June 26, 1998
College of Physical Education undergoes name change
Posted June 26, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 26, 1998
98-06-11-PE
College of Physical Education
Undergoes Name Change
The University of Saskatchewan has recently approved
a name change for the College of Physical Education.
Effective immediately, the College will now be known
as the College of Kinesiology.
"The name change came about because it was felt that
the term physical education, no longer adequately
covered our mandate or what we do," says Bob
Faulkner, Dean of the College of Kinesiology.
"The focus of the college has changed dramatically over
the last two to three decades. Traditionally, most
students enrolled in the College of Physical Education to
pursue careers in teaching. Over the past two or three
decades the opportunities for students have broadened.
Now they are interested in other aspects of study,
particularly physical activity and its relation to health."
Approximately 20 per cent of undergraduate students still
pursue teaching careers, however the majority of
students pursue other options. These options include
careers in Fitness & Health, Leisure, and Sport
Management.
Faculty interests and experience also have changed
considerably; faculty are more science (natural,
behavioral and social) based than pedagogical. The
teaching, scholarship and professional activities of the
College's faculty and staff (while including traditional
"physical education") encompass a much broader field
of scholarship and professional practice.
The term kinesiology was chosen as it is recognized
across North America as being inclusive -- and
representative of all the curricula areas within the
current U of S program (i.e. Exercise and Sport Studies,
Physical Education, Leisure and Sport Management).
It is also more representative of the professional roles
the College's graduates fill in society and is descriptive
of the broad range of research, scholarly work and
professional service of faculty and staff.
The term kinesiology translates literally to mean the
study of movement.
Although the College's name change takes effect
immediately, degrees in Kinesiology will not be granted
until after July 1999.
For more information, please contact:
R. A. Faulkner
Dean of the College of Kinesiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6465
June 22, 1998
U of S receives $1 million for Aboriginal student space
Posted June 22, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 19, 1998
98-06-10-OTHER
U of S receives $1 million for Aboriginal student space
Today, a celebration was held at the University of Saskatchewan to
recognize and thank Nova Corporation for their gift of one million
dollars to the University of Saskatchewan's First and Best Fund
Raising Campaign. The Nova Corporation gift will be used to provide
space and services for Aboriginal students at the University of
Saskatchewan.
"The University of Saskatchewan is absolutely delighted with Nova's
gift dedicated to Aboriginal student space and services on campus.
We share a mutual interest in responding to Aboriginal needs, and
Nova's generosity helps us to realize an Aboriginal student priority for
a space where Aboriginal students can feel comfortable to carry on
their traditional practices, and draw on essential services and
community support," says George Ivany, University of Saskatchewan
President.
Designated space on campus will act as a home away from home for
Aboriginal students where they can study and interact with others. It
will also help to facilitate Aboriginal student transition to university
and encourage retention of Aboriginal students.
This space could be used to house services such as an Elders
program and Elders counseling as well as to provide space to study
and for spiritual activities.
"This space will serve to unite Aboriginal students on campus," says
Roy Saddleback, member of Indigenous Students' Council. "It will be
for our spiritual and cultural needs as Aboriginal students. It will also
provide peer support."
A recent report, commissioned by the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian nations (FSIN), projects that the Aboriginal population of
Saskatchewan will increase dramatically between 1995 and 2045
from 13 per cent to 32 per cent of the total provincial population.
(FSIN, 1997). The University is acting to take a leadership role to
address the educational and space needs related to the increase in
the Aboriginal population in this province.
"We, at Nova, think supporting Aboriginal education is very important
for the quality of life on the prairies. A much larger proportion of the
Aboriginal population must succeed in post secondary education so
that they can be models and mentors to their friends and fellow
citizens," says Ted Newall, Nova Corporation Vice-Chair and C.E.O.
"The only way to get past high levels of Aboriginal unemployment is to
find ways to keep them in high school and get them through
university. This is one of the most important social objectives on the
prairies."
There are approximately 1200 Aboriginal students currently enrolled
at the University of Saskatchewan. This number has almost doubled
since 1991.
For more information, please contact:
George Ivany, President RoySaddleback
University of Saskatchewan Indigenous Students' Council
(306) 966-6612 (306) 955-0607
June 17, 1998
Dr. Jack Wilmore to present lectures
Posted June 17, 1998
98-06-08-PE
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Dr. Jack Wilmore, Department Head and Professor in the Department
of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A & M University, will be giving
two guest lectures at the University of Saskatchewan.
