March 28, 2002
U of S Awarded $2.8 M for Three New Research Chairs and Lab Equipment
Posted March 28, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, March 28, 2002 2002-03-23-OTHER
U of S Awarded $2.8 M for Three New Research Chairs and Lab Equipment
Today the University of Saskatchewan was awarded $2.4 million over the next
five to seven years to create three Canada Research Chairs, as well as
$390,210 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for related
laboratory equipment.
"This is great news for U of S," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
"These Chairs will increase our research capacity in leading-edge areas of
materials science, helping us to attract and retain excellent faculty and
students. As well, these Chairs will greatly enrich the classroom experience
for our students."
The announcement was made by Industry Minister Allan Rock in Ottawa as part
of a $94.6-million investment to support 88 new Canada Research Chairs at 33
universities across the country.
"The Canada Research Chairs Program supports the Government of Canada's
efforts to promote higher education, research and innovation," said Rock.
"Making our economy more innovative will reap significant social and
economic benefits for all Canadians."
The three new Chairs are among 32 allotted to U of S under the $900-million
Chairs Program. With today's announcement, the U of S has received a total
of $10 million to support 11 Chairs, as well as $1.1 million in
infrastructure funding from the CFI. For profiles of all U of S Chairholders
awarded to date, visit: www.chairs.gc.ca/english/profile/index.cfm.
The three new Chairholders are world-class researchers who share a common
research interest in development of new advanced materials:
- Canada Research Chair in Electronic Materials and Devices:
Safa Kasap, professor of electrical engineering, will receive $1.4 million
over seven years, as well as $125,000 from CFI for a laboratory. His work
could make it more affordable, convenient and efficient for doctors to take
X-rays digitally. Instead of having to view original films, doctors will be
able to process digital images with computers, leading to improved diagnosis
and cost savings for mammography and other imaging applications.
Kasap is one of the world's leading researchers in photoconductors
(materials which change their conductivity when irradiated with light or
X-rays). His work has contributed to their use in a new type of X-ray image
detector (direct conversion) that is poised to revolutionize medical
imaging. Kasap's research will aim to develop even more efficient detectors.
- Canada Research Chair in Materials Science with Synchrotron Radiation:
Alexander Moewes, associate professor of physics, has been awarded $500,000
over five years, as well was $120,000 from CFI for equipment. Moewes aims to
answer key questions about the electronic structure of new designer-made
materials with specific electrical and thermal properties. This work holds
enormous potential for developing various types of sensors and electronic
devices.
He uses synchrotron light extensively in his work and currently leads a
proposal to establish one of the world's few high-brilliance XES (X-ray
Emission Spectroscopy) beamlines at the Canadian Light Source
(www.cls.usask.ca).
- Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials:
Heinz-Bernhard Kraatz, associate professor of chemistry, has been awarded
$500,000 over five years, as well as $145,210 from CFI for equipment. Kraatz
will focus on the properties of new biomaterials (materials created in the
lab from molecules designed from scratch) to improve their design.
One application is medical implants, such as artificial heart valves, where
new biocompatible materials can help increase resistance to infection. Other
applications include bio-sensors to monitor blood-glucose levels, find
mutations and detect disease such as HIV or heart disease.
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. U of S research priority areas for the Chairs are
biotechnology, environmental sciences, health sciences, identity and
diversity, materials science, and technology and change.
Two types of chairs are offered by the Chairs Program:
-A seven-year renewable Tier I Chair, filled by outstanding experienced
researchers who are recognized by their peers as world leaders in their
fields -- $200,000
-A five-year, once renewable, Tier II Chair, awarded to exceptional
individuals acknowledged as having potential to lead in their research
fields -- $100,000.
The Chairs Program was created to enhance universities as centres of
world-class research excellence by attracting and retaining excellent
researchers in Canadian universities. By 2005, Canadian universities will
have 2,000 new Canada Research Chairs (www.chairs.gc.ca).
