), partner with New York-based Canrock Ventures, has pledged millions over three years to cover the entry investments in companies participating in Communitech’s HYPERDRIVE startup incubator program. Donor John Hele (BMath ’80, Mathematics), chief financial officer and executive vice-president of Arch Capital Group Ltd., named the atrium of Waterloo’s new Mathematics 3 building in honour of his high school math teacher, Bruce White.
1983
Jackie Rehkopf (BASc ’88,
Math) has published How To Meet
Civil Engineering; PhD ’94, Civil
The Queen, which probes the art of
Engineering) has written a book,
asking good questions, and follows
Automotive Carbon Fiber Composites:
his personal quest to meet Queen
From Evolution to Implementation.
Elizabeth II using only the principles
It is published by SAE International.
in the book.
has been appointed dean of the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University.
1981 John Henricks (BES ’81, Urban & Regional Planning) has been appointed the new manager of planning for Niagara-On-The-Lake. Katherine Bergman (BSc ’81, Biology) is the new president of St. Jerome’s University. She is the first woman to hold the five-year post. Douglas Legge (BASc ’81, Mechanical Engineering) has joined Solutions 4CO2 Inc. as vice-president, global operations.
1991
Bill Tatham (BASc ’83, Systems
Josephine Hill (BASc ’91, Chemical
Design Engineering), an
Engineering; MASc ’92, Chemical
accomplished entrepreneur and
Engineering) won this year’s
strong supporter of the university,
APEGA Women in Engineering
received an honorary doctorate
and Geoscience Champion Summit
during spring convocation.
Award. The awards celebrate
1984 Daniel Szpiro (BSc ’80, Biology)
1988
Albert Lee (BMath ’83, Applied
Philip Beesley’s (BArch ’84) blending
environmental sustainability, community service, mentorship, superior leadership and more.
of art and architecture is included in the 18th Biennale of Sydney. Now a
Stewart J. Smith (BA ’91, Liberal
professor of architecture at Waterloo,
Studies) just completed a Masters
his work Hylozoic Series: Sibyl raises
of Theological Studies at Trinity
questions about how architecture
College, University of Toronto, where
might behave in the future.
he focused on spirituality, violence
1986
and mental health. Smith works as a social worker in Toronto.
Heather Miree (BSc ’86, Applied Earth Sciences-Geology Option) has
Barbara Sherwood Lollar (PhD ’91,
been appointed the vice-president of
Earth Sciences) was presented
exploration for Liberty Mines Inc.
the ENI Award in Protection of the
1987
Environment in June. The awards, created by Italian oil and gas
Janis Fedorowick (BES ’88, Urban
company ENI, recognize outstanding
& Regional Planning) has just
research and innovation in areas
published her first novel, The Silent
concerning environmental impact
Canoe, a historical novel set in the
of human activities.
years leading up to the War of 1812. Available at Amazon, CreateSpace and as a PDF or EPub file.
1992 Carey Jane (Brooks) Clark (BA ’92, English) has released her first novel, After the Snow Falls. The story takes
what are you up to lately? Let your classmates know what you’re up to by sending a brief update to
[email protected]. Or visit our alumni e-community to update your profile at alumni.uwaterloo.ca/ecommunity.
32
place in the Ottawa Valley and completes a project Clark started during her studies at Waterloo. It is available on Amazon.
tes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes hat? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing who’s doing what? | Class notes | who’s doing what? | Class notes
Paul Raff (BArch ’92, Architecture) and his architectural firm Paul Raff Studio has been awarded the biennial $10,000 Ronald J. Thom Award for Early Design Achievement recognizing outstanding talent in architectural design, and sensitivity to allied arts, crafts and professions.
1993 Chuck Magro (BASc ’93, Chemical Engineering/Management Sciences) has been appointed executive vice-
KEEPING PEOPLE FIT, ONE DOWNLOAD AT A TIME
president, corporate development,
When MARIA LY (BASc ’06, Computer Engineering) couldn’t find a mobile application
and chief risk officer for Agrium Inc.
to help her track and train for the sports she loved, she did what any ambitious Waterloo grad
1994 Lionel Ohayon (BArch ’95, Architecture) is working on a project that might be described as a bit of a homecoming. The New York-based architect, whose
would do: she created her own. “I’ve always had a passion for sports and fitness,” said Ly, a former gymnast and cheerleader who has represented Canada at the World Cheerleading and Dance Championships. “I’m a firm believer that you can change the world while doing something you love. Why not take the risks to pave your own destiny?”
projects are found around the world,
Today, that risk has grown into Skimble, a mobile technology company at the forefront of the
is involved with a sweeping overhaul
digital health and fitness revolution.
of restaurants at the Greater Toronto Airport Authority.
