September 29, 2009
Royal Society Honours Achievements of Two U of S Scholars
Posted September 29, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Sept. 29, 2009
2009-09-13-AR
Two long-time University of Saskatchewan professors in the College of Arts and Science have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada, considered Canada’s senior academic honour.
Biologist Larry Fowke and sociologist Peter Li will be among 77 new Fellows inducted into the Society during a ceremony on Nov. 28 in Gatineau, Que.
This prestigious society, now known officially as the RSC: Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada, is the country’s oldest association of scientists and scholars who are leaders in their fields. Scholars are selected for the honour by their peers.
“This is well-deserved recognition for these two distinguished individuals whose innovative research and scholarship has created new knowledge in their respective fields, enriched student learning, and directly benefitted the nation,” said Karen Chad, U of S vice-president of research.
Fowke, described by the RSC as “a leading world authority in cell biology”, has forged an international reputation during his more than three decades of experience in plant cell biology. He has won numerous honours and awards during his career, including the university’s Distinguished Researcher Award and the Award of Innovation.
An excerpt from his citation reads, “(Fowke’s) innovative research, often performed painstakingly by microscope, has consistently produced groundbreaking contributions to the discipline of cell biology. It has also led to exciting applications, in particular the development of methods for generating large quantities of conifer embryos for forestry.“
Li, described in the RSC citation as “one of the most accomplished sociologists in North America”, has been with the U of S sociology department since 1975. His pioneering work has focused largely on race and ethnicity, Chinese Canadians and multiculturalism. He has received numerous awards related to his research, and has served as a consultant and advisor to numerous federal government departments.
“His highly original theoretical and empirical writings on the Chinese, immigration, and race relations have profoundly influenced both academe and the world of public policy,” his citation reads. “His work has been indispensable in several areas of sociology, and has served as the basis of the Chinese Head Tax Redress movement.”
Today’s announcement brings to 28 the number of current and former U of S faculty who are Fellows of the RSC. After induction into the Society, Fellows are permitted to use FRSC (Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada) after their names.
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For more information, contact:
Kirk Sibbald
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1982; FAX: (306) 966-8839
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2506
September 25, 2009
Veterinary career begins for 77 Western College of Veterinary Medicine students at University of Saskatchewan
Posted September 25, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 25, 2009
2009-09-10-WCVM
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan officially welcomes 77 students to its four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at an evening ceremony on Friday, September 25.
“The continued success of our veterinary program depends on the quality and dedication of our students, and I’m confident that the members of the Class of 2013 will meet our high expectations,” says WCVM Dean Dr. Charles Rhodes. “The students’ academic records as well as their scholastic, athletic and community achievements are very impressive. We’re very fortunate to attract these talented individuals to the WCVM and to the veterinary profession.”
During the veterinary college’s annual White Coat Ceremony, every first-year class member accepts a personalized lab coat from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Each student also receives a stethoscope from the provincial veterinary medical association in the student’s home province.
The Class of 2013 is the largest first-year class in the veterinary college’s 44-year history. WCVM’s newest students represent 48 communities in Western Canada and the North. Based on an interprovincial agreement with Canada’s four western provinces, WCVM accepts an allotted number of applicants from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba for its undergraduate veterinary program. The regional veterinary college also accepts applicants from the northern territories.
In preparation for their veterinary education, the majority of WCVM’s first-year students have already volunteered or worked at veterinary clinics, farms, humane societies, zoos, research centres and other animal-related organizations.
The Class of 2013 will have state-of-the-art facilities and a wide range of resources available during their DVM program at the WCVM. The veterinary college recently completed a series of expansion and renovation projects worth $71 million — including additions to its veterinary teaching hospital, diagnostics area and research laboratories.
The WCVM is now beginning renovations to its existing diagnostic laboratories and associated areas. Earlier this year, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan invested $9.06 million in this final phase of the college’s infrastructure project through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP).
The WCVM (www.wcvm.com) is a Canadian centre of expertise for veterinary education, clinical services and research located on the U of S campus. Since 1969, more than 2,500 veterinarians have received their DVM degrees from the regional veterinary college. While most WCVM alumni live and work in Western Canada, former students can be found in more than 600 communities around the world.
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Media representatives are invited to attend the WCVM White Coat Ceremony that will take place at the following time and location:
9:00 p.m. (following the WCVM Fall Awards program)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Galaxy Ballroom, Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon
106 Circle Drive West, Saskatoon
For more information, please contact:
Myrna MacDonald, Communications
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: 306-225-4479 • Cell: 306-291-9950
sm.ridley@sasktel.net
www.wcvm.com
September 23, 2009
U of S Canada Research Chairs Aim to Improve Vaccines, X-Rays and Fuels
Posted September 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 23, 2009
2009-09-06-OTHER
Today the University of Saskatchewan was awarded $4.76 million over seven years for three Canada Research Chairs (CRC) and associated equipment that will provide new ways of creating and administering vaccines, lay the groundwork for the next generation of X-ray imaging devices, and develop new and environmentally friendly fuel alternatives.
The three Tier 1 chairs—a new appointment, an advancement to Tier 1, and a renewal—each bring $1.4 million to the U of S from the federal CRC program. The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is investing a total of $562,522 for research equipment. Additional support comes from the Saskatchewan government and the university.
“This investment in these outstanding researchers will not only help develop solutions for pressing national problems in the health and energy sectors but will increase training opportunities for graduate students and other research personnel, thereby building superb research talent for the future in areas of U of S strength,” said U of S vice-president research Karen Chad.
She noted that with today’s announcement, the U of S now has 26 CRC chairs, representing a total investment of $53.7 million from federal, provincial and CFI sources.
