October 29, 2010
University of Saskatchewan College of Law expansion celebrates LEED Gold
Posted October 29, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 29, 2010
2010-10-31-LA
The University of Saskatchewan College of Law and student group Greenlegal today celebrated the college’s achievement of gold status in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) with an open house at the college.
“The completion of the expansion has provided our students and the college with much-needed space, technologically modern classrooms and a healthy environment in which to study and work,” said Beth Bilson, acting dean of the College of Law. “With the tremendous efforts of our partners, Stantec Architecture, PCL Construction, Integrated Design Inc., Ritenburg & Associates Ltd., and the U of S’s Facilities Management Division, we accomplished this while protecting the environment both during the building phase and in ongoing maintenance and operations. We are pleased to celebrate this achievement with our partners and guests today.”
The college’s expansion was the second project in the province to meet LEED’s gold status requirements, and the first on the university campus to meet LEED standards. The university continues to be committed to sustainable building practices in all of its capital projects.
Compared to a similar-sized conventional building, water use in the new law expansion is 47 per cent lower and overall energy use is 57 per cent lower. Over 32 per cent recycled materials were used in the construction and furnishings, and 91 per cent of construction waste was recycled. A key feature is two living roofs that cover 60 per cent of the building, reducing water runoff and winter heating and summer cooling costs, while extending the life of the roof to 50 years from about 20-25 years for conventional roofing.
A healthier environment for occupants was achieved through a displacement ventilation system that provides 100 per cent outdoor air and natural light throughout 75 per cent of the new space, resulting in better air quality and less white noise. The outside air is not heated because there is a radiant heating system. The building also benefits from passive solar heat.
Greenlegal is a student organization at the college for those interested in environmental law.
In Canada, LEED standards are promoted by the Canada Green Building Council.
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For more information, contact:
Katherine Blau, Advancement Officer
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1062
Email: katherine.blau@usask.ca
Teri Rosenfelt, Communications Co-ordinator
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5659
Email: teri.rosenfelt@usask.ca
October 25, 2010
U of S Distinguished Chairs honour Saskatchewan world leaders in research
Posted October 25, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 25, 2010
2010-10-23-OTHER
Four of Canada’s most internationally renowned and accomplished researchers in the fields of animal nutrition, rural health and safety, intelligent control systems, and crop development have been honoured as University of Saskatchewan Distinguished Chairs.
“Through their long careers, these individuals have made accomplishments that have had real and lasting impact,” said U of S Vice-Provost Jim Germida. “In addition, their commitment to teaching and outreach has ensured their knowledge continues to benefit the communities our university serves.”
The Distinguished Chairs Program celebrates outstanding achievement in research, scholarly, or artistic work by U of S faculty or emeriti. The honorary appointments are held for three years, renewable for a second term. Four individuals have been selected in this inaugural round.
David Christensen spent most of his career in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. He began his education at the U of S and completed his graduate studies at McGill. He started his research career at Cornell University in New York before returning to the U of S.
For more than four decades, Christensen built an international reputation for his research in dairy nutrition. He was among the first to recognize the importance of trace minerals in livestock production, and feed formulations based on his research have been widely adopted in western Canada. His work in developing feed applications for agricultural co-products such as canola meal helped open new international markets for Prairie grain producers.
An excellent teacher and researcher, Christensen imparts a blend of science, practical management, and commercial application. Named as a Professor Emeritus in 2003, he has supervised more than 50 Masters and PhD students and still sits on eight graduate student committees. His passion for sharing research knowledge extends to international outreach to Africa, Central America, the Middle East, and Asia. The esteem in which he is held is evidenced by his many national and international awards from the research community, professional industry, and producer organizations.
