October 30, 2002
Minister Goodale Announces $3.7 M for Nine U of S Health Research Projects
Posted October 30, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 30, 2002 2002-10-17-OTHER
Minister Goodale Announces $3.7 M for Nine U of S Health Research Projects
Today nine University of Saskatchewan researchers were awarded grants and a
post-doctoral fellowship totalling more than $3.7 million by the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
The wide-ranging research areas include spinal cord injury, a new cellular
target for colon cancer diagnosis, HIV/AIDS prevention in northern
Saskatchewan, and effectiveness of treatment programs for sexual offenders
in federal penitentiaries. One project will look at preventing later-life
osteoporosis by tracking bone mass development from childhood into early
adulthood.
"Our success in this stiff national competition reflects the excellence of
our researchers and our growing strength in health research," said Bryan
Harvey, University of Saskatchewan Acting Vice-President of Research. "The
total CIHR funding awarded to University of Saskatchewan over the past 12
months has reached roughly $15.4 million, almost a five-fold increase over
the previous 12 months."
The awards are part of $3.9 million for 10 health research projects across
Saskatchewan announced in Ottawa today by the Honourable Ralph Goodale,
Minister of Public Works and Government Services on behalf of the Honourable
Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, and Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the
CIHR.
"The projects we are announcing will help to improve the health of all
Canadians, while also attracting and retaining some of the best researchers
in Saskatchewan," said Minister Goodale. "Thanks to Government of Canada
investments, the University of Saskatchewan has become a major player on the
health research front."
The Minister highlighted three researchers whose work exemplifies CIHR's
comprehensive, problem-based approach to health research. They are:
- David Schreyer (anatomy and cell biology) -- $264,000 over three years to
study the molecular signals that muscle cells send to nerve cells. This
research will provide a better understanding of the biological interactions
between muscles and nerves and may lead to new treatments of neurological
disorders such as brain and spinal cord injury.
- Robert Faulkner (kinesiology) -- $233,000 over three years to identify the
age when bones attain their maximum amount of mineral content. He will also
assess the effects of growth, aging, and environmental factors such as
physical activity and nutrition on peak bone mass in order to prevent
osteoporosis later in life. This study is a follow-up to the 1991 Pediatric
Bone Mineral Accrual Study and will result in the most comprehensive data in
the world on bone mineral accrual from childhood to adult years. (See
feature story at:
http://www.usask.ca/communications/ocn/02-oct-18/feature04.shtml )
- Sylvia Abonyi (community health and epidemiology/SPHERU) -- $192,000 over
two years for community-based research that will explore HIV/AIDS prevention
and support systems in four northern Saskatchewan Aboriginal communities.
This study is aimed at minimizing the emergence and impact of HIV/AIDS in
northern Saskatchewan.
"The research projects announced today illustrate the breadth and excellence
of Saskatchewan's health research enterprise," said Dr. Bernstein. "From
Dr. Schreyer's study on cell biology to Dr. Abonyi's community-based
research, these cutting-edge projects cover the full spectrum of health
research and will translate into better health for all Canadians."
Other U of S recipients:
- James Dosman (medicine/Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental
Health) -- $2.1 million over five years to study respiratory reaction to
endotoxins, toxic substances produced by bacteria and found in animal hair,
feathers, and dust. Endotoxins can become part of human cells, and inhaled
endotoxins, such as cigarette smoke, can cause breathing problems. The study
also involves the Veterinary and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), the
department of anatomy and cell Biology, and Laval University.
- Suzanne Laferte (biochemistry) -- $268,000 over three years to identify
both the structure and function of glycoproteins (organic compounds composed
of a protein and a carbohydrate) that contribute to colon cancer. This
study will develop an improved understanding of colon cancer progression and
improved methods for detecting and treating colon cancer.
- Rajendra Sharma (pathology) -- $347,000 over four years to study the role
of a particular cellular protein in colon cancer development that could be a
new molecular target for chemotherapy. Because this protein is more active
in colon cancer cells than in healthy colon cells, it may be identified as a
marker in colon cancer diagnosis.
