at GUELPH jUNE 1, 2005 » VOL. 49 NO. 11 » WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH • UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: ‘THERE IS A LIFE AFTER BREAST CANCER’ • PHOTOGRAPHER FOCUSES ON CANADIAN IDOL U of G to Award Five Honorary Degrees Some 2,300 to graduate at nine summer convocation ceremonies U OF G will award some 2,300 degrees and diplomas during nine convocation ceremonies June 13 to 17 in the Gryphon Dome. Honorary degrees will be presented to former Ontario attorney general lan Scott, University of Toronto economist and political scientist Mel Watkins, family studies researcher and advocate Robert Glossop, leading U.S. microbiologist Ronald Atlas and eight-time Olympic equestrian show jumper Ian Millar. Five retired Guelph faculty will be named University professor emeriti: psychology profes- sor Mary Konstantareas, nutritional scientist Bruce Holub, chemist Bryan Henry, clinical studies professor Wayne McDonell and land re- source scientist Terry Gillespie. In addition, philanthropist and Guelph alumnus Bill Brock will receive the Lincoln Alex- ander Medal of Distinguished Service for his outstanding contributions to the University, and Prof. Joe Cunsolo, Mathematics and Statistics, will receive the John Bell Award in recognition of his teaching and leadership. Convocation begins June 1 3 with a ceremony for the College of Arts at 10 a.m. Scott, a leading barrister and former Ontario minister responsi- ble for native affairs, will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree and give the convocation address. As attorney general, he brought in the first Freedom of Information Act in Ontario, promoted fundamental reform of the court sys- tem and introduced pay equity legislation, in- cluding the first public-sector pay equity legislation in North America. Scott, who was openly gay throughout his entire career, led the government to alter the Ontario Human Rights Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Three ceremonies are planned for the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences: June 13 at 2:30 p.m. and June 14 at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Watkins will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree and address the graduands at the morn- ing ceremony June 14. He is an academic and advocate who has contributed to the fields of economics, aboriginal studies and Canadian studies. He helped Aboriginal Peoples defend their economic and social interests in the 1970s and made contributions to the Canadian political economy that are recognized globally. At the afternoon ceremony June 14, Glossop will address the graduating class and receive an honorary doctorate of science. For more than 25 years, he has worked to enhance the understand- ing and appreciation of Canadian families and Continued on page 10 Prof’s Innovative Use of Technology Recognized Pathobiologist cited as model for using learning technologies in classroom Leo Song and his son, Terry, will be among the participants at Wheels in Motion to raise money for and awareness of spinal cord injuries. photo by martin schwalbe Reaching for Milestones Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion set to roll June 12 at Athletics Centre BY REBECCA KENDALL P rof. Darren Wood, Pathobiology, is the first recipient of the Provost’s Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning With Technology. He was presented with the $5,000 award May 17 by provost and vice-president (academic) Maureen Mancuso at the annual Teaching and Learning Innovation Conference. Wood was recognized for his effective use of technology for the enhancement of student learning. He integrated a case-based, reason- ing-focused software teaching tool called Diag- nostic Pathfinder into the Ontario Veterinary College’s DVM curriculum. “The human presence in guiding the learning process has its own unique and critically impor- tant contribution, but if there are ways that tech- nology can enable us to do this better, we should take advantage of this and look for ways to use technology in the curriculum,” he says. Woods adds that he feels honoured to receive this inaugural award in only his third year of teaching. "I would like to thank my department chair, John Prescott, for encouraging me to pur- sue this as an area of scholarly activity.” Diagnostic Pathfinder helps students develop and refine their ability to correctly diagnose vet- erinary medical conditions by guiding them through the diagnostic reasoning process, rein- forcing accurate data interpretation, and provid- ing a visual application for communicating reasoning and immediate expert feedback. The software was largely developed by the Biomedi- cal Informatics Research Group at Iowa State University, which invited Wood to join its educational research effort as an academic partner. Mancuso says Wood’s use of this tool in a blended learning environment “led not only to higher student achievement and satisfaction but also to significant restructuring to the course in- volved, in order to further maximize the benefits of the integration. His work serves as a model of how learning technologies can augment tradi- tional classroom approaches.” Wood joined OVC in 2002 and was selected to receive the award by a committee chaired by Mancuso and made up of four faculty members; staff from the Learning Commons, Teaching Support Services and the Office of Open Learn- ing; and a student representative. BY LORI BONA HUNT I T’S BEEN NEARLY 16 MONTHS since life changed for Computing and Communi- cations Services networking analyst Leo Song, his wife, Jamie, and their now six-year-old son, Terry. The Songs were on their way home from an outing last February when their car was struck by another vehicle on Highway 6 near Hamilton. Leo and Jamie Song received mi- nor injuries, but Terry was critically injured. He suffered major spinal cord damage and is now paraplegic. Since then, the entire family has had to adjust to a new life, and Leo says learning to accommodate a wheelchair is the least of it. “People don’t fully realize what a spinal cord injury means. It’s very complicated, and there are a lot of things that are very frustrat- ing. But we’re trying to be open about it, try- ing to be positive and to be advocates for other people like us.” As part of their advocacy efforts, the fam- ily is taking part in Wheels in Motion June 12 at the Mitchell Athletics Centre. Events are being held in hundreds of communities across Canada as part of the annual fundrais- ing initiative of the Rick Hansen Foundation. The foundation was created in 1988 by the Canadian Olympic wheelchair marathon champion after he wheeled 40,000 kilometres to raise money for and awareness of spinal cord research. Participants obtain pledges individually or as part of a team and then wheel, bike, skate, run or walk a three- to five-kilometre course. Half of the funds raised stay in the host community to address high-priority needs and services, and the remaining funds go to the foundation to support research. The Guelph event — sponsored by the University, Guelph Services for Persons With Disabilities, the City of Guelph and commu- nity volunteers — runs from noon to 2 p.m. (registration is at 11 a.m.) and includes a Continued on page 10 at Guelph 1 June i, 2005 ^ [corn Financial Services E] SS/k ,-mKk 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 MR Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Michael H.C. MeMurray Fax: (519) 826-4994 Partner Email: michaclmcmurray@on.aibn.com RETIREMENT & ESTATE PLANNING • Do you have questions about your retirement options? • Michael can help you explore the options available to you • Call today for a free consultation CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Your Family's Best Friend Steamatic patented cleaning method^ Removes soil and dust accumulations Reduces allergens like pollen, mould, fungus and dust mites Recommended by leading manufacturers Ask about Air Duct Cleaning Call us (519) 836-7340 Nobody Cleans Bellcr Than Steamatic! STEAMATIC. It's time to renovate! Kitchen . . . Bathroom . . . Family Room &ECT PREMIUM IJJMREU The How-To People. 55 Dawson Road GUELPH 821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road ELORA 846-5381 e sure to enjoy your career und get the most out of each work day., let us help yon see your world more’ clearly . =a Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street Guelph, ON N1H7G5 766-T676 board of governors Past Year Both Challenging and Rewarding for U of G U OF G HAS EXPERIENCED a whirlwind year, president Alastair Summerlee told B of G during its last regular meeting of the 2004/2005 academic year. The past 12 months have included the completion of Guelph’s highly touted Presidential Task Force on Accessibility to University Education and the system- wide Rae review; a challenging University budget process; and numerous accolades for the University and its students, faculty and staff. Summerlee thanked board members and the greater University and Guelph communities for their advocacy efforts during the Rae review and the provincial budget- ing process. A number of the provisions included in the Rae re- view and the Ontario budget were recommendations that came from the University’s accessibility task force, he said. These included upfront grants and a focus on minority and first-generation students. Confirmation of provincial funding will not be received until at least September, but Summerlee told board members that it appears the amount U of G will receive will closely mirror revenues diat were projected in the budget B of G ap- proved in April. The president also summarized some of the year’s accomplish- ments, including a record-breaking year in athletics and student fund- raising efforts; prestigious faculty accolades; and numerous student and staff awards, including Fulbright and Commonwealth scholarships. In B of G business, the board ap- proved the preliminary budget for the University of Guelph-Humber, which projects that the institution will have a balanced annual budget in 2005/2006 and will begin to repay the accumulated start-up deficit in 2006/2007. Board members were told that Guelph-Humber expects to increase enrolment by 35 per cent next academic year, boost re- cruitment to schools and colleges in the greater Toronto area, and con- duct marketing studies to deter- mine the viability of new program offerings. B of G also approved a revised student organization policy, which provides guidelines to student gov- ernments on the accreditation of their clubs and other organizations on campus. The board was informed of changes the University plans to make in response to a review of its legal compliance and risk manage- ment. Board members were told that most of the recommendations made by an independent consultant in late 2003 have already been im- plemented, including establishing the position of University legal counsel. The University will continually improve risk identification and management capabilities, including working with a consultant to iden- tify major strategic risks facing U of G over the next five years and potential courses of action. B of G chair Douglas Derry an- nounced that the following board members are retiring as of June 20: external members Ted Bilyea, Mary-Elizabeth Flynn and Hank Vandcr Pol; faculty member Susan Brown; graduate student Andria Jones; and undergraduate students Brett Allan and Ryan White. Summerlee Lauds Advocacy Efforts for Higher Education A t the May 17 meeting of Senate, president Alastair Summerlee thanked senators and the wider University community for their recent advocacy efforts in urging the provincial government to boost its support for higher education. U of G was the biggest contributor proportionally to the province-wide letter-writing campaign carried out in the months leading up to the government’s May 1 1 budget announcement, he said. The province took that advocacy — and the recom- mendations of the Rae review — seriously by creating a budget that marks a significant change in direction and represents a major reinvestment in the quality and ac- cessibility of higher education in Ontario, the president said. He lauded, in particular, the government’s deci- sion to devote a huge increase in funding to student as- sistance. On the downside, Summerlee noted that the budget announcement offered no increases for inflation, raised some concerns in its references to accountability and how that will be handled, and was missing a lot of cru- cial information. Glenn Craney, director of the Office of Resource Planning and Analysis, walked senators through a detailed breakdown of the provin- cial budget figures, based on the in- formation released to date. He noted that, although the province’s investment of $6.2 bil- lion over five years and $683 million in the first year is “excellent news,” a large portion of that money will not, in fact, be accessible to U of G because of how it is targeted. When details have been clarified and figures finalized, Craney ex- pects Guelph’s allocation for this year to be very close to what the University has projected in its bud- get assumptions. As a result, at this time there will be no change to the University’s budget in the wake of the provincial announcement, he said. In Senate business, Prof. Peter Conlon, chair of the Bylaws and Membership Committee, an- nounced that this year’s winner of the Walter Vaughan Medal, which recognizes student service to the University community and to Sen- ate in particular, is Andrew Varden, a graduating B.Comp. student who has been a member of Senate for the past three years. Senators approved the reap- pointment of Prof. Alan Shepard, who is currently director of the School of English and Theatre Stud- ies and will become associate vice-president (academic) June 15, as U of G’s academic colleague to the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) for 2005 to 2007. Prof. Paulette Padanyi, chair of the De- partment of Marketing and Con- sumer Studies, will continue as COU alternate. The list of Senate members and committee assign- ments for 2005/06 was also approved. In Board of Undergraduate Studies business, senators approved an amendment to the continua- tion-of-study policy for the DVM program and a co-op option for the B.Comm. public management program. WINNER OF VAUGHAN MEDAL ANNOUNCED At Guelph will publish its final issue of the summer semester June 15. The deadline to receive copy for that issue is June 7. X Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. a Design Peter Enneson Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Cuelpli, Ontario N1G2W1. Production Linda Graham Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Subscriptions , l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Editorial: Ext. 56580 $22 (includes GST); Distribution: Ext. 56581 $30 outside Canada 1 — ' C na Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifference@rogers.com Advertising: Ext, 56580 mm-, uoguclph. ca/adguide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax:519-824-7962 Website: mw. uoguelph.ca/atguclph ISSN 08364478 Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca HJ X 1 \ 1 IMH at Guelph 2 June 1,2005 sen at e appointments news in brief Courts Taking intimate Partner Homicide More Seriously, Study Finds Sociologist compares criminal justice outcomes between 1974 and 2002 Prof. Myrna Dawson is author of a new report comparing the treatment of those who commit homicide inside and outside of an intimate partnership. PHOTO BY PAULA BIALSKI VETERINARY RESEARCH CITED U of G ranks among the top institu- tions in the world when it comes to research on veterinary medicine and animal health, according to the latest issue of Thomson Scientific’s bimonthly newsletter, Science Watch. Guelph ranked ninth in terms of the total number of times papers produced by an institution were cited in other published scien- tific works between 1994 and 2004, Tops in this category was the U.S. Department of Agriculture. GARDEN TOUR JUNE 26 The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre volunteers present Gardenscapes 2005, a self-guided tour of nine Guelph gardens, June 26 from noon to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are $10 and are available at the art centre, Barber Gallery, Royal City Nursery, Brock Road Nursery, Buy the Yard and the Meadowville Garden Centre. PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO MEET The Professional Staff Association will hold its annual general meeting June 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 113 of the MacNaughton Building. ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE SET Animal-Care Services in the Central Animal Facility will hold its 12th annual open house June 9 from 1 1:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature guided tours and displays, free draws, free desserts and a bar- becue lunch for $5, with all pro- ceeds going to the United Way. GOT AN ORIGINAL IDEA FOR AN ENERGY LOGO DESIGN? Physical Resources is holding an energy logo design contest and invites submissions of original energy- related designs. The winner will receive $250. Full contest rules are available online at www.pr. uoguelph.ca/sustain. The following appointments were recently announced at U of G: • Kathryn Hofer, neighbourhood relations co-ordinator, Student Life and Counselling • Ray Hutchinson, lead hand 3 carpenter. Physical Resources • Katherine Sorensen, academic counsellor, School of Engineering • Barry Townshend, entering-stu- dent transition specialist, Student Life and Counselling. BY RACHELLE COOPER P eople accused of killing their partners were treated more leniently in the 1970s compared with defendants in other types of homicides, but the courts have toughened up over the years when responding to intimate violence, a U of G sociologist has found. Prof. Myrna Dawson’s findings are detailed in a new report com- pleted for the Department of Justice Canada. The study, “Criminal Jus- tice Outcomes in Intimate and Non-Intimate Partner Homicide Cases,” was published early last month. After people protested the 10-year sentence given to Fred Sheppard in Prince Edward Island for killing his common-law partner in 2000, Department of Justice Can- ada asked Dawson to look at the is- sue of intimate crimes in a broader sense by examining trends over time. She studied all known Toronto homicides resolved through the courts from 1974 to 2002 to deter- mine if people accused of killing a current or former spouse or a com- mon-law or dating partner receive different treatment in the criminal justice system than those accused of killing victims who weren’t intimate partners. During the study period, 20 per cent of the 1,137 people ac- cused of homicide were charged with killing an intimate partner. The study compared cases that were similar. “For example, it isn’t fair to compare a case where an of- fender has seven charges involving violence with a case where a man has abused his wife but has no prior con- victions,” says Dawson. “I’ve con- trolled for such background factors in this report.” She also separated the data into two time periods — 1974 to 1 983 and 1 984 to 2002 — to deter- mine if the role of intimacy in crimi- nal law has changed over time. Dawson found that, during the mid- to late 1970s and early 1980s, people accused of killing intimate partners were less likely to be con- victed of first- or second-degree murder than were those who killed non-intimate partners. This was not the case in the later period. In addi- tion, from 1984 on, people accused of killing intimate partners were more likely to be found guilty at trial than were those accused of other types of homicide. “The movement to fight violence against women certainly served as the impetus for change in dealing with these crimes in the criminal jus- tice system,” says Dawson. As a result of lobbying, the gov- ernment introduced mandatory charging in the early ’80s. In 1996, it also amended the Criminal Code so that a spousal or parental relation- ship between a victim and offender can be considered an aggravating factor at sentencing. “Although I don’t think the work is finished, all these things have argu- ably had an impact on both the pro- fessional attitude towards these crimes and the public," she says. people LAM ELECTED FELLOW Prof. Joe Lam, Molecular and Cellu- lar Biology, has been elected a Fel- low of the American Academy of Microbiology in recognition of his achievements and original contri- butions that have advanced the field of microbiology. WRESTLING COACH INDUCTED INTO AMATEUR HALL OF FAME Doug Cox, head coach of U of G’s wrestling program and a former Gryphon wrestler, was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wres- tling Hall of Fame May 14. A four-time senior national cham- pion and four-time gold medallist at the Pan American Junior Cham- pionships, Cox was also a gold med- allist at the 1987 Pan American Games and represented Canada at the 1988 and 1996 Olympics. He wrestled for Guelph in 1984/85 and has been head coach for the past 10 seasons. He was named OUA Coach of the Year in his first year of coach- ing and received the title again in 2002 . MARSH HONOURED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Wayne Marsh, retired director of Research Services, has received the Dan Chase Award for distinguished service from the Canadian Associa- tion of Research Administrators. He previously received a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his contri- butions to the association. KUDOS FOR HEAD COACH Angela Orton, head coach of the Gryphon women’s basketball team, was honoured as the Fox 40 Ontario * * University Athletics (OUA) Coach of the Year at the OUA’s annual general meeting in Huntsville. Orton is the third Gryphon recipi- ent of this award in its six-year his- tory. BASKETBALL GRYPHONS SHOOT FOR A GOOD CAUSE The Gryphon men’s basketball team competed in the third annual Aquinas-Gryphon Charity Game in Tottenham to raise money for a local food drive. The game is the brain child of Gryphon associate head coach Pat Dooley, who also coaches high school basketball. This year’s squad featured All-Star Jeff Rosar, former All-Star and profes- sional player Radhi Knapp, Matt Rosar, Shane Cooney, Duncan Milne, Khalfan Khalfan and coach Chris O’Rourke. CIDA, WUSC Support Research, Study Tour in Africa T hree U of G students are “going global” this summer, taking part in prestigious interna- tional research projects and seminars across the African continent. Doctoral candidates Lea Berrang of the Department of Population Medicine and Sarah Wolfe of the De- partment of Geography received awards from the International De- velopment Research Centre (IDRC), which supports research aimed at meeting the challenges facing devel- oping countries. Delaney Greig, a second-year international develop- ment student, will head to Burkina Faso in July for an intensive six-week study tour with World University Service of Canada (WUSC). Berrang received an IDRC Doc- toral Research Award for up to $20,000 to study environmental management and infectious disease. She will work out of a Kenyan re- search institute and a field study site in Uganda, focusing on sleeping sick- ness in southeastern Uganda. Transmitted by the tse-tse fly, the sickness has a profound effect on hu- man health and local economics in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s also a nota- ble example of an infectious disease that’s related to environmental change. Berrang earned a bachelor’s degree from U ofG in geography and a master’s degree in environmental change and management from Oxford University. Wolfe received an IDRC Cana- dian Window on International De- velopment Award to conduct research for her thesis on water con- servation. She will be based in South- ern Africa and the Middle East/ North Africa, examining the social networks, knowledge and water de- mand management in these regions. Her award is also worth up to $ 20 , 000 . Wolfe earned a BA in interna- tional development from U of G and a master’s degree in political science and environmental studies from the University of Toronto. She worked in Rome at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and co-authored summaries from expert meetings for the Walkerton inquiry. Greig is one of 20 Canadian stu- dents selected to take part in the 58th annual WUSC International Semi- nar. The Ottawa-based agency started the tours of developing coun- tries in 1948. Greig was chosen for her commitment to international de- velopment and leadership. She will be paired with a Burkinabe student and take part in a group research project on HIV/AIDS, agriculture and gender equality. at Guelph 3 June 1, 2005 focus Guelph Sexuality Conference Manager ‘Makes It Happen’ BY REBECCA KENDALL F or the past 16 years, Karen Maki of the Office of Open Learning (OOL) has worked to develop continuing professional education programs, primarily for health and human services fields. In 1994, Maki, who is manager of program development for OOL, was assigned to manage the annual Guelph Sexuality Conference, which was jointly founded in 1978 by the then Department of Family Studies and Office of Continuing Education. “The sex conference is a research-informed and applied con- ference for people who arc doing sex education and interven- tion on a daily basis," says Maki. It’s the largest, best-known and longest-running sex confer- ence in Canada and is attended by professionals that include public health nurses, sex educators, couple and sex therapists, physicians and academics from across North America. Each year, about 40 per cent of participants are newcomers, which Maki says is testimony to the conference’s reputation and success. “People rely on coming here not only for the new and emerg- ing topics they’re exposed to each year, but also to be among people doing similar work across the country, to share their ex- periences and challenges and to hear about ways to resolve things,” she says. Maki applauds the work of the volunteer conference plan- ning committee, chaired by retired professor Richard Barham, which meets monthly from August to March. Once the commit- tee has agreed on a conference theme and key topics, her role is to “make it happen.” She researches, contacts and negotiates with potential keynote speakers and works with more than 65 presenters each year to refine and clarify the content of their ses- Karen Maki has been managing U of G’s popular sex conference since 1994. sions to fit with the needs of the conference audience. “The benefit of having worked on this for so long is that I’ve learned who’s who and where to go. I don’t purport to be a sexu- ality expert, but I certainly know who is and where to go in what particular area.” Maki says the conference is constantly evolving with the times and that society has become more knowledgeable and open-minded and inclusive of diversity. One of the first confer- ences to include a session on understanding homosexuality and HIV/A1DS was in the early 1980s, and two decades later, diver- sity of sexual identity and expression is now integrated throughout the program. “We try to take a holistic approach,” she says. “Our mandate is about sexual health and healthy sexuality for everyone, whether it be from a developmental, medical or psycho-social perspective.” She acknowledges that, despite the advances in communi- cating openly about sex, those in the field still continue to face challenges on the most basic level. "In some communities, there is still resistance to sexuality education, despite research that says young people who have ac- cess to sexual health programming have far fewer unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections than those who don’t and have been exposed only to abstinence-based pro- grams. There’s a sizeable amount of literature supporting com- prehensive sexuality education, yet despite this, funding remains an issue in communities as education dollars get smaller and sexual health education programs are reduced.” The theme of this year’s conference, which runs June 6 to 1 5, is “Promoting Sexual Health: Across the Country, Across the Lifespan.” It’s designed to encourage and celebrate the exchange of information from coast to coast to coast and to recognize that issues of sexuality affect people at every stage of life, says Maki. In addition to a panel of youth in their late teens who will give first-hand accounts of their experiences growing up in to- day’s world, there will be a plenary address examining the sexual spirit of the aged person, which Maki anticipates will be one of the most powerful discussions this year. “People can expect to have a healthy sex life well into their 80s,” she says. “We tend to think of older people as not being sexual, and I think we’ll be challenged to think differently about that.” Helping Horses Put Their Best Foot Forward , OVC’s state-of-the-art MRI allows researchers to track changes in horses' hooves in an effort to reduce lameness , improve performance An MRI cross-section of a hoof shows the triangular coffin bone connected to the hoof wall by the laminar junction. 1 BY BARRY GUNN, OVC C HINESE TRADITIONAL medicine teaches that good health for I humans starts in the feet. The same holds true for horses. And cutting- edge imaging research on horses’ hooves at OVC may provide long-term benefits that reduce lameness and aid performance of equine athletes and pleasure horses. Just as muscles and bones re- I spond to work — when things go right, by getting bigger and stronger — the tissues that make up the horse’s hoof will change in response to the stresses of walking and train- ing. But those adaptive changes can be advantageous or disadvanta- geous, and it isn’t always clear why. By using OVC’s state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit, scientists will for the first time be able to examine the feet of living horses to track those changes. Previ- ously, studies were limited to using the hooves of dead animals. “What’s unique about what they’re doing is that there is no other non-invasive way to get the level of detail that we believe we’ll be getting with the MRI,” says Prof. Howard Dobson, a radiologist at OVC’s Vet- erinary Teaching Hospital, who is consulting on the project. In addition to studying live sub- jects, Prof. Jeff Thomason, Biomedi- cal Sciences, and PhD candidate Babak Faramarzi hope to break new ground using specialized software to analyze the data and custom modifi- cations to the MRI unit to maximize the resolution of the images. “We’re taking technologies de- veloped in human brain research and applying them to the horse’s foot,” says Thomason. Providing technical expertise for the project are medical physicists Michael Noseworthy of McMaster University and Norm Konyer of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton. Konyer is building a customized coil — the antenna that receives the sig- nals from the object being scanned — to make it wrap around the hoof for a clearer image. “There’s enough evidence from the images we have so far that we’re fairly certain we’ll be able to get the resolution we need,” says Thoma- son. “That’s why we’re sticking with it. There is no way an equine field MRI could do this kind of imaging.” The project, which is still in the preliminary stages but should hit full stride by early summer, will use MRI to study the laminar junction — the layers of tissue that connect the hoof wall to the distal phalanx or coffin bone. It’s the laminae that transfer the forces of weight-bearing from the coffin bone through the hoof wall to the ground. In effect, the cof- fin bone, and therefore the horse’s weight, is suspended from the inside of the hoof wall by these delicate structures. The study will focus on two groups of 10 horses. One group will undergo an exercise regimen over six to nine months; the control group will not. Faramarzi and Thomason will use MRI at the beginning, end and middle to document differences in the laminae of the two groups. The MRI will allow them to ex- amine the orientation, density, strain patterns and growth rate of the laminae in greater detail than ever before. It will also allow them to con- tinually modify their techniques to get the results they need. “With an MRI, there are so many variables we can study," says Fara- marzi. “Even though MRI may not provide a clear image of each lamina, the calculations can tell us about them without actually seeing them.” If all goes according to plan, the researchers will be able to publish a protocol for using MRI to examine the laminar junction. They may also provide veterinarians with a new di- agnostic tool for dealing with laminitis, a devastating condition with a variety of manifestations and causes that aren’t well known yet. Eventually, the research should provide new information to help far- riers refine their trimming and shoe- ing techniques, says Thomason. “The whole industry is based on observation and trial and error, which is fine because they have thou- sands of years of experience to build upon. I’d like lo get it on a more sci- entific footing and add a degree of predictability that’s not there now." Animal Care Services 13th Annual Open House Thursday, June 9* 11:30 a.m.