May 21, 2009
U of S Awarded $3.73M to Lead Health Research Training Projects
Posted May 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 21, 2009
2009-05-12-OTHER
With $3.73 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, University of Saskatchewan health scientists will train the next generation of health researchers through two unique-in-Canada projects—one in synchrotron imaging and the other in rural health and safety.
“There won’t be anything like this in terms of synchrotron-based health research training in North America, maybe even the world,” said Ingrid Pickering, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Environmental Science, who will lead a $1.78-million cross-disciplinary project over six years. The project will train more than 50 students in health research using the Canadian Light Source (CLS).
“The combination of CLS beamlines—in particular the BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) and BioXAS—and the extraordinary people at the university put us in a unique position to offer this type of health research training and hopefully answer some pressing health questions,” said Pickering.
The project will conduct research into cancer metastasis, neurodegenerative diseases, and toxic metals, and translate synchrotron-based techniques into health care applications. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn from synchrotron experts, scientists and biomedical and clinical researchers.
This project involves three other U of S Canada Research Chairs: Graham George, Dean Chapman, and Louis Delbaere.
“When you combine the health sciences, life sciences and synchrotron facilities with the expertise at the U of S, all found on one campus, it’s an outstanding place to be as a health researcher,” said George, Canada Research Chair in X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy.
Other researchers involved from the U of S and CLS are: Bill Thomlinson, Helen Nichol, Gregg Adams, Alan Casson, David Cooper, John Decoteau, Ron Geyer, Michael Kelly, Alan Rosenberg, Sylvia van den Hurk, Valerie Verge, Sheldon Wiebe, Pawel Grochulski, Ian Coulthard, Luca Quaroni, and Tomasz Wysokinski.
In a $1.95-million training project over six years, John Gordon, director of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture at the U of S, will bring together experts from many disciplines to train young scientists in health promotion of rural-agriculture workers and families.
“The agriculture industry has the worst injury and fatality record of any industry in Canada and elsewhere in the world, and this is unacceptable,” said Gordon. “Addressing these health issues, as well as those in other rural industries, like mining and forestry, requires the integration of many professional skills.”
Initiated in 2002, the Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem (PHARE) training program has provided training to 55 graduate and post-doctoral students. This new funding will train an additional 65 students in basic, applied and policy health and safety research and knowledge translation in the rural/agricultural sector.
“This program will draw skills from across the country to respond to changing demographics and technology,” said Gordon.
Also involved in the PHARE project from the U of S are: Shelley Kirychuk, James Dosman, Debra Morgan, Andrew Potter, Bruce Reeder, Lalita Bharadwaj, Tasha Epp, Punam Pahwa, Donna Rennie, and Baljit Singh.
“These projects help advance U of S capacity in key areas of health research and provide critical training to the next generation of researchers,” said Karen Chad, U of S Acting Vice-President of Research. “They will ensure that we have scientists trained to make maximum use of the CLS and will strengthen rural industries, a backbone of our economy.”
U of S researchers are also involved in four other new CIHR-funded student training programs led by other institutions. Complete details are at: http://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/cfdd/db_search?p_language=E&p_competition=200811TGF
The CIHR is the federal agency for health research. Consisting of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to nearly 12,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.
The University of Saskatchewan, located in the heart of Saskatoon, is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal, and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kris Foster
Research Communications Specialist
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
kris.foster@usask.ca
May 20, 2009
University of Saskatchewan Outlines 2009-10 Financial Plans
Posted May 20, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 20, 2009
2009-05-11-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan today released details of its plan to permanently reduce its operating budget by $10 million over the next two years.
On May 8, the university’s Board of Governors approved a budget with expenditures of just over $367 million for 2009-10 and directed the institution to make a permanent $10 million reduction in its operating budget by 2010-11. The adjustment, to be made over two years, was made necessary by investment income shortfalls in a number of areas including pensions, endowment funds and operating income from investments, all arising from the global market downturn.
