June 28, 2002
U of S Board Announces Interim Vice-President of Research
Posted June 28, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 28, 2002 2002-06-17-OTHER
U of S Board Announces Interim Vice-President of Research
The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors has approved the
appointment of Dr. Bryan Harvey as Acting Vice-President Research,
effective July 1.
The appointment is for a one-year term while an extensive search for
candidates is carried out nationally and internationally.
"Dr. Harvey has a distinguished history in teaching, research and public
service, as well as excellent leadership skills. He will be a great asset to
the University in this new capacity as we continue efforts to intensify
research success," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
Dr. Harvey succeeds Dr. Michael Corcoran who has completed a five-year term
and is stepping down to concentrate on his personal research. Dr. Corcoran
is a professor in the Department of Psychology and an Associate Member of
the Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Harvey is currently Chair of University Council. He has been with the U
of S since 1966 and has previously served as, University Co-ordinator of
Agricultural Research, Head of the Department of Horticulture Science, Head
of the Department of Crop Science and Plant Ecology, Director of the Crop
Development Centre and Assistant Dean of Agriculture.
Dr. Harvey was recently re-appointed for a three-year term as University
Co-ordinator of Agricultural Research, a position reporting to the
Vice-President Research. Dr. Harvey will soon appoint an Acting
Co-ordinator.
Dr. Harvey has served on numerous committees, boards and executives at the
provincial, national and international levels.
He received his B.S.A. in horticulture from the U of S in 1960 and his M.Sc.
in crop science in 1961. He obtained his Ph.D. in genetics from the
University of California, (Davis) in 1964. He then spent two years as an
assistant professor of crop science at the University of Guelph. In 1966,
he returned to the crop science department at the U of S.
Dr. Harvey is known internationally for his work in developing malting
barley varieties. The most famous of these is Harrington, a two-row barley
variety which established a world standard for malting and brewing quality.
He is a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, the American Society
of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America. His work has also been
recognized by awards from the Canadian Seed Growers' Association, the
Canadian Seed Trade Association and the Master Brewers' Association of the
Americas.
Note to editors: A photo of Dr. Harvey is available at:
http://www.usask.ca/research/car.shtml
-30-
For further information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon, President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
or
Dr. Bryan Harvey
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5795
June 26, 2002
U of S Professor named 3M Teaching Fellow
Posted June 26, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 26, 2002 2002-06-16-KIN
U of S Professor named 3M Teaching Fellow
The University of Saskatchewan is proud to announce that Dr. Len Gusthart
from the College of Kinesiology has been named a 2002 3M Teaching Fellow.
Gusthart is one of ten recipients of the prestigious award, which is
sponsored by 3M Canada and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher
Education to recognize teaching excellence and educational leadership.
Professor Gusthart was nominated based on his exemplary leadership and
teaching skills. The award is given to individuals who not only excel in the
teaching of their courses, but also demonstrate an exceptionally high degree
of leadership and commitment to the improvement of university teaching
across disciplines. Gusthart is also a tireless advocate for the University
and a past recipient of the U of S Master Teacher award, and the University
of Saskatchewan Students' Union Teaching Excellence Award.
"Len Gusthart is truly dedicated to his students, the profession, and the
University," said Provost and Vice-President Academic, Michael Atkinson.
"His whole hearted concern for educational leadership makes him a very
worthy recipient of this national award."
The announcement of the award winners was made June 13 in Hamilton, Ontario.
In November, Gusthart and the nine other Fellows will be invited to attend a
retreat in Montebello Quebec, where they will discuss experiences and how to
work individually and collaboratively to enhance teaching and learning at
their own institutions.
Gusthart is now among a very select group because only 170 other Canadians
have won the award, which was created in 1986. Only two other U of S
professors have received this award in the past: Ron Marken and Mel Hosain.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Len Gusthart
College of Kinesiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7697
len.gusthart@usask.ca
June 20, 2002
Symposium on Violence and Aggression Hosted this Weekend
Posted June 20, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 20, 2002 2002-06-15-EXT
Symposium on Violence and Aggression Hosted this Weekend
The 9th Symposium on Violence and Aggression will be held June 23-26 at the
Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon. The Symposium is sponsored by the
University of Saskatchewan Extension Division, and the Regional Psychiatric
Centre, Correctional Service of Canada.
