May 31, 2006
Moose Jaw company donates $100,000 to U of S
Posted May 31, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 31st, 2006 2006-05-40-ENG
Moose Jaw company donates $100,000 to U of S
Moose Jaw Asphalt and its parent company, Gibson Energy Ltd., presented
$100,000 to the University of Saskatchewan today - the largest gift ever
received by the University from an organization in Moose Jaw.
The donation will enable researchers at the University's College of
Engineering to develop an effective system to deal with petroleum
contaminated soils and sludges.
The donation, to the University's Thinking the World of our Future campaign,
was presented by Terry W. Gomke, P. Eng., President and CEO of Gibson Energy
Ltd. and Mike Collins, President of Moose Jaw Asphalt, at a special ceremony
in Moose Jaw attended by representatives from the University and Moose Jaw
Asphalt employees. During the presentation, Mr. Gomke said "We are pleased
to contribute to the future development of research and engineering
technology excellence through the University of Saskatchewan."
Collins, a U of S commerce graduate, said: "Moose Jaw Asphalt is active in
the remediation of legacy environmental issues at the plant site and this
technology is directly related to our efforts to improve the environmental
situation. This investment is a part of our ongoing long-term agreement with
the Saskatchewan Government to remediate the plant site. In addition to
funding, we will provide the project with a perfect venue for testing the
technology."
Heather Magotiaux, Vice-President University Advancement, said: "This
generous donation will enhance the graduate learning experience at the
College of Engineering and will lead to significant improvements in
environmental pollution control. We are very grateful for Gibson Energy's
generosity to the University of Saskatchewan and the confidence they place
in our University's research programs."
Gibson Energy Ltd. is the largest independent midstream company in Canada -
the company has played a significant role in the country's oil and gas
industry by linking upstream producers with downstream refiners. Its
operations began in 1953 moving oil from Gull Lake Saskatchewan to the
British American refinery in Calgary.
Moose Jaw Asphalt, a subsidiary of Gibson Energy Ltd., is a major producer
of road asphalt, roofing flux, wellsite fluids and light products which are
distributed across Canada and the United States.
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For more information, contact:
Tina Merrifield
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2213
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May 29, 2006
Health Disparities Focus of New U of S-Led Research Projects
Posted May 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, May 29th, 2006
2006-05-32-OTHER
Health Disparities Focus of New U of S-Led Research Projects
Three University of Saskatchewan-led research teams have been awarded $2.3
million over five years to explore health inequities among vulnerable
populations including Aboriginal people, minority francophones, and
disadvantaged people in Saskatoon.
The funding will be provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
(CIHR) through their Reducing Health Disparities-Interdisciplinary Capacity
Enhancement (ICE) program, which invests in building research teams with
expertise in diverse disciplines to help reduce health inequalities across
Canada.
"Interdisciplinary research is a key component in our strategy to become one
of Canada's top 10 research-intensive universities," says U of S
Vice-President Research Steven Franklin. "Today's support from CIHR enhances
the ability of our multi-disciplinary groups to tackle challenging health
questions in innovative ways."
The grants were included in a $14-million CIHR investment announced today in
Vancouver by federal Health Minister Tony Clement to support 20 ICE projects
across Canada. The U of S leads or is significantly involved in five of the
new projects - a quarter of the total.
ICE projects involve collaboration with research associates from across
Canada. The three U of S-led projects are:
- U of S social scientists Lewis Williams and Caroline Tait and their team
-- $795,000 over five years to investigate reducing mental health
disparities among vulnerable populations, particularly Aboriginal and
immigrant women, through population health promotion. They will address
underlying and environmental conditions that can lead to mental illness and
bring together researchers, policy makers, practitioners and community
members to develop mental health promotion initiatives. Williams is director
of the Prairie Region Health Promotion Research Centre, while Tait is
assistant professor with the Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre.
Their project was ranked number one in the national competition.
- Dr. Cory Neudorf, U of S associate clinical professor in community health
and epidemiology and the Saskatoon Health Region's chief medical officer and
research vice-president, and his team -- $790,000 over five years to
investigate reducing health disparities among vulnerable populations in
Saskatoon.
- U of S community health and epidemiology professor Anne Leis and
University of Ottawa sociologist Louise Bouchard and their team -- $750,000
to study factors that influence health disparities among French-speaking
people in minority situations, and, through creation of a national network,
identify strategies to reduce these disparities. About a million native
speakers of French - one of Canada's two official languages - don't have
access to culturally relevant health resources in their mother tongue. The
research will focus on the health status of and health services provided to
children, seniors, and their caregivers.
U of S is also involved in two other large team projects - one that will
investigate globalization and the health of Canadians, and another that will
study access to rural palliative care. A complete list of ICE projects and
co-applicants is available at: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/30894.html
CIHR launched the Reducing Health Disparities Initiative in 2001 to support
outstanding research aimed at reducing health inequalities in Canada.
"Canadians and the Canadian health care system will benefit greatly from
this innovative and important research," said Dr. Miriam Stewart, Scientific
Director of the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) and CIHR lead for
the national reducing health disparities initiative.
"These research teams will deepen our understanding of the factors that lead
to the extensive health inequalities that persist in Canada and in other
countries. This research evidence will inform programs, practice and policy
at local, provincial and national levels and lead to the development of more
effective interventions for many affected populations."
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For more information, contact:
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Marie-France Poirier
CIHR Media Relations
(613) 447-4794
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
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U of S Aboriginal/Newcomer Research Highlighted at National Scholars' Congress
Posted May 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, May 29, 2006
2006-05-33-OTHER
U of S Aboriginal/Newcomer Research Highlighted at National Scholars'
Congress
University of Saskatchewan faculty and students will be among 8,000 scholars
speaking and presenting papers at York University May 27 to June 3 at the
2006 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, the largest conference
of its kind in North America.
Among the U of S presenters:
- Challenging Stereotypes at Expo '67
For organizers of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, the authentic
representation and participation of Aboriginal Peoples in 2010 is a
priority. But 40 years ago, at another international event that took place
in Canada, the situation was much different.
