September 30, 2003
U of S College of Kinesiology receives national accreditation
Posted September 30, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 30, 2003 2003-09-31-KIN
U of S College of Kinesiology receives national accreditation
The University of Saskatchewan College of Kinesiology program has received
accreditation from the Canadian Council of University Physical Education and
Kinesiology Administrators (CCUPEKA). The College is among the first in
Canada to receive this prestigious accreditation which is valid for seven
years.
Only around seven kinesiology programs offered at Canadian universities
currently have accreditation although many are working toward it.
U of S Acting Dean of Kinesiology Bob Faulkner was delighted with the news.
He said: "The standards our College set for itself were quite ambitious.
We've had accreditation officials visiting from some of the best
universities in North America and they told us our programs are excellent."
The College was examined on a range of education and disciplinary standards
including breadth and depth of the curriculum and quality of faculty.
"We are not stopping here," added Faulkner. "We intend to keep working
together to continually improve academic quality."
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For further information, contact:
Jodie A. Beattie Flath
College of Kinesiology
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1063
Email: jodie.beattie@usask.ca
Transatlantic Team Finds Potential Cause of Fertility Treatment Side Effect
Posted September 30, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 29, 2003 2003-09-27-ME
Transatlantic Team Finds Potential Cause of Fertility Treatment Side Effect
University of Saskatchewan reproductive experts and their European
colleagues have discovered a genetic mutation that may cause "ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome" (OHSS) in women -- a potentially life-threatening
side effect of fertility treatment.
OHSS can vary in seriousness from ovarian enlargement with slight abdominal
pain and discomfort to potentially life-threatening massive ovarian
enlargement that causes hormones and fluid to leak from the ovaries into the
abdominal cavity and chest.
The study - based on the unusual case of a Saskatchewan woman who developed
spontaneous OHSS during each of four pregnancies -- was recently published
in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
"This research should allow development of a screening test for OHSS and
hopefully a potential therapy," said Roger Pierson, a member of the research
team and director of the U of S Reproductive Biology Research Unit. "That's
still a long way off, but we have a good place to start looking now."
The syndrome is usually experienced by women taking drugs that mimic natural
female hormones to stimulate ovary production. Less than one per cent of
women who undergo fertility treatment experience severe forms of OHSS. Up to
20 per cent of women undergoing such treatment experience mild forms of the
syndrome. In pregnant women, OHSS usually worsens, potentially putting the
woman's life at risk.
The Saskatchewan woman in the study was not on hormone therapy when she
developed the syndrome. Her case was initially published in an international
obstetrics journal by U of S obstetrics department head Femi Olatunbosun and
colleagues in 1996.
The article generated world-wide interest and the U of S team was contacted
by a research group from Belgium with the innovative idea that this syndrome
might be caused by a mutation in the receptor for FSH.
"This idea came from Gilbert Vassart's research group in Belgium whose lab
is one of the world leaders in research on the molecular aspects of
endocrine diseases and conditions," Pierson said. Other members of the
Belgium team include Guillaume Smits, Anne Delbaere, and Sabine Costaliola.
Gene sequencing revealed a mutation in the woman's follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) receptor -- a receptor that helps control the menstrual cycle
and ovarian egg production in response to the release of the FSH hormone
from the pituitary gland.
The patient's FSH receptors were responding to a hormone produced by the
developing embryo, rather than by her own body. "The ovaries responded in a
very dramatic fashion, swelling to more than 10 times their normal size and
leaking fluid," said Pierson.
Olatunbosun, associate professor Donna Chizen, and Pierson monitored the
pregnancy through ultrasounds and blood tests, using abdominal punctures to
remove excess fluid from the abdomen. At full term, the patient gave birth
to a healthy boy.
Of the three spontaneous OHSS cases reported in the medical literature, she
was the first to deliver a healthy baby. The other two women with the
condition were subjected to therapeutic abortion after the syndrome put
their lives in grave danger.
Armed with the knowledge that a genetic mutation can cause the problem, the
team plans to study women who experience OHSS following fertility therapy to
see what may cause or predispose them to the condition.
Funding for the research was provided by four Belgian research agencies -
the Service for Sciences, Technology, and Culture, the Fonds de la Recherche
en Sciences et Médecine, the Fonds National de la Recherche
Scientifique, and the Association Recherche Biomédicale et
Diagnostic, as well as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
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For more information, contact:
Olufemi Olatunbosun
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966 8033
Roger Pierson
Reproductive Biology Research Unit
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4458
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
September 29, 2003
U of S receives $5.4 million donation
Posted September 29, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 29, 2003 2003-09-29-OTHER
U of S receives $5.4 million donation
The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors has approved the
establishment of the Foreman Family Trust to administer the largest personal
gift ever made to the University of Saskatchewan.
The trust will honour the memory and tremendous generosity of the late
Phyllis and Florence Foreman, who bequeathed a total combined gift of $5.4
million to the U of S.
The money will be used to boost scholarships and bursaries and to support
research.
"Phyllis and Florence Foreman clearly believed in the importance of higher
education and the role universities play in enriching all of society. Their
generosity will touch the lives of people in our community for generations
to come," said University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon. "An
unrestricted gift like this allows us the greatest flexibility to respond to
immediate priority needs and it is very much appreciated."
The two sisters, known for their quiet generosity, grew up in the 1920s and
1930s on a farm north of Kyle, Saskatchewan. Phyllis briefly attended the
University of Saskatchewan, and they later divided their time between the
farm and another home on the West Coast.
Florence passed away this past March, bequeathing $4 million each to five
Canadian Universities including the University of Saskatchewan, Bishop's
University, the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University, the
University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. The University
of Saskatchewan will also receive an additional $1.4 million, the
approximate current value of the Phyllis Foreman estate.
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For more information, contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6612
Major Milestone Achieved at Canadian Light Source
Posted September 29, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 29, 2003 2003-09-30-OTHER
Major Milestone Achieved at Canadian Light Source
Officials today announced the achievement of a major milestone in
commissioning the storage ring, the last major component of the Canadian
Light Source (CLS) synchrotron due to open next year on the University of
Saskatchewan campus.
"Last weekend's testing was very successful," said CLS project leader Mark
de Jong. "The electron beam is now making several complete circuits of the
storage ring, and this shows that all major systems are working as designed.
This achievement is a result of an immense effort by all CLS staff and
contractors over the past few years."
A computer-generated image showed that the beam made at least two turns
around the ring at 570-nanosecond intervals (a nanosecond is a billionth of
a second).
U of S President Peter MacKinnon congratulated the CLS team, calling the
achievement "a thrilling milestone in the home stretch toward an operating
facility."
