The Prime Minister’s announcement today of an agreement with China on Canadian uranium exports means that Saskatchewan can make a valuable contribution to reducing the global carbon footprint, while increasing opportunities for jobs with our wealth of uranium resources, says the head of the Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation (CCNI).

“This choice will reduce the future load of carbon dioxide and pollutants released to the air we all share.” 

Under existing regulations, China is prohibited from purchasing Canadian yellowcake (Uranium U3O8). This new agreement will help Canadian uranium companies substantially increase exports to China but will call on the Chinese government to verify that Canadian uranium is being used for appropriate civilian purposes.

“This agreement supports China’s energy needs while contributing to the use of clean, reliable energy in China,” Root said. “For people in China and the rest of the world who are striving to reach Western standards of living, we need to figure out how to sustainably produce about five times the energy that is consumed in Europe and North America.” 

As well, increased extraction activity in Saskatchewan will continue to require the most advanced knowledge to support industry and northern communities in addressing environmental challenges.

The new CCNI will help find technological and policy solutions to these pressing challenges, while placing Saskatchewan among global leaders of nuclear research, development and training. 

“With the CCNI in place, Saskatchewan will be well able to generate and interpret knowledge in the nuclear domain, hold fact-based conversations and make informed decisions about nuclear science and technologies,” he said. “We will use nuclear facilities and methods to make positive impacts in medicine, materials, energy and the environment for decades to come,” he said

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For more information, contact:

John Root
Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation
(306) 966-7338

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506

University of Saskatchewan geoscientist Lee Barbour has been awarded a $2.6-million industrial research chair backed by the federal Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Syncrude to provide critical insights into the performance of reclaimed mining areas.

Syncrude will provide half the funding for Barbour’s Chair in Hydrogeological Characterization of Oil Sands Mine Closure Landforms, investing more than $1.3-million over the five-year research project, with another $1.3-million provided by NSERC. In addition, Syncrude and the university will contribute more than $1 million through in-kind support.

“Syncrude’s commitment to responsible development includes continuous improvement in our environmental performance,” said Syncrude president and CEO Scott Sullivan. “This research will be a vital part of the information we need to reclaim landscapes that support a variety of healthy ecosystems.”

“Research is vitally important to an economically and socially sustainable oil sands industry. Successful reclamation of the land used for mining is a big part of that,” said NSERC President Suzanne Fortier. “Dr. Barbour’s research will allow companies to accurately predict the behaviour of contaminants in groundwater and landforms, and adopt effective ways of limiting their environmental footprint.”

Barbour’s team will work with Syncrude’s environmental scientists, building on a successful and productive collaboration established over the past decade. The company will also provide on-site logistical support, as well as instrumentation, drilling, sample collection, transportation and data gathering.

“We will determine the magnitude, rate, pathway and chemistry of groundwater in the reclaimed oil sands mine landforms,” explains Barbour. “Our goal is to provide the information needed by oil sands developers like Syncrude so they can create new landscapes that are sustainable and support natural processes.”

Barbour, a civil engineer with more than 30 years of research and industrial experience in geo-environmental engineering, has led multidisciplinary research into the performance of reclamation soil covers at oil sands mine sites for the past 12 years. Barbour’s chair will provide training opportunities for two postdoctoral fellows, two PhD candidates, six masters students, two undergraduate students and two research staff.

The research field site will be located on two watersheds that are part of Syncrude’s 3,400 hectares of permanently reclaimed land at Syncrude’s Mildred Lake facility, 35 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

The project will also extend research into two new areas that are being reclaimed, including Syncrude’s 50-hectare watershed. This area features a 17-hectare fen pilot project, the oil sands industry’s first attempt at creating a wetland from the ground up, on land formerly mined and now in the process of being reclaimed.

The Syncrude Project is a joint venture undertaking among the Canadian Oil Sands Partnership, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company Ltd., Nexen Oil Sands Partnership, Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership and Suncor Energy Oil and Gas Partnership.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Robin
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425
michael.robin@usask.ca

Cheryl Robb
Syncrude Canada Ltd.
(780) 717-9638
www.syncrude.com

Local life sciences business veteran Michael Chubb has been named Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EinR) for 2012 by the University of Saskatchewan Industry Liaison Office, in conjunction with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I‘m excited to be partnering with the university to work with promising researchers and students to commercialize their innovative technologies and to foster the entrepreneurial spirit,” Chubb says.

