February 27, 2001
U of S College Building Declared a National Historic Site
Posted February 27, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? February 26, 2001 2001-02-24-OTHER
U of S College Building Declared
A National Historic Site
The Federal Government has declared the University of Saskatchewan?s College
Building a National Historic Site of Canada.
This important historical status will greatly assist the university in
obtaining federal, provincial and private funding to restore the building
which has been closed since 1997 due to structural problems. A total of $20
million is needed for restoration.
The decision came after months of detailed analysis and discussions between
university staff and Federal Government officials.
University President, Peter MacKinnon, said: "This is excellent news.
Federal officials have placed the College Building among the 860 sites in
Canada recognized for their national historic significance. Federal
officials consider the building an outstanding example of Collegiate Gothic
architecture in Canada."
Last October, the College Building received a boost from the Provincial
Government when it committed one third of the funding required from its
centenary fund. It is hoped that the Federal Government will now become an
equal partner in this project. The final one-third may be raised through a
university fundraising drive.
University Associate Vice-President Facilities Management, Paul Becker,
said: "Over the next few weeks, the university will apply for the National
Historic Sites of Canada Cost Sharing Program and to other government
programs as well as private foundations. If successful, design and
restoration work will get underway as soon as possible."
Acknowledging the commitment of those involved, Mr. Becker added: "Receiving
Federal Heritage Designation was the result of a tremendous effort by many
people dedicated to the preservation of the College Building for the
university community and the people of Saskatchewan and Canada."
The 88-year-old building was designated by the Honourable Sheila Copps,
Minister of Canadian Heritage, upon the advice of the National Historic
Sites and Monument Board of Canada. It is a heritage landmark on campus that
has been closed and secured since November 1997 because of the potential
threat to public safety posed by its dangerous state of repair.
For further information, contact:
Paul Becker
Associate Vice-President (Facilities Management)
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4532
Elaine Cadell
Executive Director, Alumni & Development
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5176
Backgrounder
University of Saskatchewan College Building
- The University of Saskatchewan College Building was built in 1910-12. It
was the first building on the U of S campus.
- Former Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier laid the cornerstone on July
29, 1910.
- The College of Agriculture was the first occupant of the building.
- Designed by Vallance and Brown Architects of Montreal, it is a striking
example of Collegiate Gothic architecture.
- The College Building was designated a Provincial Heritage Property in
1982.
- In November 1997, the building was vacated and closed to traffic because
of advancing structural weaknesses.
- The College Building, once restored to its original splendour, will serve
as a showcase demonstrating the university?s collective historic, ethnic and
cultural diversity. By locating such facilities as the University Art
Collection, University Archives, the Museum of Antiquities, an Aboriginal
Welcoming/Spiritual Centre and a University Interpretative Centre and
Gallery, the College Building will be the welcoming focal point for the
campus and its visitors and community.
February 26, 2001
U of S to undertake search for Vice-President Research
Posted February 26, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- February 23, 2001 2001-02-17-OTHER
U of S to undertake search for Vice-President Research
Dr. Michael Corcoran, Vice-President (Research) at the University of
Saskatchewan, has announced his intention not to seek a second five-year
term as vice-president. Dr. Corcoran's current term will expire June 30,
2002.
A search team will be formed to begin looking for a replacement for Dr.
Corcoran. Dr. Corcoran will continue to work at the University of
Saskatchewan, focusing on his own research in the fields of physiological
psychology and neuropsychopharmacology.
Dr. Corcoran became Vice-President (Research) at the University of
Saskatchewan in August 1997, after serving as Associate Dean of Research at
the University of Victoria. During his tenure as vice-president, the
University of Saskatchewan identified major research thrusts in the areas of
biotechnology, environmental sciences, health sciences, identity and
diversity, materials science, and technology and change. As Vice-President
(Research), Dr. Corcoran played a leadership role in the development of the
Canadian Light Source, and in fostering stronger partnerships for research
with the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada. During his term, research
revenues at the U of S grew from $50 Million to about $70 Million annually.
Dr. Corcoran also worked to promote awareness of the importance of U of S
research and scholarly work in Saskatchewan, chairing the boards of the
Cameco NMS Neuroscience Research Center, the Saskatchewan Drug Research
Institute, and University of Saskatchewan Technologies Inc. Dr. Corcoran
also represented the U of S on external boards related to research
enterprises, including the Saskatchewan Research Council and the Plant
Biotechnology Institute.
University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon expressed his warm
thanks to Dr. Corcoran for his service as vice-president. "Research and
scholarly work are fundamental activities for a university; they are what
distinguish a university from other educational institutions. Thanks to
Michael Corcoran's efforts, we have built a stronger foundation for research
intensiveness at the University of Saskatchewan, one that will support our
growth in strategic areas while fostering the link between research and
teaching."
For more information please contact:
Dr. Michael Corcoran
Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8513
Students Explore Career Opportunities
Posted February 26, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? February 23, 2001 2001-02-18-AR
Students explore career opportunities at
FOCUS ON YOUR FUTURE
Students can explore career options available with an Arts & Science degree
at Focus On Your Future, Saturday, March 3rd, 2001 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
in the Arts Building on the University campus.
Focus On Your Future gives students an opportunity to learn about various
careers and provides them with information on getting jobs. Students may
attend up to five different sessions during this all day event.
The event is free. Students may register in advance at the Arts & Science
General Office (306-966-4231), the ASSU Office or online at
http://arts.usask.ca. Students may also register at the door.
Students currently in the College of Arts & Science or Unclassified Studies,
senior high school students, and anyone interested in pursuing a university
degree will pick up valuable information on careers and job-hunting.
Morning sessions feature presentations from professional programs at the
University of Saskatchewan and other institutions. This year, sessions
include information on: architecture, co-op education programs, education,
law, naturopathic medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy &
nutrition, physical therapy, social work and speech pathology.
At noon, Doug Rain, the Director of the Student Employment and Career Centre
provide tips on marketing an Arts & Science degree. The session covers
choosing a career and finding a job in today?s employment market.
During the afternoon, students can talk to the experts! Panel discussions
featuring representatives from business, government and cultural
communities, talk about career choices for Arts & Science students.
Discussions include: Liberal Arts in the Corporate World; Libraries,
Archives & Museums; Number Games (careers in economics, business economics,
mathematics and statistics); Book and Web Publishing; Aboriginal Businesses;
Crime Pays! Careers in the Justice System; Environmental and Earth Sciences;
and Working in the Public Service.
A complete schedule is available at http://arts.usask.ca.
The event is sponsored by the College of Arts & Science, the Arts & Science
Students? Union and the Student Employment & Career Centre.
