December 21, 2001
U of S and Faculty Association Reach Tentative Collective Agreement
Posted December 21, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 21st, 2001 2001-12-05-OTHER
U of S and Faculty Association Reach
Tentative Collective Agreement
The University of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan Faculty
Association have reached a tentative agreement for a new Collective
Agreement.
Details of the agreement will not be released until a ratification vote by
Faculty Association members in January 2002.
Once ratified, the collective Agreement will apply from July 1st, 2001 to
June 30th, 2002.
The Collective Agreement covers the terms and conditions of employment for
Faculty, Librarians and Extension Specialists.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Professor Tim Quigley
Chair of the U of S Faculty Association
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: 966-5609
Dr. Sharon Cochran
Associate Vice-President
Human Resources
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: 966-6285
Dr. Mark Evered
Associate Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: 966-8487
December 19, 2001
U of S Board announces new Dean of the College of Engineering
Posted December 19, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 19, 2001 2001-12-04-ENG
U of S Board announces new Dean of
the College of Engineering
The Board of Governors at the University of Saskatchewan approved the
appointment of Dr. Claude Laguë as Dean of Engineering for a five-year
renewable term effective July 1, 2002.
This appointment was the result of an extensive, open search for candidates
across Canada. Dr. Michael Atkinson, Vice-President Academic and Provost and
Chair of the Search Committee, said: "Dr. Laguë brings a broad range of
skills and experience to his new role which will benefit the College of
Engineering and the University of Saskatchewan."
Dr. Laguë is a bilingual (French and English) professional engineer
with more than fifteen years of experience in the areas of general
agricultural engineering, farm mechanization, and manure management. He is
currently Professor and Chairholder of the Sask Pork Chair in Environmental
Engineering for the Pork Industry at the Department of Agricultural and
Bioresource Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Laguë holds BScA and MSc degrees from the Université Laval
and a PhD degree from University of California-Davis. He joined the faculty
of the Université Laval in 1989 and was head of the Soil Science and
Agri-Food Engineering Department from 1996-1999 and Associate Dean Research
of the College of Agricultural and Food Sciences from 1995-96.
Dr. Laguë has been actively involved in different professional,
scientific, and technical associations and societies with a special emphasis
on the promotion of engineering in the agri-food sector. Last year, Dr.
Laguë was awarded the Glen Downing Award by the Canadian Society for
Engineering in Agricultural, Food and Biological Systems (CSAE/SCGR) for
outstanding engineering work in industry, teaching, research, or extension
in the area of Power and Machinery. He is also the recipient of numerous
other awards.
Dr. Laguë will replace Dr. Roy Billinton who has served as Acting Dean
of Engineering for the past two years. On behalf of the University, Dr.
Atkinson expressed his appreciation of Dr. Billinton's commitment and flair
while managing the College of Engineering during this time.
-30-
For further information, contact:
Dr. Michael Atkinson
Vice-President Academic and Provost
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8484
December 13, 2001
U of S has new affiliation with Briercrest Bible College
Posted December 13, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 13, 2001 2001-12-03-OTHER
U of S has new affiliation with Briercrest Bible College
Briercrest Bible College and Biblical Seminary has become affiliated with
the University of Saskatchewan. The association of the two institutions was
approved by U of S Senate, University Council and Board of Governors by
November 9, 2001.
Briercrest Bible College and Biblical Seminary, located in Caronport,
Saskatchewan, has an annual enrollment of over 750, making it the largest
bible college in Canada. The College offers over 20 accredited programs and
degrees for study.
The affiliation of the U of S and Briercrest will leave both institutions
independent, but with joint ties. It will aid in the transfer of credits
between the two, and will provide a basis for the creation of new programs
and services. Briercrest will have one voting member on the U of S Senate
and one on University Council.
U of S President Peter MacKinnon has welcomed the affiliation between the
two institutions and sees it as an opportunity for both Briercrest and the U
of S to work cooperatively together. "This affiliation will bring the
strengths of both institutions together and provide Saskatchewan students
with a wider range of study options." says MacKinnon.
