May 28, 2003
U of S Honours Outstanding Graduates
Posted May 28, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 28, 2003 2003-05-34-OTHER
U of S Honours Outstanding Graduates
The University of Saskatchewan will recognize the achievements of its most
distinguished graduates at Spring Convocation May 28 and 29 at the
Centennial Auditorium. A number of awards and prizes will be presented,
including the prestigious Governor General's Gold and Silver Medals.
Nathan Colin Peters of Saskatoon will receive the Governor General's Gold
Medal, awarded to the graduate student with the highest academic standing.
Peters will be receiving a Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and
Immunology.
Darin Brent White of Kindersley will receive the Governor General's Silver
Medal, awarded to the undergraduate student with the highest academic
standing. White will also receive the Earl of Bessborough Prize in Science
and the Haslam Medal. White will receive Bachelor of Science Honours with
High Honours in Physiology.
In addition, the following outstanding graduates will also be honoured for
their academic achievements (listed in order of presentation):
Wednesday, May 28, 9:00 a.m.
- Copland Prize in Humanities presented to Alexis Catherine Martfeld,
Luseland, Bachelor of Arts Honours with High Honours in English
- Copland Prize in Social Science presented to Lynette Jaelyn Epp,
Saskatoon, Bachelor of Arts Honours with High Honours in Psychology
- University of Saskatchewan Film Society Prize presented to Patricia
Margaret Grayston, Shellbrook, Bachelor of Fine Arts (with Great
Distinction and Distinguished Exhibition)
- Earl of Bessborough Prize in Science presented to Darin Brent White,
Kindersley, Bachelor of Science Honours with High Honours in Physiology
- Haslam Medal presented to Darin Brent White, Kindersley, Bachelor of
Science Honours with High Honours in Physiology
- Spring Convocation Three-Year Medal presented to Gwendolyn Lily Adrian,
Saskatoon, Bachelor of Arts Three-Year (with Great Distinction)
- Law Society of Saskatchewan Gold Medal presented to Jodi Reagan
McNaughton, Regina, Bachelor of Laws (with Great Distinction)
- Governor General's Silver Medal presented to Darin Brent White,
Kindersley,
Bachelor of Science Honours with High Honours in Physiology.
Wednesday, May 28, 2:00 p.m.
- Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists Gold Medal presented to Carol Jean
Luca, Foremost, Alberta, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (with Great
Distinction)
- The Goodspeed Award presented to Yao Tian, Shenyang, People's Republic of
China, Bachelor of Commerce (with Great Distinction and High Honours in
Accounting)
- The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of
Saskatchewan Gold Medal presented to Devon Leigh Manz, Saskatoon, Bachelor
of Science in Engineering (with Great Distinction).
Thursday, May 29, 9:00 a.m.
- Gold Medal in Dentistry presented to Kamrin Daniel George Olfert, Swift
Current, Doctor of Dental Medicine, (with Great Distinction) (5 Year
Program)
and Aaron Dale Bazylak, Saskatoon, Doctor of Dental Medicine, (with Great
Distinction) (4 Year Program)
- The Dr. Gordon Garvie Prize in Kinesiology presented to Sarah Elizabeth
Junkin, Sudbury, Ontario, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (with Great
Distinction)
- Lindsay Gold Medal in Medicine presented to Jeffrey David Booker, Empress,
Alberta, Doctor of Medicine with Great Distinction)
- W.S. Lindsay Gold Medal in Nursing presented to Cheyenne Lee Perrin,
Saskatoon, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (with Great Distinction)
- Rutter Medal in Nutrition presented to Florence Marie Woods, Saskatoon,
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (with Great Distinction)
- Robert Martin Prize in Pharmacy presented to Jade Morena Rosin,
Langenburg, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (with Great Distinction)
- Talmage E. Hunt Award in Physical Therapy presented to Candice Jean
Fentie, Saskatoon, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (with Great
Distinction)
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine Faculty Gold Medal presented to
Charlene Henrietta van Donkersgoed, Victoria, British Columbia, Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine (with Great Distinction).
Thursday, May 29, 2003, 2:00 p.m.
- Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Prize presented to Sharon Michelle
Roach, Admiral, Bachelor of Education (with Great Distinction)
- Governor General's Gold Medal presented to Nathan Colin Peters, Saskatoon,
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology.
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For more information, please contact:
Erin Taman
Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
E-mail: erin.taman@usask.ca
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE MOST DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES 2002-2003
Posted May 28, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 28, 2003 2003-05-32-OTHER
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
MOST DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES 2002-2003
Governor General's Silver Medal presented to Darin Brent White
Haslam Medal presented to Darin Brent White
Earl of Bessborough Prize in Science presented to Darin Brent White
U of S Film Society Prize presented to Patricia Margaret Grayston
Copland Prize in the Humanities presented to Alexis Catherine Martfeld
Copland Prize in the Social Sciences presented to Lynette Jaelyn Epp
Spring Convocation Three-year Medal presented to Gwendolyn Lily Adrian
W.B. Francis Prize in Arts and Science and Law presented to Cory Mark Bliss
James Newstead Convocation Award in Anatomy and Cell Biology to Monica Mary
Cavanagh
Most Outstanding Graduate in Anthropology to Anne Marie Mease
Victor L. Vigrass Prize in Archaeology to Aimee Jo-Ann Saunders
Judy Poole Award in Art and Art History to Patricia Margaret Grayston
Department of Biochemistry Convocation Award to Cheryl Roxanne Rostek
Most Outstanding Graduate in Biochemistry and Biotechnology Program to Lance
Patrick Athmer
Department of Biology Convocation Award to Andrea Louise Dick
Department of Chemistry Convocation Award to Heather Lynn Filson
Most Outstanding Graduate in Classical, Mediaeval and Renaissance Studies to
Jordan Matthew Dominic Olver
Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology Program Convocation Award to
Elizabeth Anne Colistro
Most Outstanding Graduate in Computer Science to Robert Wesley Devlin
Hancock
Walter Mills Award in Drama to Nathan Glyne Thompson
Lewis C. Gray Prize in Economics to Roderick Calvin Eckdahl
Award for Excellence in English Studies to Alexis Catherine Martfeld
Environmental Earth Sciences Program Convocation Award to Kristie Leigh
Bonstrom
Most Outstanding Graduate in Food Science to Karene Paquin
Department of Geography Convocation Award to Angela Marie Wagner
Ore Gangue Memorial Award (Academic) in Geological Sciences to Kristie Leigh
Bonstrom
Charles W. Lightbody Convocation Prize in History to Gwendolyn Lily Adrian
International Studies Program Convocation Award to Sean Michel Clark
Land Use and Environmental Studies Program Convocation Award to Erin Lee
Robertson
Most Outstanding Graduate in Languages to Bradley Craig Harold Coates
Linguistics Program Convocation Award to Jennifer Lynn Phillips
Mathematical Physics Program Convocation Award to Pinaki Mondal
J.F. Morgan Memorial Award in Microbiology to Carolyn Patricia Paterson
Collingwood Convocation Prize in Music to Kristine Sessalja Eggertson
Tania Balicki Memorial Award in Native Studies to Anne Marie Mease and
Brenda Noreen Maire
Palaeobiology Program Convocation Award to Andrew Corbin Lindsay Postnikoff
Department of Philosophy Convocation Award to Amy Beth MacKay
Most Outstanding Graduate in Physics to Pinaki Mondal
Dr. E.L. Harrington Prize in Physics to Pinaki Mondal (and to Aimy Hom in
Engineering)
L.B. Jaques Convocation Award in Physiology to Darin Brent White
The Honourable Donald Alexander McNiven Prize in Political Studies to Kelly
Erin Gould
Gordon A. McMurray Prize in Psychology to Lynette Jaelyn Epp
Regional and Urban Development Program Convocation Award to Kathleen Marie
Fretz
Most Outstanding Graduate in Religious Studies to Aletta Breanne Wiebe
Most Outstanding Graduate in Sociology to Heidi Linda Jane Bickis
Most Outstanding Graduate in Statistics to Song Li
Department of Women's and Gender Studies Scholarship to Myfanwy Nura
Margaret Van Vliet
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For more information, please contact:
Erin Taman
Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
E-mail: erin.taman@usask.ca
Website: www.usask.ca
U of S Gold Deposit Expert Receives Prestigious Medal
Posted May 28, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 28, 2003 2003-05-35-ENG
U of S Gold Deposit Expert Receives Prestigious Medal
Today University of Saskatchewan geochemist Robert Kerrich was awarded the
prestigious Duncan Derry Medal by the Geological Association of Canada's
Mineral Deposits Division for his extensive contributions to the study of
mineral deposits that bolster the Canadian economy.