This year's topics include, Designing Interventions in Bullying and
Victimization: A Developmental Perspective," presented by Wendy Craig an
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen's University.
(Monday, June 24, 8:30 a.m. Adam Ballroom)
Also covered, Youth Justice for Violent Youth, presented by Catherine
Latimer, the Director General of Youth Justice Policy, Federal Department of
Justice. (Tuesday, June 25, 8:30 a.m. Adam Ballroom)
Trials of an Expert Witness, presented by Stanley L. Brodsky a Professor of
Psychology at the University of Alabama, will look at the issues surrounding
effective expert testimony in court. (Tuesday, June 25, 1:30 p.m. Adam
Ballroom)
Forgiveness in an Age of Anger features Rev. Dale Lang who will share his
insights into the healing power of forgiveness in response to his son
Jason's death in a school shooting in Taber, Alberta in 1999. (Wednesday,
June 26, 10:00 a.m. Adam Ballroom)
This Symposium includes both plenary and workshop sessions featuring
prominent professionals and researchers from the criminal justice and mental
health fields. It offers a forum for discussing current theories, research
and practice in dealing with aggression and violence. This Symposium gives
participants the opportunity to learn practical hands-on approaches to
issues confronting workers in the criminal justice, Aboriginal justice,
mental health, nursing, education, and social services fields.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Shannon Sofko
University of Saskatchewan
Extension Division
(306) 966-2283
shannon.sofko@usask.ca
or visit the website www.extension.usask.ca/go/VA
June 18, 2002
St. Andrew's College Celebrates 90th Anniversary
Posted June 18, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 18, 2002 2002-06-11-OTHER
St. Andrew's College Celebrates 90th Anniversary
It's a long way from the "old barn" on Temperance Street to the
technologically-hip United Church College on College Drive. Built in 1912,
it is now the beloved alma mater of hundreds of theologians, both clergy and
lay.
Including honorary Doctorates, the college graduates approximately 10
students each year, and perhaps 75% of those will be ordained to serve the
church in ministry.
The college has always striven to provide an education that will prepare
folks for ministry in the western or prairie context. An obvious choice for
professor of Church and Society, for example, is Nettie Wiebe, champion of
fair policy for rural life and agriculture.
Some historic highlights indicate the forward-looking nature of this
theological college: one of its graduates was the first woman ordained in
The United Church of Canada, Lydia Gruchy, in 1936; the Theological Union
with the Anglican College of Emmanuel and St. Chad and with the Lutheran
Theological Seminary on the University of Saskatchewan campus; and the
amalgamation with St. Stephen's College in Edmonton in July of 2000.
Such partnerships are in full accord with the St. Andrew's College Mission
Statement, which says: "We are an ecumenical Christian theological college
of The United Church of Canada engaged in innovative graduate level
preparation and enrichment for life and ministry that strengthens and
transforms individuals, church, society, and the world."
The Saskatoon Theological Union renewed its relationship with the University
of Saskatchewan in September of 2001. President Peter MacKinnon along with
Walter Deller, Principal of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad,
Christopher Lind, President of St. Andrew's College and St. Stephen's
College (The United Church of Canada), and Faith Rohrbough, President of the
Lutheran Seminary (ELCIC), signed an Agreement calling for each of the
institutions to cooperate in all areas except where their different charters
and mandates require them to act separately.
This Agreement follows the Vision Statement signed in November of 2000 by
the three theological colleges which called for partnership in a common
facility on the University of Saskatchewan campus. The partnership will
prepare "men and women for effective ministry in an ecumenical context
through a shared curriculum, faculty and resources." On May 4 of this year
the first joint convocation between the colleges was held at Third Avenue
United Church in Saskatoon.
The amalgamation with St. Stephen's College came about because both St.
Andrew's College and St. Stephen's College wanted to expand their capacity
to educate people for all forms of ministry--those who could study full-time
and those who required an innovative approach to learning. "This venture
raises exciting new opportunities," says President Chris Lind, "where the
combination of historical sensitivity and risk-taking innovation promise a
vibrant future in theological education."
For many years the college's ministry has included housing students in its
residence, providing a safe community and good environment for study and
learning.
St. Andrew's alumni/ae and faculty and staff, present and past, will gather
in Saskatoon June 22nd to 24th to reconnect and renew friendships.