“Adjusting our operating budget by about three per cent will give the University of Saskatchewan the flexibility it needs to address the effects of the current unstable economic situation in a timely and sustainable way over the long term,” said Brett Fairbairn, provost and vice-president academic. “It will enable the university to keep pursuing our key goals, improving the student experience and enhancing research and scholarship.”
Almost all academic and administrative units will see a reduction in their budget allocations. Fairbairn said each college and unit will determine how best to absorb the budget reduction through various strategies like increasing revenue from other sources.
Richard Florizone, vice-president finance and resources, said a conservative approach to investing and detailed planning has helped the University of Saskatchewan weather the economic downturn in a comparatively better position than some other large institutions. “We have always based our decisions on the principles of sound financial management, clear responsibility, effectiveness and consistency in terms of our approach to university priorities,” he said. “The details we announced today were decided based on those same principles.”
The university is also increasing tuition in a measured way. Most students in most programs will see a three percent increase in tuition costs. In partnership with the provincial government, the university has held tuition at 2004-05 levels for the past four years and will now begin work on developing a new tuition policy that will guide the Board of Governors in setting tuition rates for 2010-11 and beyond. The university would have seen similar tuition increases regardless of its financial situation, Fairbairn said.
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
-30-
To download a summary of the budget, with details on college and unit allocations and a schedule of tuition increases, visit www.usask.ca/vpacademic or www.usask.ca/vpfr. For more information, contact:
Patty Martin
Community and Media Relations Specialist
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone (306) 966-6919
May 15, 2009
Two U of S Researchers Honoured with Award of Innovation
Posted May 15, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 15, 2009
2009-05-09-OTHER
The 2009 Innovation Place-U of S Industry Liaison Office Award of Innovation has been awarded to two leading University of Saskatchewan researchers—vaccine developer Andrew Potter and biofuels innovator Martin Reaney.
The winners were announced at the Celebrate Success Business Awards Gala in Saskatoon May 14. The two $5,000 awards honour U of S researchers who have brought new and commercially viable technology to the Industry Liaison Office (ILO) for development into marketable products.
“The technologies developed by this year’s finalists have great potential to improve our lives through improvements in human health, food production, and environmentally friendly energy,” said ILO managing director Glen Schuler. “We will also benefit with the promise of increased investment and more high-quality jobs in our province.”
Innovation Place client services director Jackie Presnell had high praise for the calibre of nominations.
“We’re excited by this year’s crop of inventions,” she said. “Many of the enterprises at Innovation Place are built on ideas that began at the U of S, and many of the highly qualified people that work here are U of S grads. We’re proud to celebrate these successes that help bring novel products and processes to the marketplace.”
Andrew Potter, executive director of the U of S Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, was recognized for his work on a novel vaccine for E. coli which has significantly reduced the level of the disease in cattle. The research, carried out in collaboration with University of British Columbia scientist Brett Finlay, represents an entirely unique approach to food safety.
Their approach is to immunize cattle, which are carriers of the E. coli 0157 bacterium but do not get sick. The vaccine works by eliciting an immune response, preventing attachment of the bacterium to the intestine and thus reducing the ability of the bacterium to proliferate. This significantly reduces shedding of E. coli by cattle, decreasing the risk of food and water contamination, which in turn reduces risk of human infection and associated health consequences.
Martin Reaney, Saskatchewan Agriculture Chair of Lipid Quality and Utilization in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, has developed a series of value-adding processes for biodiesel production which reduce production costs and increase biodiesel performance.
Reaney’s approach produces biodiesel, de-salted glycerol, and lithium grease from oilseeds such as frost-damaged canola that are not suitable for edible oil production. The technology promises increased profitability by allowing producers to make biodiesel while at the same time diversifying their operations with two other high-value products. The patent-pending technology has attracted interest from a number of organizations within the biodiesel industry.
Other nominees included plant scientist Lawrence Gusta who has developed a way to increase stress tolerance of a variety of commercially important crop plants, and biologist Vipen Sawhney who developed the first commercially functional male-sterile tomato system which reduces production costs for tomato seed producers.
The annual Award of Innovation 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.