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For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
Backgrounder: New U of S Chairs
Safa Kasap
Chair in Electronic Materials and Devices (appointment effective July
1/2002)
Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5390
kasap@engr.usask.ca
Taking X-rays Digitally: Common X-ray imaging, invented 40 years ago using
photographic silver halide film, is inefficient and expensive. Digital
radiology (similar to using a digital camera) offers cost and time
efficiency. Digital images can be processed and viewed by doctors on
computers, as opposed to on original film, leading to improved diagnoses.
Economical technology will improve availability in smaller, rural hospitals.
- Chair Focus: Kasap will study properties of new photoconductor films and
look to develop new and better alloys for digital X-ray detection.
- Research Interests: In addition to experimental and theoretical work on
photoconductors for medical imaging applications, he investigates materials
for new and improved photonic devices which, for example, can be used in
light wave communications over fibre optic cables.
- Achievements: He is the author of two books used as texts by major
universities and more than 100 journal papers, as well as a Fellow of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, Institute of Materials, and the
Institute of Physics. He is the Reviews Editor for the Journal of Materials
Science: Materials in Electronics.
- Partners: He collaborates with researchers at the Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre and Women's College (University of Toronto), Anrad
Corporation (Montreal) and Waterloo University. He collaborates in photonics
research with scientists at TRLabs and the University of Alberta.
Alexander Moewes
Chair in Materials Science with Synchrotron Radiation (effective Jan.
1/2002)
Associate Professor
Department of Physics and Engineering Physics
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6431
moewes@usask.ca
Focusing Brilliance: The study of condensed matter holds significant
interest for scientists in the 21st century as they seek to discover the
true potential for these materials that exist on the nanoscale (a nanometre
is one-billionth of a metre). One method proven successful in exploring the
properties of these structures is synchrotron-based soft X-ray emission
spectroscopy (XES). Spectroscopy is the science that measures the emission
and absorption spectra of light and other forms of electromagnetic
radiation.
- Chair Focus: Moewes aims to answer key questions about the electronic
structure of advanced materials, work which could lead to new sensors and
"smart" microelectronic devices. As team leader for development of the XES
beamline at the Canadian Light Source (www.cls.usask.ca), Moewes is working
to establish the beamline as a powerful diagnostic tool for the Canadian and
international materials research community. Moewes has done a lot of work
with the XES at the Advanced Light Source at the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, expanding techniques in many fields such as organic and
inorganic superconductors and semiconductors.
- Research Interests: Moewes' research involves study of the electronic
structure of complex materials -- where the electrons are located and how
they bind to other atoms. The ultimate goal is to make materials with new
properties of conductivity, electrical behavior or rigidity.
- Achievements: He has more than 60 publications on complex materials and
soft X-ray emission spectroscopy. He received a post-doctoral fellowship at
Tulane University, New Orleans.
- Partners: He collaborates with internationally known scientists from
universities and labs in Canada, Russia, Germany, Japan, Korea and the U.S.
Heinz-Bernhard Kraatz
Chair in Biomaterials (appointment effective Jan. 1/2002)
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4660
kraatz@skyway.usask.ca
Living in the Biomaterial World: Biomaterials (materials created in the lab
from biological molecules designed from scratch) have important applications
in medical science. They play a major role in the fabrication of implants
which, when treated with biomolecules, are compatible with bodily tissues
and therefore have an increased resistance to infection. Vascular
prostheses, artificial heart valves and other implant devices are part of a
$50-billion-a-year industry. Another significant application for
biomaterials is biosensing to detect toxins in the body.
- Chair Focus: Kraatz will synthesize new biomaterials using spectroscopy
and other techniques to study their properties and improve their design.
Producing biosensors that are cheap, efficient and biodegradable is one of
Kraatz's objectives. There are also applications in bioelectronics,
nanotechnology and catalysis.
- Research Interests: Kraatz is interested in designing new biological
molecules for potential use in plastics, bioelectronic devices such as
biosensors, and other advanced materials. He has developed a new,
environmentally friendly biocatalyst for transforming compounds widely used
in the production of oil-based plastics, chemicals and drugs. This
bio-catalyst is environmentally friendly because it's based on naturally
occurring amino acids and there are fewer waste products.