Further testing of synchrotron components to keep the electron beam
circulating in the storage ring for several hours at a time and to increase
the beam intensity will take place over the next several months, followed by
commissioning tests on the experiment beamlines. The first beamlines should
be available for scientific experiments by next spring.
The U of S-owned national facility, one of the largest science projects in
the country, is one of the most advanced synchrotrons in the world.
The synchrotron can be looked at as three major systems, beginning with a
linear accelerator (linac) which produces an electron beam traveling at
almost the speed of light. This beam is injected into a booster ring, where
the beam's energy is increased 10-fold to 2.9 giga-electron-volts (GeV)
before the beam is passed into the storage ring. At this energy, the beam is
continuously giving off synchrotron light which is harvested in beamlines
for use in experiments.
Synchrotron light -- millions of times brighter than sunlight -- is used to
view chemical reactions and the micro-structure of materials, paving the way
for new drugs, more powerful computer chips, better engine lubricants, more
effective medical imaging and a host of other applications for science and
industry.
"Congratulations are due to the entire team that has designed, constructed
and is now commissioning the CLS accelerator systems," said CLS
Executive-Director Bill Thomlinson. "We are all looking forward to the next
runs in which the electron beam will be stored and stacked, and photons
delivered to the beamlines."
Congratulations also poured in from other synchrotrons including from
scientists planning the two newest synchrotron projects - the Diamond Light
Source in England and the Australian Synchrotron.
CLS funding partners include the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the
Canadian government (including Western Economic Diversification, Natural
Resources Canada, the National Research Council, NSERC, and the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research), Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Ontario
Innovation Trust, Alberta Innovation and Science, Alberta Heritage
Foundation for Medical Research, U of S, the City of Saskatoon, SaskPower,
Boehringer Ingelheim, University of Western Ontario, and the University of
Alberta. GlaxoSmithKline has also provided funding for a U of S chair in an
area of synchrotron science.
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For more Canadian Light Source information, pictures and graphics, visit:
www.cls.usask.ca
For more information or to see the computer-generated image of the three
turns of the beam, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S/CLS Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
September 25, 2003
Four U of S Students Win Awards to Study Canada's North
Posted September 25, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, September 25th, 2003 2003-09-24-AR
Four U of S Students Win Awards to Study Canada's North
University of Saskatchewan students have won four of the 13 prestigious
Canadian Northern Studies Trust (CNST) awards given annually by the
Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) to study
Canada's North.
"The unprecedented success of these U of S students augurs well for
sustaining the vitality and diversity of northern scholarship activities on
our campus," said U of S geography professor Alec Aitken, who is chair of
the U of S Committee for Northern Studies and an ACUNS board member.
"The students' success is indicative of the strength of the programs offered
on our campus and our ability to attract high-calibre students," said
Aitken, noting that U of S has northern research expertise in areas as
diverse as atmospheric physics, toxicology, veterinary medicine, earth
sciences, hydrology, history and political science.
The awards are aimed at increasing public awareness of Canadian polar
science, research and education. "In recognizing these students, we are
giving appropriate credit to their success, as well as encouraging other
outstanding students to consider pursuing studies relating to Canada's
North," said CNST chair Chris Burn.
U of S award recipients:
- Paul Loewen (electrical engineering) -- Research Support Opportunity in
Arctic Environmental Studies award to further his studies in Arctic ozone
depletion. The award covers accommodation and use of the facilities at the
Meteorological Service of Canada's Eureka Weather Station on Ellesmere
Island. Depending on the number of visits and the length of stay, this award
is valued at between $10,000 and $35,000.
- Jaime Hogan (environmental engineering) -- a $5,000 Royal Canadian
Geographical Society Studentship to study how water moves through and is
stored in northern Saskatchewan's peat bogs, which soak water up like a
sponge and slowly release it into lakes and rivers. This study will add to
the understanding of potential impacts of climate change on the peatlands at
the southern fringe of the boreal forest.
- Steven Elms (education) received a $2,500 C CNST Special Award for
Northern Residents to finish an education degree through a joint U of
S/Aurora College program in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Upon
completion, Steven will work as a teacher in one of eight communities in the
Beaufort-Delta, a region continually in need of teachers.
- NST Special Award for Northern Residents to finish an education degree
through a joint U of S/Aurora College program in Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories. Upon completion, Steven will work as a teacher in one of eight
communities in the Beaufort-Delta, a region continually in need of teachers.
- Karla Radloff (political studies) -- a $2,000 Arctic Co-operative Limited
Award for the first study to examine the policies of the Co-Operative
Commonwealth Federation government (forerunner of the New Democratic Party)
that led to the creation of co-operatives in northern Saskatchewan in the
mid-1940s.
ACUNS (http://www.cyberus.ca/~acuns/) is a voluntary association of 35
Canadian universities and northern colleges concerned with the advancement
of northern scholarship through education and research.
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For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:
Professor Alec Aitken
Department of Geography
Chair, Committee for Northern Studies
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5672
aaitken@arts.usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Province Announces New Agri-Food Research Agreement for U of S
Posted September 25, 2003
Province Announces New Agri-Food Research Agreement for U of S
The Government of Saskatchewan today unveiled a new $16.5-million, five-year Strategic Research Program (SRP) Agreement at the University of Saskatchewan.
The funding will be directed toward creating research teams whose work will enhance and add value to Saskatchewan's agriculture and food industry.
More information is available at the Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization website:
http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2003/09/25-707.html
Kathryn Warden
U of S/CLS Research Communications
Box 5000 RPO University
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 4J8
(306) 966-2506
FAX: (306) 966-2411
www.usask.ca/research
www.lightsource.ca
Province Announces New Agri-Food Research Agreement for U of S
Posted September 25, 2003
Province Announces New Agri-Food Research Agreement for U of S
The Government of Saskatchewan today unveiled a new $16.5-million, five-year Strategic Research Program (SRP) Agreement at the University of Saskatchewan.
The funding will be directed toward creating research teams whose work will enhance and add value to Saskatchewan's agriculture and food industry.
More information is available at the Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization website:
http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/2003/09/25-707.html
Kathryn Warden
U of S/CLS Research Communications
Box 5000 RPO University
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 4J8
(306) 966-2506
FAX: (306) 966-2411
www.usask.ca/research
www.lightsource.ca
September 23, 2003
U of S-led Team Awarded $614,030 to Study Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Posted September 23, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 23, 2003 2003-09-22-OTHER
U of S-led Team Awarded $614,030 to Study Impacts of Greenhouse Gas
Reduction
A University of Saskatchewan-led research team has received $614,030 over
three years to assess the environmental, legal, and economic impact of
potential greenhouse gas legislation on the lives of Canadians.