Each of the winners will also receive a trophy and be recognized with a photo on the “Award of Innovation” wall at the Industry Liaison Office at Innovation Place.
Innovation Place (www.innovationplace.com) is one of North America's most successful university-related research parks. The ILO (http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo) works with inventors to help commercialize innovations developed at the U of S.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Glen Schuler
Managing Director
Industry Liaison Office
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4584
glen.schuler@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo
Austin Beggs
Vice President, Corporate Relations
Innovation Place
(306) 933-7464
austin@innovationplace.com
http://www.innovationplace.com/
Kris Foster
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
www.usask.ca/research
May 14, 2009
University of Saskatchewan's W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence Announces Winners of the i3 Idea Challenge
Posted May 14, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 14, 2009
2009-05-07-ESB
The three winning teams in the U of S W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence i3 Idea Challenge were announced May 12.
The winners are as follows:
1st Place: 3Twenty Solutions
Team Members: Bryan McCrea, Evan Willoughby, Channing McCorrriston, Matt Harker
3twenty Solutions is reusing old shipping containers to provide mine site accommodations and affordable homes. Through a well-designed manufacturing process, the containers will be converted into living spaces that will then be shipped to their location using existing infrastructure.
2nd Place: Eneray Sustainable Structures
Team Members: John Coode, Delaney Bonish and Andrew Chau
Energy Sustainable Structures is a precast infrastructure manufacturing business that uses innovative technologies for manufacturing, focusing on short-span bridges, architectural and thermally-efficient commercial building wall panels, and residential efficient structures.
3rd Place: uProduce Music Technologies
Team Member: Kurt Dahl
uProduce Music Technologies will allow music fans to choose from alternate versions of various parts of songs, pre-recorded by their favourite artists. The end result: personalized and paid-for music.
The top 3 teams were chosen from a group of 11 teams. First place receives $30,000 plus website development from ZU.com; second place receives $20,000 and third place receives $10,000. The top three teams will also receive accounting and legal services from Deloitte, MLT and McDougall Gauley Law Firms. Those finalists not in the top three will receive a cash prize of $3,125.
The 11 finalists presented their ideas on May 9th, 2009 to a panel of judges: Amit Gupta, president & CEO, Solido Design; David Waslen, vice president business development, Prairie Merchant Bank; Earl Eidem vice president, DynaVenture; Gordon Haddock, president, TREK 2000; John Chomyn, vice president, Stoneset Equities; Randall Morris, president, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and Ron Gerbrandt, executive director, Engineering Standards, Infrastructure & Highways.
“The i3 Idea Challenge focused on and encouraged students to go through the process rather than on starting a business. However, a bonus for Saskatoon is that we now have new businesses forming; all winning teams are in the process of development or already have sales,” says Sanj Singh, director of the W. Brett Wilson Centre.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Melissa Strom, Associate
W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Edwards School of Business
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4855
Email: strom@edwards.usask.ca
May 07, 2009
Science, Technology and Innovation Council finds Canada a solid performer in science, technology and innovation - but needs to aim higher on the world stage
Posted May 07, 2009
OTTAWA, May 5, 2009 – Science, technology and innovation can drive economic success and improve quality of life for Canadians if all sectors work together to build on advantages and strengthen performance, says a Report released today by Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC).
Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation System: State of the Nation 2008 – the STIC’s first public report – charts Canada’s progress and compares Canadian performance to the world’s science, technology and innovation leaders. The Report benchmarks Canada’s innovative performance against more than 50 international and domestic standards of excellence such as research intensity, commercialization rates, quality of research and workforce skills. It provides a baseline from which to maintain a watch on key indicators and monitor progress.
“Our Report concludes that although Canada is improving, other countries are improving faster. Canada remains a solid mid-level performer, but given the importance of innovation to our future, this is not good enough. We need to set our ambitions higher in keeping with what Canadians are capable of achieving,” said Dr. Howard Alper, Chair of the STIC. “We have a strong foundation and a robust research capacity but we need to conduct research and encourage entrepreneurship in ways that will create opportunities to translate knowledge into marketable assets.”