For more information, contact:
Laura Zink
College of Arts & Science
University of Saskatchewan
phone: 306-966-4247
fax: 306-966-8839
email: laura.zink@usask.ca
National Synchrotron Project Attracts Pharmaceutical GroupAs First Industrial Investor
Posted February 26, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, 2001
2001-02-21-OTHER
National Synchrotron Project Attracts Pharmaceutical Group
As First Industrial Investor
-- Saskatchewan government also commits matching money
SASKATOON, SK. Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's leading
pharmaceutical firms, has become the first industrial company to invest in a
beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron project now under
construction on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon and Dr. Paul Anderson,
Senior Vice-President R&D of Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., made the
announcement today at a special event to mark completion of the
stadium-sized building that will house Canada's first state-of-the-art
synchrotron.
Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., a subsidiary of the multinational
Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies, will contribute $500,000 over the
next five years toward the cost of a beamline (conduit for carrying
synchrotron light to experimental work stations) and related facilities.
Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development will match this sum.
The beamline will be used for protein crystallography which involves using
synchrotron light to study protein crystals, research which can lead to the
design of new drugs. With a synchrotron, scientists can determine crystal
structures in weeks to months instead of months to years.
"We're delighted to receive this beamline contribution from Boehringer
Ingelheim which we expect will be the first of many from companies that
recognize the benefits of using synchrotron science to develop new products
and solve industrial problems," said MacKinnon.
Anderson said, "At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are extremely pleased to
contribute to the construction of this state-of-the art research facility.
The protein crystallography beamline will be an invaluable tool for our
scientists and other Canadian researchers. This investment is a further
example of our commitment to research and development in Canada."
The first light will shine down the beamlines in January of 2004.
Construction of the $173.5-million national facility is on time and on
budget.
Funding is now in place for half a dozen beamlines. CLS is seeking
additional capital investment partnerships to build the full complement of
more than 30 beamlines. Each beamline costs about $5 million and is
dedicated to a different type of synchrotron science.
A synchrotron is a huge, donut-shaped ring that accelerates a stream of
electrons and manipulates them to create a beam of light billions of times
brighter than the sun. This rare light can then be used by industrial and
university researchers as a revolutionary new tool to observe structures and
chemical reactions at a molecular level.
The CLS is owned by the U of S. CLS construction is mainly funded by the
Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canadian government, the Saskatchewan
government, the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Alberta government, the
University of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon and SaskPower.
The Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies, with headquarters in Ingelheim
(Germany), is one of the 20 leading pharmaceutical firms in the world and
reported revenues of almost DEM 10 billion in 1999. Substantial research and
development, production, and distribution facilities are located around the
globe. In 1999, Boehringer Ingelheim spent DEM 1.6 billion on R&D,
equivalent to 16% of total sales. As a research-driven company, Boehringer
Ingelheim has R&D centres in Argentina, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan,
USA.
Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. is one of the fastest growing
pharmaceutical companies in Canada. The company has a major research and
development centre in Laval, Quebec, making Boehringer Ingelheim one of the
largest Canadian investors in pharmaceutical research and development. For
more information on Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., please visit
www.boehringer-ingelheim.ca.
For more information on the CLS, visit www.cls.usask.ca.
Contact information:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2506
Fax: (306) 966-2411
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.cls.usask.ca
Nicole Gareau
Coordinator, Communications
Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd./Lt饊Research and Development
Tel: (450) 682-4640 ext. 4301
Fax: (450) 682-6279
ngareau@lav.boehringer-ingelheim.com
www.boehringer-ingelheim.ca
GlaxoSmithKline Commits $500,000 for First-in-Canada Research Chair Linked to U of S-owned Canadian Light Source
Posted February 26, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, Feb. 26/2001
2001-02-22-OTHER
GlaxoSmithKline Commits $500,000 for First-in-Canada Research Chair Linked
to U of S-owned Canadian Light Source
-- Saskatchewan government also commits matching money
SASKATOON, SK. GlaxoSmithKline, one of the country's leading research-based
pharmaceutical companies, will provide a $500,000 endowment to help create
Canada's first designated research chair in synchrotron science.
The funding, to be matched by Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative
Development and potentially other partners, will enable the University of
Saskatchewan to hire an expert in research leading to the design of new
drugs. The Chair holder will carry out research at the new national
synchrotron facility -- the Canadian Light Source -- now under construction
on the U of S campus.
The endowment was announced today at a dedication ceremony for the newly
constructed, stadium-sized building that will house the CLS synchrotron. The
U of S-owned CLS will begin operations in January of 2004.
"This new Chair will help create a centre of excellence in medically
important areas of synchrotron science at the U of S and could lead to the
development of new drugs using the CLS synchrotron on our campus," said U of
S President Peter MacKinnon. "Training of graduate students in these
leading-edge and high-demand areas of research and development will also be
enhanced."
GlaxoSmithKline, a top 20 investor in Canadian research and development
(R&D), will provide $100,000 for each of the next five years for the new
Chair. The U of S will establish a process to appoint the first holder of
the Chair.
"The investment is part of GlaxoSmithKline's Pathfinders Fund for Leaders in
Canadian Health Science Research," said Geoffrey Mitchinson, Vice-President
of Public Affairs. "The goal of the $10-million fund is to create a
research position in every Canadian medical school. GlaxoSmithKline is
committed to helping Canada become a global leader in R&D by providing
opportunities for Canada's talented scientists and researchers."
One possible area of research supported by the endowment will be structural
biology. Structural biologists use synchrotron light and other imaging
technologies to study the structure of large molecules such as proteins and
nucleic acids. This information can be used to determine the receptor sites
on proteins where drug molecules can bind and modify protein function. For
instance, binding a drug molecule to a protein involved in cancer processes
can kill the cancer cells.
Structural biology has become increasingly important now that the Genome
Project has identified the approximately 30,000 genes in human DNA.
Synchrotron light is the premiere tool for investigating the
three-dimensional structure of proteins encoded by genes.
New uses for synchrotron light in medical research are rapidly being
developed. For instance, infrared light produced at synchrotrons is being
used to study a number of diseases including osteoporosis and Alzheimer's
disease.
As well, the potential of using synchrotron light for medical imaging is
causing increasing excitement. Studies are underway to explore the use of
synchrotron light for angiography (study of the inside of the heart and
blood vessels) and mammography.
Construction of the $173.5-million CLS facility is on time and on budget. A
synchrotron is a huge device that accelerates a stream of electrons and
manipulates them to create a beam of light billions of times brighter than
the sun. This light can then be used by industrial and university
researchers as a new tool to observe structures and chemical reactions at
the molecular and atomic levels.
The CLS is owned by the U of S. CLS construction is mainly funded by the
Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canadian government, the Saskatchewan
government, the Alberta government, Ontario Innovation Trust, Alberta
Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, University of Saskatchewan, the
City of Saskatoon and SaskPower.
GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical
and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human
life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
GlaxoSmithKline employs more than 1,800 people in Canada, of which
approximately 400 are R&D staff. The company invests more than $100 million
annually in Canadian research and development and is one the country's top
10 corporate charitable donors.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Janet Ko
Manager, Corporate Communications
GlaxoSmithKline
(905) 819-3022
Fax: (905) 819-3093
Canadian Light Source Partners Celebrate Building Completion and Full Capital Funding
Posted February 26, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, Feb. 26/2001
2001-02-23-OTHER
Canadian Light Source Partners Celebrate Building Completion and Full
Capital Funding
SASKATOON, SK. More than 250 top government officials, business leaders and
scientists from across Canada attended a dedication ceremony today to mark
completion of the massive building that will soon be home to Canada's first,
state-of-the-art synchrotron - the $173.5 million Canadian Light Source
(CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan.
Construction of the U of S-owned national synchrotron facility - Canada's
biggest scientific project in more than 30 years -- is on time and on
budget. Key components of the huge, light-generating device are now on
order. The first light will shine down beamlines to scientists' workstations
in January of 2004, providing an extraordinary new research tool for
Canadian universities, scientific institutions, and industry.
Today's ceremony also marked the recent achievement of full funding for the
$140.9 million in new construction costs (an existing building and other
equipment account for the remaining $32.6-million of the project's
$173.5-million total value).
The project's first commercial investor ($500,000 from Boehringer Ingelheim
(Canada) Ltd.) and first dedicated research chair ($500,000 from
GlaxoSmithKline) were also announced (see attached news releases). Both
contributions will be matched by Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative
Development.
"The fact that we've been able to raise this money and make this national
dream a bricks-and-mortar reality is a tremendous testament to the
unprecedented level of collaboration among governments, universities and
industry across Canada," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon. "This unique
facility offers a tremendous research and training opportunity for the U of
S and for all the other 18 universities that have endorsed this project
across Canada."
MacKinnon welcomed the CLS's newest provincial partner, Alberta, which
earlier this month announced new beamline funding from various sources
totalling $9.2 million. He noted that funding is now in place for the first
suite of six beamlines. The CLS is now looking ahead to the next phase of
the project which will be to find funding from other provinces and industry
to build the full complement of 30 beamlines, he said.
Using powerful magnets and radio frequency waves, the synchrotron will
accelerate electrons to nearly the speed of light, producing intense light
beams for probing the structure of matter with unprecedented accuracy and
precision. This could lead to new drugs, more powerful computer microchips,
better engine lubricants, new materials for safer medical implants and a
host of other applications.
"The Canadian Light Source synchrotron is a symbol of the culture of
research excellence we are nurturing here in Saskatchewan," said
Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert. "We are building an infrastructure of
innovation that will lead to new jobs and opportunities for Saskatchewan
people."
CLS will have applications in fields as diverse as medical imaging,
pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, mining, petrochemicals, semi-conductors,
advanced materials, and miniaturized machine components. Estimates are that
by 2015, the CLS could attract as much as $35 million a year to Canada in
commercial research and development spending.
"The Canadian Light Source synchrotron is a beacon of innovation that
reflects the federal government's plan to make Canada one of the most
innovative countries in the world," said the Honourable Ron J. Duhamel,
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic
Diversification) and (Francophonie). "It will energize the western Canadian
economy and attract the best scientists and researchers from around the
globe."
"The Canadian Light Source illustrates the Government of Canada's commitment
to investing in research and development to ensure that Canadians are
equipped with the skills and the knowledge to find new ways of doing
things," said Dr. Gilbert Normand, Secretary of State (Science, Research and
Development) on behalf of the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry.
"Congratulations on completing the outer shell."
"We view the City of Saskatoon's $2.4 million involvement as an investment
in our future -- the future of research and development, the future of
economic development, and the future of job creation in our community,"
Saskatoon Deputy Mayor Patricia Roe. "And with the official opening of the
facility to house the synchrotron, our future continues to shine brightly."
The CLS has received $56.4 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation
(CFI), an independent, not-for-profit organization established by the
federal government in 1997 to address an urgent need of Canada's research
community: new state-of-the-art research infrastructure.
"The CLS is a true Canadian research success story," said Dr. David
Strangway, CFI President and CEO. "This project of national scope will bring
together researchers from a number of universities in a facility that was
made possible by the vision and the commitment of the local community and
all levels of government. It is an excellent example of the type of project
that will have a profound impact on many aspects of the lives of Canadians
and contribute to strengthening Canada's scientific leadership."
Other capital funding includes: $28.3 million from the federal government
(National Research Council, Western Economic Diversification, Natural
Resources Canada), $25 million from the Government of Saskatchewan, $9.4
million from the Ontario Innovation Trust, $7.3 million from the U of S,
$6.7 million from the Alberta government, $2.5 million from the Alberta
Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, $2.4 million from the City of
Saskatoon, $2 million from SaskPower Corp., $500,000 from Boehringer
Ingelheim, and $300,000 from each of the universities of Alberta and Western
Ontario.
The CLS operating budget is estimated at $13.8 million per year. Of this,
$8.6 million per year is in place -- from NSERC ($4.6 million), the National
Research Council ($2 million), Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($1
million), and the U of S ($1 million). The rest is to be raised through user
fees (for non-academic users) and other sources.
"Today is a significant milestone on the way to first experimental beams of
light in 2003," said CLS Director Dr. Michael Bancroft. "The key to
continued success, and the addition of growth beamlines in the coming years,
is the unprecedented collaboration of universities, government and industry
in the synchrotron partnership."
For more information about the CLS, visit: http://www.cls.usask.ca.
For additional information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Manager, Consultations, Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 975-5942
7WD Toll-Free No.: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
WD World Wide Web site:
English - www.wd.gc.ca
French - www.deo.gc.ca
Suzanne Corbeil
Coordinator of Public Events/Coordonnatrice des 鶨nements sp飩aux
Canada Foundation for Innovation/ Fondation cannadienne pour l'innovation
Tel: (613) 996-4403
Fax: (613) 943-0923
Cell: (613) 294-6247
Chris Dekker
Communications Manager
City of Saskatoon
(306) 975-3207
Val Mellesmoen
Alberta Innovation and Science
(780) 780-415-4761
Cellular: (780) 915-2443
val.mellesmoen@gov.ab.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Nancy Bernini
Synchrotron Program Coordinator
Natural Resources Canada
Tel: (613) 995-7602
Fax: (613) 992-8874
www.nrcan.gc.ca/synchrotron
Tim Nau
Director of Communications/Directeur de Communications
NSERC/CRSNG
t鬮: 613-995-5993
t鬥c.: 613-943-0742
txn@nserc.ca
Andrew Matejcic
Communications Planning Officer
CIHR/IRSC
Tel.: (613) 954-7143
Fax: (613) 954-6653
www.cihr.ca
amatejcic@cihr.ca
Rhonda Lothammer
Associate Director, Communications
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical
Research
(780) 423-5727
--------------------
CANADIAN LIGHT SOURCE
Other Comments from Funding Partners
* "The Canadian Light Source synchrotron will put Saskatchewan on the
scientific map," said Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development
Minister Eldon Lautermilch. "This project demonstrates the government's
commitment to economic growth and job creation through innovation."