Students of Briercrest will be treated in the same manner as students of
other colleges affiliated with the U of S. Joining with the U of S will also
allow students who study at Briercrest to transfer credits to the U of S in
approved courses and programs.
Paul Magnus, President of Briercrest Bible College, is pleased with the
affiliation between the two institutions. "Affiliation allows for better
understanding of the strengths and distinctiveness of the U of S and
Briercrest. This understanding paves the way for shaping a more beneficial
relationship and outcome for students into the future. Briercrest looks
forward to increasing the benefits to our students in the range of
opportunities of higher education available to them."
-30-
For more information please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President, University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
or
Paul Magnus
President, Briercrest Bible College and Biblical Seminary
(306) 756-3200
December 12, 2001
Synchrotron Receives Go-Ahead on Second Phase of Commissioning
Posted December 12, 2001
Following a one day hearing on November 15, 2001, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) today announced its decision to amend the site licence of Canadian Light Source Incorporated (CLS) to authorize the second phase of commissioning of its particle accelerator facility.Additional information is available in the CNSC news release (http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/media/press/01-17.htm).
Funding for Health Research
Posted December 12, 2001
Two university health research projects are receiving a financial boost of approximately $200,000 from the provincial government.
Additional information is available in the Saskatchewan Health news release (http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2001/12/12-929.html).
December 10, 2001
University research projects receive funding
Posted December 10, 2001
Seven research and development projects by new faculty members at the University of Saskatchewan are receiving a major boost of more than $1.1 million in funding from the provincial government.
Additional information is available in the news release issued by Saskatchewan Economic and Co-Operative Development (http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2001/12/10-923.html).
December 03, 2001
New research lab targets big gains for winter wheat
Posted December 03, 2001
2001-11-23-AG
New research lab targets big gains for winter wheat
PROCESS DRAMATICALLY CUTS TIME TO PRODUCE NEW VARIETIES THAT WILL PUT MORE
DOLLARS IN POCKETS OF PRAIRIE FARMERS
SASKATOON -- A group of partners today opened a newly equipped research
laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) that will dramatically
cut the time to develop new varieties of winter wheat, a crop with the
potential to significantly improve incomes for Prairie farmers.
Researchers will use a process known as doubled haploid breeding that will
reduce production time of new winter wheat varieties to seven years or less
from what normally takes 12 to 15 years.
Dr. Brian Fowler, a winter wheat breeder and plant scientist at the College
of Agriculture, points out that a multiplier effect takes place as
succeeding strains of winter wheat are produced more quickly. "This allows
us to make more efficient use of our plant breeding facilities," he said.
"The end result is more dollars in farm producers' hands more quickly."
Rod Johnson, vice-president of Winter Cereals Canada, a farm producers'
group, said winter wheat offers economic benefits to farmers in a number of
ways including higher yields and lower input costs."Yields for winter wheat
are from 25 to 40 per cent higher than for spring-seeded wheat," he pointed
out."Grain quality is also higher. Add to this the fuel and equipment
savings when winter wheat is part of a sustainable farming operation and you
have significant economic gains for Prairie farmers."
The state-of-the-science laboratory was made possible by funding for
renovations and high-tech equipment from Ducks Unlimited Canada (DU) and
SaskPower. DU has an interest in winter wheat because the crop provides
valuable habitat in early spring for nesting ducks and other ground-nesting
birds. SaskPower supports the program as a way of returning benefits to the
community and con-tributing to a healthier environment.
"Winter wheat and other fall-seeded crops help save Saskatchewan soil
resources by reducing wind and water erosion," pointed out Judy May,
SaskPower representative on the Ducks Unlimited board of directors. "They
also help spread farm workloads more evenly throughout the year, and provide
shelter for nesting birds and other wildlife. Winter wheat research fits
perfectly with our mandate to help improve the environment in Saskatchewan."
