Help-wanted ads soon for president's job

There's a progress report from the nominating committee that is seeking UW's next president — a successor to David Johnston when his term ends in June 2011.

"The Presidential Nominating Committee," it says, "has been committed to undertaking a broad and full consultation to identify the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the institution and the qualities of the individual who might best lead Waterloo in dealing with these matters."

It goes on: "To achieve this, the committee has consulted with the on-campus community (members of executive council including the president, vice-presidents, associate vice-presidents, associate provosts, deans, the secretary of the university, the director of university business operations, and the director of institutional, analysis and planning), the former vice-president, academic and provost, the university college heads, and the presidents of the Staff Association and CUPE Local 793.

"The presidents of the Faculty Association and the Graduate Student Association sit on the committee; the former-president of the Federation of Students continues to serve on the committee. These members have shared the views of their constituencies with the committee. Committee members have also received input from members of the broader community. As well, the committee invited written comments from governors, senators, faculty, staff and unionized employees, the faculty association, the staff association, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and retirees.

"Print advertisements for the presidency will be placed nationally in University Affairs and CAUT Bulletin and in various local, national and international online sites including University Affairs, CAUT Bulletin, The Globe and Mail, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Times Higher Education Supplement, and The Record. Nominations and applications can be made to Bob Harding, Chair, Board of Governors and Chair, and Presidential Nominating Committee, c/o Lois Claxton, Secretary of the University, Needles Hall, Room 3060 [lclaxton@ uwaterloo.ca] or Sharon Rudy, Consultant, SpencerStuart, One University Avenue, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2P1 [telephone direct 416.203.5597, srudy@ spencerstuart.com]. Documentation should include a detailed curriculum vitae and a brief statement of interest. Nominations, applications and expressions of interest will be treated in strict confidence."

The report notes that there's a website dedicated to the presidential search — which currently includes the three reports the committee has issued, as well as a list of its members.

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What they're doing on their sabbaticals

Here’s a list of some more Waterloo faculty members who are currently on sabbatical leave. In each case the plans for the leave are quoted from the material submitted to the university’s board of governors, which has to approve all sabbaticals.

Ian Rowlands, environment and resource studies (12 months starting January 1): “My research will focus upon two main areas: first, I will continue work on the policy and governance aspects of international climate change negotiations, following the outcomes of the December 2009 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark; and second, I will continue work on the ways in which energy management strategies might facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy.”

Srinivasan Keshav, computer science (6 months starting March 1): “During sabbatical, I will complete a major revision of my graduate textbook on computer networking that is already under way. I also intend to explore the use of computer systems to monitor and more efficiently manage the use of energy. Finally, I plan to visit some research institutions in India with whom I have collaborated in the past.”

Jeffery Hovis, optometry (6 months starting March 1, and another 6 months January-June 2011): “The sabbatical will be devoted to two major projects. The first is completing a study on colour vision defects and mild hypoxia that is being conducted in collaboration with researchers at the FAA Civil Aviation Medical Institute. The second project will be to work with Transport Canada to develop an occupational-based colour vision test for airport security personnel.”

Safieddin Savavi-Naeini, electrical and computer engineering (6 months starting March 1): “Directing the installation of electromagnetic radiation lab chamber, sub-millimeter wave/THz circuit lab, and other parts of the unique infrastructure of newly established UW Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems (CIARS). Using CIARS facility to experimentally verify and further explore new ideas resulted from my Industrial Research Chair program on intelligent integrated radio and novel electromagnetic media and focused research collaboration with a number of international partners.”

Metin Renksizbulut, mechanical and mechatronics engineering (6 months starting March 1): “I shall continue my research activities on micro-scale fluid dynamics and heat transfer, and micro-reactors. These activities have both experimental and theoretical components and involve several PhD students on campus and abroad. I have much interest in nano-scale fluid flow and heat transfer, and intend to initiate research activities in this area during the proposed sabbatical.”

Xianshe Feng, chemical engineering (6 months starting March 1): “To carry out collaborative research, and to update lecture notes for possible publication as a monograph.”

Perry Chou, chemical engineering (6 months starting May 1): “I’d like to focus on planning for the next phase of my biofuel research projects using metabolic engineering approaches, writing invited book chapters, and renewing lecture notes.”