Dr. James Dosman, the “father of agricultural medicine” in Canada, has devoted his career to improving the health of, and preventing injury to, farmers and their families. He began at the U of S, then completed a residency and postdoctoral fellowship at McGill University that established him in his specialty of respiratory medicine. He returned to the U of S to found the Division of Respiratory Medicine in the College of Medicine in 1975, and, 11 years later, the Centre for Agricultural Medicine – now known as the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA). The organization is the only one in Canada to provide research, education, and health promotion to agricultural and rural populations – a crucial service to the families working in one of the most dangerous occupations in Canada and the U.S.
Dosman worked with local municipal governments to establish the Agricultural Health and Safety Network in Saskatchewan, which has grown to provide health and safety education and services to more than 28,000 farm families. He was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Coalition for Agricultural Safety and Rural Health and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Program. Now a Professor Emeritus, his work to reduce dangers to farm families across the province and the country have won him numerous awards, as well as accolades from the farm communities to which he has devoted his career.
Madan M. Gupta is recognized internationally for groundbreaking work in fuzzy logic (mathematics of human language) and neural networks (mathematics of the human brain) and their application to advanced robotic control systems. Such systems have diverse application, from passenger trains to autofocus systems for digital cameras. A Professor Emeritus and director of the Intelligent Systems Research Laboratory at the College of Engineering, Gupta and his colleagues push the frontiers of computational fuzzy neural networks in fields such as aerospace, medicine, business and the courts of law. He has shared his knowledge and expertise through both undergraduate and graduate courses in adaptive control systems, neuro-control systems, neuro-vision systems and fuzzy logic, as well as workshops and keynote talks around the world. He has supervised numerous international graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting professors conducting research in these fields.
Gupta was educated in India and pursued graduate studies in the UK, achieving his PhD from the University of Warwick. He joined the U of S in 1967, and was awarded an earned Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in 1998. His publications include more than 900 scientific papers and co-authorship or editorship of about 24 books. He is a Life Fellow of several prestigious international associations, and his research has won international awards. A founder of several professional associations and technical journals, he serves on more than 15 editorial boards.
Brian Rossnagel is one of Canada’s best known crop scientists and one of the world’s top experts in barley and oat breeding and genetics. Based at the Crop Development Centre at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, he is responsible for more than 90 new cultivars, several of which have become the preferred varieties for western Canadian farmers. Some are unique, such as the first hull-less barley, or have set a new standard for quality, such as CDC Dancer oat. He developed the world’s first high oil, low lignin hull feed oat with a similar nutritional profile to barley, and a low-phytate barley which can help reduce the environmental impact of high intensity hog operations.
Rossnagel has served on the executive and as an organizer for several provincial, national, and international oat and barley organizations. He has served on the board of the Canadian Western Agribition, including a term as president. He is committed to ensuring the knowledge and products of research reach the producer and industry. He gives numerous presentations, media interviews, conducts field days and tours, and speaks frequently about his research and particularly, its application to the field. A fierce advocate for sound public policies, he often speaks against those that would impede scientific creativity and innovation.
For more information on the U of S Distinguished Chairs program, visit: www.usask.ca/research/chairs/chairs.php
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For more information, contact:
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425
michael.robin@usask.ca
October 22, 2010
U of S School of Public Health creates international ties for students
Posted October 22, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 22, 2010
2010-10-22-SPH
The University of Saskatchewan School of Public Health (SPH) has developed a partnership with Clinica Esperanza (Honduras), to provide greater opportunities for students to serve international communities through health practicum and research activity.
“Partnerships like this one provide valuable opportunities for students to gain international experience in the public health field, and serve an important role in less privileged communities,” said Robert Buckingham, executive director, SPH. “By being involved at the grass roots level, students get a firsthand sense of how their work makes a difference in peoples’ lives.”
Over the next five years, the school will provide up to 10 health practicum and research opportunities per year to U of S graduate students for a period of one to 12 months each. Students will be given an opportunity to rotate through the clinic’s wellness centre, pharmacy, dental clinic, primary care clinic, nutrition centre and maternal/child centre, offering their clinical and public health expertise in support of Clinica Esperanza’s mission.