A native of Saskatoon, Chubb brings more than 15 years of international experience to the table, including business development, marketing, sales, general management and consulting. He currently leads Saskatoon Colostrum Company as general manager.

“We are very happy Michael will be sharing his vast expertise and experience to help these colleges’ efforts to build a more entrepreneurial environment,” says Glen Schuler, managing director of the U of S Industry Liaison Office.

The EinR Program aims to create collaboration among businesses and the university, and help commercialize U of S researchers’ know-how and technology.

Chubb will work in the colleges with researchers, professors, and students interested in the commercial potential of their technology. He will also encourage new thinking for research and how the outcome might have commercial potential.

“The College of Agriculture and Bioresources is pleased to host Michael as Entrepreneur-in-Residence,” says Graham Scoles, associate dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

“He will be working with our students and faculty both inside and outside the classroom, sharing his experiences, providing advice, and identifying opportunities for the commercialization of their ideas. He will also provide a link between the college and local industries.”

Dr. Baljit Singh, associate dean of research at the WCVM, explains that by sharing his business expertise with researchers, Chubb can help them develop their ideas from the lab bench to the market, where people can benefit.

"Through this innovative program, our researchers will be inspired to develop their ideas for new products, techniques and technologies," Singh says. "We look forward to working with our entrepreneur-in-residence and creating new links between the veterinary college and Saskatoon's business community.”

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For more information, contact:

Lorna Shaw-Lennox
Industry Liaison Office
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-7338
Email: lorna.shaw-lennox@usask.ca

Last night, U of S alumnus Dr. Frederick Mulder (BA’64) announced his donation of six Picasso prints to the University of Saskatchewan’s art collection.

“Picasso was one of the world's great artists, and it's been a wonderful, strange journey from a small prairie town to dealing in his work, meeting his family and his printers, and now bringing his work to the University of Saskatchewan,” said Mulder.

Five of the prints were donated in honour of Saskatchewan people who are significant to Dr. Mulder: Professor Emeritus Rudy Krutzen, the U of S professor whom Dr. Mulder credits with “turning him on to Philosophy”; photographer Courtney Milne whom Dr. Mulder met as a student at the U of S; Professor Emeritus Don Kerr, Dr. Mulder’s first U of S professor; and Peter Millard, a fellow U of S alumnus who met Dr. Mulder at Oxford and influenced his career in art. Dr. Mulder also donated a piece to honour President Peter MacKinnon.

“We are delighted to be the recipient of these generous contributions to the University Art Collection. These important prints created by arguably the most influential artist of the 20th century, will make a significant impact on our current holdings in this oeuvre. This is another fine example of Dr. Mulder’s extensive work as a donor and philanthropist that has touched so many,” said
Kent Archer, Director of the University’s Art Collection.

Frederick Mulder was educated as a philosopher at the University of Saskatchewan, Brown University, and Oxford University. On the completion of his doctorate at Oxford, his intention was to return to Canada, but instead he stayed on in London and started a business dealing in original prints.

Dr. Mulder is one of the world’s leading dealers in Picasso’s printmaking and his clients include most of the world’s major museums. He lives and works in London and is known across Britain not only for his artistic expertise but also for his personal philanthropy as well as the promotion of giving collectively.

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For more information, contact:

Christy Miller
University Advancement
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 229-4021
Email: christy.miller@usask.ca

Dr. Frederick Mulder: Biography

Frederick Mulder has been a private art dealer since 1971 in London dealing in original prints from the fifteenth to twentieth centuries. He deals in a wide range of prints but his specialty is Picasso and in particular the linocuts he made between 1951 and 1965. His firm's holdings of Picasso's linocuts are among the most extensive in the world. Dr. Mulder is considered to be one of the world's experts in the field of nineteenth and twentieth century European prints. His clients include many of the world's major museums: the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the National Gallery of Art, Washington; the Art Institute of Chicago; the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo; the Art Gallery of Ontario; the Australian National Gallery, Canberra; the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh; and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Frederick Mulder was educated as a philosopher at the University of Saskatchewan, Brown University, and Oxford University. On the completion of his doctorate at Oxford, his intention was to return to Canada, but instead he stayed on in London and started a business dealing in original prints. The business went well, but, he has explained, 'while I loved the business, I was also aware that the world had many injustices, and I developed the habit of tithing to projects that addressed these issues'. Dr. Mulder has used much of his income as an art dealer for the good of others, giving to charity in a range of unusual ways and persuading other individuals to give their money to charity and to enjoy it. He has said that 'Giving money is one of the few things people do alone. We work together, eat together, dance together, and I've discovered that giving with others is more interesting, more satisfying, and probably more competent, if it is done in the company of other people. The money also seems to go further! That's why I've helped to set up structures in which people can give together and learn from each other.'