Kerrich was nominated by his peers across Canada for his scientific
expertise, enthusiastic research in diverse Earth sciences, and commitment
to generating excitement about geology among students. The award was
presented in Vancouver at the GAC's annual luncheon.
"Professor Kerrich is a pre-eminent Canadian geochemist and world expert on
the geochemistry of gold deposits," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
"We are proud to have such an accomplished researcher on our faculty and
delighted that he has received this well-deserved recognition for his
numerous contributions to Earth science."
He has contributed significantly to the understanding of how the Earth's
crust evolved, work which has been important to the mining industry. He has
also applied his understanding of earth processes to environmental science,
investigating problems in fields as diverse as agricultural and health
sciences.
His research has been conducted in China, Africa, Australia, South America,
Scandinavia, and Southern Europe, as well as in Canada and the United
States. His work is internationally recognized in four fields of geology:
ore deposits, stable-isotope geochemistry, fracture mechanics, and
geodynamics.
Kerrich provided the first clear evidence that the Earth's ancient oceanic
and continental crust avalanched 3,000 kilometres to the Earth's core and
returned to the surface as volcanoes. He also developed what is now widely
regarded as the standard model of how gold deposits are formed -- by fluids
circulating through ancient mountain belts in areas where plates of the
Earth's crust once collided.
He is now testing three competing hypotheses for the origin of Earth's
atmosphere and oceans. Using a specialized U of S laboratory, he will
measure rocks of a variety of ages for nitrogen content and nitrogen
isotopes. The outcome is expected to be a clearer "window" to the early
history of planet Earth when the atmosphere and oceans that sustain life
were first acquired.
Other notable honours bestowed on Kerrich include: a Killam Research
Fellowship (2003); the Willett G. Miller Medal of the Royal Society of
Canada (1999) which is awarded once every two years for outstanding research
in the earth sciences; Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1992); and the
W.H. Gross Medal of the Geological Association of Canada (1988), awarded
annually to a young geologist who has made outstanding contributions to the
field of economic geology in Canada. He has also received the NSERC Steacie
Fellowship.
Kerrich earned his Master's (1972) and Ph.D. (1975) degrees at Imperial
College, London, UK. He joined the U of S department of geological sciences
in 1987 as the first holder of the George J. McLeod Chair in Geology. In
1996, he was awarded an Earned Doctor of Science from the U of S. He is
also a visiting professor in the Australian National University, Canberra
and at the University of Western Australia, Perth.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Robert Kerrich
Department of Geological Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5719
robert.kerrich@usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Table Manners: Bart Gazzola's Digitally Modified Dinner Plates
Posted May 28, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 28, 2003 2003-05-36-OTHER
Table Manners: Bart Gazzola's Digitally Modified Dinner Plates
On display in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition Display Cabinets
from May 26 to August 4, 2003
The Kenderdine Art Gallery has worked with Saskatoon artist Bart Gazzola and
the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition to situate art in a place you wouldn't
normally expect to encounter it. Until August 4, Gazzola's china plates,
decorated with digitally manipulated floral imagery, will be displayed in
the cabinets located in the east end of the "pedestrian street" that links
the Arts and Thorvaldson Buildings, adjacent to the Pharmacy and Nutrition
Main Office.
At first glance, Gazzola's plates look pretty conventional. Closer scrutiny
reveals 'flowers' fleshier, and more moistly visceral, than any
garden-variety hybrid. Here is dinnerware that refers to the history of
ceramics, food engineering, systems of order, and anxieties about how we
view the body. Installed in wood finished display cases that resemble both
kitchen cabinets and the museum's precursor, 'the cabinet of curiosities',
Gazzola's provocative china plates dish up feasts of interpretation and
speculation.
Bart Gazzola is a digital artist and arts writer who teaches in the
Department of Art and Art History at the University of Saskatchewan. His
work has been exhibited at lternator Gallery (Kelowna), Floating Gallery
(Winnipeg), AKA (Saskatoon) and Gallery 44 (Toronto). Critical writings have
appeared in Blackflash, NewWest Review and various other publications and
can be heard on CFCR's arts and culture show ARTHUR.
The Kenderdine Art Gallery acknowledges funding support from The Canada
Council for the Arts, the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, the
University of Saskatchewan, and Azon Canada Inc. and the cooperation of the
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition to present Table Manners. Bart Gazzola
thanks the Saskatchewan Arts Board for its support of the production of this
series.
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For more information or to obtain photos, please contact:
Helen Marzolf
Kenderdine Art Gallery
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6662
E-mail: helen.marzolf@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/kenderdine
May 26, 2003
Surviving US!
Posted May 26, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 26, 2003 2003-05-31-OTHER
Surviving US!
Saskatoon and area students preparing to attend the University of
Saskatchewan for the first time this fall have a chance to get some inside
information about university life at Surviving US!