First Nations people involved with the development of the Expo '67 Pavilion
were able to overcome efforts by Indian Affairs officials to use the
Pavilion to promote assimilation-based government policies and falsely
portray the First Nation experience in Canada, say U of S Canada Research
Chair in Native-Newcomer Relations Jim Miller and York University history
professor Myra Rutherdale.
Thanks to the efforts of First Nations people, the pavilion depicted the
experience and contemporary situation of the First Nations fairly
critically, telling a story that was meant to provoke viewers about the
impact of colonization on Canada's First Nations.
"Never before had Canadian or international visitors been asked to do that,"
say Miller and Rutherdale.
The pavilion caused a minor sensation at Expo, made international news in
Italy, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Australia, Cuba, and Russia, and is considered
to be the first public display of the true-often brutal-First Nation
experience in Canada.
Miller and Rutherdale will present their paper May 30 from 10:45 a.m.
to12:30 p.m. at the Schulich School of Business. Miller is available for
interviews after the presentation and can be reached at: j.r.miller@usask.ca
More information on Miller can be found at: www.usask.ca/history/crc/
- What can urban Aboriginals learn from 19th century Irish immigrants in
Toronto?
Since 1950, Aboriginal urbanization has increased dramatically, with the
Aboriginal population in urban areas expected to grow by more than 50 per
cent between 1991 and 2016. The question remains, with a greater presence
in the community, how much influence will the Aboriginal population have in
Saskatoon?
Paralleling the urban Aboriginal experience in Saskatoon with the
experiences of 19th century Irish immigrants in Toronto, U of S history
professor Michael Cottrell argues that Aboriginal people in Saskatoon will
exert great influence on the future of the city-more so than the Irish in
Toronto.
Both groups, says Cottrell, "left a familiar and culturally supportive rural
environment for an alien and hostile urban setting," he says, adding,
"Because of their relative poverty and perceived cultural inferiority, both
groups were relegated to a marginalized or underclass status" and were
considered out of place in an urban environment.
Similar to the Irish experience in Toronto, Aboriginal people in Saskatoon
have begun to assert their economic and social rights. Aboriginal people
have retained their special status and claim to self-government, allowing
them "to construct a realm of political separatism in Saskatoon never
dreamed of by the Irish in Toronto," Cottrell says.
Cottrell will speak May 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Schulich
School of Business. He is available for interviews after the presentation
and can be reached at: cottrellmj@sasktel.net
The U of S will host next year's Congress with the Canadian Federation for
the Humanities and Social Sciences. For more information, visit:
www.fedcan.ca/congress2007
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For more information contact:
Jeremy Warren
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6058
jeremy.warren@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
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May 25, 2006
AAFC and U of S Forge New Partnership to Conserve Livestock Diversity
Posted May 25, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 25th, 2006 2006-05-31-AG and WCVM
AAFC and U of S Forge New Partnership to Conserve Livestock Diversity
Scientists will help conserve Canada's valuable livestock breeds through the
Canadian Animal and Poultry Genetic Resources initiative, a new program
developed by the University of Saskatchewan and Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (AAFC) which is providing just over $1 million for equipment and
other start-up costs.
"This is an excellent example of how government, industry and academia can
work together to help sustain a competitive and profitable future for
Canadian agriculture and agri-food sectors," said Chuck Strahl, federal
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat
Board, "and another example of this government's commitment to farmers."
The program will be a combination of research and gene bank for cattle,
pigs, poultry and other livestock. It will acquire, maintain and distribute
genetic resources and information about breeds and genetic material for
researchers across Canada. Scientists will characterize, evaluate and
analyze existing genetic diversity and monitor it for change. They will also
work to develop new techniques to collect and preserve genetic material.
"With the establishment of the hub and the concentration of U of S expertise
and the strengths at the College of Agriculture and the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, we will be jointly developing a new, unique to North
America graduate program in conservation of animal genetic resources," said
U of S Associate Dean of Agriculture Graham Scoles.
The U of S College of Agriculture and the Western College of Veterinary
Medicine (WCVM) will serve as the "hub" of this initiative. Participants
include Bova-Can Laboratories (a joint venture between the Saskatchewan
Research Council and Bova-Can Parentage Testing Inc.), AAFC's Plant Gene
Resources Canada, and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
"By conserving our animal genetic resources, we protect our capacity to
respond to both animal health and market challenges," said Charles Rhodes,
Dean of the WCVM at the U of S. "This new program will also provide a
resource for Canadian breeders to develop animals tailored for niche
opportunities both here and abroad."
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognizes the
loss of animal genetic diversity as a growing concern worldwide and has
developed its Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic
Resources.
"There are growing international efforts in many countries around the world
to conserve genetic diversity in traditional breeds," said Donald Shaver,
former chair of the Canadian Farm Animal Genetic Resources Foundation. "It
is our responsibility to see to it that our irreplaceable Canadian animal
genetics are similarly conserved."
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For more information, contact:
Graham Scoles
Associate Dean
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4957
Norman Rawlings
Associate Dean
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7068
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(613) 759-7972
Ken Richards
Research Manager
Genetic Resources Program
(306) 956 7641
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May 24, 2006
U of S Honours Most Distinguished Graduates at Spring Convocation 2006
Posted May 24, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 24, 2006 2006-05-30-OTHER
U of S Honours Most Distinguished Graduates at Spring Convocation
The University of Saskatchewan will recognize the achievements of its most
distinguished graduates at Spring Convocation May 23-25 at TCU Place in
Saskatoon. Several awards and prizes will be presented, including the
prestigious Governor General's Gold and Silver Medals.
Kerri McIntosh will receive the Governor General's Gold Medal, awarded to
the graduate student with the highest academic standing. McIntosh is a
native of Saskatoon and graduated from Bedford Road Collegiate in 1994. With
a strong interest in evolution and genetics, she completed her B.Sc.
(Biology) at the University of Saskatchewan in 1999, after which she
immediately began graduate work in plant molecular biology. Her doctoral
work focused on synthesis of the ribosome, a complex enzyme made of numerous
proteins and RNA molecules that are responsible for protein production in
all living organisms. Ribosome synthesis and defects therein are known to be
linked to cell growth, cell division and cancer, development, stress
responses, and disease, yet very little is known about this fundamental
process. McIntosh's thesis research was one of the first comprehensive
studies of ribosomal protein regulation in plants. Currently a postdoctoral
researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, she
continues to study ribosome synthesis. McIntosh hopes to remain in research,
pursuing the secrets of the ribosome and its role in evolutionary history.