Given these values, it makes sense that Frederick Mulder would be a leader in the field of philanthropy. He is thus the Chair of Prairie Trust, a charitable organization funded from his business, a founding member of the Network for Social Change, and the founding Chair of The Funding Network, an informal group, open to all, of over a hundred individual and corporate donors that meets quarterly in London and elsewhere to support a wide range of causes for social change. He was the winner of a Beacon Fellowship Special Judges' Prize in 2004 for his contribution to pioneering, innovative approaches in the field of philanthropy and he was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by the Queen in the New Year Honours 2012.

(Sources: frederickmulder.com, coutts.com, philanthropyuk.org, beaconfellowship.org.uk)

Names of Picasso Prints donated to the University of Saskatchewan from Dr. Frederick Mulder:

o Exposition Vallauris (1952)
o Exposition Vallauris (1955)
o Exposition de Vallauris (1955)
o Avant la Pique. II (1959)
o Nature Morte au Casse-Croûte. II (1962)
o Tête de Bouffon. Carnaval (1965)

**A photograph of Dr. Mulder with the donated prints can be provided upon request.

The University of Saskatchewan Prostate Research Team has received $26,000 from Motorcycle Ride for Dad (MRFD) for prostate research.

If diffraction-enhanced imaging is proven to provide improved spatial and contrast resolution compared with conventional imaging, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and real-time ultrasonography (RTU), then it should have the ability to allow earlier detection of pathological changes with prostate cancer. The research utilizes male dogs that have passed away from a variety of causes, including prostate cancer, and are donated to the study from local clinics including the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

“The holy grail for all forms of cancer is early diagnosis in order to allow timely and effective treatment,” says Dr. Elisabeth Snead, associate professor, Western College of Veterinary Medicine. “By investigating prostate cancer in both man and dogs we hope to learn if Diffraction Enhanced Imaging has any role in early detection of prostate cancer in order to benefit both species.”

“Having such a devoted community group as Motorcycle Ride for Dad support our research reinforces the deep concern of the community around this disease, and further strengthens our commitment to explore all potentially useful paths,” says Dr. Mary Buhr, dean, College of Agriculture and Bioresources and leader of the team. “We are both sincerely grateful to the Motorcycle Ride for Dad group.”

"It's amazing to see that the donations brought in by our local riders and supporters are being used right here in Saskatchewan for innovative prostate cancer research," says Mark Diehl, co-chair of the Saskatoon Chapter. "Our ride is fun but it's for a serious cause, and raising awareness and helping to fund this type of research is exactly why we ride each year."

The research team consists of researchers from various colleges and units across campus.

Motorcycle Ride for Dad is an organization that raises funds to save men’s lives by supporting prostate cancer research and raising public awareness. MRFD is supported by hundreds of volunteers who have dedicated themselves to the fight against prostate cancer.

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For more information, contact

Murray Pettitt
Scientist and Research Manager
College of Agriculture and Bioresources
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1867
Email: murray.pettitt@usask.ca

Regardless of their income status, parents who lack a post-secondary education are not likely to see their children pursue college or university studies. This is the key finding in a recently completed University of Saskatchewan report entitled Accessibility and Affordability Report 2011 that examined the accessibility of a university education in Canada and Saskatchewan.

Much of the conversation about accessibility to post-secondary education has focused on tuition rates and other costs, but the Accessibility and Affordability Report 2011 shows that non-financial barriers are key to understanding why some youth choose not to pursue post-secondary education.

“Saskatchewan has made substantial investments in financial assistance to post-secondary students, such as the recently announced Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarships,” said Fairbairn. “This study indicates that the conversation now needs to shift to address the very significant non-financial barriers.”

Saskatchewan has a large number of rural and Aboriginal youth who don’t have family members with post-secondary education. With the release of this report, Fairbairn believes the university is ready to begin work on new initiatives to address the barriers.