- Achievements: Kraatz is the author of 48 articles and book contributions
on inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. He has post-doctoral fellowships at
University of Maryland and the Weizmann Institute. He is the U of S
recipient of the 2001 PetroCanada Young Innovator Award.
- Partners: He will collaborate with the Canadian Light Source
(www.cls.usask.ca), the Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre and the
Saskatchewan Facilities for Biomolecular Research. His research has strong
ties to other initiatives in biotechnology, environmental science and health
that will require work with researchers at the University of Alberta and
researchers at universities in Poland, Australia, Germany and Japan.
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March 26, 2002
$4.2M Awarded for Indirect Costs of Federally Sponsored Research
Posted March 26, 2002
Today Government House Leader Ralph Goodale and Industry Minister Allan Rock announced in Regina that the University of Saskatchewan will receive $4.2 million to help support the indirect costs associated with federal sponsored research. U of S President Peter MacKinnon also participated in the news conference.
For more information, visit this Government of Canada Press Release.
This news article is intended for on-campus audiences only.March 25, 2002
Saskatchewan Drug Information Service Launch
Posted March 25, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 25, 2002 2002-03-20-PH
Saskatchewan Drug Information Service Launch
Saskatoon, SK - The Dial Access Drug Information Service and the Consumer
Drug Information Centre join forces to create the Saskatchewan Drug
Information Service that will operate out of the College of Pharmacy and
Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan. The amalgamation of the two
lines will improve access to information on drug therapy for healthcare
professionals as well as for Saskatchewan consumers.
The Saskatchewan Drug Information Service allows both healthcare
professionals and consumers an opportunity to speak with licensed
pharmacists through local and toll-free phone lines. Here, drug information
consultants provide consumers, physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare
professionals access to objective, concise and unbiased information on drug
therapy problems.
"The number of new drugs and the amount of new information is pretty
incredible," says Yvonne Shevchuk, head of the Division of Pharmacy in the
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the U of S. "It is imperative that
healthcare professionals and consumers have access to this information."
Up-to-date comprehensive computer databases, current drug literature, and
the accumulated knowledge of pharmacy and nutrition faculty are some of the
resources available to the licensed pharmacists.
Healthcare professionals can call 966-6340 in Saskatoon or 1-800-667-3425
elsewhere Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Consumers can call 966-3784 in Saskatoon or 1-800-665-3784 elsewhere Monday
to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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For more information please contact:
Yvonne Shevchuk
Director
Saskatchewan Drug Information Service
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-6330
Karen Jensen
Manager
Saskatchewan Drug Information Service
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-6349
March 20, 2002
U of S Wins Major SSHRC Grant to Lead $2.2-M National Study on Co-ops
Posted March 20, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2002
2002-03-16-OTHER
U of S Wins Major SSHRC Grant to Lead $2.2-M National Study on Co-ops
With the help of a $589,000 federal grant, the University of Saskatchewan
today launched a $2.2-million, three-year national study to learn more about
how members of co-operatives think about their organizations and their
communities.
"This project is the largest research project on co-operatives ever
undertaken in Canada and a significant boost to our social sciences and
humanities research on this campus," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
He added that the project, to be co-ordinated by the U of S Centre for the
Study of Co-operatives, will "advance understanding of this integral part of
the Canadian economy, assist policy makers and bolster student awareness of
the special contributions of co-operatives to society."
The research will involve 15 academics from seven disciplines and nine
universities across Canada, as well as dozens of co-operatives and community
partner organizations
The main cash contribution is a $589,000 grant announced today by the Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Other
contributions, mostly 'in-kind', come from participating universities,
co-operatives, and other partners. The U of S College of Graduate Studies is
providing $100,000 in scholarships and other funding for graduate students.
Titled "Co-operative Membership and Globalization: Creating Social Cohesion
through Market Relations," the project will explore the extent to which
co-operatives reflect or contribute to social cohesion or a common sense of
identity in the communities where they are located.
Social cohesion is a key policy interest of SSHRC's Strategic Grants
Program.
"The impact of globalization on the institutions that hold us together - as
communities, provinces or nations - is one of the most complex issues facing
Canada today," said SSHRC President Marc Renaud. "To understand these
issues, and make the best policy decisions for Canadians, we need broadly
based interdisciplinary team research like this."
