'This life-size bear,' Eric Kennedy writes from Conrad Grebel University College, "appeared on Grebel's back patio thanks to several students. Appropriately, it bears quite a resemblance to the Spirit Bear from the Olympic opening ceremonies." The photo is by another first-year Grebel resident, Andrea Blezy.

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Database offers expertise to the media

from the media relations office

Feridun Hamdullahpur is an expert in combustion, the environment, climate change, fuel cells and energy. Ken Coates is happy to discuss Aboriginal rights, Northern history, studies of Japan and post-secondary education. And Ray Laflamme is an expert in, no surprise here, four different branches of quantum science.

These are just three of the 150 or so individuals who have registered to be in a new service (a database with two user interfaces) designed to increase awareness of the significant academic expertise found at Waterloo.

Communications and Public Affairs today launches a new "experts and speakers guide" for media and community groups seeking experts who can increase public understanding on a wide range of topics. The database will allow users to locate the expert willing and able to share their understanding.

“There’s no shortage of experts on campus willing to share what they know with the wider public, and all have something significant to contribute to the public’s understanding of their areas,” says Michael Strickland, who manages media relations for the university.  “The guide will allow people to quickly find and reach out to the right expert.

“Speed and ease are of particular importance as we work to increase awareness of the good work underway at Waterloo. If the Globe and Mail is looking for an expert — whether in Asian studies, zoology or the fields in between — they are probably contacting other universities and, sometimes, the expert quoted is the first one they reach. We want that expert to be from Waterloo; our people and programs are at the top of their fields and deserve the recognition.”

All academics, and a few administrators, were invited to register themselves, a process that which allows them to control the information that appears. The database allows members to decide if they want to speak to media, community groups or both, and also lets them differentiate the topics they want to address.

“An academic interested in speaking before the Rotary Club may not be comfortable doing a live TV interview, while some may want to speak to the media, but not community groups,” said Nancy Heide of CPA, who looks after community outreach.

The database allows the users to locate the right academic using a keyword search or by scanning the people listed by area. The database includes all academic departments, some of the non-academic departments, plus senate-approved research centres and institutes.

But a unit is visible only if at least one member is willing to speak to media and/or community groups. “We very much wanted every department, centre or institute represented,” says Strickland. “But we ultimately decided there was no point in telling media or community groups that we have tremendous expertise in an area, if no one in the area was willing to share their expertise in this way.”

He said a soft launch of the database is under way today, introducing it to the campus community and select media, and inviting feedback. The database will be tweaked as required before it’s shared more widely with media across the country. Interested faculty can register themselves at any time and, if they are the first from their area, it will appear on the list.

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$20 million in Ontario research funding

Leeanna Pendergast, Liberal MPP for the riding of Kitchener-Conestoga, came to the campus Friday afternoon (left) to announce more than $20 million in grants from the Ontario Research Fund for six Waterloo-based projects.

“Funding world-class research is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda,” said a statement from Pendergast, referring to “the McGuinty government’s plan to build an innovation economy that turns new knowledge into new jobs, better health care, a cleaner environment and endless possibilities for Ontario families.” The $20,826,487 in funding comes from the ORF’s Research Excellence program. The six projects:

• $1.6 million for “Advancing Nanotechnology: Development of Novel Scanning Probe Tools for Applications in Atomically Precise Fabrication, Characterization and Metrology”. The work is headed by Raafat Mansour of the electrical and computer engineering department, and involves some 10 researchers and links to three private-sector companies. A news release says Mansour and his team “are leveraging recent engineering developments in scanning probe microscopy techniques and micro-scale scanning probe instrument to create the next generation of nano devices”.

• $8 million for “Green Intelligent Transportation Systems”, a project headed by Amir Khajepour of mechanical and mechatronics engineering. The work involves 26 researchers and has three private-sector partners. “The shift from gasoline-powered to electric cars will affect everything from the design and manufacture of the vehicles themselves, to the supporting infrastructure they require,” the news release explains. Khajepour “is leading a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who are addressing the entire green transportation paradigm, from the vehicle and vehicle intelligence, through power generation and distribution, to the effects of electric vehicles on traffic flow and infrastructure”.

• $2.1 million for “Next Generation Web Approaches and Tools”, a project headed by Donald Cowan of computer science, with three researchers working in collaboration with the Centre for Community Mapping and Sybase. “With our expertise in ICT,” the release says, “Ontario has an unprecedented opportunity to define, build and deploy the services that will form the foundation of the next generation of web-based applications. Cowan’s work aims to keep Ontario — and Ontario ICT companies — in the lead in a sector that’s changing rapidly.”

• $4.9 million for “Multi-platform Digital Media Enabling Technologies”, a project headed by Tamer Özsu of computer science. A total of 16 researchers from UW and Sheridan College will be helped by the grant, ORF says, and three software firms are partners in the project. The work involves “multiple technologies (e.g., live action, animation, 3D special effects) on multiple platforms (e.g., film, television, Xbox). It is groundbreaking research that will enhance the bottom line for producers, while establishing Ontario’s reputation as a global leader in enabling technologies and the production of digital content.”