* "An important part of NRC's mandate is to champion large-scale facilities
and infrastructure that are essential to meet the strategic needs of
Canada's research community," said Dr. Arthur Carty, President of NRC. "The
National Research Council has continually emphasized the need for national
facilities like the Canadian Light Source so that Canadian scientists and
engineers have access to scientific infrastructure beyond the scope of any
one university or organization. The CLS will stimulate and support a culture
of science and innovation, giving Canada a leading role in the global S&T
community, and help attract, train and retain our brightest young scientists
and engineers."
* "The potential of synchrotron light is enormous," said Dr. Irwin
Itzkovitch, Assistant Deputy Minister, on behalf of Minister Ralph Goodale,
Natural Resources Canada. "Its application in many scientific fields is only
just beginning to be explored. It is my belief that Canada's first
synchrotron facility will help maintain Canada as the world's "smartest"
natural resources steward, developer, user and exporter."
* "It is very important for the nation to have a big, modern facility where
a lot of small, leading-edge science will be done by Canadian researchers
from many disciplines who require very powerful X-rays," says Dr. Tom
Brzustowski, President of NSERC.
* "Like the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the synchrotron is an
excellent demonstration of what can be achieved when committed partners come
together in pursuit of a common goal. I am proud that CIHR is among these
partners," said Steven Lewis, Member of the Governing Council, Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
* "The Canadian Light Source is a cutting-edge installation for Canadian
researchers to use, and through the Alberta Synchrotron Institute, Alberta
scientists will receive support for research and personnel," said Dr. Robert
Church, Chair of the Alberta Science and Research Authority. "Alberta's
investment in this facility is a critical part of our provincial Life
Sciences Strategy, which also includes funding initiatives in proteomics,
Genome Prairie and research excellence."
* "The successful collaborations between provincial and federal
organizations in realizing the establishment of ASI and the Canadian Light
Source Project place Alberta in a competitive position for attracting and
retaining innovative researchers," said Dr. Matt Spence, President and CEO
of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. "In Alberta,
AHFMR has pioneered investment in top-notch health researchers. Our
commitment to this initiative is one more example of our long-term
investment for very positive future outcomes."
* "The Ontario Innovation Trust is proud to support the Canadian Light
Source (CLS) synchrotron project, through a $9.4-million investment in the
Ontario Synchrotron Consortium to create a partnership among Canadian
researchers and the CLS project," said Michael Gourley, Chair of the Board
of Directors of the Ontario Innovation Trust. "This investment is part of an
Ontario- and Canada-wide strategy to build world-class centres of research
that will attract and retain top researchers and scientists."
* "At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are extremely pleased to contribute to the
construction of this state-of-the-art facility," said Dr. Paul Anderson,
Senior Vice-President R&D of Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. "The protein
crystallography beamline will be an invaluable tool for our scientists and
other Canadian researchers. This investment is a further example of our
commitment to research and development in Canada."
February 23, 2001
Changing the Climate: A Multidisciplinary Graduate Student Conference
Posted February 23, 2001
February 23, 2001 2001-02-15-GSA
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
The public are invited to attend a graduate student conference at the
University of Saskatchewan titled "Changing the Climate: A Multidisciplinary
Graduate Student Conference" March 2 and 3, 2001 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30
p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. All sessions to be
held at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre on campus.
The conference will showcase presentations on a wide variety of subjects
from graduate students in Education, Women?s and Gender Studies, History,
English, and Commerce, and will feature:
"History and the Historical Novel" - a speech by Guy Vanderhaeghe,
Governor General?s Award Recipient,
and Author of The Englishman's Boy
Friday, March 2 at 12:30 p.m.
All are welcome to attend. Admission is free.
Registration for the entire conference, which includes lunch, is $10.
For more information, please contact:
Reta Derksen
Department of English
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 653-2783
purrrcy@home.com
or
Carey Tufts
Department of English
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 955-4960
careycarson@hotmail.com
February 22, 2001
Quaker and Cargill support oat breeding at U of S College of Agriculture
Posted February 22, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? February 21, 2001 2001-02-14-AG
Quaker and Cargill support oat breeding at U of S
College of Agriculture
The U of S College of Agriculture?s Crop Development Centre will receive
$600 K over three years from Quaker Oats Canada and Cargill Ltd. in support
of its oat research and development program.
The funding is allocated for an expanded milling oat project at the College
of Agriculture.
Under the new agreement, Quaker will provide $150K and Cargill $50K per
annum for three years to the College of Agriculture Crop Development Centre.
Project co-leader Brian Rossnagel says, "The new agreement will strengthen
our traditional breeding and research efforts aimed at developing improved
oat varieties for Saskatchewan and western Canada. Specifically, it will
help enable further research of oat diseases, milling quality and field
yield, as well as mapping the oat genome ? all of which are important
components of what has been an extremely successful 25-year breeding program
at the University of Saskatchewan."
The latest agreement extends a 1996 agreement through which the University
of Saskatchewan became a partner in a Quaker-funded oat development program
involving three other North American research institutions.
According to Rossnagel, the Quaker oat initiative has helped U of S
scientists be a part of creating a network of collaborating North American
scientists that shares gene mapping, disease resistance, milling quality
criteria information and breeding germplasm.
"At Quaker, we believe that delivering a high quality consumer product means
a commitment to quality at every stage of production. Supporting research
aimed at improving the quality of food ingredients plays an essential role
in that process. This latest agreement represents a renewal of Quaker?s
longstanding support of agricultural research in general and the Crop
Development Centre?s oat breeding program in particular," says Quaker
Quality Assurance Leader ? Canada, Grant Morrison.
The College of Agriculture?s oat breeding program was revived in the
mid-1970s after a lengthy period of inactivity, largely through the support
of industry research leader Quaker Oats.
Since 1983, the Crop Development Centre has released five varieties of
milling oat which dominate oat acreage in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The most
recent release, a variety called CDC Dancer, sets a new benchmark for
milling quality in western Canada.
Cargill has contributed funding to the Crop Development Centre?s oat R&D
program since 1993, in partnership with Quaker.
"Cargill is pleased to participate in research efforts that bring the
end-user into the equation. Ultimately, this strategy will result in the
development of varieties that offer all participants - from the grower right
to the consumer - a better value proposition," says Cargill?s Manager of
Seed Products, Ray Wytinck.
The Crop Development Centre is a unit of the U of S College of Agriculture
established in 1971 to increase crop diversification opportunities for
Saskatchewan farmers, to improve the adaptation of existing Saskatchewan
crops and as a centre of excellence for crop research.
The Quaker Oats Company of Canada is a subsidiary of the Quaker Oats
Company, an international marketer and manufacturer of a wide variety of
grain products including Quaker hot cereals, cold cereals, rice cakes and
other grain-based foods.