The project will involve four clusters of research -- urban consumers, rural
regionalization and other changing definitions of community, Aboriginal
cultures, and information technologies.
The first three research clusters will focus on selected sites and regions
in Western Canada, Québec, Nova Scotia, and the Arctic, while the
fourth involves partner organizations in the U.S., Australia, and Europe, as
well as Canada.
"Our proposal was successful because it is interdisciplinary and based on
innovative university-community partnerships," said Brett Fairbairn,
principal investigator and director of the Centre for the Study of
Co-operatives. "We have an exceptional project team stretching from Victoria
to Nunavut to Halifax," he said, adding that community and co-operative
leaders, managers, and employees will work with the academic researchers.
Co-operatives are businesses owned and controlled by their member-customers
or employees. Approximately 15 million Canadians are members of
co-operatives.
"Understanding co-operative membership and social cohesion is especially
important today, when Canadian communities face both threats and
opportunities resulting from globalization," Fairbairn said.
The U of S Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
(http://coop-studies.usask.ca/) is an interdisciplinary teaching and
research institute funded by the University of Saskatchewan, major
provincial co-operatives, and Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative
Development.
Further information, including a complete list of co-investigators,
institutions, partner organizations, and research sites, can be found at:
www.socialcohesion.coop
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For further information, contact:
Brett Fairbairn, Director
Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8509
brett.fairbairn@usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
Garth Williams
Chief, Public Affairs
Social Sciences and Humanities Reseach Council
(613) 992-7018
Fax: (613) 992-2803
garth.williams@sshrc.ca
http://www.sshrc.ca
March 15, 2002
Student access to recreation and fitness improved with new Kinesiology Building
Posted March 15, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 15, 2002 2002-03-10-KIN
Student access to recreation and fitness improved
with new Kinesiology Building
In just 18 months, the much anticipated new Kinesiology Building at the
University of Saskatchewan campus will finally be a reality.
The ground was broken in late February on the $33 million building, which is
expected to be ready for teaching, research, recreation, and athletics by
August 2003.
The new facility will meet the space requirement needs of the College of
Kinesiology while also providing outstanding athletic and recreational
opportunities for faculty and students from across the campus.
It will feature a triple gym with seating for about 2,500, four convertible
racquetball/squash courts, a walk/jog track, a 14,000 square foot Fit
Centre, and a rock climbing wall in the main foyer.
The College has faced challenges in its teaching and research activities
since faculty and students were forced out of their building in December
1997. The demolition of that building in January 1998 meant lost lab,
classroom, and gym space. The new building includes five classrooms, a
lecture theatre, and state-of-the-art laboratories.
"Our College boasts some outstanding people," said Mark Tremblay, College
Dean. "This building will be the final piece in the puzzle, bringing
together the faculty, students, and the facilities we need to make
significant contributions to the science of kinesiology and health."
The new building will be a boon to the College of Kinesiology, but it will
also have an impact on the larger campus community. Students will have
greater access to superb athletic and recreation facilities and a wider
range of activities to choose from.
"Like all universities today, we are facing stiff competition for students
and faculty," said University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon. "In
this environment, the ability to offer ample opportunities for recreation
and physical fitness as part of the university experience becomes
increasingly important."
Tremblay agrees. "A physically active campus is healthier, happier, and more
productive," he said. "We know that students will do better in all aspects
of their time here if they are fit and healthy."
The funding for the building has been entirely provided by the Province of
Saskatchewan, as announced in the 1998 Budget Speech.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Tremblay
Dean
College of Kinesiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6465
mark.tremblay@usask.ca
PLEASE NOTE: Artist renditions of the new building, both interior and
exterior, are available in an electronic format upon request. Please call
Cindy at (306) 966-6640.
March 14, 2002
New Housing and Development Resources Launched
Posted March 14, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 14, 2002 2002-03-09-OTHER
New Housing and Development Resources Launched
New resources and improved library services worth $78,000 were launched
today at CUISR on the University of Saskatchewan campus that will give
research and policy makers one-stop shopping for information on housing and
homelessness.