1995 Paul do Forno (BMath ’95, Mathematics – Business Admin) takes on the newly
Skimble’s applications take the guesswork out of fitness by providing users with multimedia workouts and programs led by certified coaches. Want six-pack abs? Skimble has a program for that. Trying to stay agile at the office? Preparing for your next race? There are programs for those, too.
created role of SVP Multi-Channel
“Whether our members are getting off the couch or training for their next big competition,
Commerce for Razorfish, one of the
we offer mobile tools to help everyone achieve their best,” said Ly.
world’s largest interactive agencies.
This inclusive approach to fitness recently earned Skimble a coveted partnership with Harvard
Todd J. Pokrywa (BES ’95, Urban and Regional Planning) has been elected as vice-chairman of the Association of Florida Community Developers by the organization’s board of directors.
1998 Acey Kaspar BASc ’98, Mechanical Engineering), plant manager for Dana Corporation’s facility in Mount Forest, Ont., accepted the Gold Award for Key Performance Indicator
Health. This summer, Skimble launched the Harvard Health Gym Coach program within their flagship Workout Trainer application for iPhone, iPad and Android. Skimble excels at motivating members. “Our applications are engaging and social,” Ly said. “First, our talking coaches guide you throughout your workout, complete with tips and motivation. As you complete workouts, you gain activity points and then rank on our leaderboards. You can compete against your friends and other community members. “We even run promotions that help our members win prizes for being active.” With more than seven million downloads to date, Skimble’s growth shows no signs of slowing down. Ly couldn’t be more ready for the challenge.
Excellence. Dana has 90 facilities
“My goal has always been to use technology to help people overcome the health challenges
around the world. Kaspar’s facility
they face,” she said. “With one download at a time, we are empowering millions and really
won the “large plant” category.
transforming health care. I can’t imagine waking up every day and doing anything other than this.” TEXT: Christine bezruki
Who’s doing what?
33
The late Bob Kerr (Honorary ’98 LLD) was inducted into the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame, which honours individuals and groups for their significant contributions to the community. Tonya Hughes (BASc ’98, Chemical Engineering; MASc ’05, Management Science) has published The Camp and Cottage Cookbook. The book includes recipes, information about food safety, tips about equipment and more. It is available in paperback and as an e-book. Tracy Swartout (BES ’98, Geography) is the new deputy superintendent at Mount Rainier National Park.
1999
SETTING THE STAGE Sometimes the road less travelled is the most gratifying. Just ask KYLE SANVICTORES (BES ’05 Pre-Professional Architecture, MArch ’08), creative director of AKA Creative Group, a set design company he co-founded with fellow Waterloo graduate
Patti Lenard (BA ’99, Political Science) has published her first book: Trust, Democracy and Multicultural Challenges. The book explores multiculturalism and whether it is still relevant in Canada and
ANDREW KINSELLA (BES ’85, Geography).
around the world. It is published by Penn
An architect by training, Sanvictores left a traditional design role to pursue a path that,
State Press.
although less travelled, is becoming increasingly attractive to architects frustrated with building delays and health codes.
2000 Philip Delisle (BA ’00, Fine Arts) won
“Building projects can take up to four or five years,” said Sanvictores. “I knew I wanted to
the 2012 Joseph Plaskett Award, worth
use my training, but wanted to do something that could offer more immediate results.”
$25,000, which enables an outstanding
So instead of worrying about violating health codes, Sanvictores puts his structural skills and creativity to work in a new way: building some of the most recognizable stage sets on Canadian television. Founded in 2007, AKA Creative quickly secured an impressive roster of clients, designing sets for the Vancouver Olympics, Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet and Hockey Night in Canada.
emerging Canadian painter to live or study in Europe over the course of a year. Friends of Alyson Woloshyn (BA ’00, Recreation & Leisure Studies/Therapeutic Recreation) have started a Waterloo
Set-design projects can go from concept to completion in a matter of weeks. Fast as it
scholarship in her memory. She died of
is, the work still owes much to the lessons of traditional construction architecture.
brain cancer in May.