Cargill Limited is the Canadian subsidiary of Cargill Incorporated, an
international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food,
financial and industrial products and services with some 82,000 employees in
59 countries. In Canada, Cargill employs more than 4,000 people in the
grain, feed, seed, farm supply, fertilizer manufacturing, malting barley,
egg processing, meat, salt, starch, malt, canola and flax fibre processing
businesses.
For more information:
Chris Maloney
Communications Manager
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
tel: (306) 966-8618
email: chris.maloney@usask.ca
February 20, 2001
Satellite Launches U of S Investigation of Ozone Depletion
Posted February 20, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, Feb. 20/2001 2001-02-11-OTHER
Satellite Launches U of S Investigation of Ozone Depletion
When the international Odin satellite is launched from Eastern Russia today,
a University of Saskatchewan-designed instrument will be on board to
identify how human pollution contributes to ozone depletion.
The Odin project includes the OSIRIS (Optical Spectrograph Infrared Imaging
System) instrument, which was designed by researchers at the U of S and
built with $6 million in funding from the Canadian Space Agency. The OSIRIS
instrument team includes both current and former U of S researchers.
The Odin project will mark a big step forward in the way scientists are able
to monitor the atmosphere, says Ted Llewellyn, U of S professor of
engineering physics and the principal investigator for OSIRIS. Llewellyn is
in Eastern Russia for the satellite launch.
"It will improve our knowledge and understanding of atmospheric processes,
especially in relation to ozone depletion," he said.
"Also, it will put us in a position to develop new instruments and
applications to keep Canada at the forefront of space and atmospheric
research."
The Odin satellite was proposed by Sweden in 1988 to look for water and
molecular oxygen in deep space, conditions that could support life elsewhere
in the solar system. Due to the cost of launching and operating the
satellite, Sweden approached the Canadian government in 1994 to make it a
two-fold study and share the costs. Finland and France are also partners in
this mission and supplied part of the instrumentation.
The purpose of the Odin satellite and the OSIRIS instrument is to measure
the area affected by ozone depletion and the mechanisms responsible for
this.
The OSIRIS measures scattered sunlight and the natural radiation in the
atmosphere in order to determine the concentration of ozone-depleting
pollutants in the atmosphere. Previous instruments on board other satellites
have so far identified the existence and extent of the ozone problem, and
OSIRIS will contribute to the effort to positively identify human-generated
events that relate to the problem.
The major question in atmospheric science is the extent to which humans are
altering the atmospheric environment. The discovery of the ozone hole over
Antarctica in 1985 dramatically illustrated that the human impact on the
environment can be considerable and unexpected.
International restrictions on ozone-damaging CFC appear to be helping, but
damage already done, as well as increased amounts of CO2 and other
greenhouse gases, may delay the recovery of the ozone layer.
The Odin satellite was shipped to Svobodny in Eastern Russia in January and
the launch team, including Llewellyn, followed shortly after. Doug
Degenstein and Nick Lloyd, along with a number of graduate students and
postdoctoral fellows, will remain in Saskatoon to complete flight operation
plans for OSIRIS. They will likely see satellite data before Llewellyn
because satellite receivers in northern Sweden immediately transmit the data
to Saskatoon for processing. Llewellyn expects to have initial data
available for analysis in May.
Six of the eight Canadian OSIRIS team members involved in the project have
associations with the U of S. Along with Llewellyn, Degenstein, and Lloyd,
there is Dick Gattinger, a U of S adjunct professor who is currently a guest
researcher at the CSA in Ottawa. Two others either taught or did graduate
work here and are now at Ontario universities.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has
provided substantial financial support for OSIRIS data analysis.
Two firms -- EHR Associates of Victoria, B.C. and Routes AstroEngineering
Ltd. of Kanata, Ontario -- are involved. EHR provided the detailed optical
design for OSIRIS and Routes built it.
The Canadian Space Agency leads the development and application of space
knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity.
For information and photos on the Odin project, visit
http://www.snsb.se/Odin/Odin.html.
For more information, contact:
Doug Degenstein
Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies
(306) 966-6447
doug.degenstein@usask.ca
Nick Lloyd
Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies
(306) 966-2201
nick.lloyd@usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
U of S researchers receive $850K to study greenhouse gas emissions
Posted February 20, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 20, 2001 2001-02-12-AG
U of S researchers receive $850K to study greenhouse gas emissions
SASKATOON, February 20, 2001 - U of S researchers were awarded federal
grants totalling $852K over 3 years for agricultural research projects
examining aspects of climate change related to Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
emissions.
The funding was provided for four U of S led projects as part of a $2.76
million Canada-wide research initiative looking at ways to reduce Canada's
GHG emissions in support of the Kyoto Protocol.
Canada's commitment under the Kyoto agreement is to reduce total GHG
emissions below Canada's 1990 emissions, a significant part of which were
attributed to agricultural emissions such as nitrous oxide.
The GHG-program, called the Climate Change Funding Initiative in Agriculture
(CCFIA), is a four-year, $4 million project funded by Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada through its Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development
(CARD) II program.
U of S researchers are the principle investigators in 4 of 15 research
projects under CCFIA. A total of eight Canadian research institutions
received CCFIA funding.
Bryan Harvey, U of S Coordinator of Agricultural Research, says, "CCFIA
research will have wide-ranging implications on both a national and
international level. It is a testimony to the calibre of U of S agricultural
researchers that we were able to attract a relatively high proportion of
CCFIA funding."
The $852K includes $100K over 3 years to bolster the U of S graduate studies
program in this area.
Research projects under CCFIA target so-called "knowledge gaps" in
agricultural GHG emissions.
Scientist Richard Farrell from the College of Agriculture leads a project
that focuses on measuring emissions from 'rolling' landscapes characteristic
of the prairie provinces, comparing emissions from a range of common
Canadian prairie agricultural practices.
Graduate Studies and Research Dean Gary Kachanoski leads a team which will
conduct a comparative study of nitrous oxide emissions in Alberta, Ontario
and Quebec with an aim to developing accurate methods to predict and apply
nitrogen-based fertilizers.
College of Agriculture researcher Dan Pennock's project will examine two
methods for assessing nitrous oxide emissions. Pennock's study will provide
a way to assess the accuracy of current estimates for agriculture's
contribution to Canada's GHG emissions.
U of S agricultural engineer Claude Lague's research looks at GHG and odour
emissions for swine operations in Qu颥c and Saskatchewan, focusing on
emissions originating from different types of swine production facilities.
For more information:
Chris Maloney
Communications Manager
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
tel: (306) 966-8618
email: chris.maloney@usask.ca
February 09, 2001
U of S Researcher Heads $1 M Physical Activity Study
Posted February 09, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? February 8, 2001 2001-02-09-OTHER
U of S Researcher Heads $1 M
Physical Activity Study
Active living research project, Saskatoon In Motion: Building Community
Capacity through Physical Activity and Health Promotion, has been given a $1
million boost from the Community Alliance for Health Research (CAHR). The
project will be headed by U of S kinesiology researcher, Dr. Karen Chad.