The announcement was made today by Western Economic Diversification Canada
(WD), University of Saskatchewan, and Community-University Institute for
Social Research (CUISR - pronounced "kews-r") at a news conference held in
conjunction with the official launch of the Housing and Development
Collection in the CUISR Resource Centre located in the John Mitchell
Building on the U of S campus.
WD is providing $42,500 to CUISR to gather and catalogue documents relating
to housing and homelessness, as well as to purchase a computer and software
to make a searchable catalogue available on the internet. Together the
University of Saskatchewan and CUISR have contributed $35,000 in-kind to
house and operate the resource centre. The web site address for the
searchable catalogue is located at http://www.usask.ca/cuisr/.
"The Government of Canada is committed to improving the quality of life for
all Canadians. Together, with our academic and community partners, we are
providing the tools and infrastructure necessary for addressing social
issues faced by communities in Saskatchewan and across Canada," stated
Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian
Affairs and Northern Development). "This central collection of resource
materials on housing and homelessness will aid in the development of housing
policy and services that promote economic growth and social development."
"We're proud to be part of this initiative to preserve and share the
knowledge gained through academic and community-based research," said
President Peter MacKinnon. "The University and the community have a
long-standing relationship of mutual learning and collaboration. By
providing a central location for research results, CUISR fosters further
research partnerships and builds the capacity of the community to address
pressing social issues."
CUISR Academic Co-director Jim Randall, a U of S geography professor, said
that a considerable amount of material and activity on housing and
development already exists in Saskatoon. "Until now, there has been no
central source for these critical resources in our community. Many
organizations and individuals in Saskatoon, both within the University and
in the larger community, are active in housing research and policy
development. However, it is difficult to develop a synergy between these
organizations when the surveys, reports, and resource materials that each
group produces and needs, are scattered across the community. This Resource
Centre allows for a central gathering place for both people and research
materials."
CUISR Community Co-director and city councilor Kate Waygood said, "Housing
and the interrelationships between housing, economic and social development
is a strongly underlying theme within CUISR. The new materials in our
resource centre will build the capacity of our community to address not only
housing and homelessness issues, but quality of life, community economic
development, and health determinants and health policy as well."
Many organizations in Saskatoon are very active in housing research and
policy. These include: Quint Development Corporation, the Social Housing and
Advisory Committee (SHAC), Saskatoon Home Builders Association, Canada
Mortgage and Housing (CMHC), City of Saskatoon, the Affordable New Home
Development Foundation, Saskatoon Tribal Council, SaskNative Rentals,
Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and the Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations (FSIN). In addition, Bridges and Foundations, a three-year
project on Aboriginal housing recently funded by the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and CMHC, is also actively engaged in
community-based housing research.
Russell Mawby, Housing Facilitator for the City of Saskatoon, said, "There
is a growing understanding that the quality and availability of our housing
is fundamental to our quality of life, as individuals and as a community.
This centre will be a valuable resource towards a better understanding of
that important but often overlooked role."
CUISR Library Technician Della Nelson said that the collection consists of
approximately 1,200 titles including books, reports, videos and CD-ROM, a
pamphlet and article file, electronic publications and 41 current
subscriptions. Titles on order are still coming in. "The collection reflects
and supports CUISR's vision of 'Building healthy, sustainable communities.'
The Centre's main holdings are in the fields of housing, housing industry
issues, community development, and homelessness. Other subject areas
include: social and public policy, partnerships and urban planning."
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For more information contact:
James Randall
Associate Professor and Head of Geography
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5678
randall@sask.usask.ca
Councilor Kate Waygood
Community Development Worker
Saskatoon District Health
Phone: (306) 655-4950
waygoodk@sdh.sk.ca
Marci Main
Administrative Assistant, CUISR
Phone: (306) 966-2121
cuisr.oncampus@usask.ca
March 13, 2002
Cairns, Jones-Konihowski, McKercher to Receive Honorary Degrees From U of S
Posted March 13, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 13, 2002 2002-03-08-OTHER
Cairns, Jones-Konihowski, McKercher to Receive
Honorary Degrees From U of S
The University of Saskatchewan announced today the latest recipients of U of
S honorary degrees.