The three CRCs announced today are:
Philip Griebel—new CRC in Neonatal Mucosal Immunology
Few of today’s vaccines are effective in controlling intestinal and respiratory infections during the neonatal period (first month after birth). In some cases, these infections can cause lifelong disease.
Griebel, a scientist at the U of S Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization—International Vaccine Centre and professor in the School of Public Health, aims to identify vaccine strategies that will prevent or clear these viral or bacterial infections. His findings will benefit both animal and human health.
Griebel’s research program will encompass both creation of targeted vaccines and needle-free delivery (e.g. oral vaccines) against pathogens which enter the body through mucosal surfaces such as those found in the respiratory and intestinal tracts. If successful, this novel approach would also be relevant to a wide range of pathogens including emerging diseases such as influenza.
Ajay Dalai—CRC in Bioenergy and Environmentally Friendly Chemical Processing
Canada is highly dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels, consuming 40 billion litres of diesel per year.
Dalai, former Tier 2 CRC and associate dean of research and partnerships in the College of Engineering, aims to develop new fuel alternatives, including environmentally friendly biodiesel fuels made from inedible materials left over from crops such as canola, mustard and soybean oilseeds. If successful, this research will provide additional income to Canadian farmers and reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions
Dalai is also researching methods of creating a biodegradable and renewal liquid fuel—known as “biosyndiesel” and ‘bioethanol”—from “syngas” derived from municipal solid wastes, agricultural residue such as straw and dry distillers grain, forest wastes such as sawdust and bark, and organic wastes such as meat and bone meals.
He uses the Canadian Light Source to evaluate innovative advanced materials for clean energy and environmental applications.
Safa Kasap—renewed CRC in Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials and Devices
Canada’s hospitals and clinics need to be able to obtain and store X-ray images digitally for quicker access and immediate and accurate analysis, but most X-ray technology still uses a film processing system.
Kasap’s work is helping to change that. The U of S electrical engineering professor is one of the world's leading researchers in photoconductors—materials which change their conductivity when irradiated with light or X-rays. He has contributed to their use in a new type of X-ray image detector—direct conversion, meaning X-rays are converted directly to an electrical signal for digital images—that is poised to revolutionize medical imaging and digital storage, particularly for breast cancer screening.
Improvements in the field of digital X-rays will make diagnoses faster, safer and more accurate.
The three U of S CRCs were among 181 announced today for 45 Canadian universities—a $159.1-million investment. This total includes $7.4 million from the CFI for research infrastructure associated with 46 of the chairholders.
“Canada’s government is investing in science and technology to strengthen the economy, improve Canadians’ quality of life and create the jobs of tomorrow—today,” said Gary Goodyear, federal Minister of State (Science and Technology). “The Canada Research Chairs Program helps attract and retain the best researchers from the country and around the world to Canadian universities, which has direct benefits for our communities.”
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
Philip Griebel
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization--International Vaccine Centre
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1542
philip.griebel@usask.ca
Ajay Dalai
College of Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4771
ajay.dalai@usask.ca
Safa Kasap
College of Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5390
safa.kasap@usask.ca
September 10, 2009
U of S Licensing Income Records 500 Per Cent Increase
Posted September 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 10, 2009
2009-09-03-OTHER
New technologies resulting from innovative University of Saskatchewan (U of S) research raised almost $6 million in gross licensing income in 2008-09—a five-fold increase since 2004-05.
Of the total income, $4.5 million was directly raised by the U of S Industry Liaison Office (ILO) which was created in 2004 to accelerate the movement of technologies with good commercial potential into the marketplace. Research areas with particular growth in licensing income include agriculture, toxicology and veterinary medicine.
“Promoting research and building a strong culture of innovation at the U of S is one of our top priorities and this ILO milestone places the U of S among the top universities in Canada in licensing income levels,” said U of S Acting Vice-President Research Karen Chad.
Located at Innovation Place, the ILO brings together researchers and business partners to capitalize on technology transfer opportunities and commercialize promising inventions as new products, processes and services.
ILO’s managing director Glen Schuler relocated last year to Saskatchewan from Tennessee to take over ILO leadership. He credits the ILO’s success to the processes put in place by its previous managing director and its strong team in science and technology innovation, patents, licensing, and start-ups, as well as the increasing potential for new commercial opportunities on campus and across Saskatchewan.
“World-class and cutting-edge science and technology research infrastructure is growing in this province, and R and D firms are increasingly looking to Saskatchewan research institutions for new competitive advantages,” he said.
“The provincial government is also looking at ways to encourage companies to be more innovative. All of these things are contributing to a culture of innovation.”
ILO is working with several institutions to develop a province-wide network that would establish a common approach to intellectual property rights and commercialization in Saskatchewan.
The network would speed up the transfer of technologies to market and reduce the complexity of commercial agreements between universities and industry. It would also spur the province’s research institutions to collaborate in bundling complementary technologies, such as iPod and music download technologies, which increases their value to industry.
The ILO is also working to address early-stage funding for start-ups, particularly university-related start-ups through a “launch fund” to help new firms become ready to attract “angel” or venture capital to develop their technologies.
As well, ILO plans an entrepreneur-in-residence program to aid new entrepreneurs in developing management teams and effective business processes in early stages.
“Our goal is to create ‘win-win’ solutions for both industry and the university by building programs that ensure new firms have a supportive and effective environment in which to grow,” he said. “And we want the university’s intellectual property—the outstanding ideas developed by our researchers for new products, technologies and services—to be used for the public good.”
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For more information, contact:
Glen Schuler
Managing Director, Industry Liaison Office
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1465
http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo
Kathryn Warden
Director, Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
http://www.usask.ca/research/communications/
