March 31, 2004
U of S criticizes provincial budget
Posted March 31, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 31, 2004 2004-03-33-OTHER
U of S criticizes provincial budget
Officials at the University of Saskatchewan today criticized the Province's
2004/05 budget, which allowed for a 2% increase in the operating grant to
universities.
"This institution has a greater prospect of return on investment than any
other public institution in the Province. We can deliver research funding,
we can attract people and we can keep people here," said Peter MacKinnon,
University of Saskatchewan president. "This budget does not offer any
recognition that the benefits of investment in higher education include
enhanced growth and wealth generation for Saskatchewan."
With a cost base that is driven in large part by the 3% wage guideline set
by the Province, a 2% increase for universities is effectively a cut to the
operating grant and will almost certainly have implications for both tuition
and staffing levels at the U of S.
"In spite of an operating grant that results in an effective cut to our
university's budget, we are committed to protecting the academic core and
investing in key areas that will strengthen both the institution and the
Province," said MacKinnon.
In 2002 the University of Saskatchewan released its Strategic Directions
statement, outlining its vision to become known for:
- International standards,
- Academic pre-eminence in key areas, and
- Sense of place.
The statement further identified four strategic priorities that will be
pursued in support of the vision. They are to:
- Attract and retain outstanding faculty,
- Increase campus-wide commitment to research, scholarly and artistic work,
- Establish the University as a major presence in graduate education, and
- Recruit and retain a diverse and academically promising body of students,
and prepare them for success in the knowledge age.
"We will remain firm on our direction because we believe that is what
Saskatchewan people expect from the University of Saskatchewan - a tier one,
competitive institution that will provide opportunities for their children
and will be a major economic and social driver within the Province," said
MacKinnon.
-30-
For more information or to arrange an interview with University of
Saskatchewan officials, please contact:
Cindy Paquette
Director of Government Relations
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6640
(306) 261-0890 (cell)
cindy.paquette@usask.ca
March 26, 2004
U of S Nursing Research Day Focuses on Mental Health and Rural Patients
Posted March 26, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday, March 26, 2004 2004-03-31-NU
March 30 Nursing Research Day Focuses on Mental Health and Rural Patients
Mental health across the lifespan and challenges of nursing in rural areas
will be among issues highlighted by faculty members of the University of
Saskatchewan College of Nursing at its Research Day March 30.
The College of Nursing Research Day takes place Tuesday, March 30th from
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 405 20th Street East.
Among those invited to participate are representatives of the Saskatchewan
government, the health regions, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied
Science and Technology, and the First Nations University of Canada, as well
as nursing faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from the U of
S at all three sites: Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert. Some 300 people
are expected to attend.
"Most of the research being presented is multidisciplinary," said Norma
Stewart, professor and associate dean of graduate studies and research for
the College of Nursing. "Nurses have diverse interests, and this is a chance
to share some of the recent research successes."
National research on aging is the topic of keynote speaker Dorothy Pringle,
professor and former dean of nursing, University of Toronto, and chair of
the advisory committee to the Institute of Aging, Canadian Institutes of
Health Research (CIHR).
Stewart and colleague Debra Morgan will discuss dementia care of patients
living in rural and remote areas. Their studies incorporate two
perspectives: that of individuals suffering from dementia, and that of
caregivers. One research team, including graduate students in nursing,
medicine and psychology, is in the first year of a $1.25-million, five-year
project in Saskatchewan. Funders are CIHR and other partners including the U
of S, the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF), and the Alzheimer
Society of Saskatchewan. Another research team, supported by a $529,000
grant from the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and partners, is
examining nursing practice issues in rural and remote Canada.
Wendy Duggleby and Karen Wright, both associate professors in the nursing
college, will present on hope as perceived by elderly palliative care
patients. Their current two-year study, which will develop and evaluate a
hope-focused program, is funded by a $77,000 SHRF grant.
Donna Rennie, associate professor in the College of Nursing and faculty
member of the department of medicine?s Institute of Agricultural Rural and
Environmental Health, will discuss her research program on asthmatic
children. It has been funded by the Saskatchewan Lung Association, Health
Canada, and CIHR.
Dorothy Forbes, an associate nursing professor, will report on research
concerning the level of evidence necessary to demonstrate that health care
interventions are effective.
Graduate students and faculty will present posters, and assistant nursing
professor Sandra Bassendowski will lead undergraduate students and others in
an activity designed to encourage them to consider research questions.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Norma Stewart
Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research
College of Nursing
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6254
stewart@sask.usask.ca
Sheila Robertson
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425 or (306) 966-2506
sheila.robertson@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/research
March 25, 2004
Engineering Students Push Boundaries of Innovation in Awards Competition
Posted March 25, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 25, 2004 2004-03-31-ENG
Engineering Students Push Boundaries of Innovation in Awards Competition
Engineering students presented solutions to real world problems that will
advance technologies --from electronics to drill bits -- at the 2004
Engineering Innovative Design and Student Paper Presentation Competitions at
the University of Saskatchewan on March 24.
Thirteen projects involving 39 U of S students were entered this year. The
work, much of it sponsored by Saskatchewan-based companies, pitted the
student teams against engineering design problems supplied by researchers
and industry partners across Canada.
"The high calibre of this year's entries reflects the talent and creativity
of our students," says David Sumner, associate professor of mechanical
engineering and coordinator for the event. "It also illustrates how
effective the U of S engineering program is at producing highly skilled,
well trained professionals for a demanding industry."
Two teams came out on top.
Greg Florizone, Lindsey Hinther, David Muir, and Ben Wilson won the
innovative design competition by designing a manipulator head that operates
in an ultrahigh vacuum environment to handle samples for a scanning
tunneling microscope. The manipulator allows samples to be prepared in the
airless environment. then transferred to the microscope. This greatly
expands the range of samples that can be studied.
The work was done for the nanoscale and surface physics research group of
the department of physics and engineering physics, under the supervision of
Professor Katie Mitchell. She explains the students' innovation will aid her
own research into nanoscale surface structures, which may lead to advances
in sensors and electronics. It also could be commercialized by the
microscope manufacturer.
"This design project required an enormous amount of background knowledge
that the students wouldn't have had from their courses," Mitchell says.
"Typically, people designing these things have had 10 years of experience
designing for ultrahigh vacuum."
In the paper presentation competition, Dale Heggie, Joel Leslie, and Curtis
Olson explained how high voltage electricity and a plasma chamber can be
used to introduce precise amounts of impurities to materials. The powerful
technique can tailor optical, electronic or mechanical properties in
materials used for products from drill bits to silicon wafers for
electronics.
Professor Michael Bradley of the department of physics and engineering
physics supervised the team. He says the challenge was to take extremely
specialized knowledge and explain it to a general engineering audience.
"They were able to step back and say, why would the average person care
about this?" Bradley says. "I think an indicator of their success was that
we got about four or five very intelligent questions from the audience. The
presentation obviously resonated with something they were interested in and
could identify with."