The nine-member national team, led by U of S agricultural economics
professor Murray Fulton, will also provide recommendations to assist policy
makers and industry groups in creating effective legislation to reduce
greenhouse gas levels.
The national network is funded through a joint venture between the BIOCAP
Canada Foundation and the federal Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council (SSHRC). Specifically, the new network explores the human dimension
and policy implications of biosphere greenhouse gas management and bio-based
products.
"This new research partnership will contribute to policy recommendations
that will improve Canada's greenhouse gas management," said U of S
Vice-President Research Steven Franklin. "As well, the graduate training
that results from this study will foster a new generation of experts who
specialize in greenhouse gas reduction -- young minds who will bring fresh
ideas to this critical area of policy making and negotiation."
"If we are to address the growing concern of climate change, we need to
focus on our behavior and our daily activities," said SSHRC president Marc
Renaud. "This national network is focusing on the human dimensions of
greenhouse gas management. This research will also reveal how we all - as
producers and consumers -- can participate in reducing Canada's greenhouse
gas emissions."
"BIOCAP is very proud to be co-sponsoring this exciting initiative with
SSHRC," said BIOCAP CEO and research director David Layzell. "This type of
research network is critical to ensure that the new management strategies
and technologies being developed to address the challenges of climate change
are adequately assessed in terms of their human impact."
Greenhouse gases, which absorb the sun's energy and trap it in the Earth's
atmosphere like the glass of a greenhouse, have been implicated as a major
cause of climate change. By 2012, Canada has agreed to lower greenhouse
gases to six per cent below the 1990 level, but the government has yet to
establish policy on how this will be done.
"We are moving into a new era of regulation," said Fulton, director of the U
of S Centre for Studies in Agriculture, Law and the Environment (CSALE).
"Some of the issues we're going to examine are policies that may be put in
place and the cost to implement them."
Team members include U of S agricultural economics professors Hartley
Furtan, Richard Gray, Rose Olfert, Ken Belcher, and U of S assistant law
professor and a senior CSALE law fellow Patricia Farnese, as well as Alfons
Weersink of the University of Guelph, Grant Hauer of the University of
Alberta, and Kathy Baylis of the University of British Columbia.
Fulton says the team's first step will be to "think ahead to what a new
regulatory regime might look like and lay out the issues to be addressed."
For example, it's been suggested that Canada increase its forest area by
five million acres, which could potentially reduce greenhouse gases by more
than a third. That's because trees capture atmospheric carbon and store it
in their roots. But in a province such as Saskatchewan, such a move could
also result in a million acres of farmland being converted to forest.
"We need to look at how new policy will affect farmers," Fulton said. "If
farm land is turned into forest, it may impact the profitability of farming
and affect the decisions farmers make about what kinds of crops to plant. We
want to know what will happen to rural communities if this comes into play."
Fulton's team will also examine how policy is likely to evolve.
"Environmentalists, oil producers, and automobile manufacturers will all
influence the creation of policy," he notes.
He points out that after the 2012 Kyoto deadline, further reductions will
still be required. "Our work is long-term in nature, looking at the major
changes that have to occur in the next 25 to 50 years," he said.
CSALE (www.csale.usask.ca) examines pressing issues facing Prairie and
Canadian agriculture in the global marketplace and is a key location for
greenhouse gas research in Canada. It's an interdisciplinary U of S research
centre supported financially by the College of Law, the College of
Agriculture, and the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan.
The BIOCAP Canada Foundation (www.biocap.ca), a not-for-profit research
foundation, brings together the nation's leading researchers and
decision-makers to understand how Canada's biological systems, including
forests and farmlands, can help in the fight against climate change while
improving the environment and the economy.
SSHRC (www.sshrc.ca) is Canada's federal funding agency for university-based
research and graduate training in the social sciences and humanities.
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For more information, contact:
Murray Fulton
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8507
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Doré Dunne
Media Relations Officer
(613) 992-7302
dore.dunne@sshrc.ca
Wendy McFarlane
Scientific Liaison
BIOCAP Canada Foundation
(613) 533-2315 Ext. 25
mcfarlanew@biocap.ca
September 19, 2003
U of S Receives $3.1 Million for Health Research
Posted September 19, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday, September 19, 2003 2003-09-19-ME
U of S Receives $3.1 Million for Health Research
Today nine University of Saskatchewan research teams were awarded grants
totaling more than $3.1 million by the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR).
The wide-ranging research areas include developing a new vaccine to fight
well-established cancer tumors, a new model for ovarian function during
women's menstrual cycles, an effective treatment for marijuana addicts, and
gene therapies that protect the heart from damage during heart attack.
"The U of S is proud of the outstanding performance of its health
researchers and is committed to increasing our excellence in health research
through CIHR programs," said U of S Vice-President Research Steven Franklin.
"These projects will help improve the health of all Canadians by addressing
some of the most pressing medical issues of our day."
"The Government of Canada has more than doubled its health research
investment over the last three years and by doing so has contributed to an
internationally competitive health research environment in Saskatchewan,"
said Ralph Goodale, regional minister for Saskatchewan and Minister of
Public Works, on behalf of Health Minister Anne McLellan. "The projects we
are announcing today will help to improve the health of Canadians, while
also attracting and retaining some of the best researchers right here in
Saskatchewan."
"The research projects announced today illustrate the breadth and excellence
of Saskatchewan's health research enterprise," said CIHR President Dr. Alan
Bernstein. "The cutting-edge projects cover a broad spectrum of health
research and will translate into better health for all Canadians."
The U of S recipients are:
- Roger Pierson (obstetrics and gynecology) -- $621,595 over five years to
use computer-assisted ultrasound imaging to study follicle development and
ovulation. This research will improve assisted reproductive technology
success rates and lead to the design of more effective contraceptives.
- Wei Xiao (microbiology and immunology) -- $547,264 over five years to
study how a new DNA repair pathway contributes to a cell's ability to
protect itself against environmental carcinogens such as ultraviolet
radiation and cigarette smoke. This research will help with the diagnosis
and treatment of cancer patients.
- Peter Yu (psychiatry) -- $540,585 over five years to study an enzyme in
the brain that may be involved in chronic inflammation, oxidative stress,
and the formation of brain plaques in Alzheimer's disease. This research
will lead to new knowledge of how Alzheimer's progresses and may result in a
new treatment strategy.
- John DeCoteau (pathology) -- $339,282 over three years to study a
naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps inhibit the growth of
acute leukemia cancer cells. This work is a critical step towards
developing new and more effective treatments for acute leukemia.