Advisors and current U of S students will be at the University of
Saskatchewan in Room 143 of the Arts Building on
Saturday, May 31 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 3 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
"At Surviving US! we provide students with the tools to make the transition
to university easier," says Cora Schneider, Director of Student Recruitment.
"The session covers registration, residence and housing, student loans,
attending Orientation and much more!"
There are a number of Surviving US! sessions in Saskatoon that students can
choose to attend. All sessions include an optional tour of campus led by
current U of S students.
Saturday, May 31 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Monday, June 2 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 3 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 3 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, July 7 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 9 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
"Every grade 12 student should attend Surviving US!," says Heather Bury,
second-year Kinesiology student from Saskatoon. "The information you
receive, and talking to U of S students and staff, really gives you an
advantage before starting classes in the fall."
Students can reserve a spot online at www.usask.ca/students/surviving or
e-mail surviving@usask.ca for more information.
Campus Tours are offered all year long. Students will find out where to buy
textbooks, places to eat and all the "hot spots" on-campus. Tours can be
booked online at: www.usask.ca/students/tours.
All media are invited to attend Surviving US!
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Cora Schneider
Director of Student Recruitment
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6767
E-mail: cora.schneider@usask.ca
Website: www.usask.ca/students/surviving
OR
Michele Derksen
Student Recruitment Assistant
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6798
May 22, 2003
U of S Spring Convocation to be held May 28 and 29
Posted May 22, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 22, 2003 2003-05-29-OTHER
U of S Spring Convocation to be held May 28 and 29
The University of Saskatchewan will honour its graduates and confer 3,017
degrees, diplomas, and certificates at the annual Spring Convocation, May 28
and 29 at the Centennial Auditorium. Chancellor Tom Molloy will confer the
degrees and preside over the ceremonies. Please note that the procession of
graduates begins 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony (at either
8:45 a.m. or 1:45 p.m.)
The Convocation Ceremonies are as follows:
Wednesday, May 28, 9:00 a.m.
College of Arts and Science
College of Law
Distinguished Researcher Award presented to David Smith
Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree presented to Buffy Sainte-Marie
Convocation Address by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Wednesday, May 28, 2:00 p.m.
College of Agriculture
College of Commerce
College of Engineering
Distinction in Public Service and Extension Award presented to James Dosman
Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree presented to Bernard Michel
Convocation Address by Bernard Michel
Thursday, May 29, 9:00 a.m.
College of Dentistry
College of Kinesiology
College of Medicine (including Physical Therapy)
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Master Teacher awarded to Sheila Rutledge Harding
Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree presented to Douglas Baldwin
Convocation Address by Douglas Baldwin
Thursday, May 29, 2:00 p.m.
College of Education
College of Graduate Studies and Research
President's Service Award presented to Eileen Herteis
President's Address
Receptions will be held after each ceremony within the Centennial
Auditorium.
For more information about award winners, please visit:
www.usask.ca/communications/awards/index.shtml
For more information about the Convocation Ceremony, please visit:
www.usask.ca/university_secretary/convocation.shtml
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For more information, please contact:
Erin Taman
Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
E-mail: erin.taman@usask.ca
Website: www.usask.ca
"Mad Cow Disease - What You Need to Know"
Posted May 22, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 22, 2003 2003-05-30-AG
Media Advisory
"Mad Cow Disease - What You Need to Know"
Noon-hour Public Forum: Friday, May 23rd
Is Canadian beef still safe to eat? What's the potential impact on Canada's
agricultural economy? How does the Canadian situation compare with how the
potential threat from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was handled in
Britain and other countries, and what lessons can be learned? How does one
assess the risk?
12 - 1:00 p.m.
Room 143 Arts
University of Saskatchewan researchers will approach these breaking news
issues from a variety of perspectives. A question period will follow.
Master of Ceremonies: Acting Provost and Vice-President Academic Ken Coates
Presenters:
* Chris Clark, Western College of Veterinary Medicine - disease origin and
food safety issues
* Jill Hobbs, Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture - potential
economic and trade issues
* Michael Mehta, Sociology, College of Arts and Science - risk analysis
* Grant Isaac, College of Commerce - responses to BSE and other health
crises around the world
Sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President Research www.usask.ca/reearch.
For more information, contact :Kathryn Warden: 966-2506 or
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
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May 21, 2003
New resources help keep farm families and friends safe
Posted May 21, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 21, 2003 2003-05-26-ME
New resources help keep farm families and friends safe
The Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health (I.ARE.H) at
the University of Saskatchewan is making a product available to help keep
producers, their family, and friends safe in this very busy season.
As producers set about to spray their fields, they often put agrologists,
maintenance staff of utility companies and their own families at risk if
fields are re-entered before chemical residue has been eliminated.
To prevent accidental entry into sprayed fields, I.ARE.H is making available
chemical spraying bags for posting around the field. These yellow,
disposable plastic bags state "Pesticide Applied" and can be secured to
fence posts or stakes. Space on the bag allows for chemical name, date the
field was sprayed and re-entry time. When the field is safe, the sign can
be removed and destroyed.
When fields are sprayed with pesticide, they should not be re-entered for a
period of time. These times may vary depending on environmental conditions
and manufacturers instructions. Producers must check labels for each of the
chemicals used and, of course, abide by the instructions.
"We encourage producers spraying with chemicals to post their fields," says
Sean Siever, program coordinator of the Institute's Rural Health Extension
Program.
Producers may obtain their first 30 chemical spraying sign bags at I.ARE.H
in Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, or at the nearest Rural Service
Centre. More can be obtained by contacting the Institute.
Also available at Rural Service Centres are resources regarding insecticides
and their handling:
- Fact Sheet #6, Fact Sheet for Farmers on Insecticides for Wheat Midge,
Bertha Armyworm and Diamondback Moth Infestation (which lists 12 pesticides
and symptoms of poisoning and emergency procedures)
- The booklet Safe Handling of Agrochemicals: A Module for Farm Families
- Fact Sheet #3, Clothing and Protective Equipment for Agricultural Chemical
Application (about selecting proper personal protective equipment for
chemical application, and laundering clothing worn during spraying
chemicals)
- Large red-and-white chemical storage warning sign stickers.
Other available fact sheets related to safe handling of farm chemicals are:
- Fact Sheet #8, Respiratory Hazards on the Farm (general information about
respiratory diseases caused by agricultural exposures)
- Fact Sheet #10, Gases and Mists (information about harmful gases and
mists, including chemicals, found on the farm)
- Fact Sheet #13, Personal Protective Equipment for the Respiratory System
(regarding the selection of appropriate respirators).
Descriptions of the fact sheets can also be viewed online at
http://www.iareh.usask.ca/rhep/resources.php.