“What I rely on most is what I used in architecture school,’’ Sanvictores said. “It’s about
2001
a narrative. Telling a story.”
Vince Conte (BMath ’01, Mathematics/
Part of AKA’s success comes from the company’s own unique story.
Chartered Acc; MACC ’01, Accounting) has
First introduced while working at CBC, Sanvictores and Kinsella immediately hit it off. They kept in touch after the CBC dismantled its own set-design department. When CityTV approached him in 2007 for a big project, Kinsella knew he didn’t want to work
been appointed chief financial officer of Talon Metals Corp.
2002
with anyone but Sanvictores.
Canadian pole vaulting record holder and
“He was working in London, England, at the time,” said Kinsella. “But he came back for
former Olympian Dana Ellis (BSc ’02,
the project and we’ve been working together ever since.”
Kinesiology) recently obtained a medical degree from Tulane University.
If things continue the way they’ve been going, Kinsella and Sanvictores will be working together for years to come. In spring 2012, AKA cracked the U.S. market by winning a bid
Heather Arbuckle (Business-Science
to design sets for the Pacific 12, a West Coast university sports network.
’02) received a Public Service
“Our market is expanding, which is really exciting,” said Kinsella. Sanvictores concurs: “The whole process is exciting. To have a vision, win a bid, and then see your set go from the computer screen to something on TV in a matter of weeks – it’s just unbelievable, and so incredibly gratifying.” TEXT: CHRISTINE BEZRUKI
Award of Excellence recognizing her accomplishments since joining the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a co-op student in 2000. Arbuckle was singled out for innovative thinking and dependability, as well as for quickly finding opportunities to improve organizational processes.
34
Julie Kim (BSc ’02, MEng ’07) has been nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Stand-Up Newcomer. Howie Tsui’s (BA ’03, Fine Arts) work, Friendly Fire was in a summer-long exhibition in Kingston exploring battlefield medicine in the War of 1812. Tsui’s work accompanied, among other artifacts, the field-surgery kit of Dr. Henry Grasett, Surgeon-in-Chief to the British forces in 1814.
2004 Nancy Collins (BA ’04, English Rhetoric & Professional Writing) took the University of Waterloo Library to second place at the 10th International Federation Of Library Associations International Marketing Awards. Albert Horsman (MES ’04, Geography) has been appointed the first executive
INSPIRING WOMEN IN BUSINESS
director of Guelph’s newly created finance
She calls it her accidental business, but the success of NATALIE MACNEIL’s (BA ’07,
and enterprise service area.
Political Science) award-winning, blog-turned-digital media company for entrepreneurial
2008 Majid Mirza’s (BA ’08, English Rhetoric &
women is more the result of a unique vision and fierce determination than chance. MacNeil started blogging about women in business shortly after graduating from the
Professional Writing; MBET ’09, Business,
University of Waterloo.
Entrepreneurship & Technology) blog
“As a young woman going to tech conferences I would get people joking around with me
Goodnews.pk, which he started in 2009 to share positive news about Pakistan, won Google’s PBBA (Pakistan’s Best Blogs Award) in 2011. Marianna De Cola’s (BAS ’08, Architectural Studies; MArch ’11, Architecture) project on Newfoundland’s migration patterns
asking if I was looking for a rich man to marry. It was so frustrating. I knew things needed to be different,” she said. So MacNeil turned to one of the most powerful communication tools available: social media. MacNeil created She Takes on the World, a blog that was “unapologetically feminine and not afraid of the colour pink.” She began interviewing top female business owners and sharing insight from her personal experience as a young entrepreneur and co-founder of Imaginarius,
was part of Canada’s entry at the 2012
an Emmy Award-winning digital media company.
Venice Biennale in Architecture from
“I talked to so many women who felt like they had to be like men to succeed in business,”
August to November.
she said. “I wanted to show the world that we can lead differently and be just as successful.”
Natalie MacNeil (BA ’08, Political Science/
MacNeil’s message immediately resonated with other female entrepreneurs – whether they
Arts & Business) took the $50,000
were leading million-dollar corporations or running small businesses from their basements.
grand prize at this year’s LaunchPad competition. Her website, She Takes on the World, was also named a 2012 Best Brand of the Year by Stiletto Woman Magazine.