The first lecture, to take place on Wednesday, June 24, 1998 at 10:30
a.m. in Room 315, Williams building, is titled, "The role of physical
activity in health promotion: Focus on the prevention of overweight
and obesity."
The second lecture called, "The Female-Athlete Triad: Disordered
Eating, Menstrual Dysfunction, and Bone Mineral Disorders." will take
place on Thursday, June 25, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. in the Thorvaldson
Building, Room 110.
Dr. Wilmore has published 52 chapters, over 190 peer-reviewed
papers, and 14 books including: Training for Sport and Activity;
Health and Fitness Through Physical Activity; Exercise in Health and
Disease; and Eating, Body Weight, and Performance in Athletes:
Disorders of Modern Society.
He has served as a Consultant for several professional sport teams
including: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Rams, Los
Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, San Francisco 49'ers. He has
also served as a Consultant for the California Highway Patrol, the
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport, NASA, and the
U.S. Air Force.
The lectures are open to faculty, students, and interested members of
the public, free of charge. His lectures are supported by the Visiting
Lecturer's Fund from Research Services and the Dean's office,
College of Physical Education.
For more information, contact:
Professor Bob Mirwald
College of Physical Education
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6524
June 12, 1998
U of S Employee Appreciation Picnic in the Bowl
Posted June 12, 1998
U of S employees are invited to the Employee Appreciation Picnic.
The picnic will take place in the Bowl from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on
Thursday, June 18, 1998. The house band will begin playing at 11 a.m.
Hot dog/soft drink/cupcake combo for a loonie
Burger/soft drink/cupcake combo for a toonie
or
Bring your own lunch and spread a blanket on the grass
The day has been declared a casual dress day and lunch time for all
employees has been extended by an hour. Employees are welcome to bring
their children to the picnic.
June 11, 1998
Violence and Agression Symposium
Posted June 11, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 11, 1998
98-06-06-EXT
Violence and Aggression Symposium
to focus on community related topics
The Seventh Symposium on Violence and Aggression will be taking
place from June 15 - 17th, 1998 at the Delta Bessborough. The event
is hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division and
the Regional Psychiatric Centre.
The symposium, which will cover topics such as: Sex Offender
Community Notification; Managing School Violence; Juvenile Gangs;
and False Memory Syndrome, provides a forum for discussing current
theories, research, and practice in dealing with aggression and
violence.
The four day symposium is broken up into both plenary and workshop
sessions and features prominent professionals and researchers from
the criminal justice and mental health fields. It provides the
opportunity to learn practical, hands-on approaches to issues
confronting workers in the criminal justice, aboriginal justice, mental
health and social service areas.
For more information, please contact:
Shannon Sofko
Extension Division
(306) 966-5642 or on site at the Delta Bessborough
June 04, 1998
U of S Researchers propose three major research centres
Posted June 04, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 3, 1998
98-06-05-OTHER
U of S Researchers Propose Three Major
Research Centres
This week, University of Saskatchewan researchers submitted
proposals to the Canada Foundation for Innovation for three new
research centers, each seeking more than $1 million to supplement
secured or expected corporate and provincial funding.
The centres are in addition to the proposed synchrotron and are
among 15 U of S submissions to the CFI for partial funding of new
projects that would bring research, training and job creation benefits
to the province. Researchers can apply for up to 40 per cent of
funding from the $800-million, five-year CFI fund.
Four of the 5 submissions went forward May 5 under a special "new
opportunities" fund.
The CFI will provide responses to researchers after October 1 of this
year. The independently administered fund was set up by the federal
government last year to modernize research facilities and equipment
at Canadian universities and other research institutions and to
support research in science, engineering, health and the
environment.
Project #1: Microgravity Drop Tower Facility
CFI funding request: $16 million
Description: A world-class facility for doing near-zero gravity
experiments that could lead, for instance, to higher-quality drugs and
proteins than can be developed otherwise.
To simulate a weightless environment, an unused mine shaft near
Saskatoon would be converted to a drop tower facility. (Like a space
vehicle in orbit, a capsule in free fall experiences weightlessness.)
The shaft would provide up to 12 seconds of free fall, the longest
duration provided at any facility worldwide.
There are very few crop tower facilities in the world and at present,
Canada does not have one. Canadian scientists and industrial users
have to seek large sums of money to access microgravity facilities
elsewhere. Access to many facilities is limited and there are few flight
opportunities available to Canadian researchers on the American
space shuttle or NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space
Administration) parabolic aircraft.