This annual competition is sponsored by the Saskatoon Engineering Society
(SES), which represents local Professional Engineers registered with the
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan
(APEGS). The competitions were judged by local industry professionals.
Additional support was provided by the College of Engineering and the Office
of the Vice-President Research at the University of Saskatchewan.
The innovative design portion of the competition looks for the most
innovative design, process, or technological development that has potential
for application in industry or contribution to society. The paper
presentation portion focuses on the best oral presentation on an engineering
topic, such as fourth-year design work or a class-related engineering
project in which the students have been involved.
-30-
For more information, contact:
David Sumner
Associate Professor
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5537
david.sumner@usask.ca
Michael Robin
U of S Research Communications
Phone: (306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
March 23, 2004
U of S Board Announces New Dean of Arts and Science
Posted March 23, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 23, 2004 2004-03-29-AandS
U of S Board Announces New Dean of Arts and Science
The Board of Governors at the University of Saskatchewan has approved the
appointment of
Dr. Jo-Anne R. Dillon as Dean, College of Arts and Science for a five-year
renewable term, effective September 1, 2004.
This appointment was the result of an extensive, open search for candidates
both nationally and internationally.
Dillon received a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and an M.Sc. and
Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Queen's University. She is also an
Associate of the Royal Conservatory Toronto (A.R.C.T.).
Michael Atkinson, Provost and Vice-President Academic and Chair of the
Search Committee, said: "Dr. Dillon is an exceptional scholar and leader who
brings a broad range of skills and experience that will benefit both the
College of Arts and Science and the University of Saskatchewan."
From 1975 to 1989, Dillon worked for Health and Welfare Canada as Chief of
the Antimicrobials and Molecular Biology Division, Laboratory Centre for
Disease Control. From 1989 to 1994, she was the founding Chief of the
National Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted Diseases with Health Canada.
During this time, Dillon was also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of
Biology at the University of Ottawa.
In 1994, Dillon was appointed Chair of the Department of Microbiology and
Immunology at the University of Ottawa, a department that later merged with
the Department of Biochemistry. She continued to lead the joint department
until 2000. Since 2001, Dillon has served as inaugural Director of the
Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology at the
University of Ottawa. She has an enviable research record and is known
worldwide for her expertise in sexually transmitted diseases. Dillon has
served in leadership roles in several national and international scientific
organizations.
Dillon will replace Dr. Ken Coates who is returning to British Columbia to
establish closer contact with family. He has also accepted the position of
Dean of Academics at a new private institution, Sea to Sky University.
On behalf of the University of Saskatchewan, Atkinson expressed his
appreciation of Coates' commitment and flair while managing the College of
Arts and Science, adding: "Dr. Coates has been a driving force behind
Aboriginal programming and internationalization and a tireless advocate for
Arts and Science. We will miss him and wish him and his family well."
-30-
For further information, contact:
Dr. Michael Atkinson
Provost and Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-8489
Dr. Jo-Anne Dillon
Phone: (613) 562-5419
March 19, 2004
St. Thomas More College at the U of S Announces New Entrance Scholarships
Posted March 19, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- March 19, 2004 2004-03-23-OTHER
St. Thomas More College at the U of S Announces New Entrance Scholarships
The president of St. Thomas More College, Father George Smith, csb,
announced today to provincial high school principals, guidance counsellors
and high school chaplains, the establishment of 18 new St. Thomas More
College entrance Scholarship's valued each at $2,000.
Smith states, "STM joins with the University of Saskatchewan in making
scholarships and bursaries for students among our most important priorities.
At the same time, we want to encourage our scholarship students to consider
service to the community as among their most important priorities."
Students receiving the scholarships must have a minimum 85% average and have
demonstrated exceptional service and leadership in their school and
community. The newly-established scholarships will be awarded to one
student from each Saskatchewan Catholic High School in our province. It will
also be a requirement that the recipients participate in the recently
established STM Service and Justice Program.
"With 2,000 students, St. Thomas More College has enjoyed significant
student population growth over the last number of years." Smith gives credit
to the "the students, graduates and faculty who have been recognized
nationally and internationally. This strong record of achievement enables
us to attract both capable students and highly qualified faculty, and place
us at the forefront of Canadian Catholic Higher Education". "Through these
new scholarships we underline the importance our college puts in the
establishment and strengthening of our scholarship and bursary portfolio and
our commitment to the service to the common good of our society."
-30-
For further information, contact:
Don Gorsalitz
Director of Development
St. Thomas More College
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2955
March 11, 2004
Brain Awareness Week 2004 Runs March 15-21 at the U of S
Posted March 11, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 11, 2004 2004-03-19-OTHER
Brain Awareness Week 2004 Runs March 15-21
Did you know that neurological and psychiatric illnesses account for more
disability worldwide than any other group pf disorders? Learn about this and
exciting new advances in research at the Brain Show on March 21, 2004. The
activities planned for the Brain Show will let you brainstorm about new
things, learn interesting brain facts and try hands-on activities.
The Saskatchewan Neuroscience Network (SNN), a group of more than 140
neuroscience researchers, with the assistance of numerous patient advocacy
and support groups will host Brain Show 2004 to inform the public about
exciting strides in unraveling the mysteries of the brain. The theme of the
week is "Take Care of Your Brain."
The popular Brain Show will be held on Sunday, March 21 from 11 a.m. until 4
p.m. in the Atrium of the Agriculture Building on the University of
Saskatchewan campus. Attractions this year include:
* An intereactive "brain games" room for all to explore
* Interactive computer games
* The "Brain Walk" with 10 interactive stations
* Speaker's Corner on 'Hot Topics' from the headlines:
- Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis
- model MRI (learn how it works)
- mad cow disease
- and much more
* Informational displays by participating agencies
"Current research shows that one in three North Americans will experience
some form of mental disorder at some point in their lives," says U of S
neuroscientist and SNN member Sergey Fedoroff. We hope to raise awareness
of the importance of neuroscience research and inform people of some
advances in brain research. We can do that through the popular Brain Show."
Visit the SNN Brain Awareness Week homepage at www.usask.ca/snn/baw04.html
for additional information.