“This Clinica Esperanza partnership with the University of Saskatchewan will be a wonderful opportunity for students in pharmacy, nutrition and other programs across campus to develop practice skills and contribute to essential patient care in an international interprofessional experience” said David Hill, dean, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and vice chair of the Council of Health Sciences Deans.
Built entirely with donations and volunteer labour, Clinica Esperanza sees over 75 patients per day – regardless of whether they are able to pay. With over 120 medical volunteers recruited from countries around the globe, Clinica Esperanza arguably provides the best care available to the local residents of Roatan and is the busiest non-governmental medical facility in the Bay Islands.
The SPH, which experienced an increase in registration of over 400 per cent from 2009-2010 to 2010-2011, offers innovative opportunities for graduate education, community service, public health research and programming.
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For more information, contact:
Erica Schindel, School of Public Health
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2663
Email: erica.schindel@usask.ca
University of Saskatchewan sees student enrolment increase
Posted October 22, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 22, 2010
2010-10-20-OTHER
For the second consecutive year the University of Saskatchewan is reporting overall enrolment increases at the undergraduate and graduate level.
The annual census recorded 16,590 undergrads, up 305 or 1.87 per cent over last year. Graduate student numbers climbed by 9.42 per cent to 2,835, an additional 244 students as compared to 2009.
“The census results point to the success of the university’s recruitment and retention efforts and the growing reputation of our graduate programs,” said Registrar Russell Isinger. “We are pleased that an increasing number of students are choosing the University of Saskatchewan.”
A demographic breakdown of the entire student body shows an 8.69 per cent increase in the number of both undergrad and graduate international students (a gain of 149 students to 1,863), and a 5.77 per cent increase in self-declared Aboriginal students (a gain of 94 students to 1,722).
The biggest percentage gain in undergraduate numbers was made in the kinesiology program, which is up 48 students, or 10.11 per cent, over last year. The College of Medicine saw an 8.39 per cent increase, or 25 students, while education gained 74 students, an increase of 6.23 per cent. The only colleges recording declines this year are arts and science and pharmacy and nutrition, which are both down only two students compared to last October.
The most significant gains in grad student enrolment were made by the Schools of Public Policy, Public Health, and Environment and Sustainability which are up 66.67 per cent (32 students), 93.33 per cent (56 students) and 45.24 per cent (19 students) respectively. Now in their third year, Isinger said the schools “are getting established and getting their names out there. These numbers speak to the wisdom of the school model.”
Analysis of the census day results continues. Isinger said the detailed report on the 2010 enrolment numbers should be ready later this month and will be made available online at www.usask.ca/sesd.
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For more information, contact:
Meghan Sired, Communications Co-ordinator
Student and Enrolment Services Division
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6068 | Cell: (306) 381-7992
Email: meghan.sired@usask.ca
October 21, 2010
VIDO-InterVac at the U of S hosts international experts in human, animal health
Posted October 21, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2010
2010-10-18-VIDO
The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) at the University of Saskatchewan and The Gairdner Foundation are co-hosting an international vaccine symposium in Saskatoon entitled Common Interface between Animal and Human Health to explore the relationship between animal and human infectious diseases.
“Human and animal health are linked,” says Andrew Potter, director and CEO of VIDO-InterVac. “The majority of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals and research and understanding of how these organisms cause disease will benefit society.”
“Today’s symposium is the first of a series of planned special symposia co-hosted by the Gairdner Foundation across the country to explore a broad spectrum of biomedical issues”, says John Dirks, president and scientific director with the Gairdner Foundation. “The symposium will explore the linkages between animal infections and human disease, an important economic and social issue to the people of Canada, and the world. It also ties in nicely to the construction of VIDO’s new International Vaccine Centre, a containment level 3 facility that will be fundamental to further exploring emerging infectious diseases.”
