November 26, 1999
U of S Health Researcher Wins Prestigious National Award
Posted November 26, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday, Nov. 26, 1999 | 99-11-17-OTHER |
U of S Health Researcher Wins Prestigious National Award
The award is given to promising young university-based researchers in the early stages of their career. It provides salary support for five years, enabling the researchers to devote a significant proportion of their time to projects with important societal benefits.
"This is a tremendous accomplishment for Prof. Muhajarine and a real coup for his department," said Barry McLennan, assistant dean of research for the College of Medicine.
"The area of research he is in - population health - is an area where we can really make a difference nationally. For example, we have created SPHERU (Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit) and I predict Prof. Muhajarine will play a vital role in that new research unit."
Criteria for selection include the candidate's research productivity, the institutional setting, and the demonstrated potential for the research to benefit society through programs and policies.
Prof. Muhajarine, who is a social epidemiologist, will examine how parental lifestyle factors (such as drinking, smoking and drug use) during the pre-natal period affect children's early development. He will use data from the recent Saskatoon Pregnancy and Health Study, which involved 1,200 pregnant women and some male partners.
He'll also look at how a stressed socio-economic environment affects young children. "Studies have shown that drinking, smoking and drug use tend to continue during and after the pregnancy. These are among the coping mechanisms some parents use in order to respond to the stresses in their lives," he said.
He hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how health risks are passed down from one generation to the next and how this cycle can be broken.
Muhajarine's work has included understanding why some women continue to practice health-damaging behavior during pregnancy, as well as describing the prevalence of physical abuse and its determinants during pregnancy. He also studies how socioeconomic and lifestyle factors are related to use of health care services for cardiovascular diseases.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
Nazeem Muhajarine
Assistant Professor, Community Health and Epidemiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7940
November 25, 1999
Dr. Stanley Zlotkin to Deliver Lecture on "Foods, Nutrients and Eating: Adult Desires and Kid's Reality"
Posted November 25, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 25, 1999 | 99-11-16-PH |
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Dr. Stanley Zlotkin to Deliver Lecture on "Foods, Nutrients and Eating: Adult Desires and Kid's Reality"
Dr. Zlotkin has worked as a clinician-nutritionist and research scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children since 1980. He is currently a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, a senior scientist in the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children, Medical Director of Nutrition Support and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Hospital for Sick Children.
As well as being a consultant on nutritional issues to Canadian Federal and Provincial governments, he is past Chair of the Nutrition Committee of the Canadian Pediatric Society and of the Research Ethics Board of the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Zlotkin represents Canada on the Dietary Reference Intake subcommittee to determine trace mineral recommendations for North Americans. He also chairs the Scientific Council of the Danone Institute of Canada, a nonprofit body dedicated to the improvement of the health and well-being of Canadians through better nutrition.
The College gratefully acknowledges the support of the University's Visiting Lecturers Fund in bringing Dr. Zlotkin to the University of Saskatchewan. While in Saskatoon, Dr. Zlotkin will present a research seminar on "Recent Advances in Iron Nutrition" to senior undergraduates and graduate students in Nutrition, faculty and dietitians. He will meet with students for further discussions on iron, on international nutrition, and on Canada's role in setting and adopting dietary reference intakes.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, Professor and Chief
of Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario
Tel: (416) 813-6171
email: Zlotkin@sickkids.on.ca
Dr. Susan Whiting
Professor and Division Assistant Dean
(Research and Graduate Affairs)
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5837
email: susan.whiting@usask.ca
November 24, 1999
$750,000 Funding Partnership Creates New Health ResearchCo-ordinator Position
Posted November 24, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, Nov. 24/1999 | 99-11-15-OTHER |
$750,000 Funding Partnership Creates New Health Research Co-ordinator Position
The move is a $750,000-plus joint initiative over five years between the U of S and the Health Services Utilization and Research Commission (HSURC), the provincial health research granting agency.
A search will begin immediately for a suitable candidate to fill the position that will extend until March 31, 2005 and is renewable. The position is expected to be filled early in the new year.