Note to Editors: Interviews can be arranged with U of S neuroscientists upon
request.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Ronald Doucette
Saskatchewan Neuroscience Network
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4298
E-mail: rondouc@duke.usask.ca
www.usask.ca/snn/baw04.html
March 10, 2004
Survey shows public supports increased public investment in the University of Saskatchewan
Posted March 10, 2004
* Visit the survey website at www.usask.ca/communications/survey2004/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 10, 2004 2004-03-17-OTHER Survey shows public supports increased public investment in the University of Saskatchewan A just-completed survey commissioned by the University of Saskatchewan indicates that Saskatchewan residents support increased government funding for universities and are prepared for a discussion about competing public priorities. The Fast Consulting survey indicates that almost two-thirds of Saskatchewan residents believe the Province should invest more than it currently does in support of university education even if this means investing less in other areas. When asked specifically about increasing university funding, even at the expense of health care, only 16% of respondents felt strongly that health care funding is a greater priority. In recent public appearances, University of Saskatchewan president Peter MacKinnon has expressed concern about the trends in post-secondary education funding. "I have suggested that our system of university education, if the trend continues, will be transformed from a public good to a private good," said MacKinnon. "What is most disturbing about this trend is that it is happening in the absence of any public policy debate." In Saskatchewan, the provincial government now provides 60 per cent of the university's operating costs - down from 78 per cent in the early 1980s. This trend has been similar across Canada. "It may be an unpopular question but I believe it must be asked: are we willing to continue funding the entire health care system from the public purse at any cost, including the cost to our society of neglecting higher education?" said MacKinnon. "Or is it time to take a more objective, strategic look at what it is we, as a society, are trying to accomplish? " The survey results demonstrate that Saskatchewan people recognize public spending in universities is an investment in the Province's future. "I would go a step further and say that public funding for universities is the one investment guaranteed to provide a meaningful return in terms of economic opportunity and wealth generation," added MacKinnon. The survey also showed that people generally believe the University of Saskatchewan is well managed and that the University is doing a good job in terms of listening to the concerns of residents of Saskatchewan. The survey sample included 1000 residents of Saskatchewan, with proportionate representation from all areas of the province. The survey sample size yields public opinion measurements with a statistical confidence of 95 per cent, within an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Survey highlights: - 96% of residents think the university is important to the province's ability to grow and diversify. - 63% believe that it's time for the Provincial Government to invest more than it currently does in Saskatchewan's universities, even if this means investing less in other areas. - 16% believe that increased funding in health care is a greater priority than increased funding for universities. - 74% believe that government investing more in research would bring long-term benefits to the province. - 80% still believe that the cost of university education is a good long-term investment for today's young people. - 65% believe the University should be doing more to raise funds from the private sector. - 90% of residents believe the University has a positive public image among Saskatchewan residents. -30- For more information, please contact: Sandra Lodoen Director of Communications University of Saskatchewan (306) 966-6614 Sandra.lodoen@usask.ca Visit the survey website at www.usask.ca/communications/survey2004/.SHRF Launches First Saskatchewan Fund for Research Groups at the U of S
Posted March 10, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, March 10, 2004 2004-03-18-OTHER
SHRF Launches First Saskatchewan Fund for Research Groups
SASKATOON - The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) has launched
a new capacity-building matching funding program that encourages health
researchers from a variety of disciplines to form research groups.The first of its kind in Saskatchewan, SHRF's Research Group Facilitation
Grant Program competition resulted in five grants worth $500,000 to address
issues as far ranging as new treatments for diseases such as diabetes,
cancer, heart disease, immune disorders, infectious disease, and epilepsy
and other brain disorders.The program is a partnership with universities. SHRF contributes 40 per cent
of funds and the researchers' university contributes 60 per cent. The
$200,000 committed in this first round by SHRF has been matched by $300,000
from the University of Saskatchewan. (A backgrounder on successful groups is
attached.)Over the years, experts have recommended development of research groups.
University Coordinator of Health Research Bruce Waygood said, "The funding
opportunity provided by SHRF has been a critical and invaluable element in
providing a focus for the development of new health research groups."A research group consists of active researchers with common interests who
study matters associated with the human health sciences, the health-related
social sciences or other human health-related fields of study and who are
interested in establishing a longer-term association with each other that
will benefit their research productivity and competitiveness.In addition to encouraging and facilitating formation of new research
groups, the program is intended to advance strategic directions for health
research within the home institution or the province, help increase national
funding for health research in Saskatchewan, and enhance the capacity for
and quality of research in health research generally in Saskatchewan.SHRF CEO June Bold said, "Our program is intended to bring top researchers
together in stimulating group environments where they can more readily share
resources and exchange ideas. The outcome should be a stronger health
research environment overall. We hope to see more federal research grant
money flowing to the province, as a result, and more students excited about
working in health and health research in Saskatchewan."Peer Review Committee Chair Tom Wishart said of the selection process, "We
used experts from outside the province to make judgments about the quality
of the proposals. We used the standard format for reviewing proposals, and
the bar was set fairly high. Though the funded groups differ in terms of
their stages of development, the committee considered all of the funded
groups to have submitted strong applications."Research supported must be in a field of human health research, defined
broadly as encompassing biomedical science, clinical research, health
services and systems research, and research on the cultural, social, and
environmental determinants of population health.-30-
FOR MORE INFORMATION
University of Saskatchewan contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
SHRF contact:
Suzanne Cornforth
SHRF Communications
253-111 Research Drive
Atrium, Innovation Place
Saskatoon, SK S7N 3R2
(306) 664-2723
(306) 975-1688
scornforth@shrf.ca
www.shrf.ca
____________________________________________________
Descriptions of 2004 SHRF Funded Research GroupsImmunology Research Group
2004-05 $20,000
2005-06 $20,000Peter Bretscher, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of
Medicine, and John Gordon, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western
College of Veterinary Medicine, U of S.Members (all from U of S): J. Ellis, V. Gerdts, P. Griebel, D. Haines, C.
Havele, A. Rosenberg, B. Singh, H. Tabel, S. Van den Hurk, K. West, and K.
Williams.This group has a history of previous collaborative work on tumor immunology,
allergies, vaccination against tuberculosis, and understanding what kind of
immune response can protect against the viruses that cause hepatitis C and
AIDS. The group shares a common interest in how immunology affects many
areas of health, including allergy, infectious diseases, cancer,
transplantation and autoimmunity, such as autoimmune diabetes. Autoimmunity
reflects the unusual situation where the immune system attacks part of the
body of which it is a part. The Group wants to look at specific themes like
understanding what is or is not protective vaccination and immunotherapy,
treatment and prevention of allergic disease, immunotherapy for tumors and
the prevention and treatment of autoimmune disorders such autoimmune
diabetes.Neural Systems and Plasticity Group
2004-05 $20,000
2005-06 $20,000Michael Corcoran, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, U of S College of
MedicineMembers (all from U of S except where noted otherwise): G. Binsted, M.
Crossley, R. Doucette, T. Fisher, J. Gray, R. Griebel, M. Gupta, D.
Hannesson (University of Regina), L. Kalynchuk, A. Kirk, G. Muir, A.
Nazarali, P. Paterson, D. Saucier, and X. Zhang.Neuroscience deals with the structure and function of the nervous system. It
has become increasingly evident that an understanding of the function of the
nervous system at the level of cells and molecules is necessary for
understanding the function of the nervous system in health and disease.
The group is interested in a variety of neurological disorders, including
epilepsy, recovery from damage to the brain and spinal cord, and stroke.
There is also interest in ageing, in brain development, and in the
mechanisms of learning and memory. Ultimately the formation of the Group
should enable the researchers to identify new areas of collaboration that,
by increasing our understanding of brain function and brain disorders, could
lead to new and more effective treatments.
Cancer Proteomics Group
2004-05 $19,978
2005-06 $19,978
John DeCoteau, Department of Pathology, and Ron Geyer, Department of
Biochemistry, U of S College of MedicineMembers (all from U of S): W. Dong, R. Sharma, T. Kusalik, C. Zhang, A.