Another exciting development is a slide presentation entitled Clothing and
Protective Equipment for Agricultural Chemical Application. This Power
Point presentation can be downloaded at
http://www.iareh.usask.ca/rhep/teaching.php or it can be purchased from the
Institute in the form of a binder with all the materials or a Zip disk from
which you can create your own presentation. The presentation is popular as
it requires little preparation on the part of the presenter.
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For more information, please contact:
Sean Siever
Program Coordinator
Rural Health Extension Program
Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone: (306) 966-6643
Fax: (306) 966-8799
E-mail: siever@sask.usask.ca
www.iareh.usask.ca
May 16, 2003
Pre-eminent Political Scientist to Receive Distinguished Researcher Award
Posted May 16, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 16, 2003 2003-05-23-OTHER
Pre-eminent Political Scientist to Receive Distinguished Researcher Award
University of Saskatchewan political scientist David Smith will receive the
Distinguished Researcher Award at the May 28th Convocation ceremony.
The award, which carries a $1,000 prize, recognizes a U of S faculty member
who has made a major contribution to knowledge through research and
publication.
One of Canada's best-known political scientists, Smith is recognized as a
leading authority on constitutional governance in Canada. His work explores
the central political institutions and political processes of Canadian
democracy. Smith's work on the critical role of the Crown in Canada is
widely acknowledged.
"Professor Smith is one of the pre-eminent political scientists of his
generation," said Acting Vice-President Research, Bryan Harvey. "His
innovative and perceptive research on Canadian government and politics have
been key in shaping our contemporary understanding of political
institutions."
Smith's scholarly work covers a broad spectrum. He has examined prairie
political culture, political leaders and public intellectuals, Canadian
broadcasting, and emergency government. His early work on the politics of
Saskatchewan remains a classic in the field.
Smith's career has been distinguished by his contributions to public
service. He has been actively involved in the Canadian Political Science
Association both as president and as a member of the executive, and in the
Humanities and Social Science Federation of Canada. He has contributed to
the work of Parliament - providing expert testimony to parliamentary
committees considering the Clarity Bill and the Royal Assent Bill, and has
served as a Commissioner of electoral boundaries.
Smith has received several major awards and honours. He is a member of the
Royal Society of Canada and has been awarded a number of prestigious
fellowships including the Killam Research Scholarship 1994-1995, and SSHRC's
Jules and Gabrielle Leger Fellowship 1992-93. In 1987 he joined a select
group of individuals to be awarded a Doctorate of Letters by the University.
A well-known public intellectual, Smith is widely sought after as a
panelist, keynote speaker, manuscript reviewer, commentator and essayist.
Two recent publications, The Invisible Crown: The First Principle of
Government and The Republican Option in Canada: Past and Present have been
cited as "ground-breaking" and "highly creative analyses of previously
understudied aspects of Canadian political life."
His most recent work, The Canadian Senate in Bicameral Perspective, will be
released later this year. In this book he critically examines proposals for
an elected upper chamber and the implications these would have for the
operations of Parliament.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Ontario (1959),
and both a Master of Arts (1962) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (1964) from
Duke University. He began his career at the University of Saskatchewan in
1964.
Smith is a member of the Department of Political Studies. He served as
Chair of the department from 1997 to 2000.
This award will be presented at Spring Convocation on Wed. May 28 at 9 a.m.
at the Centennial Auditorium. To obtain a photo, please contact
Communications at 966-6919.
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For more information, please contact:
David Smith
Department of Political Studies
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5219
E-mail: smithd@sask.usask.ca
www.usask.ca/politic/
OR
Laura Zink
Executive Assistant to Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1778
E-mail: laura.zink@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research/
May 15, 2003
U of S Announces Award Recipients for Spring Convocation 2003
Posted May 15, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 15, 2003 2003-05-22-OTHER
U of S Announces Award Recipients for Spring Convocation 2003
The University of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the following
recipients of awards, which will be presented at Spring Convocation May 28
and 29.
Master Teacher - The Master Teacher award was established to emphasize the
importance of teaching at the U of S. Sheila Rutledge Harding, a professor
in the College of Medicine, is this year's recipient. Dr. Rutledge Harding
is a respected educator, who is highly regarded for her teaching and her
desire to help her students succeed. A Master Teacher is expected to be a
worthy researcher as well, and Dr. Rutledge Harding has done award-winning
research. She is a highly respected and much sought-after hematologist. She
has made outstanding contributions in teaching and leadership to the U of S
and to the wider medical education/higher education community. Her teaching
is exemplary, as attested by both students and faculty. This award
celebrates the breadth of her expertise and the depth of her enthusiasm for
medical education.
Distinction in Public Service and Extension Award - This award recognizes a
member of faculty who has extended the University's expertise to the wider
community. James Dosman, Director of the Institute of Agricultural, Rural
and Environmental Health (I.ARE.H), is the 2003 recipient. In 1986, Dr.
Dosman was instrumental in creating the Centre for Agricultural Medicine to
do research and carry out programs relevant to the health of Saskatchewan
farmers. He has served as Director since its inception and has expanded and
diversified its programs to 2001, when it became I.ARE.H. It is the only
institute in Canada that provides research, education and health promotion
to agricultural and rural populations. Dr. Dosman's work is characterized
by a creative and innovative approach to problems and issues as well as a
true concern for the lives of rural people. His endeavours have brought the
University to the people of the province.
President's Service Award - Eileen Herteis brings an infectious passion for
good teaching to the U of S. Colleagues of the Programme Director for The
Gwenna Moss Teaching and Learning Centre say when this is combined with her
other qualities - good humour, excellent presentation skills, boundless
helpfulness, and a warmth in dealings
with faculty, staff and students - it all adds up to a truly outstanding
contribution to the U of S. She organizes and presents instructional
development workshops for faculty, sessional lecturers and graduate
students, consults on teaching portfolios, writes articles on teaching and
learning, pulls together resource materials for the Centre and for its
website, and co-ordinates the Peer Consultation program. Herteis gains
satisfaction from finding ways to help good teaching gain recognition.
Honorary Degrees -This year, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bernard Michel, and Douglas
Baldwin will be honoured. Information was previously distributed in the
form of a news release on May 1, 2003. Please visit our website at
www.usask.ca/events/news/ for more information or contact Communications at
(306) 966-6607.
*Black and white photos are available upon request.
Presentations will take place as follows:
Wednesday May 28 9:00 a.m. -Honorary Degree Presentation (Buffy
Sainte-Marie)
Wednesday May 28 2:00 p.m. - Distinction in Public Service and Extension
Award and Honorary Degree Presentation (Bernard Michel)
Thursday May 29 9:00 a.m. - Master Teacher Award and Honorary Degree
Presentation (Douglas Baldwin)
Thursday May 29 2:00 p.m. - President's Service Award
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For more information or to obtain pictures, please contact:
Erin Taman
Communications Officer
University Advancement
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
E-mail: erin.taman@usask.ca
Website: www.usask.ca/communications
May 14, 2003
Health Scientist Wins Innovation Award
Posted May 14, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 14, 2003 2003-05-17-ME
Health Scientist Wins Innovation Award
A University of Saskatchewan health scientist whose work may help combat
heart disease and prevent diabetes is the recipient of the second annual
Innovation Place/UST "Award of Innovation."
