The United Way campaign is $1,500 better off, as the Tim Hortons outlet in South Campus Hall has made a special donation to the cause. The money represents an "Always Fresh Award" won by the UW food services outlet as a finalist among "non-traditional" Tim's outlets. As of Friday, the on-campus campaign stood at $129,026, nearly two-thirds of the way to its $200,000 goal. That represented gifts from 383 donors. United Way funds go to support some 40 local agencies, from the Canadian Mental Health Association to the Literacy Group of Waterloo Region.

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Campus told: clean keyboards are key

Everybody may need to pitch in to help keep things like phone receivers and photocopier buttons clean in UW offices this flu season, says a campus-wide memo from the director of health services.

“H1N1 influenza (also known as swine flu) is expected to reappear in the coming flu season,” Barbara Schumacher reminds department heads in her memo on “Promoting healthy practices in the workplace”.

She writes: “Although illness has been mild in most cases, there are some who experience severe symptoms requiring ICU care. Public Health officials cannot be certain how H1N1 will behave during the upcoming flu season but are expecting a busier season than usual. This type of flu will probably be with us for the next 18 to 24 months and it will likely come and go in a series of two or three waves.

“It is important that our community continue to, and in some cases begin, the proper personal and business hygiene which will significantly decrease the spread of flu and other communicable diseases now. . . . This memo is being sent to each department to provide managers with tools to promote a healthy workplace environment, personal health practices of each member of our community and effective cleaning of shared office equipment and spaces.”

The memo draws attention to new public health posters (left) on how to “prevent the spread” of communicable diseases. Posters about hygiene for coughing and sneezing and about handwashing technique are also available from health services.

Says Schumacher’s memo: “Isagel antiseptic gel is recommended for hand cleansing when soap and warm, running water are not readily available. If hands are visibly dirty, soap and water should be used.

“CaviWipes are for surface disinfection and not to be used as a hand towelette. If supply chains are interrupted and these particular products are not available, please note that there are many good substitutes. Most household cleaners will effectively clean office surfaces. Various other products may be promoted by suppliers which would not comply with current public health recommendations. . . .

“The following high-touch surfaces should be cleaned at least once daily and frequently if persons with cough and sneezing enter the workspace: push bars on doors, door handles, light switches, taps and sinks, photocopier handle and buttons, buttons on the printers and faxes, handrails in the stairwells, fridge handles in cafeterias, counters including reception areas, cafeterias, social facilities, etc., telephone receivers, keyboards and computer mouse devices, fitness equipment in athletic facilities, tables, desks, and lecterns.

“Plant operations staff will be challenged to meet these cleaning demands. Our entire community needs to help. Please encourage employees to take responsibility for ensuring that their individual spaces are cleaned and that they work together to clean community spaces. Also recommend that staff avoid sharing common items such as dishes, utensils, pens/pencils.”

The memo also quotes advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada about the use of face masks: “In considering the school setting where people are not typically trained in the proper use of masks and considering the potential risk of infection associated with improper mask use, the use of masks in the school setting is not recommended.”

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Hawking name for new Perimeter wing

Waterloo’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics has announced the next step in its expansion plans, with a public event at the beginning of its “Quantum to Cosmos” festival that included a video appearance by the almost legendary physicist Stephen Hawking.

Says a news release issued over the weekend: “The comprehensive advancement program, Expanding the Perimeter, will continue to bring together public and private sector partners with a passion for the transformative power of basic research, building on PI’s celebrated and highly successful public-private funding model.

Expanding the Perimeter has recently secured the funding required to double the Institute’s physical research space. A further $28 million has been raised towards PI’s goal of significantly increasing its funding base in order to support its expanding research operations. The advancement program, which aims to vault the Institute into a world-leading role, was announced before a large audience composed of leaders in the science and technology community.”

The institute has also set a goal of $400 million in fund-raising over the next few years — more than the total brought in from private and public sources over its first ten years.

Said director Neil Turok: “Perimeter Institute’s successful first decade was made possible through a unique combination of personal philanthropy and public support, from sponsors including Mike Lazaridis and the Governments of Ontario and Canada. This excellent start provides the base for our proposed expansion, and opportunities for the participation of additional partners. We welcome individuals and organizations that value the importance of basic research and wish to invest in PI.

“Just one major discovery in theoretical physics is literally capable of changing the world, as when Maxwell discovered a unified description of electricity and magnetism, and Marconi applied his ideas to send the first radio signals, or when Einstein’s new ideas about light, as tiny particles or ‘photons,’ eventually led to the laser, medical imaging equipment, CD players, and more.

“Today, quantum theory is leading the way toward tomorrow’s computers and communication systems, which will vastly exceed the capabilities of current technologies. This historically proven cycle of innovation is fuelled by the foundational thinking that drives the research chain.”

