April 27, 2010
University of Saskatchewan student elected to the board of directors for the Canadian Pharmacists Association
Posted April 27, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 27, 2010
2010-04-13-PH
For the second year in a row, a University of Saskatchewan (U of S) pharmacy student has been elected to the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) board of directors. Leah Phillips, a second year pharmacy student from Lumby, B.C., has been elected as the pharmacy student representative.
“Words cannot express how honoured I am to be given the opportunity,” said Phillips. “The chance to work with such a forward-thinking association, representing pharmacy students on a national level, will help bridge the gap between practicing pharmacists and students.”
The board of the CPhA is composed of 20 individuals representing elected members from each province, representatives from academia and the major practice settings for pharmacists, and an elected undergraduate student representing students from the 10 pharmacy schools in Canada.
“This type of appointment for one of our students demonstrates the importance of student participation in an executive capacity with a national organization,” said Dean David Hill, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. “The impact that is possible through the CPhA board involvement resonates throughout the pharmacy profession, and Leah’s participation will ensure that students from all pharmacy schools in Canada are part of that impact.”
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For more information, contact:
Heather Dawson, Advancement Officer
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2502
Cell: (306) 221-0129
Email: heather.dawson@usask.ca
April 23, 2010
University of Saskatchewan re-appoints chancellor
Posted April 23, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 23, 2010
2010-04-11-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Senate has appointed Chancellor Vera Pezer for a second term.
“When I became chancellor the first term, I wanted to promote the university to alumni, students and the wider community,” said Pezer. “That wish hasn’t changed. I will continue to work vigorously on behalf of the university, and now I’ve got more experience than I had the first time.”
First elected chancellor in 2007, Pezer earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the U of S. She went on to hold various positions at the U of S, including director of student counselling, assistant dean in the College of Arts and Science and the associate vice-president of student affairs and services. Her work helped establish offices for student emergency financial assistance, disability services and aboriginal student support.
In addition to her successful professional career, Pezer is a well-respected athlete and volunteer within the athletic community. She is a four-time ladies curling champion, Canadian softball champion and has been honoured by the Saskatoon and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fames, as well as the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.
U of S alumni submit nominations for chancellor, from which a candidate is chosen by a nomination committee composed of Board of Governors and University Senate representatives. Senate appoints the chancellor based on the recommendation of this committee.
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For more information, contact:
Teri Rosenfelt, Communications Co-ordinator
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5659
Email: teri.rosenfelt@usask.ca
Five U of S Research Projects Awarded Nearly $500,000 in CFI Funding
Posted April 23, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 23, 2010, 7:00 a.m. Saskatoon Time
2010-04-10-OTHER
Today University of Saskatchewan (U of S) researchers were awarded a total of $495,960 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for five projects that will advance computer technology, help conserve native grasslands, improve wildlife and habitat management, research social responsibility, and develop new treatments for cystic fibrosis.
“I congratulate these outstanding U of S researchers who have successfully met the CFI’s world-class standards for innovative research that will benefit our health, environment, and economy,” said U of S Vice-President of Research Karen Chad. “This CFI investment sets the stage for more U of S discoveries with impact and helps train the next generation of researchers and leaders for many sectors of society.”
The successful U of S Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF) recipients announced in Ottawa today are:
• Philip McLoughlin (biology) will study the ecology and evolution of wild populations of hoofed mammals such as elk, bison and wild horses, research that will be used in wildlife and habitat management to help understand disease transmission among wildlife.
• Juan Ianowski (physiology) will look at how epithelial cells, specific cells lining a patient’s airway, carry out cellular and molecular transport, probing how and why this transport is hindered in patients with cystic fibrosis airway disease. This work will enhance understanding of the disease and could help uncover new drug targets and treatment options.
• Loleen Berdahl (political studies), Maureen Bourassa (marketing) and Joe Garcea (political studies) will develop a telephone survey laboratory and focus group facility to study social responsibility. This research will produce practical knowledge on how organizations in governmental, for-profit, and not-for-profit sectors can be more responsible to communities, groups, and individuals in their policies, programs and projects.