“We are already running some programs designed to target this problem, such as our Kamskénow mentoring program,” said Fairbairn. “But this is just a beginning, and I’m eager to have a conversation about accessibility with my colleagues across all levels of the education sector and within communities across the province. We must do more and help thousands of young people to become the first in their family to complete a diploma or degree.”

A pdf copy of the Accessibility and Affordability Report 2011 is available at www.usask.ca/ip/access.

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For further information, contact:

Robin Mowat
Communications Specialist
University of Saskatchewan
robin.mowat@usask.ca
(306) 966-7815

Six University of Saskatchewan (U of S) research teams have been awarded more than $555,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for projects aimed at developing new therapies for breast cancer, improving food safety, and creating a new model for literary research partnerships.

“Our government is investing in science and technology to create jobs, strengthen the economy, ensure that our scientists have the tools they need to be successful, and help Canada develop, attract and retain the world’s best researchers,” said Brad Trost, MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt. “I congratulate the University of Saskatchewan on its continued excellence in its research and development.”

The successful recipients are:

- Deborah Anderson (Saskatoon Cancer Centre) and Erique Lukong (biochemistry) are studying protein movement and signaling processes in breast cancer cells. The goal is to better understand the molecular causes of breast cancers and identify promising cellular targets for new therapies.

- Mary Buhr (agriculture and bioresources) is trying to accurately predict a bull’s fertility by understanding which proteins in sperm are most critical for successful fertilization. This builds upon her recent work, which identified an enzyme that stimulates changes in sperm necessary for it to be able to fertilize an egg. Buhr’s efforts contribute to increased efficiency in dairy and beef production.

- Phil Chilibeck (kinesiology), Jon Farthing (kinesiology), and Soo Kim (physical therapy) are investigating weight training and nutrition to help older adults stay strong, preserve muscle mass, recover from injuries, and prevent osteoporosis. Using imaging technologies to assess muscle mass and hip bone properties, the team has found that creatine monohydrate – a widely used nutritional supplement – increases muscle mass and strength in older people and may also preserve bone density.

- Anthony Kimaro (agriculture and bioresources) is working with Prairie farmers to diversify their income and productivity by growing willows as a biomass crop on marginal farmland. Biomass crops, used to produce energy, also offer promise as a way to sequester carbon in the soil. Once developed, these crops and associated industry could help farmers remain profitable through difficult seasons.

- Darren Korber (food and bioproduct sciences) studies the impact and ecology of bacterial biofilms in food, industrial and environmental systems. Biofilms – multi-species communities of bacteria – are hard to control as they are resistant to sanitizers and disinfectants. However, these tough and resilient biofilms also play a crucial role in breaking down complex chemical compounds, making them useful in cleaning up environmental contamination. Better knowledge in this area will help improve safety and shelf life of food and help minimize the impact of mining activities on the environment.

- Peter Robinson (English), Frank Klaassen (history), and Brent Nelson (English) are harnessing computer technology to develop online communities of scholars to allow access to a wide range of literary texts for study. There are, for example, 84 manuscripts and early printed texts of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, more than 800 manuscripts of Dante’s Commedia, and 5,000 of the Greek New Testament. The initiative will create a new model of research partnership among scholars in universities everywhere.

The CFI is an independent corporation created by the federal government to fund research infrastructure. This includes state-of-the-art equipment, buildings, laboratories, databases and other advanced tools.

The grants are provided through CFI’s Leaders Opportunity Fund, which provides infrastructure support to Canadian institutions so they can attract and retain leading researchers at a time of intense international competition for knowledge workers.

For a complete list of the projects awarded, visit www.innovation.ca.

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For more information, please contact

Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425
michael.robin@usask.ca

In what direction should Saskatchewan be headed in the 21st century?

To answer this question, academics from various disciplines at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina have come together to produce the first edited book exclusively devoted to public policy in the province, with chapters discussing taxation, immigration, agriculture, urban affairs, poverty reduction, the social economy, labour, aging, Aboriginal public administration and climate change.

According to the book, the lesson is that economic growth does not magically solve entrenched societal problems and that economic prosperity will dissipate if worrisome social trends are left unchecked.