Anniversary celebrations will include class reunions, a tour of the first
building; many photo ops, and a banquet Saturday evening with guest speakers
Premier Lorne Calvert and Gordon Barnhart, Secretary of the U of S. Sunday
morning the public is invited to a worship service at Knox United at 10:30
a.m. where former Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Walter Farquharson will preach.
On Monday a golf tournament at the Willows will be a further opportunity for
visiting and holy hilarity.
One more special feature of the weekend will be the dedication of a
painting, commissioned for the anniversary and presented by the artist,
alumnus Tad Suzuki.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Christopher Lind
President
St. Andrew's College and St. Stephen's College
(306) 966-8975
June 17, 2002
U of S Research Services Team Wins CAUBO Award
Posted June 17, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, June 17
U of S Research Services Team Wins CAUBO Award
A University of Saskatchewan research services team has won the 2002 CAUBO
(Canadian Association of University Business Officers) western regional
prize in the quality and productivity category.
The award was presented at the CAUBO annual conference on June 16, 2002 in
Quebec City.
Julia Taylor (Director, Office of Research Services), Jim Traves (Financial
Analyst, Financial Services), and Tracey Wray (Administrative Officer for
Major Programs, Research Services) won the award for an innovative approach
to administering Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding programs.
To improve efficiency and productivity, the U of S team created a one-stop
office -- the Major Programs Office -- for all inquiries and procedures
concerning CFI applications and awards.
The Office, which opened in November of 2000, is unique to U of S. It
combines the efforts of Research Services and Financial Services to
institute financial and management controls for the CFI program. The Office
oversees all aspects of CFI projects, providing an institutional focus for
CFI awards and research activity.
Faculty across campus have indicated that the Major Programs Office provides
excellent service to both researchers and funding agencies.
The award is one of four regional CAUBO awards that recognize innovative and
effective practices in Canadian universities. CAUBO is a non-profit
organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at 99
affiliated universities and colleges in Canada.
-30-
June 12, 2002
SSHRC Awards Close to $500,000 to 11 U of S Researchers
Posted June 12, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 12, 2002 2002-06-08-OTHER
SSHRC Awards Close to $500,000 to 11 U of S Researchers
Today 11 University of Saskatchewan researchers were honored with grants
totaling nearly $490,000 by the federal Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
Nine U of S projects have been awarded SSHRC standard research grants, SSHRC
President Marc Renaud announced on campus today. These range from studies of
teenage bullying and approaches to early detection of learning disabilities,
to research into population migration, to implications of the 1990s fiscal
crisis for Saskatchewan and Canada. As well, two conference grants -- both
dealing with Aboriginal issues -- have been awarded.
"Our success in this tough national competition is a reflection of the
excellence of our researchers," said Michael Corcoran, U of S Vice-President
of Research. He noted that the number of SSHRC applicants nationally has
increased by almost 50 per cent in the last three years. At present, only
four of every 10 applicants is awarded funding.
"Though we had another 15 U of S projects that were deemed excellent in
national peer review, SSHRC was unable to fund them due to insufficient
funding," he added.
Jim Miller, a member of the SSHRC national council and a U of S history
professor, said,
"In recent years, the quality and quantity of standard research grant
proposals have increased phenomenally across Canada as a new generation of
researchers responds to institutional incentives to seek external funding
for their research."
He added, "These U of S researchers have succeeded in a very stiff
competition and deserve congratulations. SSHRC is pleased to support the
important research they will be doing."
Projects approved for funding:
- Lorrie Sippola (psychology) -- $90,000 over three years to examine the
association between changes in the adolescent peer social network and
various forms of peer victimization in late childhood into adolescence.
- Larry Stewart (history) -- $71,000 over three years to study the role of
chemistry and medicine in the economic and social transformation of Western
Europe during 1760 to 1820.
- Donna Goodwin (kinesiology) -- $64,040 over three years to look at how
youth with physical disabilities experience their bodies and how they
develop an understanding of their physical potential.
- Janice MacKinnon (history) -- $62,500 over three years to support her
current book about the fiscal crisis in Canada and Saskatchewan in the 1990s
and implications for the 21st century. The book will also discuss issues
such as the sustainability of the current health system and the most
important challenges for Canadians in the next decade.
- Barbara Phillips (management and marketing) --$55,676 over three years to
explore individual consumers' motivations for exercise and compare them to
the messages that exercise magazines and exercise ads present to Canadians.