• Eric Lamb (plant sciences) will research plant-soil relationships and maintenance of healthy grassland ecosystems, key economic and ecological resources in Western Canada. His work will contribute to the successful management of remaining native grasslands threatened by invasive species, rangeland degradation, and potential climate change impacts.
• Gap Soo Chang (physics and engineering physics) will look at transistors and memory devices that offer ultra-fast and energy-efficient computer information processing and storage. The project will help the U of S remain competitive in spintronics, a fast-emerging research field, advancing semiconductor electronics and overcoming key challenges in computer information technology development.
Today’s announcement included more than $27 million in support of 118 CFI projects at 32 institutions across Canada.
“The investments being announced today at the U of S will further enhance our country’s reputation as a destination of choice for outstanding researchers,” said Eliot Phillipson, CFI president. “They will make our universities even more competitive when it comes to attracting the best and brightest researchers from around the world.”
Saskatoon-Humboldt MP Brad Trost said, “The Leaders Opportunity Fund is particularly well named. The University of Saskatchewan has been awarded almost half a million dollars so that top researchers in their fields can continue with their ground-breaking work in a wide range of disciplines.”
The CFI is an independent corporation created by the federal government to fund research infrastructure, which includes state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, laboratories, and databases required to conduct research.
The LOF provides infrastructure support to Canadian institutions so they can attract and retain the very best of today and tomorrow’s leading researchers at a time of intense international competition for knowledge workers.
For a complete list of the projects awarded, please visit www.innovation.ca.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Kathryn Warden
University Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
April 22, 2010
University of Saskatchewan appoints new centennial chair
Posted April 22, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 22, 2010
2010-04-09-JSGS
The University of Saskatchewan has appointed Jeremy Rayner as the centennial chair in the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) for a five-year renewable term, effective July 1, 2010.
“Dr. Rayner’s expertise in a range of public policy areas makes him a valuable addition to the JSGS,” said Michael Atkinson, executive director of the school. “As centennial chair, he will foster interdisciplinary research by developing a prominent research and graduate student training program, which will help JSGS continue to attract students from across the country and around the world.”
Rayner’s current research focuses on three primary areas – global forest governance; resource, environmental and energy policies; and policy theory, particularly institutionalism and problems of policy change. One of his projects integrates science and technology perspectives with non-scientific perspectives in decision making to understand the options for a transition to sustainable power generation in Saskatchewan. He is also currently the chair of the Global Forest Expert Panel on the International Forest Regime, and a co-investigator on the recently announced $5.4 million Genome Canada project, VALGEN.
“I am pleased to accept this position and look forward to the new opportunities it offers, not only to me personally, but also to the school and to the University of Saskatchewan,” said Rayner. “The school is an ideal location for collaborative and interdisciplinary work on complex issues, and a place where policy-relevant research can make the classroom experience more realistic and rewarding for everyone."
Rayner, currently the head of political science at the University of Regina (U of R), was educated at Cambridge and Durham before immigrating to Canada, where he earned his PhD in political science at the University of British Columbia. In addition to his long history of teaching and research, he has also provided administrative leadership as a department head at Lakehead University and the U of R.
The centennial chair, established at the U of S to mark its 100th anniversary in 2007, provides leadership in establishing an interdisciplinary research program and promoting excellence in graduate student training.
JSGS is a provincial centre with campuses at both the U of S and the U of R. The school provides students and faculty with the opportunity to work on contemporary public policy and administration challenges in an academic environment known for innovation.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Paulson, Research Communications Officer
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-8393 Email: joanne.paulson@usask.ca
April 19, 2010
U of S Celebrates Teaching Excellence
Posted April 19, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 19, 2010
2010-04-08-OTHER
Today the University of Saskatchewan announced the inaugural recipients of its Provost’s Teaching Awards at the Celebration of Teaching 2010.