-Z p.m. BBQ Lunch: Burger and Pop for $5.00 Proceeds to the United Way Free Coffee & Desserts • Free Draws • Guided Tours Vf Displays Located at the Central Animal Facility (Building #12 on campus map) Come see what we*re all about!! at Guelph 4 June 1,2005 ‘There Is a Life After Breast Cancer’ Guelph dragon boat team set to compete in 10th annual Vancouver regatta for breast cancer survivors BY ANDREW VOWLES I T’S A DATE STUCK FOREVER in Beverlie Nelson’s mind. “I’ll never forget it: April 12, 2001 — the morning my father died,” says the 1964 U of G graduate. “I called it stress, but that’s not what the doctor called it.” “It” turned out to be breast can- cer. A year later, Nelson had under- gone what she calls the “Cadillac” treatment of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. And she had taken another important step: she had joined Breaststrokes, the dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors based at her alma mater. The team, many of whose 45 members have U of G connections, is now refining its strokes for the 10th annual dragon boat regatta for breast cancer survivors, to be held later this month in Vancouver. Breaststrokes will be among more than 60 teams from Canada and a handful of other countries competing in the event, to take place June 25 to 27. They’ll be there to compete. But as several team members stress, win- ning a particular race comes a distant second to other goals, from fun to fitness to emotional support for liv- ing with breast cancer and its aftermath. Take Breaststrokes member Myrna Dyson, third oldest among the paddlers ranging in age from 35 to 80. The 75-year-old laughs as she remembers her first outing on the water four years ago. Hampered then by an ailing knee, she needed help to get in and out of the boat. But nobody else looked askance. “It’s a supportive group, it’s a family,” she says. Dyson had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She learned the news only about a week after she’d retired following more than a quarter-century at a company in Fergus. She became a volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society 1 1 years ago. Cancer has claimed the lives of her first husband, her son and a close friend. Four years ago, she joined Breast- strokes after a member suggested paddling might help ease lingering physical discomfort from her sur- gery and treatment. Dyson has been an avid canoeist, wilderness hiker and scuba diver. “I’ve been a rockhound for years,” she says. That interest also brings her to campus as a geology student. Last fall, hoping to learn to identify rocks and understand their distribution, she audited an introductory course. After taking a second course in the winter, Dyson has developed wider interests in earth sciences. “We’ll see what I will do next fall.”. This spring, she began working with Breaststrokes coach Pat Rich- ards, co-ordinator of lifestyle and fit- ness programs in the Department of Athletics, to become an assistant trainer. Dyson now helps lead team members during twice-weekly work- outs at the Athletics Centre. Training occurs year-round and includes aquatics, cardiovascular and weight training, and dry-land paddling. “Myrna’s got a watchful eye over us all,” says Nelson, who three years ago received her orientation around the Athletics Centre from Dyson. Apart from attending alumni func- tions, Nelson hadn’t returned often to campus. (Her husband, Gary, studied agriculture at U of G. She now helps run their farm in Ariss, having retired from a teaching career.) In 2003, Nelson was one of four Breaststrokes members on a national team that competed in New Zealand. Despite encountering four-foot swells that at times left members paddling in the air, she says the trip was “an incredible experience. I’m so glad the rest of our team is going to be able to experience that, the posi- tiveness of it, the strength of the peo- ple involved, the encouragement we got from each other.” Members of the Guelph and Wellington Breast Cancer Support Group assembled the local dragon boat squad in 1998 after visiting a team in Hamilton. Based at U of G, the team enters about five races each year. As a practice run for Vancou- ver, Breaststrokes will compete in the Guelph Lake Dragon Boat Festi- val June 3 to 5, which is expected to attract more than 70 corporate and community teams. The Breaststrokes team’s wooden 45-footer, painted in U of G colours, weighs about 1,500 pounds and seats 22 crew members, including a steersperson and a drummer in the bow who keeps the paddlers in synch. To accommodate all the members while in Vancouver, they’ll join forces with an Ottawa team to fill a second shared boat. The Vancouver regatta was launched 10 years ago by Don McKenzie, a U of G physical educa- tion graduate who is now a physician and professor at the University of British Columbia. McKenzie has long advocated the use of exercise to help breast cancer survivors combat the swelling and constricted move- ment often caused by loss of lymph nodes following treatment. A study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that regular physi- cal activity reduces the chance of re- currence of breast cancer. That idea makes sense to Breast- strokes member Sylvia Willms, head of the community services division of U of G’s Hospitality Services. She joined the dragon boat team in 2001 after undergoing treatment for breast cancer discovered in early 2000. Since then, she has also taken part in the annual Run for the Cure in Kitchener and completed a 60-kilometre walk for a breast cancer fundraiser in Toronto. “Pat Richards has always said to us: ‘Keep your fat intake low, and ex- ercise is always good for your body,”’ says Willms, who received the doc- tor’s five-year “all-clear" this spring. “I’ve been living that for the last three years." Breast cancer is the most com- mon form of cancer in Canadian women, with one in nine women ex- pected to develop the disease in their lifetime. In 2005, an estimated 21,600 women will be diagnosed in Canada with breast cancer, and 5,300 will die from the disease. Apart from the physical benefits, Willms and other Breaststrokes members say they derive social and emotional gains from their shared pastime. Willms, who has become close friends with several other team members, says: “Hopefully, you can find some good in being diagnosed with breast cancer. For me, it was finding this team." Boosting self-esteem among breast cancer survivors is critical, says Richards, one of four Breast- strokes volunteers. “I think cancer affects everybody, and I always find it crazy that we can’t figure it out.” She’ll accompany the team to Vancouver to cheer from the shore. The Breaststrokes team takes 314 to four minutes to cover the standard 500-metre course — not a bad time, although hardly world-beating. "Winning is not as important,” says Willms. “We want to be in the race, but winning’s not everything for us. It’s about supporting each other and having fun.” Adds Nelson: “We’ll do as well as we can. I think the fact that we’re there is all that counts. There is a life after breast cancer.” There are about 50 breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams across Canada, including a national team. The Breaststrokes team is sponsored by the Athletics Department and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Researchers Aim to Fit More Fibre Into Food BY LAURA BURNETT SPARK PROGRAM S oluble FIBRE’S many health and nutritional benefits have long been recognized, but the real challenge is finding ways to incorporate it into everyday diets. Prof. Doug Goff, Food Science, is leading a research team to assess soluble fibre sources that could be added to a person’s diet to im- prove health and nutrition. They’re also evalu- ating untapped soluble fibre sources produced from Ontario agricultural commodities such as soybeans and flaxseed. “We hope to generate information that helps the food industry formulate foods rich in soluble fibre,” says Goff. Soluble fibre is just one example of a polysaccharide, a complex carbohydrate made up of multiple sugar compounds. It’s naturally present in plant-derived products such as pec- tin, gums and mucilage. There’s also soluble fi- bre in oats and various fruits and vegetables, but only in small amounts. Soluble fibre intake has been linked to lower cholesterol and decreased risk of heart disease and cancer. Goff s research is designed to find ways to increase the concentration of soluble fibre in certain foods so consumers can experience the health benefits of ingesting more fibre. Increasing dietary soluble fibre also means searching for it in foods that haven’t been used for this purpose before, he says. For example, flaxseed gum is high in soluble fibre. During the milling of flaxseed, the hulls are removed and discarded, but it’s been found that signifi- cant amounts of soluble fibre can be extracted from the hulls, adding value to that waste product. The research project consists of four sub- projects, all involving U of G food scientists. The first component, led by Goff, post-doc- toral researcher Francois Capel and Steve Cui of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is exam- ining the molecular structure and functional properties of selected polysaccharides. Prof. Douglas Dalgleish and post-doctoral researcher Anneke Martin lead the second sub- project, which focuses on polysaccharides’ in- teractions with protein. They want to deter- mine how soluble fibre behaves in real food systems and whether fortification of different foods with soluble fibre would have a negative impact on food structure. The third subproject, headed by Prof. Milena Corredig and graduate student Ingrid Ayala-Hernandez, aims to discover more about polysaccharides with microbial origins. For example, some bacterial cultures used to make yogurt produce polysaccharides, and the researchers want to know if they have any func- tional and nutritional properties. The project’s fourth component, which has yet to begin, will examine the sensory aspects of adding polysaccharides to foods. Prof. Chris Findlay will lead this subproject, evaluating how the addition of soluble fibre to food affects its taste, texture and other sensory properties. Goff hopes the food industry will apply the data generated from this work to formulate soluble fibre-rich foods. He notes that farmers and consumers will also gain from this re- search. Finding novel uses for Ontario agricul- tural commodities — especially low-value products — benefits producers because most soluble fibre ingredients are currently im- ported. And consumers can experience the added health benefits of increasing their intake of soluble fibre. The four-year research project, which be- gan last September, is funded by the food pro- gram of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. at Guelph 5 June i, 2005 Whatcha Want Is a Canadian Idol U of G photography professor focuses on the reality behind reality television BY MURRAY TONG SPARK PROGRAM R eality televisIOn hs$. changed the shape of modern entertainment, spawning runaway hits such as Survivor , The Amazing Race and The Apprentice. These shows and myriad others throw a spodight on ordinary people, parading them before vast TV audiences and transforming them into instant superstars — a sort of retelling of the Pygmalion myth for our age of reality TV, mass media and lightning-paced celebrity. In Canada, no program has taken the idea as far as Canadian Idol, the runaway hit that serves up aspiring young pop singers to a panel of mu- sic industry professionals (and mil- lions of viewers) for close scrutiny of their talents. After weeding out ini- tial contestants, the panel narrows the field to 100 competitors, who give their all on national TV. Viewers then vote for their favourites. Ulti- mately, a new Canadian Idol is anointed with fame, fortune and a record deal. During the phenomenally suc- cessful show’s first season in 2003 (6.5 million viewers watched the two-hour finale), Prof. Suzy Lake, Fine Art and Music, spent six weeks with the Canadian Idol entourage. She travelled to audition sites in Montreal and Toronto, shooting 15 rolls of film, to dissect this cultural phenomenon and determine what it tells us about ourselves and our perceptions of stardom. The result of this venture is her art installation Whatcha really really want .... It provides an on-the- ground perspective of the entire au- ditioning process, capturing the compulsion for fame, the worship of youth and the glamour of the Pygmalion myth. The title of the ex- hibit refers to a hit song by the Spice Girls, the former chart-topping U.K. pop music group that was likewise fabricated by talent scouts, judging panels and skilled marketing, along the lines of Canadian Idol The idea of being caught on film and preserved for posterity, the con- trast between on- and off-camera personas and the anticipation of in- stant celebrity are pervasive themes in Whatcha really really want .... In her photographs, Lake conveys the energy between camera and subject — the sense that candidates knew they were being committed to cellu- loid. “What 1 tended to do was select the photographs where it was really apparent there was a relationship be- tween the performer and the cam- era," she says. “That could be the relationship between, say, someone obviously posing for me, someone actually posing for another photog- rapher, and someone watching someone else being photographed.” To capture the Idol atmosphere on film, Lake followed the candi- dates through the labyrinthine audi- tion process, from outdoor queues to crowded registration areas to au- ditions to the sudden-death voting periods before TV cameras and national audiences. In her long shots of the massive audition lineups snaking down city streets, she shows crowds of aspiring stars — unshaven, unshowered, run- ning on little sleep, their enthusiasm undiminished by all-night parties and long waits — as they muster the energy to mug for the camera. She follows them inside, where handlers pin identification numbers on the performers, herd them through makeup and guide them through pre-auditions and auditions. That’s when the Pygmalion process begins, transforming so-called normal peo- ple into glamorous-looking potential idols. These images led to Lake’s photos of Idol finalists pouring heart and soul into their performances under ethereal blue-purple lighting while camera operators only a few metres away capture the moment, and stage technicians, makeup artists and pro- ducers are already preparing the next performer. The implication is clear: although fame is a lifelong dream for many, it’s a mundane manufactured com- modity for the industry. In fact, Lake notes, the show itself is really a sea- son-long TV focus group playing as entertainment, gauging what audi- ences want to hear and see in a pop idol, from voice to looks to musical repertoire to hairstyles. Although audiences are me- dia-sawy enough to see Canadian Idols marketing mission, she says, the Pygmalion factor is irresistible, as demonstrated by the show’s stag- gering popularity. But a necessary ingredient to this premise is youth, she adds, pointing out that show contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 26. “The show is based on the glam- our of Pygmalion, the glamour of discovering an unknown and turn- ing him or her into a superstar.” A 50-year-old “Pygmalion” would be a lot less glamorous than a 20-year-old one, she notes. "And Canadian Idol is about glamour.” Glamour, beauty, gender and im- age all intersect in Wltatcha really re- ally want . . ., but Lake’s exploration of these themes predates the Idol work. Paul Petro, owner of the To- ronto-based Paul Petro Contempo- rary Art, where Whatcha really really want . . . opened in September 2004, points to the photographer’s earlier shows, including “Beauty” and the group exhibitions “Breakfast of Champeens” and “Christmas Spice,” which communicate the longing for youth and beauty through depic- tions of middle-aged personas trying to stay young. The worship of youth takes many forms in Lake’s photographs. One image shows hormone pills as break- fast food — an attempt to preserve youthfulness. Lake herself appears in one life-sized silkscreen, donning leopard-print tights. Images of a middle-aged woman applying lip- stick thickly and glamour shots high- lighting yellowed teeth and a post-menopausal beard — someone past her sell-by date by standards of our fast-moving, youth-oriented culture — are coupled with images of ephemeral peonies, which explode into full bloom early in the season before drooping under the weight of their own beauty. “Suzy’s got that sort of national treasure status in Canada,” says Petro, who has exhibited much of her photography. “Her work in the early ’70s was so far forward of its time that it’s inspiring younger gen- erations of artists to this day." Lake’s highly personal oeuvre, which