"I am delighted that HSURC is partnering with us to help build research success in a broad range of health-related areas and take full advantage of new federal health research opportunities," said Michael Corcoran, U of S Vice-President Research. "In particular, I expect the new Co-ordinator will aid faculty members in addressing the cross-cutting themes of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the new federal granting agency which will create 'virtual institutes' to investigate health issues ranging from molecules to society and culture."
"We are confident that the $500,000 we're investing in this initiative over the next five years will have huge payoffs for health research and the health-care system in the province," said Liz Harrison, chair of HSURC. "It will help our researchers build productive collaborations, increase the amount of research being done here, and attract more national research dollars to Saskatchewan. HSURC is pleased that the University of Saskatchewan is making health research such a high priority, given its important link to improved health-care for the people of Saskatchewan."
HSURC will provide $100,000 per year toward salary and associated operational support. The U of S, subject to budget finalization, intends to provide $50,000 per year toward salary and associated support, as well as office space, secretarial assistance and other 'in-kind' operational support.
The Co-ordinator, who will report directly to the Vice-President Research, will inform health researchers of funding opportunities, encourage applications, and promote collaborations among researchers from a broad range of health-related areas.
He or she will lobby the provincial and federal government to ensure adequate support for health research in Saskatchewan and play a lead role in Saskatchewan's response to initiatives of the CIHR which will replace the Medical Research Council next April.
The successful candidate will also work with the University of Regina to share information about health research funding opportunities and help foster collaboration on that campus and with U of S researchers.
The Co-ordinator will work with an advisory committee that will meet at least twice a year. It will consist of representatives from key health research stakeholder organizations in the province including HSURC, U of S, U of R, Saskatoon District Health, Regina Health District and Saskatchewan Health.
The position will be reviewed mid-term to determine whether there's been a satisfactory increase in Saskatchewan researchers' participation and success rates in national competitions and in the amount of health research funding flowing to academic health researchers.
HSURC is an arm's-length, government-funded agency with a mandate to serve as the provincial health research funding agency and do health services research for Saskatchewan.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506>
Greg Basky
Communications Manager
Health Services Utilization and Research Commission
(306) 655-1506
November 18, 1999
Delgamuukw Down-Under: Aboriginal Title in Australia
Posted November 18, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 18, 1999 | 99-11-14-LA |
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Delgamuukw Down-Under: Aboriginal Title in Australia
On Monday, November 22, 1999, Richard Bartlett, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Commercial and Resources Law at the University of Western Australia, will deliver a lecture entitled "Delgamuukw Down-Under: Aboriginal Title in Australia". Professor Bartlett has played a significant role in Australia in the recognition of aboriginal title (referred to as native title in Australia).
The lecture will take place in the Moot Court Room, College of Law, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information, contact:
Sharon Wandzura-Fehr
Administrative Office
College of Law
(306) 966-5873
November 17, 1999
Twenty-Seventh Allan A. Bailey Memorial Lecture
Posted November 17, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 17, 1999 | 99-11-10-ME |
Twenty-Seventh Allan A. Bailey Memorial Lecture
The twenty-seventh Allan A. Bailey Memorial Lecture entitled Measuring Quality and Effectiveness in Clinical Medicine will be delivered by Dr. Thomas Feasby on Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 12 noon in the Theatre in the Mall, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon.
Dr. Feasby is Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary. He was born in Halifax, and received his medical degree from the University of Manitoba. Dr. Feasby completed his Residency in Neurology in London, Ontario.
Dr. Feasby has considerable experience in health care delivery. He has extensively studied methods which measure quality of medical care.
He is an acknowledged world expert on diseases of nerves and has done much original work on Guillain-Barre? Syndrome. He has written approximately 100 high quality scientific papers.
Dr. Feasby will be available immediately preceding the lecture at 11:00 a.m. on December 1 in Conference Room B, 6th floor, old section, Royal University Hospital to meet with interested members of the press. If you are interested in attending the media conference, please contact Mavis Procyshyn, Continuing Medical Education at 966-7795.
