Two new brochures talk up the university

by Kelley Teahen, associate director, marketing and communications, CPA

Two new publications created through Communications and Public Affairs are now available to promote and provide information about the University of Waterloo.

The first is a new "facts and figures" brochure (right). It's small (9 cm x 21 cm) and unfolds to give a brief introduction to the university, a locator map, a page of figures on "student life by the numbers" and a flip-over page of figures related to "supporting teaching and research." There's also a list of Waterloo accomplishments called "they started here": everything from co-op post-secondary education in Canada to the Canadian Centre of Arts and Technology.

The facts brochures are available for university guests through the Visitors Centre; units on campus can request quantities for distribution from Karen Mason, CPA, at k3mason@uwaterloo.ca.

The facts brochure is a companion piece — in other words, they look like they were designed with each other in mind — to Building the Future (left). This is a 28-page, 21cm x 28 cm booklet that introduces readers to the university's history and gives a progress report on Waterloo's first steps toward meeting the goals of its Sixth Decade Plan.

Building the Future begins with articles on how Waterloo is building on its strengths through co-op, experiential learning and its historic relationship with the university colleges. Other stories explore Waterloo's connections to its community; opportunities being built through Campaign Waterloo; the continued growth of the Research and Technology Park; and innovative new academic programs such as the Bachelor of Knowledge Integration. A report on "building room for inspiration to grow" is a roundup of construction projects underway at UW.

There are also six research profiles, two reports on new graduate studies initiatives, and three stories on how UW is reaching out globally. Scattered throughout the publication are quotes from some of the 50 alumni who were chosen as UW 50th Anniversary Alumni Award winners, including Chancellor Mike Lazaridis.

The audience for Building the Future is external, such as dignitaries being met on international exchanges, potential donors, government officials, business and industrial partners, and even parents of potential students who want more information on the university than the small facts brochure will provide and who want an overview of the university's accomplishments, rather than the youth-and-student-focused information found in the university's recruitment view book.

Copies of Building the Future have already been distributed to key offices throughout the campus. If we have missed anyone, please contact Kelley Teahen of CPA, who was editor for both brochures, at kteahen@uwaterloo.ca.

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Leading expert explores global climate change

from the UW media relations office

A leading environmental policy expert who has advised the Canadian and U.S. governments will give a public talk on the science and politics of global climate change next week at the University of Waterloo.

Edward (Ted) Parson, a professor at the University of Michigan (U-M), will deliver his speech on Wednesday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. in the Mathematics and Computer Building, room 2065 on the UW campus. The event is sponsored by UW's Faculty of Environment and the university bookstore.

"Dr. Parson will outline where science and policy collide and answer such questions as Is the climate changing? Are humans responsible? and What futures can we expect?" says Roger Suffling, professor of planning. "His book is a must for those who want to move beyond the rhetoric and understand climate science policy, as well as for those who seek an interdisciplinary outlook on the management of global environmental issues."

Parson holds a joint appointment in U-M's law school and school of natural resources and environment. His research examines international environmental policy, the role of science and technology in public policy and the political economy of regulation.

His latest book, The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change, was co-authored with University of Maryland professor Andrew Dessler. His earlier book, Protecting the Ozone Layer: Science and Strategy, won the 2004 Harold and Margaret Sprout Award of the International Studies Association.

Parson's articles have appeared in such scholarly journals as Science, Climatic Change, Issues in Science and Technology, the Journal of Economic Literature and the Annual Review of Energy and the Environment.

As well, he has chaired and served on several senior advisory committees for the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Government Global Change Research Program.

He has worked and consulted for the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, United Nations Environment Program, Office of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress, Privy Council Office of the Government of Canada and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Parson received degrees in physics from the University of Toronto and in management science from the University of British Columbia, along with a doctorate in public policy from Harvard. He was formerly a professional classical musician and an organizer of grass-roots environmental groups.

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Climate change is top of mind for grad student

one of half a dozen features in UW’s new graduate student recruitment brochure

When she’s not publishing papers or giving presentations on the impact of global warming on tourism, you might find Jackie Dawson (above right) bumping over northern Manitoba’s vast ice fields on a tundra buggy searching for polar bears.

“They’re the icon of climate change,” she says simply.

As a growing heap of research shows, climate change, when you consider its multi-faceted derivations, outcomes and responses, is hardly a simple topic. And Dawson, a University of Waterloo PhD student in the Faculty of Environmental Studies’ Department of Geography, knows she’s incredibly fortunate to have the support — and ear — of her supervisor, Daniel Scott (above left), to help her wade through it all.

Right from the beginning, Dawson says, she’s always felt at ease discussing her PhD topic — climate change and the New England ski industry — with Scott, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Change and Tourism who is also the chair of the joint World Meteorological Organization and World Tourism Organization Expert Team on Climate and Tourism. He’s a dream of an advisor, providing funding, writing joint papers and showing enthusiasm for her ideas. But it wasn’t until last year that she realized how coveted his expertise and time really were. At conferences other PhD students told her they were jealous she was working with Scott. A student from Spain flew to Canada just to work with him for a week.

“That’s when I realized, ‘Gee, I’m lucky I can just walk down the hall and talk to him whenever I want,’” she says now.

For his part, Scott says he’s happy to pass the torch to the next generation of academics, just as University of Waterloo professors Geoff Wall and Geoff McBoyle, pioneers in climate change and tourism, did for him when he was a master’s student and post-doc at Waterloo.

“We have an international reputation for being leaders in this field and it’s great that we get to keep it going,” he says.

Dawson says Scott’s support of her work will leave its mark for years. “He is making me a better academic, a better writer, a better researcher and I will eventually be a better supervisor to my own students.”

CPA Staff

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