Media note: McIntosh is unable to attend the ceremony.
Logan Hoehn will receive the Governor General's Silver Medal, awarded to the
undergraduate with the highest academic standing. He was born and raised in
Saskatoon. He graduates with a Bachelor of Science Double Honours Degree
with High Honours in Computer Science and Mathematics. Hoehn is also the
recipient of the Earl of Bessborough Prize which is awarded to the most
distinguished graduate in the Natural Sciences in the College of Arts and
Science. He has excelled academically and has been awarded numerous
scholarships and awards during his academic career to date. Hoehn has been
active as a volunteer with the "Homework Help Program," Carlyle King Public
Library, has coached basketball with the Saskatoon Minor Basketball
Association and has tutored many students in mathematics and computer
science throughout his years at the University of Saskatchewan. He has been
accepted into a graduate program in Mathematics at the University of Toronto
for 2006-07 and after obtaining his M.Sc. there, intends to go on to a Ph.D.
Program in Mathematics and to become a professor in Mathematics.
Media note: Hoehn will be presented the Silver Medal on Wednesday, May 24 at
the 2:00 p.m. ceremony at TCU Place.
For other story ideas and contacts for human interest pieces, contact
University Communications at (306) 966-6919.
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For more information, contact:
Erin Taman
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
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May 18, 2006
U of S Spring Convocation Ceremonies Held May 23 - 25
Posted May 18, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 18, 2006 2006-05-24-OTHER
U of S Spring Convocation Ceremonies Held May 23 - 25
The University of Saskatchewan will honour its graduates and confer 2,800
degrees, diplomas and certificates at the annual Spring Convocation May
23-25 at TCU Place (formerly the Centennial Auditorium) in Saskatoon.
Chancellor Tom Molloy will confer the degrees and preside over the
ceremonies.
Students receiving graduate degrees (Master's and doctoral) will graduate
immediately following undergraduates in their disciplines.
Please note the citations for the award winners follow this news release as
a separate document.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. (graduate procession begins at 1:45 p.m.)
College of Agriculture
College of Commerce
College of Engineering
Honorary Doctor of Science - Lotfi Zadeh
Convocation Address - Lotfi Zadeh
Presentation of Awards to Faculty:
- Master Teacher Award - Fred Phillips (Professor, College of Commerce)
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. (graduate procession begins at 8:45
a.m.)
College of Arts and Science with the following majors:
Anatomy and Cell Biology; Art History; Biochemistry; Bioinformatics;
Biology; Biomolecular Structure Studies; Biotechnology and Biochemistry;
Biotechnology and Biology; Biotechnology and Cell Biology; Biotechnology and
Microbiology; Business Economics; Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology;
Comparative Literature and Languages; Computer Science; Computing;
Economics; English; Environmental Earth Sciences; Food Science; French;
Geography; Geology; German; History; International Studies; Land Use and
Environmental Studies; Linguistics; Microbiology; Palaeobiology; Physiology;
Regional and Urban Development; Russian; Spanish; Studio Art; and
Ukrainian.
Honorary Doctor of Letters - Nik Semenoff
Convocation Address - Nik Semenoff
Earned Doctor of Science - Larry Fowke
Presentation of Awards to Faculty:
- Distinguished Researcher Award - Jim Hendry (Professor, Geological
Sciences, College of Arts and Science)
- Outreach and Public Service Award - François Messier (Professor,
Biology, College of Arts and Science)
Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. (graduate procession begins at 1:45
p.m.)
College of Arts and Science with the following majors:
Aboriginal Public Administration; Anthropology; Archaeology; Astronomy;
Chemistry; Drama; Geophysics; Mathematical Physics; Mathematics; Music;
Native Studies; Philosophy; Physics; Political Studies; Psychology; Public
Administration; Religious Studies; Sociology; Sociology of Biotechnology;
Statistics; Toxicology; and Women's and Gender Studies.
College of Nursing
President's Address - Peter MacKinnon
Presentation of President's Service Award - Pauline Melis (Director,
Institutional Planning)
Thursday May 25, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. (graduate procession begins at 8:45 a.m.)
College of Dentistry
College of Kinesiology
College of Medicine
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
School of Physical Therapy
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Honorary Doctor of Laws - The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk
Convocation Address - The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk
Thursday May 25, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. (graduate procession begins at 1:45 p.m.)
College of Education
College of Law
Honorary Doctor of Laws - Elder Jimmy Myo
President's Address - Peter MacKinnon
Receptions will take place immediately following each ceremony at TCU Place.
Media are invited to attend.
For further information about the Convocation ceremony, visit:
www.usask.ca/university_secretary/convocation.shtml or
students.usask.ca/academic/convocation/ceremony/
For complete biographies and pictures of award winners please contact
Communications at (306) 966-6919 or visit: awards.usask.ca/
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For more information, please contact:
Lea Pennock
University Secretary
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4635
Erin Taman
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
HONORARY AND EARNED DEGREE RECIPIENTS
The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk, a native of Canora, Saskatchewan, has
contributed to the province in the areas of medical research, athletics, and
post-secondary education. Fedoruk studied at the University of Saskatchewan
where she earned a B.A. (High Honours in Physics), an M.A. and then became a
professor on campus. She is likely best known for her work with a research
team that developed a world first - the Cobalt 60 Therapy Unit which uses
high energy radiation to treat cancer. She retired after 35 years of service
at the U of S but quickly returned as Chancellor and a member of the Board
of Governors. Notably, she was the province's first female Lieutenant
Governor, serving in this capacity from 1988-1994. Fedoruk is the recipient
of many awards which truly mirror her accomplishments including investiture
as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws on
Thursday, May 25 at 9:00 a.m.
Jimmy Myo is a prominent elder in the Saskatchewan First Nations community
and is very knowledgeable on Treaty Governance and Justice issues. Elder Myo
served as Band Chief for three years and a Band Councillor for 15 years.
Even when he was not an elected official he was a community leader.
