Congratulations to  Tony Giovinazzo and Glen Machan who are celebrating birthdays this week.

 

 

Ed Simon, Chair of the Foundation Board brought forward a recommendation by the Grants Committee to provide a $30,000 donation to KidsAbility for their Spark Program. Ed provided an overview of the program. Because the application is over $10,000 the club needs to vote to approve the grant.

 

Motion by Ed Simon: “I move that the Rotary Club of Kitchener Westmount provide a $30,000 grant to Kidsability to support the Sparks Program.”

Seconded by John Thompson, followed by discussion.

Motion Approved unanimously.

 

 

The pot was $37 this week. Jerome and Alison (twice) were not successful in finding the black marble.

 

 

This week, our fellow rotarian Bel Sainz presented her “Who Am I?”

 

Ana Belen Sainz  was born and raised in Rio Tercero, Argentina. The population of  Rio Tercero is approximately 40,000 people. Bel’s community is primarily farmland with a few industries and services. Bel is an only child, but she comes from a large family with a lot o cousins. Bel was interested in math in high school but studied physics at  Córdoba University when she was 17-18. This was a surprise to Bel’s family that she would pursue physics. Bel received her Masters and in 2014 she received her PhD in Quantum Physics. Bel’s area of expertise is  Quantum Foundations.

 

Bel’s description of Quantum theory is that it is weird-weird-weird. However, weirdness is power. Bel indicated that Einstein’s theory of relativity is not compatible with Quantum Theory, so which one is wrong? (Bel thinks both) Bel belongs to an Intimate scientific community. Scientists are currently trying to argue why quantum theory is the way it is. Part of her job is to try to make sense out of things that appear to be incompatible. For example, the cat being alive and dead at the same time.

 

Event though we may not fully understand Quantum Theory, how can we use it? Currently we use it for computer security, Cryptography.  Bel’s focus in Quantum Foundations is to consider  Quantum Theory and whether or not the theory works. If the theory doesn’t work, then: what do we do about it. What can we expect to replace it? What are the new things to expect if  Quantum Theory does not work? Bel works collaboratively with other scientists around the world on this issue. Bel indicated the country that develops the first quantum computer will have access to everything in the world.  This is a future issue, but leads to some complex discussions.

 

Bel’s research takes her all over the world. She travels frequently for ongoing projects. Bel has lived in Argentina, Canada UK and Europe (Spain). She travels all over the world primarily to South America, The US,  Australia, Asia and  Europe.

 

Bel’s Hobbies include tango, pottery,  making beer, playing the cello, travelling with her partner John, and Taiko(Japanese drumming). She has a wide range of interests and is always open to new ventures like curling and hockey.

 

Bel was involved in Rotary very early in her life since her parents were Rotarians. Bel was involved in Rotaract Córdoba while in university and her second Rotaract Club was Barcelona Condal.  The Cordoba club hosted Rotarac International and in Barcelona the club supported several projects related to

Fostering, therapy for the children and the Food bank.

 

We are so please to have Bel as a member of our club.

Bel was thanked by Jerome.