Convocation shines spotlight on Science

Today, 773 students from the Faculty of Science will be receiving their degrees in two ceremonies.

At this morning's ceremony, John F. Gartner will receive an honorary Doctor of Science and will address convocation. Gartner is a leader in the fields of environmental and engineering geology and co-founder of the environmental and engineering consulting firm Gartner Lee Limited. In addition to teaching at the University of Waterloo, he has also served on the Waterloo Advisory Council and on the Queen's University Advisory Committee on Engineering.

Kristen Leal will deliver the valedictory address.

The University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal, which recognizes the academic achievements of graduating students and is awarded by Alumni Affairs, will be given to Henry Thai.

Kent Fisher will receive the Governor General's Gold Medal for highest standing in a master's program.

In this afternoon's ceremony, an honorary doctorate will be conferred upon Miodrag Belosevic, who will address convocation. Belosevic is a distinguished university professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He is considered one of Canada's leading parasitologists and comparative immunologists and has received a Killam Award for Excellence in mentoring.

Anthony Ho will deliver the valedictory address.

Adriano Senatore will receive the Governor General's Gold Medal for highest standing in a doctoral program.

Also today, a number of graduands will receive the Dean of Science Award and the W.B. Pearson Medal. The Dean of Science award is given to master's students, and the Pearson Medal to PhDs.

Dean of Science Award

• Shannon Van der Velden (Biology)
• Stephen J. Constable (Chemistry)
• Thanh Tran (Optometry & Vision Science)
• Samih Alqawlaq (Pharmacy)
• Kent Fisher (Physics and Astronomy)

W. B. Pearson Medal

• Shiu Cheung Lung (Biology)
• Shokouh Farvid (Chemistry)
• Kevin van Doorn (Optometry and Vision Science)
• Sean Stotyn (Physics and Astronomy)

There were no recipients for either award in Earth and Environmental Sciences this year.

 

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MappedIn launches UpTown wayfinder

MappedIn, a startup located in the VeloCity Garage at the Communitech Hub, has launched a free, mobile wayfinding app for the UpTown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA).

According to a news release from the start-up, this is the first time in Ontario that a BIA has offered a downloadable navigation service to residents and visitors.

The BIA app can be used on Android, iPhone or Blackberry10 devices to navigate the area, find information on the core’s over 400 businesses, discover amenities and stay current on events and promotions.

“Our work with the BIA seemed like a natural fit,” said Hongwei Liu, Co-founder and CEO. “It represents another step towards becoming a vital part of this growing city, as our wayfinding applications can already be found at the University of Waterloo and Conestoga mall. This mobile app offers a perfect way to further promote the thriving UpTown Waterloo core so that even visitors new to the area can experience the UpTown feel.”

In 2012, the City of Waterloo’s IT department approached the UpTown Waterloo BIA with the idea for a mobile app that would offer a convenient way for residents and visitors to find information about local businesses in the area. With a mandate to promote and beautify UpTown Waterloo, the BIA’s Executive Director Patti Brooks, saw it as an invaluable opportunity to raise the area’s business profile.

“We’re always looking for new ways to promote UpTown Waterloo while offering value-added services to residents and visitors,” said Brooks. “We were very impressed with the delivery of the app and proud to be the first BIA in Ontario to offer such a service. With two universities located in Waterloo, the app is ideal for new students just getting to know the area. It’s also a helpful life-planning tool for residents looking to stay in the know about ongoing events and promotions.”

The app allows users to browse categories such as entertainment, food, and shopping and then click on a location to pull up its profile page. From here, they can access store web sites, view promotions, product offerings and even connect with a businesses’ Facebook and Twitter feeds. They can make reservations or an appointment directly from the app and keep up-to-date on special events happening in the area.

MappedIn offers interactive navigation systems in the form of mobile apps, directory kiosks, and venue management systems. Beyond wayfinding, MappedIn solutions also offer robust analytics, allowing users to map buying patterns and other customer behaviours, and then tailor their offerings according to demand. The company has launched solutions at several malls and schools across Waterloo Region, as well as downtown Toronto.

 

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Other notes at the convocation halfway mark

Yesterday, staff, faculty and students from St. Paul's University College celebrated the graduation of two students sponsored by the University of Waterloo's World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program. Yueu Magot Majot is a Geography and Environmental Management grad who lived at St. Paul's for two years, and Saida Sheikh is an International Development grad and St. Paul's INDEV Fellow who lived at Conrad Grebel for three years. The full story is on the St. Paul's website.

Winter may be the last thing on everyone's minds as you ponder sunny days at the beach, long evenings on the patio, and whatever it is the rest of you do while I'm curled up in front of an air conditioner, but the Course Selection Week for Winter 2014 courses is just around the corner - June 17 to 23. Students can select their Winter 2014 courses through their Quest accounts. Depending on programs or majors, the core or required courses will be placed onto the course list. Schedules can still be adjusted during the drop/add period from November 11, 2013 to January 17, 2014.

In the wake of the two Town Hall meetings held in May to discuss the feedback on the university's strategic plan, the Town Hall set for Tuesday, June 25 has been rescheduled to the Fall of 2013.

 

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