September 28, 2005
U of S Expert Available for Interviews on Dog Flu Virus
Posted September 28, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005
2005-09-13-WCVM
U of S Expert Available for Interviews on Dog Flu Virus
A new, highly contagious and sometimes deadly canine flu is spreading across
the United States, and experts fear the virus may be making its way into
Canada.
The virus, which scientists say mutated from the equine influenza virus, has
infected racing greyhounds in seven states and has been found in shelters
and pet shops in many places, including the New York suburbs.
It is unknown if the virus has made its way into Canada, though Guelph
University's Animal Health Laboratory is testing samples for evidence the
virus has crossed the border. Scientists believe the fatality rate may be
as high as 10 percent among puppies and older dogs diagnosed with the
disease.
University of Saskatchewan professor Hugh Townsend is an expert on the
equine influenza virus, which the dog influenza is thought to have mutated
from, and has been following the canine virus since it was discovered in
2004.
He believes that the risk of the dog influenza virus being contracted by
humans may be no greater than the risk for humans of contracting equine
influenza. The horse flu strain has been circulating in the equine
population for at least 40 years, but as yet there is no evidence that
humans have ever been infected by it.
"It's always possible, but there's no evidence to suggest a jump from
horses to humans, and from my understanding of the virus, the risk is no
different with the canine flu," Dr. Townsend said. "What's really
interesting is that horse flu has made it into dogs and is now being
transferred from one dog to another."
Townsend is a veterinarian, a faculty member in the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, and a scientist with the U of S Vaccine and Infectious
Disease Organization (VIDO). He can be reached at 966-1514.
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For more information, contact:
David Hutton
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6490
www.usask.ca/research
September 19, 2005
U of S Computer Science Prof Named to $1.16 M Cameco NSERC Prairie Chair for Women in Science and Engineering
Posted September 19, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9 a.m. Monday, September 19, 2005 2005-09-09-AR
U of S Computer Science Prof Named to $1.16 M Cameco NSERC Prairie Chair for
Women in Science and Engineering
University of Saskatchewan computer science professor Julita Vassileva has
been named to the Cameco NSERC Prairie Chair for Women in Science and
Engineering, U of S President Peter MacKinnon announced today.
Vassileva will work to identify barriers that deter females from pursuing
careers in science and engineering and support and mentor young women in the
sciences.
"This Chair, made possible by the critical support of our funding partners,
will allow Professor Vassileva to continue to lead by her own example of
career success, and launch new initiatives to help young women follow her
lead," MacKinnon said. "By attracting more women into science and
engineering, we will access the unique perspective and inventiveness of half
our population that has so far been underrepresented in these careers."
Participation of women in mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
in Canadian universities is not only lower than that of men but is also
lower than corresponding levels in the European Union. In some disciplines,
notably computer science and electrical and computer engineering, women's
involvement has declined even further in recent years.
The prestigious Chair is one of only five awarded across the country. The
five-year, $1.16 million appointment is supported with $350,000 from
Saskatoon-based Cameco Corporation as part of its gift to the University of
Saskatchewan Thinking the World of Our Future campaign. This is matched with
$350,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada (NSERC), with the balance made up by the University.
"At Cameco, we see first-hand the increasing need for engineers and science
specialists," said Jerry Grandey, Cameco's president and chief executive
officer. "The Cameco NSERC Prairie Chair for Women in Science and
Engineering will provide a unique opportunity to move forward and encourage
women in Saskatchewan to consider careers in science and engineering."
"It is important to promote the greater participation of women in research
fields where they have traditionally been underrepresented," said Finance
Minister Ralph Goodale. "The NSERC Chairs for Women in Science and
Engineering program is one of a number of initiatives that the government
has in place to encourage more women to pursue research careers in science
and engineering."
Vassileva is a successful computer scientist, having balanced career and
family to become an international leader in her field. She actively supports
women through lectures on the need for more female participation,
particularly in computer science and engineering. She also supervises and
mentors many young women at the undergraduate and graduate level.
In her research, she has developed ways of building rewards into the
software supporting online communities to ensure different types of users
are motivated to participate. Vassileva will determine what female-specific
incentives and rewards can be integrated into an online community to make it
fun and exciting, while piquing girls' interest in science and engineering.
For example, more active users would get more prominence online or
participants might win a book, free participation in a summer camp, or a
personal music player.
This online community will enable women and girls to share information,
discuss issues, read life stories of prominent role models, and get advice
on challenges such as juggling family and career or how to move up the
career ladder in a largely male-dominated set of professions. The online
aspect is critical, as women have few peers of their gender close at hand
with which to network.
Working with colleagues in sociology, Native studies, and women's and gender
studies, Vassileva will investigate the attitudes of girls, their parents
and their teachers at the high school level in Saskatoon, as well as in
rural Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She especially wants to connect with
Aboriginal women to get them excited about career opportunities in science
and engineering.
Vassileva will prepare recommendations for curriculum design in computer
sciences at the major Prairie universities to help them become more
women-friendly. She will also give public talks to parents, teachers, and
students, as well as presentations to grad students, faculty, and university
administrators to address issues such as subtle discrimination that
discourages women from pursuing careers in science and engineering.
Cameco is the world's largest uranium producer. The company's products are
used to generate electricity in nuclear energy plants around the world,
providing one of the cleanest sources of energy available today. For more
information, visit www.cameco.com.