Hawking, speaking from his base at Britain’s Cambridge University, told the audience that “Perimeter Institute is a very exciting venture. Its chosen scientific focus, quantum theory and space-time, is very close to my heart. I am strongly supportive of the Institute’s bold expansion plans and its ambitious research and training programs.” He is expected to make a month-long visit to Perimeter next summer.

“With a mix of excellent scientists, inspirational visitors, and first-rate students recruited from around the world, I expect exciting discoveries will be made,” Hawking also said. “Our field of theoretical physics has been the most successful and cost-effective in all of science. Where would we be today without Newton, Maxwell, and Einstein? Many great challenges lie ahead. Where this new understanding will lead, is impossible to say for sure. What we can say with confidence, is that expanding the Perimeter of our knowledge will be the key to our future.”

The announcement included an update on the 55,000 square foot expansion of the award-winning research facility in central Waterloo. The new addition, already underway, will be known as the Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute.

“We are delighted that Stephen has allowed his name to be associated with this expansion,” said Turok. “He is an inspirational figure, famous both for his cutting edge research into quantum theory and spacetime and for his excellent mentorship of young scientists. At the heart of the Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute will be our world-class training program, Perimeter Scholars International, helping to prepare the next generation of brilliant theoretical physicists”.

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Calendar's full for convocation week

More honours and highlights are being announced for UW's 99th Convocation, to be held in morning and afternoon sessions this Saturday in the Physical Activities Complex. Winner of this year's Faculty of Arts Alumni Achievement Award, to be presented at the 10 a.m. ceremony, will be Ian Kyer (BA 1972 and MA 1973 in history). He subsequently earned a PhD and a law degree at the University of Toronto and is now a partner in the Toronto office of law firm Fasken Martineau. “As a notable Canadian legal historian, and author or editor of numerous law books and articles,” a citation says, “he is a member of the editorial board of several computer law publications, and the founder and first president of the Canadian IT Law Association, Canada’s first national computer law association. His involvement in Impact, Canada’s largest youth-run entrepreneurship group, has been invaluable, supporting the development of young entrepreneurs by providing sponsorship and pro bono legal services.” Kyer has also served as an advisor to UW president David Johnston on IT law issues and worked on a number of UW-based projects: “He is currently working with Vic DiCiccio (Computer Science) on a new network centre of excellence project dealing with graphics, animation, and new media.”

A memo went out from the registrar's office yesterday telling soon-to-graduate students that "we care about you and your guests," and therefore "there will be a number of hand sanitizer dispensers available for graduates and guests at Convocation. This reduces the spread of germs and helps control the flu virus. We strongly recommend that anyone experiencing the signs and symptoms of H1N1 such as sudden onset of respiratory symptoms with fever, cough and one or more of sore throat, muscle aches, joint pain or weakness, not attend Convocation. You will be able to watch a live webcast of Convocation for both ceremonies. This link will not be active until the ceremonies begin on October 24. After Fall 2009 Convocation, you will be able to access the archived webcasts."

Between now and Saturday, the campus will see Mental Health Wellness Day (today in the Student Life Centre), the faculty and staff "town hall" meeting with UW's top executives (see the note at the top of this Daily Bulletin), the astronomy group's star-gazing party on Wednesday night, Wednesday's Hagey Lecture by Vandana Shiva (whose Waterloo invitation was news in her native India), a Thursday talk by a senior Microsoft executive, the launch of an anthology of horror stories published by three campus bookstores, Friday's lecture on groundwater contamination in China by emeritus professor John Cherry, and a good few other big events. On Saturday, while Convocation is actually going on, the science faculty will have its annual open house and gem show, and the World Religions Conference will last most of the day in the Humanities Theatre. The "When and where" column at right has finite space, but seeks to include at least the essentials about all these events and many that will draw smaller, but still dedicated, audiences.

“The winter term is almost here!” writes Sarah (Bunte) Rodrigues of UW Graphics, and in case she’s right, anybody who will be teaching in the winter may want to take note: the deadline for submitting courseware orders for the January-April term is Friday, November 27. Rodrigues, who is the copyright coordinator in Graphics, adds that “Orders submitted by this date will be available to the students before the first day of classes. Also please note that Graphics (and all copy centres) will be closed over the university winter break, so no printing will take place during that time.” Better take the necessary steps online, or reach her at ext. 33996, e-mail courseware@ uwaterloo.ca.

Word arrives from the Student Life Centre that when GO Transit buses start running to campus at the end of this month, the turnkey desk will be a ticket sales outlet for all GO buses and trains. • Ludovina Martins, a custodian in UW's plant operations department since 1991, will officially retire as of November 1. • The UW Stage Band is short two trombone players; anyone who might be able to handle the role can get in touch through the music office at Conrad Grebel University College.

CAR

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