A panel of internationally renowned scientists including Albert Osterhaus from the University of Rotterdam, Dr. Greg Poland from the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, Lorne Babiuk and Michael Houghton from the University of Alberta and Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, will discuss emerging viral and bacterial infections that cross between humans and animals, novel approaches for preventing prion diseases, advances in Hepatitis C research as well as ethical and social issues of vaccines.
The Gairdner Foundation has a proud history of recognizing the world’s most creative and accomplished biomedical scientists. This year, Dr. Calvin Stiller (a Saskatchewan native) who won the Wightman Award for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science will address the symposium.
The Honorable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration for Saskatchewan, who will speak at a banquet Thursday evening, said “The government of Saskatchewan is very pleased to be able to support this conference at VIDO-InterVac in bringing together recognized experts from around the world who are at the cutting edge of research with significant impact for our province, our country and our world.”
The Honorable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Diversification will attend the Friday lunch that will mark the close of the symposium. “Our government believes science, technology and innovation are vital to stimulating productivity, competitiveness and growth,” said Yelich. “Our support for VIDO-InterVac will help create jobs of the future and will foster innovation and world-leading research.”
This event is open to the media. We ask that you please RSVP.
Gairdner International Vaccine Symposium - October 21-22, 2010
Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
About VIDO-InterVac:
Created in 1975, VIDO-InterVac has Containment Level 2 facilities that include virology, immunology, bacteriology and biochemistry labs and a 160-acre research station. The approaching completion of the Containment Level 3 InterVac facility will provide unique research and training opportunities for local and international scientists and students. A research organization of the University of Saskatchewan with operating support from provincial and federal governments as well as industry grants, VIDO-InterVac holds 80+ U.S. patents and has developed technology for eight commercial vaccines.
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To RSVP please contact:
Shirley Toms, Corporate Communications Manager
VIDO-InterVac
Office 306-966-7483 / Cell 306-717-3330
shirley.toms@usask.ca
October 20, 2010
U of S Crop Development Scientist Recognized with 2010 New Researcher Award
Posted October 20, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 20, 2010
2010-10-13-AG
University of Saskatchewan plant sciences researcher Curtis Pozniak, a Canadian leader in molecular genetics of wheat, is the recipient of the 2010 New Researcher Award to be presented at the Oct. 23 convocation.
“Since earning his PhD at the U of S in 2003, Pozniak has gained a reputation in Canada and around the world as a rising star in the area of plant genetics and breeding,” said U of S vice-president research Karen Chad.
“We are so fortunate to have an exceptional researcher like him at the U of S. I have no doubt Prof. Pozniak’s work will have a significant impact on the future of crop development science and will make positive contributions toward improving global food security.”
His work links basic research into the genetics and expression of disease resistance and end use quality traits with his applied research in the development of durum and other classes of wheat cultivars (strains) for Western Canada. Canada is one of the world’s major producers of durum wheat, but in order to be approved for international markets, new cultivars must meet a variety of strict quality criteria. In 2008, he released the cultivar CDC Verona, the first new durum cultivar from the U of S to pass this rigorous assessment in 18 years.
He and his graduate students have developed DNA markers which are used in crop improvement programs globally.
He has incorporated gene marker-assisted selection into his program at the U of S Crop Development Centre (CDC). The technique uses DNA markers that are tightly linked to genes to screen for specific traits critical to end-use quality, such as pigment, disease resistance and cadmium concentration.
“This technology has improved to the point where it is increasingly feasible for plant breeders to select only those plants that carry the most useful genes for traits like disease resistance and end-use quality,” said Pozniak.
His program is now regularly screening molecular markers for these end-use quality traits.
“As DNA sequencing technology continues to improve, more DNA markers will become available for routine use in our plant breeding programs,” he said.
In 2008, Pozniak won the Best Research Poster Presentation at the International Durum Wheat Symposium and, more recently, he was granted the Young Agronomists Award by the Canadian Society of Agronomy in recognition of his outstanding contributions to that field.