Recently, he was instrumental in the building of a new school at Moosomin
and he was the first from his community to offer local bus service for the
children. Elder Myo gives lectures on treaties throughout the province and
he is a respected historian in this area. He is also an accomplished
bareback rider on the prairie rodeo circuit.
Jimmy Myo will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws on Thursday, May 25 at
2:00 p.m.
Nik Semenoff has taught at the U of S and been an Artist-in-Residence since
1992. His cutting-edge, original research into safer printmaking processes
has placed the University at the forefront of non-toxic printmaking research
and education. His invention of a "waterless lithographic process" is both
safer and less expensive. Semenoff is a respected local artist and has been
active in and supportive of, the provincial artistic community. He was a
founding member of both the Saskatchewan Society of Artists and Gallery 9 in
Saskatoon. Semenoff's innovations in the areas of printmaking are
exceptional and his tireless work as a research and educator are
outstanding.
Nik Semenoff will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters on Wednesday, May 24
at 9:00 a.m.
Lotfi Zadeh is widely known as the father of the theory of fuzzy logic. His
theory acknowledges that while we would like to believe that decisions can
be made with complete confidence in their correctness, this is rarely the
case and there is some uncertainty or 'fuzziness' in the decision. His
mathematical description of these uncertainties was developed in the 1960's.
Its application includes areas such as control systems, artificial
intelligence, medical diagnosis, economic systems and decision analysis.
Thousands of papers have been written on the topic by researchers around the
globe. Zadeh has also been an inspiration and role model for many professors
and students at the U of S. Currently he is a Professor at the University of
California, Berkeley.
Lotfi Zadeh will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science on Tuesday, May 23 at
2:00 p.m.
Larry Fowke is a biology professor at the U of S. His research has focused
on cells, the tiny building blocks of living organisms. Some of his research
has looked at the fascinating mechanisms by which plant cells move material
across their cell membrane and research for the forestry industry on the
reproduction of conifer trees. He has been a visiting scientist at
universities in Australia, Switzerland, Sweden and England. Fowke also loves
to teach - both first year biology classes and more specialized classes in
cell biology and electron microscopy. For more than 30 years, his laboratory
has been an exciting place to work with numerous graduate students,
postdoctoral fellows and visiting scientists from around the world.
Larry Fowke will receive an Earned Doctor of Science on Wednesday, May 24 at
9:00 a.m.
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS
Fred Phillips - Master Teacher Award
The Master Teacher Award recognizes teaching excellence and outstanding
contributions to the learning environment of the University. Students are in
awe of Phillips' ability to hold 120 of them enthralled about accounting for
90 minutes on a Monday morning at 8:30 am. Testimonials consistently praise
his commitment and love for fostering individual learning. He is also the
quintessential teacher-scholar whose teaching has informed his research and
vice-versa. Phillips has achieved great success as a published
researcher-the research frequently originating from the classroom.
Currently, a professor in the Dept. of Accounting in the College of
Commerce, he has either been nominated for or won a teaching related award
every year since coming to the University of Saskatchewan in 1996.
This award will be presented at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2006.
Francois Messier - Outreach and Public Service Award
This award recognizes individuals who extend the University's expertise to
the broader community. Messier's belief in the importance of outreach and
public service is evident in his considerable voluntary participation in
ecological organizations. He has conducted independent scientific reviews of
the management of grizzly bears in B.C. and the recovery of threatened
mountain caribou in the Rocky Mountains. He has also served on a monitoring
group promoting good environmental management at the Ekati Diamond Mine in
the Northwest Territories. His work is exceptional and is done in addition
to serving as the Head of the Department of Biology at the U of S. Through
his outreach activities, he has exemplified the ways in which a university
professor and administrator can positively engage and influence the public
sphere.
This award will be presented at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2006.
Jim Hendry - Distinguished Researcher Award
Jim Hendry, professor of Hydrogeology in the Department of Geological
Sciences, is world-renowned for pioneering research with aquitards -
impervious, clay-rich layers that protect water-bearing aquifers. Aquitard
materials are also used as a barrier to protect groundwater in everything
from sewage lagoons to mine tailings ponds. Hendry's pioneering insights and
imaginative research have yielded 100 research papers - the most
comprehensive reference on aquitards in existence and an important guide for
stewardship of Earth's precious water resources. Hendry held leadership
positions with water research agencies in Canada and the U.S. before
assuming his current position at the U of S as Cameco-NSERC Industrial
Research Chair in 1994. He currently teaches aqueous and environmental
geochemistry and continues outreach work with public talks on water
stewardship, and has led workshops on the uses of the Canadian Light Source
synchrotron in geological research.
This award will be presented at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2006.
Pauline Melis - President's Service Award
The President's Service Award recognizes individuals who have enhanced the
work environment through extraordinary service and commitment to the campus
community. For over fifteen years, Melis has been instrumental in the
creation of all major policy and planning documents at the U of S. She is
currently the Director of Institutional Planning at the U of S. Melis
epitomizes dedication to the University, and has earned the respect and
admiration of senior administrators, faculty, staff and students. She has
been instrumental in connecting the University community with institutional
planning associations across North America, and is committed to ongoing
professional and personal development. Her colleagues define her as the
"quintessential professional" and "fearlessly dedicated advocate" of the
institution, and credit her for achieving the "highest possible degree of
consensus around documents and decisions that make a difference" at the U of
S.
This award will be presented at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2006.
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U of S groundwater pioneer to receive Distinguished Researcher Award
Posted May 18, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, May 18, 2006 2006-05-25-OTHER
U of S groundwater pioneer to receive Distinguished Researcher Award
A University of Saskatchewan professor whose pioneering research is
providing knowledge critical to stewardship of Earth's precious fresh water
resources will receive this spring's Distinguished Researcher Award at the
Spring Convocation ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on May 24 at TCU Place in
Saskatoon.
Jim Hendry, a professor of geology in the department of geological sciences,
is world-renowned for his innovative research with aquitards -
near-impermeable underground layers that sandwich the water-rich aquifers
providing water supplies across Canada and around the world.