“This book is novel and timely in a number of ways,” said David McGrane, U of S professor of political studies and editor of the book. “The book seeks out new directions in Saskatchewan public policy by deeply exploring certain policy areas in order to come to conclusions about where the Saskatchewan government should be heading in the future.”

McGrane added that unlike some scholarly books that shy away from prescription, the authors of this book include sections in their chapters which set out new directions for policy development in the area that they are examining. As such, “the book is forward-looking and prescriptive but still contains solid analysis of the present policy situation.”

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For more information, contact:

Mark Ferguson
U of S Communications
(306) 966-1851
m.ferguson@usask.ca

The Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) is pleased to announce publication of the Wheat DDGS Feed Guide, produced on behalf of the University of Saskatchewan led Feed Opportunities from Biofuels Industries (FOBI) Network.

“As a byproduct of ethanol production, which has grown in importance in Canada, wheat distiller dried grains with solubles (wheat DDGS) is an excellent animal feedstuff,” said Rex Newkirk, guide editor and Cigi director of research and business development. “This publication provides practical guidance for the industry to use this product to its full potential and creates opportunities for wheat in industrial applications.”

“The guide is a culmination of extensive work conducted by the FOBI Network as a $6.2-million project invested in adding value to the industry through innovation,” said Colleen Christensen, executive director of the Feed Innovation Institute, University of Saskatchewan, and head of the network.

“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provided $5.6 million of the funding and supported research for the project conducted by the University of Saskatchewan, and other institutions and organizations,” she said. “Much of the information provided in the guide is a result of this research.”

Wheat ethanol production has increased from one ethanol plant, located in Lanigan SK, to six sites in Western Canada by 2007. The bioethanol industry uses 1.4 million tonnes of wheat each year, creating approximately 500,000 tonnes of wheat DDGS. Complete utilization of the wheat seed through ethanol and DDGS production is necessary for financial profitability. Accordingly, the research described in this feed guide has been supported by Terra Grains Fuels, Northwest Bioenergy Corp, NorAmera Bioenergy, Highland Feeders, Pound-Maker Agventures and Husky.

Copies of the guide are available at www.cigi.ca or by contacting Colleen Christensen at (306) 966-4154.

About FOBI
The Feed Opportunity from the BioFuels Industries (FOBI) Network was an initiative of the Feeds Innovation Institute, a commercialization entity of the University of Saskatchewan that ran from May 2008 to March 2011. The vision of FOBI was to stimulate the sustainable growth of the bio-ethanol and livestock sectors, leading to a stimulation of economic activities in rural Canada. FOBI focused on optimization of the overall feed value chain of wheat DDGS as well as on value addition to bio-ethanol co-products.

FOBI is a collaborative and multidisciplinary research network which was composed of researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Saskatchewan Research Council, Prairie Swine Centre, Western Beef Development Centre and University of Saskatchewan. More information regarding this research can be found at www.ddgs.usask.ca

About Cigi
Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) is an independent market development institute created in 1972. Its mission is to create profitable opportunities for Canadian field crops through the delivery of technical expertise, support and customized training to the domestic industry and customers around the world. Cigi is funded by farmers, the Government of Canada (AAFC) and industry partners. www.cigi.ca

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For more information, contact:

Colleen Christensen
Executive Director
Feeds Innovation Institute
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 227-1333
colleen.christensen@usask.ca

Rex Newkirk
Director, Research and Business Development
Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute)
(204) 983-2031
rnewkirk@cigi.ca

A recent employment survey by Edwards Career Services at the Edwards School of Business shows that 20 per cent more U of S business grads are now staying in Saskatchewan to start their careers compared to 2006.

“We all sense the buoyancy of the provincial economy, and it is clear that this is translating into great opportunities for our business school graduates,” said Edwards School of Business Dean Daphne Taras. “It is also bringing happiness to their parents, who no longer have to bid them adieu.”

Overall employment rates for fall 2010 and spring 2011 are up too, added Wellman. “We’ve seen a steady rate of employability improvement over the last three years,” he said. “Of those who were looking, 86.6 per cent have secured employment, compared to 78.6 per cent in 2009.”

The rate is even better for graduates who participated in the Cameco Business Co-operative Education Program. The survey indicated that more than 97 per cent of former co-op students are now employed. “The co-op program results in greater employability for graduates and we are continuing to invest heavily in the growth of the program,” said Taras. 