Ross, and D. Sheridan.The Cancer Proteomics group aims to clarify the molecular mechanisms of
cancer promotion and progression using systematic approaches to analyze the
large sets of genes and proteins from patient tissues, cells, and serum.
Ultimately, the research of the Cancer Proteomics Group aims to improve
patient diagnosis, treatment and survival by refining cancer
classifications, by developing new prognostic and predictive markers to
guide therapy decisions, and by identifying proteins that may represent
novel targets for designing drugs and therapeutic antibodies. Outcomes from
the Cancer Proteomics Group studies will provide economic benefits by
providing novel protein targets for diagnostic tests and for therapeutic
drug and antibody development.Molecular Design Group
2004-05 $20,000
2005-06 $20,000Louis Delbaere and Peter Howard (Acting Leader), Department of Biochemistry,
U of S College of Medicine.Members (all from U of S): H. Bull, H. Goldie, P. Grochulski, T. Haas, K.
Hamilton, H. Iwai, M. Loewen, Y. Luo, S. Moore, D. Palmer, D. Sanders, and
J. Yang.This group is truly multidisciplinary, with members from Medicine, Arts and
Science and Pharmacy and Nutrition, as well as scientists from the Canadian
Light Source and National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology Institute.
Our major research themes are signaling networks and their regulation, and
enzyme structure/function relationships. Both involve identifying the three
dimensional forms of the molecules that make up living cells. Information
of this kind is critical to understanding both normal and abnormal cellular
functions, which in turn is critical in the understanding and treatment of
virtually all diseases. Learning more about this area will lead to new drug
therapeutics and diagnostic kits for the treatment, prevention and early
detection of diseases that affect Saskatchewanians, including infectious
diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's,
diabetes, and immune disorders.
Cardiovascular Group
2004-05 $20,000
2005-06 $20,000Rui Wang, Department of Physiology, U of S College of Medicine
Full members (all from U of S): V. Gopel, L. Hiebert, J. Kalra, E. Krol, P.
Lee, J.R. McNeill, M. Pato, K. Prasad, A. Qureshi, J. Thornhill, T. Wilson,
A. Wollin, and L. Wu. Associate members: T. Hurst, A. Kakadekar, D. Quest,
B. Reeder, N. West, P. Yu, and X. Zhang.The Cardiovascular Research Group (CVRG) consists of 23 researchers from
College of Medicine, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, College of
Pharmacy and Nutrition, and College of Nursing. The goals of CVRG are to
promote collaborative multidisciplinary cardiovascular research at the U of
S; build capacity in cardiovascular research through training and
recruitment; and promote and advance cardiovascular wellness.
The common research theme of CVRG is to determine how the cardiovascular
function is regulated by a complicated cellular information network.
Research progress of this Group will shed light on the mechanisms of many
cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, and
stroke.For further information of the organization and academic activities of this
Group, please visit: http://www.usask.ca/healthsci/cardiovascularMarch 09, 2004
University of Saskatchewan Announces Technology Alliance Agreement with IBM
Posted March 09, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 9, 2004 2004-03-14-OTHER
University of Saskatchewan Announces
Technology Alliance Agreement with IBMSASKATOON, SASK.-- The University of Saskatchewan and IBM Canada Ltd. have
announced a 5-year technology agreement that will help the U of S to enhance
the student experience and expand e-learning initiatives through the use of
state-of-the-art mobile computing technology. This alliance will help U of S
further integrate technology into the teaching and learning process,
primarily through mobile and wireless technology allowing students and
faculty to utilize computing resources from many different locations, at any
time."Our commitment to student computing embraces a range of initiatives,
including new computer laboratories, wireless access and a new
student-centered portal. This alliance will provide us with opportunities to
do even more to support those students who want to use their own equipment
on campus or at home," said Rick Bunt, U of S Associate Vice President for
Information and Communications Technology.As part of this agreement, the U of S and IBM will work together to leverage
IBM technology and experience to advance mutual interests in e-learning and
student mobile computing."This technology alliance is about the University of Saskatchewan's
commitment to applying information technology that will enhance the learning
environment," said John Kutcy, General Manager, Education Industry, IBM
Canada Ltd. "Both students and faculty will benefit from this agreement as
the University continues to make improvements to its technology
infrastructure."Over the past two years, IBM has worked closely with the U of S on a number
of important initiatives including the campus-wide USR-net project, the
Learning Commons, the Bioinformatics Research Laboratory in Computer Science
and several College-based student laboratories.About the University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is located on one of Canada's most beautiful
campuses and is internationally recognised for its contributions to
teaching, scholarship, research, and innovation. Home to the Canadian Light
Source synchrotron, the university offers a broad range of academic and
professional programs, as well as exciting research opportunities, to more
than 19,000 students. Visit http://www.usask.caAbout IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of
leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across
IBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services,
solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take
full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM,
visit http://www.ibm.ca.- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
University of Saskatchewan:
Rick Bunt
Associate Vice President for Information and Communications Technology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8408
rick.bunt@usask.caIBM Canada Ltd.:
Margaret Hills
Public Relations Manager
IBM Canada Ltd.
(905) 316-4160
mhills@ca.ibm.comU of S Receives $1.4 Million Donation From Alumnus
Posted March 09, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 9, 2004 2004-03-15-AR
U of S Receives $1.4 Million Donation From Alumnus
The University of Saskatchewan's department of chemistry has accepted a
donation of $1.4 million from a former student which will be used to enhance
graduate student scholarships and provide undergraduate labs with
leading-edge equipment.Dr. Vern Wilson, a 1920s graduate, bequeathed the gift in gratitude for the
world-class education he received at the University of Saskatchewan which
helped launch a successful career in the sciences. He directed his gift to
the Harry A., Margaret, and Janet Wilson Memorial Trust Fund which Dr.
Wilson established in 1994 as a memorial to his wife Janet, and his parents,
Harry A. and Margaret Wilson. The broad purpose of the fund is to enhance
the academic experience and opportunities available to students in the
department of chemistry.Arts and Science dean Ken Coates said: "We are delighted to receive such a
generous gift from Dr. Wilson. His donation will bolster the recruitment
and retention of graduate students and will enable undergraduate students to
develop scientific skills in a first-rate learning environment."Professor Ron Steer, head of the department of chemistry added: "My
department is extremely excited about what this generous bequest will enable
us to do. We are at the cusp of an important expansion of our research, as
we move into new laboratory space and bring new instrumentation and new
young faculty colleagues on stream. Our most urgent need now is for
additional funds to support graduate students, who are an integral part of
the department's expanding research team. The annual revenues from the
investment of the proceeds of the estate will help make us competitive with
our research-intensive counterparts across Canada. We are extremely grateful
to Dr. Wilson, a distinguished graduate of the department, for this gift."In 1996, a laboratory in the department of chemistry was named in Dr.
Wilson's honour in recognition of his previous gifts to the University. Dr.
Wilson's bequest brings his giving total to $1.58 million.