"Professor Hendry's pioneering insights have brought light to an area of
geological science that had remained an unassailable frontier," says U of S
Vice President Research Steven Franklin. "His work has given us new methods
for stewardship of Earth's precious water resources, and passed this
knowledge to our students to take on this role in the future."
Clay-rich aquitards are also the material of choice to sequester the
dangerous wastes of modern technological society - everything from swine
waste and PCBs to mine tailings and nuclear waste. Despite their importance,
they are among the most difficult geological features to study and thus the
least understood area in groundwater science.
Hendry was one of the first to address this challenge in a rigorous manner
and thus define the field. With more than 100 research papers on the topic
to date, his work is the most significant and comprehensive reference on
aquitards in existence.
Hendry achieved his B.Sc. in hydrogeology and M.Sc. in geochemistry in the
1970s from the University of Waterloo. He was awarded a PhD in
hydrogeochemistry in 1984 through his studies at the Universities of
Waterloo and Alberta. For 10 years he was head of the Groundwater Section of
Alberta Agriculture's Lethbridge Research Centre before becoming director of
research for the U.S. National Groundwater Association in 1988.
He returned to Canada in 1990 to lead the Groundwater and Contaminants
Project at the National Hydrology Research Institute in Saskatoon. When
Cameco donated a research chair to the University in 1994, an international
peer-reviewed competition selected Hendry to fill it. This was leveraged
into a Cameco-NSERC Industrial Research Chair, recently renewed for a third
five-year term.
Hendry has developed courses on using isotopes to study groundwater
contamination, contaminant transport, aqueous geochemistry, and aquifer
analysis. He currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in aqueous
and environmental geochemistry.
He has also contributed to numerous scholarly and outreach activities,
including seminars on groundwater safety presented to the public. In the
academic community, he has fostered strong collaborations within the
university and among outside partners. A strong proponent of the Canadian
Light Source, he has led workshops on its use in geological research.
Hendry's work has been selected for international awards, and resulted in a
vibrant network of industrial and academic partners who seek his expertise.
He was selected as the prestigious Darcy Lecturer in 2000, and over the next
two years spoke at nearly 40 universities and research institutions in North
America, Europe and Australia. In 2003 he was the recipient of the Hem Award
for Excellence in Science and Engineering in Groundwater.
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Note to editors: a photo of Jim Hendry is available on request.
For more information, contact:
Jim Hendry
Department of Geological Sciences
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5720
jim.hendry@usask.ca
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
--------
May 17, 2006
Maternal Immunization May Protect Newborns from Whooping Cough - U of S VIDO Study
Posted May 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 17, 2006 2006-05-21-VIDO
Maternal Immunization May Protect Newborns from Whooping Cough - U of S VIDO
Study
In a bid to find a way to protect newborns from whooping cough, a research
team at the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease
Organization (VIDO) has shown that vaccinating pregnant sows may control the
disease in newborn piglets.
The study, which used a newly developed swine model, found that piglets that
suckled milk from vaccinated sows showed fewer symptoms and harboured lower
numbers of bacteria than piglets borne by mothers that were not vaccinated.
The findings are published in this month's issue of the journal Infection
and Immunity.
"We showed that until the newborn is old enough to be vaccinated, we could
protect it from whooping cough by immunizing the pregnant mother," said
Volker Gerdts, head of VIDO's Neonatal Immunization Program.
As a result of the vaccine, the pregnant sows developed antibodies against
the whooping cough bacteria, B. pertussis, and then passed the antibodies to
their offspring via their milk.
While maternal immunization has been successful in the animal health
industry for decades, it has not been applied to human health to the same
extent, he noted.
"The value of this technique is that it may protect newborns of different
species, including humans," he said.
VIDO director Lorne Babiuk said the new method holds the potential to save
millions of lives, particularly in developing countries where whooping
cough, or pertussis, kills up to 300,000 children each year.
Though there are vaccines for whooping cough, newborns have immature immune
systems that do not respond well to vaccination, Babiuk said.
"Newborns are the most vulnerable to infection, yet they are the least
likely to be protected by vaccines," he said. "But when newborns fall ill,
they are at great risk and can spread disease to other vulnerable infants
and to the community."
In contrast to newborns, pregnant women respond well to vaccines.
The researchers used a vaccine that was made of heat-inactivated B.
pertussis and was similar to commercially available vaccines.
Gerdts says that it will be several years before this technique is available
for widespread use, although it is at the stage where it could be studied in
humans. Pregnant mothers would be vaccinated with a commercially available
vaccine, and the babies would be observed for the presence of antibodies
against the bacteria.
In addition to Gerdts and Babiuk, co-authors on the study include Shokrollah
Elahi (lead author) and Rachelle Buchanan.
Support for the study was provided by the following:
* A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through the Grand Challenges in Global
Health Initiative (http://www.grandchallengesgh.org/).
* CIHR
* The Krembil Foundation is a Toronto-based family foundation that supports
world-class medical research. The Foundation's gift is supporting the
improvement of early-childhood vaccines by VIDO.
* The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF, postdoctoral fellowship
to S. Elahi)
The researchers are exploring additional methods to improve immunity from B.
pertussis. In another study published in last month's Infection and
Immunity, the authors found that a protein that is part of the natural
immune response can protect piglets against pertussis and may be a
significant weapon against other respiratory diseases.
VIDO has a long history of using maternal immunization to protect newborn
animals from disease and was the first to develop maternal vaccines for the
prevention of calf scours in newborn calves over two decades ago.
VIDO (www.vido.org) is a world leader in the research and development of
vaccine and immunotherapeutic technologies for livestock and humans. VIDO is
a financially self-reliant, non-profit organization owned by the University
of Saskatchewan. It collaborates extensively with external institutes and
companies and provides a rich training environment.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Lorne A. Babiuk
VIDO Director
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7475
lorne.babiuk@usask.ca
Volker Gerdts
Program Manager, Neonatal Immunization, VIDO
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1513
volker.gerdts@usask.ca
Tess Laidlaw
VIDO Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1506
tess.laidlaw@usask.ca
--------
University of Saskatchewan Receives 3 Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership Awards
Posted May 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 17, 2006
2006-05-22-CO
University of Saskatchewan Receives 3 Entrepreneurship and Business
Leadership Awards
(TORONTO) - The University of Saskatchewan was recognized for student and
faculty entrepreneurial and business leadership excellence by winning three
out of the top five awards presented at the Advancing Canadian
Entrepreneurship (ACE) National Awards Banquet held at the Toronto Hilton
May 16, 2006.
