U of S Students Awarded First ILO/Innovation Place Innovation Challenge Award

Posted May 10, 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 10, 2005 2005-05-10-OTHER

U of S Students Awarded First ILO/Innovation Place Innovation Challenge
Award

Two University of Saskatchewan graduate students are the first recipients of
the Innovation Challenge Award jointly sponsored by the U of S Industry
Liaison Office (ILO) and Innovation Place.

Biology graduate student Tarik Dessouki and chemical engineering graduate
student Tim Friesen will each receive $500 which will be presented today at
the "Celebrate Success" gala dinner, co-sponsored by the Saskatoon and
District Chamber of Commerce and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.

Both student researchers will be nominated for the national Innovation
Challenge Award, a competition with more than $20,000 in total prize money
including a $10,000 first prize. The national award is co-sponsored by NSERC
(Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) and the Canadian Science
and Technology Growth Fund.

The local award was created in part to encourage graduate students to apply
for the national prize but also to recognize the creation of commercially
viable technology at the U of S, said Doug Gill, ILO managing director.

"It's a great program. It is important to instill in graduate students the
idea that their research has commercial potential. The program helps
students look at their research from a different point of view," said Gill,
noting that he hopes more graduate students will apply for the award in the
future.

Austin Beggs, Innovation Place marketing and corporate development director,
said Innovation Place is pleased to support and recognize students in the
pursuit of excellence in their fields. "It is our desire to see more
economic activity generated in the province. We want to encourage students
to reach their academic goals and begin thinking about practical
application," he said.

- Tarik Dessouki's project examines methods to remove metal contaminants
from flooded open pit mines, a major environmental issue across Canada. The
biology Master's student has independently conducted a successful
large-scale and remote field project at Cluff Lake mine in Northern
Saskatchewan. He has also been awarded a prestigious NSERC IPS scholarship
and given talks at local, regional, and national conferences. His research,
funded in part by Cameco and Cogema, represents a major innovation for the
mining industry.

- Tim Friesen, a PhD student in chemical engineering, hopes to develop a
more economical way to formulate and preserve agriculture inoculants,
microbial products that enhance the ability of Saskatchewan commercial crops
such as canola and field peas to grow and resist diseases. Friesen earned
his M.Sc. from the University of Toronto in 2000.

Both Dessouki and Friesen will also be recognized with a photo posted on the
College of Graduate Studies Award Winners wall and a trophy.

More information about the Innovation Challenge Award is available at:
http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo/innovationchallenge/index.php

-30-

For more information, contact:

David Hutton
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425