Thursday April 7, 2011

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Ted Talks

Chade-Meng Tan: Everyday compassion at Google

Google's "Jolly Good Fellow," Chade-Meng Tan, talks about how the company practices compassion in its everyday business -- and its bold side projects. One of Google's earliest engineers, Chade-Meng Tan is now Google's Jolly Good Fellow -- the head of personal growth at the groundbreaking search company.

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Business Growth

Communitech’s Venture Services Program Expands to Meet Exponential Tech Sector Start-up Growth in Waterloo Region

Waterloo Region – Communitech’s Venture Services program is expanding to support the burgeoning number of startup companies relying on Communitech for commercialization expertise, with more new companies “walking through the doors” every week, Communitech CEO Iain Klugman said today. The program provides expertise and resources to startup companies, engaging executive-level talent from the Region.

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Sustainable Energy

Canada's energy executives attend WISE inaugural meeting

WATERLOO - Senior energy executives from across the country will gather at the University of Waterloo this week to attend the inaugural meeting of an advisory council that will help develop innovative solutions to the challenges of the energy sector.

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Multimedia

Award-winning motion graphics artist talks 4D cinema at Media Producers Group of Ontario’s next Show & Share meeting

Waterloo – Award-winning motion graphics artist Ryan Snider is one of the featured guest speakers April 12 at the Media Producers Group of Ontario’s Show & Share meeting, a regular discussion and networking series for multimedia professionals and those interested in the industry.

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Contest

Laurier’s 100 Words Drabble Contest deadline is this Sunday, April 10

Waterloo - This week is your last chance to submit a drabble for Laurier’s 100 Words Drabble Contest – the deadline is midnight on Sunday, April 10.

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Appointment

Laurier appoints Jennifer Brickman as manager of new Service Laurier initiative in Brantford

Brantford - Wilfrid Laurier University has appointed Jennifer Brickman as manager of Service Laurier in Brantford. Service Laurier will allow students to access many enrolment-related services – such as ordering transcripts, picking up awards and paying bills – in one location and with greater ease.

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Historical Symposium

History on the Grand Focuses on People and Place

Call for Participation includes Youth in the Mix – Deadline May 20th

Cambridge - The 3rd ‘History on the Grand’ historical symposium is expanding the opportunities for participation by encouraging local school children to get involved. The symposium continues to be a highly regarded forum for academics, historians, government representatives and community groups to discuss issues arising from the study of local history with a view to foster increased public awareness.

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Green Energy

Highway sign for 401 uses solar and wind power

KITCHENER – A new sign on Highway 401, featuring environmentally friendly solar panels and a highly unique wind turbine, will welcome visitors to Kitchener next month. Located at the westbound exit for Highway 8, the sign is one of three along the major provincial artery to use solar panels to power the sign’s lights - likely the only one to use a wind turbine.

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Health Research

Substance in tangerines fights obesity and protects against heart disease

London - New research from The University of Western Ontario has discovered a substance in tangerines not only prevents obesity, but also offers protection against type 2 diabetes, and even atherosclerosis, the underlying disease responsible for most heart attacks and strokes.

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Education

Digital pens enhance learning in the K-12 classroom

Hamilton - Digital pens are one of the latest tech gadgets to hit the classroom and aid learning. Zoe Branigan-Pipe, a sixth-grade teacher in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board who is on secondment this school year at Brock University's Faculty of Education, is experimenting with using a Livescribe digital pen in the classroom as a method to improve student learning.

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Education

Students, workers and faculty rally against the corporate takeover of UofT

Toronto - The Anti-Corporatization Working Group of the UT General Assembly is calling a rally outside of the University of Toronto's Governing Council to protest the Munk “donation” and the privatization of education. Professor Noam Chomsky, speaking at a public lecture in the afternoon, has expressed support for the cause and is expected to make an appearance at the rally.

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Psychology

Greased palm psychology: collectivism and bribery

TORONTO - Bribery is condemned in most cultures; but it is more common in some countries than in others. Is poverty, political instability, or lax regulation to blame? A new study published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science.

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Products Standard

ECOLOGO RELEASES LEADING GREEN PAPER STANDARD

Cascades Achieves First Revised EcoLogo Paper Products Certification

TORONTO - The EcoLogo Program, one of North America's most recognizable eco-labels, announced that it has awarded the first certification to Cascades Fine Papers' Rolland Enviro100 against its recently revised Paper Products Standard.

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PSA

Families Support Community by Walking to End MS.

MS Walk takes place Sunday, April 17th

Toronto - Thousands of Canadians will call attention to multiple sclerosis by participating in the MS Walk on Sunday, April 17th. In Ontario, over 24,000 people will unite in an effort to raise over $5.1 million in pledges and bring awareness to the fact that 55,000 to 75,000 Canadians live with multiple sclerosis and that every day, three more Canadians are diagnosed with it.

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Clean up Project

Hotwash Inc. and Durham College partner to clean up graffiti

Newest research project will develop environmentally friendly graffiti remover

Oshawa – As part of Durham College’s continuing commitment to establishing research partnerships with local businesses, the Office of Research Services and Innovation announced a new research agreement with Hotwash Inc., a company based in Ajax, Ont., who will work with the college to develop and market the Gelled Green Graffiti Remover. The environmentally responsible cleaning product will be used to restore surfaces back to their original condition while minimizing damage.

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Nano Research

Common nanoparticles found to be highly toxic to Arctic ecosystem

Kingston - Queen’s researchers have discovered that nanoparticles, which are now present in everything from socks to salad dressing and suntan lotion, may have irreparably damaging effects on soil systems and the environment.

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Space Technology

BRP TO CONTRIBUTE TO CANADIAN MOON AND MARS EXPLORATION PROGRAMS

VALCOURT - BRP, in cooperation with the Centre de technologies avancées BRP-Université de Sherbrooke, will develop the chassis and locomotion systems for a Lunar Exploration Light Rover and a Mars Exploration Science Rover.

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Commercialization

Carleton Partners on Innovative Commercialization Opportunities

Ottawa – Carleton University has signed a master services agreement with PARTEQ Innovations, the not-for-profit technology transfer office of Queen’s University.

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Auto

Help make a difference in your community via these ready-to-use ad mats for our charitable Kidney Car program

Ottawa - March 31st marked the end of the Government’s Retire Your Ride program. As you know, this national initiative encouraged Canadians to recycle their ride in an environmentally friendly manner. Although this program has ended, we want your community to know that there is still a great, Eco-friendly option that is designed to reward people who donate their unwanted vehicles, The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Kidney Car program.

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Building

Building permits

Statscan - Municipalities issued building permits worth $5.8 billion in February, up 9.9% from January. The February advance was a result of gains in the non-residential sector in Alberta and Ontario, which more than offset the decline in the residential sector.

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Trade

Canadian international merchandise trade: Annual review

Statscan - Canada's international merchandise trade rebounded in 2010 from substantial declines the year before, but levels remained below those immediately prior to the economic downturn. At the same time, Canada's reliance on the United States as a trading partner fell even further as trade with Asia, particularly China, rose.