NSERC is a federal agency that invests in people, discovery and innovation
for the benefit of all Canadians. For more information on its programs,
visit www.nserc.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Julita Vassileva
Department of Computer Science
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2073
jiv@cs.usask.ca
http://www.cs.usask.ca/people/faculty_profiles/julita.shtml
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Susan Burton
Campaign Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Thinking the World of our Future
(306) 966-1851
susan.burton@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/campaign
September 08, 2005
U of S economists say SK population growth will be limited
Posted September 08, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 8, 2005
2005-09-05-AG
U of S economists say SK population growth will be limited
U of S economists contend that large population growth in Saskatchewan is
unrealistic and should not form the basis for public policy. Large
population growth has no precedent in any of the Great Plains regions in
North America, regardless of the type of government policies that are in
place. Conservative-leaning North and South Dakota have fared no better than
Saskatchewan.
Mark Partridge, Canada Research Chair in the New Rural Economy at the
University, says a more realistic pursuit for Saskatchewan policy makers and
business leaders would be to concentrate on how to run a province and do
business in a place where population growth will be relatively modest at
best.
Partridge and his colleagues studied population growth in the Great Plains
regions from Saskatchewan to West Texas and found that they have all seen
population losses. "The diversity of government policy environments in the
Great Plain leads to the conclusion that there are no simple political
solutions to the population loss in this region," said fellow-researcher
Murray Fulton. "The only exceptions are in areas of higher amenities or
areas surrounding larger urban centres like Winnipeg or Omaha."
A more realistic prediction of population increase would be no more than
10-15 per cent in the next 20 years, says Fulton. But only if Saskatchewan
policy makers focus on the effective and efficient provision of public
services and on providing amenities that will make the province a good place
in which to live and do business. Ineffective programs already in place must
be jettisoned. "To achieve this, Saskatchewan will have to be competitive in
its package of taxes and amenities, including broad tax reductions rather
than targeted reductions or tax incentives which economists generally
believe to be ineffective."
The researchers go on to explain that public policy must include the
integration of Aboriginal people into the province's economic and social
mainstream while maintaining cultural identities. "The Aboriginal population
is particularly important to the future of Saskatchewan. The rate of growth
in this population is reasonably high indicating a source of population
growth and strength for the entire province."
Parallel to this, making education and training a priority will ensure a
productive and innovative labour force. To this end, policies should
consider intra- and inter-provincial agreements for access to specialized
education and training as well as excellent early childhood education and
care.
Also part of the research team, Rose Olfert recommends changes to rural
governance. A major stumbling block to population growth is most
municipalities are too small to attract business and do not have sufficient
resources to provide adequate infrastructure to retain their population.
"Saskatchewan should consider the layering of larger regional jurisdictions,
anchored on urban centres, over the current municipalities and
Saskatchewan's local governments should be given more taxation tools
including local option sales and fuel taxes."
A further boost could come from the development of a major north-south
corridor to facilitate competitive value-added goods and services
production. "With its current inadequate north-south transportation links to
the U.S, Saskatchewan cannot effectively compete with its neighbours." they
concluded.
Further research findings about the province's future will be discussed at
the Saskatchewan Centennial conference on September 8th to 10th in Regina.
For a copy of the complete policy brief, go to:
http://crerl.usask.ca/policy.php
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For more information contact:
Murray Fulton
Professor of Agricultural Economics
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-8507
Email: murray.fulton@usask.ca
Rose Olfert
Professor of Agricultural Economics
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4023
Email: rose.olfert@usask.ca
Mark Partridge
Canada Research Chair in the New Rural Economy
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4037
Email: mark.partridge@usask.ca
or go to:
http://crerl.usask.ca/ for related research and background information
communications@usask.ca for a map showing the North American Population
change during the 1990s
September 06, 2005
U of S Rededicates Historic College Building
Posted September 06, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, September 6, 2005 -11:00 a.m.
2005-09-04-OTHER
U of S Rededicates Historic College Building
In 1910, the College Building at the University of Saskatchewan represented
the future of a newly born province and a flourishing city. Today in a
ceremony on campus, this historic building was reopened as a symbol of our
bright future and our rich tradition.
The Honourable Lorne Calvert, Premier of Saskatchewan and U of S President,
Peter MacKinnon officially rededicated the College Building this morning.
Designated both a national historic site and a provincial heritage property,
the College Building is considered the architectural centerpiece of the
University.
"The rededication of this building serves as a sign of renewal not only for
our campus but also the city and the province," said President MacKinnon.
"We know that many fond memories were created in the College Building and we
are very excited to have the opportunity to reopen the building to another
generation."
The rehabilitation of the 95-year-old building was one of the largest
heritage conservation projects in Canada - second only to the work being
done on Parliament Hill.
"It is very fitting that this building be reopened during the Provincial
Centennial," said Premier Calvert. "The College Building is one of the most
important buildings in the province and we are thrilled that the University
had the foresight to preserve it."
"A national report indicates that the Collegiate Gothic buildings on the U
of S campus are the best grouping of that architectural style in Canada, of
which the College Building is the focal point," said University Architect,
Colin Tennent. "The building was originally constructed between 1910 and
1912 and the style is reminiscent of English universities such as Cambridge
and Oxford and American universities such as Princeton."
Unlike many other Canadian conservation projects, the College Building is
unique because the space will be highly functional. The new building will
house two art galleries and a museum as well as non-traditional space for
several special memorial tributes. There will also be space for senior
administration and student services.
The original construction of the building cost $297,000 and at the time of
completion it housed half of the University. The renewal of the building
began in earnest in November 2003 and has been completed on budget and on
time. The project cost $20.7 million and was supported by a generous
contribution from the Province of Saskatchewan.
A backgrounder with more information is available at
http://www.usask.ca/collegebuilding/brochure.html or by calling University
Communications at (306) 966-6607.
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For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6612
Erin Taman
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