They are: Alan Cairns, an expert on constitutional and political issues;
Diane Jones-Konihowski, a world champion in the pentathlon; and Margaret
(Peggy) McKercher, a former chair of the Meewasin Valley Authority,
vice-chair of Wanuskewin Heritage Park and U of S Chancellor from 1995-2001.
They will receive their degrees during Spring Convocation.
Dr. Cairns studied at the University of Toronto and Oxford University where
he obtained a D. Phil in 1963. He was a member of the Department of
Political Science at the University of British Columbia from 1960 until his
retirement in 1995.
Dr. Cairns is a well-known expert on constitutional and political issues.
Since his retirement, Dr. Cairns was active at the University of
Saskatchewan where he was Chair of the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan in the
College of Law and taught in the Department of Political Studies.
In recognition of his many achievements Dr. Cairns has been made a Companion
of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He also
received the first Governor General's International Award for Canadian
Studies and the prestigious Izaak Walton Killam Scholarship.
Diane Jones-Konihowski graduated from the College of Education at the
University of Saskatchewan, and represented Canada in a variety of sporting
events as a world-class athlete in the pentathlon.
Born in Vancouver, raised in Saskatoon and now living in Calgary,
Jones-Konihowski represented Canada in numerous competitions for many years.
She was on the National Track and Field Team for 16 years, made the Canadian
Olympic Team three times, ranked first in the world twice and named Canada's
"Female Athlete" in 1975 and 1978. She was also awarded the Order of Canada
in 1978, named to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and the
Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Diane Jones-Konihowski remains active in Canadian sport as she led Canada's
Olympic Team to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 as a Chef de Mission and
volunteers on many national boards and committees working to improve the
Canadian sport system. Today, she is President of Premiere Executive Suites,
Calgary, a company specializing in extended stay accommodations for
corporate executives.
Peggy McKercher graduated from the University of Saskatchewan where she was
active in both student government and athletics. She received the Spirit of
Youth Award and is a member of the University's Athletic Wall of Fame. She
is also a former faculty member and served as the University representative
and subsequent Chair of the Meewasin Valley Authority and Vice-Chair of
Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Mrs. McKercher's skills and energy have been directed in many local,
provincial and national services. By way of her appreciation of our history
and culture, Mrs. McKercher sat on many boards including the Mayor's South
Downtown Task Force, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Board of the National
Capital Commissions' Canadiana Fund and most recently the Trans Canada Trail
Foundation Advisory Board.
In honor of her continuing dedication and work, Mrs. McKercher has received
many awards. These include the Saskatoon Citizen of the Year in 1989,
Rosalie Early Memorial Award, the Governor General's Canada 125 Award, the
Ernst and Young, Bank of Montreal Award for Socially Responsible
Entrepreneur of the Year, Western Canada for 1994, the Order of Canada in
1995 and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2001.
In 1995, Mrs. McKercher assumed the role of Chancellor of the University of
Saskatchewan. For six years her quiet dignity, gracious personality and
sound wisdom have served the University in ceremony, governance and everyday
life in an outstanding manner.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Gordon Barnhart
University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966.4632
March 12, 2002
Breaking The Silence
Posted March 12, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 12, 2002 2002-03-06-ED
Breaking The Silence
The College of Education will host the fifth annual conference on "Breaking
the Silence: Gays and Lesbians in our Schools" March 15 - 16, 2002.
This two-day event begins with keynote speaker Mr. Joseph Arvay, Q.C., on
Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Arvay entitled his address "Banned in
British Columbia: Three Little Books about Same-Sex Families - What Will the
Supreme Court Do?" His appearance is most timely as the Supreme Court
recently announced that it will hear the Surrey Book Banning Case which
could be one of the most far-reaching curriculum cases in Canadian legal
history.
Saturday's program includes interactive theatre, panel discussions,
presentations and workshops. As well, two new videos and documents will have
their Saskatchewan premiere. Jan Padgett and Cheryl Erlandson will be in
attendance to introduce their new work.
Friday's lecture takes place in the Georgia Goodspeed Theatre (Room 18) in
the College of Commerce. Saturday's activities will run from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
in Physics 103, U of S campus.