“Other countries are focussed on improving their innovation systems and the global baseline keeps rising,” said STIC Council member David O’Brien, Chair, EnCana Corporation and Chair, Royal Bank of Canada. “Changes in technology, increased global competition, and the need to build employment opportunities for highly skilled Canadians who can thrive in today’s global economy demand that we take action to improve our science, technology and innovation performance and assure our future.”
The Report urges Canada to strengthen and better link all sectors of its science, technology and innovation system if it wishes to maintain its economic independence, competitiveness, productivity and quality of life, and position Canada in the leading group of innovating countries. “Ambitious outcomes require a collective effort by Canadian business, universities, colleges, non-profit institutions, communities and all levels of government,” said Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal of McGill University and a member of the STIC. “No one sector is responsible for performance or can achieve results alone, so we need to work together to nurture the capacity to create, apply new ideas and finance their translation into commercial successes in the global marketplace.”
State of the Nation 2008 substantiates that Canada has a sound base on which to build its innovation leadership: Canadian research is of high quality and Canada’s funding for R&D and higher education ranks near the top; young Canadians excel in science, math and reading; we have implemented measures to attract the best international talent, and Canadian innovative excellence can be found in virtually every region and economic sector.
There are also areas where Canada is vulnerable. For example, Canadian companies do not invest as much as their key competitors around the world in research and development. In a world where talent is everything, other countries are improving their education results and their support for innovative activity more rapidly than Canada. Low literacy and numeracy skills limit the ability of a significant group of Canadians to innovate and benefit from innovation. Low levels of collaboration among companies and between companies and researchers in universities, colleges and government laboratories limits business potential.
While Canadian universities and researchers are conducting cutting-edge research, for the most part they lack international visibility and recognition. In addition, when Canadian companies work to commercialize such research, they often have difficulty accessing sufficient investment capital to develop and sustain innovative new products and services.
Seizing opportunities to strengthen Canada’s innovation performance will help develop a stronger economy and enhance Canada’s potential as a leader in science, technology and innovation. Specifically, the Report points to the following areas for collective action:
• Focus science, technology and innovation in areas where Canada can leverage its strengths to achieve global leadership
• Markedly enhance business research and development
• Renew efforts to attract, better educate and cultivate highly skilled people
• Encourage, recognize, and reward the science and business innovators of tomorrow
• Aggressively pursue strategic international science, technology and innovation partnerships to advance Canadian interests
Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, announced the creation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council. The Council was appointed in October 2007 to provide the government with policy advice on science and technology issues and to produce reports that measure Canada's science and technology performance against international standards of excellence. The Council expects to issue a report on the state of Canada’s science, technology and innovation system every two years.
The Council, which includes U of S President Peter MacKinnon, is chaired by Dr. Howard Alper, and is comprised of 18 senior, highly accomplished individuals, from the research, education, business and government communities.
A copy of State of the Nation 2008, Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation System as well as biographical notes on the Council members can be downloaded at http://www.stic-csti.ca.
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
David Rodier, NATIONAL Public Relations
613-233-1699 ext 243/613-884-2215
drodier@national.ca
May 04, 2009
U of S to Transform Feed Mill into National Feeds Research Centre
Posted May 04, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 4, 2009
2009-05-03-AG
The University of Saskatchewan has purchased a North Battleford feed mill to develop a unique-in-Canada national research facility that will enhance animal nutrition and feeds research and benefit Canadian crop, livestock and feed processing industries.
The $12.6-million Canadian Feed Technology Research Facility will research, develop and commercialize new and better high-value animal feeds from low-value crops and from byproducts of biofuels production such as ethanol and biodiesel.
The crop, livestock and feed processing industries have indicated a strong need for this research. Funding has been committed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the provincial government, and industry sources.
“This new research centre will benefit both animal and human health and help make the U of S an international leader in feeds processing research and commercialization,” said Karen Chad, U of S Acting Vice-President Research.