- Luis Melo (physiology) -- $100,000 over one year for equipment to design
safe and efficient gene therapy strategies that protect the heart from
damage during heart attack. The study is a collaborative effort with
Harvard Medical School.
- Maya Shmulevitz (VIDO) was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship of $80,000
over two years to identify immune defenses in mucosal surfaces, such as
those found in digestive, breathing and reproductive passages, that combat
virus and bacteria-caused disease in humans or animals. This study will
provide new vaccination strategies for respiratory and intestinal diseases.
- James Waldram (psychology) -- $149,000 over four years to study how sexual
offenders experience, interpret, and respond to psychological treatment they
receive in federal
penitentiaries. The study will also include a comparison between Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal sex offenders. Results will be used to improve both
prison and community-based treatment and support programs.
A detailed list of the projects funded across Canada is available at
www.cihr.ca
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's premier agency
for health research. Its objective 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.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden, University of Saskatchewan Research Communications, (306)
966-2506
Janet Weichel, CIHR, Communications, (613) 447-4794
Farah Mohamed, Office of the Honourable Anne McLellan, (613) 957-0200
October 29, 2002
U of S Ranks 10th in Canada for Research Income Growth
Posted October 29, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 29, 2002 2002-10-16-OTHER
U of S Ranks 10th in Canada for Research Income Growth
with a Huge 41.4% Increase
University of Saskatchewan research funding for 2000-2001 rose by 41.4 per
cent -- nearly double the national average of 22.7 per cent, according to
Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List published today by Toronto-based
Research Infosource Inc.
U of S attracted $101.6 million in research dollars in 2000-2001, up from
$71.8 million the previous year. With this dramatic increase, U of S moves
up three places to 12th position nationally in terms of total research
income.
As well, U of S research intensity (dollars per full-time faculty) has risen
to $108,700, exceeding the national average of $103,200.
"We're delighted that U of S has now joined the "$100 Million Club" of
Canada's elite universities and is in the top 10 universities in the country
for research income growth," said Bryan Harvey, U of S Vice-President of
Research.
"These numbers show that U of S is successfully building on its research
strengths and taking advantage of new opportunities offered by programs such
as the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canada Research Chairs, Genome
Canada, and the federal granting councils, as well as matching funding from
the Saskatchewan government. Our impressive performance in these rankings is
a credit to the excellence of our researchers whose work continues to enrich
the learning experience for our students."
Of the more than $29 million increase in total research funding in
2000-2001, $23 million was for the Canadian Light Source project, mainly for
construction, from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Western
Economic Diversification, the National Research Council, and Saskatchewan
Industry and Resources.
More than half the remaining $6 million was due to funding from other
governmental sources for a variety of projects. As well, NSERC funding grew
by $1.2 million, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding was
up by $1 million, and SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council) funding increased by roughly $300,000.
Research Infosource Inc. uses Statistics Canada data to rank Canada's
leading universities by sponsored research income from both government and
non-government sources.
Though comparative national data for 2001-2002 is not yet available, U of S
figures for 2001-2002 show that U of S funding for research, scholarship and
artistic work continues to grow dramatically.
"U of S revenue has now reached $120.6 million -- an impressive 20-per-cent
increase over the previous year," said Harvey. "This continued growth
reflects increased funding from the Saskatchewan government particularly for
agricultural research and the synchrotron, CFI funding for the synchrotron,
one-time federal funding for the indirect costs of research, and increases
from CIHR and SSHRC, as well as money from other sources for expansion of
our world-class vaccine research centre VIDO."
For more information about the ranking, visit: www.researchinfosource.com
For the latest news about U of S research successes, visit:
www.usask.ca/research.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
October 25, 2002
Past Imperfect
Posted October 25, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 25, 2002 2002-10-14-OTHER
Past Imperfect
Anne Ramsden, Nicole Jolicoeur, Isabelle Hayeur and Leila Sujir
Curated by Patricia Levin
Artist/Curator Talk: Thursday, October 31, 12:00 Noon
Public Reception: Friday, November 1, 8:00 p.m.