The survey data, collected both online and by telephone, show Edwards grads are also seeing higher wages. Mean starting salaries went from $40,580 in 2008 to $42,554 in 2011, a jump of almost five per cent. Those who majored in marketing and human resources reported the highest earnings.

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For more information, contact:

Jessica Wallace, Advancement Officer
Edwards School of Business
University of Saskatchewan
306.966.7743
wallace@edwards.usask.ca

The University of Saskatchewan’s Board of Governors today announced that Ilene Busch-Vishniac has been appointed the university’s ninth president. Busch-Vishniac’s term will commence July 1, 2012. She will replace Peter MacKinnon, who will step down June 30, 2012 after serving 13 years as president.

Currently the provost and vice-president academic at McMaster University, Busch-Vishniac previously served as dean of engineering at Johns Hopkins University and associate chair of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas (Austin). A graduate of the University of Rochester, Busch-Vishniac earned her Master of Science and PhD in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

As provost at McMaster University, Busch-Vishniac increased student enrolment at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, strengthened ties with Aboriginal communities, particularly with the Six Nations in Ontario, grew the full-time faculty complement, and led both the development of an activity-based budget system and systems renewal. She has also served as chair of the Ontario Council of Academic Vice-Presidents, and led the creation of a new quality assurance process for Ontario universities.

As dean of engineering at Johns Hopkins University, she raised millions of dollars for the school, oversaw the construction of four new buildings, and chaired the university’s United Way campaign.

In 2008, Johns Hopkins University created the Ilene Busch-Vishniac Lecture to honour her work on issues of diversity in engineering. Her research emphasis has been on noise control in hospitals, acoustic sensors and actuators, and curricular change for diversity enhancement in engineering education.

Current University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon expressed his strong support for the appointment of Busch-Vishniac as his successor. “I am very proud of the work we have done at the University of Saskatchewan, and I believe we are well positioned for further success. I am confident that Ilene Busch-Vishniac will provide the calibre of leadership necessary to bring this university to new heights.”

Nancy Hopkins, chair of the University of Saskatchewan’s Board of Governors, said Busch-Vishniac’s outstanding academic background combined with her extensive leadership experience and track record in establishing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships made her an ideal candidate for the presidency.

“The University of Saskatchewan has made tremendous progress under President Peter MacKinnon’s leadership,” said Hopkins. “We are confident that Ilene Busch-Vishniac will continue to build on this momentum, strengthening the University of Saskatchewan even further as we pursue our ambition to become one of the most distinguished universities in Canada and the world.”

Hopkins says the Board of Governors was assisted in selecting the next president by the unanimous recommendation of the search committee, as well as by the public input the search committee received prior to undertaking the search. Through public town halls both on and off campus, and through comment cards and online submissions, the search committee gathered valuable feedback that helped to inform the search process.

Hopkins, who chaired the search committee, was joined on the committee by fellow board members Susan Milburn and David Sutherland as well as by Chancellor Vera Pezer, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union President Scott Hitchings, Graduate Students Association member Xue Yao, Deans David Hill and Peter Stoicheff, and faculty members Michel Desautels, Ingrid Pickering, Keith Walker and Winona Wheeler.

Busch-Vishniac is married to Ethan Vishniac, currently a professor of physics and astronomy at McMaster and editor of The Astrophysical Journal.

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For more information, contact:

Jeff Drake
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 221-7013
Email: jeff.drake@usask.ca

On December 12 and 13 the University of Saskatchewan Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics will be hosting a conference on issues arising from passage of Bill C-18, the bill to end the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.

The conference, Operating Successfully in a New Grain Marketing Environment: Issues Facing Farmers, Agribusiness and Government, is also supported by the University of Manitoba, University of Lethbridge, University of Alberta and the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

Conference sessions include:

* How would a voluntary Canadian Wheat Board operate?
* What is the most effective design for futures markets in wheat, durum and barley? What are the fundamentals of an efficient futures market?
* What will happen to rail freight rates and level of service?
* How would grain-related trade disputes be addressed?
* How would wheat quality be affected and managed?
* How do we effectively use the ports of Churchill and Prince Rupert?
* How would producer cars and short line railways be used in the new system?
* How will grain logistics and crisis management be handled?

