A $21M gift from Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis

a news release from the media relations department

Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis continue to show their generous support of post-secondary education and world-class research with a gift of $21 million to the University of Waterloo’s faculties of science and mathematics.

“With their unparalleled generosity, the Lazaridis family enriches our capacity to attract exceptional individuals to join Waterloo as researchers and students,” said University of Waterloo president Feridun Hamdullahpur. “The problems of the world will keep getting more complex and interconnected, and we want to be the first port of call for people looking to solve intractable problems.”

With this gift, donations to the University of Waterloo from philanthropists Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis (at left, pictured in 2008) exceed $123 million, including $102.5 million to establish the Institute for Quantum Computing in the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre, scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

“History has shown us that a relatively small investment in fundamental research in physics and in science today can lead to huge innovation tomorrow. Given the current challenges in the world, the need for such innovation is greater now than ever,” said Mike Lazaridis, founder and vice chair of the board of Research In Motion. “I believe that the University of Waterloo, this province and this country can play a leadership role in this regard, and we are pleased to support it.”

Half of the $20-million pledge to the Faculty of Science will contribute to funding two senior research chairs in science in the areas of condensed matter and astrophysics. Waterloo will conduct a global search for internationally recognized researchers in these areas. The remaining $10 million allocated to the faculty will help fund the construction of an expansion of the new science building, which will house teaching facilities including undergraduate laboratories, classrooms and student support areas.

“This marvelous donation meshes perfectly with the Faculty of Science’s vision of becoming an international magnet for talent. The infusion of $10 million for the construction of our new Science Learning Centre will allow us to create a facility that will aid in attracting the best and brightest students to the faculty,” said professor Terrance McMahon, dean of science. “In addition, the funds toward the new research chairs will permit us to bring international superstars to the faculty, enhancing our already considerable research reputation.”

The Faculty of Mathematics will receive $1 million toward scholarships covering full university expenses for four years of study. To qualify, students must be medallists in either the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) or the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) before their final year of high school.

"Medallists in the IOI and IMO are among the best and brightest students, and are highly sought after by top universities all over the world. Scholarships covering full expenses will be vitally important to drawing IOI and IMO stars to the Faculty of Mathematics," said professor Ian Goulden, dean of mathematics.

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Kinesiology remembers David Winter

an announcement from the Department of Kinesiology

It is with sadness that the Department of Kinesiology announces the passing of David Winter, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and internationally renowned scholar in biomechanics and gait. Winter died Monday at the age of 81.

Winter came to Waterloo in 1974 from his post as Director of Biomedical Engineering at the Shriner's Hospital in Winnipeg with appointment in Surgery at the University of Manitoba. There he had developed one of the world’s first automated video-based methods of measuring and analyzing normal and abnormal walking (gait) patterns. He brought his significant engineering skills and his “Gait” laboratory, also one of only two or three in the world, to broaden and strengthen the biomechanics teaching and research program in the then quite new Department of Kinesiology.

Now, nearly 40 years later, David Winter has left us with four iconic books on the measurement, biomechanics and motor control of normal, elderly and pathological balance, posture and walking and many, many scientific publications and invited addresses. He has remained a recognized international scholar in his field well into his retirement in 1994. Only a year and a half ago (2010), he was invited to Portugal to deliver a week-long workshop on the biomechanics of walking.

His peers have recognized the significance of his scientific contributions with distinctions of “Fellow” and life time achievement awards from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Canadian Society for Biomechanics, the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society and the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB). Most recently, this past December the ISB named an award to encourage young people to stay involved in biomechanics research the “David Winter Young Investigator Award.” This recognition was instigated by Dave’s former students, one of whom had risen to become a President of the organization.

He was predeceased by his wife Judith, and survived by his children Merriam, Andrew, and Bruce, and loving grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, on Wednesday, February 8th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. A funeral service to celebrate David’s life will be held at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, on Thursday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m.

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Occupational Health Office on the move

The Occupational Health Office will be pulling up stakes and moving out of Health Services to its new home in the Commissary Building's room 112 (COM 112) as of Thursday, February 9.

Occupational Health Nurse Linda Brogden assists employees with early and safe returns to the workplace after illness or injury and makes referrals to the Employee Assistance Program. She also provides health teaching for employee groups on a wide variety of topics, follow-up care for workplace exposures, information and training for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), and individual counselling, among other services and programs.

For community members requiring medical assistance from Health Services, it is business as usual. During clinic hours, Health Services is available as a first aid treatment centre for staff and faculty, with a clinic nurse on hand to assess employees who are injured or have an urgent illness while at work. Clinic nurses also assist with routine allergy shots, flu shots and other immunizations, and blood pressure monitoring. The Wart Clinic is also open to staff and faculty.

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Wednesday notes

Therapeutic Recreation Awareness week continues with two more events. Tonight, the Twin City Spinners wheelchair basketball team performs during halftime at the Warrior men's basketball game in the PAC at 8:00 p.m. And tomorrow, February 9, Paralympic athlete Christine Selinger presents "Changing Minds, Changing Lives" at 1:00 p.m. in LHS 1621. Details for these events are available online.

The Centre for Teaching Excellence is continuing to run workshops for instructors who would like to get a better handle on LEARN, the learning management system that replaced UW-ACE. The course, "Getting Started in LEARN" (CTE656) is a hands-on training session and is offered in the FLEX Lab in LIB 329. The upcoming sessions are:

• Session 33: Tuesday, February 14, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Session 34: Wednesday, February 29, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
• Session 35: Friday, March 9, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Registration is handled through myHRinfo. In addition, drop-in sessions for LEARN are held in EV1 242 and do not require registration. This month's sessions will be held on February 8 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, February 24 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

CTE668, Using the Grades Tool in Waterloo LEARN (D2L) will be held today at 9:00 a.m. in the FLEX Lab.

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