Exhibition: November 1 - December 20, 2002 - Kenderdine Art Gallery
Location and Hours: The Kenderdine Art Gallery is located on the second
floor (Room 2D61) of the Agriculture Building at the University of
Saskatchewan. The Gallery is open from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday to
Friday; closed on Saturdays; open Sundays from noon until 5 p.m. Admission
is free.
"The Imperfect is the tense of fascination: it seems to be alive and yet it
doesn't move: imperfect presence, imperfect death, neither oblivion nor
resurrection; simply the exhausting lure of memory." -- Roland Barthes
Past Imperfect, the final installment of Digital Matter, Digital Memory,
examines memory as a productive act. The exhibition takes its inspiration
from Proust's image of the "petite madeleine," in which the act of
remembering becomes an act of creating. They are, after all, two aspects of
the same production involving interpreting, deciphering and translating.
Originally, Digital Matter, Digital Memory, a purposeful play on Henri
Bergson's Matiere and Mémoire, sought to problematize perception or
human consciousness through an examination of body/mind and its relation to
memory. The exhibition proposed to question Bergson's idea of memory as
"just the intersection of mind and matter," wherein remembrance "is the
representation of an absent object." With Past Imperfect we continue to push
the Bergsonian concepts of matter/body/image and perception/memory into the
virtual realms of electronic technologies--hypermedia, virtual reality and
cyberspace. Have digital technologies replaced cinema as the new machines of
the visible?
For the artist today, digital technologies further complicate the production
of images suggesting myriad possibilities for fashioning new narratives of
memory/history through capture, storage, and generation. "From Plato to
Freud and beyond, the structure of the 'archive' and thus the function of
memory have been directly and indirectly bound to shifting techniques of
reproduction." Accordingly, "the advent of electronic technology not only
recasts ancient puzzles about recording and remembering, but also poses new
questions:" Can the electronic archive prosthetically supplement and
constitute human subjectivity through the construction of memory images? Is
the computer the technological analogue of Freud's Mystic Pad: that is, a
model machine for representing on the outside memory as internal
archivization?
For the artists in Past Imperfect memories are embodied, displaced, stories
and ephemeral hauntings, recollected and reconfigured into sights seen and
experienced. Their objects are the store houses of "rich silences and
wordless stories" offering the observer an opportunity to move through time
and space: to travel, as it were, through the deserted places of memory. In
Anne Ramsden's "Anastylosis: Childhood" memories are stories composed with
the world's debris. They are scattered fragments of lives lived and
imagined, of deferred desire. For Leila Sujir memories are hallucinations of
unwoven threads and loose ends desperately knotted together in "My Two
Grandmothers." In "Déprises: (Thérèse)", Nicole
Jolicoeur enacts reminiscence through the play of repetition unfixing and
reassembling the image of Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux. Finally,
memories are, for Isabelle Hayeur in "Paysages incertains," life lines to
another time and place; to the here and there of past wanderings.
This project has been generously supported by The Canada Council for the
Arts, The University of Saskatchewan, the Museums Association of
Saskatchewan and our volunteers.
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For more information, please contact:
Kent Archer
Director/Curator of the Kenderdine Art Gallery
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4571
Engineering Students Chosen to Present Posters at World Space Congress
Posted October 25, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 25, 2002 2002-10-15-ENG
Engineering Students Chosen to Present Posters at World Space Congress
Three University of Saskatchewan engineering undergraduates were the only
Canadian students selected to present research posters at the World Space
Congress in Houston, Texas Oct. 10-19.
Once a decade the world's space community assembles to chart new directions
for humanity's next 10 years in space. A highlight is the poster session
displaying student research interests. Twenty-three posters were accepted
from students worldwide.
The U of S students, who worked as summer research assistants in the U of S
Microgravity Research Group, successfully submitted two posters for
presentation.
"These three students represent the highest academic quality and I applaud
their success," said Kamiel Gabriel, associate engineering dean of graduate
studies, research and extension.
The posters focus on research done in microgravity drop shafts or drop
towers, such as the proposed Canadian Centre for Microgravity Research and
Education (CMORE) a 1,000-metre drop shaft to be built by converting an
abandoned mine shaft 16 kilometres east of Saskatoon. Drop shafts and
towers are used to conduct experiments in a near-zero gravity environment
before undertaking expensive research projects in space.
