Prof retires; other summer notes

One of UW’s prominent faculty members is being feted today as he retires after 31 years of service to the department of economics, the faculty association and the university as a whole. James Brox (left, photo from 1989), who specialized in forecasting and applied econometrics, was best known in the community as the developer of an annual “forecast” of the Canadian economy that drew extensive media attention. Within UW, he was prominent as president of the faculty association for several years, and at times an advocate of faculty unionization. He also served as chair of the economics department for nine years, and in many other UW roles. Brox came to UW in 1978 after brief stints with Statistics Canada and at Mount Saint Vincent University, and has become a prominent figure in his field, currently serving as president of the International Banking, Economics, and Finance Association. He will be the guest of honour at a reception from 4:00 to 6:00 this afternoon at the University Club.

UW’s Institute for Quantum Computing and the Toronto-based Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences are sponsoring a workshop on Mathematics in Experimental Quantum Information Processing, continuing through Friday at the IQC’s temporary home on the UW north campus. This interdisciplinary workshop, an IQC memo explains, “will bring together experimental quantum information researchers and pure and applied mathematicians. It provides a rare opportunity for people in both fields to meet, interact and develop future collaborations. More than 35 researchers will be in attendance, representing institutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, India, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Algeria, France and Poland. The Mathematics in Experimental Quantum Information Processing workshop is part of the Fields Institute’s Thematic Program on Mathematics in Quantum Information.”

It’s been pretty clear for a while that ArtWorx, the little nook in East Campus Hall where UW’s retail services department sells art supplies, wasn’t going to be reopening after its summer shutdown. That outcome is now official: “Effective August 1, 2009, Retail Services will close the Artworx location at East Campus Hall. The space has been reassigned to the Faculty of Arts. In discussion with the chair of Fine Arts, Bruce Taylor, the department has made arrangements to provide fine arts kits for Fine Arts students. A selection of fine arts supplies will be available throughout the year in Write Stuff (formerly Techworx) in South Campus Hall.”

“It’s time,” a memo tells us, “to participate in Waterloo Region’s Vital Signs 2009! It’ll only take 15-20 minutes of your time, but the impact of your contribution will last for years to come!” The “Vital Signs” survey is “an annual check-up that measures the vitality of our Region, identifies significant trends, and assigns grades in 11 key areas critical to Waterloo Region’s quality of life,” the memo explains. “Since its launch in 2007, it has been exciting to learn that by shining a light on issues of importance, the report is being used as a planning tool for many in our community. The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation along with the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation are once again asking for your help to grade our community in the following key areas: Art and Culture, Belonging and Leadership, Environment, Gap Between the Rich and Poor, Getting Around, Getting Started in Our Community, Health and Wellness, Housing, Learning, Safety, Work. Over the last two years we have had the most people complete the survey out of all the communities involved in Vital Signs across the country.The two foundations are fortunate to have many fantastic community partners and organizations assisting us with sending out this survey. The more graders the merrier.” The survey is online until August 24.

John Debrone, technician in UW's school of planning and school of architecture since 1981, officially retired as of August 1. • Trenny McGinnis, a Needles Hall mainstay as associate secretary of the university (and UW staff member in various roles for 28 years), is crossing the creek to become executive assistant to the president of St. Jerome's University, starting September 1. • Tami Everding, formerly of UW and now program administrator at the Kitchener campus of the McMaster University medical school, is among this year's winners of the President's Award for Outstanding Service at Mac.

The department of athletics and recreational services is today launching a new on-line newsletter that will go out as part of the monthly newsletter published by UW's alumni office. The new Warrior Xtra will be going to some 60,000 alumni around the world each month, beginning with the issue that hits the Internet today. Says athletics director Bob Copeland: "We want to foster and further build our alumni relationships and seize the opportunity to communicate our message to a mass audience. With the evolution of the internet and opportunities to utilize multimedia components, the new Warrior Xtra will allow us to share our stories and current events to a wider alumni base." The new vehicle replaces the printed Gold and Black newsletter. "Many alumni tell us that their varsity and recreational activities were highlights of their student experience," says Beth Bohnert of the alumni office. "Through the e-newsletter, we hope to help keep the memories alive and the connection strong."

Interlibrary loans are moving slowly just now, as the Council of Ontario Universities shut down its Interuniversity Transit Service suddenly on Monday; a new service, operated by the commercial Purolator Courier, is scheduled to begin next week. • The University Club is planning a barbecue and corn roast ("an evening of casual, comfortable fun and dining") tomorrow night — information, ext. 33801. • St. Jerome's University has issued the brochure for its 2009-10 "Lectures in Catholic Experience" series, under the overall title "Good Global Citizenship".

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Former staff and faculty are remembered

Deaths of several retired faculty and staff members have been reported recently by UW’s human resources department. As they are remembered, the details of their careers also indicate the amount of change that the university has undergone through the decades:

Lionel Brazeau, who died June 29, worked at UW from 1973 to 1995 — initially as a superintendent in the Married Student Apartment complex (now UW Place), then as a plant operations custodian and finally as a janitor in Village II (now Ron Eydt Village).

David Erb, who died July 15, was a faculty member in the department of geography (now geography and environmental management) from 1963 to his retirement July 1, 1988. He was a specialist in geomorphology (land forms) and in remote sensing, beginning with his 1963 PhD thesis at McGill University on the terrain of Sri Lanka as interpreted from aerial photographs. He worked on aerial surveys in many parts of the world, and later worked data from orbiting satellites.

Lloyd Jones, who died April 29, was a coordinator in the department of coordination and placement (now co-operative education and career services) from 1963 to his retirement October 1, 1976.

Betsy (Betty) Lanktree, who died June 30, was librarian at St. Jerome’s College (now University) from 1974 to her retirement November 1, 1989.

Elizabeth Mersch, who died March 10, was a custodian in plant operations, working in the Dana Porter Library, from 1969 to her retirement in 1977. She is survived by her husband, Hubert Mersch, also retired from the UW staff.

John Ll. Morris (right, 1980), who died April 25, served as a faculty member in what is now the School of Computer Science, specializing in numerical analysis. After working at the University of Dundee, he first came to Waterloo in 1973 as a visiting research associate based in the faculty of mathematics. In 1975 he was appointed an associate professor in the department of computer science, and he later became a full professor in both CS and applied mathematics. He served for a time as associate dean (computing) in the math faculty and as director of the Math Faculty Computing Facility. He later returned to do teaching and research in Britain, but remained officially on UW’s faculty, retiring as of October 1, 2008.

Marie Rumig, who died July 5, was a housekeeper in Village II (Ron Eydt Village) from 1971 to her retirement in 1982.

Wilhelm Wollbold, who died July 29, was a custodian in the plant operations department from 1972 to his retirement in 1996.

CAR

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