Tim Jackson heading to MaRS

“It is with a mix of pride and regret that I inform you that our Vice-President, University Relations, Tim Jackson, is leaving the university to pursue an opportunity in social finance and entrepreneurship, two fields close to his heart,” wrote President Feridun Hamdullahpur in a memo circulated yesterday.

Jackson (right) will be leaving the University of Waterloo effective March 5 to take a position with the Centre for Impact Investing (CII) in Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District. MaRS is a nonprofit organization created to connect the worlds of science, business and government and nurture a culture of innovation. CII bills itself as “a hub to increase the awareness and effectiveness of social finance to catalyze new capital, talent and initiatives dedicated to tackling social and environmental problems in Canada.”

“Tim has served with great distinction as a member of my senior leadership team,” the president writes. “As Vice-President, University Relations, Tim has enabled his team to make major advances to the university’s role and profile in the community, to strengthen our ‘brand’, and to support major institution-wide initiatives like the development of our Strategic Plan and our Economic Impact Study.”

Jackson was appointed Vice-President, University Relations in May 2012 after serving in the role for a nearly a year in an interim capacity. Prior to that, he was Associate Vice-President, Commercialization and CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre. A Waterloo grad, Jackson has served as a member of Senate, the Board of Governors, and on various committees including Pension & Benefits, Finance & Investment and Audit, and for many years has been an active fundraiser. In 2007 he received the university’s 50^th Anniversary Alumni Award.

“His record of achievement here at the university resonates with his long-standing reputation for continuous professional excellence,” the president continues. “As the inaugural recipient of the Waterloo Region Barnraiser Award in 2009, and with an immense array of experiences in the venture capital, technology, and community development spheres, Tim brings positive and significant change and growth to his every professional and community endeavor. Our entire university community is indebted to him for his service.”

President Hamdullahpur will communicate with the campus community further as to the next steps in filling Jackson's position.

“Please join me in thanking Tim for his service to the University of Waterloo,” the president concludes.

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Federal budget supports Waterloo research

The Government of Canada announced significant funding for transformational research at the University of Waterloo with its federal budget, which was tabled yesterday.

Economic Action Plan 2014 allots a further $15 million over three years in renewed support for the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC).

"With this federal support, IQC and the University of Waterloo can help Canada lead the world in quantum research and in developing the new companies that will build the quantum information science industry," said Feridun Hamdullahpur.

A multidisciplinary research institute with researchers from the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, IQC's goal is to be the world leader in the field of quantum information science and to develop the technologies that will fundamentally impact the ways in which we work, communicate and live.

Canada is a leader in quantum research and Waterloo's IQC is among the top five quantum research institutes in the world. As quantum information research matures from theory to experiment, transformational technologies are spawning an entirely new industry—quantum information technology. The renewed support for IQC announced in the budget will lead to continued success for Canada in this rapidly emerging field.

“As a result of the partnership established between the Government of Canada and the Institute for Quantum Computing, Waterloo Region is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the full spectrum of opportunity quantum technologies present,” said Professor Raymond Laflamme, executive director, Institute for Quantum Computing. “IQC research doesn’t end in the laboratory. IQC is doing research that will make a difference in the way Canadians live their lives.”

Other budget highlights:

The government established the new Canada First Research Excellence Fund. It is a significant step to ensuring Canadian universities can attract and develop top domestic and international talent, make new discoveries, and mobilize them for the benefit of all Canadians.

The budget contains the creation of the Open Data Institute. The institute would bring together government, academic, and private sector leaders to solve challenges associated with Open Government efforts.

Also:

• $8 million over two years for Mitacs;
• $10 million over two years in support of social innovation research projects at colleges and polytechnics;
• $15 million per year to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, for the expansion of the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, the creation of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and other health research priorities;
  • $15 million per year to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, to support advanced research in the natural sciences and engineering;
  • $7 million per year for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, to support advanced research in the social sciences and humanities; and
  • $9 million per year for the Indirect Costs Program.

"I am so pleased that the University of Waterloo stands to benefit from such important investments contained in the budget," said Hamdullahpur. "They will strengthen our economy and increase our innovative capacity."

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NSSE survey opens, students urged to respond

Beginning today, all undergraduate students currently in their first year of study or their graduating year will be able to provide important feedback on the quality of their Waterloo education through the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

The link to the survey will be sent to students via their university email accounts, and should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. The survey will be available to students online until Monday, March 24.

There's a bit of incentive, too: students who complete the survey will receive a $5 credit on their WatCard, and will be entered in a draw to win a $500 undergraduate student award.

NSSE is an undergraduate student survey administered by the Indiana University Centre for Post-secondary Research, and since 1999 has been administered at more than 1,000 Canadian and American institutions. Waterloo is participating in the NSSE survey this year along with all of Ontario’s universities, allowing for comparisons between Waterloo and its peer institutions.

“Our Strategic Plan set specific objectives to improve student experience,” says Associate Provost, Students Chris Read. “NSSE will help us see whether we are on the right track and whether our efforts are making a difference.”

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Tallies, tentacles, and other Thursday tidbits

Vote early, vote often: The Federation of Students' elections wind up tonight, with the official results to be released publicly tomorrow. Voting has been extended by one hour to 11:00 p.m., due to some "technical difficulties" that allowed votes to be cast before the official opening of the polling period Tuesday morning, which led to a reset. "All the voters who cast their votes before the system was reset received an email asking them to vote again," says a message from the Feds. So again, vote early, vote often.

The latest in the History Speaker Series, organized by the History department, will feature Professor Robert MacDougall of Western University speaking about "The People's Network: The Telephone and the Fight for "Net Neutrality" 100 Years Ago." The event will take place on Wednesday, February 26, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the MacKirdy Reading Room in Hagey Hall (HH 117). Free lunch will be served.

The David Johnston Research + Technology Park is hosting its first R+T Park Winter Classic hockey tournament on Wednesday, February 19. There are six slots available for three-person teams. Spots can be secured by emailing the R+T Park's student associate Melissa Breckles. Each team will play one game in a 3-on-3 format for 20 minutes. Note that there's no limit to the number of players on a team, just the number of players on the ice. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the outdoor ice rink on Hagey Boulevard between the Accelerator Building and the CORA Building. Food trucks will be on-site to feed players, fans and spectators. More information is available online. Anyone with questions can contact Carol Stewart.

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