2009 Eric Migicovsky’s (BASc ’09, Systems Design Engineering) Pebble watch program team closed its fundraising
When the number of hits on her blog began to skyrocket, the media took interest. In 2010, She Takes on the World won the Stevie Award for blog of the year. In 2011, Forbes recognized MacNeil as one of the top 20 women in business to follow. Today, She Takes on the World has grown from a one-woman blog to a full-fledged digital media and publishing company. In March 2011, MacNeil released her first book, She Takes on the World: A Guide to Being Your Own Boss, Working Happy, and Living on Purpose. Currently, she is developing The Conquer Club, a subscription-based, business-training platform for women.
efforts early after raising more than
In the next 10 years, the number of female business owners in North America is expected
$10-million on Kickstarter.
to triple – a statistic MacNeil is ready to stand behind.
2010 Fiona Whelan (BSc ’10, Computer
“Entrepreneurship is the new woman’s movement and I want She Takes on the World to be a huge part of that,” she said. “It will be exciting to see what we can do as a group. Women are
Science) is one of 70 women worldwide
smart and can make things happen individually, but when we start working together I really
to receive the Google Anita Borg
believe we can change the world.”
Memorial Scholarship.
TEXT: CHRISTINE BEZRUKI | Photo: Jonathan Bielaski
Who’s doing what?
35
Pinning down medals at the London Olympics As the athletic therapist for the Canadian
Athletic therapy has close ties to orthopedic
National Wrestling Team, Surinder
medicine. Its practice focuses on preventing
Budwal (BSc ’00, Kinesiology) watches
and treating injuries of the joints and
tournaments from the side of the mat.
ligaments. Athletic therapists design
But behind the scenes, he is right in the thick of the sport and helped Canada bring home two medals at the London Olympics. “I’m the kind of guy that wants to come in and change things if I think they can be improved,” said Budwal, a graduate of Sheridan College’s athletic therapy program and owner of Wishbone Athletics Inc., a clinic in Hamilton, Ontario. Change things he has. After graduating in 2003, Budwal created a standardized system for monitoring Canada’s top athletes. He is currently developing a policy to provide high school wrestlers with medical coverage in Ontario.
rehabilitation programs for athletes and are often the first responders when trauma occurs at sporting events. “I love the emergency side of it,” said Budwal. “While you obviously don’t want your athletes to get injured, there is always that possibility, and it gets my adrenaline pumping.” And what better place to do that than his most recent international meet, the London Olympics? Although London was Budwal’s second Olympics, he said the Games never lose their magic. “Both the Beijing and London Olympics were phenomenal experiences,” he said. “There are
“There were things in wrestling in Canada that
no words to describe the feeling of watching
bothered me,” explained Budwal. “I saw how
your sport excel at the national level and
little monitoring our athletes were getting after
seeing your athletes accept medals on behalf
surgery because we operate in a decentralized
of our nation. Knowing that you played a role
system. I saw that wrestling has no medical
in helping them get to the podium, it’s really
support at the high school level, which is just
the highlight of your career.”
crazy. I thought, ‘These are things I can change.’”