Physiologist Kailash Prasad has identified anti-oxidant activity in a
flaxseed-derived compound. In animal studies, he has shown that the compound
reduces plaque build-up in the lining of the arteries, decreases cholesterol
and lowers blood pressure. It is also effective in the treatment of lupus
and may help prevent or significantly delay the development of diabetes in
adults.
The $2,500 award was presented May 13 at the "Celebrate Success! Gala", an
event hosted by the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce and Women
Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.
The award recognizes U of S scientists who create new technology that can be
developed into potentially marketable products or processes. The selection
committee includes a representative from each of Innovation Place,
University of Saskatchewan Technologies (UST) Inc., and the U of S.
"Professor Prasad's work is an example of how scientists can use
ground-breaking research to create new products from traditional crops such
as flax," said Rachelle Girard, UST's acting CEO and technology marketing
manager. "Unlocking the healing potential of this technology may reduce the
incidence of several widespread and life-altering diseases."
She noted that based on the animal studies, UST has obtained patents for the
use of SDG in the treatment of high blood pressure and other medical
conditions.
Innovation Place marketing manager Austin Beggs said, "The quality, variety
and impact of the research being carried out by all of the nominees is
clearly something with which Innovation Place is proud and pleased to be
associated."
The main component of flaxseed that has potential benefit for diabetes and
other diseases is a tiny fraction of the seed -- a small organic molecule
called secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) that has anti-oxidant
activity. This means it can remove oxygen free radicals that can cause
oxidative stress from the body.
Prasad has shown that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with
oxidative stress and that SDG is effective in reducing the development of
diabetes through its antioxidant activity.
He has also identified SDG as the compound in flaxseed that accounts for
reduced hardening of the arteries due to high cholesterol levels.
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), the world's largest processor of soybeans,
corn, wheat and cocoa, has signed a licensing agreement to use the
technology to produce and market a flax lignan complex for potential use in
pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals (health food), animal feed additives and
veterinary products. ADM will use the technology to treat illness and
disease in humans and animals.
Other finalists for the award were: veterinary microbiologist John Gordon
and former U of S veterinary microbiologist Fang Li; physiology professor
Rui Wang, research assistant Yaoge Huang, and former research assistant
Weiman Zhao; cell biologist Bernhard Juurlink and his team which includes
nutrition professor Phyllis Paterson, neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Griebel, and
obstetrics and gynecology resident Dr. Huse Kamencic.
Innovation Place (www.innovationplace.com) is one of North America's most
successful research parks. UST Inc. (www.usask.ca/ust/) is the U of S
technology transfer arm.
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For more information, contact:
Professor Kailash Prasad
Department of Physiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6539
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Province Increases Investment in Population Health Research
Posted May 14, 2003
Release: May 14, 2003
(This is a joint release of the University of Saskatchewan, University of
Regina, and Saskatchewan Health.)
PROVINCE INCREASES INVESTMENT IN POPULATION HEALTH RESEARCH
Provincial funding for Saskatchewan population health research at
Saskatchewan's two universities will be $1.5 million over three years
starting in 2004, Saskatchewan Health Minister John Nilson announced today.
The province currently provides the Saskatchewan Population Health and
Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU) with $250,000 in core funding, along with
additional funding through a competitive application process. Beginning in
2004-05, the province will provide guaranteed core funding of $500,000
through to 2006-07. The newly established Saskatchewan Health Research
Foundation allocates provincial funding to SPHERU, a research partnership
between the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.
"Through the Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care, our government is
providing increased funding for health research to improve the quality of
our health system and create economic opportunities in our province," Nilson
said. "I am pleased to support this worthwhile initiative and I
congratulate SPHERU members for their achievements in health research."
SPHERU conducts collaborative research and policy evaluation relating to
determinants of population health such as early childhood development,
economic globalization, community and environment, indigenous peoples'
health, gender and socio-economic status. Multi-disciplinary teams of
faculty, community groups, policy analysts, and researchers from other
universities are involved.
"Without the Saskatchewan government's long-term funding commitment,
re-affirmed today to 2007, and the commitment of our other partners, SPHERU
would not be the success it is today," said SPHERU director Ron Labonte.
SPHERU's partners include Saskatchewan Health, the Saskatchewan Association
of Health Organizations, the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, the
University of Regina (U of R) and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S),
all of which have representation on the SPHERU board of directors.
At today's news conference at the U of R, the first nine students supported
by scholarships through SPHERU's new Community and Population Health
Research (CPHR) Training Program were recognized.
"Their work will help set the agenda for future health research in
Saskatchewan," said Labonte.
Among the student projects (see backgrounder for more details):
- Flavia Bianchi, a U of S PhD student in geography, will explore the health
needs and challenges of First Nations children (birth to age five) living in
Canada's low socio-economic communities.
- Allisson Quine, a U of R PhD student next year in clinical psychology,
will study the patient-provider relationships of Aboriginal people with Type
2 diabetes to determine factors that influence healthcare services for these
patients.
- Karen Lynch, a master's student from the U of S department of community
health and epidemiology, will investigate how green spaces such as parks and
schoolyards contribute to a population's health.
- Jodi Burnett, a U of R educational psychology master's student, will
examine the effects of problem gambling on Aboriginal family members
including impacts on the family's economic, social, psychological,
community, and health status.
Funding for the CPHR training program comes from a six-year, $1.8-million
grant awarded last year by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, as
well as a total of almost $1.3 million in cash and 'in-kind' support from
the U of S and the U of R. Up to 40 individuals will undertake graduate
studies, post-doctoral fellowships, work sabbaticals and internships.
Including this training program money, SPHERU researchers have attracted a
total of close to $5.5 million in faculty research grants and contracts over
the past year, Labonte said.
"When collaborative projects with other organizations are included, that
figure jumps to almost $7.5 million," Labonte said. "It is an exceptional
figure that is cause for celebration by SPHERU, the universities, and the
province. This success rate is due to the quality of SPHERU's faculty and
staff, and the successful collaboration among researchers and between the
two universities."
For more information about SPHERU and the CPHR training program, visit
www.spheru.ca and www.cphr.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Ronald Labonte
SPHERU Director
(306) 966-2349
Therese Stecyk
U of R University Relations
(306) 585-4683
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
May 12, 2003
Engineering Prof Receives U of S Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award
Posted May 12, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 12, 2003 2003-05-14-GS
Engineering Prof Receives U of S Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award
Today University of Saskatchewan Mechanical Engineering professor Kamiel
Gabriel will be presented with the university's Distinguished Graduate
Supervisor Award.
