We've gotten in on the seasonal video act as well: Happy holidays from all of us at Communications and Public Affairs!

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Kinesiology celebrates 40 years of Lab Days

by Christine Bezruki.

Generations of participants gathered last week to kick off the annual Kinesiology Lab Days event and celebrate the outreach program’s 40^th year. Program instructor Jon Thacker and program coordinator Mallorie Webb (far right) join high school teacher Bob Auld and students from Brampton Christian School.

It’s a return trip for Bob, a ’75 Waterloo kinesiology grad who has been bringing classes to the event for over five years and Jon, a current graduate student who first visited Lab Days while in high school.

“The students I teach and their parents are not familiar with kinesiology and the value it offers. Kin Lab Days show students what kinesiology at the university level looks like, as well as it gives them a window for them to see future opportunities available to them after their degree” said Auld of the experience. “I continue to look forward to bringing students here every year.”

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2013 Alumni Award winners announced

a message from Alumni Relations.

Across Canada and around the world, Waterloo alumni are making significant contributions to their university, their professions and their communities.

The Alumni Awards recognize these individuals and their efforts to build a better world.

Congratulations to our 2013 alumni trailblazers!

Check out this year’s winners in the December edition of the Alumni enewsletter.

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Innovation gets drivers out of tough scrapes

Harsh winter conditions may be easier for Canadians to manage a new product invented by a University of Waterloo graduate.

“Frost is a major problem for individuals and businesses daily. Not only is it inconvenient but it has an impact on safety and can even hinder economic activity,” said Abhinay Kondamreddy (pictured above), a nanotechnology engineering graduate who developed Neverfrost along with three classmates.

Neverfrost is an environmentally-friendly technology that prevents frost, fog, and ice formation. The innovation is the foundation for a new startup, also called Neverfrost.

By spraying Neverfrost on a windshield at night, drivers can avoid scraping and defrosting it on cold winter mornings, and clear the windshield simply by running the wipers. The Neverfrost technology prevents snow from freezing to the glass as well as fog and frost. Neverfrost expects to begin taking pre-orders for the spray with a Kickstarter campaign in March. Future plans for Neverfrost include incorporating it directly into washer fluids.

Frost and ice create challenges for aircraft, air conditioning, commercial refrigerators, power lines, and agriculture – creating future opportunities for the Neverfrost technology.

Kondamreddy is one of two entrepreneurs who continue to further their technologies and startups thanks to a $60,000 Scientists and Engineers in Business fellowship. The fellowship is a University of Waterloo program supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for promising entrepreneurs who want to commercialize their innovations and start high-tech businesses.

Neverfrost is part of the University of Waterloo’s VeloCity startup incubator program and won two $1,000 grants at a VeloCity Fund Finals competition held in July. Neverfrost is set to be one of the first companies to operate out of the new VeloCity Foundry – a workspace that will provide hardware-based startups with VeloCity programming, plus free access to machinery, tools, and prototyping equipment; and testing, wet lab and assembly space.

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Notes as our final week begins

A number of offices and departments will be closing down for holiday events and celebrations in the coming days. Here's a sampling:

• Health Services will be closed until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18.
• The Graduate Studies Office will be closed on Wednesday, December 18 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• The Finance - Student Accounts office will be closed on Thursday, December 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• The Office of Research will be closed on Friday, December 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Reminders will be posted.

Plant Operations is reporting that several loads of steel beams will be dropped off on Wednesday, December 18 and Thursday, December 19 for the Science Teaching Complex. A large crane will be on site to offload those beams from the transport trailers.

To ensure student and staff safety, the Needles Hall road will be closed completely to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic, from the Ring Road to the north side of the Dana Porter Library. Service vehicles and deliveries will be rerouted to the north side of Environment 3, and no parking under Needles Hall will be available. Barricades will be in place, along with flag persons to direct pedestrians and vehicles.

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