U of S Awarded New Science Research Chair
Posted June 27, 2001
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 27, 2001 2001-06-05-OTHER
U of S Awarded New Science Research Chair
A University of Saskatchewan researcher has been awarded $0.5 million over
five years from the Government of Canada to establish a joint Canadian
Foundation for Innovation and Canada Research Chair on campus.
Carl Gutwin, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of
Arts and Science will hold the NSERC Chair in Next Generation Groupware .
(Groupware refers to computer systems which allow people to work with each
other over a distance e.g. through email and newsgroups).
The announcement was made today by Federal Minister of Industry Brian Tobin
at a press conference in York University.
Dr. Gutwin's research will examine the potential and dangers of having
widespread computer networks across the globe and how people interact with
this technology. He will also explore the risks and search for ways to
protect privacy and to control the information environment. Funding will
also allow Dr. Gutwin to involve graduate students in various aspects of his
research.
"This is excellent news for the University of Saskatchewan," said University
President, Peter MacKinnon. "The money will play an important role in
strengthening the University's position as a major centre for research
excellence."
Dr. Gutwin said: "The Chair will allow the University of Saskatchewan to
become an international leader in the design and development of software for
the networked world of the 21st century."
In April, seven other Canada Research Chairs were awarded to the U of S.
Five of these Chair holders are from the U of S working in the Colleges of
Agriculture, Arts and Science, Engineering, Medicine and Veterinary
Medicine. Two other Chair holders, who will take up their positions in July,
are from the Department of Geography at Queen's University and from the
Department of Sociology at the University of Singapore.
The Chairs will focus on the University's six theme areas selected for the
program: biotechnology, environmental sciences, health sciences, identity
and diversity, materials science and technology and change.
"There will be a tremendous infusion of academic creativity. We intend to
build on our deployment of Canada Research Chairs to recruit tenure-track
faculty in the areas of research identified in the strategic research plan
for the Chairs program," added President MacKinnon.
The Chairs are the first of 31 allotted to the U of S by the Canada Research
Chairs Program, a $900-million initiative of the federal government designed
to create 2,000 new research chairs at Canadian universities over the next
five years.
Nominations for the Chairs are submitted by universities to the Chairs
Program and are reviewed by a team of academic peers who choose only the
most outstanding. The Chairs Program offers Tier 1 chairs (a seven-year term
for world leaders in their
field -- renewable -- bringing $200,000 per year to the University) and Tier
2 chairs (a five-year term for researchers with peer-acknowledged potential
to become world leaders -- renewable once -- bringing $100,000 per year).
The Chairs fall into the fields of the three main federal granting agencies:
the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC); the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); and the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
For more information, contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
Carl Gutwin
NSERC Chair in Next Generation Groupware
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8646
Natalie Beaudoin
Canada Research Chairs Communications
(613) 995-3205