The annual award honors faculty 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 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 Gabriel 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."
Gabriel has supervised 24 master's and doctoral theses. All of his graduate
students have been highly successful in finding jobs in industry, government
laboratories and academia.
Most of his students have presented at national and international
conferences and published papers in highly reputable journals as well a
undertaking cooperative research with colleagues in Japan, China and the
United States.
One of his students said: "Professor Gabriel provides us with a level of
supervision which allows us to excel in our work. He encourages us to make
sure our research findings are of the highest quality and ahead of others in
the field. He also prepares us for future employment by teaching
problem-solving techniques, analytical methods and by instilling in us a
spirit of cooperation." Another student commented that Gabriel was a mentor
who made a significant contribution to the success in his career.
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 Ph.D., 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
Pesticide-free Approaches to Reducing Grasshopper Risk
Posted May 12, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 12, 2003
Pesticide-free Approaches to Reducing Grasshopper Risk
Much of the Prairies faces a severe risk of grasshoppers again this year --
a disheartening forecast for farmers.
But not all grasshopper species are bad, says Brenda Frick, University of
Saskatchewan-based Prairie Coordinator of the Organic Agriculture Centre of
Canada (OACC).
"Of the nearly 100 species on the Prairies, fewer than a dozen are
considered pests, and only four are considered serious pests. But under
ideal conditions, a single female can produce up to 250 eggs, which may pose
a serious threat to crop success."
The pest species will hatch from eggs laid last fall in stubble fields,
marshes and ditches. Grasshoppers are very small when they emerge, but
develop quickly as temperatures rise.
Research results are limited, but Frick offers pesticide-free suggestions to
limit the damage that hoppers may cause:
- Use spring tillage to eliminate weeds and volunteer crops that provide the
initial food source for newly hatched grasshoppers. Tillage in "hot spots"
can also bury eggs and young grasshoppers deep enough to prevent their
emergence.
Nymphs (baby grasshoppers) can only travel to distant fields after they have
fed and grown, which makes them vulnerable during their first few days of
life. "When the small grasshoppers emerge, they must eat or they'll die,"
she says.
- Plant crops that appeal less to the grasshopper palette, such as chickpea,
field pea, mustard, or oat (some species like oat and others do not).
- Seed barrier or guard strips of the less appealing crops around more
delectable crops.
"The idea would be to discourage grasshoppers from crossing through the crop
they dislike to get to the crop they do like -- something like hiding the
dessert table behind the salad bar," says Frick.
- Seed early. Older, larger crops are less attractive to grasshoppers than
tender young plants and are better able to survive grasshopper damage.
- Rotate crops to increase the diversity of insects found on a farm,
including grasshopper predators such as beetles, wasps, and spiders.
If you consider crop insurance part of a risk-management plan, discuss your
plan with your local crop insurance office this spring. Crop insurance
requires that all producers attempt to reduce the risk from grasshoppers
through management practices.
According to Frick, grasshoppers are "another reminder that nature works in
cycles." In hot, dry years, grasshoppers thrive. In cool, wet years,
predators and parasites get the better of them.
"By increasing biodiversity, maintaining natural areas, expanding crop
rotations and relaxing weed control, we can help foster a balance in the
ecosystem that sustains us," she said.
To view the 2003 Saskatchewan grasshopper forecast, visit:
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/crops/integrated_pest_management/insects/images/hoppermap2003.gif
Update: June forecast
For more detailed information on grasshopper management, visit:
Frick, with more than a decade of experience in organic farming research,
joined the U of S Organic Research Unit in February. Her responsibilities
include building a network of researchers across the Prairie provinces and
co-ordinating organic research at Western Canadian universities, colleges
and research centers.
The OACC (www.organicagcentre.ca) is dedicated to enhancing the
environmental and social integrity of agriculture through organic research
and education in collaboration with colleges, universities, and research
stations across Canada.
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Frick
Prairie Coordinator, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4975
brenda.frick@usask.ca
Kristina Bergen
Research Communications Assistant
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
bergen@sask.usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
May 09, 2003
U of S Board Announces 2003-04 Operating Budget
Posted May 09, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 9, 2003 2003-05-13-OTHER
U of S Board Announces 2003-04 Operating Budget
The University of Saskatchewan's Board of Governors today approved an
operating budget that improves undergraduate scholarships and bursaries by
10 per cent, maintains a competitive tuition policy, and enhances the
student experience.
Increases in expenditure will be met by a 2.65 per cent ($3.98m) rise in the
University's operating grant from the provincial government and from an
average tuition increase of 4.8 per cent ($3.11m).
University President Peter MacKinnon said: "The University faced significant
challenges in balancing the budget this year and, as a result, we are forced
to require more from our students. Post-secondary institutions across Canada
are experiencing similar problems."
To offset tuition increases, the Board is once again taking steps to
increase scholarships and bursaries offered to students. A total of 10 per
cent ($0.3 million) of the tuition increase is being allocated to student
financial aid.
Funding enhancements begun in 2002-03 are continued this year. These funds
will go towards improving student access to computers and technology ($0.72
million), and implementing a student information system ($1.15 million),
which will better meet the strategic and academic planning goals of the
institution and will provide better services to students.
The budget allows for an increase of 5 per cent ($0.324m) for library
acquisitions and $0.26 million towards ongoing and start-up costs for the
new physical activity complex in the new kinesiology facility, which opens
this fall.
"We are determined to build on the University's strategic vision for a
nationally competitive university while improving areas of particular
student concern," concluded MacKinnon.
The total University's operating budget for 2003-04 is $257.2 million
compared to $246.9 million in 2002-03.
Highlights of the 2003-04 Operating Budget and background information are
included.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
Tina Merrifield
Office of Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2213
2003/04 Budget Highlights
Tuition
Declining support from federal and provincial governments has continued
steadily over the past fifteen years forcing all post-secondary institutions
to require more from their students.
Following national norms, students will see an average increase in tuition
of 4.8 per cent ranging from 0 per cent for Veterinary Medicine to 10 per
cent for Law.
2003-04 National Norm tuition and student fees
Agriculture
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,364
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,584
Arts
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,220
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,476
Science
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,307
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,548
Commerce
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,484
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,872
Education
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,292
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,620
Engineering
2002-03 tuition and fees - 5,150
2003-04 tuition and fees - 5,364
Law
2002-03 tuition and fees - 5,672
2003-04 tuition and fees - 6,240
Medicine
2002-03 tuition and fees - 9,204
2003-04 tuition and fees - 9,894
Nursing
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,445
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,692
Physical Therapy
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,543
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,662
Pharmacy
2002-03 tuition and fees - 5,540
2003-04 tuition and fees - 5,874
Nutrition
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,823
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,962
Kinesiology
2002-03 tuition and fees - 4,268
2003-04 tuition and fees - 4,512
Veterinary Medicine
2002-03 tuition and fees - 6,645
2003-04 tuition and fees - 6,673
Student support
10 per cent of the national norm tuition increases are allocated to
incremental undergraduate scholarship/bursary support.