- Jim Xiang (oncology) -- $279,033 over three years to develop a new vaccine
to fight well-established cancer tumors by using immune cells engineered to
start an anti-tumor response in the body and gene therapy that kills cancer
cells.
- Xia Zhang (psychiatry) -- $252,170 over three years to study the effects
of lithium in preventing cannabis withdrawal syndrome, work that could
result in effective treatment for marijuana addicts.
- Helen Nichol (medicine), Graham George and Ingrid Pickering (geology) --
$222,473 over three years to use the U of S Canadian Light Source
synchrotron (www.cls.usask.ca) to study abnormal cellular iron deposits in
Friedreich's ataxia, a genetic disease in which iron-mediated nerve damage
makes walking progressively more difficult and heart damage leads to early
death. George and Pickering both hold Canada Research Chairs at the U of S.
- Luis Melo (physiology) -- $202,997 over three years to develop safe and
efficient gene therapy strategies for protecting the heart from damage due
to heart attack.
- Michael MacGregor (psychology) -- $102,445 over three years to study
whether constructive anger verbal behavior, such as discussing conflict and
resolving a problem rather than yelling or complaining to a friend, helps to
lower blood pressure.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's premier agency
for health research. A detailed list of the projects funded across Canada is
available at www.cihr.ca
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/research
September 18, 2003
Catriona Le May Doan to receive Honorary Degree from U of S
Posted September 18, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 18, 2003 2003-09-16-OTHER
Catriona Le May Doan to receive Honorary Degree from U of S
The University of Saskatchewan announced today that Olympian Catriona Le May
Doan will be receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws at the Fall Convocation
ceremony on Saturday, October 25. She will also deliver the Convocation
Address.
"Catriona Le May Doan is an excellent candidate for an Honorary Degree for
many reasons including her outstanding athletic accomplishments, commitment
to community and her quiet leadership style," said President Peter
MacKinnon.
"She is a very fine world-class athlete. She works hard at her sport to be
the best she can be. She displays dedication, patriotism, deep loyalty, and
unassuming dignity, all of which are qualities of a role model for the youth
of Saskatoon, of Saskatchewan and for Canada."
Le May Doan was born and educated in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She started
what has become an impressive career in speed skating at the early age of
nine and became a hero for many Canadians in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games
in Salt Lake City, USA where she was awarded a gold medal in the 500 metre
speed skating sprint event.
Le May Doan became the first Canadian individual to win back-to-back gold
medals in the same sport as she had previously won the gold medal at the
1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. In 1998, she also captured the
bronze medal in the1000 metre race.
Other accomplishments include:
- She carried the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonies of the 2002
Olympic Winter Games
- She is the current 500 metre World Record holder (set a time of 37.22 in
Calgary in November 2001)
- From 1997-2001 she established 10 world records.
- She was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in May 2001.
- She carried the Maple Leaf for Canada at the closing ceremonies in Nagano,
Japan at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games.
- Named Female Athlete of the Year in 1998, 2001 and 2002
- She received the 2002 Lou Marsh Award as Canada's Outstanding Athlete of
the Year
- Book Catriona Le May Doan Going for Gold published by McClelland and
Stewart
Le May Doan will be remembered for her victory lap at the 2002 Olympics in
Salt Lake City where she proudly carried both a Canadian flag and the flag
of Saskatchewan.
She and her husband, Bart Doan, now live in Calgary.
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For more information, please contact:
Gordon Barnhart
University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4632
www.usask.ca
To arrange interviews*, obtain a photo, or a copy of her biography, please
contact:
Erin Taman
Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
Email: erin.taman@usask.ca
*Please note that Le May Doan is completely bilingual.
Dr. Roberta Bondar, Dr. Buffy Sainte-Marie and others to speak at CASTS Conference 2003
Posted September 18, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 18, 2003 2003-09-17-OTHER
Dr. Roberta Bondar, Dr. Buffy Sainte-Marie and others to speak at CASTS
Conference 2003
This afternoon Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada's first woman in space, will
officially open Canada's only Aboriginal science symposium, the Canadian
Aboriginal Science and Technology Society (CASTS) Conference 2003. The
conference runs September 18-20.
Dr. Bondar will launch the activities with a Question and Answer session at
Wanuskewin Heritage Park at 2:00 p.m.
"Aboriginal peoples are under-represented in the fields of science and
technology," said Dr. Lee Wilson, CASTS Conference 2003 Co-Chair. "CASTS is
working hard to address this imbalance, and, unique events such as this
provide opportunities to present the possibilities of science to a new
generation of Aboriginals."
The theme of the symposium, hosted by the University of Saskatchewan, is
"Integration of Science, Technology and Traditional Knowledge in Today's
Environment." Joining Dr. Bondar at the conference will be a number of
illustrious scholars and educators from the Aboriginal community, including:
- Dr. Oscar Kawagley, Director of the Alaskan Native Knowledge Network, and
Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Dr. Leroy Little Bear, Director of Harvard University Native American
Program, and Professor at University of Lethbridge
- Dr. Buffy Sainte-Marie, educator, musician, artist and activist.
About CASTS: CASTS is a national, non-profit organization that seeks to
increase the number of Aboriginal peoples in science and technology fields.
CASTS shares its expertise, experience and values with Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal people, organizations and communities. This event represents
the 6th CASTS conference, and the only one of its kind in Canada.
Additional information can be found on the CASTS Conference 2003 website at:
www.usask.ca/casts2003.
For more information, please contact:
Lee D. Wilson, Co-Chair
CASTS Conference 2003
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5248
E-mail: lee.wilson@usask.ca
Philip McCloskey, Conference Coordinator
CASTS Conference 2003
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5533
E-mail: conference.coordinator@usask.ca
NSERC and Syncrude Fund $1.2-M U of S-Led Oil Sands Mine Reclamation Study
Posted September 18, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 18, 2003 2003-09-18-AR
NSERC and Syncrude Fund $1.2-M U of S-Led Oil Sands Mine Reclamation Study
University of Saskatchewan researchers will lead a $1.2-million study into
how to reconstruct boreal forest landscapes disturbed by oil sands mining.
The federal science research funding agency NSERC will invest $526,600 and
Syncrude Canada Ltd. will provide $421,900 in cash and $263,000 in in-kind
contributions.
The reclamation challenge is that salts in the "overburden" -- large volumes
of clay shale removed to expose the oil sands -- can restrict plant growth
and potentially leach into the watershed.
"The long-term performance of these reclaimed areas is unknown," said
project leader and engineering professor Lee Barbour. "We hope to come up
with landscape reconstruction techniques that will be good for the
environment over the long term."