As well, space experiments are extremely sensitive to "G-jitters", the
residual accelerations often experienced aboard rockets, parabolic
flights, and the space shuttle. With the proposed facility, such
experiments could be performed without such interference. The drop
cost per kilogram per second would be the lowest in the world due to
the size and depth of the shaft.
The drop tower would attract national users and an estimated 100
foreign scientists and engineers annually to Saskatoon, according to
mechanical engineering professor Kamiel Rezkallah. It would
provide job creation and training for young Canadians in leading-
edge areas such as biotechnology, advanced materials, electronics,
and ceramics.
Construction and operation of the facility would create about 130 new
jobs, 30 of them locally, he said.
A total of $24 million would be sought from "in kind" corporate
contributions, venture capital funds and provincial money.
Project #2: Pipeline Technology Centre
CFI funding request: $4.3 million
Description: A new pipeline flow testing centre that would open new
research and training opportunities at the U of S, as well as help meet
the future needs of Western Canada's petroleum, potash and mining
industries.
Working with the Saskatchewan Research Council, the centre would
enhance U of S research capability to explore improved transport of
ore from mines to processing sites and better ways of disposing of
mining wastes. Testing would be done with the large-diameter pipes
that are comparable to those used in industry.
Through collaboration with research partners such as the Syncrude
Canada Research Centre, the centre would permit development of
new pipeline transportation systems for burgeoning oil sands and
mining industries.
Though pipeline transport of heavy crude oil is more environmentally
friendly than truck traffic, more research is needed to transport heavy
oils which are too viscous for conventional pipeline transport,
stressed chemical engineering professor Robert Sumner.
A total of $6.5 million would be sought from eligible partners.
Project #3: Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre
CFI funding request: $3.1 million
Description: A centre for studying the structure of matter using state-
of-the-art instruments such as X-ray equipment, microscopes and
lasers.
The new centre would serve and train scientists from universities,
government labs and the private sector across the Prairie provinces,
promote interdisciplinary research and enable U of S to attract and
maintain highly qualified faculty.
"This equipment is absolutely essential to bring the capabilities of
researchers at the U of S into line with what is regarded as nationally
and internationally competitive," said Ron Steer, a lead researcher on
the project.
The centre would be located in a to-be-renovated building on
campus. It would support research in agricultural biotechnology,
encourage work in fields such as pharmaceuticals, and complement
the activities of the proposed synchrotron on campus.
More than 35 U of S scientists from fields as diverse as cancer
research, biotechnology, soil science, geochemistry and electrical
engineering would use the facility. In particular, the U of S has a
strong international reputation in protein crystallography research but
requires new X-ray equipment to maintain its competitive edge.
More than $4.6 million has been lined up from provincial and federal
agency partners.
Other major projects seeking CFI funding include an addition to the
Agriculture Building for applied biotechnology research, a state-of
the-art laboratory for cell and molecular biology, and a unique-in-
Canada cellular imaging facility.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President of Research
(306) 966-8576
FAX: (306) 966-8597
June 02, 1998
SCI-FI CAMPS
Posted June 02, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JUNE 1, 1998
98-06-01-ENG
SCI-FI camps create lasting
impressions of science
If you are looking for something unique for your children
to do this summer while learning about science and
having fun, then SCI-FI Engineering Summer Science
Camps might be for you.
Run by students from the College of Engineering at the
University of Saskatchewan, SCI-FI uses hands-on
projects and activities to encourage kids to explore
engineering, sciences, computers and technology.
"SCI-FI was created to stimulate an interest in science
and technology among today's youth as well as to dispel
common myths about science such as 'science is boring'
or 'science is just for boys'," says Erin Taylor, SCI-FI
Coordinator. "Through hands-on activities and projects,
we aim to show kids that science is a part of their every
day lives and doesn't have to be taught out of a text
book."
The SCI-FI summer experience is split into two sessions.
During May and June, SCI-FI operates over 225
workshops in classrooms across Saskatchewan. The two
hour workshops which aim to give both teachers and
students a lasting impression of science and engineering
attract over 6000 students each year. This year,
workshops will be held in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Swift
Current, and Moose Jaw as well as in many towns in
between.