For more information, please contact:
Mavis Procyshyn
Continuing Medical Education
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7795
CLS Awards $2.2-M Steel Contract to Saskatoon Firm
Posted November 17, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 17, 1999 | 99-11-12-OTHER |
CLS AWARDS $2.2-M STEEL CONTRACT TO SASKATOON FIRM
The Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron project has awarded a $2.2-million contract for the supply, fabrication and installation of structural steel to a Saskatoon firm, Supreme Steel Ltd. The contract is the largest awarded to date for the $173.5-million University of Saskatchewan-owned national facility.
The Supreme Steel bid was the lowest of five submitted by firms from across Western Canada. Steel fabrication and installation will start on the construction site Dec. 20.
Roughly 1,300 tonnes of steel will be used in the building structure. That's equivalent to 65 truckloads of steel.
"It's a unique building design - the steel trusses span, with no supports, almost 300 feet which is almost the length of a Canadian football field," said Ross Fraser, general manager of Supreme Steel Ltd. "We're very pleased to be participating in the challenge of building it."
Fraser said the synchrotron project will be a tremendous economic boost for Saskatoon. "It puts Saskatoon on the map and it will bring research dollars to the city," he said.
There was a major pour of concrete at the site on Friday. The amount of concrete to be used in the structure is equivalent to what would be needed to cover an area the size of 7.5 Canadian football fields with a 30-centimetre layer of concrete.
Tenders have closed and are now being evaluated on the next major CLS contract - the building envelope package.
Construction of the building that will house the synchrotron will be complete in December of 2000. Design and tendering is now underway for construction of the synchrotron itself. The synchrotron machine will be built by February of 2003.
The initial set of six beamlines (conduits for carrying synchrotron light to experimental work stations) will be complete by December of 2003 when the project is expected to begin operations.
The $173.5-million total budget is comprised of $140.9 million in new funding plus almost $33 million in existing facilities and equipment.
Members of the CLS Board of Directors took their first tour of the construction site today. Board members include:
-
Arthur Carty, President of the National Research Council and chair of the
CLS Board of Directors.
- Tony Whitworth, U of S Vice-President Finance
- Michael Corcoran, U of S Vice-President Research
- Doug Maley, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Western Economic
Development
- Fraser Nicholson, Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Economic and
Co-operative Development
- Larry Spannier, Associate Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Economic and
Co-operative Development
- Dennis Skopik, Former Acting Director of the CLS
- Celerino Abad-Zapatero, Associate Research Fellow, Department of
Structural Biology, Abbott Laboratories
- Ronald Cavell, University of Alberta chemistry professor and president of the Canadian Institute for Synchrotron Radiation
- Adam Hitchcock, McMaster University chemistry professor and chair of the Canadian Institute for Synchrotron Radiation
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
U of S Research Revenues Up $10.4 Million
Posted November 17, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 17, 1999 | 99-11-13-OTHER |
U OF S RESEARCH REVENUES UP $10.4 MILLION
Research revenues at the University of Saskatchewan soared to $59.2 million in 1998-99 - a whopping 21.3-per-cent hike over the previous year and the biggest percentage increase in at least 25 years.
The $10.4-million increase represents the biggest increase since the University of Saskatchewan was split into the U of S and the U and R in 1974, according to the U of S University Studies Group.
"This is very exciting news not only for the U of S research community but for the entire province because this new research money will help drive the economy and improve the health and quality of life for the people of Saskatchewan," said Michael Corcoran, U of S Vice-President of Research.
Research revenues were up for nine of the 13 U of S colleges. About half the new money was agriculturally related, including funding for research projects in agricultural and bioresource engineering. The College of Agriculture alone now brings in almost 30 per cent of all U of S research revenue.
Particularly welcome news was the $3.3-million rise in total funding from two federal granting councils - NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
"This increase is in part a testament to the high-calibre, nationally competitive work that U of S researchers are undertaking," said Corcoran.
NSERC funding was up 37 per cent or $2.89 million, for a total of $10.42 million.