Information about the award and past recipients is available at: http://www.usask.ca/research/about/distinguished_research_award.php
The internationally recognized CDC has released nearly 300 commercial crop varieties since it began its work in 1971. More information is available at: http://agbio.usask.ca/
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Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425
October 19, 2010
University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors Approves 2011-12 Operations Forecast
Posted October 19, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 19, 2010
2010-10-14-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors has approved the 2011-12 operations forecast, a document prepared for the Government of Saskatchewan, that outlines the operating and capital budget priorities for the university in 2011-12 based on its planning process.
“The operations forecast is an integral piece of the continuous conversation between the U of S and the provincial government,” said Provost and Vice-President Academic Brett Fairbairn. “It highlights the progress we have made and the areas in which continued or additional investment from the provincial government will benefit not only the institution but the province as a whole.”
For 2011-12, the U of S is requesting:
* an annual operating grant increase of 4.3 per cent ($11.546 million);
* an annual capital grant of $35 million;
* one-time funding of $38 million for capital projects; and
* an additional one per cent ($2.8 million) to maximize the potential of other opportunities for investment, including emerging capital projects. .
The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration will use the operations forecast to inform its request to the Treasury Board for funding as part of the province’s budget, to be released in spring 2011. The U of S Board of Governors will approve the university’s operating and capital budget after the release of the provincial budget in spring 2011. The university’s 2011-12 budget is projected to be balanced.
The operations forecast is based on the multi-year budget framework which is a component of the integrated plan of the university. The document supports the partnership between the U of S and the provincial government as we work together to support quality post-secondary education for the students of Saskatchewan and beyond.
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For more information, visit www.usask.ca/ip to view the operations forecast, or contact:
Teri Rosenfelt, Communications Co-ordinator
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-5659
Email: teri.rosenfelt@usask.ca
October 14, 2010
Support for University of Saskatchewan New Nursing Program Announced
Posted October 14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 14, 2010
2010-10-12-NU
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) will begin offering a new four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in September 2011, part of the provincial two-provider model, and increased support for nursing education announced by the Saskatchewan government today.
The U of S will welcome the first students into the new BSN program next year, and in the meantime will continue to teach students through the existing Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan (NEPS) in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert. Students accepted into the new U of S nursing program will first complete a pre-professional year of study in specific health science disciplines that will prepare them for the final three years of nursing education in the College of Nursing.
“We are offering a degree that makes a difference in the lives of our students and the people of Saskatchewan,” said Lorna Butler, dean, College of Nursing at today’s announcement. “The U of S College of Nursing is confident in attracting students who are committed to innovation and change to make Saskatchewan and nursing professionals world leaders.”
To support students who would benefit from receiving their education closer to home, the U of S currently offers its nursing programs at three sites across the province – Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina. The U of S will be working to expand its program to other sites so students in smaller communities can take advantage of the college’s “learn where you live” opportunities.
Addressing the needs of health care in the 21st century, the program builds on the strengths of the U of S as the province’s only medical-doctoral university, the main strength being the unique opportunity the university affords nursing students to learn and interact with students in other health disciplines such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nutrition, physiotherapy and kinesiology. Hospitals and community agencies both in Saskatoon and in other locations around the province offer U of S students the broad hands-on clinical experiences they need to succeed as a member of a health-care team.
For more information about program locations, high school requirements, university-level requirements and registration details, please visit www.usask.ca/nursing.
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For more information, contact:
Tracy Laschilier
Advancement Officer
College of Nursing
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: 306-966-1323
Email: tracy.laschilier@usask.ca
October 13, 2010
U of S school partakes in new sustainability and learning partnership
Posted October 13, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 13, 2010
2010-10-11-SENS
Today, the University of Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS), Saskatoon Public Schools and Aden Bowman Collegiate announced a new partnership that will provide greater opportunities for high school and U of S graduate students to engage in interdisciplinary learning and community projects related to environment and sustainability.