Born in Powassan, Ontario in 1906, Vern Wilson moved with his parents to
Birch Hills, Saskatchewan that same year. He attended public school and
high school in Birch Hills before enrolling at the University of
Saskatchewan where he earned both his BSc (1927) and MSc (1929) in
chemistry. After completing a PhD (1933) at McGill University in Montreal
he spent the bulk of his professional career at the Eastman Kodak Co. in
Rochester, New York as a research associate and laboratory head. He has 35
patents to his name. Dr. Wilson passed away in 2001.-30-
For further information, contact:
Bruce Cory, Development Officer
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4845
Email: bruce.cory@usask.caUniversity of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture Awarded CIDA Project in Ethiopia
Posted March 09, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 9, 2004 2004-03-16-OTHER
University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture Awarded CIDA Project in
EthiopiaErnie Barber, Dean of the University of Saskatchewan's College of
Agriculture, welcomes confirmation from the Association of Universities and
Colleges of Canada (AUCC) of funding for a collaborative development project
in Ethiopia. The Canadian International Development Agency, through AUCC,
will provide $1 million for a U of S project focusing on "Sustainable Rural
Agriculture Development."This was one of 13 University Partnerships in Cooperation and Development
initiatives announced recently by the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Canada's
Minister of International Cooperation. The Minister noted, "Canadian
universities have been at the forefront of our efforts to promote
prosperity, peace and social justice around the world."Activities of the project will be integrated into the teaching, research and
outreach programs at the University of Saskatchewan's College of
Agriculture. The College of Education and the Extension Division are also
contributing to this project by offering expertise relating to gender
awareness and curriculum development. "This project will further the
internationalization of the University of Saskatchewan. Through this
process, our programs will continue to focus on the global environment and
to encourage our students and faculty to think globally by promoting
international scholarship and research," said Barber.The funding, which is to be delivered over five years, is focused on a
number of goals. Primarily, the project will strengthen the capacity of the
Awassa College of Agriculture at Debub University and the Ethiopian
Agricultural Research Organization. Both the Government of Ethiopia and the
University of Debub recognize the importance of graduate level training and
high quality in-country research and extension services for the
establishment of a sustainable food production system.Faculty from the University of Saskatchewan will work with the faculty of
the Awassa College of Agriculture to develop a strong graduate program in
agricultural sciences. Dr. Ferdu, Dean of the College of Agriculture at
Awassa, notes, "The opening of the graduate program will help the College to
retain experienced instructors. Awassa has location advantage to train
students in various fields. Most of the Ethiopian cropping systems are found
in close proximity to Awassa".Research funding will be provided for 25 Master of Science (MSc) students to
be trained in Ethiopia, including degrees with a specialization in
agricultural extension. The project will also contribute to increased food
security and poverty alleviation. As well, it promotes conservation of
natural resources through human resource development, education and improved
production by farmers.
More broadly, the project is consistent with the Government of Ethiopia's
commitment to establishing food self-sufficiency and agricultural
development to spur economic growth. Agriculture provides the livelihood
for most rural Ethiopians and is viewed as the main mechanism for
stimulating other sectors of the economy.Dr. Mike Grevers, of the Department of Soil Science in the College of
Agriculture, will lead the project team. The project builds upon previous
work undertaken by the University of Saskatchewan in Ethiopia focusing on
dryland agriculture in the Rift Valley. The need for the current project
originated through a previous CIDA project, "Low Input Sustainable
Agriculture," which ran between 1997-2003-30-
For more information, please contact:
Paul Stevens
International Development Coordinator
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-4279
Email: paul.stevens@usask.caRob Norris
Coordinator - Communications and Program Development
University of Saskatchewan International
Phone: (306) 241-9339
Email: rob.norris@usask.caMarch 08, 2004
U of S Board Announces New Dean of Law
Posted March 08, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 8, 2004 2004-03-09-LAW
U of S Board Announces New Dean of Law
The Board of Governors at the University of Saskatchewan has approved the
appointment of Brent Cotter as Dean, College of Law for a five-year,
renewable term.Cotter, who is currently serving as Deputy Minister of Government Relations
and Aboriginal Affairs and Deputy Provincial Secretary, will take up the
position on July 1st, 2004.The appointment is the result of an extensive, open search for candidates
across Canada. Dr. Michael Atkinson, Provost and Vice-President Academic and
chair of the search committee, said: "Mr. Cotter has a distinguished history
as an academic, and he possesses excellent leadership skills. He will be a
great asset to the College of Law and the University of Saskatchewan."Cotter holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from the University
of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws from Dalhousie
University where he has held academic and administrative positions,
including associate dean of the law school.Away from the academic environment, Cotter worked as the Executive Director
of Dalhousie Legal Aid Services and, for more than a decade, was a part-time
labour arbitrator and consultant. His public service career began in 1992
when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice with the Government of
Saskatchewan, a post he held until 1997. Since then, Mr. Cotter has served
in his current position.Cotter has considerable expertise in legal ethics and public service and has
lectured and published widely. He will replace Dan Ish who has served as
Acting Dean since August 2002. Ish will resume his position as professor in
the College of Law.On behalf of the University, Atkinson expressed his appreciation of Ish's
tireless efforts and commitment to managing the College of Law during the
past 18 months. "Both the College and the University owe Dan Ish a
tremendous vote of thanks for his leadership and commitment to the College
of Law."-30-
For further information, contact:
Michael Atkinson
Provost and Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966- 8489Brent Cotter
(306) 787-1925For a pdf black and white photograph of Brent Cotter, contact:
Communications Office
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6607 or 966-2213$19.2 Million Awarded to U of S to Help Build International Vaccine Centre
Posted March 08, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9:30 a.m. March 8th, 2004 2004-03-10-OTHER
$19.2 Million Awarded to U of S to Help Build International Vaccine Centre
A $61.8-million International Vaccine Centre (INTERVAC) dedicated to
protecting human and animal health from the threat of emerging diseases was
given the green light today at the University of Saskatchewan.U of S President Peter MacKinnon welcomed the announcement that the Canada
Foundation for Innovation (CFI) will contribute $19.2 million toward
construction of INTERVAC, to be owned and operated by the U of S. The
remaining funding will be sought from government and other sources."Thanks to the vision of VIDO director Lorne Babiuk and the support of our
partners, INTERVAC will contribute significant health and economic benefits
to the city and the region," said MacKinnon. "This state-of-the-art facility
will be a leader in research into emerging diseases. It will advance health,
veterinary and life sciences research on campus and help to retain and
attract high-calibre scientists."INTERVAC, which will open in 2008 or 2009, will include the province's first
Level 3 laboratories dealing with human and animal diseases. The highly
secure facility will enable researchers to better respond to emerging
diseases such as SARS, avian influenza ("bird flu"), and West Nile virus.Internationally, diseases are classified at different levels, depending on
the seriousness of the infection. Level 1 does not cause any infection, and
Level 2 diseases may infect animals or humans but without serious effects.