Part of the NSERC increase ($1.3 million) was due to funding for the Saskatchewan Accelerator Laboratory to keep the lab operating while the Canadian Light Source synchrotron project was undergoing funding review by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
Another $500,000 was due to a 10-per-cent top-up that NSERC made to researchers' operating grants across Canada. Awards for equipment grants were up about $300,000 and individual researcher awards were up about $800,000. U of S garnered more than 250 NSERC awards last year.
Funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) totalled almost $2.8 million - up $450,000 over the previous year. The increase was in part due to $200,000 from the MRC President's Fund for the Regional Partnership Program, a funding partnership approved last spring between the MRC and the Saskatchewan government to jointly $10 million over the next five years.
"We're particularly heartened by the rise in health research funding," said Corcoran, noting that MRC funding had been on the decline in recent years. "We expect to see this upward trend continue now that the RPP is in place."
Corcoran noted initiatives are being planned to help boost the application and success rates for researchers applying to SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council). SSHRC funding was down slightly to $243,000. "We're hoping we can increase funding from SSHRC in future competitions," he said.
Research funding from Saskatchewan government agencies and departments totalled $16 million - an increase of $2.16 million.
Funding from federal departments and agencies (other than granting councils) reached $5.13 million - up $1.1 million. About $200,000 of the new money was due to the success of two young U of S researchers in the CFI New Opportunities Program.
Another area of growth was industrial funding from companies outside Saskatchewan or Canada - up $1.5 million to $8.28 million.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
November 16, 1999
U of S College of Medicine holds conference to discuss role, expectations
Posted November 16, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 16, 1999 | 99-11-09-ME |
U of S College of Medicine holds conference to discuss role, expectations
SASKATOON - In an effort to provide a forum for stakeholders to discuss the role of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, including future direction and expectations, the College is hosting a conference titled Expectations 1999. The conference will be held Friday and Saturday November 19 and 20 at Place Riel Theatre on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
Kicking off the conference are two keynote addresses starting Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Social Contract of Academic Health Centres by Eldon R. Smith, MD, a former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary, and The Fulfillment of Expectations: How Will We Know? by Lynn Curry, PhD and president of CurryCorp, a private healthcare-related consulting firm. Plenary sessions and focus groups will be conducted throughout the day on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The Expectations 1999 conference aims to present opportunities for stakeholders to examine the role of the college of Medicine within its larger social context, to discuss future directions for the College, to express expectations of the College, and to determine how meeting those expectations might be assessed.
For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Larise Skoretz
Conference Secretary
College of Medicine
966-6940
November 09, 1999
Allan Blakeney to deliver Law Lecture
Posted November 09, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 9, 1999 | 99-11-08-LA |
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Allan Blakeney to deliver Law Lecture
On Monday, November 15, 1999, Allan Blakeney, Visiting Scholar, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan, will deliver a lecture entitled "Affirmative Action, Multiculturalism, and the Nature of Government - Another Perspective". Mr. Blakeney was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1960, and was Premier of the province of Saskatchewan from 1971-1982.
The lecture will take place in the Law Library, College of Law, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information, contact:
Sharon Wandzura-Fehr
Administrative Office
College of Law
(306) 966-5873
November 08, 1999
Maclean's critieria for university ranking inconsistent withU of S mandate
Posted November 08, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, November 8, 1999 | 99-11-07-OTHER |
Maclean's critieria for university ranking inconsistent with U of S mandate
Despite charging one of the lowest tuition rates in the country and providing a full range of high quality programs at a low cost to taxpayers, the U of S was ranked 14 out of 15 by Maclean's. MacKinnon noted, "Maclean's does not rank the amount of tuition charged to students. Because so many of the criteria used in the rankings rely on a healthy operating budget, the U of S is, in effect, punished by Maclean's for low tuition fees." The U of S has one of the lowest operating grants per weighted full-time equivalent student of any university in its category.