During July and August, SCI-FI runs week long summer
day camps on the U of S campus for students in grades 4-
9. Each session is filled with fun, hands on projects such
as rockets, speakers, holograms, motorized cars, slime,
and jello labs just to name a few. Throughout the week ,
students are encouraged to explore science by doing, and
as a result, understanding. Students are given the
opportunity to build and test their own projects,
participate in interactive tours, solve problems and
witness dazzling scientific demonstrations.
In August, SCI-FI also will operate two satellite camps
for Aboriginal students in Buffalo Narrows and Beauval.
These camps give children who are too far away to come
to camp the opportunity to experience the program.
One of the oldest camps of its kind in Western Canada,
the SCI-FI program has been in operation since 1989
when it was first developed by students in the College of
Engineering.
To date, SCI-FI has reached over 30,000 Saskatchewan
students.
For more information, please contact:
Erin Taylor
SCI-FI Coordinator
(306) 966-7755
U of S Submits Synchrotron Proposal
Posted June 02, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JUNE 1, 1998
98-06-03-OTHER
University of Saskatchewan submits
synchrotron proposal
Today the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron project reached
a significant milestone. After years of collaborative planning, the
University of Saskatchewan submitted a proposal to the Canada
Foundation for Innovation (CFI) seeking $71.3 million over four years
- 40 per cent of the capital cost of constructing the national research
facility in Saskatoon.
Representatives from the federal government, the province and the U
of S have agreed on the major stuctural and financial arrangements
necessary to support the project application, said Bernard Michel,
chair of the CLS collaborative committee.
"The sources that are to provide capital and operating funding have
now been identified and confirmed, leaving only the CFI contribution
to complete the financing package," he said, adding "All parties to the
process have worked diligently over the course of the past year in
bringing this project along."
The capital value of the project is $178 million, creating approximately
2,000 person-years of employment during construction and 200
permanent jobs once the facility is in operation, according to a study
by Toronto consulting firm DRI-McGraw Hill.
Of the $106.9 million that's in place from government, university and
industry partners, the federal government has agreed to provide
$14.2 million and the Saskatchewan government $20 million.
The U of S will provide $28.6 million "in kind" support including the
existing particle accelerator laboratory on campus.
"This is excellent news for the U of S and for other university
researchers across the country," said Dr. Michael Corcoran, U of S
vice-president of research. "We're particularly grateful to federal
Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale and Saskatchewan
Economic Development Minister Janice MacKinnon for making this
funding agreement a reality. The CLS will provide an important link to
a growing knowledge-based global economy."
The U of S application, which meets the CFI's June 1 deadline, was
endorsed by 11 other Canadian universities.
The project will be reviewed by the CFI over the next several months.
A response is expected in October or November of this year. The CFI
board will meet early in the new year to make the final funding
decisions.
The CFI is an independently administered fund set up by the federal
government a year ago with $800 million to invest over the next five
years in modernizing research facilities and equipment at Canadian
universities and other research institutions.
Ongoing CLS operating costs would run about $13.8 million a year
when the synchrotron becomes fully operational in 2008. These costs
would be covered by federal science agencies and through fees
charged to users from industry, scientific institutions and other
governments. To address concerns of cost overruns, the project's
capital and operating programs have been reviewed by consultants
AGRA Monenco who place the spending estimates within acceptable
confidence levels.
The CLS, which produces an intense light by using strong magnets to
accelerate electrons, is a major new advanced technology that would
serve the research needs of universities, industry, scientific
institutions and government. Leading Canadian researchers have
advocated the need for a synchrotron for about 10 years, stressing
Canada is the only G7 country without one.
The technology has practical industrial applications in economically
important areas such as biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals and
medicine; mining, natural resources and the environment; materials
and manufacturing; and telecommunications and information
technology. For instance, the light can be used to develop new drugs,
make more powerful microchips, or find ways to increase the winter
hardiness of wheat.
A peer review sponsored by Canada's leading scientific granting
agency (NSERC) has urged that Canada should construct a
synchrotron and that the new facility should be located at the site of
the Saskatchewan Accelerator Laboratory on the U of S campus.
"The CLS project is about collaboration at the highest levels in
science between industry, universities and governments," said
Michel.
There are more than 10,000 researchers using synchrotron light in 40
public and 10 private centres around the world.