A reception held in Convocation Hall highlighted the U of S’s outstanding teachers, their accomplishments and the contribution they make to the university and the student experience.
“There is no shortage of roles played by our professors. They are role models, scholars and mentors,” said Ernie Barber, U of S vice-provost, teaching and learning. “With that comes the responsibility to be an educator and pass on knowledge and discoveries to our students, making the academic experience meaningful and memorable.”
Margaret Kovach, assistant professor, College of Education, recipient of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Education, is one such teacher. Kovach received the award for her commitment to aboriginal students and her work in developing courses and innovative programming, both in the classroom and through distance learning.
“This is an important award from a teaching and social justice perspective,” said Kovach. “To increase enrolment and success of Aboriginal Peoples in post-secondary environments, it is vital to create spaces that are relevant and meaningful to aboriginal students. This award signals that aboriginal education is a priority at the University of Saskatchewan.”
One aspect of Kovach’s approach that stood out was the use of indigenous methodologies in her research and the infusion of aboriginal perspective and content in her teaching.
The recipients of the campus-wide Provost’s Teaching Awards are:
- Provost's Award for Outstanding Innovation in Learning: Fred Phillips (Edwards School of Business);
- Provost’s Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Education: Margaret Kovach (College of Education);
- Provost's Award for Excellence in International Teaching: Lisa Krol (the University Language Centre);
- Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award: Serene Smyth (College of Kinesiology);
- Outstanding New Teacher Awards: Angela Bedard-Haughn (College of Agriculture and Bioresources); and Jay Wilson (College of Education).
The winners of the Provost's College Awards for Outstanding Teaching (college specific) are:
- Ken Van Rees (College of Agriculture and Bioresources);
- Ken Wilson (College of Arts and Science, sciences);
- Lorin Elias (College of Arts and Science, social sciences);
- Edwin Ralph (College of Education);
- Barbara Phillips (Edwards School of Business);
- Allan Dolovich (College of Engineering);
- Len Gusthart (College of Kinesiology);
- Barbara von Tigerstrom (College of Law);
- Nigel West (College of Medicine);
- Sandra Bassendowski (College of Nursing);
- Jeff Taylor (College of Pharmacy and Nutrition); and
- Gary Wobeser (Western College of Veterinary Medicine).
“These awards were established to recognize not only our outstanding teachers, but also the many immeasurable ways they reach our students,” said Barber. “The one thing all great teachers have in common—whether faculty, sessionals or graduate students—is that they care about students and their learning. That passion comes through and makes all the difference in student experience.”
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For more information, contact:
Kris Foster
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: 306-966-1806 or 306-966-5905
Email: kris.foster@usask.ca
April 15, 2010
Three U of S Researchers Honoured for Environmental Toxicology, Bio-Agriculture and Medical Inventions
Posted April 15, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 15, 2010
2010-04-05-OTHER
Three University of Saskatchewan (U of S) researchers were announced yesterday at the SABEX “Celebrate Success!” finalists’ reception for the Innovation Place—Industry Liaison Office Award of Innovation.
The $10,000 annual award honours U of S researchers who have brought new and commercially viable technology to the U of S Industry Liaison Office (ILO) for development into marketable products.
“The technologies developed by these individuals have great potential to enrich lives through improvements in human health, environmental toxicology, and bio-agriculture,” said Glen Schuler, ILO Managing Director. “Our city and our province will also directly benefit from the promise of increased investment and high-quality jobs this research brings.”
“We’re excited by this year’s group of finalists,” said Austin Beggs, Vice-President of Corporate Relations for Innovation Place. “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 graduates. We’re proud to celebrate these successes that help bring novel products and processes to the marketplace.”
The award finalists are:
- John Giesy, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology, has co-developed an assay test (a molecular biology procedure), named the H295R Steroidogenersis Assay, that will enable regulators to determine which chemical compounds cause harmful hormone effects and then develop regulations to minimize these effects. Geisy was instrumental in designing the regulations with environmental regulators in the United States and Europe. The assay was developed with financial support from Western Economic Diversification Canada and has been approved for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation. The U of S recently set up a wholly owned subsidiary to market this test world-wide.