Citing student affordability, accessibility to the university for Saskatchewan residents, and targeted administrative efforts as among the values important to the U of S, President MacKinnon said, "The Maclean's rankings do not take into account the special mandates of universities like the University of Saskatchewan, whose first commitment is to serve the people of this province. And that, I feel, is its greatest weakness. I am dedicated to ensuring that the University of Saskatchewan is able to compete with any university in the country. But I am also dedicated to ensuring that we are competitive in areas that make sense for this university, and for this province."
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon, President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
U of S Fact Sheet
Maclean's Annual
Universities Ranking (1999)
On Nov. 8, 1999, Maclean’s published its annual universities ranking. Maclean’s measures and ranks universities against a set of criteria that, taken as a whole, suggest an "ideal" university. The differences among universities for most of the criteria are minimal, because most Canadian universities are quite similar. However, in some cases the values that underlie the choice of criteria are inconsistent with the University of Saskatchewan's mandate.
AFFORDABILITY
Maclean’s does not rank the amount of tuition charged to students. The University of Saskatchewan has one of the lowest tuition rates in the country, but affordability is not a value which is rewarded in the rankings. In fact, if the U of S were to increase tuition by $1,000 per student, it would continue to be competitive with other
universities such as the University of Toronto in cost to student, and would jump two spots in the rankings by investing the additional funds directly into Students Affairs & Services, and Scholarships & Bursaries.
ACCESSIBILITY
Maclean’s ranks universities based on the number of students they admit from outside of their home province. For many years, the U of S had a "Saskatchewan First" policy which ensured that Saskatchewan youngsters would have first claim to a seat at the university. To this day we continue to draw most of our undergraduate students from Saskatchewan, although we do attract more international graduate students.
A second component of accessibility is the grade point average required for admission. Currently, the average high school student entering the U of S has a grade point average of 82%. This is very close to the Canadian mean of 82.4%. If the U of S were to increase the grade point average to 85%, the U of S would climb two spots in the Maclean’s rankings. But what impact would such a move have on accessibility?
FRUGALITY
Maclean's assigns points based on operating grant per weighted full-time equivalent student; universities with higher operating grants receive more points. The University of Saskatchewan has one of the lowest operating grants per weighted full-time equivalent student of any university in its category, but the fact that it offers a full range of high quality programs at the lowest cost, without running a deficit, is a strike against it in the survey.
The size of an operating grant alone does not guarantee quality; it is possible to have a very large operating grant and be wasteful, but Maclean’s has no way of auditing the use of university operating grants other than the criteria used in the rankings.
SIZE OF OPERATING BUDGET
The size and flexibility of a university’s operating budget has a significant impact on how a university is ranked. The University of Saskatchewan’s operating fund makes up 49% of its total revenues. These are the funds that have the most flexibility in their use; they are the funds the university relies on to offer its academic programs. The other revenues the university receives are designated for a particular purpose, and cannot be diverted to meet operating needs. One example is research funds; another is capital funding for maintaining buildings.
This becomes significant when determining what proportion of its operating budget the university can devote to Student Affairs and Services, or Scholarships and Bursaries. This is why university leaders express concern about "starving the core;" having funds available to ensure a high quality academic experience for students. Special purpose funds do not replace core funding.
ALUMNI SUPPORT
Given the restricted flexibility of the university's funding, administrative efforts must be as targeted as possible. But this targeted approach, at least as it applies to alumni fund raising efforts, is another strike against the U of S in the Maclean’s rankings.
Maclean’s gives points for the number of alumni who have contributed within the past five years as a proportion of the total alumni. The size of the gift is irrelevant. This means that if the U of S were to solicit one dollar from 25% of its alumni, it would be ranked highest in this category, even though it would have raised only $20,000. Instead, the university's alumni fund raising efforts take the limited resources available and target them to those alumni in the best position to make a gift to the university. The result is an annual fund that raises $800,000 from alumni each year.
REPUTATION
The reputational survey is worth 15% of an institution’s overall ranking. This is the largest weighting given to any criterion, making it one of the most significant in affecting an institution’s ranking. The reputational survey is distributed to high school guidance counsellors, representatives of business and industry, and others who have a stake in the quality of university education offered in Canada.
