Researchers to discuss Life in 2030

with material from the Office of Research

Researchers from four Ontario universities, including the University of Waterloo, will share their visions of the future through the prism of innovative research at an event at the Tannery today.

Life in 2030: Discuss the future with those who are creating it is being hosted by Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University in partnership with the University of Guelph and the University of Ottawa and is the first in a series of Research Matters discussions that will be taking place across the province in the next few months.

“The work of Ontario researchers has a significant impact on the day-to-day life and future of Ontarians,” said George Dixon, vice-president of university research at Waterloo. “This event is an opportunity for researchers to connect with people in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and share their hopes, concerns, and expectations for the next generation of Ontarians. Additionally, because universities are publicly funded, we recognize the importance of sharing our work with the communities to whom we are accountable.”

Four researchers from the participating institutions will speak, using their research as a starting point, on what life will be like in 2030:

• Ajay Heble, University of Guelph, "Music improvisation and community building: Improvisation will be at the core of sustainable communities and unprecedented change";
• Amir Khajepour, University of Waterloo, "Intelligent cars: Vehicles will prevent themselves from crashing";
• Donna Kotsopoulos, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Math pedagogy: Mathematics will make the difference between wealth and poverty"; and
• Andrew Pelling, University of Ottawa, "Cellular nanotechnology: Technology and Biology will integrate in unpredictable ways".

The discussion will be moderated by Iain Klugman, president and CEO of Communitech.

The free public event is to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Tannery Event Centre on Charles Street in Kitchener. The event is full and registrations are no longer being accepted, but it will be livestreamed, with the link going live at 6:50 p.m., ten minutes before the presentation portion of the event begins. Livestream viewers will be prompted for a password (hint: it's researchmatters).

The Research Matters events "allow Ontarians to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities with researchers who are helping to shape the future, as well as voice their opinions and ideas in conversation with some of the province's leading thinkers." Five such events are scheduled, that will include 21 of Ontario's universities - in Sudbury on March 7, in Oshawa on April 3, in St. Catharines on April 16, and in Toronto on May 9.

The Research Matters website has more information about the campaign and events.

 

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Corporate culture shock: a student's experience

by Misakura Tsukimoto, candidate for Honours Bachelor of Applied Science, Systems Design Engineering.

 

Misakura just started her 4B term in Systems Design Engineering. On one of her work terms in 2011, she worked as a Project Coordinator at Manulife Financial in Toronto. In the busy Bloor St office she facilitated a number of projects in co-operation with all business units within the company. Misakura has also acted as a campus ambassador for Manulife, and is a member of the Women in Engineering Committee.

Prior to Manulife, I completed my three co-op terms in a small technical company in various roles and cities within Canada. Everyone knew each other, and having lunch with the CEO or the VP was a regular occurrence.

When I walked the busy streets of Yonge and Bloor, then into the Manulife building on my first day, dressed as if I was walking into an interview, I knew it was going to be a very different experience. Manulife Financial had a Tim Hortons, a cafeteria with a breakfast item named after them, their own mail system, gym, library, and health centre.

At first, it was hard to adjust to the culture of a large company, but soon after I was very grateful for the experience.

As a co-op student pursuing Project Management, I was given responsibilities that suited my skills and personality. Meetings occurred over teleconference with Manulife employees and their vendors all over the world. Working from home was a regular occurrence in my department, even for the co-op students. Many of the team members were located in the Kitchener office and I had the opportunity to travel for some of the face-to-face meetings. In my department I met many great people, and was treated as one of their own instead of an outsider co-op student. Read the full story here.

Last week’s poll results: 29 per cent of you guessed correctly: 3,000 students and alumni typically attend the Job Fair. Congratulations to last week’s draw winner Giancarlo Lahura, math student.

This week’s question: Waterloo co-op students work around the world. In how many countries do students work? Take a guess and enter to win a water bottle.

 

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Work on your swing indoors and other notes

With Old Man Winter basically telling us to get off his lawn this week, improving one's golf technique may not exactly be top of mind. However, the University of Waterloo's Golf Simulator is open for business, with golf lessons for university faculty and staff on offer from the golf team and its coach Dave Hollinger, starting on Sunday, January 27. It is a 5-lesson Sunday program that makes use of the simulator, located in the Physical Activities Complex. The second session, which also runs for five Sundays, starts on March 3. The lessons cost $300 for the 5-week program.

"If these dates don't suit your schedule, we will find times that do," writes Hollinger. "Bring a friend to share the costs!"

In case you're wondering about the calibre of the teaching talent, it is worth noting that the men's golf team won silver medals at the 2012 OUA and National Golf Championships. More information can be found on the golf team website or by contacting Coach Dave by email or phone (519-886-1048).

The deadline for graduate students to participate in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at the University of Waterloo is fast approaching! What is the 3MT? It is a university-wide competition for research-based master’s thesis and doctoral students to explain the breadth and significance of their research to a non-specialist audience. Competitors have 1 slide and 3 minutes to share their outstanding ideas! Register to compete by Thursday, January 24, 2013. For more information, visit the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition website.

The 14th annual Fantastic Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retirees day is set for this Saturday, January 26 and will feature the men's and women's basketball teams as they battle the Windsor Lancers. The game will be viewed live via the Streaming Sports Network (SSN Canada).

The women's game begins at 2:00 p.m. with an alumni vs. staff monster hoops game scheduled for halftime. The men's game starts at 4:00 p.m., and the halftime event will feature a paper airplane toss with a number of great prizes up for grabs. More details can be found on the Alumni Affairs website.

 

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