TEXT: CHRISTINE BEZRUKI
Joseph Curtin, BMath ’82
Brian Hochfellner, BSc ’89
Sherwood Prawel, BASc ’70
Keith Curtis, BA ’74
Thomas Holmes, DLITT ’94
Tenzin Rabgey, BASc ’71
Elwyn Dawkins, MA ’76
Ronald Hurdal, BSc ’86
Michael Riley, PhD ’71
Anthony DeLuca, PhD ’72
Leslie Jolliffe, BPE ’68
Mario Romano, BSc ’93
Julie Devenny, OD ’35
Sigmund Kasprowicz, MSc ’66
Barbara Rosinski, BMath ’82
Terry Dingman, BA ’86
Lori Kempel, BSc ’65
Dominic Ruggieri, BA ’87
Robert Allen
Jeffrey Dixon, BSc ’05
Raymond Knarr, BMath ’69
Jacqueline Scherbarth, BA ’72
Douglas Andrews
Terrence Dunlop, BA ’86
John Krueger, BA ’93
Margaret Sinclair, BES ’82
Jonathan Aquan-Assee, BMath ’68,
David Duplissea, BES ’81
Catharine LePage, BA ’80
Erlane Soares, BA ’87
J. Beesley, MASc ’79, BASc ’77
Helen Dykstra, BA ’65
Abninder Litt, BA ’79
Juozapas Sonda, BMath ’88
Gerrit Bijl, MMath ’09
Jack Ecclestone, MA ’71
Ralph Logan, BA ’80
Paul Sousa, PhD ’76
Sandra Boisjoly, DES ’84
Ralph Edgecombe, BES ’84
Doug Ly, BMath ’07
Nancy Suits, MASc ’75
Ernie Brubacher, BASc ’92
Hugh Etherington, BSc ’70
Thomas MacDonald, OD ’49
Clifford Summers, BA ’92, BA ’79
William Caesar, BMath ’85
Dorothy Evans, BASc ’72
Alan Madgett, BMath ’92
William Swain, MA ’77
Gordon Chapman, BASc ’69
Ronald Ferguson, BASc ’62
Meridith Marks, OD ’49
David Tam, MASc ’69
Margaret Charlebois, BA ’70
Bernard Fransen, BES ’87
Cheryl Mavor, MPhil ’67, MA ’64
David Thomson, BASc ’67
Roger Chartrand, BMath ’71
Willard Gard, MMath ’81, BMath ’74
Terry McCain, BSc ’82
Douglas Torney, PhD ’73, MASc ’66
Russel Chen, BMath ’75
Carol Gierak, BASc ’62
William McKee, BA ’80
Robert Tromp, BASc ’76
David Chiang, BMath ’71
John W. Gilpin, OD ’44
Ivan McNabb, MA ’92, BA ’89
John Van Oorspronk, PhD ’67
Christopher Chiarelli, OD ’68, BSc
William Gregson, BA ’80
Joyce Meadows, BSc ’63
Arnold Van Winden, BASc ’87
Gary Cooke, BSc ’10
Murray Hankins, BA ’00
Patricia O’Connor, OD ’51
Larry Vokes, BA ’90
Geno Coschi, BSc ’89
Walter Harris, BASc ’72
Dimpy Pathria, MA ’80, BA ’78
Robert Willcocks, BASc ’85
Stanley Couse, MEng ’12, GCERT ’12,
Ulrich Hartmann, OD ’50
Thomas Phillips, BMath ’88
Robert Williams, BMath ’93
Betty Havens, DSC ’87
Robert Porter, PhD ’89, BMath ’84
Katherine Zettel, BASc ’73
In Memoriam We recently received news of the following deaths. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of these alumni.
BASc ’91
36
many
MINDS
uWaterloo Global Ambassadors Waterloo alumni from around the world are volunteering their time to connect with fellow alumni and students. They offer helpful tips, advice and a friendly face to those who are exploring different parts of the world.
today’s technology playground
Waterloo connections around the globe
What does it take to be a Global Ambassador? Enthusiasm for meeting new people, sharing information, answering questions, plus a good knowledge How many minds will we need for tomorrow? The number is truly a mystery. But the place where many of those minds will come from is not. It is a place that is well known by growing numbers around the world: Waterloo.
of local culture are essential.
For more information on the Global Ambassador Program visit https://uwaterloo.ca/alumni/ambassadors or contact:
907471
Kim McKee, Alumni Officer, International
[email protected] or 519-888-4567, ext. 35734.
www.rtpark.uwaterloo.ca
Who’s doing what?
37
mark your CALENDAR upcoming events | mark your calendar | upcoming ev upcoming events | mark your calendar | upcoming events | mark your cale calendar | upcoming events | mark your calendar | upcoming events | mar upcoming events | mark your calendar | upcoming events | mark your cale
Year round
December
questions, and offer advice to
FEBRUARY 13
current AHS students. Date TBA,
Apple 101, Stratford Campus
B.C. Matthews Hall.
Want to learn how to “really use”
Mathematics and
DECEMBER 2
Computing Contests
Stage Band Concert
Run by the Waterloo Centre for
Conrad Grebel University College
JANUARY 8
and play? Then register now for a
Mathematics and Computing,
Great Hall, 2 p.m. $10 admission,
Interstate Relations in
Rogers Trainer-to-Go program that
contests designed to inspire interest
$5 students/seniors.