Lee Moats, a Ducks Unlimited agrologist and director of the conservation
company's winter wheat program, said the newly equipped lab is a good
example of how conservation, research and agriculture can work effectively
as partners."Our company looks for ways to provide habitat for wildlife
within the context of profitable farm production methods," he said."Winter
wheat is a fine example of how good science can help farmers and
conservationists achieve results that benefit both groups."
-30-
For more information:
Dr. Brian Fowler,
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4973
brian.fowler@usask.ca
Rod Johnson
Winter Cereals Canada
(306) 966-8845
johnsonr@skyway.usask.ca
Larry Christie
SaskPower
(306) 566-3167
lchristie@saskpower.com
Lee Moats
Ducks Unlimited Canada
(306) 569-0424
l_moats@ducks.ca
Photo editors: Images available at www.ducks.ca/news/prov2001/011129i.html
$464,580 Awarded for U of S Lung Research
Posted December 03, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 3, 2001 2001-12-01-OTHER
$464,580 Awarded for U of S Lung Research
Seven University of Saskatchewan researchers have received Saskatchewan Lung
Association (SLA) grants totaling $128,580 to study chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases.
As well, a five-year, $250,000 professorship and a one-time $50,000
equipment grant have been awarded to Dr. Darcy Marciniuk (Medicine) from a
COPD funding initiative developed by the SLA, both provincial universities
and health districts to further lung research.
"The funding allows me to dedicate a greater proportion of my time to
research," said Marciniuk. "These funds will also allow me to continue to
dedicate a significant part of my time to teaching within the college. We
hope that research undertaken in our division will eventually help all
patients with lung disease."
Marciniuk and physiotherapist Suzanne Sheppard have also been jointly
awarded $36,000 from the same initiative to support the development of a
pulmonary rehabilitation program in Saskatoon.
By 2020, it's expected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be
the third leading cause of death worldwide. Currently, no cure exists and
the effects are irreversible.
This debilitating lung disease, often expressed as chronic bronchitis and
emphysema, impedes daily activities by causing severe shortness of breath.
Deaths from COPD have quadrupled since 1971. COPD is currently the fourth
leading cause of death in Canada.
The incidence of COPD in males has recently stabilized. But, it's estimated
the mortality rate in females will increase three-fold between 1996-2016 due
to smoking. At present, smokers make up 80 to 90 per cent of COPD cases.
U of S researchers awarded 2001 SLA research grants:
- Peter Bretscher (Microbiology) is testing low-dose vaccination strategies
against tuberculosis (TB) and will examine the differences between immune
states in healthy and TB-infected individuals in Honduras.
- John Gordon (Veterinary Microbiology) is assessing the potential to
reverse allergic disease using animal and 'in vitro' human models. The work
promises to help reduce allergic airway disease sensitivity and pathology.
- Thomas Hurst (Respiratory Medicine) with David Johnson (Medicine) will
investigate, using a rat model, whether pre-treatment with a particular
antibiotic (doxycycline) will lessen the damaging effects of high-volume
mechanical ventilation which is sometimes needed in respiratory patients.
- Darcy Marciniuk with Robert Skomro (both of Respiratory Medicine) will
examine the validity of various methods of evaluating respiratory system
function and capacity during exercise in patients with chronic airflow
limitation.
- Baljit Singh (Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences). Using rat
lung cells, he will assess the cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung
dysfunction associated with humans working in swine barns.
SLA executive-director Brian Graham says the professorship program and
research grants are essential in recruiting physicians from other provinces
and maintaining current ones. "They improve not only patient care, but also
teaching resources," he said.
The COPD initiative is one of many SLA programs that directly benefit
Saskatchewan residents, he said.
"The most valuable result of the lung association's ongoing support is that
residents of Saskatchewan will be assured they are receiving world-class
care for their lung diseases, right here at home," said Marciniuk.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2506
FAX: (306) 966-2411