In her poster, fourth-year engineering physics student Amanda Gerbrandt
described the proposed CMORE site and discussed educational and vocational
activities available through the College of Engineering to promote space
science education.
Devon Manz and Dave Cote, mechanical engineering students, described their
research into methods of moving air through fluids and manipulating fluid
behavior in the absence of gravity. They will confirm results from
ground-based tests using a drop tower at the University of Bremen, Germany.
The students also designed two units to demonstrate functions of a
microgravity shaft. One display simulates a drop and demonstrates the
effect of weightlessness on objects such as a burning candle, whose flame is
spherical rather than pear-shaped in zero gravity. The other unit displays
the unique braking system for the proposed drop shaft, which is similar to
the system used to slow jets landing on aircraft carriers.
CMORE would be the longest drop shaft in the world with a free fall time of
12 seconds and would be the first such facility in Canada. Due to the size
and depth of the shaft, the cost per drop could be the lowest in the world.
Earlier this year, the proposed CMORE project was awarded $8.5 million from
the Canada Foundation for Innovation. CFI provides 40 per cent of project
costs, while remaining funds must be found from government, private sectors,
or other sources.
To learn more about the CMORE project or to view photographs and animated
video, go to www.engr.usask.ca/cmore/
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Contact information:
Prof. Kamiel Gabriel
Engineering Assoc. Dean of Graduate Studies,
Research and Extension
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5280
kamiel_gabriel@engr.usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
October 24, 2002
Feltham appointed Chuck and Norma Childers' Chair
Posted October 24, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 24, 2002 2002-10-13-CO
Feltham appointed Chuck and Norma Childers' Chair
The College of Commerce, University of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce
the appointment of Professor Glenn Feltham, BA (Alberta), BS (Montana), MBA
(Montana), LLB (Queen's), PhD (Waterloo) as the Chuck and Norma Childers'
Chair for Saskatchewan Enterprise for a period of two years.
The Chair, funded by an endowment established by Potash Corporation of
Saskatchewan Inc. in 1998, was created to support research into Saskatchewan
business and to broaden the links between students and industry. It was
created as part of PotashCorp's $5 million donation to the University of
Saskatchewan, which also established the PCS Centre at the College of
Commerce.
The Chair is designed to encourage:
* Applied research in all aspects of Saskatchewan enterprise
* Dissemination of this research to students, Saskatchewan businesses and in
the broader global environment; and
* Opportunities for students to contribute to and learn from Saskatchewan
enterprise.
"Our company has seen the potential of Saskatchewan's people and its
resources and we are proud to encourage further development," said William
J. Doyle, President and Chief Executive Officer of PotashCorp. "We strongly
believe in supporting education and teaching our future leaders about the
free enterprise system, for their benefit and the betterment of business in
the province."
Glenn Feltham has been with the College of Commerce since 1999 and is in the
second year of a five-year appointment as Department Head of Accounting.
Glenn has had a distinguished research career and published extensively in
the areas of tax planning and tax policy. His research, which has a
practical application, has affected government policy. Glenn is currently
examining issues related to the taxation of family business, the most
prevalent form of business in Saskatchewan and Canada. Of particular
interest to Glenn, is addressing the question " how does our tax system
affect the success of family businesses on succession - passing the family
business from one generation to the next." He is further interested in the
overall effects of tax rules on the competitiveness of Saskatchewan
enterprise.
On the announcement of the appointment, Glenn stated "Business education has
an important role to play in the future success of our province. Only
through cooperative efforts such as that of PotashCorp and the College of
Commerce can these goals be reached."
Glenn further stated, "We must focus on the competitiveness of our province.
Competitiveness depends on our attitudes towards enterprise, our tax
structure, the role of government, and our demographics."
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Contact:
Dr. Glenn Feltham
Chuck and Norma Childers' Enhancement Chair
for Saskatchewan Enterprise
College of Commerce
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-8402
Mr. Jerry Streisel
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.