An understanding of the relationship between these messages and their use by
exercisers is necessary before institutions can develop messages relevant to
their audiences.
- Robert Hudson (philosophy) -- $51,000 over three years to examine how
scientists assess the quality of experimentally generated, observational
data, work which could lead to better public understanding of how scientific
claims are justified.
- John McNamara (educational psychology) -- $44,359 over three years to
establish markers for identifying children who are at risk for learning
disabilities, work which could lead to earlier detection of such
disabilities.
- Karen Lawson (psychology) -- $17,200 over one year to examine the rapid
acceptance of pre-natal testing, investigating the extent to which
perceptions of parenting a disabled child underlie the perceived need for
testing.
- James Pooler (geography) -- $10,888 over two years to study population
migration in Canada, work that has important spin-off applications with
respect to city and regional planning, traffic forecasting, retail location
studies, and regional development.
As well, U of S recently was awarded two SSHRC conference grants:
- Patricia Monture-Angus (Native studies) -- $10,000 for a July 10-12
conference examining the challenge of including Indigenous knowledge
traditions in universities and the future of Native studies. Conference
findings will be compiled in a book to be used as a text in introductory and
Native studies theory classes.
- Isobel Findlay (commerce) -- $10,000 for a conference in May that brought
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people together to develop new networks and
policies for Aboriginal community economic development in the 21st century.
Conference findings will be published on a web site, in a report and in a
book.
SSHRC is Canada's federal funding agency for university-based research and
graduate training in the social sciences and humanities. It supports
high-quality research and research training that helps the public to
understand the evolving nature of society and to address emerging challenges
and opportunities more effectively.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
Phone: (306) 966-2506
June 10, 2002
Federal Government Awards $3.2 M to U of S-Led Projects for Health Research Training
Posted June 10, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 10, 2002 2002-06-06-OTHER
Federal Government Awards $3.2 M to U of S-Led Projects for Health Research
Training
A total of $3.2 million has been awarded to two U of S-led research training
programs by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), creating jobs
for up to 100 graduate students and research trainees from community groups
across Canada over the next two to six years.
The grants were announced today by Health Minister Anne McLellan and CIHR
President Alan Bernstein in Toronto as part of $88 million for the CIHR
Strategic Training Initiative that will train Canada's future health
researchers. One of the projects is a partnership between the U of S and the
University of Regina through the Saskatchewan Population Health Evaluation
and Research Unit (SPHERU).
As well, U of S researchers are involved in two other national training
programs as co-applicants -- one to study pain in child health and the other
to do oral health related research. These programs would bring in another
$228,000 over five to six years in trainee stipend support.
Training grants bring together groups of accomplished health mentors and
educators who work collaboratively to train and support research talent. The
Saskatchewan projects range from studying the respiratory effects of barn
dust, to exploring what makes communities healthy, to investigating whether
cranberry juice helps reduce facial and bone inflammation after molar
extractions.
"Our success in this stiff national competition helps us train the next
generation of Saskatchewan health researchers whose work will play a
critical role in improving the health of our communities," said U of S
President Peter MacKinnon. He noted that nationally, only 40 per cent of the
127 applicants were awarded funding.
"Population health research benefits the whole Saskatchewan community. It is
a key focus of the University of Regina," said U of R President David
Barnard. "This project will strengthen the collaboration between researchers
at the two universities for the good of Saskatchewan people."
The awards:
-Ronald Labonte (U of S Community Health and Epidemiology) with co-applicant
George Maslany (U of R Faculty of Social Work) -- almost $1.8 million over
six years for the Community and Population Health Research (CAPHR) training
program run by SPHERU, a research partnership between the U of S and the U
of R. As well, the U of S and the U or R are contributing a total of almost
$900,000 in cash and close to $370,000 in 'in-kind' support for student
bursaries.
The CAPHR program will support up to 61 Saskatchewan research trainees --
graduate students, members of community-based organizations and government
policy makers -- who will study population health determinants, such as
early childhood development, economic globalization, community and
environment, indigenous people's health, and social determinants such as
gender and socio-economic status. The goal is to apply these findings to
public policy development. The trainees will work closely with government
and community-based organizations.
"The impact of social and economic conditions on health is enormous, and
CAPHR will allow us to play a leadership role in understanding better the
links between these conditions and the public policies that improve peoples'
health and well-being," said Labonte, who is director of SPHERU.