All media invited to attend.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Don Cochrane
College of Education
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: 306.966.7521
don.cochrane@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/education/edfdt/breaksilence.htm
March 07, 2002
U of S AgAdventures Camp Receives $41,000 NSERC Award
Posted March 07, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 7, 2002 2002-03-02-AG
U of S AgAdventures Camp Receives $41,000 NSERC Award
Thanks to a $41,000 federal grant, Saskatchewan elementary school children
will have the chance to adopt a lamb, extract DNA from an onion and make ice
cream at University of Saskatchewan AgAdventures agricultural science camp.
AgAdventures, a U of S student-run, not-for-profit enterprise that promotes
agricultural science, has just been awarded $41,200 over three years from
the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) PromoScience
Program.
Based at the College of Agriculture, AgAdventures offers interactive,
hands-on field trips in May and June, as well as summer day camps to
elementary school children grades three to eight. It is the only camp of its
kind in Canada.
The grant is part of $1.4 million in NSERC funding awarded this week to 41
organizations across Canada working to attract young people to careers in
science and engineering.
AgAdventures explores various steps along the food production chain -- from
lab, to field, to market, to plate -- and promotes a positive view of
science, agriculture and learning. The NSERC money will help with program
expenses such as materials for children's activities and sponsorship of
campers unable to afford fees.
"The highest priority for the funding will be to offset the cost of
developing and implementing a program to attract more Aboriginal children,
both rural and urban," said AgAdventures director Michelle Cruickshank.
Another priority is to expand the school field trip program. More than 400
students from Saskatoon and surrounding communities attended the AgAdventure
field trip program in May and June of 2001, the program's first year.
"Schools do not have sufficient funding to cover costs, yet it is a very
important program because of the opportunity to expose many children to
agricultural science," Cruickshank adds.
The field trip program has received tremendous feedback from both students
and teachers, who've called it "the best field trip I've ever been on",
"awesome" and "appealing and creative."
Cruickshank, a fourth-year plant science student, works with four other U of
S students to instruct and run the programs. The idea for AgAdventures
started in the College and was initiated last year by student Christine
Dear.
In announcing the grants, Secretary of State for Science, Research and
Development, Maurizio Bevilacqua said, "It is encouraging to see that so
many Canadian organizations are supporting our youth by providing them with
solid learning opportunities in sciences and engineering."
For more information about Ag Adventures or to register for programs, visit:
www.ag.usask.ca/agadventures/. For information about other Saskatchewan
organizations that have received the NSERC PromoScience grants, visit:
www.nserc.ca/promoscience.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2506
Email:kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Michelle Cruickshank
AdAdventures Director
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2005
Email: ag.adventures@usask.ca
March 11-17 Brain Awareness Week 2002 Launched
Posted March 07, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 7, 2002 2002-03-04-OTHER
March 11-17 Brain Awareness Week 2002 Launched
Post-Secondary Education Minister Pat Lorje will officially launch Brain
Awareness Week 2002 at a gala dinner Friday, March 8 at the Centennial
Auditorium in Saskatoon.
Guest speaker will be Dr. Remi Quirion, director of the Institute of
Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, one of 13 newly created
institutes of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He will discuss
new developments in neuroscience research in Canada.
Communities across Saskatchewan will make proclamations recognizing Brain
Awareness Week 2002.
During Brain Awareness Week, University of Saskatchewan neuroscientists will
present public lectures, make TV appearances, and speak to service clubs.
The week's activities culminate in the 6th annual Brain Show at the
Saskatoon City Hospital Atrium on Sunday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Brain Show, which last year drew close to 3,000 people, offers fun and
learning for children and adults, with displays on current U of S
neuroscience, a speaker's corner on substance addictions and a video room.
Health agencies, patient advocacy and service groups feature interactive
displays about their work.
The Saskatchewan Neuroscience Network (SNN), a group of more than 140
neuroscience researchers, hosts Brain Awareness Week to inform the public
about exciting strides in unraveling the mysteries of the brain, as well as
unique perspectives and research accomplishments of Saskatchewan's
neuroscientists. The theme of the week is "Your brain is important -- take
care of it."