- Rajendra Sharma, a U of S pathology professor and scientist at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, has co-identified a marker in the blood that indicates the presence of colorectal cancer. This discovery, still in the early stages of testing, has the potential to be developed further into a colorectal cancer test that would be inexpensive, accurate, offer minimal discomfort to the patient, increase screening rates, and ultimately reduce colorectal cancer death rates.
- Vladimir Vujanovic, U of S associate professor of food and bioproduct sciences and Agri-Food Innovation Fund Chair in Agricultural Microbiology and Bioproducts, has discovered a new species of fungus found in wheat, barley, and other prairie crops that can control outbreaks of the
harmful Fusarium fungus species found soil and plants. Fusarium produces toxic substances that can cause serious health problems in cattle and be fatal in humans. It costs the agricultural and forestry industries billions of dollars in lost yield and quality. Once the genes in the new fungus species are identified, they could be cloned to generate proteins in industrial-scale quantities, suitable for prevention and treatment of Fusarium infections. The genes could also be used to create Fusarium-resistant crop varieties.
The winner of the Award of Innovation will be announced May 18th at the SABEX “Celebrate Success!” gala, sponsored by the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.
The Award of Innovation competition is open to U of S employees and students. Selection criteria include innovation novelty and potential commercial impact. The selection committee includes representatives from Innovation Place and the U of S. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be recognized with a photo on the “Award of Innovation” wall at the ILO and a personal trophy.
Innovation Place is one of North America's most successful university-related research parks. For more information on Innovation Place, visit www.innovationplace.com.
The ILO works with inventors to help commercialize innovations developed at the U of S. For more information on the ILO, visit www.usask.ca/research/ilo.
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For more information on the Award of Innovation, contact:
Glen Schuler
Managing Director
Industry Liaison Office (ILO)
(306) 966-4584
glen.schuler@usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
University of Saskatchewan announces 2010-11 tuition rates
Posted April 15, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 15, 2010
2010-04-04-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan’s Board of Governors has approved an overall tuition rate increase of 5.2 per cent for the 2010-11 academic year, revenue from which will be directed toward both central operations and improvements in college programs and services.
“The Board of Governors carefully considered a number of options related to tuition, always keeping in mind the principles of comparability to other institutions, affordability and accessibility for students, and the need to maintain quality programming,” said Chair Art Dumont. “Decisions around tuition are always carefully considered and we believe the increases we have set for the coming year are consistent with the university’s strategic goals, including enhancing the student experience.”
Most programs will see increases of 4.4 per cent or lower. (See attachment one and two for detailed rate increases).
One significant change for 2010-11 will see part of the increase in revenue directed to the colleges that have higher increases, for the purpose of carrying out improvements to their programs. About 3.3 per cent of the overall tuition revenue increase will be directed to existing operations of the colleges and the university, while the remaining 1.9 per cent will fund enhancements to programs and services.
“This new arrangement will work to the benefit of students in programs seeing higher than average increases,” explained Brett Fairbairn, provost and vice-president academic. “The increase in resources will allow colleges to address supports for students such as financial aid, student advising, curriculum innovation, increased research activity and, in some cases, hiring professors to achieve competitive student/faculty ratios.”
For more information on tuition at the U of S, including a factsheet and the 2010-11 rates, visit www.usask.ca/tuition.
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For more information, contact:
Patty Martin, Community and Media Relations Specialist
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
Email: patty.martin@usask.ca
For background information about 2010-11 tuition rates, please visit www.usask.ca/uofs/notices/2010_uofs_tuition_background.pdf
April 09, 2010
Four U of S Physics Students in 'Beamteam' Research Group Awarded Major Federal Scholarships
Posted April 09, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 9, 2010
2010-04-02-CGSR
Four University of Saskatchewan PhD students working together on materials science projects at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) have been awarded a total of $252,000 in scholarships—part of $1.08 million in federal scholarship funding for U of S students announced today in Montreal.