Bosco Leung, electrical and computer engineering (12 months starting May 1): “I plan to look into new research areas. Specifically, I plan to explore new circuits that are compatible with sealed technologies. Such circuits hinge on a fundamental understanding of impairments such as timing jitter which I have made extensive studies in the past few years. Visits to industry are planned, as that will bring in the practical aspects.”

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Hot news as the weather cools a little

Six thousand new first-year students will be on campus right after Labour Day — but half of them, more or less, will be here on July 24 as well. That's the last Saturday before spring term classes end, and it's the date set for Student Life 101, the one-day opportunity for those newcomers (and their parents) to preview Waterloo, get WatCards, drop a few dollars at the bookstore, sometimes even meet roommates. "The day will be filled with information sessions," says Gabrielle Finnie of the student life office, "from learning about co-op to finding ways to budget successfully during the next four to five years students will spend at Waterloo. There will be tours through the residences and around campus. Food services outlets around campus will be open for the day and barbecues will be held at various locations." And she adds: "The day will only be made possible because of the amazing help and support from hundreds of current Waterloo students who will show the ropes to these new Warriors.  Eager current students can sign up to be a volunteer."

Bill Poole, who has been director of the Centre for Cultural Management since 1990, will retire officially on June 1 — from UW, at any rate. He'll promptly go to work again, it was announced this week, as interim executive director of the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in central Waterloo. (The gallery is short a leader because director Robert Achtemichuk has taken an extended sick leave.) Poole "has agreed to assist the Gallery at this time of transition as it implements strategies created through a recent comprehensive public consultation process," a news release said. "Mr. Poole’s experience as a cultural administrator, includes work at the Shaw Festival, the National Ballet of Canada, and the National Ballet School. Bill was recipient of the Special Jury Award at the 2001 Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Awards and the Association of Cultural Executives Ace Award in 2005. He also brings a broad perspective on the role of culture, having served on both Waterloo’s and Kitchener’s municipal cultural advisory committees, and presently sits on the Ontario-wide Minister’s Advisory Council for Arts and Culture." The release added that the CCGG board, which is chaired by retired UW political science professor Bob Williams, "is confident that Bill Poole can make a valuable contribution to the next phase of the Gallery's development."

The Chevron ceased publication as Waterloo's student newspaper in 1976, or so history records — but it's baaack. "Volume 1, issue 1" of something by that title, and using the same double-chevron logo that graced campus mastheads three decades ago, was distributed on campus just before the long weekend. It's no more than a single sheet, with a headline that might well have been seen on the original antiestablishment paper all those years ago: "The Failures of the Federation of Students". It promises "a truly free press . . . protected by a warm blanket of anonymity. It is the founding belief of The Chevron that no issue before the student body is beyond, above, or outside of the scrutiny of the press." No specifics are given about when issue 2 might be expected.

One of the university's senior officials during the 1990s, Jack Robb (left, in 1980), died May 13. John G. McK. Robb came to UW in 1974 as director of accounting, later becoming director of financial services and then, in 1983, treasurer of the university, a position on a par with what are now called associate provosts. He retired May 1, 1998. Born in Scotland, Robb was educated at Australia's University of Sydney and worked in the United States before coming to Canada. His interests beyond Needles Hall included a number of sports, as well as a lifelong involvement in the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Third baseman Aaron Butler and first baseman Jason Diniz-Wood of the Warrior baseball squad will be playing for the Ontario University Athletics all-star team when it takes on the champion Western Mustangs on Sunday. The game will be played Sunday at Toronto's Rogers Centre, following the 1:00 game between the Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. Two other Warriors — shortstop Mike Glinka and outfielder Calen Hamelin — were selected for the all-stars but aren't able to play on Sunday, officials said in announcing the fourth annual "OUA Baseball All-Star Showcase".

The student Math Society is seeking nominations for several positions on its council (the deadline is this afternoon). • Joanna Magee, communications officer for the faculty of science, reports that a visitor drove all the way from Rochester, New York, to hear last week's lecture by earth scientist Alan Morgan about his visit to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. • Tomorrow is the final day for the "Projects Review" exhibition of 2009-10 student work in the Design at Riverside gallery in the Architecture building.

CAR

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