For further information, contact:
Dr. Michael Corcoran Dr. Dennis Skopik
U of S Vice-President (Research) Director, Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8514 Accelerator Laboratory
FAX: (306) 966-8597 (306) 966-6054
FAX: (306) 966-6058
Tony Whitworth re-appointed VP Finance & Administration
Posted June 02, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 2, 1998
98-06-02-OTHER
Board re-appoints U of S VP Finance and
Administration
Dr. Tony Whitworth has recently been re-appointed as the University of
Saskatchewan?s Vice-President (Finance and Administration). The
University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors approved the re-
appointment of Dr. Whitworth at their meeting on May 14, 1998.
The decision was made after considering the unanimous
recommendation of an 11-person committee which was appointed to
review the performance of Dr. Whitworth as current Vice-President
(Finance and Administration).
Dr. Whitworth assumed his position at the U of S in 1994. He was
previously at a large community college, Mohawk College, in Hamilton,
Ontario where he served as Vice-President, Administration and Dean
of the Faculty of Business and Communication. He has also served as
Assistant Dean of Research (1972-75) and Assistant to the Vice-
President Administration, (1975-81) at the University of Guelph.
He received a B.Sc. Honours degree from the University of London in
1963, A Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Leeds
(U.K.) in 1967, a M.B.A. from the University of Toronto in 1976, and a
M.Ed. from O.I.S.E. (University of Toronto) in 1989. He also has the
C.M.A. designation.
Dr. Whitworth will begin his second five year term on July 1, 1999.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Tony Whitworth
VP (Finance and Administration)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6631
Mechanical Engineering/Saskatchewan Industry partner forum
Posted June 02, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 2, 1998
98-06-04-ENG
Department of Mechanical Engineering and
Saskatchewan Industry partner for forum
The Department of Mechanical Engineering's contribution to
Saskatchewan Industry will be the topic of discussion at the Bi-Annual
Industry/University Collaboration Forum to be held on Wednesday
June 3, 1998 in the College of Engineering at the University of
Saskatchewan.
The forum's primary objective is to create an awareness of the
facilities, expertise and resources that the Department of Mechanical
Engineering has which can be of benefit to Saskatchewan industry.
It's second objective is to increase technology transfer and foster
cooperative projects between industry and the department.
"It is our hope that this forum will result in more Saskatchewan
industrial firms participating in the Department's student design
projects as well as research and development projects," says Jim
Wilson, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering and Forum
Coordinator. "Our past experience clearly indicates tangible benefits
to both parties. Students and faculty are presented with new and
challenging problems. Industry has access to the Department's
facilities, expertise and resources to assist in the development of new
products or processes. By working together, we can help industry
maintain its competitive edge and create employment opportunities
for people in Saskatchewan."
The first session in the day long conference will focus on current
interactions of the Department with industry through student design
projects. Case histories will be given to illustrate such interaction, the
time frames encountered and the benefits derived both by industry
and the Department.
Each year, fourth-year Mechanical Engineering students, in groups of
three, expend from 300 - 500 person-hours on a design project.
During the past five years, all projects have been initiated by
Saskatchewan and/or Canadian industry. A total of 80 projects have
been executed for over 50 different firms and organizations including
Cameco, Conservation Energy Systems, Del-Air Systems, IMC
Kalium Canada Ltd., Massload Technologies, PCS, Prairie Malt,
Producer's Pipeline Inc., SaskEnergy, St. Paul's Hospital, Sterling
Pulp Chemicals (Sask.) Ltd., and Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.
The second session will focus on recent faculty research and
development projects within the Department. The areas of Materials
and Metallurgy, Control Systems and Fluid Power, Applied
Mechanics/Machine Design, Thermo/Fluid Systems, Advanced
Engineering Design and Manufacturing will be discussed.
Some of the companies involved in such collaborative research
projects with the Department are: ASHRAE (Atlanta, GA), heat
exchanger performance; Imperial Oil (Calgary), lubrication; Phoenix
International (Fargo, N.D.), instrumentation; Flexicoil (Saskatoon),
structural design/instrumentation; John Deere (Waterloo, IA), fluid
power/control systems; and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan
(Saskatoon), material selection/instrumentation.
The forum will also include a guided tour of the Department's facilities
including Fluid Power Control, Wind Tunnel, Materials and
Metallurgy, Thermodynamics Laboratory, Vibrations, Applied
Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Control Systems, Advanced
Engineering Design and Manufacturing.
During the wrap-up session, issues of confidentiality, ownership of
intellectual property, and technology transfer and funding will be
discussed. Representatives from industry, government, and the
university will also address current issues of industry/university
collaboration.
For more information, please contact:
Jim Wilson
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5428
or
Greg Schoenau
Department Head of Mechanical Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5446