Antiquity – Study Day
provides customers with hands-on
in mathematics and computer
uwaterloo.ca/music/events
The Interstate Study Day will offer
device training. 12 to 1 p.m.,
an opportunity for scholars,
125 St. Patrick St., Stratford Ont.
science are written in schools across
your iPhone or iPad for both work
Canada and around the world.
DECEMBER 3
students and non-specialists to
Pre-registration required.
For more information, contact a
Instrumental Chamber
explore Greek and Roman antiquity
uwstratfordapple101.event-brite.com
school math teacher or visit
Ensembles Concert
through presentation and discussion
cemc.uwaterloo.ca
Conrad Grebel University College
of interdisciplinary work. 1 to 6 p.m.,
FEBRUARY 20
Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Free admission,
Modern Languages 245. If you
Waterloo Lectures,
all are welcome.
would like to attend, contact
Stratford Public Library
uwaterloo.ca/music/events
[email protected]
The Waterloo Lectures at the
by Dec. 21, 2012.
Stratford Public Library bring
november
NOVEMBER 8 – DECEMBER 22
DECEMBER 5 – 7
Polizei, by Matthew Carver
Kinesiology Lab Days
JANUARY 10 – MARCH 13
the University of Waterloo to the
University of Waterloo Art Gallery
For grade 11/12 biology and grade
Nethermind
City of Stratford to address an
exhibit features large-scale
12 exercise science classes, one-
Eight artists who form the
eclectic range of topics. 7 to 9 p.m.,
paintings by Canadian artist
day program of mini-laboratory
Nethermind collective bring their
9 St. Andrew St., Stratford, Ont.
Matthew Carver reflecting his
sessions on assessing, treating and
exhibit to the University of Waterloo
Free and open to public.
observations about increasingly
preventing movement-related illness
Art Gallery, ECH 1239. Opening
militarized police presence at public
and injury. B.C. Matthews Hall, Lyle
reception Jan. 10, 2013, 5 to 8 p.m.
FEBRUARY 28
gatherings and protests around the
S. Hallman Institute.
519-888-4567, ext. 36741,
Wayde Compton,
uwag.uwaterloo.ca
Emily Carr University
world. Gallery One, ECH 1239.
leading scholars and experts from
519-888-4567, ext. 36741,
DECEMBER 6
uwag.uwaterloo.ca
Ottawa Alumni Event
JANUARY 26
excited to welcome acclaimed
Featuring Diedre Laframboise,
Fantastic Alumni Day
writer, poet and historian Wade
The Russians, by Adad Hannah
BES ’84, Co-founder & Executive
Waterloo Warriors Basketball team
Compton, who will be performing
University of Waterloo Art Gallery
Director of Clean Air Champions.
vs. Windsor – Women’s game 2
“The Reinventing Wheel: On
photography and video exhibit
Courtyard Restaurant, 21 George
p.m., Men’s 4 p.m. PAC, Waterloo
Blending The Poetry Of Cultures
recording aspects of daily life in
Street. $10 admission – includes
Campus. Free for alumni and guests,
Through Hip Hop Turntablism”.
modern Russia. Gallery Two, ECH
hors d’oeuvres and beverage.
but registration required.
4 p.m., Hagey Hall 334. Free and
1239. 519-888-4567, ext. 36741,
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/events
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/events
open to public.
DECEMBER 10 – 13
JANUARY 29
Kinesiology Lab Days
Fall 2012 Concert,
Vancouver Alumni Reception
For grade 11/12 biology and grade
5:30 to 8 p.m., venue TBD
uWaterloo Orchestra
12 exercise science classes, one-
Orchestra@uwaterloo concert,
day program of mini-laboratory
8 p.m., Humanities Theatre,
sessions on assessing, treating and
Hagey Hall. Free admission.
preventing movement-related illness
FEBRUARY 6 – 9
hockey game, with silent auction
orchestra.uwaterloo.ca
and injury. B.C. Matthews Hall,
New Work (Untitled),
and in-game contests. Proceeds
Lyle S. Hallman Institute.
Drama Department
support an undergrad endowment
A world premiere piece created by
commemorating professor Aftab
the Drama department under the
Patla. Date TBA, Columbia Icefield.
The Department of English is
uwag.uwaterloo.ca
NOVEMBER 29
january
38
march Aftab Patla Memorial Cup Kinesiology undergrads team up
february
on the ice against grad students and faculty for an entertaining
direction of Faculty member Naila
AHS Speed Networking –
Keleta-Mae. 8 p.m. Feb. 6–9 / 2 p.m.