Over the next three years, an eight-member team of U of S and Environment
Canada researchers will study a recently reclaimed oil sands overburden fill
at Syncrude's Mildred Lake mine site, about 40 kilometers north of Fort
McMurray.
"This collaborative research project will address an extremely important
issue for Western Canada," said U of S engineering dean Claude Lague.
"'Restoration of surface and groundwater systems following mining activities
is crucial to the re-establishment of natural ecosystems and will protect
the water resources of northern communities"
Building on wide-ranging U of S expertise from engineering, geography,
geology, and soil science, the project will advance the U of S as a leader
in water quality and supply research, he said.
Clara Qualizza, a Syncrude senior environmental scientist, said, "Landscape
reconstruction is a multidisciplinary endeavor, and this proposal reflects
the teamwork required to arrive at a comprehensive landscape design that can
withstand rigorous risk assessment."
At present, the overburden is piled into large hills which are then covered
with glacial clay and peat, providing a surface layer that can store
sufficient water and nutrients to support grass, healthy forests and
wildlife habitats. The hill at the study site is a kilometre wide, two
kilometres long and about 50 metres above ground.
The team hopes to minimize the release of salts from the overburden and to
restore the overburden fill into productive boreal ecosystems.
"The central issue for predicting the final performance of the reclaimed
landscape is to define the water and salt balance that will be established,"
Barbour said. "We hope to develop tools for predicting the water and salt
balance in these piles."
U of S team members include Amin Elshorbagy (civil and geological
engineering), Sean Carey (geography), Jim Hendry (geology), Ahmet Mermut
(soil science), and Bing Si (soil science). Environment Canada scientists
involved are Garth van der Kamp and Malcolm Conly.
The project will also involve eight U of S graduate students and 10 research
staff and technicians.
Syncrude, the world's largest producer of crude oil from oil sands, spends
more than $7 million per year to reclaim land disturbed by mining. So far,
more than 2.5 million seedlings have been planted in these new landscapes
and approximately 3,100 hectares reclaimed. Over the life of its operations,
Syncrude expects to reclaim about 8,000 hectares of overburden.
Syncrude's long-term plans call for returning the land to a stable,
biologically self-sustaining state. This means creating a landscape that has
a productive capability at least equal to its condition before operations
began.
The jointly funded NSERC-Syncrude Canada project is a partnership through
NSERC's Collaborative Research and Development program (www.nserc.ca) which
supports opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations between
university researchers and the private sector that result in industrial or
economic benefits to Canada.
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For more information, contact:
Jim Hendry
Professor of Geochemistry, Department of Geological Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5720
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Clara Qualizza
Senior Environmental Scientist
Syncrude Canada Ltd.
(780)-790-5911
www.syncrude.com
September 15, 2003
Low Stress Cattle Handling Video Now Available at the U of S
Posted September 15, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 15, 2003 2003-09-14-ME
Low Stress Cattle Handling Video Now Available
The Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health (I.ARE.H) at
the University of Saskatchewan has recently released a new video called Low
Stress Cattle Handling for Productivity and Safety to help producers reduce
their risk of injury when handling cattle.
This video shows expert cattle handler, Dylan Biggs, of Coronation, Alberta
describing cattle's behaviour related to movement and demonstrating
low-stress cattle handling methods. Although handlers may have many years
of experience and may work carefully around cattle, it is important to also
have knowledge about cattle's behaviour so that they can be moved in a
low-stress manner.
"Animals account for a significant number of injuries and fatalities on
Canadian farms every year and the majority are cattle-related," stated Sean
Siever, Program Coordinator of the Agricultural Health and Safety Network at
I.ARE.H. "Between 1990 and 1998, 48 fatalities on Canadian farms were
animal-related."
The video can be viewed on the Internet at
http://www.iareh.usask.ca/rhep/video or is available on loan from
Saskatchewan Agriculture Food and Rural Revitalization (SAFRR) Rural Service
Centres.
Funding for the production of this video was received from the Canadian
Cattlemen's Association, the Canadian Angus Association and Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada.
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For further information or to purchase a copy, please contact:
Sean Siever
Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
University of Saskatchewan
Box 120
Royal University Hospital
103 Hospital Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8
Tel: (306) 966-6643
Email: siever@sask.usask.ca
September 12, 2003
U of S faculty finding it easier to catch dishonest students
Posted September 12, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 12, 2003 2003-09-11-OTHER
U of S faculty finding it easier to catch dishonest students
Figures released today at the University of Saskatchewan indicate that
faculty are finding it easier to catch students who are dishonest. While
tools like the Internet are making it easier for students to plagiarize,
these same tools are helping faculty identify cases.
Gordon Barnhart, University Secretary, released a report indicating that
from July 2002 - June 2003, the University had 79 cases of dishonesty heard
by college and university panels. Of these, 67 students were found to be
guilty. Statistics from the previous year indicate approximately 60 students
were found guilty.
Statistics for other universities have not been gathered in detail, but news
accounts indicate that most other universities comparable to the U of S in
size penalize between 80 and 100 students a year.
"Academic dishonesty includes both plagiarism, which is the use of other
people's ideas or writing without credit, and other forms of cheating, such
as passing notes in an exam," said Barnhart.
Faculty are finding it easier to identify potential cases of plagiarism
because they come to know their students' writing abilities through in-class
assignments, exams and reports. Phrases or passages, which appear too
different or sophisticated, can be entered as exact-word phrases in search
engines such as Google.
At the U of S, the policy regarding academic dishonesty requires that
faculty committees at the College level deal with accusations of cheating.
Penalties are not prescribed in the policy but are dealt with at the
discretion of the committee. This year, it was noted that the penalties for
dishonesty were increasingly severe.
"Colleges now feel that students who cheat should receive a much greater
penalty than students who simply do not turn in an assignment. Therefore,
many cases of plagiarized essays received a mark of zero on the assignment
plus an additional percentage off their final grade in the course," said
Barnhart.
Penalties in professional colleges are often even more severe on first
offenses since professional certification/accreditation is required.
The U of S is taking a proactive approach to educating students about
honesty and integrity so that their degrees are earned honestly and are
respected by future employers. Last year the "Writing it Right" poster
campaign was launched to advertise a special website (www.usask.ca/honesty)
which provides tools for faculty and students including guidelines for
correct citations and information on U of S policies.
This year the University is sponsoring "Writing it Right Week" the first
Academic Integrity Week at the U of S. Speakers and panelists will discuss
theoretical and practical aspects of ethical actions and behaviour.