Over 2000 student leaders, 50 faculty members, and 300 business judges
gathered to showcase financial literacy projects, entrepreneurial ventures
and to compete for awards of business excellence.
Michael Scissons, a 2006 Arts and Science graduate now with General
Entertainment Corporation, received a cash prize of $10,000 and was named
the recipient of the 2006 National CIBC Student Entrepreneur of the Year
Award. He will represent Canada at the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards
(GSEA) competition-presented by Mercedes Benz financial, to be held in
Chicago, Illinois in November.
Dean Kennedy, a 3rd year Commerce student at the U of S and ACE Saskatchewan
President was selected from over 2000 student leaders across the nation as
the inaugural recipient of the Gwyn Morgan Scholarship for Principled
Leadership. Funded by EnCana Corporation, this scholarship of $2500 is
presented in honour of their former CEO, Gwyn Morgan paying tribute to his
character, tenacity and leadership; his instrumental role in the creation of
EnCana.
"I am honoured to be the recipient of this scholarship and proud to have
represent the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in the province of
Saskatchewan," said Kennedy.
Ayten Archer, ACE John Dobson Fellow and ACE Saskatchewan Faculty Advisor
was selected from over 50 faculty members and named John Dobson ACE Fellow
of the Year. In presenting the award, Professor Peter Johnson of McGill
University and Vice Chairman of the John Dobson Foundation stated, "Across
the country, university and college faculty are helping develop young
confident, entrepreneurial and community minded youth poised to make a
difference in the Canadian business landscape. The recipient's contribution
to the advancement of entrepreneurial learning is outstanding and
invaluable."
ACE Saskatchewan team members Dean Kennedy, Brad Vermeersch, Paul Magnuson,
Ainsley Robertson, Nicole Martini, Curtis Mann, Casey Stuart, Dawn
Predinchuk, Kate Matthews, Marla Boyer, Jodi Matsalla, Mindy Loverin, and
Laith Anton were named finalists in the National Exposition beating 46
Canadian university and college teams. Memorial University won the event
and the right to represent Canada at the SIFE -Students in Free Enterprise
World Cup in Paris, France in September.
"Our students were provided the opportunity to showcase seven projects with
the theme of breaking economic barriers, empowerment and sustainability to
Canada's most respected industry leaders. They received invaluable feedback
on their communication, financial literacy and business leadership skills,"
said Archer, the ACE Saskatchewan team coach.
"We are grateful to members of the Saskatoon business community for their
on-going support of our entrepreneurial projects and are tremendously proud
of the success of our students."
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Dean Kennedy
President, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship, Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 260-9760
Email: dlk862@mail.usask.ca
Ayten Archer
ACE John Dobson Fellow
Professor, College of Commerce
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-8424
Email: archer@commerce.usask.ca
--------
May 10, 2006
U of S Scientists Win Innovation Award for Calf Disease Prevention Research
Posted May 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, May 10, 2006
2006-05-14-WCVM
U of S Scientists Win Innovation Award for Calf Disease Prevention Research
Two University of Saskatchewan researchers have won the fifth annual
Innovation Place-Industry Liaison Office Award of Innovation for their
development of a unique way to protect newborn calves against disease.
The winners of the $5,000 award -- veterinary microbiologist Deborah Haines
and immunologist Brian Chelack -- were named May 9th at TCU Place at the
"Celebrate Success!" gala, sponsored by the Saskatoon and District Chamber
of Commerce and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.
The Award of Innovation honors U of S researchers who have brought new and
commercially viable technology to the Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) for
development into marketable products.
Haines and Chelack developed a method to process liquid colostrum, or "first
milk," for newborn calves into a high-quality, spray-dried powder
supplement, known as HEADSTART which has a high concentration of antibodies
and a three-year shelf life. Colostrum contains antibodies from the cow that
are critical to protect calves from disease in the first few weeks of life.
The new colostrum supplement has led to a U of S spin-off company, Saskatoon
Colostrum Company (SCC), whose sales have grown from $300,000 in 2000 to
more than $2.5 million in 2005 -- an average increase of 40 per cent per
year.
Rob Trimble, Innovation Place client services director, says the work done
by Haines and Chelack is an example of world-leading innovation happening
right in our backyard.
"They took the research, found a market for it and turned it into a
successful business," says Trimble. "Their commercial achievement helps our
community benefit from a productive partnership between Innovation Place and
the U of S."
While continuing to conduct research at the U of S, SCC employs eight
full-time staff, seven part-time staff and supports another 20 casual
workers, many of whom are university students. Haines is with the Western
College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Chelack is with Prairie Diagnostic
Services based at WCVM.
"These two researchers are perfect examples of how university research can
grow communities,"
said Doug Gill, ILO managing director.
Colostrum, provided by the mother, is needed to strengthen a calf's immune
system. If the colostrum is of poor quality or insufficiently supplied, the
calf can succumb to a condition known as "failure of passive transfer of
immunity" (FPT), which leads to higher disease and death rates and lower
long-term productivity. Some estimates are that 40 per cent of calves born
in some beef and dairy herds have FPT. Economic losses can be as high as
$1,000 per calf when both short and long-term losses are considered.
To produce its powdered supplement, SCC purchases excess colostrum from more
than 720 dairy farms across Canada. "This is beneficial to producers across
the country and provides jobs through this successful and expanding business
in Saskatoon," said Gill.
Initial funding for the research came from the Saskatchewan Agriculture
Development Fund and support for commercialization came from AgWest Biotech.
The innovation award is open to U of S employees and students. Selection
criteria include the novelty of the innovation and its potential commercial
impact. The selection committee includes representatives from both
Innovation Place and the U of S.
Other nominees for this year's award were: immunologist John Gordon for
developing a new drug with potential to treat a wide range of inflammatory
diseases, and plant sciences professor Lawrence Gusta for his discovery of a
novel gene that confers tolerance to environmental stress, increases plant
vigor and seed yield, and shortens the time needed for plants to mature.
