Garden in the Uptown Waterloo sky

“Uptown” Waterloo, a short walk from the main campus along the railway tracks, continues to be a happenin’ place, but the latest civic improvement is too high overhead to be readily seen.

It’s a “green” roof installed by the Centre for International Governance Innovation on its building at the corner of Erb and Caroline Streets — the former Seagram Museum building adjacent to the historic Seagram barrel warehouse.

CIGI is “an international research institution that develops ideas for global change” and “is taking an innovative approach to improving Waterloo’s urban environment”, a news release says, boasting of “an approach to urban design that uses living materials to make the environment more livable, efficient, and sustainable”.

Green roofs are a novelty, but CIGI’s isn’t unique; a similar installation sits atop the Accelerator Centre building on UW’s north campus. Green roofs are considered to help the environment through energy conservation, preservation of habitat and biodiversity, filtration of precipitation, run-off and airborne particles, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, ozone protection and smog reduction through carbon-dioxide-to-oxygen exchange.

CIGI’s green roof, the news release says, “was constructed using components that seal the roof against penetration by water; retain enough moisture for the plants to survive periods of low precipitation, yet are capable of draining excess moisture when required; maintain a sustainable plant cover; and protect the underlying components against ultraviolet and thermal degradation.” It was installed by RGS (Roof Greening Systems) of Cambridge. The pre-grown mat system provides effective storm water management and enables efficient heating and cooling of CIGI in lieu of a conventional roof. The mat was installed on four inches of growing medium comprised of native plants such as black-eyed Susans and New Jersey tea.

The CIGI roof looks down at the Waterloo Town Square shopping centre and the planned site for a Waterloo public square facing King Street. A budget and plan for the long-awaited public square were approved by city council last week. In another direction, CIGI has a view of the former Seagram distillery, now converted to loft residences along Father David Bauer Drive, and the site of the planned Balsillie School of International Affairs. Across Erb Street are former industrial lands that are the intended site for residential and commercial developments including a major downtown hotel.

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Faculty members going on sabbatical

Here’s a list of some UW faculty members who will begin sabbatical leaves on September 1, 2007. The descriptions of their sabbatical plans are taken from material submitted to the university’s board of governors, which has to give approval for each sabbatical before it’s taken.

Jim Geelen, combinatorics and optimization (twelve months): “The purpose of the proposed sabbatical is to continue an on-going research project with Bert Gerards (CWI, The Netherlands) and Geoff Whittle (Victoria University, New Zealand). I will be based in Waterloo during the sabbatical year, but will be away for approximately nine weeks on research visits.”

Bessma Momani, political science and history (six months): “I will be investigating why and how IMF member states got seats at the IMF Executive Board through archival material and personal interviews. This will result in a book manuscript.”

Kesen Ma, biology (twelve months): “This sabbatical leave will be used as an opportunity for me to conduct some research projects that are unable for us to do on campus, such as crystallographic structural analysis and collecting samples for isolating new hyperthermophilic species, and I hope to establish new collaborations. In addition, I plan to spend more time on our research program and finish writing several papers.”

Robin Cohen, computer science (twelve months): “Research with Tran (U Ottawa) on trust in multiagent systems; research with Song (U Guelph) on web personalization. Research with Poupart and Larson (UW) on multiagent systems. Exploration of social implications text. Course development in artificial intelligence and social implications.”

Don McLeish, statistics and actuarial science (twelve months): “I plan to continue work on incomplete or latent variable models in continuous-time finance including stochastic volatility and credit risk management.”

Gordon Stubley, mechanical and mechatronics engineering (six months): “I plan to develop a well-organized and complete set of student lecture notes and reference materials for ME 566, CFD for Engineering Design, and to develop an Atlas of Student Concept and Skill Development based on a scholarly analysis of the Mechanical Engineering curriculum.”

Sivabal Sivaloganathan, applied mathematics (twelve months): “Sabbatical leave to strengthen research collaborations with medical researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children and other Toronto hospitals. To increase the role of CMM and Waterloo@MaRS in fostering collaborative research in the Biomedical Sciences.”