explores gender politics and self-image — often using herself as a subject — also informs her teaching, in which she demonstrates how con- ceptual art theory and techniques can be used to visualize concepts and issues. “It’s important that students start understanding the photograph as other than just a print or a narrative or photojournalism,” she says. “Art can be about photography or about painting — about the creation of beauty, as in Pygmalion.” Canadian Idol owes much of its success to the voting process, which involves the audience in construct- ing its own Pygmalion myth, says Lake. She explores voters’ criteria in Whatcha really really want ... by as- sembling her own pool of Idol con- testants — 50 friends, students and colleagues from U of G and Guelph’s art community. Numbers pasted on their chests and microphones in hand against a glitter backdrop, they were photographed in pantomimed rapture, then Lake invited visitors to choose their favourites. At the end of each week of the three-week show, she tabulated the votes and posted new photos of the winning partici- pants. Lake hopes to get visitors to con- template the criteria for their choices and, by extension, what they see as glamorous or beautiful. She believes Canadian Idol viewers generally vote for a guaranteed, comfortable sell in- stead of daring and original acts, even though the latter may be more distinctive and harder to forget. The mass voting aspect of the show means truly original acts can go only so far, she says, and members of the public may be electing their own false idols. “What we’re seeing is voting for quality, but it’s actually a fairly ge- neric quality, rather than something different. People’s tastes grow. If you’re only affirming what they al- ready know, they’ll just go on to the next pop idol.” In the first season, Ryan Malcolm walked away with the top prize, but Lake was more interested in some of the other contestants, including first runner-up Gary Beals and fourth runner-up Jenny Gear. She believes Gear, in particular, had star quality in her voice and made interesting song choices, but she couldn’t en- gage with the TV camera in the same way she could engage with audiences. “She was singing all kinds of al- ternative music and really strange song choices, like Leonard Cohen,” says Lake. “A female singing Leonard Cohen has a kind of morose irony that’s really too sophisticated for a lot of people to support.” Still, Lake looks forward to future seasons of Canadian Idol which she enjoys watching with her husband and daughter. Although she’s inter- ested in the show’s reflection of ce- lebrity, youth and other modern values, she, too, has been swept up in the glamour and suspense of who will become Canada’s next superstar. “I think the Idol programmers, starting with FOX TV and American Idol, assumed they were targeting the youth culture audience. The fact that Canadian Idol transcended its target audience and became part of our culture is remarkable.” Whatcha really really want. . . will also be showing at the Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in Buf- falo and at France’s Centre de Photographic de Lectoure. Pianos, books, lessons & more! 2 1 B-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Oil. N1E5R1 fax: 519.836.9474 lesson line: 519.716.4792 836.8492 Now Open For information Pizza Royal The Best Pizza in Town about paid advertising in At Guelph, call 10 Paisley Road, Guelph Scott Anderson at Free Delivery! (519) 836-3652 827-9169. at Guelph 6 June 1,2005 - profile _ A Touch of Compassion Longtime U of G staff member explores hands-on approach to healing By Lori Bona Hunt JUNE IS PERENNIAL GARDENING MONTH Visit us for a giant selection of unique and dassic perennials displayed in an easy to shop format Join us June 8' h and 1 5 m at 7pm for informative perennial seminars given by industry experts which will let you in on this year's must haves Call to reserve your space today! BEAUTIFUL ANNUALS . TREES . SHRUBS . VINES . ROSES . HOME S’ GARDENWARE BULK MATERIAL DELIVERy T, brock road nursery c,ardtx cextre § .shoppe 1858 Gordon Street, Guelph. Ontario. NIL IGA ^ /£ ■ N ( 519.834.5010 www.brockroadnursery.com t 3. H elping people has always been one of Trish Dean’s greatest joys. This simple pas- sion has led her on an incredible personal journey over the past 20 years. During that time, she has helped a wide range of people, from those looking to improve their physical fitness to those fighting for their lives. It all started in 1983 on a family trip to the cottage at Christian Island in Georgian Bay. Dean, who has worked at U of G for more than 25 years and is currently administrative assistant to the managing director of investments, was in the lake with her children. She was repeatedly pulling them up, down and around in the water. After a while, the water play started to feel more like an intense low-impact workout. “I started thinking: ‘Whoa, this is really powerful stuff,’” says Dean, adding that it was back before aquafit and water running were standard terms at the gym. When she returned to campus, she began doing her own form of wa- ter aerobics. She eventually became a certified aquafit teacher and water running instructor, teaching classes and showing others how what she discovered that day in the lake could work for them. Still fascinated that something as simple as moving in the water could help the body in dramatic ways, Dean started thinking about what else the human body and mind could do. At the urging of a friend, she enrolled in a course on therapeutic touch out of curiosity. “I remember leaving that first course so excited,” she says. “I had been given a tool that I thought I could use to help others. I just didn’t realize at the time what it was going to mean. It ended up changing my life.” In 1 996, she became a recognized practitioner of therapeutic touch and, over the years, has spent hundreds of hours main- taining her status through education and practice. Developed by nursing professor Dolores Krieger and healer Dora Kunz more than 30 years ago, the technique is a contem- porary interpretation of several ancient healing practices, ac- cording to the Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario. Today, it’s widely accepted as a nursing intervention, and therapists of- ten work and volunteer in hospitals and hospice centres. Therapeutic touch is based on a belief that living things have energy fields that extend beyond the surface of the body and generate an aura. When people are sick, that energy field be- comes misaligned. Trained practitioners move their hands over a person’s energy field to find the imbalances, redirecting the energy flow in hopes of restoring the field to its proper alignment. “We use our hands as tools,” says Dean. “The movements are intended to help urge the body towards healing. But the practitioner is not doing the healing, just facilitating it. Anyone can learn it; the only prerequisite is having compassion.” She says mastering the technique has boosted her self-confi- dence. She is now bold enough even to approach strangers who And it may not help everyone. But if nothing else, it’s relaxing and calm- ing and it often releases endorphins, and that can have a positive effect on anyone." Dean’s belief that therapeutic touch does work led her to become a volunteer at Guelph General Hospi- tal and Hospice Wellington. At the hospital, she has helped nurses who wanted the technique performed on them, and doctors who, either on | their own or at the urging of nurses, 2 sought out help for various ailments, j 1 Working with hospice patients is ^ different, she says. People are often in § chronic pain or undergoing treat- * ments. And they’re terminally ill, a f hard fact to deal with when your pur- 5 pose is to help people heal themselves. “I don’t walk in assuming I will fix anything — ever,” says Dean. “And I | always remind people that I don’t do I the healing. But I can give them a boost and help them hope for a posi- tive outcome. I always encourage them to be hopeful. Sometimes, espe- cially with people in hospice, they just need someone to listen to them, someone to calm them.” She also tries not to get too emotionally involved, both for her own mental well-being and because many therapeutic touch practitioners believe their emotions might interfere with the energy-directing process. But it’s often hard to detach, which is why volunteering with Hospice Wellington is more difficult and challenging, she says. But ultimately, it’s more rewarding. “It becomes an honour to help someone through the dying process. I think I come away with gifts from them." In addition to her volunteer work as a therapeutic touch practitioner, Dean continues to teach water running and aquafit classes for U of G. She has also taken up daily medita- tion, studies art history and practises music therapy, qigong and tai chi. “It really has ended up becoming a lifestyle more than any- thing,” she says. The same alternative healing path has led her to a new inter- est in regression work, including both age regression and past lives. “There is just so much out there, and I seem to find it and try it all.” When she’s not working, brushing up on her therapeutic touch skills or volunteering, Dean still enjoys going to the cot- tage and has built a labyrinth on the beach out of small rocks and stones. “The community up there seems to really enjoy walking it, and kids love to play and run through it,” she says. “Walking a labyrinth is peaceful and can help clear the mind." Not too long ago, one cottager brought his wife down to see it. The woman was depressed, and the husband thought it might help her. “I took her through it and walked it with her,” says Dean. “She seemed a lot calmer afterwards." As always, “my reward was being able to help someone.” are in obvious pain and ask them if they’d like therapeutic touch. “I just offer it, I don’t push it. Some people say no, others say yes. I’ve had people ask me what it is, and I’ve had people run away from me.” Dean often has co-workers and others on campus approach her and ask for help with their migraines and other ailments. But she is also well aware that many people are skeptical. She recalls the time she was doing therapeutic touch on a woman who had become dizzy at the gym, and one of her col- leagues happened by. “When I got back to the office, he said jokingly: ‘I saw you doing your voodoo stuff.’” He didn’t mean it in a hurtful way, she says, but some people do liken the technique to such “magical” practices. That’s something practitioners still struggle to overcome, even after years of working long and hard to get the technique accepted in clinical settings. Despite the name, therapeutic touch doesn’t usually involve actual physical contact, although Dean will sometimes ask a person for permission to touch them briefly in a place where she detects a break in the energy field, an indicator of a source of pain. She demonstrates the technique on this extremely skeptical writer, running her hands along the invisible “energy field.” Surprisingly, it does leave a sensation in the body similar to what is often experienced during a therapeutic massage. In ad- dition, after a couple of minutes of hand movements, Dean asks for permission to touch and gently places two fingers above one eyebrow. Unbeknownst to her, it’s the same spot that is the source of a chronic sinus infection, which a doctor recently tried to relieve through endoscopic surgery. Still, there is doubt. But Dean doesn’t seem to notice or she doesn’t mind. “Some people feel better after having therapeutic touch, and they may attribute it to that, and they may not," she says. “It doesn’t really matter. As long as they feel better, that’s great. at Guelph 7 June i, 2005 after hours Prof. Lindsay Robinson and her research team hope to learn more about the benefits of “good” fats and help the food industry incorporate these fats into everyday food products. photo by vince filby Friendly Fat Researchers draw the line between good and bad fats BY HILARY EDMONDSON SPARK PROGRAM E ating certain types of fat could help reduce your risk of disease, says Prof. Lindsay Robinson, Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences. But it has to be the right type. Robinson and her research team are developing fat tolerance tests to assess how individuals react to dif- ferent fat types. They’re studying how these fat types affect the body’s metabolic activities. Fats can’t be placed in just one category, because they don’t all elicit the same response,” she says. "Poly- unsaturated fats, or ‘good’ fats, have been shown to reduce cholesterol and risks for type 2 diabetes and car- diovascular disease when you eat them as a substitute for ‘bad’ fats, like saturated fat.” Although traditional fat toler- ance tests often lump all fat types into one category, Robinson wants to compare good and bad fats be- cause they each create different met- abolic responses. She’s working with food scientists to design a shake-like drink containing selected natural fats, which can be used to test how humans metabolize different fats. After study participants ingest the drink, researchers can test fat levels in each subject’s blood and the meta- bolic response that’s associated with the fat in the drink. Robinson says it’s important to test different fat types separately to learn which are the most beneficial. Simply switching from bad fats such as butter, shortening and meat fat lo good fats such as corn, canola and olive oils can actually help reduce cholesterol and lower blood lipids, which can lead to improved health. She’s also interested in cytokines, hormone-like proteins that are in- volved in inflammatory responses. Cytokines, which are released from fat tissue in the body, are believed to contribute to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which means that people with excess fat tissue could be at higher risk for those diseases. The researchers are now testing to determine whether abnormally high cytokine levels result from fat ingestion and if the type of fat can al- ter this response. Abnormal meta- bolic responses to fat ingestion can occur many years before the actual onset of disease, making this infor- mation useful as an early biomarker of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One of their criteria for whether a fat is good or bad is how it affects cytokine levels, among other meta- i bolic responses. If a certain fat type leads to increased cytokine release, it | might be one people should avoid, j Robinson says. Eventually, the research group hopes to develop an oral fat toler- ance test to rapidly assess Canadians’ risk for type 2 diabetes and cardio- vascular disease. Earlier risk detec- tion means people will have more time to change their diet and life- style, helping to prevent these diseases. Still, Robinson says prevention and awareness of good and bad fat consumption are key to a healthier public and lower disease risks. She and her team hope to learn more about the benefits of good fats and help the food industry incorporate these fats into everyday food products. Collaborating on this research are Prof. Terry Graham, chair of the Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences; and Prof. Alejandro Marangoni and research associate Amanda Wright of the De- partment of Food Science. Also in- volved in the study is University of Waterloo kinesiology professor Jim Rush. This research is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food as part of the Food@Guelph initiative. Javaid Iqbal IAVAID IQBAL Research associate in the Department of Plant Agriculture since 2002 Since buying his home two years ago, Javaid Iqbal has spent countless hours working to make things just right for him and his family. “I’m planning to live a long time in this house, and it’s im- portant to be comfortable and happy,” he says. In the past year, he’s net- worked his entire house so that wired computer access is available in every room. He’s also done all the electri- cal work, painting, flooring and drywalling to finish his basement, and has found some creative ways to gener- ate more storage space. “Some people won’t believe it, but I created 250 square feet of storage in my single-car garage without disturbing any parking space,” says Iqbal, drawing a di- agram to show how he designed a false ceiling that ex- tends from the height of the garage door to the ceiling. He also added some permanent shelving to the sur- rounding walls, something he says his wife is very happy about. “Now I get to keep my things, and my wife isn’t bothered by my stuff,” he laughs. Iqbal is no stranger to home improvements. In his native Pakistan, he helped his father raise the level of