Date:
December 12 and 13, 2011

Location:
Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre
2002 Airport Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

More information including agenda and registration is available at the conference website, www.kis.usask.ca/GrainConference.html

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For more information, contact:

Professor Emeritus Gary Storey
College of Agriculture and Bioresources
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 374-1693
gary.storey@usask.ca

The University of Saskatchewan and Yukon College entered into a partnership today that will enable the sharing of programs, research and other resources for the benefit of both institutions. University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon and Yukon College President Karen Barnes formalized the agreement by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the U of S this afternoon.

“Innovative partnerships like this mean expanded options for students, researchers and communities,” said MacKinnon. “A student in the Yukon may now have access to a University of Saskatchewan program they wouldn’t have otherwise – and of course the reverse is true as well. This partnership may also serve as a model for other regions and jurisdictions.”

The partnership allows for collaboration between departments at either institution. The U of S’ International Centre for Northern Governance and Development (ICNGD), which was instrumental in brokering the MOU, is already looking forward to joint programming options and plans to visit the College in January.

“We couldn’t be happier to see this deal happen,” said ICNGD’s director, Greg Poelzer. “Partnerships like this are the key to maximizing resources and meeting demands. We’ll be able to offer new programming as a result and Saskatchewan students—Northern students in particular—will benefit from expanded opportunities.”

Photo of MOU signing available upon request.

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For more information, please contact:

Colleen Cameron, Communications Co-ordinator
International Centre for Northern Governance and Development
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1609
Email: colleen.cameron@usask.ca
Website: artsandscience.usask.ca/icngd

Members of an urban planning project team focusing on Saskatoon’s city centre received the Saskatchewan Premier’s Award of Excellence in Design at a Saskatchewan Design Week reception Nov. 18. The award was given to a team that includes partners from the City of Saskatoon, a Toronto urban planning firm, and University of Saskatchewan researchers and students.

The report included detailed information on various aspects of urban quality in the city’s downtown core, including how people are using public spaces, what areas people perceive to be safe/unsafe, and an evaluation of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

“The project represents a pioneering partnership between the city and the regional and urban planning program at the U of S. The work can continue into the future to help us understand how our public spaces, activity and urban form are transforming in response to urban changes – changes attributable to population, development and investment in our city,” said Walker.

Public Spaces, Activity and Urban Form Strategic Framework is phase one of a four-phase plan being developed by the city to help guide future developments and improvements in Saskatoon’s city centre. It is available for download from the City of Saskatoon website.

The award was accepted by Walker and Jeanna South, corporate projects manager for the City of Saskatoon. Eleven students from the regional and urban planning program also participated in the research and field-based study aspects of the project.

Design Week is held every two years, and organized by the Design Council of Saskatchewan – a collective voice of six provincial associations representing design professionals working in the disciplines of architecture, community planning, engineering, graphic design, interior design and landscape architecture.

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For more information, contact:

Kirk Sibbald
Communications Officer
College of Arts & Science
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-1982
Email: kirk.sibbald@usask.ca

University of Saskatchewan graduate student Anne Kelly has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. She is one of only 11 students in Canada to receive the honour for 2012.

As a Rhodes Scholar, Kelly will receive tuition, school fees, and a stipend for living expenses while studying at the University of Oxford. Kelly will be enrolling in the Master of Studies in Medieval Studies at Oxford in the fall of 2012, after which time she plans to continue her education and pursue doctoral studies in a related field.

In addition to her exceptional academic record, Kelly is also an accomplished athlete and active volunteer in the community around Saskatoon.

David Parkinson, Kelly’s graduate supervisor and vice-dean of humanities and fine arts at the U of S, said it is rare to encounter a student as exceptionally bright, motivated and concerned with the welfare of others as Kelly.

“Anne's capacity for leadership arises from her extremely good eye for character and talent. She is very interested in the ways people work, and work together,” said Parkinson. “She seems to take delight in encouraging and guiding others to combine their complementary talents. She wins respect and loyalty by her commitment to the success of others.”

Known as the world’s oldest and most prestigious international graduate scholarship, the Rhodes Scholarship was established in 1902. Including Kelly, 69 graduates of the University of Saskatchewan have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships including three who currently work on campus – Provost and Vice-President Academic Brett Fairbairn, Professor Dwight Newman in the College of Law and Professor Murray Fulton in the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.

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For more information, contact:

Mark Ferguson
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1851
m.ferguson@usask.ca