Political science graduate Andrue Anstett, a former Manitoba legislator and cabinet minister and now and Ontario public servant, was among alumni who attended a reunion held at Renison College over the holiday weekend. Anstett, left, shakes hands with former poli sci faculty member Jack Kersell. Photo by Alex Lippert, faculty of arts.

Back to top

CIGI unveils Africa Project

The Waterloo-based Centre for International Governance Innovation yesterday launched what it calls the Africa Project — “a major five-year initiative exploring the impact of climate change on Africa’s security and socio-economic development”.

Says a news release from the centre, which has close links to UW: “Starting with the premise that Africa is the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and yet the least responsible for contributing to this most critical global challenge, CIGI’s Africa Project will adopt an interdisciplinary, international and multi-institutional approach through world-class field research, open dialogue and constructive debate. It will examine climate change as it relates to five critical areas across Africa: health, migration, energy, food security, and conflict resolution and mediation.

“The Africa Project, a collaborative initiative between CIGI, the Salama Shield Foundation and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, is made possible by a significant private donation by a group of national and international donors.” (CIGI adds that “at the request of the donors, the amount and the names of individuals who contributed financial resources for this project will not be released.”)

The release continues: “To increase the understanding of the threat of climate change for Africa, one of the major objectives of the project is building local capacity and concentrating assistance that directly involves Africans. CIGI’s Africa Project will primarily work from a base in Uganda and will aim to report best practices for African governments, institutions and communities, create a student and faculty exchange program and disseminate its research though a custom-built online portal.

Director of the project will be Nelson Sewankambo, dean of the faculty of medicine at Makerere, and associate director will be Dennis Willms of the Salama Shield Foundation.
The project was launched with a reception last night featuring Jim Balsillie, chair of CIGI’s board; John English, its executive director and a UW professor of history; and Joseph Kahiigwa, deputy High Commissioner of Uganda to Canada.

CIGI describes itself as “an independent, nonpartisan think tank that addresses international governance challenges. Led by a group of experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI's interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world.”

Back to top

Accountancy prof says it's all about the students

An online profile provided by the Keystone Campaign

For Grant Russell, of the School of Accounting and Finance, it’s all about the students. “They are incredibly bright, and some are also incredibly sensitive and well-rounded individuals,” he says. “That’s always been one of our big selling points when we’re talking about hiring faculty or about bringing in employers. Our students are just outstanding.”

And it seems the students return the compliment. A winner of UW’s Distinguished Teacher Award in 2000, Russell was cited as a caring, committed, and outstanding teacher, with a special interest in helping students make the most of new technology.

If anyone knows the SAF, it’s Grant Russell. He came to UW in 1974, invited by Bob Kerton, then chair of economics, to help set up the new accountancy program. In addition to teaching, he is the school’s associate director (programs) and director of the unique-in-Canada Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management program. When not busy with his students, he’s enjoying the company of the other young people in his life — his children and grandchildren. “Family is an important part of who I am,” he says. That’s why he and his wife Darlene worked as a team to build the Russell Family Scholarship, which is awarded annually to an outstanding student entering the Financial Management program.

What do you enjoy most about your job at UW?

“What I like best is the interaction I have with students. Some of the young people who come out of here are just phenomenal. And I get to select them, I get to work with them, I get to celebrate their successes. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Accounting has an image as being rather dry. What do you tell your students?

“I’ve always thought accounting was the heart of the universe! An accountant’s function is to provide openness and transparency when people give other people charge of their money. That’s an important responsibility. If you have skills in this particular area, it’s a way to contribute substantially to the well-being of others.”

What motivated you personally to donate to the University of Waterloo?

“The program I’m involved in — Financial Management — is one that I know adds value to students, and helping a student get through that is something I find very attractive. When I was an undergraduate I had bursaries, and they were very encouraging; not just the financial help, but the sense that someone else was interested in my success. I would like others to have that feeling.”

Back to top

Summer camp programs in full swing and other notes

Students seem to be getting younger and younger all the time, but you may be noticing some really young faces around campus this month as we enter summer day camp season at UW.

Two long running programs are the Arts Computing Experience (ACE) and Engineering Science Quest (ESQ), which have been offered on campus for 26 years and 18 years respectively. Both run from June 30 to August 22.

ACE is a summer day camp where children will experience hours of fun while learning exciting and interesting aspects of art, computers, drama and music combined with outdoor activities and swimming. The camp is open to children from 7 to 12 years of age.

ESQ is a student-run program for kids from entering grades 1 to 9 in the fall, and explores new horizons in engineering and science, giving participants an opportunity to see, touch, invent, design, create, and experiment.

There is also a wide variety of summer dance and athletic programs available. For a full listing of all summer programs and registration information, click here.

In other news:

The UW Robotics Team recently competed at the RoboGames in San Francisco, California. Team member Bryan Webb reports: "Our robot, Marauder, placed 4th out of 14 entries in the autonomous navigation competition. The robot performed very well and we got many compliments on the robustness of our chassis. Given three attempts to hit the target cone, Marauder found and hit its target on its first try. Unfortunately, we were unable to integrate a camera system that would've enabled us to hit the bonus cones drastically raising our chances for second or even first place. Our chances will be even better next year with this experience behind us."

We ran a story on academic integrity on Friday, but we're not the only one shedding light on the issue. The journal Nature has reported on the case of a postdoctoral fellow who was suspended from the Ottawa Health Research Institute after it came to light that she had manipulated and falsified data while a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. Proof positive that academic misconduct can indeed carry over into the real world.

Back to top