Bill Gates is coming to Waterloo in two weeks as part of what David Johnston calls his “farewell tour,” after having stepped down as chief software architect last year.

The Record reports that he will be touring five North American campuses, similar to his visits to six campuses, including Waterloo, in 2005. Gates will also visit Stanford University, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon and University of Texas at Austin.

Last time Gates encouraged students to pursue software and had some cool demos; this time Dean of Math Tom Coleman says, “It’s more on the social importance of technology and IT (information technology).”

A weird thing though is that a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that he is speaking at Carnegie Mellon in the afternoon of the same day The Record says he is at Waterloo.

He will speak to students Feb. 21 on the UW campus, confirmed Stephanie Bell, a senior consultant with Media Profile, which is handling the visit.
– Bill Gates to include UW in his ‘farewell tour’ The Record 8 Feb 2008

Retiring Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates will visit Carnegie Mellon University Feb. 21 in the final stop of his “farewell tour” before stepping down from the company.
– Bill Gates to visit CMU this month Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8 Feb 2008