MARCH 4
Career Night
Feb. 8-9. Hagey Hall Studio 180.
Science Alumni Reception
Applied Health Sciences alumni
$10 admission, $7 students/seniors.
Prospectors and Developers Annual
return to campus to share their
dramaandspeechcommunication.
Conference (PDAC), 5:30 to 8 p.m.,
experiences, answer career-related
uwaterloo.ca/drama/productions.htm
Fairmount Royal York Hotel.
Summer reunion marked 40th anniversary of ‘the Bun’
exhibition, featuring MARCHyour 7 vents | mark calendar undergraduate | upcoming events | mark your calendar | upcoming events | mark Katherine McKittrick, recent your artworks bycalendar fourth-year endar | upcoming events | mark | upcoming events | mark your calendar | upco Queen’s University from the| Fine Arts rk your calendar | upcomingstudents events mark your calendar | upcoming events | mark your cale endar | upcoming | mark your | upcoming events | mark your calendar | upcom The Department of events English is excited program. Openingcalendar reception March to welcome Katherine McKittrick
21, 2013, 5 to 8 p.m., ECH 1239.
who will be presenting “Axis Bold
519-888-4567, ext. 36741.
as Love: On Scientia, Sylvia Wynter, Jimi Hendrix, and Blackness” where
MARCH 23
she explores why science matters.
Carmina Burana,
4 p.m., Hagey Hall 334. Free and
University Choir
open to the public.
8 p.m., venue TBD. $10 admission, $5 students/seniors.
MARCH 12
uwaterloo.ca/music/events
Alumni Theatre Night Caryl Churchill’s play Top Girls
april
directed by Saúl García López. ML Theatre of the Arts, Waterloo
APRIL 4
Campus. $5 admission, free
Winter 2013 Concert,
parking in visitor’s lot.
uWaterloo Orchestra
uwaterloo.ca/alumni/events
Orchestra@uwaterloo concert, 8 p.m., Humanities Theatre,
MARCH 13
Hagey Hall. Free admission.
Blackberry 101,
orchestra.uwaterloo.ca
Celebrating Our Roots in the Digital Age RANDALL HOWARD BMath ’75 and JUDY McMULLAN BMath ’77 recently hosted The ’Bun Reunion, celebrating the 40th anniversary of a defining era in computing at the University of Waterloo. Arriving at the University of Waterloo for the fall term in 1972, students were intrigued by something causing a stir in the math and computer building: A brand new Honeywell 6050 mainframe-sized computer. Quickly nicknamed “HoneyBun,” then simply “The ’Bun,” the
Stratford Campus Want to learn how to “Work
APRIL 13
first campus timesharing system set the stage for a whole new
Smarter” with your BlackBerry
Waterloo Lectures
generation of computer innovators at University of Waterloo
Smartphone or Playbook? Then
Stratford Public Library
in the 1970s.
register now for a Rogers Trainer-
The Waterloo Lectures at the
to-Go program that provides hands
Stratford Public Library bring
on training. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.,
leading scholars and experts from
A fluid group of enthusiast programmers, “The Hacks,”
125 St. Patrick St. Stratford, Ont.
the University of Waterloo to the
revelled in getting these expensive – and by today’s standards
Pre-registration required.
City of Stratford to address an
underpowered – machines to do super-human feats.
eclectic range of topics. 7 to 9 p.m.,
MARCH 13 – MARCH 16
9 St. Andrew St., Stratford, Ont.
Top Girls by Caryl Churchill
Free and open to public.
Set in the early Thatcher years,
It was a good time to be young and engaged in computing.
The early 1970s was the time when software became a freestanding discipline, unbundled and unshackled from the underlying hardware.
APRIL 16
The young hacks created a counterculture around the
TD Discovery Days in
Honeywell in contrast to the computing centre, which was
of women’s experience at a pivotal
Health Sciences
then solidly in industry-leading IBM’s camp.
moment in British history. 8 p.m.,
In partnership with the Canadian
ML Theatre of the Arts, Waterloo
Medical Hall of Fame, Waterloo
Campus. $17 admission,
presents a dynamic keynote
$13 students/seniors
lecture, career panel discussion
Top Girls is a seminal play of the modern theatre, revealing a world
Significant security holes were exposed and plugged, in return for a pitcher of beer, which was a good thing considering the same types of computers ran the Worldwide Military Command
and hands-on workshops (like
and Control System (or the nuclear trigger).