“It will advance undergraduate and graduate student training programs and also provide training opportunities for producers and feed processors. More than 25 researchers and 30 graduate students from many disciplines will use the facility.”
Renovations to transform the feed mill into a research facility are expected to begin in July. The research operation will begin in late summer or early fall of 2010.
To generate revenue for facility maintenance and research, a part of the industrial capability has been licensed to Cargill, a global leader in animal nutrition and feeds, for commercial feed processing and toll feed processing services.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Cargill, a company whose recognized expertise, market presence, and understanding of global markets will help attract global clients to the facility and to Saskatchewan,” said Chad, noting the facility will serve a broad range of industries and involve regional, national, and international partnerships.
Project leader Bernard Laarveld said the feed mill provides an excellent research base for the U of S because there’s significant space to accommodate the full range of activity—from laboratory to pilot plant to industrial-scale research—a major advantage in generating value for industry. The U of S will offer contract research opportunities to the private sector.
“Researchers are extremely keen to use this centre as it will advance research in many areas that include crop breeding for feed quality traits, reduced antibiotic use, better livestock nutrition, improved animal health and product safety, feed delivery of vaccines for disease control, environmental protection, and higher-value commodity crops,” Laarveld said, noting that new feeds produced at the mill will be used for animal feeding research at the U of S and elsewhere.
He noted the new centre will enhance and support the U of S feeds research cluster that includes the Crop Development Centre, the Feeds Innovation Institute, the Prairie Swine Centre, the Poultry Centre, the Beef Research Station, the new Dairy Innovation Centre, the Prairie Aquaculture Research Centre, and the Canadian Light Source synchrotron which can be used to relate structural characteristics of feeds to nutritional quality.
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Bernard Laarveld
College of Agriculture and BioResources
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4972
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
May 01, 2009
Book Co-Authored by U of S Prof Named Best in Canadian Public Policy
Posted May 01, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 1, 2009
2009-05-02-AR
A book on Canada's Arctic challenges, co-authored by U of S political scientist Greg Poelzer, has won the 2008/09 Donner Prize for best book on Canadian public policy.
Arctic Front: Defending Canada in the Far North, one of 69 submissions, was written by Poelzer and co-authors University of Waterloo Dean of Arts Ken Coates, University of Waterloo historian Whitney Lackenbauer, and University of Northern British Columbia history professor William Morrison. The team will share the $35,000 prize.
“This national recognition reflects the outstanding public policy work on our campus—which often involves research collaborators across Canada—and helps shape both government policy and our high-quality student learning,” said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
Jury chair Grant Reuber said the book deals with a subject of major public importance and interest. “This is a substantial and accessible book that should be widely read by everyone interested in an insightful introduction to this subject,” said Reuber in an announcement from the Donner Canadian Foundation.
The book calls on Canadian leaders to take urgent action toward nation-building in the fragile, vital Arctic region. The authors argue that Canadians and successive Canadian governments have been the least pro-active of all the circumpolar countries to establish an Arctic claim to off-shore resources, despite possessing exceptional claims for doing so.
“If Canada fails to capitalize on the human and economic resources of this vast region, we will be forced to defend this area from a position of grave weakness,” Poelzer said.
Poelzer teaches political studies and native studies in the College of Arts and Science, served as founding dean of undergraduate studies for the virtual University of the Arctic, and now, as interim director of the new U of S International Centre for Governance and Development, is developing a research program on governance and development issues in the circumpolar North. He is also a member of the new Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.
The Donner Prize rewards excellence and innovation in Canadian public policy writing and aims to inspire lively debate on public policy issues.
For more information visit: http://www.donnerbookprize.com/mdgassociates/en/press2009.htm
To read more about Poelzer’s thinking on Arctic sovereignty, visit U of S Explore magazine at: http://www.usask.ca/research/communications/explore/vol2no1/arctic-sovereignty-from-crisis-to-opportunity.php
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kris Foster
Communications Specialist
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-2427
kris.foster@usask.ca
Greg Poelzer
Associate Professor of Political Studies
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1607
greg.poelzer@usask.ca