"Saskatoon Public Schools is thrilled with this new partnership," said Brenda Green, superintendent of education, Saskatoon Public Schools. "Our school division is working hard to ensure our students understand the importance of environmental sustainability. From Destination Conservation to Energy Smart to Science Trek and the unique programs offered at Aden Bowman Collegiate, Saskatoon Public Schools is very pleased that this partnership with SENS will provide yet another opportunity for our students and our wider community."
The agreement encourages collaboration in areas such as sustainable living, active citizenship and life-long learning. Examples of activities may include joint field work, seminars and brown bag lunches, and shared community projects.
“This partnership creates valuable opportunities for the SENS to connect with high school students and engage them in dialogue and research related to the complex connections between community and environment,” said Karsten Liber, executive director, SENS. “These activities will allow us to develop champions of environmental sustainability by exchanging ideas and encouraging informed discussions between graduate students and high school students, high school students and their families, and family members and their communities. This partnership is one of many ways that the SENS can connect with the broader community.”
Founded in 2007, the U of S SENS offers an integrated, interdisciplinary education that prepares graduates to address the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
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For more information, contact:
Erica Schindel
Communications and Marketing Specialist
School of Environment and Sustainability
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2663
Email: erica.schindel@usask.ca
Joy Adams Bauer
Communications Officer
Saskatoon Public Schools
Tel: (306) 683-8325
Email: adamsbauerj@spsd.sk.ca
October 08, 2010
U of S researcher harnesses statistics to sort how health perceptions change over time
Posted October 08, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 8, 2010
2010-10-07-SPH
“How do you feel?” is a question patients often hear, but one that doesn’t always give an accurate picture of their quality of life since the frame of reference for their responses can change over time, says University of Saskatchewan (U of S) health researcher Lisa Lix.
Photo Courtesy of SHRF
Lix has been awarded $200,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to develop new statistical methods to better understand changes in this measure – called health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
“An individual’s perceptions of his or her well-being are as important as objective measures, such as functional ability, when studying the effects of chronic disease and its treatment,” said Lix, who holds a Centennial Chair in the U of S School of Public Health. “However, the ‘ruler’ we use to evaluate our health can stretch or shrink over time, making it difficult to detect change in HRQOL and its responsiveness to treatment.”
Lix leads an interdisciplinary team of clinicians and statisticians from the U of S, McGill University in Quebec and Trinity Western University in British Columbia. They will develop and compare new statistical tools and apply them to HRQOL data for stroke patients and patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
“High-quality information and the tools to use it are critical both to improving patient care at the bedside and to inform sound public health care policy,” said Beth Horsburgh, U of S associate vice-president research- health and vice-president research and innovation at the Saskatoon Health Region. “The work of Dr. Lix at the U of S and her collaborators at other universities promises to help improve the care of those with chronic illnesses – both at home and abroad.”
Through this research, Lix and her team will develop better statistical methods and software tools that can be used for HRQOL and other “self-report” measures of health. Clinicians and health researchers can use these tools to gain valuable insights about the influence of disease progression and health-care treatment, and inform decisions of both health-care providers and policy makers.
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For more information, contact:
Erica Schindel, School of Public Health
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2663
Email: erica.schindel@usask.ca
October 07, 2010
U of S School of Public Health and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan establish new partnership
Posted October 07, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 7, 2010
2010-10-05-SPH
Today, the University of Saskatchewan School of Public Health (SPH) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan (HSFS) announced a new partnership that will provide greater collaboration on joint initiatives that inform Saskatchewan people about the importance of healthy living.
“The Heart and Stroke Foundation is putting new energy behind community-based initiatives that link good science with local programs to make positive healthy lifestyle changes happen at the individual and community level,” said Lucy Buller, CEO, HSFS. “With the support of the School of Public Health, we will be well-positioned to stretch our resources further and really make a difference towards reducing the impact of heart disease and stroke in Saskatchewan.”
