U of S Engineering College to hold first major Research Day

Posted November 25, 1998


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -Wednesday, November 25, 1998
98-11-16-ENG

U OF S ENGINEERING COLLEGE TO HOLD
FIRST MAJOR RESEARCH DAY

The University of Saskatchewan Engineering College will hold the
biggest research promotional event ever held at the college on
Friday, Nov. 27 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

More than 1,500 alumni, business leaders, industry partners, and
politicians have been invited to a "Research Day" on the second floor
of the college. Post-Secondary Education Minister Maynard Sonntag
is among those who'll attend.

A special effort is being made to invite undergraduate engineering
students to explore the variety of leading-edge research
opportunities that await them in the college's graduate programs.

Lab tours and more than 50 poster displays will highlight the work
of faculty and many of the 320 graduate students who've been
trained over the past year. Researchers will be on hand to discuss
their projects throughout the afternoon.

Virtually all 72 engineering faculty members are engaged in
research, ranging from finding ways to make motor fuels from canola
to consulting on far-flung projects such as China's Three River Gorge
Dam. U of S engineering research has also helped solve problems in
the mining and agricultural machinery industries and spun off some
successful Saskatchewan companies such as International Road
Dynamics Ltd.

Engineering Dean Franco Berruti notes the College's research
accomplishments have earned it a national and international
reputation. For instance, U of S engineering professors have
designed equipment to reduce vibrations on the space shuttle,
advised Ontario power officials on the ice storm crisis, and done
studies that help save lives from land slides in the Hong Kong region.

Emerging research strengths of the college include
telecommunications, advanced design and manufacturing, and value-
added processing of agricultural materials such as separation of
wheat fibres to create building insulation materials.

"We have world-class research going on here," he says. "But the
feedback we're getting from our Industrial Advisory Committee (10
senior executives drawn from Saskatchewan companies) is that we
have to start showcasing what we're doing to the outside world. Even
on our campus, our undergraduate students and our own faculty
need a better appreciation of the research activities that are going on
within the college."

He notes the College brings in more than $5.5 million a year in
annual research funding from government and industry, enhancing
both graduate and undergraduate programs.

"We are spending taxpayers? dollars to do our research. This
Research Day is kind of an accountability show," he said. "As well, we
feel that new funding opportunities will come to us if there's wider
appreciation of the research being done here."

Media note: Researchers will be available for media interviews
throughout the afternoon. Special lab tours for reporters can also be
arranged.

For more information, contact:

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506

Dean Franco Berruti
College of Engineering
(306) 966-5273