Daily Bulletin

UW hosts wetlands fete

Activities include public presentations and a keynote address by Buffy Sainte-Marie, international singer/songwriter and environmentalist, as well as a program for about 500 local high school students and teachers. Public events take place in the Humanities Theatre in Hagey Hall.

World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, which calls for both the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Next to Russia, Canada has the most wetlands in the world. There are 35 Ramsar sites in Canada, which are wetlands of international importance, giving Canada the largest area of designated wetlands in the world.

"In recent years, human attitudes have changed with the realization that wetlands are beautiful and valuable features of our landscape," said Barry Warner, director of the UW Wetlands Research Centre -- the only university-based centre of its type in Canada. Termed "biological supermarkets" because of the extensive food webs and rich diversity of plants and animals they harbor, wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems.

Wetlands also constitute an important environmental link between the Northern and Southern hemispheres where millions of migratory birds make the journey twice yearly. They depend for their survival on the concerted wetland conservation action by many countries that are in their range.

The wetlands events at Waterloo begin this morning with presentations and workshops from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for about 500 high school students from the Waterloo Region District School Board and the Waterloo Region Separate School Board, as well as several private schools.

At 10 a.m., a workshop on "The Environmental Bill of Rights and the Environmental Registry" will be conducted by John Ferguson, of the office of the environmental commissioner of Ontario. Buffy Sainte-Marie will speak to students and the public at 1 p.m. on "Taking Your Message to the World." Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., a marketplace and workshop will be held by CRESTech, featuring displays from industry, business and government.

Kitchener member of parliament Karen Redman will attend the program and speak on behalf of the federal government. Henry Lickers and Richard David of the Mohawk Council of the Akwesasne will open and close the session with a prayer.

Math fund needs help to spend cache

"Over the past five years," says MEF director Jeremy Scheffel, "undergraduate and graduate math students have been donating money to the principal endowment fund. Each year we spend the interest on meaningful projects that help undergraduate math students," such as educational conferences, course development and new learning facilities.

The major source of contributions is the refundable Student Endowment Fund contribution by undergraduate math students each term. "The amount $31.42 was chosen as it is both affordable and has some mathematical reference (10 pi)." Contributions also come from the Pink Tie Pledge for graduating students.

According to Scheffel, students can pitch in by joining the funding council, or by submitting a proposal for funding. The funding council -- made up of math faculty students, alumni and professors -- reviews and recommends funding proprosals to the board of directors. Nomination forms for the positions open this term are available on the MEF website. The deadline is February 26.

Ideas for proposals to benefit math education are also invited, and submission for funding forms are available on the website. For more information, phone MEF at ext. 5757 or drop by the office in Math and Computer room 4046.

Leaping into the Year of the Hare...

In the past, the UW Bookstore has had free copies of the federal budget available for folks on campus. Not this year, it reports. The federal budget is unveiled today, but the government is saving money by not distributing copies of the document to individual stores. "Instead, order forms can be picked up by customers and they make all the arrangements themselves," advises Barb Russwurm, general books manager. There is still no charge for copies of the budget.

Losing Your Mind and Continuing Life is the topic of a talk today by Olga Malott, director of the Alzheimer Research Program in the faculty of applied health sciences. The presentation at noon in Needles Hall room 1020 is part of the Chew on This program, designed to give "an educational lunch break" to employers on campus conducting student interviews .

If you missed the deadline for the name the Village One servery contest, take heart. Not only has the competition been extended, but the prize money has been boosted to $200 to entice more great entries. Submissions to the first round of the contest were fewer than anticipated, and food services would like to have a better selection of great ideas to choose from. "We're going to give it until the end of the month before the committee makes the selection," says Bud Walker, director of university business operations. Entries can be sent to Joanne Buchholzer at jbuchhol@mc1adm.uwaterloo.ca or at food services in Tutor House 5 for consideration by the food services advisory committee.

The UW staff association nominating committee has announced that Marian Davies will represent staff on the works of art and gallery committee, beginning immediately and running until December 31, 2002. "To the staff members who were not selected this time, I encourage you to watch for future postings which might match your skill set," advises Karen LeDrew, chair of the nominating committee. "Your interest in representing staff is deeply appreciated."

Barbara Elve
bmelve@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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