"Neurological disease afflicts one in five North Americans so practically
everyone has a relative or knows someone with a neurological problem," says
U of S neuroscientist and SNN member Ron Doucette.
"As well, advances in neuroscience are happening at such an incredible rate
that it is often difficult for the public to stay well-informed about the
implications of these findings for them and for their family and friends. We
hope to raise awareness of the importance of neuroscience research and
inform people of some advances in brain research that are achievable within
the next five years."
The following public lectures will be held at the Frances Morrison Library
starting at 7 p.m.:
- Monday, March 11 Substance Abuse, the Brain, and Recovery -- Gerald
Block and Barbara Papp, Calder Centre, Saskatoon District Health
- Tuesday, March 12 Life Lessons: Learning from Individuals with Autism
-- Michele Rowe and Deborah Hamp
- Thursday, March 14 Suffering in Silence - Understanding Depression
-- Dr. Vern Bennett, U of S Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Doucette noted that the many volunteers from patient advocacy and service
groups play a critical role in the success of Brain Awareness Week.
The SNN, a Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, is affiliated with the
University of Saskatchewan. Visit the SNN Brain Awareness Week homepage at
http://www.usask.ca/snn/BAW.html
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For more information, contact:
Professor Ron Doucette
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4092
rondouc@duke.usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
March 06, 2002
U of S Commerce Students Win International Competition
Posted March 06, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 6, 2002 2002-03-01-CO
U of S Commerce Students Win International Competition
University of Saskatchewan students Dan Murza and Cory Weiss came home this
weekend with first place and US$7,500 in cash for winning the International
Undergraduate Student Business Plan Competition held in Lincoln, Nebraska.
They beat student teams from U.S. Business Schools such as the University of
Michigan, the University of Arizona, and Colorado State University.
They won with their idea for a business called "Sandow SK Classic", a
manufacturer and online store that features replicated and authentic
collectible 1970s hockey jerseys and accompanying display cases. The Sandow
business plan was produced as part of their 4th year College of Commerce
class in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management.
Dan and Cory started market testing the idea in 2001, and favourable results
spurred them to start a new company that has re-trademarked the name of the
now-defunct jersey manufacturer from the 1970s that produced jerseys for the
likes of Wayne Gretzky and other famous players.
Murza says owning the name is the same as owning a piece of the history, and
he and Weiss appear to have found a market niche for supplying hockey jersey
collectors.
Sandow currently uses eBay as its selling forum, but will eventually develop
its own website and will further expand to supplying sporting goods stores
after the brand name has been re-established.
Monica Kreuger, the sessional instructor for the team's Entrepreneurship
class, says "The success of Dan and Cory shows that we have the talent to
compete with the rest of world and win. This team has proven that solid
opportunities exist for profit-based business owned by young people in this
province. They have beaten teams from many other universities in the U.S.
and Canada that have large entrepreneurial programs, extensive support from
entrepreneurial centres, substantial funding from public and private
sources, and easier access to capital. We should be proud that our U of S
students have done so well against such competition."
Dan and Cory's business plan is also entered into a Canadian Undergraduate
Business Plan Competition to be held soon at Queen's University in Kingston
Ontario, and also in a forthcoming International Business Plan Competition
to be hosted by the National University of Singapore.
For more information, please contact:
Monica Kreuger, U of S Sessional Instructor
and President of Global Infobrokers Inc.
global.info@sk.sympatico.ca
Phone: (306) 955-9006 or 664-0500
Dan Murza
Sandow SK Classic
info@sandowsk.com
Home phone (306) 374-6323
Cory Weiss
allegory19@hotmail.com
Colin Boyd, Professor of Management and Head
Department of Management and Marketing
College of Commerce, University of Saskatchewan
boyd@commerce.usask.ca
Phone: (306) 966 8436
Dixie Doughty
Assistant Director
NE Center for Entrepreneurship
Director, University of Nebraska at Lincoln Business Seminars Program
ddoughty@unl.edu
Phone: (402) 472-3353
Fax: (402) 472-5855
http://www.cba.unl.edu/outreach/ent