their entire house by two feet after it sank due to settling and erosion. The project involved raising all the floors, doors and windows and levelling the ground surround- ing the home. Here in Guelph, Iqbal next plans to lay some patio stones from the front of his house around to the back- yard and to build a backyard fence. MARY DECOSTE Faculty member in the School of Languages and Litera- tures since 2003 Since Prof. Mary DeCoste’s arrival in Canada, she’s been spending some time exploring its geography summer, the transplanted Amer- ican visited Silent Lake, a provin- cial park near Bancroft known for its rocky shoreline, rugged hiking trails, mixed forests and marshes, with her husband, Mary DeCoste David, and three-year-old son, Eli. They plan to visit again this summer. DeCoste is an avid reader and says she enjoys diving into a good book in the evening. “After Eli goes to bed, I just want to have a glass of Italian wine and read,” she savs. “I like tn rrad The New Yorker whirH ic Z full-time job in itself because it comes out every week and it’s so dense.” She also enjoys novels and is currently reading a bi- ography on Leonardo di Vinci called Flights of the Mind. A longtime fan of Margaret Atwood’s work, she admits she needs to catch up on her Canadian fiction. In an ef- fort to do that, she has just completed The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. A love of Celtic music and an interest in her family history (generations ago, her family lived in the Maritimes) has prompted DeCoste to try her hand at the fiddle. She says her family joked that she was finally coming home when they learned she was moving to Canada. She’s hoping to find time to practise the fiddle on a regular basis this summer. CARMEN NAVE Master’s student in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Twice a week, Carmen Nave goes to karate class at a club near her home. Although she took lessons as a child, she took an extended break from the sport and started training again last year. She’s a stu- dent of a style of karate called goju, a Japanese martial art that differs from most other karate forms in Carmen Nave its emphasis on the ability to grap- - pie in close quarters. Currently an orange belt, she’s hoping to earn her green belt over the summer. Nave says goju refreshes her after a long day of work- ing on her major paper. “It appeals to that part of me that enjoys learning, but it’s my body that’s learning, and it’s a contrast to my grad studies.” She says she also enjoys karate because it’s an individual sport. Another activity Nave enjoys away from the books is getting together regularly with a group of close friends made during her undergraduafe'years. “We used to get together at night and it was more like a party, but now everyone’s married, and some have children, so it’s more like a brunch.” She says it provides time to catch up and keeps the friends from drifting apart as a result of their busy lives. YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home INSURANCE PROGRAM Call today for a no-obligatlon quote Or visit our website at www.staebler.com Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts pjLuO' Your Group Discount! L\\j Waterloo Insurance Visit us ot www.economlcallnsurance.com at Guelph 8 June i, 2005 Recycling Tip of the Month B , , , , U of G Recycles! its of wood both large and small (like coffee stir sticks) are not recyclable. Small pieces should go in the garbage. To dispose of large amounts of wood, call Physical Resources at Ext. 53854 to place a work order. www.pr^uliph.ca/recycie POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ... Design your own unique pattern, the possibilities are endless! • EXTENSIVE SELECTIONS • Ceramic Marble Slate • OVER 1000 COLOURS TO CHOOSE • " Quality and Craftsmanship are a Family Tradition" From the Other Side of the Bars Women getting out of prison face the same challenges coming out that put them there in the first place, says sociologist BY REBECCA KENDALL H ave you ever thought about what your life would have been like had things been different? How things would be if you were born into a home where your poor and single mother resorted to crime to get by and ended up going to prison, leaving you and your siblings in foster care? Have you ever considered the possibility of a world where people don’t have to commit crimes to feed and clothe themselves and their children? A world where social programs and welfare are a funding priority and prisons no longer exist? A U of G sociologist is asking these questions and recently signed a deal with the University of Toronto to publish a book about her findings. Doing Time on the Outside: Decon- structing the Benevolent Community is scheduled to be released in summer 2006. Written by Prof. MaDonna Maidment, who joined U of G last September, the book is the result of two years of interviews with women in her home province of Newfound- land and Labrador who had been in prison for at least two years and were scheduled for release or had recently been released. Maidment says 85 per cent of those interviewed were in prison for property-related offences like wel- fare fraud and shoplifting. “They are single mothers trying to support their kids on welfare and are committing crimes of survival just trying to make ends meet. It costs $150,000 a year to keep a woman in prison. That’s more than 15 times their annual salary, and that’s part of the reason they’re in there to begin with. If the state were to put money into social programs and the welfare system, there would be no need for prisons.” She says many people who are poor and disadvantaged are being incarcerated because the state’s an- swer to their problems is just to lock them away. And prison isn’t usually their first taste of state-imposed so- cial control, she adds. Most have al- ready been in contact with a variety of agencies throughout their lives, including child protection, foster care, welfare officers and psychiatric interventions. The more layers of social control a woman has encountered in her life, the more chance she has of going to prison and the less chance she has of staying out, Maidment says. The women whose lives are docu- mented in her book spoke about how they ended up in prison, their challenges on the outside and their entanglement with other control systems throughout their lives. She says she found that, for most, freedom is not attained when the cell door is opened and they walk back into society. Instead, she argues, people move from a position of incarceration to one of transcar- ceration, never actually being free of the factors that played roles in their imprisonment. “They face the same challenges coming out that put them there in the first place, including poverty, sexual abuse, inequality and mental health issues.” Maidment says the penal system considers two years without reoffending to be the mark of a suc- cessful ex-prisoner, but for some women, two weeks is considered a milestone if they’ve been in prison a long time or in a psychiatric hospital. “They 1 re going back to the same marginalized conditions, abuses and poor neighbourhoods they came from. Nothing’s changed.” She grew up in St. John’s, Nfld., as one of four daughters and says that, although this research is en- lightening from academic and social perspectives, her interviews of fe- male prisoners left her with a heavy heart. She soon realized she’d al- ready looked into the eyes of some of these women when they were her friends and classmates years earlier. “I go back, and their lives have gone one way and mine’s gone an- other,” she says. “It was a real eye-opener and really troubling to realize that any of us, myself in- cluded, could have ended up on the other side of the bars. You quickly realize that their lives could have gone another way if only they’d been given different opportunities. There are some really troubling stories.” Maidment, who did her BA and MA at Memorial University and her PhD at Carleton, is co-founder ofthe Elizabeth Fry Society of Newfound- land and Labrador, one of 25 volun- teer, non-profit societies across Canada that work to enhance public awareness and education about the circumstances of women involved in the criminal justice system. They also aim to challenge and break down stereotypes about crimi- nalized women. She says the Atlantic provinces have a high incidence of criminalizing mental illness and that incarceration shouldn’t be the re- sponse to managing medical conditions and homelessness. “We send people out into the community, and clearly they aren’t equipped to cope there, and the prison system is one system that can’t turn them away. I’m really in- terested in why that is and why we’re Prof. MaDonna Maidment is writing a book based on two years of interviews with incarcerated women. photo by grant martin Winfrey Show in what she thought was another vain attempt to get tick- ets for herself and her sisters. Lisa is a huge fan of Winfrey’s, and they’d been trying to get tickets for years. “When I got home that night, a producer had left a message on the phone saying that not only did we have tickets, but we were also going to be front-row guests on the show," says Maidment. The catch was, she had to keep it a secret from her sis- ters, so she made up a story about winning an all-expenses-paid trip to Chicago to see the Phantom of the Opera. Because Cathy works for Air Canada, it wasn’t easy explaining why their reservations weren’t show- ing up in the airline’s computer sys- tem, says Maidment. “I was a nervous wreck for two days." Once on the plane, the secret was revealed. With producers and cam- era operators sitting in the seats next to the sisters with cameras stowed away in the overhead compartments, the surprise unfolded. “As soon as we got to 26,000 feet and the seatbelt sign went off, the flight attendant came on the headset and asked for everyone’s attention for a special announcement," says Maidment. A recorded message from Winfrey then appeared on the TV monitors. The sisters were the focus of the show’ s introductory segment as part I of a "Good News" show and were in- I dulged with champagne, imported chocolate, a limousine and first-class treatment for the next two days. "We were on the news in New- foundland and Labrador for three nights straight," says Maidment. “I usually show the tape from the Oprah show in class, and the stu- dents love it. I spring it on them on the last day of class." criminalizing mental illness so highly in this specific region.” Maidment’s office shelves are filled with books on criminal justice, criminological theories, electronic surveillance technologies, wrongful convictions and penal abolition. In the middle of it all is a framed photo of Maidment, her sisters Cathy and Lisa, and Oprah Winfrey, who over- came some of the same cir- cumstances that faced the women in Maidment’s study, including sexual abuse, poverty and discrimination, to become one of the most recognized faces on the planet. While working in Ottawa for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as a policy analyst, Maidment had e-mailed producers at the Oprah at Guelph 9 June l, 2005 Sectionals Club Chairs Chaise Lounges Eight-Way, Hand-Tied, Bergere Chairs Fundraiser to Boost Support for Spinal Cord Research Continued from page 1 barbecue, activities, music and awards. It’s being spearheaded again this year by U of G staff members Cyndy McLean, director of the Health and Performance Centre, and Barry Wheeler of the Centre for Students With Disabilities. McLean, who was left paraplegic after a fall in 2003, organized a team last year that raised more than $1 1,000. This year, she’s leading a team that includes the Song family. The Songs also took part in last year’s inaugural event, which was held only a few months after Terry’s injury. At the time, Leo says, he hadn’t accepted what had happened to his son. “I still don’t think I’ve accepted it," he says. “But I have learned a lot, and one of the things I’ve learned is appreciation. We have received a lot of help and support from so many people.” The family is taking part in Wheels in Motion because they want to give something back to those who have supported them, says Leo. They also want to publicize the need for research, which is crucial if children like Terry or people who may be in- jured in the future are to have the potential to recover. “A lot of people are doing incred- ible research on spinal cord injury in Europe, Asia and North America,” he says. “It’s my hope that they will make some real progress, reach some real milestones.” About 90 per cent of what is known about spinal cord injuries has been learned in the past decade. In addition to research, people with spinal cord injuries have nu- merous other needs, starting with improved services and education lo- cally, says Leo. “People in Guelph don’t have a lot of knowledge or experience deal- ing with children who have spinal cord injuries.” There are, for example, fewer op- tions for recreational or physical therapy. The Songs have been travel- ling to a Shriners Hospital for Chil- dren in Philadelphia to obtain therapy for Terry. “We will probably be going three or four times a year,” says Leo. There’s also a need for assistance with services, equipment and health care, which, over a lifetime, can cost millions of dollars. Eighty-four per cent of spinal cord injuries happen to people under 34. Leo says his family is still coming to terms with all the changes and challenges of their new life. “But Terry is doing very well. He is always happy, and most of the time, it’s Terry who cheers us up.” Sometimes, though, his son will talk about running and jumping like other kids, like before. “He does un- derstand what has happened to him; he just doesn’t fully realize what it will mean to him in the long run.” When asked what his hopes are for Terry’s future, Leo says: “I want him to be a healthy and positive kid and a healthy and positive man — whether or not he can stand or walk.” For information about partici- pating in, volunteering at or pledg- ing support for U of G’s Wheels in Motion event, contact McLean at Ext. 53319 or cmclean@uoguelph.ca or Wheeler at Ext. 56416 or bwheeler@uoguelph.ca. Where Are You Now? If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held this month for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by June 3 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56982. The following people correctly reported that the May 18 photo was of the newspaper boxes at the north end of the University Centre: Grant Campbell, Jenny Bruin, Bryan Oates, Quinn Dam, Stephen Gazzola, Laura Chouinard, Tomas Grana, Wayne Ridout, Cassandra Struke, Greg Demand, Greg Hastings and John Van Manen. photo by rachelle cooper Retired Faculty to Be Honoured Continued from page 1 has made presentations on a diver- sity of issues, including tax policies and government initiatives such as the National Child Benefit. Glossop is executive director of programs and research for the Vanier Insti- tute, a national charitable organiza- tion dedicated to promoting the well-being of Canadian families. He has also served on the boards of sev- eral charitable foundations and has represented Canada at international forums on families and children. Also at the afternoon ceremony, Konstantareas will be named Uni- versity professor emerita. A leading researcher in the study of autism and Furniture Main Street South, Open Tues-Sat 10 1.888.339.2819 or Rockwood, ON -5 & Sun 12-5 519.856.2575 reviewer of programs for those living with autism, she retired in Decem- ber 2004 after 15 years as a faculty member at U of G. Two convocation ceremonies will be held June 15 for the College of Biological Science. At 10 a.m.. Atlas will address graduands and receive an honorary doctor of science de- gree. A longtime faculty member at the University of Louisville, he is co-director of its Center for the De- terrence of Biowarfare and Bioter- rorism. His early research helped initiate the concept of bioremedi- ation, and his later work has focused on the molecular detection of patho- gens in the environment, which now forms the basis of biosensors to de- tect biothreat agents. At 2:30 p.m. Holub, who taught at Guelph for 32 years and took early retirement in January to pursue on-campus research and other activ- ities, will be named University pro- fessor emeritus and give the convocation address. He is world- renowned for his research on the health implications of dietary omega-3 fatty acids, fish and fish oils and trans fats. Also at this ceremony, Brock will be presented with the Lincoln Alex- ander Medal of Distinguished Ser- vice. Brock has been a strong supporter of U ofG since graduating from the Ontario Agricultural