Provincial salary settlements
Based on provisions for salary settlements in keeping with the provincial
pattern (still ongoing), the estimated salary and benefits cost increase for
2003-04 is $8.919 million.
Provincial operating budget
The total increase in the University's operating grant for 2003-04 is $3.98
million plus an additional $0.250 million for Medicine and $0.053 million
for Nursing.
Library acquisitions
To help combat a 10 per cent annual inflation rate for library materials,
the budget allows for an increase of 5 per cent ($0.324m) for library
acquisitions.
Capital expenditure
The University received $14.4 million from the Provincial Government for its
2003-04 capital budget. These funds will be allocated as follows:
- $6.2m for renovations to College Building and the Research Annex;
- $5.0m for the Thorvaldson and Kinesiology projects;
- $1.3m for college and unit equipment and contingencies;
- $1.4m for to enhance computer and audio visual services;
- $0.5m for faculty start-up costs (i.e. to purchase equipment).
Utilities and new building space
An 8 per cent ($0.79 million) increase in utilities which allows for
increases in natural gas costs. In addition, we have allocated $1.76 million
for new building space (Kinesiology, Spinks addition and the VIDO
expansion).
May 08, 2003
National Community-University Conference Starts Today
Posted May 08, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, May 8, 2003 2003-05-11-AR
National Community-University Conference Starts Today
The largest Canadian conference promoting partnerships among universities,
community groups, government and the private sector starts today at the
Saskatoon Delta Bessborough.
More than 30 University of Saskatchewan faculty and students from the
Community-University Institute for Social Research (CUISR) will participate
in the May 8-10 conference -- "Community-University Research: Partnerships,
Policy and Progress" -- which is expected to attract up to 500 people.
Ovide Mercredi, former national First Nations leader, will open the
conference with a speech concerning community-led research, education and
training. Other speakers include Canadian diplomat Stephen Lewis, social
justice commentator Judy Rebick, and Saskatchewan provincial court Judge
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.
"It's rare to find such high-calibre people from such diverse backgrounds
gathering for one event," said CUISR co-director and U of S geography
professor Jim Randall.
CIHR President Alan Bernstein, SSHRC President Marc Renaud, and NSERC
Corporate Development Director Bill Coderre will speak. "The granting
councils realize the importance of these partnerships and want to be
involved," said Randall.
The conference will serve as a catalyst for research and community
development, linking the research needs and practical knowledge of
community-based organizations with the technical expertise of researchers
and professionals in a wide range of disciplines.
"This conference will help develop public policies that enshrine the
community voice in dialogue and debate around policy issues," said CUISR
co-director Kate Waygood. "CUISR research is having a cumulative impact on
the community."
The conference will feature 120 roundtable discussions, workshops, research
reports, poster presentations, and storytelling sessions. Key conference
sessions include:
- Ovide Mercredi, Thursday, May 8th, 8:30-10:15 a.m., Battleford Room -- "A
Day of Enlightenment: When Universities and Funders Collaborate with
Communities on Research, Education and Training that Communities Need, Want
and Lead"
- Judy Rebick, Friday, May 9th, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Adam Ballroom --
"Coming Down from the Ivory Tower: Opening up the University"
- Alan Bernstein, William Coderre, Jonathan Lomas, and Marc Renaud, Friday,
May 9th, 3:45-5:00 p.m., Adam Ballroom -- "Community-University Research:
Perspectives from the Funders"
- Stephen Lewis, Saturday, May 10th, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Adam Ballroom --
"Universities in the World of Change: Global Issues -- Local Impact"
The conference also includes several on-site tours of community
organizations and research facilities including the Canadian Light Source
synchrotron on the U of S campus.
In 1999, CUISR received $1.3 million over three years from SSHRC and other
community and university partners for research to enhance the quality of
life in Saskatchewan communities. Additional conference funding comes from
SSHRC, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, the University, and others.
Recently, another $400,000 from SSHRC and $546,920 in cash and in-kind
support from the U of S and community partners for the next two years has
allowed the institute to review and expand its action-based,
community-oriented research.
Note to Editors: Press passes are available for all presentations from the
CUISR event coordinator (222-5392) or at the conference registration desk
(outside the Battleford Room on Thursday and the Adam Ballroom on Friday and
Saturday).
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For more information, visit: www.usask.ca/cuisr/cuexpo or contact:
Jim Randall
CUISR Co-Director and Geography Professor
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5678
jim.randall@usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
May 05, 2003
U of S to Co-ordinate Western Organic Farming
Posted May 05, 2003
For Immediate Release - May 2, 2003 2003-05-04-OTHER
U of S to Co-ordinate Western Organic Farming
The University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture has recently become
the new home for an initiative that will take ground-breaking organic
research right to the farmer's field.
The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) has hired weed ecologist
Brenda Frick as Prairie Coordinator to foster collaboration between
scientists and organic farmers.
Frick, with more than a decade of experience in organic farming research,
joined the U of S Organic Research Unit last February. Her responsibilities
include building a network of researchers across the Prairie provinces and
co-ordinating organic research at Western Canadian universities, colleges
and research centers.
"We are pleased to have an expert of Dr. Frick's calibre to coordinate and
communicate organic research on the Prairies, avoiding duplication and
ultimately providing the best return on the research dollar," said Graham
Scoles, U of S associate dean of agriculture.
The steering committee for the new position includes organic specialists in
Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, representatives from provincial producer
groups, the U of S, OACC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canadian
Wheat Board.
Saskatchewan is home to 48 per cent of Canadian organic producers, and
Canada is among the five top producers of organic grains and oilseeds in the
world.
"There's a growing demand for organic food nation-wide," said Frick. "Access
to organic food used to be through a local farmer's market, but now
organically grown products are getting into major grocery stores across the
country."
Frisk notes that the increased interest in organic production practices has
created a pressing need for research that answers questions specific to
organic farming.
One of her goals is to see research conducted on functioning organic farms
rather than conventionally cropped land because results have a "higher level
of credibility" when the land is already in use for organic production.
Research in the community also involves farmers who literally have
"experience in the field."
"Scientists and producers working together have great ideas and get reliable
scientific data about concerns that are relevant to farmers," she says.
"This co-operation also makes producers part of the process at all stages of
the research."
The biggest challenge producers and agriculturists face is to develop
practices that efficiently use and replace nutrients in the soil, while
increasing product quality and reducing product expense.