Innovation Place (www.innovationplace.com) is one of North America's most
successful research parks. The ILO www.usask.ca/research/ilo works with
inventors to help commercialize innovations developed at the U of S.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Deborah Haines
Department of Veterinary Microbiology
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 242-3185
Doug Gill
Managing Director
Industry Liaison Office
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7335
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
Austin Beggs
Director of Corporate Relations
Innovation Place
(306) 933-7464
--------
May 05, 2006
U of S Board Approves 2006-07 Operating Budget
Posted May 05, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 5th, 2006 2006-05-08-OTHER
U of S Board Approves 2006-07 Operating Budget
The University of Saskatchewan's Board of Governors today approved a
balanced operating budget for 2006-07 which includes the elimination of the
multi-million dollar structural deficit identified in 2004 and no tuition
increase for the vast majority of students.
The budget concludes a three-year plan that began with the adoption of an
academic framework and a multi-year budget that focused on careful planning
and cost projections and strategic reductions to expenses.
The budget includes an overall 4.7 per cent increase in operating revenue
covering basic financial obligations such as salaries and utility costs.
This 4.7 per cent increase results from a 7 per cent increase in the
provincial government's operating grant and no increase in tuition rates.
The province's decision to fund a rate increase enables the University to
maintain tuition at 2004-05 levels. The University's total operating budget
is $301 million.
The budget continues a series of permanent selective measures that were
begun in 2004-05 to address a $6.2 million structural deficit. These
measures, which this year amount to $2.4 million, are directed at the
Colleges of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Agriculture and Commerce as well as the
Extension and Facilities Management Divisions.
The Board also approved a $0.5 million increase to the Academic Priorities
Fund. In 2006-07, the University plans to invest $1.25 million from that
fund in institutional priorities, of which $0.5 million will be directed to
graduate scholarships.
"This year's budget is a satisfying conclusion to a three-year plan which
provided us with a more responsible way of allocating funds from our
operating budget," said University President Peter MacKinnon. "It allowed
the University to make informed decisions about the management of resources
over the longer term in order to better serve our students and the people of
this province."
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Richard Florizone, Vice-President (Finance and Resources)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6636
Tina Merrifield
Office of Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2213
--------
May 04, 2006
U of S Capital Campaign Surpasses $100 Million
Posted May 04, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 4, 2006 2006-05-04-OTHERU of S Capital Campaign Surpasses $100 Million
The University of Saskatchewan's Thinking the World of our Future capital campaign has surpassed the $100-million milestone in donations and now stands at $102,016,183 - and counting.
The announcement was made today by University President Peter MacKinnon at a special donor recognition event attended by Ron and Jane Graham whose $4.78 million donation pushed the campaign over the $100-million mark. Their gift, mainly to the College of Engineering, is the largest personal donation to the University from former students.
Since the campaign was launched, over 25,000 people, corporations and foundations have contributed to the success of the campaign. Funds raised will enhance the student experience, provide financial support in the form of scholarships and bursaries, and improve facilities to provide better opportunities for learning, research and community outreach.
In thanking the Grahams for their generous support, MacKinnon said: "Ron and Jane Graham's gift will provide exciting new opportunities for teaching and learning on campus, strengthen recruitment and retention of students and enhance the student experience for years to come. Their gift is an invaluable legacy to the University."
The Graham's gift includes over $3 million for technical and professional communication studies in the College of Engineering, $1.2 million to build a new clubhouse facility at Griffiths Stadium, $300,000 for student scholarships, and $10,000 for the Huskies basketball teams.
"We want to give back to the University that played such an important role in our lives," said Jane Graham. "Ron and I hope our gift will help others to have just as good a send off on their journeys through life as we had."
"It has been wonderful to rediscover our great University," added Ron Graham. "There are so many exciting things happening at the U of S, I urge all alumni to find something here they care about and then go that extra mile to support it."
That sentiment was echoed by MacKinnon. "Do not for a minute think this campaign is over," he said. "There are still compelling needs and new opportunities, and we will continue working with alumni and friends of the U of S who want to help ensure this institution stands among the very best in the country."
The campaign will continue on through the University's centennial celebrations in 2007.
For more information contact:
Tina Merrifield
Senior Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2213
www.usask.ca/campaign
For progress reports on the campaign, go to:
www.usask.ca/campaign/progress/.
--------
Alberta Synchrotron Institute Pioneers "Research by Remote Control" at Canadian Light Source at the U of S
Posted May 04, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, May 4, 2006
2006-05-06-OTHER
Alberta Synchrotron Institute Pioneers "Research by Remote Control" at
Canadian Light Source at the U of S
Researchers across the country will soon have access to the Canadian Light
Source synchrotron at the University of Saskatchewan right from their
desktops thanks to an ultrafast computer link pioneered by the Alberta
Synchrotron Institute (ASI) at the University of Alberta and CANARIE,
Canada's advanced Internet development organization.
"It's like having a synchrotron on your desktop," says ASI Executive
Director Ernst Bergmann, who successfully tested the system from his office
at the U of A in Edmonton in April.
"Remote access will allow protein crystallographers and eventually other
synchrotron researchers to greatly reduce travel time, turn around
experiments faster, and use the synchrotron facility much more effectively.
Students can use the same system to gain experience without the constant
need for travel."
Bergmann, who also heads ASI's protein crystallography section, currently
spends about five days a month traveling to synchrotrons to further his own
research. The powerful X-rays generated by the CLS can be used to reveal the
structure of proteins, viruses and new pharmaceuticals as well as many other
important materials.
"This is a great success for the Canadian synchrotron community and the
CLS," says CLS Executive Director William Thomlinson. "This kind of remote
access adds a tremendous capability to our synchrotron and complements our
traditional access system. It brings the synchrotron to researchers and
students who cannot be here in person. "
The $300,000 "End-to-End Lightpaths at Synchrotrons" initiative, an Advanced
Applications Project sponsored by CANARIE, brings the synchrotron to a
researcher's desktop. It links researchers in Edmonton and Calgary directly
to a protein crystallography beamline of the CLS in Saskatoon.