Col- lege in 1 958. His many contributions have included chairing the Board of Governors and the Heritage Trust board and establishing the Brock Doctoral Scholarship. On June 16, Cunsolo will address graduates and receive the John Bell Award at the 10 a.m. ceremony for the College of Physical and Engi- neering Science. A faculty member at Guelph since 1969, he received a 3M Teaching Fellowship in 1992. During his time at Guelph, he has of- fered extensive service to the U of G Faculty Association, worked to en- hance effective teaching practices across campus, mentored new fac- ulty, and served on a number of committees related to teaching. Also at the CPES ceremony, Henry, a faculty rhenib'eY at Guelph from 1987 to December 2004 and a former chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will be named University professor emeri- tus. Recognized as one of Canada’s leading physical chemists, Henry is vice-president and president-elect of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. At the 2:30 p.m. ceremony, Millar will address graduands of the Ontario Veterinary College and re- ceive an honorary doctor of laws de- gree. First named to Canada’s equestrian team in 1971, Millar was ranked first in the world in 1987 and 1 989. He holds more than 1 50 Grand Prix and Derby wins, is a nine-time Canadian show-jumping champion and has coached some of the coun- try’s most successful show-jumping teams. McDonell, who is respected in- ternationally for Iris contributions to veterinary anesthesia and who re- tired in 2004 after 38 years at OVC, will be named University professor emeritus. He also served as an ad- ministrator in the establishment of Pet Trust and the Dynasty and Horse Health trusts. On June 17, Gillespie will give the convocation address and be named University professor emeritus dur- ing the 2:30 p.m. ceremony for OAC and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. A leading agrometeoro- logist, he began his career at Guelph in 1968. Renowned for his teaching, he is a 3M Teaching Fellow, was named CASE Canadian Professor of the Year in 1991 and received U of G’s John Bell Award the same year. He retired in 2004. at Guelph io June 1,2005 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Pfaff industrial sewing machine with table, great condition; sofa, two swivel chairs, office chair with arms, all newly upholstered with leopard print; four metal chairs and oval table, newly upholstered with wild cat print, 830-6815 after 4 p.m. Gourlay upright piano, circa 1920, needs work, reasonable offer; Eagle’s Nest kids’ wooden play structure, Ext. 52858 or 822-0826. 2001 Chevrolet Venture, seven-pas- senger V6, silver, dual sliding doors, keyless entry, power locks, window and mirrors, air, cruise, tilt, AM/FM, CD, well-maintained, e-tested, certi- fied, 826-7795. 2000 Ford Focus, five-speed manual, one-year extended warranty, 3 Vi years of rust treatment warranty, 65,000 km, 822-8186 or apreston@ uoguelph.ca. Antique vanity with circular mirror and two panels of two drawers on each side, photo available; Renais- sance asphalt shingles, Harvest Slate, four bundles, will cover 135 square feet; perennials, including 50 variet- ies of hostas, 821-1879 or kczernic@ uoguelph.ca. Two-bedroom townhousc on Lon- don Road, two baths, open concept, professionally finished basement, appliances, central vac, water soft- ener, ceiling fans, all blinds, walkout to patio with fenced yard, laundry room plus storage, 822-8631. Four-bedroom house on quiet street in south end backing on to fields, 1,951 square feet, close to campus and bus, hardwood floors in living and dining rooms, large raised wood deck, finished basement with rec room, central air, water softener, double driveway, 767-1989 after 6 p.m. or hcai@uoguelph.ca. Kitchen table, white top, three by five feet (expands to four by five), and four grey vinyl chairs, 837-99 1 7. 1999 Volvo S70 GLT, loaded, only 75,000 km, super clean, snow and summer tires, garaged, Ben, Ext. 53513 or 767-6734. Kids’ Adidas Kapuha TRXHG Jr. soccer shoes, black and white, size 3 U.S., 2 Vi U.K., worn only a couple of times, Cathie, Ext. 56187. Limited-edition unframed Laura Berry prints: Garden Shed, Time Out, Autumn Adventures; Gibbard cherry drop-leaf oval coffee table, 48" by 20" by 16", excellent condi- tion, 822-3129. FOR RENT Three-bedroom century stone house downtown, main-floor laun- dry, newly renovated kitchen and bath, parking, on bus route, suitable for family or three adults, prefer fac- ulty, staff or female grad students, non-smokers, no pets, available Sept. 1 to June 30, 2006, rent nego- tiable, Susan, Ext. 53003. Furnished house on quiet street, close to bus stop and downtown, 25-minute walk to campus, parking for one car, non-smokers, no pets, suitable for mature grad student or couple, available September to April 2006, rent negotiable, 767-0657 or jturner@uoguelph.ca. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in house, close to shopping and bus stop, mature grad student or profes- sional preferred, $600 a month inclusive, Janet, 821-0177. Furnished or unfurnished one-bed- room apartment suitable for one person in old University area, sepa- rate entrance, short walk to campus, on bus route, no parking, access to swimming pool, wireless Internet, non-smoker, available August/Sep- tember to May 2006, $600 a month plus hydro, 763-0449 or mnelisch@ uoguelph.ca. Furnished bed-sitting room with attached kitchenette/study in south- west area, on bus route, non-smok- ers, no pets, cable, suitable for com- muter or serious student, $350 a month inclusive; two-bedroom cot- tage with view of Lake Huron, non- smokers, all amenities included, available for July, 763-1236 or lrbardwell@sympatico.ca. Family cottage at Crystal Beach in Niagara Falls area, accommodation for six, close to Fort Erie, the Falls and Marineland, $650 a week, week- end rates available, Bob, Ext. 56071 or bobinguelph@rogers.com. Upper three rooms of luxury town- house backing on to river and trails, two baths, share furnished kitchen/ living room with owner, dishwasher, laundry, AC, indoor parking, suit- . able for professional or grad student, available Sept. 1, $800 a month plus utilities, 820-5237 or chleslie@ uoguelph.ca. Q eorg&y Windows and Doors Geoige Wallace 11 Victoria Road North, Guelph, Out. N1E 5G6 (519) 821-7800 Fax (519) 821-7810 Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short- term rental, close to subway and shopping; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, available weekly or monthly, Nicole, 836-6745 or fnmoll@ hotmail.com. WANTED Families to host teenagers from Spain and France for July, remunera- tion $140 per week, Kathy, 767-6595 or kathleen029@sympatico.ca. Bed frame for double bed, Barb, Ext. 52043, 821-7069 or barb@pr. uoguelph.ca. Hi-8 video camera recorder, dnoakes@uoguelph.ca. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in house/loft/basement for end of July, non-smokers, no pets, no park- ing required, up to $650 a month inclusive, shaymak@yahoo.com. People who like to gamble needed for short research study in the Depart- ment of Marketing and Consumer Studies, must be at least 25, will be paid $30, Ext. 52572. University of Montreal professor and family seeking three- or four-bedroom house for 12-month lease starting July 1, Ludovic, Ext. 54039 or anne-marie.monette@ cgocable.ca. Quiet, responsible graduate, work- ing full time, looking for place to live for July 1, willing to share with stu- dents or will take care of home while owner on sabbatical, 905-734-1341 or rlemme@uoguelph.ca. ClicloSIGNS Continuing to serve the / University of Guelph ", Visit and see our works at www.clicksigns.ca Level 1 University Centre Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag NORTH SAUBLE SANDS CAMPGROUND SAUBLE BEACH ( 519 ) 422-1033 www.northsaublesandscamp.com ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga ■ Musikgarten ■ Core French I Monthly Field Trips I Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Vi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, Ont. W' 836-3810 “Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Marla Montessori \\ ww.guclphmoiilcsso ri.com Eastern Newfoundland and St. Pierre & Miquelon Sept. 8 to 15, 2005 Fully Escorted by Royal City Travel \ - ■ Transportation - Guelph - Toronto - Return \ • Airfare Toronto/St John's return • Services of McCarthy's Party local Newfoundland Guide • Hotel accommodation with private bath and/or shower • Motor Coach transportation and baggage handling of one suitcase per person • Excursions to Cape Spear, Conception Bay and Brigus/Whale/Puffin Boat Tour (weather permitting) •Tour of Historic St. John's Entrance fees to National Historic Sites and Museums • Boat to St Pierre & Miquelon / Excursions to Trinity and Bonavista ■ Visit to the Ryan premises • Seven Breakfasts, Six Midday Meals and Three dinners $ 3295 per person based on Twin ★ Includes all taxes and GST ★ ROYAL CITY TRAVEL ROYAL PLAZA (Norfolk & Paisley) Guelph, ON 763-3520 www.royalcitytravel.com Some restrictions may apply. Call (or complete details. at Guelph 11 June i, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM Naturalist Chris Earley leads a work- shop on sketching nature June 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $20. Deadline for registration and pay- ment is June 3. Horticulturist Sean Fox will talk about trees and lead a walk through the Arboretum’s World of Trees col- lection June 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $20. Registration and payment are due June 7 at Ext. 52358. ART CENTRE Opening June 9 at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre is Paula Jean Cowan’s “bit,” an exhibition of ani- mated vignettes. It runs until July 10. NOTICES The Ontario Public Interest Research Group will hold its 26th annual Speed River Cleanup June 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (rain date is June 11). Volunteers are asked to meet at Royal City Park across from the Boathouse and to come equipped with old clothes and shoes, rubber boots or hip waders, gloves, a hat, sun protection, insect repellent, water and a mug. A free barbecue sponsored by RE/MAX will follow at McCrae House. On June 9, OP1RG hosts a community appreciation night at the Boathouse. For more details, call 824-2091 or send e-mail to opirg@uoguelph.ca. As part of Computing and Commu- nications Services’ ongoing efforts to improve the campus e-mail service, staff e-mail accounts will be con- verted to a new format June 5. As a result, e-mail service will be unavail- able for staff from midnight to 6 p.m. To prepare for this, staff are advised to consolidate their e-mail folders. For detailed information about e-mail conversion and consol- idation, visit the website www. uoguelph.ca/ccs/email/utilities/con- version or call the CCS Help Centre at Ext. 58888. McMaster University, Canada and the State University of Bangladesh are hosting an international confer- ence on the “Impact of Global Issues on Women and Children” Feb. 12 to 16, 2006, in Bangladesh. For more information, call McMaster at 905- 525-9140, Ext. 22456 or 27533; fax to 905-521-8834; send e-mail to ic2006@mcmaster.ca; or visit the website www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/slru/ lC2006/main.html. The last in a series of fundraising dinners in support of the annual Canadian Culinary Book Awards, which are sponsored by U of G and Cuisine Canada, runs June 9 at Liai- son College in Kitchener. Anita Stewart, recipient of the Culinary Activist Award and an award-win- ning cookbook author, will share some of her favourite Canadian reci- pes, which will be served. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. To order tickets, call Penny Bateson at Liaison Col- lege, 519-743-8335. “Agri-Food Innovation Forum 2005: Food, a Healthy Value Propo- sition” runs June 19 to 21 at the Hilton Hotel in Toronto. Research- ers, academics and executives will discuss the impact that food and agriculture have on human health. For more details, visit www. agrifoodforum.com. The Residence Environmental Awareness Program is recruiting volunteers for fall 2005. If you’re interested in helping the environ- ment and practising your communi- cation skills, call Ext. 58129 or send e-mail to recycle@pr.uoguelph.ca. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services is offer- ing hands-on WebCT workshops for first-time users this summer. Ses- sions run June 16 and July 5 and 28. To register, visit www.tss.uoguelph. ca/registration/index.cfm. If you have questions, call Mary Nairn at Ext. 53571. THESIS DEFENCE The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Trang Nguyen, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is June 3 at 9 a.m. in Animal Science and Nutri- tion 141. The thesis is “Metal Bind- ing by Biofilms From Dissimilatory Metal Reducing Bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.” The adviser is Prof. Terry Beveridge. Mfmia The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will hold a Walk to Cure Diabetes June 19 across Canada. The Guelph event begins at 9 a.m. at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. For information, visit www.jdrf.ca. The Jane Goodall Institute of Can- ada’s Roots & Shoots speaker series continues June 2 with Leah Lemieux presenting “Rethinking Marine Mammal Entertainment” at 7:30 p.m. at 122 Harris St. The Guelph Creative Arts Associa- tion presents its annual “Painting on the Green,” a show and sale of origi- nal art and crafts, June 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine) at the Delhi Recreation Cen- tre. The Guelph and District Multicul- tural Festival will be held June 17 to 19 at Riverside Park. For informa- tion, call 836-5314. A fundraising concert celebrating the roots of country music runs June 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the River Run Cen- tre, with all proceeds going to sup- port “The Weekend to End Breast Cancer.” Performers include Erynn Marshall and the Foggy Hogtown Boys. For tickets, call 763-3000. Barbershop singers from across Ontario attending an annual music education weekend in Guelph will present “Harmony on Parade II” June 4 at 8 p.m. at War Memorial Hall. Tickets will be available at the door. The Guelph Symphony Orchestra presents “Music in the Park,” featur- ing Peter Appleyard, June 19 at 3 p.m. at Exhibition Park’s Hastings Stadium. Tickets will be available at the gate. McCrae House is offering a history camp for children aged six to 10 July 18 to 22. This year’s theme is “Guelph Celebrations!” To register, call 836-1221. The Guelph Historical Society hosts a bus trip June 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will feature a guided tour of ghost towns and historical points of interest in the Fergus-Elora area. For details, call 767-9895. The Guelph International Resource Centre is selling rain barrels to con- serve water. Call 822-3110 or visit www.girc.org. The Guelph Food Bank at 100 Cri- mea St. is holding a series of garage sales and silent auctions throughout the spring and summer. This month, they’re slated to run June 3 and 4, 10 and 1 1 and 24 and 25. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Digging Up the Past Classics professor’s excavation in Jordan offers intriguing insights into Middle East history BY REBECCA KENDALL I N the DESERT in southern Jordan, a group of researchers is trying to piece together a puzzle that will bring years of investigation into a long-buried past into focus. One member of the team is Prof. Andrew Sherwood, Languages and Literatures, co- director of the Humayma Excavation Project based in Humayma, Jordan, who will spend the next seven weeks digging in the desert. The group is working at a site that was once home to the Nabataeans, a group whose king was trying to urbanize some of the nomadic tribes sometime between 130 and 80 BC. The Nabataeans were traders who transported goods from the east to the Mediterranean. “They were middlemen who had extensive caravan routes,” says Sherwood. The spot where the researchers are working along the King’s Highway, a major route of commerce, was selected by the Nabataeans as a stopping post for travellers. A water supply was needed to make this viable. A low-level aque- duct accomplished this by bringing water in from 30 kilometres away. Subsequent develop- ment of cisterns in the area resulted in an in- crease in population, and the region began to urbanize and develop. By determining the level of water supply and calculating that against several estimates of water consumption in desert conditions, the team has been able to determine the site’s population. “Based on our calculations over the past three years, we think there was a com- munity of between 600 and 800,” says Sherwood. Last year, they continued excavating bits and pieces of a Roman fort that has been the fo- cus of the excavation since 2000. Dating to about 1 10 to 117 AD, the fort is the largest in southern Jordan. Sherwood says that, although the fort’s presence changes the dynamics of the area, he and his colleagues are still not certain of its function. It wasn’t simply a matter of safe- guarding the region against masses of enemy forces, he says. "This is far enough south in the frontier sys- tem that no major armies were going to be marching through here. But a fort is meant to withstand a siege. What were the Romans do- ing? It makes little sense as a traditional strat- egy-” The site was part of the Roman Empire, and Sherwood says building forts was a common strategy on the frontiers. The fort’s looming presence in the southern desert may have served more as a deterrent to potential invad- ers or may simply have been a symbol of ad- ministration, he says. “It may be a stamp of authority notifying people that the Romans are here and they’re in control. It’s rather expensive, but this area re- mained peaceful for several hundred years.” The population had already grown by 20 to 25 per cent by the beginning of the second cen- tury, when the fort was built, says Sherwood. With continuous peace came increased trade, freedom of travel and interplay among com- munities, he says. There is evidence that many international traders, including those from It- aly, Syria, France and Egypt, sold their wares here. Last year, through geophysics surveys (magnetometer, resistivity and ground-pene- trating radar imaging), the team discovered what are believed to be defensive ditches around the fort, designed to halt enemy forces. Such ditches are common around Roman forts in Europe. “Until that was found, no one had ever thought of looking for them in the Middle East,” says Sherwood. “There are a number of forts in the Middle East, and this discovery might cause others to look to see if this tech- nology was transported from Europe.” Once again, this may be the simple transfer- ence of an established military technology to an area that doesn’t need it, he says. The 2‘/2-metre ditches are intended to slow massed attacks against the walls of the fort, not to fend off a few desert raiders. The geophysics surveys also helped the re- searchers discover potential kiln sites west of the city. If the kilns are verified, it means there was pottery production at Humayma that sup- plied certain types of pottery throughout the country. The team has also discovered a paved entryway that leads to a shrine that may be some sort of religious structure. “It’s so complex,” says Sherwood. “We can’t quite figure out what it is.” When he gets to Jordan next week, he will work in the commander’s house and in a Ro- man latrine. The latrine, which functioned with running water, a valuable commodity at the site, is of special interest because it was found during the final days of excavation last year and is expected to provide more clues into the history of the site. “One of the ironies of excavation is that you usually find something totally unexpected in the last week,” he says. Although the team attempts to complete excavation of every feature discovered in a sea- son, hurrying too much can cause evidence to be damaged, he adds. Further investigation of the latrine has the potential to provide more clues about the importation of western and Roman technologies and cultural ideals at Humayma. Sherwood, who works in Jordan through the American Center of Oriental Research, says study of ancient sites like this helps modern so- ciety learn how culture has developed. “A lot of our concepts like beauty are con- cepts the Greeks and Romans came to define. There are real changes in our cultural minds that have come down to the modern period, and the study of history is about learning who we are and why we are the way we are.” At Guelph 13 June 1,2005 at GUELPH JUNE 15, 2005 • VOL, 49 NO. 12 . WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: SSHRC SUPPORTS DIVERSE RESEARCH PROJECTS • ENTER STAGE LEFT, EXIT AT U OF G MA student Nicole Goodman, left, and Profs. Franceso Leri and Joan Flaherty are this year’s recipients of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences Teaching Awards. photo by martin schwalbe ‘Long May They Educate and Inspire’ CSAHS honours two profs , grad student for teaching excellence BY REBECCA KENDALL T hree outstanding U of G educators have been recognized with College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) Teaching Awards. Profs. Francesco Leri, Psychol- ogy, and Joan Flaherty, Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), were selected by the college teaching awards committee for their dedica- tion to teaching and effective in- struction. Political science MA candidate Nicole Goodman is the re- cipient of the Graduate Student Teaching Award. "I was delighted to receive the recommendations of the commit- tee,” says CSAHS dean Alun Joseph. “As faculty, Flaherty and Leri repre- sent the various paths to teaching ex- cellence that exist in the college, and Goodman exemplifies the enthusi- asm and professionalism that gradu- ate students bring to their teaching responsibilities." The winners will receive their awards this fall at the annual CSAHS awards night. “I’m really pleased that we have this opportunity to recognize the achievements of three colleagues,” says Joseph. “Long may they educate and inspire.” Leri joined the faculty of U of G three years ago. His research has fo- cused on poly-drug addiction and relapse, and he has taught courses on the principles of learning, learning and physiology, and research methods. Leri says he’s “delighted” to re- ceive the award and believes that much of his teaching achievement can be attributed to the quality of undergraduate students at U of G, who seek and appreciate intense aca- demic stimulation. “My deepest gratitude goes to those students who were trained in my laboratory," he says. “Their pas- sion for research has greatly contrib- uted to my development as a teacher and a scientist." Prof. Serge Desmarais, Psychol- ogy, who chaired the awards com- mittee, says Leri impresses his colleagues with the quality of his teaching, his responsiveness to stu- dents and his dedication to the teaching component of his career. “He is an outstanding researcher with several grants and an impres- sive publication record,” says Desmarais, “and we were impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm shown in combining the teaching and research aspects of his academic career." Economics professor David Prescott and Prof. Julia Christensen- Hughes, director of Teaching Support Services, also served on the selection committee. Flaherty has taught a range of courses, including hospitality and tourism business communications and management communications. Before joining the HTM faculty in 1995, she taught English at U of G. Much of her research has been dedi- I cated to instructional development j and teaching issues as they pertain to adult education. She has also worked j in the private sector as an editor and training facilitator. “Joan is a highly deserving in- structor,” says Desmarais. “She has been commended for her dedication j not only by many of her students but also by many of her colleagues.” He says the committee was im- ; pressed by her extensive involve- j ment in teaching, her commitment j to and rapport with students, and j the energy she devotes to teach- ing-related endeavours, including her role as co-ordinator of the HTM writing advisory service for MBA students. “She is the sole instructor for j more dian 175 undergraduates, 25 j residential MBAs and 30 eMBA stu- dents,” says HTM director Marion ! Joppe, who nominated Flaherty. “Although every one of these co- horts provides very different chal- lenges and maturity levels, she adapts to each of their styles and needs, as reflected in her excellent student evaluations." Goodman was nominated for her Continued on page 10 I Guelph Grads Return to Campus in Einstein’s Year Everyday physics talk to kick off Alumni Weekend space, time and matter. The 7 p.m. | lecture is free and open to everyone, j but tickets are required. To reserve, j call Ext. 53965. “Looking Back, Moving For- ^ ward” is also relevant to the tradi- j tional highlights of Alumni J Weekend: class reunions and the | presentation of the U of G Alumni Association (UGAA) Awards of Excellence. Two dozen reunion events are ! planned from June 24 to 26, in addi- j tion to the special gold and silver an- 1 ni versaries for graduates of 1 955 and I 1 980. The alumni awards will be pre- j sented Saturday at the traditional President’s Lunch. This year’s recip- I ien ts are M ary Coyle, a 1 978 BA and i 1985 MA graduate (Alumna of Hon- our); 1984 MFA graduate David Ur- ban (Alumni Medal of Achievement); and 2003 honorary degree recipient Prof. Sandy Warley (Alumni Volunteer Award). In addition, the OVC Alumni Association will present its OVC Continued on page 10 BY MARY DICKIESON A lumni Weekend borrows its “Looking Back, Moving Forward” theme from president Alastair Summerlee’s 2005 President’s Report, but it’s also an appropriate title for the weekend’s keynote lecture honouring Albert Einstein. In this International Year of Physics, we’re looking back at Ein- stein’s contributions to science. At a Perimeter Institute lecture June 24, we’ll be moving forward with one of today’s foremost think tanks in the- oretical physics. Perimeter scientist and University of Waterloo math professor Rob Myers will be the I guest speaker. Launched only four years ago, the Perimeter Institute research fa- cility is already well-known for its lecture series, which promotes un- derstanding of physics in everyday life. Talks are geared to a general au- dience, and Myers will offer an en- tertaining presentation style while using numbers to help describe U of G to Welcome Biologists From Around the World Holub to receive award, give public talk on heart health BY ANDREW VOWLES H ealth, lifestyle and disease prevention will be the main topic for biologists from Canada and abroad gathering on campus this month for the annual meeting and conference of the Canadian Feder- ation of Biological Societies (CFBS). Almost 400 people from universi- ties and research centres, govern- ment and industry — including some 50 U of G researchers — are ex- pected to attend the international gathering to discuss “Lifestyle and Molecular Bases of Health and Dis- ease: Cardiovascular Health, Diabe- tes, Exercise, Nutrition and Obesity.” The meeting runs June 21 to 24. The gathering is an attempt to bring people in different disciplines together to discuss current hot top- ics in human health, says Prof. Arend Bonen, Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences (HBNS), who holds the Canada Research Chair in Metabolism and Health. Bonen is co-organizer of this year’s confer- ence with Prof. Janis Randall Simpson, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition (FRAN). The conference will feature dis- cussions led by experts in such top- j ics as lifestyles and heart health, i eating and exercise, nutrition and | metabolism, obesity and type -2 dia- l betes, and nutrigenomics, or how diet affects gene expression. Retired HBNS professor Bruce Holub will receive the Gordin Continued on page 10 ! at Guelph i June 15 , 2005 Pianos* books* lessons & mote! 836.8492 2 18-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Ont. N1E5R1 fax:519-836.9474 lesson line: 51 9. 71 6.4792 Now Open Pizza Royal The Best Pizza in Town 10 Paisley Road, Guelph Free Delivery! (519) 836-3652 (est. 1978) ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga ■ Musikgarten ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Vi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, Ont. u Within the Child Lies 836-3810 the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Marta Montessori \\ w w .giii'lplinioiitcssori.coiii It's time to renovate! Kitchen . . . Bathroom . . . Family Room Select WNllJN LUMIiEK The How-To People. from the president Past Year Brings Unexpected Losses, Challenges, Triumphs Editor’s note: Prof. Alastair Summerlee welcomes com- ments on his column at president@uoguelph.ca. A t the start of each school year, I always remind myself to expect the unexpected. It might seem like an unnecessary caution for someone in academia. After all, people who work at a university tend to do many of the same things year after year: i teach, research, serve, learn and lead. Even the “new” things we encounter have a comforting predictability to them — new students and colleagues, new courses, ! even new challenges. Yet I always heed my reminder. I suppose my think- ing is that, if I plan on something totally unexpected happening, then when it does, it won’t really be a sur- j prise. Somehow, it makes handling unanticipated problems and crises easier. My method has worked fairly well until this year. No amount of warning could have prepared me for some of the events of the past six months or for their aftermath. Foremost in my mind is the unimaginable earthquake and tsunami that claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused unbearable grief, suffering and turmoil around the globe. We are a university — and a world — still in mourning. Closer to home, we lost some of our students, fac- ulty, staff, alumni and good friends to illness and acci- dents this year, and we are grieving their loss. On a different and much smaller scale, the Univer- sity encountered numerous budgetary challenges and unanticipated expensive problems with our aging infra- structure. The result was a funding shortfall that was even larger than last year’s. We had to make extremely difficult decisions across campus to reduce costs to bal- ance the budget, including saying goodbye to numer- ous colleagues through early retirement, resignations ■ and position redundancies. Our challenges with budget j constraints were trivial compared with the devastation of the tsunami and loss of close friends and colleagues, ! but it was a painful process nonetheless. Despite or even because of these traumatic and un- expected events, it was important to focus on the many positive things — and even triumphs — that have hap- pened this year. Many of them were also unexpected but warmly welcomed. U of G once again surpassed its goal and raised $340,000 for the United Way. Our students raised $32,000 for cancer relief and more than $21,000 for lo- cal food banks, claiming a national record. Our entire University community also paid tribute to tsunami vic- tims and held numerous events to raise funds and awareness. Three of our senior faculty received the prestigious Order of Canada, a professor claimed Canada’s premier prize for literary excellence and another was nominated for a Genie Award. We had a chemist admitted to the Royal Society of Canada and a physicist awarded the Canadian Association of Physicists’ Herzberg Medal. We also had numerous faculty receive outstanding fi- nancial support for their innovative research. Among the academic honours bestowed on our stu- dents were a Fulbright Fellowship, two Commonwealth Scholarships and a Gates Scholarship. Our student ath- letes also excelled, including our women’s basketball team, which won the provincial championship and went to the nationals for the first time in 24 years, and our men’s and women’s cross-country teams, which earned national silver medals. One of our students earned international recognition for both athletic and acting abilities by co-starring in a Disney movie about ice skating. Seven of the Guelph YMCA- YWCA’s eight Women of Distinction Awards this year went to members of the U of G community — staff, faculty, a student and a graduate — and we also had a staff member who was named a national ambassador for spinal cord research. U of G opened Phase 1 of the science complex and a new multi-million-dollar magnetic resonance imaging facility at OVC. We celebrated 25 years of women’s studies and the 100th anniversary of Macdonald Hall. And Guelph received accolades in national surveys for its research, campus atmosphere, overall quality, public accountability and, perhaps most important, its reputa- tion based on the opinion of its graduates. This year also saw the completion of the Rae report on post-secondary education, which was accompanied by overwhelming support and advocacy efforts from our faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Our Presidential Task Force on Accessibility to University Education also released a groundbreaking report, and many of its recommendations ended up being included in the provincial budget and the Rae review. We also continued to see tireless dedication, com- mitment and service from our staff and faculty. This year, 40 of our employees are celebrating 25-year anni- versaries, 54 are marking 30 years of service, 1 6 have reached the 35-year point and two have reached 40 years of service — milestones we will celebrate at the annual President’s Breakfast in September. It is both humbling and inspiring. But I am not surprised. As I have said many times before, it is the people who give this university its strength and spirit. And when it comes to the dedica- tion and accomplishments of our students, staff and faculty, I would have expected nothing less. 55 Dawson Road GUELPH 821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road ELORA 846-5381 jgp Tf- GOURMET MARKET Fresh from our kitchen . . . SUMMER SUPPER SOLUTIONS ■ Lean Turkey Sausage • gartlt • Italian • honey - garlic CHILLED SUMMER SOUPS • Aprlcot-Ume • Cucumber Buttermilk " Fast food goes gourmet " Mon-Wed 9-7 Thurs.