Information can be found at www.usask.ca/honesty/week.shtml
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For more information, please contact:
Gordon Barnhart
University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4632
www.usask.ca/honesty
** To obtain a copy of the complete press kit which includes the University
Secretary's Report, and a poster outlining "Writing it Right Week" please
contact Communications at Tel: (306) 966-6607 or email
communications@usask.ca. Copies can be emailed or faxed out.
University of Saskatchewan announces first annual Academic Integrity Week
Posted September 12, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 12, 2003 2003-09-12-OTHER
University announces first annual Academic Integrity Week
University of Saskatchewan students and faculty know the importance of
"academic integrity", which means doing ethical research, not cheating on
exams, and writing their own essays. The value of a University of
Saskatchewan degree is tarnished if it is not obtained honestly.
This year, the university is sponsoring "Writing it Right" Week from
September 29 to October 3, with speakers and panels where students and
faculty can discuss integrity in writing, research, and examinations.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Nancy Olivieri from the University of
Toronto. Two years ago, Dr. Olivieri focused Canadian attention on ethics
in research when a pharmaceutical company and, initially, the University of
Toronto itself, took her to task for announcing publicly that the drug she
was testing was harming her patients. Her presentation will take place on
Monday, Sept. 29 at 2:30 in room 140 St. Thomas More College and media are
welcome to attend.
Other sessions will include:
- Noon-hour discussion panels on the importance of ethics for students and
for professionals, examples of student cheating cases, and the challenges
faced by graduate students who are both students and teachers themselves.
- Other presentations will cover how faculty can use the Internet to catch
plagiarizers, how students can use the Internet appropriately for research
on essays, how students can adopt a professional approach to their studies,
the help available from the student advocacy office, how faculty committees
should handle accusations, sketches by Drama students showing how students
can deal with pressures to cheat and the showing of the popular movie "The
Emperor's Club."
A full schedule of events is available online at:
www.usask.ca/honesty/week.shtml .
The week is sponsored by the Office of the University Secretary and the
Gwenna Moss Teaching and Learning Centre, in association with the USSU and
the Graduate Students Association.
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For more information, please contact:
Gordon Barnhart
University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4632
Email: gordon.barnhart@usask.ca
Cathie Fornssler
Office of the University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5036
Email: cathie.fornssler@usask.ca
$11.4-M Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre Opens at U of S
Posted September 12, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 12, 2003 2003-09-13-OTHER
$11.4-M Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre Opens at U of S
Today the $11.4-million Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre (SSSC) at the University of Saskatchewan was officially opened -- a centre that will complement work done at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron and drive ground-breaking research in Western Canada.
The SSSC was established with $3.7 million from the Canada/Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement, $3.4 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), $2.8 million from the U of S and $1.5 million from the Saskatchewan government's Innovation and Science Fund.
Located in the Thorvaldson Building annex just a few minutes walk from the CLS (www.lightsource.ca), the SSSC has state-of-the-art equipment for probing the structure of matter, work that can help scientists track environmental toxins, build semiconductors, create new plastics, and develop new drugs to fight cancer and heart attack.
With its new lasers, microscopes and X-ray equipment, the SSSC will advance research in areas such as agricultural biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, materials science, environmental sciences, health sciences, and mining. It will also provide much-needed research services for industry. Synchrotron scientists will be able to do preliminary and follow-up research for their CLS experiments at the SSSC.
"This centre is going to be a major player in Saskatchewan's rapidly developing research hub," said Minister Ralph Goodale, on behalf of Secretary of State Stephen Owen (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development). "The Government of Canada invests in innovative research to help stimulate the West's knowledge economy by attracting researchers and private sector investment."
"This centre builds on our investment in the synchrotron and helps our researchers and industry develop better products," said Eric Cline, Minister of Saskatchewan Industry and Resources. "Building on our province's science infrastructure will ensure a wide open future for our knowledge-based workers and industries. Investment in infrastructure at the University of Saskatchewan has been a high priority of the government of Saskatchewan in recent years."
"Today's opening of the SSSC is a prime example of what is possible when people and organizations from a variety of backgrounds all come together with a shared goal for research and innovation," said David Strangway, CFI President and CEO. "The CFI is proud to be an integral part of this project and by supporting infrastructure for research and development, the CFI is helping to increase the capability of the SSSC to carry out leading-edge research, which will lead to beneficial results for the Province of Saskatchewan and to all Canadians."
"This tremendous new centre -unique in the Prairie provinces - is the latest addition to our campus's world-class cluster of research facilities that are drawing some of the best scientists in the world to Saskatoon," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon. "The presence of this new centre has already helped us attract Canada Research Chairs and will provide extraordinary opportunities to develop our strengths in the physical and life sciences, which in turn will help build and diversify Saskatchewan's economy."
More than 40 faculty members as well as 200 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows will conduct research at the new facility. The centre will also serve and train scientists from universities, government labs and the private sector across Western Canada."
The combined research activity taking place at the CLS and the SSSC is expected to attract companies to Saskatoon and encourage them to locate offices and labs here. The opportunity to access the centre's state-of-the-art research tools will be a major draw for both small and large companies.
The centre will also work closely with government research organizations including the National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology Institute, the Saskatchewan Research Council, and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Saskatoon Research Centre.
Ron Steer, head of chemistry, has played a leading role in establishing the new centre. Bruce Waygood, University Co-ordinator of Health Research, will serve as acting director while a search is underway for a director. Ramaswami Sammynaiken is the manager of the four-member staff.
For more information about the SSSC, visit www.usask.ca/sssc/.
An SSSC backgrounder is available at www.usask.ca/sssc/news-backgrounder.php.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Joanne Mysak
Manager, Consultations Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(306) 975-5942
Toll-free: 1-888-338-9378
WD Web site: www.wd.gc.ca
Valérie Poulin
Canada Foundation for Innovation
(613) 996-3160
Janet Peters
Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
(306) 787-7840
September 11, 2003
U of S Graduate Student Study Helps Seniors Combat Constipation
Posted September 11, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, September 11th, 2003 2003-09-09-PH
Graduate Student Study Helps Seniors Combat Constipation
Adding just four grams of ground pea hull fibre to daily menu options in
long-term care facilities can help relieve constipation, thereby improving
the health of residents and potentially reducing their medication expenses,
says a just-published study by a University of Saskatchewan doctoral
student.
As a result of the findings, the Prairie North Health Region centered around
North Battleford is adding pea hull fibre (made from the external coat or
hulls of yellow peas and which contain more than twice as much fibre as
wheat bran) to their care facility menus. The measure is part of an
initiative encouraging residents to reduce medication intake -- a response
to recent studies linking high medication use with decreased quality of
life.
The study, funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Board, was
published earlier this month in the Journal of the American Dietetic
Association (www.adajournal.org).