The project, focusing on youth and older adults, will look at motivating
factors for physical activity in those populations. The results of the
study will be used to develop programs specifically for the needs of these
groups to enhance their health and quality of life.
Chad said: "Physical inactivity is far too prevalent in Canadian society.
It?s estimated that in North America close to $1 trillion per year is spent
on health conditions related to physical inactivity. Our goal is to provide
a blueprint to promote physical activity and behavioral change at the
individual, community and societal level."
The grant will be received over a three-year period, giving the project
approximately $350,000 per year.
"Research is a vital part of the U of S," says Dean of Graduate Studies and
Research, Gary Kachanoski. "This is a substantial award that will increase
our ability to conduct research in health promotion. The research will not
only impact the University, but will benefit the entire country."
CAHR grants are based on equal and active partnerships between community
organizations and research teams affiliated with local universities,
hospitals or other not-for-profit institutions capable of conducting health
research.
Saskatoon In Motion partners two colleges at the U of S (Kinesiology and
Medicine), Saskatoon District Health, the City of Saskatoon and
ParticipACTION.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Karen Chad
College of Kinesiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6511
or
Michael Corcoran
Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8513
Alberta Foundation Invests $2.5M in U of S Synchrotron
Posted February 09, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9/2001 2001-02-10-OTHER
Alberta Foundation Invests $2.5 M in U of S Synchrotron
The Canadian Light Source (CLS) now under construction on the University of
Saskatchewan campus will receive $2.5 million for beamline construction from
the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), the AHFMR
announced today.
This brings the total CLS funding from Alberta sources to $9.5 million.
On February 7, the Alberta Science and Research Authority (ASRA) along with
Alberta?s Innovation and Science Minister Lorne Taylor announced a
$6.7-million investment in CLS beamlines. Previously, the University of
Alberta had committed $300,000 towards beamline design and development.
Beamlines are conduits for carrying synchrotron light to scientists?
workstations.
"This is very good news because the Alberta contribution is critical for
beamline development at the CLS," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
"With this new funding, we have now identified all of the $140.9 million in
new construction costs for this national facility."
CLS director Michael Bancroft said, "Many scientists in Alberta have spent a
huge amount of time and effort raising this money. I?d especially like to
thank University of Alberta
chemists Ron Cavell and Ron Kratochvil for all their work."
Also today, more funding was announced for the Alberta Synchrotron Institute
(ASI), a partnership of three Alberta universities headquartered at the
University of Alberta.
The institute will assist Alberta scientists in accessing synchrotron
technology and encourage local industries to make use of the CLS. The ASI
will also identify Alberta firms that have the capacity to build
high-quality components or provide critical services for the CLS, and
encourage these firms to bid for CLS contracts.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WED) announced that today it will
provide $1.5 million for the ASI. The AHFMR announced that it will
contribute $500,000 for research-related activities coordinated through the
institute.
Earlier this week, ASRA announced that it will provide $3.1 million for the
ASI.
AHFMR President Matt Spence said: "The successful collaborations between
provincial and federal organizations in realizing the establishment of ASI
and the Canadian Light Source project place Alberta in a competitive
position for attracting and retaining innovative researchers."
The CLS, a national facility owned by the University of Saskatchewan, will
begin operations in January of 2004.
Construction of the $173.5-million stadium-sized facility on the U of S
campus is on time and on budget. The building that will house the
synchrotron is now complete and a dedication ceremony involving all partners
will be held February 26th.
Alberta is the second province outside Saskatchewan to contribute beamline
funding. The Ontario Innovation Trust announced last March that it will
invest $9.4 million towards beamline development.
The synchrotron is a huge, donut-shaped ring that accelerates a stream of
electrons and manipulates them to create beams of light billions of times
brighter than the sun. Industrial and university researchers can then use
these beamlines to observe matter at the atomic level, and gather more
accurate and precise information than ever before.
The CLS will have applications in countless fields, such as pharmaceuticals,
biotechnology, petrochemicals, semi-conductors, advanced materials,
miniaturized machine components, and medical imaging.
CLS construction is mainly funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation,
the Canadian government, the Saskatchewan government, the Ontario Innovation
Trust, the Alberta government, the University of Saskatchewan, the City of
Saskatoon and SaskPower.
ASRA is an advisory body made up of leaders in Alberta?s research and
business community. The AHFMR has invested more than $600 million in health
research in Alberta.
Information on CLS is available at www.cls.usask.ca.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2506 Fax: (306) 966-2411
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.cls.usask.ca
Joanne Mysak, Manager
Consultations, Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, SK
(306) 975-5942
WD Toll-Free: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
English: http://www.wd.gc.ca
French: http://www.deo.gc.ca
Rhonda Lothammer
Associate Director, Communications
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
Edmonton, Alberta
(780) 423-5727
February 08, 2001
Alberta Science Body Invests $6.7 M in U of S-Owned Synchrotron Project
Posted February 08, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7/2001 2001-02-08-OTHER
Alberta Science Body Invests $6.7 M in U of S-Owned Synchrotron Project
The Canadian Light Source synchrotron project at the University of
Saskatchewan will receive $6.7 million over four years from the Alberta
Science and Research Authority (ASRA) toward two beamlines, conduits for
carrying synchrotron light to scientists? workstations.
The announcement was made jointly today by Innovation and Science Minister
Lorne Taylor and ASRA chair Bob Church in Calgary. ASRA is an advisory body
made up of leaders in Alberta?s research and business community.
As well, ASRA will provide $3.1 million over five years for the Alberta
Synchrotron Institute -- a partnership of ASRA, three Alberta universities,
and Western Economic Diversification.
This new institute, with offices in both Edmonton and Calgary, will manage
projects in Alberta involving synchrotron technology and help ensure that
Alberta?s top academic and industrial researchers are able to incorporate
this new technology into their work. It will remain in operation until the
CLS is fully established.
"We're delighted Alberta has joined this unique partnership of universities,
governments and industry to create a new tool for science and innovation in
Canada - the biggest science project in Canada in more than 30 years," said
CLS director Michael Bancroft.
U of S President Peter MacKinnon stressed that the Alberta investment in
this national synchrotron facility owned by the U of S will help
universities all across Canada attract and keep excellent scientists and
graduate students who need access to synchrotron light to do their research.
"Already universities in our two provinces have seen a 'brain gain' of
outstanding Canadian researchers who are returning from the U.S. and Europe
to take advantage of the innovative research opportunities at the CLS," he
said.
The CLS will begin operations in January of 2004. Construction of the
$173.5-million project is on time and on budget. The building that will
house the synchrotron is now complete and a dedication ceremony involving
all partners will be held Feb. 26th.