Level 3 diseases, such as BSE, SARS, hepatitis C, influenza and tuberculosis
(TB), have a greater potential to cause more serious infections. Level 4
organisms cause extremely serious diseases in animals and humans.The facility is a collaboration between the university's Vaccine and
Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), the College of Medicine, and the
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). It will build on three
decades of VIDO's expertise in vaccine research and development.The new facility will enable the U of S to stay competitive as a modern
health research centre. It will permit advanced research into Level 3
viruses and other pathogens that are a danger to human and animal health. It
will also enable testing of vaccines and methods of delivering vaccines."The Government of Canada created the CFI for days like today. These
projects illustrate how Canadians from across our country work together to
push the leading edge of research and development," said Ralph Goodale,
federal Minister of Finance and MP for Wascana. "It is equally important to
recognize that leading-edge research and development happens right here in
Saskatchewan.""We can say with conviction that Canada is becoming a place where
world-class researchers want to be," said CFI president David Strangway.
"This CFI investment will further develop Canada's global reputation as a
place where outstanding research and training is being conducted."VIDO director Lorne Babiuk noted that without access to a Level 3 lab,
Saskatchewan researchers have had to test a SARS vaccine in the U.S.
"INTERVAC will allow Canada to be an international leader in infectious
disease research," he said. "It will also provide an excellent training
environment for graduate and post-doctoral students and will be an economic
driver for commercialization of U of S research.""INTERVAC is going to allow tremendous research collaborations involving the
two user colleges and VIDO," said Jim Thornhill, U of S associate dean of
medicine. "This will expand on research in infectious diseases immensely."WCVM dean Chuck Rhodes said, "Our college has always had a strong emphasis
on infectious disease research and this new tool will be invaluable in
supporting our overall research program."INTERVAC will be built to meet or exceed the most stringent national and
international standards for biological security and containment. Once the
lab is constructed, it must be federally certified in order to operate. To
protect workers, the community and the environment, the facility will be
monitored and regulated by the university's department of health, safety and
environment, as well as by federal authorities.Operating costs will be covered by user fees and the university. The CFI
will contribute to operating costs for the first five years.
The U of S envisages a variety of partners and users of INTERVAC, including
VIDO, the U of S colleges of medicine and veterinary medicine, the Saskatoon
Health Region, Health Canada, the International Vaccine Institute in Korea,
and the National Institute of Health in the U.S. There are also potential
research collaborations with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.INTERVAC will have spin-off economic benefits for the university, the city
and the province. There will be construction jobs plus about 20 new, highly
skilled jobs when the facility opens.The facility will have two main floors for animals and laboratories, and two
in-between floors permitting safe and easy access to services.There are nearly 90 Level 3 labs either operational or in the works in
Canada. Many are small facilities attached to provincial health departments
or medical schools. Two small Level 3 labs were built at the U of S Health
Sciences complex in the late 1980s for isolation of HIV and some HIV
research. Neither lab is currently functioning.Under its Innovation Fund Program, the CFI provides up to 40 per cent of
capital costs and the remaining 60 per cent must be sought from other
sources.The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation
created in 1997 by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure.
The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the ability of Canadian universities,
colleges, research hospitals, and other non-profit institutions to carry out
world-class research and technology development that will benefit Canadians.
-30-For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/researchTess Laidlaw
Communications, VIDO
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1506
http://www.vido.orgValerie Poulin
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
(613) 996-3160
http://www.innovation.ca
FAST FACTS ON INTERVAC
DID YOU KNOW?- The U of S International Vaccine Centre, INTERVAC, is a $61.8-million
facility to be built on campus. It will save lives and money by responding
to emerging diseases threatening humans and animals. Researchers will
develop and test new vaccines and methods of delivering vaccines.- The need for research on infectious diseases of animals is underscored by
the estimate that 50 per cent of all human infectious diseases and 79 per
cent of all new or emerging diseases have arisen in animals.- Numerous Level 3 diseases threaten the Prairies and Canada. As of
September 23, 2003, Saskatchewan had 418 of 742 confirmed and probable cases
of West Nile Virus in Canada. Tuberculosis (TB) rates in Saskatchewan's
Aboriginal population accounted for 87 per cent of all TB cases in Canada in
1999. Among diseases that may be studied at INTERVAC are hepatitis C, SARS,
HIV, influenza and BSE.- In Canada, there are nearly 90 Level 3 facilities operating or under
construction, consultation, or certification. Most are small labs attached
to provincial health departments or medical schools.- Laboratories dealing with human pathogens must be certified by Health
Canada's Office of Laboratory Security. Level 3 and 4 labs dealing strictly
with animal pathogens are certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
As INTERVAC will deal with human and animal diseases, both federal
regulators will be involved. INTERVAC's biosafety officer will report to the
U of S Department of Health, Safety, and the Environment. Once INTERVAC is
operating, the U of S biosafety program will monitor the facility, ensuring
adherence to strict federal regulations.- INTERVAC, housing Saskatchewan's first Level 3 labs dealing with human and
animal diseases, will be used by researchers at several U of S colleges, and
by the provincial government and other national and international partners.- INTERVAC's many special features will ensure the safety of workers, the
community and the environment. Equipment costs total $4.5 million of the
$61.8-million facility. Air will be filtered, and effluent filtered and
sterilized.- INTERVAC builds on the expertise and reputation of VIDO (operating for 28
years at the U of S) and the research successes of the College of Medicine
and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.- INTERVAC will help retain skilled health science researchers at the U of
S. It will also create construction jobs and about 20 highly skilled jobs
when the facility is operational in 2008 or 2009. There will be economic
benefits to the city and the province.
- INTERVAC will benefit the U of S by enhancing its international
reputation, and attracting more researchers and more potential funding.- VIDO, the primary collaborator in INTERVAC, is a not-for-profit research
centre owned by the U of S. VIDO (http://www.vido.org/) has annual research
revenue exceeding $10 million.CFI Awards $6.8 M for Synchrotron Beamline at U of S to Open New Windows into Human Body
Posted March 08, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -March 8, 2004, 9:30 a.m. 2004-03-11-OTHER
CFI Awards $6.8 M for Synchrotron Beamline to Open New Windows into Human
BodySASKATOON. A powerful new beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) will
yield incredibly detailed images of the body and new tools for cancer
treatment research thanks to $6.8 million in funding announced today by the
Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).The $17-million BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamline and
associated research facility will be unique in North America and one of only
three in the world. It's expected to take about two and a half years to
build and commission. The CLS itself will open for business in 2004."BMIT is a major step in establishing the U of S as Canada's premiere centre
for advanced research and development in medical imaging," says U of S
Vice-President Research Steven Franklin. "This initiative offers
opportunities to researchers and their graduate students that are available
nowhere else in the country.""This project illustrates the capabilities of this synchrotron," says CLS
Executive-Director Bill Thomlinson. "With BMIT, we are attaching world-class
research tools to the CLS, tools that will be directly important to the
lives of everyone.""The Government of Canada created the CFI for days like today. These
projects illustrate how Canadians from across our country work together to
push the leading edge of research and development," said Ralph Goodale,
federal Minister of Finance and MP for Wascana. "It is equally important to
recognize that leading-edge research and development happens right here in
Saskatchewan."CFI's Innovation Fund will provide 40 per cent of capital project costs,
with the balance made up by other funding partners. More than $2.7 million
has been committed from outside agencies. These include: the Alberta Cancer
Board, Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Royal University
Hospital Foundation, Hospitals of Regina Foundation, Regina Qu'Appelle
Health Region, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan
Cancer Agency, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Canadian Cancer
Society-Saskatchewan Division, and the Breast Cancer Society of Canada.The project enjoys support from more than 60 researchers across the country,
collectively known as the BMIT Beam Team."BMIT will be the only biomedical imaging beamline in the world located on a
university campus," says project leader Dean Chapman. "The synchrotron is
literally a few minutes' walk from the offices of people doing research in
human medicine, veterinary medicine and pharmaceuticals."Chapman and Thomlinson, working with colleagues from several institutions in
the U.S. and Europe, developed a technique called diffraction enhanced
imaging (DEI) which delivers high-resolution images of organs, muscles and
ligaments - even the insides of bones. Mammograms taken with DEI require no
tissue compression, and the radiation dose is much smaller than with
conventional X-rays.The majority of this research will be done on animal models and draw on
close collaborations between researchers in veterinary and human medicine.