"The fibre intake of people in long-term care homes is extremely low," says
Wendy Dahl, a U of S pharmacy and nutrition graduate student who worked on
the study with pharmacy and nutrition professor Susan Whiting, undergraduate
Adrienne Healey, and associate professor Gordon Zello, as well as Sherri
Hildebrandt, director of food and nutrition services for LutherCare
Communities.
"The residents are not getting the fibre they need, and as a result, more
than 70 per cent of residents are prescribed pharmaceutical laxatives and
enemas," she said, noting it is the policy of many care homes to administer
an enema to a resident who has not had a bowel movement for three days.
"People who have few bowel movements don't feel well. They are bloated and
uncomfortable and don't want to eat anything, which can lead to further
health problems," says Dahl, noting that constipation can also result in
serious medical conditions such as hernias, anorexia, heart problems, and
gastrointestinal obstructions or inflammation.
In Saskatchewan, long-term care residents pay for their own constipation
medications, which can cost between $300 and $600 per year.
In a 10-week study, the team found that substituting ground pea hulls for
flour in three or four food items per day is a low-cost way to fortify foods
with finely processed fibre, significantly improving the frequency of bowel
movements.
Of the 114 residents who participated in the study, there was an overall
increase in bowel movements after menus were enhanced with pea hull, and the
most constipated residents showed the greatest improvement after pea hull
was introduced.
Using wheat bran to fibre enhance food turns baking products brown -- a
color some residents consider "poor man's food" because it reminds them of
what they had to eat during the war when white flour was scarce and costly,
Dahl says. As well, residents with dementia may not eat bran-enriched food.
"If a resident has brown flecks of bran floating in his or her cream of
wheat, it may appear to be bugs crawling in the food and it won't be eaten,"
she says.
Removed from the pea, hulls are cleaned and ground into a light-colored
flour-like powder that can be used in breakfast cereals and pasta -- perfect
for making cookies or white bread that is virtually indistinguishable from
non-fibre enhanced food.
Dahl thinks the best way to increase fibre is through baked goods. "Most
people eat two or three slices of bread per day, so if baked goods or even
bread alone was fibre-enhanced, it could increase fibre intake by several
grams."
She says it's possible to increase fibre intake by convincing people to eat
a diet that includes bran, "but people in the final years of their lives
should be able to eat things they like. For instance, if someone likes
shortbread cookies, why not enhance the cookies, increasing fibre and
letting people eat food they enjoy?"
Though the study was focused on care home residents, Dahl says pea hull
fibre is a great way for anyone to increase fibre intake. She expects it
will soon be available for commercial sale in one kilo bags.
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For more information, contact:
Wendy Dahl
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 655-1310 or 966-2179
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
September 08, 2003
U of S and the Faculty Association Reach Tentative Collective Agreement
Posted September 08, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 8, 2003 2003-09-07-OTHER
U of S and the Faculty Association Reach
Tentative Collective Agreement
The University of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan Faculty
Association have reached tentative agreement on a new three-year Collective
Agreement, covering the period July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2005.
The Collective Agreement includes terms and conditions of employment for
Faculty, Librarians and Extension Specialists.
The parties met over 30 times, starting in April 2002.
Details of the agreement will not be released until both sides have ratified
the contract. This should be completed by the end of September.
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For more information, contact:
Professor Robert E Gander
Chair, University of Saskatchewan
Faculty Association
(306) 966-5609
and
Mark Evered
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8487
September 05, 2003
U of S Physicist Helps Discover New Sub-Atomic Particle
Posted September 05, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Friday, September 5, 2003 2003-09-06-AR
U of S Physicist Helps Discover New Sub-Atomic Particle
University of Saskatchewan particle physicist Chary Rangacharyulu is part of
an international team that has discovered a new sub-atomic particle -- one
that may change our understanding of physics and of the very early universe.
Three years ago, the "pentaquark" appeared for the first time for a mere
fraction of a second when the research team fired high-energy gamma rays at
carbon atoms using a synchrotron in Japan. Since then, hundreds of these
particles have been produced. The discovery was published this summer in
Physical Review Letters.
The pentaquark may have been common in the very early universe and could
affect theories of how the universe began.
Quarks are the building blocks of protons and neutrons, which in turn make
up the nucleus of atoms. Physicists were aware of two- and three-quark
particles, but had searched in vain for five-quark particles for more than
three decades.
"Further research on the pentaquark is likely to revise our conception of
physics," said Rangacharyulu. "I would not be surprised if basic assumptions
of structures and forces are questioned as a result of this discovery."
The experiments were performed by the Laser Electron Photon (LEPS)
collaboration at the SPring-8 synchrotron in Osaka, Japan. Rangacharyulu is
the only Canadian on the LEPS team.
Since the LEPS group announced its findings at the International Conference
on Particles and Nuclei in Osaka last October, German, Russian, and American
teams have confirmed the discovery.
Rangacharyulu has spent the last seven years working on the project,
involved with the research since before the LEPS collaboration was organized
in 1997.
When the SPring-8 offered a beam line to Osaka groups to do basic nuclear
and particle physics research, Rangacharyulu, who has had long-standing
collaborations in Japan, was invited to make presentations about proposed
experiments at a series of workshops.
Rangacharyulu was involved in all stages of the research, from experiment
construction and data collection to final publication. Early in the project,
his summer students and a postdoctoral assistant participated in preparing
the experiments at SPring-8.
The discovery has been picked up such publications as Nature, New Scientist
and The New York Times.
Though the significance of the pentaquark is unknown and requires more
study, the discovery has already redirected particle research around the
world, he says.
"Our work has just begun. There are other combinations of pentaquarks to be
found," he says. "Before this discovery, we were basically shooting in the
dark, trying all kinds of beams and all the energies that we had access to.
Now, if what we see is what we think it is, we have very clear ideas about
where other pentaquarks should be and how to find them."
He also says that "with a beamline, some money and brain power," such
discoveries could take place in Saskatoon at the U of S-owned Canadian Light
Source synchrotron (www.lightsource.ca) which opens next spring.
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For more information, contact:
Professor Chary Rangacharyulu
Physics and Engineering Physics
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6412
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
September 04, 2003
Farm Safety Essay Makes 'Cents'
Posted September 04, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 4, 2003 2003-09-05-ME
Farm Safety Essay Makes 'Cents'
The Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health (I.ARE.H) at
the University of Saskatchewan is offering one $1,000 scholarship to a grade
12 student who writes the best 1,000-word essay on farm safety.
Participants must plan to enter post-secondary education in fall of 2004.