500 - 122 First Avenue South
Saskatoon, SK S7K 7G3
Phone: (306) 933-8544
October 23, 2002
Commerce Students Attract Attention of Mercedes-Benz Canada
Posted October 23, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 23, 2002 2002-10-12-CO
COMMERCE STUDENTS ATTRACT ATTENTION OF MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA
The U of S College of Commerce has been chosen to prepare a national
marketing strategy for the 2003 line of Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles. The
winning strategy will be presented tonight at a gala hosted by Elite Motor
Cars Ltd. (Saskatoon's Mercedes-Benz dealership).
The U of S was chosen to compete in the Mercedes International Luxury Brand
Management Competition sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Canada and Elite Motors.
"We selected the University of Saskatchewan based on their past
international successes and we plan to use concepts from the winning
strategy in our provincial marketing campaign. The rest of their creative
ideas will be further considered by Mercedes-Benz," said Elite Motors dealer
principal Dr. Srini Chary.
"This caliber of corporate sponsors, Mercedes-Benz Canada and Elite Motors,
provides our students with the opportunity to enhance their personal and
career development assisting them with their transition into industry," said
College of Commerce Dean, Lynne Pearson. "Being selected for this
competition reflects the creativity and spirit of the students in our
College."
Students were broken into groups to compete on the project. The winning
team's members are Sara Gordon, Blair Voth, Katherane Lautner, Deneille
Dewar, Jacqueline Duckering, Cory Strohan and Ian Litzenberger along with
faculty advisor Ayten Archer.
The winning team devoted over 100 hours to the design of a marketing
strategy and ad campaign. They conducted market research, developed a
television ad, and created four print advertisements, presenting the
campaign in a 15-minute video.
"For groups of students to work 'hands-on' alongside an internationally
renowned company like Mercedes-Benz is absolutely invaluable," says student
Cory Strohan. "I think it's a really great way to bridge the gap between
academic theory and real world experience."
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For additional information, please contact:
Ayten Archer
Faculty Advisor
College of Commerce
University of Saskatchewan
Phone (306) 966-8424
archer@commerce.usask.ca
October 22, 2002
U of S Announces Award Recipients for Fall Convocation 2002
Posted October 22, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 22, 2002 2002-10-09-OTHER
U of S Announces Award Recipients for Fall Convocation 2002
The University of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the following
recipients of awards, which will be presented at Fall Convocation on
Saturday, October 26, 2002.
Master Teacher - The Master Teacher award was established to emphasize the
importance of teaching at the U of S. Professor John Hubbard, a faculty
member from the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition is this year's recipient.
Dr. Hubbard has been called "a great ambassador for academia" by several
former students. Devoted to teaching and research, Dr. Hubbard's unique
teaching style and warm personality have influenced many past students.
Honorary Degree - Barrie Wigmore a retired partner from Goldman Sachs, one
of the world's preeminent investment banking firms, will receive an Honorary
Doctor of Laws Degree. Mr. Wigmore has been a director of the Potash
Corporation of Saskatchewan and was a founding trustee of the Progressive
Policy Institute - a group, which played a role in formulating Bill
Clinton's policies when he first ran for President in 1992. Mr. Wigmore has
a B.Ed. and B.A. from the U of S.
President's Service Award - Colleen Teague will be honoured with this award.
A U of S employee for 29 years, she currently works in the College of
Engineering as Co-ordinator of Personnel and Facilities. She began work at
the U of S in 1973 and has served in a wide range of capacities in the
College and at the University. She also has given time to community groups
like Kinsmen Telemiracle, the Festival of Trees, and the Canadian Cancer
Society.
J.W. George Ivany Internationalization Award - This year, the Director of
the International Student Office, Kurt Tischler will receive the award. His
Office provides a number of services and programs such as; The International
Friendship Program, Oral English Program, and Spouses Program for
international students at the U of S. Each fall he co-ordinates the
International Student Orientation to acclimatize new students to campus.
Through his efforts, Mr. Tischler has fostered a deeper understanding
between international and Canadian students at the U of S and the local
community.
Alumni Award of Achievement - Dr. Vera Pezer will receive this year's award.