Alberta is the second province outside Saskatchewan to contribute beamline
funding. The Ontario Innovation Trust announced last March that it will
invest $9.4 million towards beamline development.
The synchrotron is a huge, donut-shaped ring that accelerates a stream of
electrons and manipulates them to create a beam of light billions of times
brighter than the sun. This rare light can then be used by industrial and
university researchers as a revolutionary new tool to observe structures and
chemical reactions at a molecular level.
The CLS will have applications in a host of fields ? pharmaceuticals,
environmental remediation, biotechnology, petrochemicals, semi-conductors,
advanced materials, miniaturized machine components, and medical imaging, to
name a few.
CLS construction is mainly funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation,
the Canadian government, the Saskatchewan government, the Ontario Innovation
Trust, the Alberta government, the University of Saskatchewan, the City of
Saskatoon and SaskPower.
Information on CLS is available at www.cls.usask.ca.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2506
Fax: (306) 966-2411
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.cls.usask.ca
Jeremy Fritsche
Communications Branch, Alberta Innovation and Science
2nd floor, 6950 - 113 Street, Edmonton, AB
Tel: (780) 415-6186
Fax: (780) 422-1801
Shell Canada $200 K Donation Funds New Scholarships
Posted February 08, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? February 8TH, 2001 2001-02-07-OTHER
Shell Canada $200K Donation
Funds New Scholarships
Saskatoon ? An endowed gift of $200,000 by Shell Canada Limited has led to
the creation of four Shell Canada scholarships at the University of
Saskatchewan. With this gift, Shell Canada?s total contribution to the U of
S comes to over $550,000.
Three of the scholarships were last night awarded at the 42nd Annual
Engineering Awards Ceremony. Robert Thode, Keith Rudolf and Cory Rosolowich
each received a $1,000 scholarship.
A fourth scholarship was awarded to U of S commerce student Crystal Parent
at the College of Commerce Awards Ceremony held in November last year.
"We are delighted with Shell Canada?s continued support," said University
President Peter MacKinnon. "It demonstrates a strong commitment to the
University and its students and recognizes the high-quality programs we
provide here."
"At Shell, we recognize the importance of education. We established these
endowed scholarships so that U of S students for years to come will be
rewarded for their academic success and assisted in achieving their
educational goals," said Tim Bancroft, General Manager Human Resources and
Public Affairs. "We are proud to partner with the U of S and congratulate
this year?s scholarship recipients."
For more information, contact:
Kelly McInnes Jeff Gabert
University of Saskatchewan Shell Canada Limited
(306) 966-6722 (403) 691-2834
___________________________________________________________
BACKGROUNDER
Recipients
- Crystal Parent - 3rd year Commerce student, originally from Prince Albert,
SK.
- Cory Rosolowich - 4th year Engineering student, originally from Winnipeg,
MB.
- Keith Rudolf - 3rd year Chemical Engineering student, originally from The
Pas, MB.
- Robert Thode - 4th year Geological Engineering student, originally from
Clavet SK.
Scholarships
- The Shell Canada scholarships at the U of S were created to recognize
academic achievement and encourage students to pursue a career in the
Canadian oil and gas industry.
- The four new scholarships will be awarded annually.
- The scholarships are open primarily to students studying mechanical or
chemical engineering, commerce, computer science, or geosciences who are in
their final or next to final year of undergraduate study. Two of the four
scholarships available are designated for students of aboriginal descent.
Shell Canada
- Shell Canada has a particular interest in supporting various educational
initiatives throughout Canada. It is their belief that providing Canadian
students with the tools for lifelong learning is key to the success of Shell
Canada and the Canadian economy.
- Shell Canada donated $200,000 to create these endowed scholarships at the
U of S which funded the four $1,000 scholarships granted this year. Next
year, the scholarships will be worth more than $2,000 each.
- Shell Canada has supported the University of Saskatchewan for approx. 20
years, and has donated a total of more than $550,000.
- In 2000, Shell Canada contributed $1.9 million to various educational
institutions and programs across Canada.
February 02, 2001
World-Renowned Spinal Cord Researcher to Speak at U of S
Posted February 02, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? Friday, February 2, 2001 2001-02-01-OTHER
World-Renowned Spinal Cord Researcher to Speak
at U of S
One of the world's leading spinal cord injury researchers, Dr. Wise Young,
will speak about new treatments for spinal cord injuries on February 7 and 8
at the University of Saskatchewan.
Director of the W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience at Rutgers
University in New Jersey, Dr. Young was part of the team that discovered and
established high-dose methylprednisone as the first effective therapy for
spinal cord injuries. This discovery proved that central nervous system
injuries were not permanent, which refocused research and offered hope to
people with spinal cord injuries.
Dr. Young will present a public lecture titled "Therapy of Spinal Cord
Injury" on Wednesday, February 7 at 12:30 p.m. in the Theatre in the Mall,
Royal University Hospital.
He will also lead a seminar entitled "Role of Cytokines in Spinal Cord
Injuries" on Thursday, February 8 at 12:30 p.m. in the East Lecture Theatre
(G763), Royal University Hospital.
Dr. Young founded the Journal of Neurotrauma, the first journal devoted to
studies of brain and spinal cord injury. He organized the Neurotrauma
Society and the International Neurotrauma Society where scientists share
recent discoveries and build collaborative approaches to curing spinal cord
injuries.
He has many publications and has appeared on numerous leading TV and radio
talk shows. Among the many awards he has received is the prestigious
National Institute of Health Jacob Javits Neuroscience Award.
The lectures are sponsored by the Saskatchewan Neuroscience Network.
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
College of Agriculture Signs MOU with POS Pilot Plant
Posted February 02, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? February 2, 2001 2001-02-02-AG
College of Agriculture signs MOU with POS Pilot Plant
February 2, 2001 ? Today, U of S College of Agriculture Dean Ernie Barber
and POS Pilot Plant President Robert Morgan signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) that will open the door for increased sharing of human
resources and facilities between the two organizations.
POS is a bioprocessing facility located among the many scientific research
complexes that populate the north end of the U of S campus.
The agreement outlines several potential areas of collaboration, including
graduate training opportunities and provisions for joint research projects.
Mutual areas of interest include feed research, animal and poultry research,
plant science and food science.
"POS offers an added component of technology development to College of
Agriculture students and researchers, providing hands-on practical
experience for R&D and processing which stretches beyond the laboratory
scale," says Barber, "Having access to POS?s unique facilities has the
potential to accelerate our progress considerably in a number of areas."
"This agreement will add depth to the resources already existing in our R&D
community," says Morgan. "Through collaboration with the College of
Agriculture, POS can expand its range of services for Canadian and
international clients, and provide a research and processing continuum not
available elsewhere."
"By working collaboratively, we may shorten the lag between
knowledge-generation and commercialization. In this way, this partnership
represents a step forward not just for the College of Agriculture and POS,
but for the Saskatchewan agri-food industry," adds Barber.