Saskatchewan has few industry and business headquarters, and a proportionately smaller base of guidance counsellors when compared to Ontario or Quebec. The U of S could increase its spending to market itself more aggressively across Canada; and indeed, in the competitive environment in which it exists, it has no choice but to do so.
OTHER ISSUES
The Maclean’s rankings raise many other questions that need to be explored. Does having a class taught by a tenured stream faculty member automatically mean a better educational experience for students? Does class size affect the quality of education offered? What is the purpose of including the number of faculty with a PhD when the differences between institutions are miniscule? Why has Maclean’s chosen not to include CFI funding in the total research funding category? (While the University of Saskatchewan is ranked lower in amount of granting council research funding, it is second only to Toronto in total amount of CFI funding granted, and including CFI funding should benefit us in the rankings.) And what impact do library holdings have on the undergraduate education experience at a time when resource sharing between libraries is becoming the norm?
For more information, contact communications@usask.ca
Strong Interest Remains in the College of Agriculture's Diploma Program
Posted November 08, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 8, 1999 | 99-11-06-AG |
Strong Interest Remains in the College of Agriculture's Diploma Program
SASKATOON - Student enrollment in the Diploma in Agriculture program continues to be strong despite the difficulties many farm families are facing. This fall, a total of 204 students registered in the program compared to 199 students last year. This is a considerable increase when compared to the early and mid-90s, when, on average, only 156 students registered.
Traditionally, individuals chose this program to prepare themselves for managing the family farm. However, off-farm income is increasingly important for the rural economy in Saskatchewan, and the majority of students now entering the Diploma program want to start a career in the agricultural service sector.
Graduates of the Diploma program are recognized by the agricultural industry for their technical knowledge and farm experience while their professional status as Agricultural Technologists is recognized by the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists.
For more information, please contact:
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4062
or
Dr. Mike Grevers, Coordinator
Diploma in Agriculture Program
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7876
November 04, 1999
U of S President to Visit Swift Current
Posted November 04, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NOVEMBER 4, 1999 | 99-11-05-OTHER |
U of S President to Visit Swift Current
All members of the public are invited to attend the following events:
- A Breakfast hosted by the Chamber of Commerce
to be held at the K Motel at 7:45 a.m.
and
- University of Saskatchewan Alumni Event (Reception) to be held at the Day's End at 5:00 p.m.
For information regarding the tour, please contact the Office of Communications at the University of Saskatchewan at (306) 966-6607.
For more information, please contact:
Cindy Paquette, Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6640
or
Gail Fredrickson, Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6204
November 03, 1999
Market Prospects 2000
Posted November 03, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 2, 1999 | 99-11-02-AG |
Market Prospects 2000
The broadcasts will be aired Saturdays on CTV's Farmgate at 12:00 noon. The scheduled topics for November are as follows:
-
November 13: Domestic and World Market Overview.
- Mike Makowsky, Senior Commodity Economist, Policy and Program Development Branch, SK Agriculture and Food, Regina, SK - November 20: Pork Situation and Outlook.
- Gary Storey, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK - November 27: Beef Situation and Outlook.
- Anne Dunford, Senior Market Analyst, CanFax Research Services, Calgary, AB
The three programs listed will be rebroadcast on SCN on Wednesday, December 1st, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. and then repeated on Saturday, December 4, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. Market Prospects 2000 will resume on January 29 through April 15.
Market Prospects delivers timely commodity market and outlook information prior to spring planting. The programs inform farmers about changing production and market conditions that will influence production levels and prices of the major Saskatchewan crops in the coming year. Market Prospects also provides specific price forecasts for individual crops.
Market Prospects is coordinated by the Extension Service of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, and the Extension Division and Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of Saskatchewan. Funding for Market Prospects 2000 is provided by the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan, Inc. (AIMS).