The projects with which Frick is involved include studies of pest and weed
control, improving soil nitrogen levels through legume planting or
intercropping (planting lentils or sweet clover with wheat), and using
organic practices to reduce soil erosion.
Frick is a familiar face on campus, having previously worked at the Crop
Development Centre and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Her interest in organic agriculture stems from her Prairie roots. "I am a
child of the Prairies, born in Alberta and raised in Saskatchewan," she
says. "The prairie landscape is a part of me and I hope to use my
scientific expertise to further our understanding of how we relate to the
land."
Frick received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. at the University of Regina and her Ph.D.
at the University of Western Ontario, London.
Funding for the first two years totals $242,000. Funding partners include
the U of S College of Agriculture, the Canadian Adaptation and Rural
Development (CARD) Saskatchewan, the Alberta Agriculture and Food Council,
the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council, the Canadian Wheat Board, Alberta
Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Manitoba Agriculture and Food, and
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization.
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Frick
Prairie Coordinator, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
(306) 966-4975
brenda.frick@usask.ca
www.organicagcentre.ca
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
May 01, 2003
Baldwin, Michel and Sainte-Marie to Receive Honorary Degrees from U of S
Posted May 01, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 1, 2003 2003-05-02-OTHER
Baldwin, Michel and Sainte-Marie to Receive Honorary Degrees from U of S
Today, the University of Saskatchewan announced the latest recipients of
honorary degrees.
They are: Buffy Sainte-Marie, an accomplished Cree musician, artist and
writer; Bernard Michel, an internationally renowned engineer and
businessman, and stalwart supporter of the province and the U of S; and
Douglas Baldwin, a distinguished engineer and U of S alumnus.
Buffy Sainte-Marie was born of Cree parents on the Piapot Reserve in
Saskatchewan. She received a Ph.D. in Fine Arts from the University of
Massachusetts and holds degrees in both Oriental Philosophy and teaching.
She is a musician of international stature, a Native rights activist and a
pacifist whose music has sensitized people to political and social issues.
Her stirring songs tell the universal story of love and hope, sadness and
joy, struggle and triumph. She has also dedicated much of her life to the
Cradleboard Teaching Project, which links Native and other children across
the continent through computer networking. Her contribution to the
development and funding of this interactive educational exchange has helped
to facilitate communication and build a sense of identity and self-esteem in
school children through the study of Aboriginal culture.
Dr. Sainte-Marie has served as an adjunct professor at York University,
Saskatchewan Indian Federated College and Evergreen State College in
Washington. In 1982, she won an Academy award for her song "Up Where We
Belong" and later helped establish a new category - Music of Aboriginal
Canada, at the Juno Awards. In 1998, she received the Order of Canada.
Bernard Michel graduated in engineering from the École Polytechnique
in Paris, France. Most recently, he retired as Chair and CEO of Cameco
Corporation. He helped develop and grow Cameco into a premiere blue chip
company. He is respected nationally and internationally for his management
skills and business acumen.
Michel is a forceful advocate of Saskatchewan's mining industry and of
Canada's nuclear technology. Cameco established scholarships for
Saskatchewan Aboriginal students and for women in geological sciences. The
Cameco Chair in Environmental and Aqueous Geochemistry was established at
the U of S.
He sits on the board of directors of Ipsco Inc., the Canadian Light Source
Inc., and was awarded the French Order of the Legion d'Honneur, Chevalier
rank, in 1998. Michel, in a quiet and unassuming manner, has been a sincere
friend of the U of S, a stalwart supporter of the province and an excellent
ambassador of the Canadian mining and nuclear industry.
Douglas Baldwin was born in Yorkton and received a Bachelor of Science
(Chemical Engineering) from the U of S in 1958. He had a distinguished
career in the oil industry including positions at Exxon Corporation in New
York, and was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of Esso
Resources Canada Limited.
He retired from Imperial Oil and its affiliates in 1998 when he went on to
serve as President and Chief Executive Officer, TransCanada Pipelines. He
retired in 2001. His affiliations include: being a member of the Board of
Governors of the University of Calgary, Member of the Board of Directors of
TransCanada Pipelines Limited, Talisman Energy Inc., UTS Energy Corporation,
Citadel Group of Funds, and the Calgary Airport Authority.
The sum of his work-related achievements, industry commitments and community
service are indicative of an outstanding individual deserving of public and
scholarly recognition.
The awards will be presented during Convocation ceremonies at the Centennial
Auditorium at the following times:
Buffy Sainte-Marie - May 28 9:00 a.m.
Bernard Michel - May 28 2:00 p.m.
Douglas Baldwin - May 29 9:00 a.m.
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For more information, please contact:
Gordon Barnhart
University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4632
E-mail: gordon.barnhart@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/university_secretary/
David T. Alexander - Wanderland: A Decade of Work
Posted May 01, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 1, 2003 2003-05-03-OTHER
David T. Alexander
Wanderland: A Decade of Work
Public Reception: Friday, May 2 at 8:00 pm (program begins at 8:30)
*On display until July 6, 2003 at the Kenderdine Art Gallery
Join us for a celebration of David Alexander's contributions to the
Saskatoon community. David is a long time resident who has generously
donated his time and insights to countless young artists and to both the
Mendel Art Gallery and the University Art Collection Board of Directors.
David's accomplishments will be recounted at the public reception by his
colleagues Robert Christie, Sharon Riis, and Marie Lanoo.
The Kenderdine Art Gallery exhibition showcases a snapshot of the artist's
production over the past 10 years including examples from two major bodies
of work that continue to inform Alexander's practice. Distilled from
landscapes both local and foreign, Alexander's preoccupation with
transforming conventional landscape into complex and often disorienting
gestures of pure colour, ask viewers in search of terra firma to push
through surface "obstacles" in order to locate the land beyond. The complete
erasure of references to the horizon in Alexander's recent Water Surface
Series further distances his work from canonical landscape with an immediate
hit of form and colour with referential information revealed with further
study.
Born in Vancouver, B.C., in 1947, he studied at the Vancouver School of Art
Extension (1967-70); Art Department, Langara College, B.C. (1971-72); Notre
Dame University, B.C., for his B.F.A. (1975-1978). He attended the Emma Lake
Workshop in 1979 and the following year he moved with his wife Judy and
family to Saskatoon because of the atmosphere in the artistic community of
Saskatchewan. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan for his M.F.A.,
writing his master's thesis on a personal account of the ways in which the
Impressionist painters, Monet and Cezanne, influenced his work. He did his
graduate research in London, Paris and New York City.
The Kenderdine Art Gallery is located on the second floor of the Agriculture
Building, U of S campus, 51 Campus Drive.
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For more information, or to arrange an interview with David Alexander please
contact:
Kent Archer
Director / Curator
Kenderdine Art Gallery
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306)966.2618
kent.archer@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/kenderdine