Dr. Pezer was educated at the U of S. She began her professional career at
the U of S in 1966 with Student Counselling Services Department, later went
on to become the Director and for 10 years served as Associate
Vice-President of Student Affairs and Services. She is an outstanding sports
psychologist, golfer, and curler whose commitment to the community through
positions on the Saskatoon Housing Coalition, Leisure Services Advisory,
Huskie Athletic Endowment Fund, and Waskesiu Golf Course exemplifies her
outstanding leadership.
Distinguished Researcher Award - Professor Ted Llewellyn an acclaimed
atmospheric scientist who helped launch the Optical Spectrograph InfraRed
Imager System (OSIRIS) will receive this year's award. OSIRIS was launched
on a Swedish satellite and was designed at the U of S. Llewellyn's research
on the ozone layer through projects like OSIRIS, are paving the way for new
legislation. In addition to research, Llewellyn established the Engineering
Physics Internship Program and is a mentor to many students.
Distinction in Public Service and Extension Award - Donald Kerr has been
with the U of S since 1960. His efforts to extend the University to the
wider community are recognized with this award. Professor Kerr has served on
the boards of the Public Library and Meewasin Valley Authority, and for 20
years on two regional presses - Coteau Books and Newest Press. He has
documented Saskatoon's heritage in a book, and currently serves as the
Saskatchewan governor for the Heritage Canada Foundation. A renowned author,
historian, poet and playwright, Kerr is the first recipient of this award.
Full citations, biographical notes and photographs are also available at
www.usask.ca/communications/awards
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For more information, please contact:
Erin Taman
Communications - University Advancement
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6919
erin.taman@usask.ca
October 18, 2002
CFI Invests $248,000 to Support Four New U of S Researchers
Posted October 18, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 18, 2002 2002-10-07-OTHER
CFI Invests $248,000 to Support Four New U of S Researchers
Peter MacKinnon, President of the University of Saskatchewan, today welcomed
an investment of more than $248,000 from the Canada Foundation for
Innovation (CFI) to provide cutting-edge infrastructure support for four
newly recruited faculty members.
"Today's announcement will provide some of our talented new faculty with the
tools they need to do world-class research in fields ranging from
biochemistry to veterinary biomedical science," said MacKinnon.
As well, with this announcement U of S becomes eligible for an additional
almost $75,000 from the CFI Infrastructure Operating Fund which contributes
to operating and maintenance costs associated with CFI projects.
He noted that the total funding to U of S from the CFI New Opportunities
Fund has now reached more than $5.3 million for 36 projects since the
inception of the program.
"Today's announcement is a good news story for our community," said the
Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Works and MP for Wascana.
"These researchers will attract top quality students to our universities.
Their research activities will continue to bolster the development of new
knowledge economy clusters in our region."
"Attracting and retaining such high-calibre researchers to our universities
is absolutely vital to enhancing Canada's ability to compete in a
knowledge-based global economy and will help us achieve our goal of making
Canada one of the world's most innovative nations," said Industry Minister
Allan Rock.
Successful U of S applicants:
- Ike Oguocha (mechanical engineering) -- $79,752 for equipment to study the
thermo-chemical behavior of aluminum metal matrix composites (metal alloys
reinforced with ceramic fibres or particles), which are used in the
automotive industry to improve the strength and efficiency of parts such as
pistons, brakes, and clutch disks. This equipment will contribute to U of S
strengths in materials characterization.
- Jaswant Singh (veterinary biomedical sciences) -- $70,000 to develop an
ultrasound biomicroscope facility that will allow safe and repeated medical
imaging of live tissues at microscopic resolutions. This equipment will
strengthen unique U of S research capability in the field of ultrasound
image analysis.
- Hong Wang (biochemistry) -- $60,000 for equipment to study molecular and
biochemical control of plant cell division and growth, and to compare these
processes in plants and animals. This new knowledge will build on current U
of S biotechnology strengths.
- Sam Butler (geology) -- $38,742 for high-performance computing equipment
used in geological fluid-flow simulations to explain the Earth's long-term
evolution and the processes that form the Earth's crust. This equipment will
maintain Canada's standing as a leader in Earth science research.
Today's announcement is part of $17 million announced nationally under the
New Opportunities Fund designed to help launch the careers of new and
talented faculty members. As well, $5.1 million was announced nationally
from the Infrastructure Operating Fund.