It’s a source of pride for professors to see even one of their students receive such prestigious scholarships, says the students’ supervisor and Canada Research Chair Alexander Moewes. “But it is unbelievable to see four of my students get it at the same time.”
He said the scholarships awarded to John McLeod, Robert Green, Teak Boyko and Adrian Hunt testify to the “outstanding quality of these students on a national level.” He noted that the value of his students’ work is integral to his own success, adding “I can only be as successful as my graduate students.”
The four, who will each receive $63,000 over three years, are among 36 students currently at the U of S who will receive post-graduate (master’s or PhD) scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The scholarships can be applied to the U of S or to other institutions.
“This year 80 per cent of the 45 students that we were entitled to put forward through a federal quota system for scholarships were successful in this national competition,” said Lawrence Martz, U of S dean of graduate studies. “This is a reflection of the high-calibre students that U of S trains and it bodes well for the prospects of our graduates in research and professional careers.”
He noted U of S students received two of the 24 scholarships awarded nationally for the prestigious Juliette Payette-NSERC Research Scholarship which goes to the most outstanding master’s applicants across Canada. Biology student Lauren Bortolotti and chemistry student Michael Gaultois will each receive $25,000 for one year.
The four physics PhD students are part of Moewes’ eight-member “beamteam” – a materials research group which specializes in studying the electronic structure of new and advanced materials using synchrotron light to understand their properties and how they interact, bond and behave. The beamteam publishes 12 to 15 scholarly papers on their findings per year.
The group currently travels back and forth between the CLS on the U of S campus and a synchrotron at Berkeley, California, but will shift its research exclusively to the CLS when Moewes’ beamline becomes operational this year.
Not only will the NSERC funding enable them to continue their research, but it will make it possible for them to attend conferences where they can present their results and learn about new developments in the field, said Green, adding “We are trying to discover important things about nature that nobody knows yet.”
The four student projects are:
- McLeod, recruited from the University of Toronto, will work with “spintronics,” technology that exploits the natural spin and magnetism of the atomic electron and can be applied to making extremely small materials, known as nanomaterials, for constructing computer components with improved storage space.
- Green, also specializing in spintronics, will study how traditional, non-magnetic semiconductors can be given magnetic atoms to create new properties.
- Boyko will work on ultra-hard materials, compounds being developed to be harder than diamonds for manufacture of advanced blades and tools.
- Hunt will work on graphene, an extremely thin layer of graphite with very different conducting and light-absorbing properties than graphite normally has. This material holds promise for new nano-electronic applications. He is also working on environmentally friendly solar-cell materials.
To learn more about work being done by the U of S beamteam, visit http://beamteam.usask.ca/index.php Watch "Hard Driving Science," a U of S video that looks at Moewes’ work at the CLS: http://www.usask.ca/research/communications/multimedia/videos.php
For a complete list of U of S and other scholarship winners from the $122-million national NSERC scholarship announcement, visit: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PD-NP/PDF-BP_eng.asp and
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/BellandPostgrad-BelletSuperieures_eng.asp
Also announced today were 56 U of S researcher grants totalling more than $1.7 million under the NSERC Discovery Grant program. Details are available at: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/DGIGP-PSIGP_eng.asp
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For more information or to request a photo of the beamteam, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
Penny Skilnik
College of Graduate Studies and Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8490
April 06, 2010
U of S Researcher Awarded Saskatchewan Research Chair
Posted April 06, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 6, 2010
Regina, SK – University of Saskatchewan researcher Darrell Mousseau has been awarded a Saskatchewan Research Chair worth $1 million over the next five years to study a link between Alzheimer's disease and depression.
For the complete release and backgrounder, please visit: http://www.shrf.ca/SaskResChair_Alzheimer_Announced
