Unique spaces featured in Doors Open tour

The doors at several University of Waterloo buildings will be among those thrown open on Saturday for Doors Open Waterloo Region, which will be taking place at 42 locations across the region.

Doors Open Waterloo Region is a free heritage and architecture tour of special, occasionally "secret" places in the region, held on the third Saturday in September every year. The theme for this, the 11th edition of the event, is "Waterloo Region Modern," a special highlight of the best of the region's modern architecture. 11 of the 42 sites built in the last 55 years, including the Waterloo Region Courthouse, the Clay and Glass Gallery, North House, the Centre in the Square and the Cambridge Islamic Centre, fit into the theme.

Most of the participating sites included in this year's edition of the tour will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year, the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, the Student Design Centre in Engineering 5, the Brubacher House Museum, and the University of Waterloo Fire Research Lab & Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Complex will be part of the event. The distinctive buildings are described in the tour guide as follows:

Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre

Architect: KPMB Architects. Year Built: 2012

"Explore this remarkable building at the University of Waterloo; a state-of-the-art research centre and an architectural marvel. Shared by the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), it is the ideal environment for researchers to unlock the amazing power of quantum information science and the boundless potential of nanotechnology. The groundbreaking discoveries that happen here will continue the University of Waterloo’s long tradition of research excellence and drive innovation into the 21st century."

A number of special events at the quantum-nano centre are planned, including:

• The Q-Kids Science Show at 11:00 a.m., featuring Martin Laforest who will educate and entertain curious young minds (ages 2 to 12) with the wonders of science in a show that includes live demonstrations of electricity, magnetism, superconductivity and more. Registration details are online.
• "Not Your Typical Ghost Story: Telling Stories in a Quantum World," a public lecture by Canada Excellence Research Chair at 2:00 p.m. described as follows: "Scientists explain physics by telling stories: 'When you shoot an arrow where does it land?' But the stories to explain quantum physics tend to sound like ghost stories: “A particle takes two paths at the same time; spooky action at a distance changes the state of a distant object instantly.” Professor David Cory will explore how we can tell stories about the quantum world even when it seems out of this world and describe some ways that quantum devices are going to change the world." Register for the talk online.
• "Ask a Scientist in the Research Zone," "Kids Zone," and "Discovery Zone" activities.

University of Waterloo Student Design Centre
Architect: Perkins + Will. Year Built: 2010

"Tour the Student Design Centre (SDC), where over twenty engineering student teams design and build projects ranging from alternative-fuels vehicles to aquaponic farming technologies. With ten work bays, a machine shop, test labs, meeting rooms and a 3D-printing facility, the SDC encourages collaboration and shared expertise. The SDC occupies two floors of the striking Engineering 5 building, with its prismatic exterior and six-storey atrium. In addition to the SDC, the building also houses research, teaching, and administrative space for Waterloo’s computer, electrical, mechanical, mechatronics and systems design engineering programs."

Brubacher House Museum
Year Built: 1850; 1970s renovation

"This Mennonite fieldstone farmhouse is a historic gem couched within the modern David Johnston Research + Technology Park at the University of Waterloo. Enjoy guided tours of the Brubacher family’s multi-level home and furnishings, led by knowledgeable interpreters. A thirteen-minute DVD presentation will conclude the tour. Come experience what life was like when this area of Waterloo was farmland!"

University of Waterloo Fire Research Lab & Waterloo Region Emergency Services Training and Research Complex
Year Built: 2003

"Go behind the scenes at this unusual 40-acre site, where fire, police, and EMS services train, and groundbreaking fire research is conducted. Knowledgeable Conestoga College students will host at the Region’s training grounds where specialized structures and simulations, including a multi-storey burn building and vehicle driver-training track, replicate first-response scenarios. See inside UW’s amazing fire research facility, one of only several like it in the world, where students and faculty study the science of fire – how it starts, behaves, and can be controlled – using everything from full-scale live fire tests to computer simulations."

Visitors will be able to attend a Fire Science Show, happening throughout the day, and have the opportunity to "watch while scientists educate curious minds with the wonders of science including live demonstrations of fire, electricity and more."

Guided tours of the fire research lab will also be available that focus on fire and electrical safety tips, tools, and resources.

For additional details about Doors Open, including site listings, maps, and special events, visit the Doors Open Waterloo Region website.

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WatITis 2013 conference issues call for papers

The 11th annual WatITis (Waterloo Information Technology and Information Systems) conference will be held on Tuesday, December 3^rd, 2013 in the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, and the conference program committee is now accepting open submissions for speakers/presenters or panelists.

Topics include, but are not limited to, Teaching, Research, Institutional Support, New Projects, “Green” initiatives, Future Developments or General Interest for uWaterloo staff, in the area of IT.

“We welcome student presenters so if you have a co-op, grad or undergrad student who you think should propose a session topic, please let us know,” writes program committee chair Jenn Brewster.

The committee is also inviting members of the community to submit their ideas for session topics they feel would be of interest to other IT professionals.

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Hagey Lecture tonight and other notes

The 2013 Hagey Lecture featuring historian Margaret MacMillan gets underway tonight at 8:00 p.m. MacMillan's talk is entitled "Choice or Accident: The Outbreak of World War One." The lecture takes place in the Humanities Theatre and admission is free.

Although I'm sure many of you live every week like it is National Biotechnology Week, there is an official kick-off event being held today at 2:00 p.m. in DC 1301 and 1304 to mark the annual celebration of all things biotech. The event has been organized by the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB) and features guest speaker Dr. Jason Field, Executive Director of Life Sciences Ontario speak on "Ontario Life Sciences Sector - Challenges & Opportunities." National Biotechnology Week runs from September 20 to September 27.

An event organized by the Young Liberals clubs of both the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University that would have featured Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau speak at Renison University College's Great Hall on Friday at 1:00 p.m. has been cancelled. "Justin wants to extend his thanks to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University communities for their outpouring support and gracious invitations," reads a statement from Charles Kuno, president of the uWaterloo Young Liberals and Kyle Proulx, president of the Wilfrid Laurier Young Liberals. "We plan on creating another event in the near future so Justin can come and listen to the thoughts and concerns of the KW community."

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