Selection criteria included quality of research, need for infrastructure,
and potential benefits of the research to Canada. CFI funds 40 per cent of
the costs, and researchers must come up with the remainder from other
sources.
The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the
Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in
Canadian universities and research institutions.
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Contact information:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Suzanne Quinn
Canada Foundation for Innovation
(613) 996-3160
suzanne.quinn@innovation.ca
http://www.innovation.ca/
October 16, 2002
Ceremony Honours Outstanding University of Saskatchewan Alumni
Posted October 16, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 16, 2002 2002-10-06-OTHER
Ceremony Honours Outstanding University of Saskatchewan Alumni
The University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association honoured six of its most
outstanding alumni at a special awards ceremony on campus today.
The Alumni Association Awards recognize the significant contributions U of S
graduates make professionally, in their community, and around the world each
year.
U of S President Peter MacKinnon, addressing over 100 alumni, students and
representatives from the University Colleges, said: "The University of
Saskatchewan is extremely proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. They
bring great honour to the U of S and are an excellent example for our
current and future students. The recipients are valuable members of our
society."
The awards were presented by Alumni Association President Susan Milburn and
Rob Theoret, Chair of the 2002 Alumni Successes Committee.
The awards were presented to:
Alumni Award of Achievement: Dr. Vera Pezer - retired U of S Associate
Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services.
Alumni Service Award: Patricia S. Currie - former council and executive
member of the U of S Alumni Association.
Alumni Humanitarian Award: Mr. and Mrs. Norman and Delva Rebin - champions
of free speech and crusaders for peace worldwide.
Alumni Honour Award: Dr. Milkha Singh Aulakh - Senior Soil Scientist and
Professor at Punjab Agricultural University in India.
Alumni Mentorship Award: Mrs. Patricia (Pat) A. Thomas - Chartered
Accountant and Assistant Professor in the College of Commerce.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Mr. Chris Labrecque - Engineer and
co-founder of Analog Design Automation in Ottawa, Ontario.
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For more information on the recipients of these awards, please contact:
Sue Hicks, Alumni Officer
University Advancement
University of Saskatchewan
Phone (306) 966-5600
alumni.office@usask.ca
October 08, 2002
English Prof to Receive First U of S Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award
Posted October 08, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 8, 2002 2002-10-03-OTHER
English Prof to Receive First U of S Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award
Today University of Saskatchewan English professor Peter Stoicheff will be
presented with the university's first Distinguished Graduate Supervisor
Award.
The annual award has been created to honor faculty member members who excel
in the supervision of graduate students undertaking projects, theses,
dissertations or artistic works. The award will be presented today at
Graduate Council.
"Through this new award, the U of S recognizes that working with graduate
students is one of its primary functions," said Tom Wishart, Dean of
Graduate Studies and Associate Vice-President of Research.
"Professor Stoicheff is an outstanding example of the type of faculty
member we are seeking to honor -- one who has demonstrated excellence in
scholarship undertaken with students and who has superior mentoring skills
to stimulate and motivate students to achieve high standards."
Stoicheff has supervised 11 master's and doctoral theses. Several of his
students have been highly successful in either continuing to doctoral
studies or finding jobs in publishing, writing and teaching.
While traditional graduate work in the humanities is solitary, Stoicheff is
credited with creating a bold new model for humanities research by
conducting collaborative research with his graduate students.
The students work together under his supervision to create web-based
versions of literary works including William Faulkner's The Sound and the
Fury, T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, and Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein. By clicking on links interspersed throughout the texts, the
reader can access further relevant material including manuscript images and
audio samples of the authors reading their work. Several of his students
have presented at conferences, published papers and book chapters, and
completed theses arising directly from their research and experiences in
these collaborative "hypertext" projects.
Each of these hypertext sites attracts thousands of users a month, receives
many inquiries from students and faculty worldwide, and is used in the
undergraduate classroom at U of S and elsewhere. The Sound and the Fury site
has been ranked as one of four major Faulkner sites on the web. The sites
are accessible through the U of S English department home page:
www.usask.ca/english
Stoicheff also provides his graduate students with training in writing and
editing electronic texts. One student wrote that Stoicheff showed him "that
writing, even for an audience of academics, should be as free of jargon and
difficulty as possible." Another student commented that Stoicheff was a
mentor whose influence will last a lifetime.