WCVM scientist Gregg Adams expects to use BMIT to explore the causes of
infertility, work that is directly applicable to human health."My hope is that we can take a cow and image an egg within a follicle,
within an ovary, within an animal - a live animal," he says. "This is a very
powerful tool, able to look at effects over time without disrupting normal
physiological events."BMIT also promises advances in cancer treatment research, says Gino Fallone,
oncology professor and director of medical physics for the University of
Alberta and the Cross Cancer Institute."For years the main goal of radiation therapy for cancer was to prescribe
radiation doses to eradicate or control the tumour, while at the same time
spare the surrounding healthy tissues," he says. "The astonishing aspect of
the microbeam therapy provided by the CLS is that it spares healthy tissue
much better than any other radiation-delivery system. This aspect alone will
revolutionize the way we treat cancer with radiation."Ian Cunningham, a scientist with the Robarts Research Institute in London,
Ont., plans to take part of his research program to the new beamline for
development of new X-ray diffraction medical imaging techniques that have
implications for vascular disease, bone diseases, and urology."A synchrotron offers us the ability to do experiments that cannot done
anywhere else," Cunningham said. "This is going to speed up research
tremendously."The new beamline will actually increase the size of the CLS itself,
requiring an addition to the southeast corner of the building. This will
allow the "fan" of X-ray light to spread wide enough for advanced imaging
capabilities, allowing researchers to safely look at the effects of
therapeutic drugs in living patients. Already, synchrotron techniques are
leading to safer ways to evaluate and treat lung and heart disease.The $173.5-million U of S-owned national facility is one of Canada's largest
science projects in a generation.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.At the U of S, there are more than 70 scientists who use a synchrotron in
their work - up from a handful when the synchrotron got the green light in
March of 1999. The project enjoys the endorsement of 27 universities across
the country. About 400 Canadian researchers use synchrotrons in their work.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,
and Boehringer Ingelheim, University of Western Ontario, and University of
Alberta. GlaxoSmithKline has also provided funding for a U of S chair in an
area of synchrotron science.For more information on the CLS, visit: www.lightsource.ca/bioimaging
Note to editors: Photos, other images, and a backgrounder on the CLS are
available upon request.-30-
For more information, contact:
Dean Chapman
Professor
Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology
College of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4111
dean.chapman@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/anatomy/people/chapman.shtmlMichael Robin
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/researchCFI Awards $18 Million to Help Fund Canadian Light Source Beamlines
Posted March 08, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 8, 2004 2004-03-12-OTHER
CFI Awards $18 Million to Help Fund Canadian Light Source Beamlines
SASKATOON - Synchrotron science across Canada received a major boost today
with the announcement that the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) will
provide a total of $18 million for five beamlines and equipment at the
Canadian Light Source (CLS) on the University of Saskatchewan campus.The new beamlines (conduits for carrying synchrotron light to experiment
stations) will be used for projects that include exploring radically
improved medical imaging techniques, detecting trace elements in ore
samples, and developing new weapons against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The $173.5-million CLS is expected to open for business later this year."We're excited to be able to offer these powerful new research tools to more
than 400 Canadian scientists and their graduate students," says CLS
Executive-Director Bill Thomlinson. "Our congratulations go out to our
researchers here at the U of S, as well as the teams from the University of
Western Ontario and the University of British Columbia who will be leading
beamline projects."CFI will provide up to 40 per cent of the total $44.5 million in funding for
the beamline projects, with the balance to be made up from other partners.
Operating costs will be covered by CFI and the CLS operating budget."We can say with conviction that Canada is becoming a place where
world-class researchers want to be," said CFI President and CEO David
Strangway. "This CFI investment will further develop Canada's global
reputation as a place where outstanding research and training is being
conducted.""The Government of Canada created the CFI for days like today. These
projects illustrate how Canadians from across our country work together to
push the leading edge of research and development," said Ralph Goodale,
federal Minister of Finance and MP for Wascana. "It is equally important to
recognize that leading-edge research and development happens right here in
Saskatchewan.""This major CFI investment is drawing attention from across Canada and the
international research community," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
"Momentum from the Canadian Light Source project continues to build."The new beamlines will bring the total count to 12. The CLS synchrotron,
Canada's first, is designed to accommodate about 30 beamlines at full
capacity.First light was detected in the synchrotron's diagnostic beamline on
December 9, 2003. Five of the seven Phase I experimental beamlines are
scheduled for completion in mid-2004, with the remaining two slated to come
online by the end of the year.The Phase II beamlines approved in this round of funding will be built in
the next several years:Beamline Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT)
Total Cost $17,043,440
CFI Funds $6,817,376
Team Leader Dean Chapman
Organization University of Saskatchewan
Description Advanced imaging for medicine offering unprecendented detail.
High-precision radiation therapies for cancer.
Beamline Soft X-Ray Beamline for Microcharacterization of Materials
Total Cost $4,179,040
CFI Funds $1,622,620
Team Leader Tsun-Kong (T.K.) Sham
Organization University of Western Ontario
Description Determine materials structures to nanometre scales.
Applications in environment, electronics, medicine.Beamline Very Sensitive Elemental and Structural Probe Employing Radiation
from a Synchrotron (VESPERS)
Total Cost $4,504,098
CFI Funds $2,130,149
Team Leader Stewart McIntyre
Organization University of Western Ontario
Description Determine trace elements and crystal structure in microsamples.