Using dedicated fiber optic networks, called "lightpaths," from Netera
Alliance, SRNet, CANARIE and BigBangwidth Inc., researchers can view
synchrotron experiments, directly control their samples using remote
manipulation, and transfer data back to their home labs in real time.
The project uses Canada's research network, CA*net4, and local lightpath
networks to transfer information at rates up to 1 billion bytes per second,
the equivalent of two DVD discs. It provides a fast, predictable and totally
secure connection from a researcher's lab to a control computer at the CLS
beamline.
Dedicated links are created on demand from the user's desktop to the remote
facility. BigBangwidth's Lightpath Accelerator System makes these links
simple and effective, so researchers can just point and click to access the
synchrotron. The beamline control software, videos and instruments used at
the CLS are available in real time and with perfect fidelity for the remote
researcher.
For now, the remote access link is available only on the Canadian
Macromolecular Crystallography Facility (CMCF) beamline at the CLS, and only
from Edmonton and Calgary. By the end of 2006, many more Canadian
researchers will have remote access thanks to a follow-up project funded by
CANARIE, BigBangwidth and IBM that will extend dedicated fiber optic
networks to other research centres across the country. The new project,
under CANARIE's Intelligent Infrastructure Program, will also allow
connection to the new VESPERS beamline for Material Sciences at the CLS.
-30-
For more information contact:
Ernst Bergmann
Project Leader, Protein Crystallography and Executive Director
Alberta Synchrotron Institute
eb1@ualberta.ca
www.asi-cls.ca
(780) 492-8249
Matthew Dalzell
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light Source, Inc.
matthew.dalzell@lightsource.ca
www.lightsource.ca
(306) 657-3739
Cell: (306) 227-0978
Stuart Lomas
Chief Software Architect
BigBangwidth Inc.
SLomas@BigBangwidth.com
www.bigbangwidth.com
(780) 490-4800 x234
Synchrotron Research by Remote Control
Backgrounder
Alberta Synchrotron Institute (www.asi-cls.ca)
The ASI is a partnership of the research universities in Alberta and
supports all synchrotron science in the province. The ASI also represents
Alberta in the development of the Canadian Light Source. ASI is funded by
the Province of Alberta, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical
Research, the Alberta Ingenuity Fund and Western Economic Diversification.
Canadian Light Source (www.lightsource.ca)
The Canadian Light Source is Canada's national synchrotron facility, located
at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Synchrotron light is used to
determine the chemical nature and the molecular structure of materials,
paving the way for new drugs, more powerful computer chips, better engine
lubricants, more effective medical imaging, environmental monitoring and a
host of other applications for science and industry.
CANARIE (www.canarie.ca)
CANARIE, Canada's advanced Internet development organization, is a
not-for-profit corporation supported by its members, project partners and
the federal government. CANARIE's mission is to accelerate Canada's advanced
Internet development and use by facilitating the widespread adoption of
faster, more efficient networks and by enabling the next generation of
advanced products, applications and services to run on them.
BigBangwidth (http://bigbangwidth.com)
BigBangwidth develops and manufactures data networking products that manage
huge streams of data, smoothly and securely. The Lightpath Accelerator
System is an ideal solution for remote access to advanced technical
facilities such as supercomputers, data warehouses, and scientific
instruments.
BigBangwidth's Lightpath Director products let network operators remotely
control lightpath connections and basic network topology.
--------
May 03, 2006
U of S Partners with Universities in Developing Countries
Posted May 03, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006 2003-05-03-AR
U of S Partners with Universities in Developing Countries
Four international projects will receive a total of more than $20,000 in
funding from the University of Saskatchewan's Global Partners initiative, a
grassroots program designed to help U of S faculty develop closer research
and teaching ties with colleagues in developing countries.
Global Partners is a faculty-driven project unique to the U of S which is
funded largely through donations from faculty, staff and other supporters of
the university. Global Partners has also received support from the Canadian
Bureau for International Education in the form of an International Education
Innovation Award.
"Global Partners demonstrates the power of small amounts of seed money,
creatively used by faculty with a vision, to achieve mutual and lasting
benefits in research and teaching," says Bob Stock, international liaison
officer with the U of S College of Arts and Science. ''When we invest in
partnership building, we create a foundation for lasting intellectual
relationships and future opportunities not yet imagined."
The 2006 projects are:
* Biologist Gary Bortolotti will receive $7,857 to establish a collaborative
research program on raptor (birds of prey) conservation with the National
Museums of Kenya. East Africa supports 105 raptor species, about 20 per
cent of the world's total. Given the increased human impact on the
environment, enhancing the research capacity of Kenyan scientists is vitally
important for the future of endangered raptor species. Several Kenyan
students are expected to come to the U of S for graduate studies.
* Plant Scientist Bruce Coulman was awarded $6,400 for a project with
China's Inner Mongolia Agricultural University involving collaborative
research and teaching on grassland production and ecology. China will
benefit from Canadian expertise in conservation programs to control
degradation of fragile lands, while Chinese expertise in grassland taxonomy
is of considerable interest to Canadian scientists.
* Albert Barth and Reuben Mapletoft, faculty in the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, have been awarded $4,292 to build collaborative
programs with Argentina's Instituto de Reproduccion Animal (IRAC) in
Cordoba. While in Argentina, Barth and Mapletoft, along with graduate
student Christy Barlund, will review the Institute's Master's program,
deliver a number of lectures, and launch a collaborative study on
endometritis in dairy cattle.
* Sociologist Li Zong was awarded $3,200 as a Global Partners contribution
to partnership building with China's Lanzhou University. U of S has an
existing agreement with Lanzhou, primarily in agricultural sciences. This
project provides opportunities to build the partnership in new directions,
specifically with Lanzhou's rapidly growing School of Philosophy and
Sociology.
Global Partners encourages a sharing of expertise and resources between
partner institutions and contributes to U of S internationalization. The
program is funded through the tax-deductible contributions of faculty and
staff who see the program as an opportunity to build mutually beneficial
links with resource-challenged institutions in developing countries.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Bob Stock
International Liaison Officer
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5213
bob.stock@usask.ca
Penny McKinlay
Communications Officer
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1982
penny.mckinlay@arts.usask.ca
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