MARCH 20
Mock Surgery and Using Cells to Study Disease) for secondary
Many of the hacks went on to become leading security
Waterloo Lectures, Stratford Public Library
school students and teachers.
The Waterloo Lectures at the
Registration via school. Various
This fertile ecosystem produced many early innovations,
Stratford Public Library bring leading
locations on campus.
including a full email system, advanced computer graphics,
innovators.
photographic typesetting, networked services (20 years
scholars and experts from the University of Waterloo to the City
APRIL 17
before the Internet), hourly incremental backups (not unlike
of Stratford to address an eclectic
Apple 101, Stratford Campus
Apple’s Time Machine), numerous experimental operating
range of topics. 7 to 9 p.m.,
Want to learn how to “really use”
systems, Conway’s Game of Life, and much more.
9 St. Andrew St., Stratford, Ont.
your iPhone or iPad for both work
Free and open to public.
and play? Then register now for a Rogers Trainer-to-Go program
In addition to local companies such as Open Text and MKS, these pioneers created or helped create products and companies as diverse as Sympatico, QNX, EADS, IMAX,
MARCH 21 – APRIL 6
that provides customers with
Fourth Year
hands-on device training. 12 to
Undergraduate Exhibit
1 p.m., 125 St. Patrick St.,
Computing instigators and innovators from this time made
The Department of Fine Arts and
Stratford Ont. Pre-registration
a huge impact around the world.
the University of Waterloo Art
required. uwstratfordapple101.
Gallery present the 39th annual
event-brite.com
XEROX, CISCO, SUN Microsystems and UUNET.
RANDALL HOWARD BMath ’75 and JUDY McMULLAN BMath ’77
Upcoming events
39
VeloCity graduate Eric Migicovsky
learned a key lesson word | opinion | the last wor
opinion | the last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | the last on his entrepreneurial nion | the last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | the last word | op journey: word | opinion Make something he last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | the last that people want to use.| opini nion | the last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | the last word | opinion | last word
the last word
The bottom line on a successful startup: Give people something they want While studying engineering at the
By trying to raise money right from the start,
University of Waterloo, we had plenty of
I completely ignored the one thing that separates
chances to design, experiment with and
successful startups from failed ventures.
create new inventions.
something that people want to use. In my rush
hands dirty with small personal hacks, crazy
to raise funds, I spent too much time and effort
group endeavours and fourth-year design plans
impressing those who I thought could invest in
(which inevitably spun rapidly out of control).
my fledgling company.
Sometimes we consulted with our professors, or
What I should have done was work hard to get
waded into the public to interview and survey.
to a point where I could hand my smartwatch to
Our designs occasionally worked, but generally
a potential customer and ask, ‘So, what do you
we’d leave them on the wayside as we jumped
think? Is this something you would like to buy?’
back and forth between work and school. In fourth year, I joined the recently formed VeloCity residence, an entrepreneurial dorm at Waterloo. With a few friends from engineering, I started designing and building smartwatches that connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone. We built them because it was fun, and because it was something that I actually wanted to use in my daily life. After the first prototypes were completed, I graduated and decided to form a startup to make smartwatches. I promptly made one of my first mistakes – I started trying to raise money from investors.
the Minimum Viable Product, or MVP. I should have built my prototype into a working sample as soon as possible, always striving towards getting more feedback from users. We launched Pebble, our latest smartwatch that works with iPhone and Androids, last April on a crowd-funding site called Kickstarter. We could tell that something was different. My friends started sharing it on Facebook. People around the world sent us emails. Journalists started writing about us. I like to think that we got this far because we have not only made a sought-after product,
years later in 2011, when I had the chance to be
we explain it coherently as well.
in Silicon Valley.
Timing, strategy and sheer luck affect the magnitude of your success. But the
From YC founder Paul Graham, I learned
fundamental element is still giving people
what I think is the most valuable mantra for
something they want.
engineers: Make something people want. Opinion
In software, this stage of the process is called
I didn’t really figure out my mistake until two part of Y Combinator (YC), a startup program
40
At the core, successful companies make
From course work to co-op terms, we got our
Eric Migicovsky
Put your family’s minds at ease.
r pi n | io
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