July 11, 2002

Thursday, July 11, 2002

Engineers to hold conference at UW
Why give to the Keystone Campaign?
VM end is nigh
Thursday notes

Editor:
Chris Redmond
credmond@uwaterloo.ca

Montreal International Comedy Festival

Engineers to hold conference at UW

The 2003 national conference of Engineers Without Borders from January 29 to February 1 will be hosted by EWB-Waterloo.

The theme of the conference is "Engineering in International Development: One piece of the puzzle." Students and professionals who are interested in engineering in international development are invited to attend.

"As engineers, we cannot adequately solve international problems without taking into account environmental, social, political and cultural issues," say organizers. "The aim of this conference is to challenge engineers to consider these issues in research, projects, and everyday problem solving. The theme provides an excellent opportunity to incorporate all aspects of academia that impact international development into this conference.

New internship, volunteer jobs
Engineers Without Borders is offering a new internship opportunity in conjunction with the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) in Lira, Uganda beginning in September 2002. The intern will be involved in a research project to explore how Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) can improve the livelihoods of former internally-displaced youth and women affected by the war in northern Uganda. Recognising that information is an important requirement for rural development, the project hopes to strengthen communication and access to information reaching youth and women in Lira and Apac districts.
As well, EWB is looking for new volunteers to assist in volunteer coordination, internships and "overseas sending." Positions, locations and time commitments vary.
The application deadline for both the internship and volunteer positions is this Sunday, July 14.
"The conference is also an opportunity for participants to meet students, academics and professionals interested in international development, share ideas and initiate dialogue on various topics related to engineering and international development.

"An important aspect of international development is the research done on topics that involve developing technologies that are appropriate to specific regions of the world. The conference will be putting on a project fair which will allow researchers to present their work to the public."

Undergraduate students, graduate students and professors are invited to submit "novel technical solutions to global development challenges" through posters and papers. The deadline for non-academic submissions -- NGOs, government departments, clubs, etc. -- is October 1; for academic submissions, October 14. Details are available on the EWB web site.

Why give to the Keystone Campaign?

Keystone progress

On Friday, July 12, the development office will be calculating what percentage of employees in each department chose to give to the Keystone Campaign. Those calculations will be used to give framed participation certificates to departments across campus:

Bronze for increased participation over last year
Silver for over 50 per cent participation
Gold for over 75 per cent participation
Platinum for 100 per cent participation

If you've misplaced your pledge package, visit the Keystone Campaign site for more information.

"Your gift makes an important difference," says the brochure sent to staff and faculty members along with the pledge form inviting them to support UW's Keystone Campaign.

Keystone is the on-campus branch of Campaign Waterloo, and is aiming to raise $4.5 million from faculty, staff and retirees by the time the campaign winds up in UW's 50th anniversary year, 2007.

Says the brochure: "No group is closer to understanding the quality of the Waterloo experience than the people who work here day to day and those who have worked at UW in the past."

It reminds potential donors that "Your gift will contribute to UW's excellence and financial strength in many important ways:

You will join others in saying we are confident and proud of UW and what it represents.
Your participation, like the gifts from alumni, students, and parents, sets an example for corporations, foundations, and individuals outside of the University. Others will be inspired to support UW because of the strong commitment from our campus "family."
Your gift will help UW invest in scholarships, teaching, equipment, library resources, and up-to-date learning facilities, and will ensure that UW continues to provide the best possible opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.
Your gift will help us to build a talent trust.

VM end is nigh

To ensure no one is taken by surprise, Jay Black, associate provost (information systems and technology), sends a reminder of the coming demise of the VM system:

"As we have previously announced, IST intends to make the VM mainframe system permanently unavailable to users after July 31, 2002. In particular, no data on the machine will be accessible after that date unless alternate arrangements have already been made. Further, we have committed to terminating our software licenses and hardware maintenance agreements as of August 31, 2002, and will dismantle the machine at or around that time.

"Please communicate with Martin Timmerman if this raises any unanticipated issues."

Thursday notes

A FLEX lab instructors roundtable will be held from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. today in DC 1568. On the agenda: new software in the Flexible Learning Experience Lab, changes to configurations and equipment, and a discussion of scheduling. All library staff, and past, present, and possible future FLEX lab instructors are welcome.

New co-op job postings are available on the bulletin boards on the main floor of Needles Hall this morning. This posting includes positions for Architecture students.

East Coast Night returns to the Grad House tonight at 9 p.m. The Graduate Student Association event will feature the Nonie Crete Celtic Band, East Coast food, prizes, and "kiss the fish," a custom involving the head of a cod.

The 10th annual Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival starts this evening and runs through Saturday night. Tonight's opening gala starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Regina Street stage, and features the Reflections dance band and a jazz artwork auction. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Father David Bauer Drive, or from the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area office on the ground floor of Waterloo City Hall.

Avvey Peters

TODAY IN UW HISTORY
July 11, 1974: The UW Summer Choir presents "Music for a Summer's Day" at noontime in the Humanities quadrangle.