The scholarship was made possible by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural
Municipalities (S.A.R.M.), through sales of their history book, "The
Building of a Province: Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities." The S.A.R.M. Board of
Directors contributed the funds raised to the I.ARE.H in 1995 and the
scholarship is being maintained by its' Founding Chairs Program.
Students have a choice of two topics for the essay:
- The Importance of Safety and Health on Our Farm
- Safety and Health Hazards on Our Farm
Last year's winner was Rosalie Hughes from the R.M. of Mervin, #499,
Turtleford. She is attending the University of Saskatchewan.
For information and application forms, students may contact their local R.M.
office, Rural Service Centre or the I.ARE.H at (306) 966-6643. The
application form can be downloaded from
http://iareh.usask.ca/rhep/scholarships.php. Applications must be
postmarked on or before January 16, 2004.
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For more information, please contact:
Sean Siever
Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6643
E-mail: siever@sask.usask.ca
www.iareh.usask.ca/
September 02, 2003
U of S Dean of Arts and Science Announces Resignation
Posted September 02, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 2, 2003 2003-09-01-AR
U of S Dean of Arts and Science Announces Resignation
Ken Coates, Dean of the University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and
Science, has announced his resignation as dean effective June 30th, 2004.
Coates has accepted the position of Dean of Academics at a new private
university in British Columbia: Sea to Sky University.
Coates became Dean of the College of Arts and Science in 2001 and has just
completed a one-year term as Acting Provost and Vice-President Academic.
While at the U of S, he has played a key role in the development of college
plans based on academic priorities and continued his research on Aboriginal
and technology issues.
University President, Peter MacKinnon, expressed his warm thanks to Coates
for his valuable service: "He has been a driving force behind Aboriginal
programming and internationalization and a tireless advocate for Arts and
Science. We wish him and his family well."
Michael Atkinson, Provost and Vice-President Academic, described Coates as
an effective dean with innovative ideas who cares deeply both for his
College and for the University as a whole. "In keeping with his innovative
style, Coates will be ideally suited to a new university that's built on new
ideas. He will also be an excellent ambassador for the U of S in British
Columbia."
The move will also provide an opportunity for Coates and his family to
return to British Columbia to establish closer contact with other family
members.
"I will leave the University of Saskatchewan with considerable sadness.
While family considerations make it important to return to British Columbia,
I am very fond of the University and its faculty and staff, and I share
President Mackinnon's enthusiasm about the future of this important
institution."
Search for a new dean will begin in the fall term.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Michael Atkinson
Provost and Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8484
Ken Coates
Dean of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4232
U of S Appoints Executive Director of University Advancement
Posted September 02, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 2, 2003 2003-09-02-OTHER
U of S Appoints Executive Director of University Advancement
The University of Saskatchewan welcomes the arrival today of Heather
Magotiaux as Executive Director and Chief Advancement Officer of University
Advancement.
Magotiaux returns to the U of S after spending two years as Vice-President
of Advancement at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. Prior to
moving to the east coast, Magotiaux was Director of Communications at the U
of S.
While at St.FX, she was responsible for leading a fully integrated
advancement department, including development, alumni affairs,
communications and data management.
During her tenure, St.FX was ranked first in Alumni Support and fifth in
Reputation by Maclean's magazine, two criteria that helped to propel St.FX
to first place overall in the Primarily Undergraduate category. As
Vice-President, Magotiaux led the largest capital campaign in St.FX's
history, which raised over $35 million for the university. She was also
Chair of the university's 150th anniversary celebrations.
University President Peter MacKinnon said: "As the U of S prepares to embark
on a major capital campaign to support its strategic directions and raise
its public profile, Magotiaux's expertise and accomplishments will ensure
that we have the leadership and support of a world-class university
advancement team."
For more information, contact:
Tina Merrifield
Communications - University Advancement
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2213
Email: tina.merrifield@usask.ca
Synchrotron Science Helps Identify Mercury in Fish
Posted September 02, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 2, 2003 2003-09-03-OTHER
Synchrotron Science Helps Identify Mercury in Fish
Though studies from around the world have shown that mercury from fish can
sicken or even kill people, new synchrotron-based research involving
University of Saskatchewan scientists raises the possibility that the
mercury compounds that build up in fish may not be so bad after all.
That's because the mercury that collects in fish may be in a form that is
less harmful than the form that had previously been thought to build up in
fish tissue. However, the researchers caution that many questions need to be
answered before the implications for people who eat fish are clear.
The research was led by biophysicist Graham George who recently relocated to
the U of S from the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. The paper
appeared in the August 29th issue of the journal Science published by the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Other members of the team were environmental scientist Ingrid Pickering, who
also recently joined the U of S from Stanford, and Australian chemist Hugh
Harris. U of S developmental biologist Pat Krone and former graduate student
Scott Blechinger were also collaborators on aspects of the work.
The exact chemical identity of the mercury in fish is important because
different methylmercury compounds have quite different toxicities. It has
been known for many years that the mercury in fish is a
methylmercury-containing species -- but exactly which methylmercury species
has remained a mystery. The safe limits for human consumption of fish have
been to some extent based on studies using methylmercury chloride as a
model.
The researchers studied swordfish and orange roughy bought at a local
seafood store. With conventional chemical analysis, fish tissues always need
to be chemically pulled apart before an analysis can be done, which partly
destroys the molecules. But with the synchrotron, the intact sample can be
measured and no chemical pre-treatment is required, which allows the
molecules to be observed directly.
The researchers collected information on the atoms bound to mercury in the
fish muscle tissue.
They found that the methylmercury in both fish is bound to a sulfur atom,
and is most likely methylmercury cysteine. The cysteine form of
methylmercury was found to be less toxic to day-old zebrafish larvae.
"There's reason for cautious optimism that mercury in fish may not be as
much of a concern as we thought," said George.
The next step is to determine the form of mercury that accumulates in
mammals that eat mercury-laden fish. "Once we understand how mercury is
bound in mammalian tissues, we'll be ideally poised to design a drug that
could perhaps remove it," he said.
George and Pickering were recruited to the U of S geological sciences
department as Canada Research Chairs. They will use the Canadian Light
Source (www.lightsource.ca), which opens next spring, in their research.
George stresses the synchrotron provides a tremendous advantage for
molecular toxicology sleuthing over conventional imaging techniques. "Now we
can take intact tissue samples and study compounds at the very low
concentrations commonly found in biological systems," he said.
Mercury can accumulate in the tissues of fish from industrial pollutants and
mercury-tainted trash that wind up in rivers and oceans. It has been linked
to neurological damage and increased risk of heart attacks.
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For more information, contact:
Graham George
Geological Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5722
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