The agreement encourages collaboration in areas like health promotion, health education and experiential learning and applied public health research. Examples of activities that students may participate in include delivering workplace wellness presentations to organizations in the city, promoting healthy living to community groups, and researching and developing grant proposals for the HSFS. “Partnerships like this one provide valuable opportunities for our students to gain practical experience in the public health field, and serve an important role in our communities,” said Robert Buckingham, executive director, SPH. “By being involved in the community, students get a firsthand sense of how their work makes a difference in people’s lives. This improves their academic experience at the U of S.”
The SPH, which experienced an increase in registration of over 400 per cent from 2009-2010 to 2010-2011, offers innovative opportunities for graduate education, community service, public health research and programming. HSFS is a volunteer-based health charity that leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy.
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For more information, contact:
Erica Schindel, School of Public Health
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2663
Email: erica.schindel@usask.ca
Visit usask.ca/sph for more.
Rhae Ann Bromley
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan
Tel: 1-888-473-4636
Email: bromleyra@hsf.sk.ca
Visit heartandstroke.sk.ca for more.
October 05, 2010
Policy school launches The Analyst, welcomes editor Doug Elliott
Posted October 05, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 5, 2010
2010-10-03-JSGS
The Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) today launched The Western Policy Analyst, an online quarterly and bi-weekly publication covering the four Western Canadian provinces.
Doug Elliott
JSGS is pleased to announce that Doug Elliott, publisher of the Sask Trends Monitor, is the editor of the new publication. Elliott’s excellent reputation as a mathematician, statistician and empirical interpreter follows him into this new venture. He will be appointed executive-in-residence at JSGS.
The Analyst will provide public policy insights from a statistical, evidence-based point of view, based in part on information provided by Statistics Canada. Each edition will cover topics relevant to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. For example, the first edition contains articles on provincial economies, demographics and crime rates.
“The Analyst is a unique publication among policy schools,” said Michael Atkinson, executive director of JSGS. “We intend to provide policy makers, and those interested in policy formation, with useful, empirical analysis of Western Canadian trends and issues.”
Articles will be prepared by Doug Elliott, JSGS faculty, graduate students, and invited contributors – academics and practitioners -- who are specialists in their areas. Annual subscriptions are $295 and available on the JSGS website at http://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/research/wpa/. The first editions of the quarterly and bi-weekly publications are complimentary.
JSGS, a provincial policy school with campuses at the universities of Saskatchewan and Regina, is involved in teaching, research and training.
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For further information, please contact:
Joanne Paulson
Research Communications Officer
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
University of Saskatchewan campus
(306) 966-8393 or (306) 290-9706 (cell)
October 01, 2010
U of S launches centre for the study of masonry design
Posted October 01, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 1, 2010
2010-10-01-ENG
Today the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) announced the launch of the Saskatchewan Centre for Masonry Design (SCMD) – a centre that will provide valuable training and research in masonry materials and structures, such as bricks, blocks or stone held together with mortar.
“There is a real demand in the masonry industry for research into materials and methods used in construction, as well as a need to modernize building codes and standards to produce more cost-competitive masonry designs,” said Bruce Sparling, director of the centre and professor of civil engineering. “We must ensure that our engineering students are knowledgeable in how to design such structures. The centre will make us one of the leading institutions for masonry education and research in Canada, and a model for others to emulate.”
The centre’s research will focus on developing and testing innovative building materials and systems that will improve the strength, durability, efficiency and thermal performance of masonry structures, including many of the stone-clad buildings on the U of S campus. This research will lead to more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable construction practices and improved safety standards, which will benefit society in many ways.
“The creation of this centre would not be possible without the partnership between the university and our local industry partners,” said U of S President Peter MacKinnon. “This is a wonderful initiative for the College of Engineering and the University of Saskatchewan and we are excited to see the impact this centre will have in the future.”
The SCMD is made possible through a $1.25-million donation from the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute and the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association, and through the support of the U of S and the College of Engineering.
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For more information, contact:
Mark Ferguson
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1851
Email: m.ferguson@usask.ca
