Velocity Science lab for startups starts up

It was a full house Tuesday as attendees packed the new Velocity Science Lab on the third floor of ESC at the official opening event.

Members of seven Velocity Science teams currently using the space were on hand to demonstrate their discoveries:

• Veriderm, which has developed a non-invasive skin patch for allergy testing;
• Suncayr, which is working on a UV-responsive marker ink that can tell the wearer when it's time to reapply sunscreen;
• Vitameter, a handheld device that measures an individual's vitamin levels, allowing users to manage their vitamin supplements;
• Medella Health, which is developing a wearable technology solution that monitors blood glucose levels for better diabetes management;
• Small Ideas, which specializes in the science of protein crystallography;
• Nicoya Lifesciences, which uses nanotechnology to build sensor products that allow for the rapid deployment of pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, and diagnostics; and
• NERV, which is designing internal bio-sensors that can detect post-operative complications in those recovering from surgery.

Velocity Science, a partnership between Velocity and the Faculty of Science, is an entrepreneurship program focused on applied biology, chemistry, physics, and earth & environmental sciences. Velocity Science includes wet lab space, access to high-tech equipment, technical resources and basic consumables that students can use to develop their startup ideas.

Velocity Science is located in Earth Science and Chemistry (ESC) 316A.

 

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New inductees named to 25 and 35 Year clubs

The newest members of the 25- and 35-Year Club will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Physical Activities Complex. The annual event recognizes those employees (faculty and staff) who have reached the 25-year and 35-year employment milestones.

Members of this year's 25 Year Club started working at the University in 1989:

Jean Andrey, Diane Bandura, Satisprasad Bandyopadhyay, Patricia Barlow, Susan Beaupre, Linda Blain, Linda Brogden, Ionel Burca, Dorothy Chapman, Debbie Collins, Jennifer Crane, Richard Culham, Sharon Dahmer, Eileen Davidson, Brenda Denomme, Larry Farr, David Ferguson, Wendy Fleming, Sandra Fletcher, Ruth Forlippa, Brian Forrest, Roydon Fraser, Steven Furino Grzegorz Glinka, Kenneth Hadley, Donald Haffner, Sheryl Harnack, Nancy Heide, Richard Helmes-Hayes, Gordon Hitchman, John Hirdes, Hilda Hofstetter, Victor Iacobellis, Christina Jewell, James Johnston, Karl Kliewer, Rose Koebel, Ron Koelewijn, Robyn Landers, John Lenard, Ming Li, Karen Macedo, Karen Majaury, Jeff Mason, Ronald McCarville, Carol Murray, Anita O’Connor, Margaret O'Neill, J. Scott Paterson, James Peacock, Laurie Peloquin, Mark Pritzker, Linda Richards, William Robertson, Colin Ross, Jennifer Rothwell, Patricia Rumble, Dobrila Scheifley, Lisa Schneider, Marilyn Smith, Helen Simon, Lisa Szepaniak, Mary Jane Thomas, Patrick Ulett, David Wang, Janet Wason, Elizabeth Weckman, Joanne Wood, Elsa Woodhall, and Cynthia Zalewski.

Members of this year's 35 Year Club started working at the University in 1979:

James Barker, Patricia Bester, Antonio Chaves, Paul Eagles, Shaun Frape, J. David Fuller, Paul Gatcke, Joseph Heffernan, Barbara Heppler, William Ince, Lynn Judge, Ramesh Kumar, Roger Mannell, Farhad Mavaddat, Donald McKay, Fatima Mitchell, Barbara Robinson, Heather Schaaf, Irene Schmidt, Fernando Silvestri, Heather Smith, J. Graham Strong, Mary Synnott, and Jeannie Watt.

Congratulations one and all for reaching these milestones!

For those invitees who have yet to RSVP, though the deadline has already passed, the "drop dead" final date for RSVPs is tomorrow, May 30. The reception event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Physical Activities Complex on Tuesday, June 17.

 

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MPS students find success at Canadian Heritage

The full version of this story originally appeared on the Master of Public Service news page.

Since 2011, students from various MPS cohorts have earned continued success working at the Department of Canadian Heritage. Starting their career journeys as co-op students, these MPSers gathered top-notch policy experience that helped them acquire post-graduation employment with the federal public service.

Canadian Heritage supports programs and provides policy advice on culture, arts, sport, copyright regime and official languages through direct and indirect initiatives. The books we read, music we listen to, and the movies, television shows and sports that we watch are all impacted by this department.

“The knowledge gained from uWaterloo’s MPS program helped them understand the work that needed to be done more quickly,” says Karyn Wichers, Manager of Policy and Research at Sport Canada, who has hired two MPS graduates and is impressed with their knowledge of the public service. “They are good team players. It is important that we are able to work well together and create a pleasant environment.”

Myriam Brochu, Manager of Film and Video Policies and Programs, agrees that MPS students demonstrate an advantage during the interview process. “Maturity, knowledge, experience and skills were the reasons for our decision,” she says and adds that “they also demonstrated their curiosity to learn and explore new avenues, as well as a sense of initiative.”

With the creative Waterloo spirit, our MPS alumni have expressed their fondness of the department’s diverse portfolio and atmosphere, which is reflected in the work that they do.

Read the full story at the Master of Public Service website.

 

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Path Party today and other notes

"The University of Waterloo community is invited to join the Federation of Students’ service Sustainable Campus Initiative (SCI) for a special celebration to mark the completion of the Davis Centre Redevelopment project," writes the federation's Jacqueline Martinz.

The Path Party will be held in front of the Davis Centre from noon to 2:00 p.m. It will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and light refreshments will be available for attendees.

The entirely student-driven project started in August 2013.

“The goal was to pave the egress created by people walking in the Math courtyard and revitalize the area,” says Elspeth Holland, a third-year Environment and Business student and SCI volunteer. “The pavement stones are a permeable solution, meaning that they allow for water to irrigate between the stones to promote healthy ground systems.”

Photograph by the Federation of Students.

The Student Success Office staff will be participating in a full-day staff training session today. The office will be open, but drop-in appointments for Success Coaching and International Advising will not be available. Customer service staff will be available to answer questions and the Writing Centre will remain open for business as usual.

 

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