-James Dosman (U of S Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental
Health) -- $1.4 million over six years for Public Health and Agricultural
Rural Ecosystem (PHARE), a national training program involving six
universities. PHARE will support 40 students across Canada. Trainees from a
broad range of disciplines will study rural public health and agricultural
ecosystem issues, communicate their findings to the public, and will help
shape government health policy.
"PHARE seeks to increase the knowledge needed to address the challenges
facing rural people as they seek a healthy, safe and sustainable lifestyle,"
said Dosman.
-Carl von Baeyer (psychology) - a co-applicant on a five-university training
program led by Dalhousie University that will study pain in child health.
The program will receive $168,000 over six years in support for two-to-four
graduates.
-Two U of S College of Dentistry projects -- $60,000 over five years to hire
two dental students per year as part of the $1.5-million UWO-led Network for
Oral Research Training and Health (NORTH) program involving 10 dental
schools. NORTH's aim is to increase the number of Canadian dental graduates
who choose careers in academic dentistry, and to increase the quantity and
quality of oral health research in Canada.
* Bernhard Juurlink, a cell biologist who is also an associate member of the
College of Dentistry, will study whether cranberry juice helps reduce facial
and bone inflammation after molar extractions.
* Kunio Komiyama (Dentistry) will examine whether improving oral hygiene in
Aboriginal populations will decrease the occurrence of Helicobacter pylori,
a bacterium that resides in the gut and dental plaque and contributes to
peptic ulcers, gastritis, and possibly gastric cancer. The bacterium has a
very high prevalence rate among Aboriginal populations.
"We hope this training program will spur more U of S dentistry students to
pursue careers in oral health research," said project co-ordinator Komiyama.
The CIHR Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research will fund 51
innovative transdisciplinary research projects across Canada. CIHR is
Canada's premier federal funding agency for health research. Its aim is to
excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific
excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into
improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products,
and a strengthened health care system.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Ronald Labonte
Director, SPHERU
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966- 2349
James Dosman
Director, Institute of Agriculture Rural and Environmental Health
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8286
Kunio Komiyama
College of Dentistry
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5143
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
Sandy Cameron
University of Regina Communications
(306) 585-5439
June 06, 2002
University Forms Drought Committee to Aid Agricultural Producers
Posted June 06, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 6, 2002 2002-06-04-AG
University Forms Drought Committee to Aid Agricultural Producers
The University of Saskatchewan views the current drought situation as a very
critical issue for everyone living in Saskatchewan. In response to this
increasingly urgent provincial drought situation, the U of S has struck a
drought committee to provide drought-related information to the Saskatchewan
agribusiness community.
This widespread environmental disaster has prompted the University of
Saskatchewan Drought Committee to provide information to assist the
province's agricultural community. This information will be available
through a website, located at http://drought.usask.ca which will provide
timely and topical information bulletins. Staff members will also answer
producers' questions via e-mail and telephone.
At http://drought.usask.ca, users will be able to find informational
resources related to drought management, contact information for reaching
staff at the University, links to existing resources on the Internet, and a
question and answer forum, where members of the College of Agriculture and
other colleges at the University will answer submitted questions.
In addition to the website, the committee plans to inform the public, on a
weekly basis, of pressing issues that need to be considered by producers.
This information will be reported on the website and released to the media
each Wednesday. The first topics will include "Using annual cereals to
supplement summer and fall grazing and winter forage supplies," and "Fallow
management in drought conditions."
Ernie Barber, Dean of the College of Agriculture, has identified the drought
situation as a priority for staff, and has urged the co-operation of all
faculty to assist farmers in coping with these conditions.
Saskatchewan is experiencing some of the driest conditions on record. The
Saskatchewan cow calf herd is being sold off, as farmers' failed pastures
and dried up dugouts have left farmers unable to pay for feed and water
supplies. In many areas, crops have been seeded into dry soil conditions and
those crops that have emerged are parched and under severe water stress.
Farmers in the hardest hit areas are already considering crop insurance
usage as well as reseeding or fallow options. If this drought persists, it
will lead to further liquidation of Saskatchewan's cattle herd, failed
crops, and continued financial hardship for farmers, ranchers, and the
businesses and communities dependant upon their prosperity.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Steve Shirtliffe
Department of Plant Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4959
Ken Rosaasen
Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4017
Ernie Barber
Dean, College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7881
or visit http://drought.usask.ca