Guy Poirier, French studies (twelve months): “Research on French Renaissance Travel Accounts (SSHRC funded research project).”

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A little more plump and juicy reading

The editors of Alternatives Journal, published in UW’s faculty of environmental studies, are boasting of a “plump and juicy double issue” this summer under the title “Measuring Progress and Building Heritage”. Says a newsletter for the magazine’s fans: “For Measuring Progress, Robert Gibson crunches tough numbers but points to signs of hope in Peril and Possibility. And on the Building Heritage side, Robert Shipley and Jason Kovacs consider the energy and culture embodied by our built environment in From Bottles to Buildings. These editorials are just a taste of what's in store. Because we love to stir things up, we're offering you our latest Point-CounterPoint on the merits and drawbacks of waste incineration. Richard Gilbert and Mark Winfield debate the burning issue, but there are more than two sides to the story. Read the full version online, consider the arguments presented, then share your thoughts on our blog. In Alberta‘s Boom Not Without Bust, the Pembina Institute's Amy Taylor explains that even in times of economic success, happiness is not a guarantee. Alternatives editor Nicola Ross provides a variation on this theme in her editorial Happiness Is a Carbon Tax. And in Halifax, the Ecology Action Centre finds ways to build both sustainably and on a budget. Read about their happy ending in Greening on a Shoestring.”

A correction: the July 17 issue of the Daily Bulletin, noting that Joanne Kuhn, a former UW librarian, had died in May, said — wrongly — that she had left the university on long-term disability several years ago. It's been drawn to my attention that in fact she left the university through resignation, and was not on disability leave.

Several UW buildings and sites will be involved in this year’s “Doors Open Waterloo Region” event, scheduled for September 15. Visitors will be welcomed at the Accelerator Centre building on the north campus (where they can see the green roof), the Environmental Studies I building on the main campus (green wall), and the site of the planned Grand House student co-op residence near the Architecture building in Cambridge. Altogether 33 sites are involved in this year’s Doors Open event across Waterloo Region, and a map and guide brochure will be available in the fall.

The campus recreation program is offering free fitness classes during the stressful exam season; a schedule should be on its web site. • Two former members of the UW board of governors, businessman Purdy Crawford and television personality Pamela Wallin, were named to the Order of Canada in the most recent list of appointments. • August is one of those rare months when, because of how the Fridays fall, unionized UW staff will see three paydays: today, August 17 and August 31.

Matt Colautti, a UW mechatronics engineering student and soon to be a don in Mackenzie King Village, is a media star this week, as he's being featured on an episode of the CBC television reality show "No Opportunity Wasted", to be aired in the fall. "In each episode," a web site explains, "two challengers, who do not know they have been chosen, will be surprised by Bruce Kirkby and asked to take on Phil Keoghan’s 72-hour NOW challenge. With their schedules cleared and all excuses eliminated, the two challengers, total strangers with a common goal, must work step-by-step to complete a series of time targets that will push them to the extreme and help them complete their challenge." Colautti is working to pull off "an art auction to raise money for a studio for street youth to make art", says a frantic-sounding e-mail note to colleagues on campus. Here's looking forward to finding out more when the episode is broadcast.

A couple of memos are on hand, inviting UW people to volunteer for community activities. From the volunteer services office at the city of Waterloo (staffed by Wendy MacIntosh, formerly of the UW staff) comes word about two major events for which volunteer help is welcome: the Waterloo Busker Carnival August 23-26 (call 519-747-8769 for information) and the Royal Medieval Faire on September 15 (call 519-888-6488). From Extend-a-Family comes an invitation for "reliable, energetic and committed individuals to support individuals with a developmental and/or physical disability in the community or at home in various programs and activities". Details on Extend-a-Family are online, or call 741-0190.

And . . . I'm going to be away from the office now until the end of the month. The Daily Bulletin will appear as usual in my absence, thanks to other hands here in Communications and Public Affairs; e-mail sent to bulletin@uwaterloo.ca will reach my colleague Pat Bow, or her backup. A pleasant summer to all readers!

CAR

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