• $1.8 million for “Privacy and Security in Mobile Ad Hoc Communications and Embedded Systems”, a project headed by Guang Gong of electrical and computer engineering. Three corporate partners are involved — Authenticrypt Corporation, Pitney Bowes, and Research in Motion — and six researchers are taking part. “From cell phones to digital audio players to global positioning systems,” the news release explains, “mobile ad hoc communication and embedded systems are becoming an indispensable part of our daily lives. But their rapid development is raising serious privacy and security concerns that current technologies cannot solve. Guang Gong and her team are focused on developing new security solutions for current and emerging ad hoc communication and embedded systems.”

• $2.5 million for “Retinal Oxygen Saturation, Blood Flow, Vascular Function and High Resolution Morphometric Imaging in the Living Human Eye”, a project headed by Christopher Hudson of the school of optometry. Nine researchers at UW and the University of Toronto are involved in the project, and there are two corporate partners. “Vision loss robs individuals of their quality of life and costs the economy an estimated $15.8 billion a year,” the releases says. “While the majority of vision loss is preventable, better tools are needed to combat the pending epidemic. Hudson and his team of researchers are developing retinal imaging instruments that will allow the early detection and improved management of the three most common causes of age-related vision loss: macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.”

The funding announced at Waterloo is part of a larger investment in research that will support at least 214 scientists across the province, said John Milloy, the minister of research and innovation. “We are demonstrating, once again, that our government understands the value of science to our economy today and for creating the jobs of the future.”

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March coming in like a . . . something

Well, the Olympics are over; and yep, that was a hockey game for the ages, reminding some of us (those who have been here for a long, long time) of September 28, 1972, and the yells that echoed through the corridors of Hagey Hall that afternoon when Paul Henderson scored his dramatic goal. I'm not sure how much yelling there was on campus yesterday, but I hear the party down on King Street was pretty lively. And now, well, back to normal life across this broad dominion. . . .

Registration opens today for the 2010 UW Staff Conference, which will take place on April 6-7. The Organizational & Human Development office promises to build on the success of the previous conferences and provide two days of engagement through four keynote speakers, ten interactive workshops, and a live theatrical performance: "Share expertise, experiences and best practices for your professional and personal development. Participate in workshops on creativity, student engagement, mindsets, and much more. Please review your Staff Conference 2010 invitation and discuss it with your co-workers so that together you select which sessions of the conference you wish to attend. Remember that workshop sessions are duplicated to allow staff flexible registration choices while also providing the ability to spilt duties/times with co-workers in the office.  Register early as some sessions fill up quickly." Registration runs through March 29. As planning continues, OHD is also currently looking for a number of volunteers — "for lots of different activities: pre-conference, post-conference, for part of a day, one day, or both of days, it’s up to you. This is a wonderful opportunity for staff to collaborate with your campus colleagues on a stimulating event." Anyone interested should e-mail lnevills@ uwaterloo.ca.

“You can now apply for URI funding online!” says a note to faculty members from the department of co-op education and career services. “On Monday, March 1, a website for use by faculty to apply for Undergraduate Research Internship funding will be opened. This new application method is designed to simplify and streamline the administration of these funds. Students must receive a total minimum pay of $6,000 or more for the term. You can use any source for your portion of funding (other grant arrangements, programs, etc.). The program provides a University subsidy of $2,500 for hiring a first work term co-op student (you provide a minimum of $3,500) or $1,500 for any other student, co-op or regular (you provide a minimum of $4,500). How to get started? Prepare a job description, then complete the online application form. Please direct questions to Judi Whitfield at jwhit@ uwaterloo.ca or call ext. 36062. Flyers containing details of the URI funding program are being mailed to all faculty within a week.”

As mentioned in the Daily Bulletin the other day, UW will soon be looking for a new dean of arts. Hence this official notice from the university secretariat: "Ken Coates’ term as Dean of Arts expires June 30, 2011 and, as required by Policy 45, The Dean of a Faculty, the process for constituting the nominating committee is under way. Nominations are requested for one staff member elected by and from the regular staff of the Faculty of Arts.  At least three nominators are required in each case. Completed nomination forms should be submitted to the Chief Returning Officer, Secretariat, Needles Hall, Room 3060, no later than 3:00 p.m., Friday, March 12, 2010.  An election will follow if necessary."

Today being March 1, there's a change in the university's administrative ranks, as Tim Jackson officially becomes associate vice-president (commercialization) and chief executive of the Accelerator Centre. • Here's a reminder that pre-enrolment for fall term undergraduate courses starts today and runs through March 7 on Quest. • Nominations are open (until March 26) for the annual Engineering Teaching Assistant Awards; paperwork is available at the undergraduate studies office on the first floor of Carl Pollock Hall.

CAR

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