The Selection Committee includes the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies
and Research, the Director of the Gwenna Moss Teaching and Learning Centre,
the Chairs of the PhD, Academic, Interdisciplinary, and Awards committees,
and a representative of the Graduate Student Association.
Students, alumni, faculty, departments or colleges may make nominations.
Supporting letters from previous students are required. Application deadline
is March 1 of each year.
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For more information, contact:
Tom Wishart
Dean of Graduate Studies
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5751
October 04, 2002
DNA Research Breakthrough Potentially Worth Millions to Beef Industry
Posted October 04, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday, October 4, 2002 2002-10-01-OTHER
DNA Research Breakthrough Potentially Worth Millions to Beef Industry
University of Saskatchewan researchers have come up with the world's first
reliable DNA test for selectively breeding beef cattle with superior meat
quality -- a discovery that could mean more than $100 million a year in
increased revenues to Western Canada's beef industry.
"This discovery is of global importance and a key development in the genetic
improvement of cattle," said Bernard Laarveld, head of animal and poultry
science. "It is an example of the kind of world-class genomics research
carried out at the U of S."
The test can identify which cows and bulls have a specific genetic variant
that has been found to increase marbling in beef and hence improve flavor.
Since cattle with this genetic variant are more likely to produce beef of
grade AAA or higher, use of the test also has the potential to increase the
value of selected breeding animals.
The test is not invasive and does not introduce any new genes or involve
gene transfer. All that's needed is a small sample of blood, hair roots, or
semen.
The research was published this summer in the international, peer-reviewed
journal Genetics, Selection and Evolution.
The variant is in the gene for leptin, a hormone that affects meat quality
characteristics. The variant was identified by Carolyn Fitzsimmons, a
graduate student in the lab of animal and poultry science professor Sheila
Schmutz.
"This change in the gene for leptin causes beef cattle to reach slaughter
weight sooner and develop more marbling in the carcass, which is a desired
characteristic in the beef industry for which producers are paid a premium,"
said Schmutz.
Leigh Marquess, a former graduate student who worked with Schmutz and
Fitzsimmmons, has started a company called Quantum Genetics Inc. to offer
the DNA test. Marquess has spent a year verifying the results of the
research field trials in commercial feedlots and ranches. His company has
applied for a Canadian patent on the use of the test in feedlot operations.
Marquess says the increased value per animal testing positive for the
genetic variant is about $100. "Applied across the Western Canadian beef
industry, this could easily exceed $100 million per year," he said.
The research that led to the discovery was funded primarily by the
Agriculture Development Fund of Saskatchewan, with additional contributions
from the Agri-Food Innovation Fund, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association,
the Alberta Cattle Commission, and the federal granting council NSERC.
"Research funding is an investment in the future," said Deputy Premier and
Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Minister Clay Serby. "It is
important that we support initiatives that will help to grow our industry
and our province. This technology is an important step towards improving the
quality of our beef and will help our producers to establish a distinct
brand. We are pleased to work with industry stakeholders to fund this type
of research."
Fitzsimmons, who is now doing a Ph.D. in Sweden, decoded the entire gene for
her Master's thesis. She found three genetic variants, and determined that
one of them changes an amino acid that affects the function of the critical
leptin hormone.
"I'm very pleased that this research is going to help ranchers, that a
graduate student played a key role in this work, and that a new company has
been spun off from this research by another one of my graduate students,"
said Schmutz.
She notes the leptin gene is not the only one that affects marbling in beef,
adding "We are on the hunt for others." Other tests related to meat
quality are also under development by the animal and poultry science
department.
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For more information, contact:
Professor Sheila Schmutz
Department of Animal and Poultry Science
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4153
Leigh Marquess
Quantum Genetics Inc.
(306) 220-1385
http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/munster/Quantum.html
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
www.usask.ca/research
Abdul Jalil
Director, Research
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-5960