For more information, please contact:
Robert Roy, Agricultural Economist
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4029
5th Annual Sask Beef Symposium November 16 & 17, Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon, SK
Posted November 03, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 3, 1999 | 99-11-03-AG |
5th Annual Sask Beef Symposium November 16 & 17, Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon, SK
Sponsored by:
- University of Saskatchewan:
- Department of Animal & Poultry Science
- Extension Division
- Western Beef Development Centre
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine
- Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
- The Reinhold Termuende Trust
- The Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Assoc.
- The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Assoc.
For more information contact:
John McKinnon
Animal & Poultry Science, U of S
phone: (306) 966-4137
fax: (306) 966-4151
e-mail: McKinnon@abyss.usask.ca
Grant Wood
Extension Division, U of S
phone: (306) 966-5586
fax: (306) 966-5567
e-mail: grant.wood@usask.ca
Commercial Greenhouse Growers Conference set for November 20 & 21, Quality Hotel, Saskatoon, SK
Posted November 03, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 3, 1999 | 99-11-04-EXT |
Commercial Greenhouse Growers Conference set for November 20 & 21, Quality Hotel, Saskatoon, SK
Dr. Hammer, a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Purdue University in Indiana, is one of North America?s leading specialists in bedding plant and poinsettia production. Mr. Brian Cantin, a technical consultant with Yoder Canada in Windsor, Ontario, brings to the conference a tremendous wealth of applied research in both bedding plant and poinsettia production and has considerable greenhouse growing experience.
The conference is open to anyone who operates a commercial greenhouse - small to large. If you sell bedding plants, this event is for you!
Those attending will have an opportunity to network with various greenhouse operators, and to visit the trade show, which will feature North American companies who supply a good or service to the greenhouse industry. An audience of over 100 greenhouse growers from across the province is anticipated at the conference. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with representatives of the greenhouse industry.
Sponsored by:
- Saskatchewan Greenhouse Growers Association
- Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
- University of Saskatchewan (Extension Division)
For more information contact:
Grant Wood
Extension Division , U of S
phone: (306) 966-5586
fax: (306) 966-5567
e-mail: grant.wood@usask.ca
* Check out our home page at http://www.extension.usask.ca and
click on conferences.
November 01, 1999
U of S Plant Scientist Wins National Award
Posted November 01, 1999
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, November 1, 1999 | 99-11-01-AG |
U of S Plant Scientist Wins National Award
The $5,000 award recognizes leadership and initiative in furthering university-industry co-operation in research. Award winners are selected by an arms-length panel of distinguished scholars.
"His work has had a significant economic impact, contributing to the international recognition of Canada as a major producer of high-quality pulses and vegetable oils," states Prof. Rowland's award citation.
Candidates are promising researchers carrying out significant collaborative industry-university research and development. Other criteria for the award include: vision, creativity, fostering multidisciplinary and international linkages, involving students in collaborative research projects, and providing tangible benefits for research partners or the Canadian economy.
Prof. Rowland's award is based upon his work as a very successful flax and faba-bean breeder and his role as director of the Crop Development Centre (CDC) from 1994 to 1995.
Rowland's early work with faba-beans contributed to a major program in pulse crop breeding at the CDC, which today encompasses lentils, peas, chickpeas and beans and is responsible for the seeding of about 2.3 million acres of these crops in Saskatchewan.
In recent years, he has applied sophisticated molecular biological techniques to develop flax varieties with oil suitable for human consumption. His work is opening the way to 'designing' vegetable oils to meet different human nutritional and food-industry demands.
Rowland has been at the U of S since 1972. He has established and nurtured extensive collaboration with industry partners including the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Parsons Seeds Ltd. In 1998 he received the Ag-West Biotech Inc. Distinguished Scientist Award.
He received the Corporate-Higher Education Forum award at the Forum's recent annual meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
The U of S is a member of the Forum, which was formed in 1983 to foster understanding and collaboration between Canada's business and academic communities. Its members are chief executives of corporations and universities who share their knowledge and experience to anticipate needs and act on opportunities to strengthen their institutions and Canadian society as a whole.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
