Waterloo in world's top 100 in seven subjects

Seven subjects at the University of Waterloo rank among the top 100 universities in the world, according to rankings published yesterday.

The rankings, by UK firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), put Waterloo 24th in the world for its work in Computer Science and in Mathematics – second amongst Canadian universities in both subjects. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Computer Science has risen in the international classification and the third year that Mathematics has risen.

Waterloo is ranked in the top 100 for Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Environmental Sciences and Statistics and Operational Research.

“I am very pleased that these rankings show the breadth of excellence in teaching and research that exists here,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. “We strive to achieve a level of academic and research excellence to meet our goal of becoming one of the world's most innovative universities."

QS ranks close to 700 universities worldwide in 30 disciplines. Waterloo is listed amongst the top 200 universities globally for 19 of the 30 subjects evaluated – with improved rankings in four subject areas.

“The University of Waterloo's Faculty of Mathematics has the largest concentration of mathematical and computer science talent in the world,” said Ian Goulden, dean of mathematics. “We attract outstanding students and faculty members from around the world and I am delighted that their hard work is reflected in these results.”

In 2013:

• Waterloo mathematician, Jim Geelen, was among a team of researchers who solved Rota’s Conjecture, a problem first posed more than 40 years ago and
• Maïté Dupuis of the Department of Applied Mathematics was awarded a prestigious NSERC Banting fellowship to focus on the Quantum-Nano nexus, which is one of the University’s top current research priorities.
• Mathematician Chris Bauch found that applying mathematical models to what people are talking about on Facebook and Twitter could help scientists to better understand how contagious diseases spread, and how people react to outbreaks.

Waterloo also ranked 200 for English Language and Literature, Philosophy, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics & Astronomy, Accounting & Finance, Politics and Sociology.

 

Back to top

Researchers invited to EU innovation seminar

Call it the event horizon of European research and innovation.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are being invited to attend a briefing seminar entitled "Horizon 2020: The New EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Opportunities for Canadians" on Friday, February 28 from 10:00 a.m. until noon in Environment 1 221.

Horizon 2020 is the largest EU Research and Innovation program, with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years.  Friday's session will explain the structure of research funding in Europe and provide information on upcoming funding opportunities and the mechanisms by which Canadians can participate working with European partners in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. The European Commission recently opened the first calls for proposals for Horizon 2020.

The briefing is being conducted by Luigi Scarpa de Masellis, advisor, economic and commercial affairs of the Delegation of the European Union to Canada.

According to a message from Waterloo International, a number of priority sectors in Horizon 2020 align well with Waterloo's research capacities, including emerging technologies, enabling technologies that drive industrial leadership, societal challenges, food security, secure, clean and efficient energy, climate change, innovative and reflective societies, secure societies, research infrastructures, and innovation in SMEs.

 

Contact Drew Knight via email or by calling ext 32288 for additional information. All are welcome to attend the event.

 

Back to top

Fine Arts and UWAG hold open house Saturday

The Fine Arts department and the University of Waterloo Art Gallery are hosting Open House 2014 on Saturday, March 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This is the second annual open house event, and the public is being invited to a full day of events that including the opening of Stefan and The Artery, featuring undergraduate projects from the Fine 222 sculpture class, undergraduate fourth-year Open Studios on the second floor, and MFA Open Studios featuring work by first- and second-year graduate candidates Robert Dayton, Megan Green, Sarah Kernohan, Liz Little, Ian McMurrich, Amanda Rhodenizer, Srdjan Segan and Aislinn Thomas.

In conjunction with the Fine Arts open house, the University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UWAG) is inviting the public to visit the current exhibitions Place and Space (REDUX) by C. Wells and Behind the High Grass by Soft Turns. Director/Curator Ivan Jurakic will lead a tour of the exhibitions at 3:00 p.m. followed by an informal reception.

The day's agenda is as follows:

• 10:00 a.m. - open house begins at East Campus Hall
• 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Student Exhibition Opening Reception - The Artery (ECH 1207)
• 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - MFA Open Studios (ECH 1237)
• 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Undergraduate fourth-year Open Studios (ECH 2105)
• 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Curator's tour of exhibitions, UWAG (ECH 1239)
• 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Closing reception, UWAG (ECH 1239)

Both admission and parking are free.

Contact Sharon Dahmer, administrative assistant in Fine Arts, for more details by email or by calling ext. 36923.

 

Back to top

Leadership lessons from Love, other notes

Tonight, the Arts Student Union is hosting former Obama personal aide Reggie Love for a talk entitled "Leadership Lessons" at 6:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre. QNC 2502. Please note the change in venue. In addition, admission is now free. Tickets are $10 for arts students, $15 for non-arts students and can be purchased at the Arts Student Union office in AL 120 or at the Hagey Hall box office. A meet and greet will be held after the keynote address.

If you're a Mathematics student, and if you love free sushi, then Computational Mathematics would like to invite you to attend a Sushi Night on Wednesday, March 12 to learn more about the program. "It will be an opportunity to socialize and enjoy some good sushi and a variety of Japanese cuisine," writes Patty Robinson-Angel. "CM seniors and alumni will share their experience in computational mathematics."

The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 in DC 1301. RSVP to Patty Robinson-Angel by March 5.

While we're on the subject of math, there's still time to submit applications for the annual Think About Math workshop. The workshop is an exciting opportunity for Grade 9 girls to explore career possibilities and interesting applications of mathematics. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m.

 

Back to top