Applicable to mineral ores and metals.Beamline Resonant Elastic and Inelastic Soft X-Ray Scattering
Total Cost $8,335,162
CFI Funds $3,334,065
Team Leader George Sawatzky
Organization University of British Columbia
Description Atomic-scale microscopy with applications in environmental
science and advanced materials development.Beamline High-Throughput Macromolecular Crystallography
Total Cost $10,435,712
CFI Funds $4,174,285
Team Leader Natalie Strynadka
Organization University of British Columbia
Description Detailed, atomic-scale images of molecules like viral and
bacterial proteins. Foundation for novel drug design.Total, all beamlines
Total Cost $44,497,452
CFI Funds $18,078,495
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.At the U of S, there are more than 70 scientists who use a synchrotron in
their work - up from a handful when the synchrotron got the green light in
March of 1999. The project enjoys the endorsement of 27 universities across
the country.The U of S-owned national facility is one of Canada's largest science
projects in a generation. The design is one of the most efficient, compact,
and most advanced in the world.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,
and Boehringer Ingelheim, University of Western Ontario, and University of
Alberta. GlaxoSmithKline has also provided funding for a U of S chair in an
area of synchrotron science.For more information on the CLS, visit: www.lightsource.ca
Note to Editors: Photos, other images and a backgrounder on the CLS are
available upon request.-30-
For more information, contact:
Dr. Bill Thomlinson
CLS Executive-Director
(306) 657-3600
bill.thomlinson@lightsource.ca
www.lightsource.caMichael Robin
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/researchMarcia Steyaert
Media Relations
University of Western Ontario
(519) 661-2111 Ext. 85468
steyaert@uwo.ca
www.uwo.caHilary Thomson
Science Communications
(604) 822-2644
hilary.thomson@ubc.ca
www.ubc.caMarch 05, 2004
Nokia Brier Hog-line Violation System Has U of S Origin
Posted March 05, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 5th, 2004 2004-03-06-ENG
Nokia Brier Hog-line Violation System Has U of S Origin
A University of Saskatchewan Electrical Engineer Professor and his students
have developed an unique hog-line violation system which has been adopted
by the Canadian Curling Association and the World Curling Federation and
will be used at major curling competitions worldwide, including the Nokia
Brier currently underway.The system - called the Eye on the Hog - indicates hog-line violations by
triggering a light signal when the rock has cleared the line: green
indicates a valid release and red indicates a violation. The system
eliminates the need for hog-line judges.The concept is simple. A magnetic strip is placed underneath the ice
surface, and the rocks are equipped with special sensors in the handle.Professor Eric Salt came up with the initial idea for the system and built a
prototype with the help of four fourth year electrical engineering students
during a design class. The system was then redesigned and commercialized by
Startco Engineering, a Saskatoon-based company.Salt said: "There's nothing out there that does this. The sensor has been in
great demand particularly among national curling judges who say it greatly
improves detection of hog-line violations. Also, the ingenuity of the sensor
design and its low cost make it very attractive to the market."Startco has already sold 200 sensors to the Canadian Curling Association and
160 to the World Curling Federation.Startco President Garry Paulson and a U of S alumnus added: "Eye on the Hog
provides something the curling world has needed for a long time. It needed
precise, impartial, hog-line judging. This need is demonstrated by the
immediate acceptance of both the CCA and the WCF."Engineering Dean Claude Laguë said: "As well as being an excellent
product which benefits curling it was also exciting to see a group of
engineering students guided by their professor, tackling a very practical
problem with a unique application."-30-
For more information, contact:
Eric Salt
Professor Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5389
Claude Laguë
Dean
College of Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5273Garry Paulson
CEO Startco
Tel: (306) 373-5505Call for Nominations: Gail Appel Lecture Series in Literature andFine Arts
Posted March 05, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 5, 2004 2004-03-07-AR
Call for Nominations:
GAIL APPEL LECTURE SERIES IN LITERATURE AND FINE ARTS
From now until March 31st, the College of Arts and Science at the University
of Saskatchewan invites nominations for the next guest lecturer in the Gail
Appel Lecture Series in Literature and Fine Arts.This exciting and prestigious lecture series aims to attract some of the
world's most influential and distinguished artists from any and every
artistic field: literature, music, art, and more. From poets to painters,
dramatists to sculptors, musicians to performance artists, the range of
choice is as wide as your imagination.The inaugural lecture was held in September 2003 and featured renowned
singer, songwriter, digital artist, Academy Award winner, and educator Buffy
Sainte Marie. The next lecture is scheduled for the 2005-2006 academic year.
Nominations forms are available from the College of Arts and Science at the
University of Saskatchewan campus as well as online at
www.arts.usask.ca/lectureseries/gailappel. Nomination brochures have also
been distributed to Saskatoon Public Library branches.The deadline for nominations is March 31st, 2004.
The College of Arts and Science presents this exciting biennial lecture
series thanks to a generous donation from University of Saskatchewan
graduate Gail Appel (B.A. '66) and her husband, Mark Appel.More information is available at www.arts.usask.ca. Click on the "Lecture
Series" button and go to the "Gail Appel Lecture Series in Literature and
Fine Arts." The site can also be accessed by going directly to:
http://www.arts.usask.ca/lectureseries/gailappel.
- 30 -For further information, please contact:
Jennifer W. Webber Forrest
Communications Officer
College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan
Phone: 306-966-1982
Email: jennifer.webber@usask.caor
Ron Marken
Chair, Gail Appel Lectureship Steering Committee
Director, Gwenna Moss Teaching and Learning Centre
Phone: 306-966-5532
Email: ron.marken@usask.caMarch 03, 2004
Focus On Your Future at the U of S Opens Doors For Students
Posted March 03, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 3, 2004 2004-03-03-AR
Focus On Your Future Opens Doors For StudentsWhat: Focus On Your Future at the University of Saskatchewan
When: Saturday, March 6th from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m .
Where: Arts Building, University of Saskatchewan campus
Message: Career and Majors fair for current and prospective students.Where can an Arts and Science degree take you? Come to Focus On Your Future
to find out the answer is broader than you might think! This Saturday, the
College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan invites both
current and prospective students to an event designed to help them build
their academic plans and nurture their career aspirations.At this event, which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., U of S faculty and
professionals from a wide range of career backgrounds will guide students on
their career journeys through a variety of sessions. All events will take
place in the Arts Building on the U of S campus and are designed for current
and prospective Arts and Science students. Free parking is available in
Parking Lot G (behind the Arts building).The sessions are:
- Choosing Your Major - 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Room 146, Arts Bldg. Sometimes
it's hard to know how to "follow your heart."
(Speaker: Donna Bretell, Coordinator of Academic Advising, U of S)- Career and Program Information Fair - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Main and
2nd floor Arts Bldg. Tour display booths featuring a wide variety of career
areas and professional colleges, as well as a full selection of Arts and
Science departments and interdisciplinary programs.- Marketing Your Arts and Science Degree (Pizza Lunch) - 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Room 134, Arts Bldg. Pick up tips on job search techniques: how to get a
foot in the door; how to be in the right place at the right time; networking
and more. (Speaker: John Ault, Manager - Student Employment and Career
Centre, U of S)For more info visit our website at www.arts.usask.ca/focus/.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Jennifer W. Webber Forrest
Communications Officer, Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
Phone (306) 966-1982
Email jennifer.webber@usask.ca