POS Pilot Plant Corporation is a confidential research and development
facility dedicated to developing high-value, biologically based components
for nutraceuticals, functional foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods and
feeds for a broad range of clients.
For more information, contact:
Chris Maloney
Manager, Information Services
College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8618
chris.maloney@usask.ca
Marilyn Huber
POS Pilot Plant Corporation
(306) 978-2855
U of S Student Selected for National Research Council Award
Posted February 02, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 2, 2001 2001-02-04-AR
U of S Student Selected for
National Research Council Award
U of S science student, Farrah Mateen, has won a prestigious award from the
National Research Council (NRC).
Mateen was selected from 103 applicants from across Canada to participate in
the Women in Engineering and Science Program (WES).
WES is designed to encourage the participation of women in engineering,
science and mathematics. The award is worth approximately $10,000 per year
for two years.
Mateen said: "I?m excited about the opportunity to take part in WES. Working
with some of Canada's most esteemed researchers will be a unique opportunity
that will help shape my career and allow me to explore different areas of
research. I'm proud to be from the U of S, and know my education will be
heightened by my experiences with the NRC."
As a part of this award, Mateen will be an employee of the National Research
Council, working with researchers and scientists over two summers. In
addition, she will be partnered with a NRC scientist or engineer who will
act as a mentor, providing guidance and direction in defining and reaching
her goals.
"U of S science students have a reputation for excellence and high academic
achievement," says Ken Coates, Dean, College of Arts and Science. "Farrah?s
accomplishment shows that she is among the best in Canada. Her
participation in this program demonstrates why the University has a
distinguished reputation."
For more information contact:
Kelly McInnes
Co-ordinator of Student Awards
Office of the Registrar
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6722
or
Ken Coates
Dean - College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4232
February 01, 2001
Pharmacy and Nutrition Graduates Receive Awards
Posted February 01, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? January 31, 2001 2001-01-11-PH
Pharmacy and Nutrition Graduates
Receive Awards to Pursue Graduate Studies
Danette Rutledge of Oxbow, SK, a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Science
in Pharmacy program, has been awarded a James E. Frosst Postgraduate
Pharmacy Fellowship, sponsored by Merck Frosst Canada Inc. The Fellowship
is one of two major awards for which students from across Canada compete.
The Fellowship was presented to Danette at the national meeting of the
Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada, which makes the selection.
Danette has also received the F.J. Fear Scholarship for Postgraduate Study
and the Alf Pepper Research Award from the University of Saskatchewan. She
is studying in the Master?s of Science program in Pharmacy at the U of S,
specializing in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Michael Beazely of Saskatoon, B.S.P. 2000, is studying in the doctoral
program in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Michael has been awarded a Purdue
Presidential Fellowship and the Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship from the
College of Phamacy and Nutrition.
Jenn Lawrance, of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, a recent graduate of the Bachelor
of Science in Nutrition program, is continuing studies in Nutrition in the
Thesis/Internship Graduate Studies Option at the University of Maine. Jenn
has received a Teaching Assistantship from the University, which is located
in Orono, Maine.
For more information contact:
Merry Beazely
Executive Assistant to the Dean
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
(306) 966-5826
merry.beazely@usask.ca
Government of Alberta funds new chair at Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Posted February 01, 2001
January 31, 2001 2001-01-13-WCVM
Government of Alberta funds new chair at the Western College of Veterinary
Medicine
Saskatoon.?The Government of Alberta will contribute $1.5 million towards a
new Academic Chair in Beef Cattle Health Management at the Western College
of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan.
"This endowment will allow the College to expand research, attract students
to specializations in agricultural veterinary practice and provide greater
support to the needs of the beef cattle industry in Alberta and across the
west," said Alberta Learning Minister Dr. Lyle Oberg.
Based in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, the new chair
will enhance education and research in beef cattle health management to
graduate and undergraduate students. The chair will also serve as a liaison
between the College, the beef cattle industry and government agencies
involved in beef production.
"We are very delighted that the Government of Alberta has made this money
available," said Alex Livingston, WCVM Dean. "The beef production industry
is very important to Canada?s economy, contributing almost $25 billion each
year. Once the chair is established, the College will be able to continue
its leadership in beef cattle health management with even greater
effectiveness."
The specific details of the chair are yet to be fully described. Once these
details are complete and all funding has been secured?in total around $3
million is required for full endowment?a search will begin to fill the
chair. It is anticipated that the search will begin this spring.
"The cattle industry is of vital importance to the economy of western
Canada," said Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ty
Lund. "Farmers in Alberta will benefit from the enhanced knowledge and
expertise generated by this investment."
"The creation of the research chair supports the continued development of
the livestock industry, and Alberta?s investment is most welcome," said
Glenn Hagel, Minister of Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education and Skills
Training. "We also look forward to completing a new partnership agreement
with Alberta and the other western provinces to sustain the College over the
longer term."
Alberta Treasurer Dr. Steve West noted "As a veterinarian I see this
endowment as an important investment in the future of our beef production
industry and the resources available to the veterinary profession in our
province."
The WCVM serves the four western provinces, and is one of only four
veterinary colleges in Canada. Currently, 280 undergraduate students attend
the College, including 80 from Alberta. In addition to the new funding for
the chair, the Government of Alberta pays a portion of the College?s annual
costs of instruction to the University of Saskatchewan. This funding
amounted to $1.9 million in 2000/01 and is based on the WCVM
inter-provincial agreement between the four western provinces.
This announcement is available on the Internet at:
www.learning.gov.ab.ca/news.
For further information, please contact:
Randy Kilburn
Alberta Learning Communications
(780) 427-2285
Dr. Alex Livingston
Dean
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6607
Dr. Reuben Mapletoft
Department Head
Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7149
________________________
Backgrounder
Academic Chair in Beef Cattle Health Management
- $1.5 million in funding provided by Alberta Learning. In total, $3
million is required to fully endow a chair.
- Chair responsibilities will include:
- Enhance veterinary education and research in beef cattle health management
in western Canada;
- Encourage veterinary graduates to consider bovine practice;
- Provide leadership in beef cattle health management through teaching
programs to students, veterinarians and livestock producers;
- Raise the profile of beef cattle health management and production
medicine;
- Identification of research issues in beef cattle health management; and
- Be an ambassador for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and build
relationships with the profession, the food-producing industry and
government agencies.
Beef Cattle Industry in Canada
- Canada produces approximately 1.3 billion pounds of beef per year.
- Beef production contributes almost $25 billion annually to the Canadian
economy.
- Canadian beef and cattle exports are valued at $2.7 billion.
- There are 103,673 farms and ranches in Canada with beef cattle.
Veterinary Medicine and Beef Cattle Production
- Beef cattle health management programs are used to ensure the production
of beef is efficient, humane, economical and high quality.
- The emphasis in on illness prevention rather than merely treating sick
animals.
- The role of the veterinarian is consultative and educational as well as
clinical.