-Fri. 9-8 Sat. 9-6 Sun. Closed GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortrlght just off the Hanlon Kortrlght Plaza 763-2284 JT In Memoriam J. Archibald McIntyre Retired professor Archie McIntyre, founding chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, died May 20 at age 87. A graduate of the University of West- ern Ontario and University of Toronto, he taught at both universities before joining U of G as head of social sciences in 1965. He was charged with organizing the social science departments in Wellington College and recruiting faculty and department heads. Prof. McIntyre went on to serve as chair of the De- partment of Sociology and Anthropology from 1966 to 1969 and from 1971 to 1973. He retired from the Uni- versity in 1983. He is survived by his wife, Connie; his children, Andy, Peter and Barbara; his grandchildren, Scott, Stu- art and Tomas; and a great-granddaughter, Serine. Helen Abell Honorary degree recipient Helen Abell died April 2 at the age of 88. A 1938 graduate of the Macdonald Insti- tute, she was the first woman in Canada to earn a doc- torate in rural sociology and one of the first female pro- fessors at the Ontario Agricultural College. She taught extension education at OAC in the 1960s and early 1970s. U of G awarded her an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1993. Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca P- ' £ Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@excc.uoguclph.ca Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifference@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@excc.uoguclph.ca At Guelph is published ever)' two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Le\’el4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG2WI. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 iunv. {muclph.ca/adgu ide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 Website: Svwiv.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $22 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 UNIVERSITY /GUELPH at Guelph 2 June 15, 2005 news in bri ef 25-YEAR service to be HONOURED SEPT. 8 U of G will honour faculty and staff who have completed 25 years of service Sept. 8 at the third annual Community Breakfast hosted by president Alastair Summerlee. It runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Gryphon Dome. A general invita- tion to the breakfast will be issued to all faculty and staff in August. PUBLICATIONS RECOGNIZED Two U of G publications received recognition at the recent confer- ence of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education in Banff. The President’s Report received a silver medal for best institutional annual report, and the U of G campaign report received a bronze for best donor or volunteer recognition program. Key to the production of these reports were the President’s Office, Communi- cations and Public Affairs, and Alumni Affairs and Development. STUDENT-ATHLETES ARE TOPS The Department of Athletics boasts 68 Academic All-Canadians for 2004/2005. Academic All-Canadi- ans are athletes who compete in a varsity sport at the national level while maintaining a cumulative academic average of at least 80 per cent during the school year. HBNS MARKS 10 YEARS It’s been 10 years since the former School of Human Biology and Department of Nutritional Sciences merged to form the Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences. Members of the depart- ment will celebrate that anniversary June 28 beginning with a tree-plant- ing ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Animal Science and Nutrition Building. The after- noon will also feature a departmen- tal softball game and potluck dinner at the Boathouse. NATIONAL KUDOS FOR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM The Office of Open Learning and Equine Guelph have received a National Award of Excellence from the Canadian Association of Uni- versity Continuing Education for their equine science certificate pro- gram, an online program for the horse industry. The award recog- nizes excellence in university con- tinuing education programs and the concept of scholarship of prac- tice inherent in the program devel- opment process. INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS FORM NATIONAL ASSOCIATION A newly created organization called the International Educators Associ- ation of Canada will serve practitio- ners in international education through networking, training, com- munication and research activities, and will provide leadership to enhance the quality of the profes- sion in Canada. Lynne Mitchell of the Centre for International Pro- grams is treasurer of the organiza- tion, which is based at U of G and is holding its first conference and gen- eral meeting this week at Queen’s University. For more information, visit www.ieac.ca. Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences Get Federal Funds SSHRC supports diverse range of research atUofG R esearch in the arts, human- ities and social sciences at Guelph has received a $ 1.4-million boost from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). SSHRC announced June 3 that it’s investing nearly $82 million in research projects at 77 universities and colleges. U of G’s share is for 18 projects involving 20 faculty. Topics range from Shakespeare to trust and confidence in the court system. “I’m delighted and humbled to have received such substantial sup- port from SSHRC,” says Prof. Daniel Fischlin, English and Theatre Stud- ies. "The extensive peer-review pro- cess and general high quality of ap- plications make this award an espe- cially valued recognition by peers.” He received $163,039 to support his Canadian Adaptations of Shake- speare Project, which explores and documents how Shakespeare’s work has been adapted into national, multicultural theatrical practice. The award will allow Fischlin to further disseminate rare archival materials to an international audience. Prof. Heather Keller, Family Re- lations and Applied Nutrition, re- ceived $158,918 to investigate changes in the meaning and percep- tion of “eating together” for families who experience dementia. “The SSHRC funding will allow me to explore in depth the social context of mealtime and eating be- haviours for these seniors,” says Keller, who will work with research- ers at McMaster University and the University of Waterloo. “This is a new collaboration for me and brings together nutrition, nursing and rec- reation therapy researchers who are interested in dementia.” Other faculty who received SSHRC funding are: • Prof. Scott Colwell, Marketing and Consumer Studies, $64,764 to study key supplier continual qual- ity improvement; • Prof. Mary Cyr, Fine Art and Mu- sic, $26,523 for research on Elisa- beth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre’s contribution to the so- nata in France; • Prof. Don Dedrick, Philosophy, $59,759 to study colour-naming research and its mul- tidisciplinary context; • Profs. Ben Gottlieb, Psychology, and Scott Maitland, Family Rela- tions and Applied Nutrition, $44,604 for a prospective study of older adult volunteers; • Prof. Alice Hovorka, Geography, $89,701 to research gendered ur- banization in Botswana; • University professor emeritus Doug Killam, English and Theatre Studies, $43,532 for an encyclope- dia of African literature in English; • Prof. Leon Kuczynski, Family Re- lations and Applied Nutrition, $110,391 to study socialization in middle childhood and adoles- cence; Prof. Barbara Morrongiello, Psy- chology, $108,192 to advance un- derstanding of unintentional home injuries in young children; Prof. Stuart McCook, History, $49,750 for a global history of cof- fee rust; Prof. Ian Newby-Clark, Psychol- ogy, $97,600 to study the role of psychological defence; Prof. Karen Racine, History, $69,000 for research on patriotic civic culture and Spanish-Ameri- can identity; University professors emeritae Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston, English and Theatre Studies, $44,549 for a critical edi- tion of Anne of Green Gables; Prof. Frans Schryer, Sociology and Anthropology, $40,324 to study the impact of globalization on the Nahuas of the Alto Balsas in Mex- ico; Prof. Jane Sprott, Sociology and Anthropology, $41,240 to re- search young offenders and trust and confidence in the courts; Prof. Thanasis Stengos, Econom- ics, $51,500 to develop informa- tion-theoretic distribution meth- ods; and Prof. Rene Veron, Geography, $121,959 to research globaliza- tion, reform and livelihoods in India. Dixon Heads National Advisory Committee on Space Exploration P rof. Mike Dixon, chair of the Department of Environmental Biology, has been named chair of the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) Space Exploration Advisory Com- mittee. His three-year post begins immediately. “The potential for more excep- tional Canadian contributions to the exploration of space is greater than ever, and I am very excited to partici- pate in this role with our national agency,” says Dixon. David Kendall, director general of the CSA’s space science program, says Dixon is “extremely well-posi- tioned to lead this committee by vir- tue of his excellent scientific reputation, his extensive experience in working with the Canadian space exploration community, and his effi- ciency and effectiveness at develop- ing ideas and building consensus.” The CSA’s space science branch is supported by six advisory commit- tees. The committee Dixon chairs is the primary forum for advising the CSA’s planetary exploration pro- gram on future directions. “With the current international interest in this field, especially with respect to the ambitious plans to re- turn to the moon and explore Mars with an increasingly sophisticated suite of robotic instruments, how Canada will be placed in this exciting venture is of utmost importance,” says Kendall. Dixon is the director of U of G’s Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility. In 2001, he was awarded a fellowship by the National Research Council and NASA and worked at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Chamber Honours Summerlee P RESIDENT Alastair Summerlee was honoured last week at the sixth annual Guelph Awards of Excellence, which recognize leadership, service and dedication by local citizens. He received one of four Mayor’s Awards for his philanthropic, educa- tional, cultural and community endeavours. These include being a past board chair of St. John’s- Kilmamock School, helping to guide the University’s United Way cam- paign and, most recently, chairing the Loretto Convent Task Force. OAC graduate and U of G Hon- orary Fellow Norris Hoag, former assistant deputy minister of the On- tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, received the Guelph Partner- ship for Innovation Award of Excel- lence. He was recognized for starting the Guelph Partnership for Innova- tion, which fosters the development of the agri-food and life sciences sec- tors in Guelph. Another Guelph graduate, Mi- chael Dodgson, who owns ReviveSolutions.com, received the Guelph Chamber of Commerce New Member of the Year Award. The Workplace Education Award sponsored by U of G’s Faculty of Management was presented to Crompton Co./Cie Research Labo- ratories. The annual awards are sponsored by the Guelph Chamber of Com- merce and its partners. people ENGINEER ELECTED FELLOW Prof. Bob Dony, Engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the Institu- tion of Electrical Engineers, the largest professional engineering society in Europe. This distinction is awarded to members who have demonstrated individual responsi- bility, achievement and exceptional professionalism during their career. BOOK WINS NATIONAL AWARD Prof. John Russon, Philosophy, has received the Broadview Press/Cana- dian Philosophical Association’s 2005 Book Prize for Human Experi- ence: Philosophy, Neurosis and the Elemetits of Everyday Life. Published in 2003, the book investigates the formation of personality through family and social experience. SENEGAL HOSTS WORKSHOP Prof. Helen Hambly Odame, Envi- ronmental Design and Rural Devel- opment, travelled to Senegal this month to participate in a learning workshop as part of the U of G action research project “Linking Agricultural Research and Rural Radio in Africa." The workshop was sponsored by the OPEC Fund for International Development. SUMMERLEE GIVES KEYNOTE President Alastair Summerlee was a keynote speaker at the annual con- ference of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in Charlottetown. He also led some of the conference sessions, as did College of Arts dean Jacqueline Murray; Prof. Julia Christensen- Hughes, director of Teaching Sup- port Services ; Prof. Lori J ones , Chemistry; and Prof. Rick Bates, Agricultural Economics and Business. TAIWAN FUNDS STUDIES International development student Jennifer Germann has received one of three one-year language scholar- ships from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Canada. The awards were established to encour- age students from Canada to pursue studies in Taiwan and to promote educational and academic relation- ships between universities in the two countries. Germann will begin an intensive Mandarin language program in Taiwan this September. WINNING COMMUNICATIONS U of G students captured awards at the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow convention in Texas. Kate Roberts received an Award of Excellence in die publications divi- sion and captured first prize for magazines and for brochures and pamphlets. Top awards for writing went to Kim Waalderbos and Beth Kent and for video production to Jeanine Wallace and Heather Scott. Work by Courtney Denard and Kyle Maw was also recognized. MUSICAL TO BE STAGED Stratford Summer Music will pres- ent The Importance of Being Earnest: A Musical Comedy for Serious People by Victor Davies and University professor emeritus Eugene Benson, English and Theatre Studies, Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Stratford City Hall Auditorium. Admission is free. at Guelph 3 June 15, 2005 Carole Daoust. far right, of GE Healthcare Canada, demonstrates the 3-D capabilities of the Small-Animal Clinic’s new ultrasound equipment to Prof. Mike O’Grady, Clinical Studres, with help from a ^ R h “ Doberman pinscher, Austin. Getting to the Heart of the M atter New OVC equipment will help diagnose and research a variety of heart problems BY BARRY GUNN, OVC T he Small-Animal Clinic at the Ontario Veterinary College is on the leading edge of medical imaging and diagnostic capability thanks to new equipment purchased through the Pet Trust Fund. Two new echocardiographic ul- trasound units, one of which has 3-D capabilities, as well as a computer workstation, will help diagnose and research a variety of heart problems in patients ranging from dogs and cats to horses. “The equipment can be used for any kind of heart problem on any kind of animal,” says Prof. Mike O’Grady, Clinical Studies. OVC’s veterinary hospital is the first in North America, and one of the first hospitals of any kind in Can- ada, to have 3-D ultrasound equip- ment. Pet Trust raised about $400,000 through its annual special project to buy the new equipment. The 3-D innovation is so new that it will take time to prove the full potential of the technology, says O’Grady. In fact, there are few peo- ple who can provide the training necessary to use it A specialist from GE Healthcare Canada visited OVC for staff training sessions in May. “The easy answer is, we don’t know yet what it will do for us,” he says. “But history says all the previ- ous enhancements in the world of ultrasound technology have proven to be exceptionally important. We are in a glorious position to have had an opportunity to purchase these machines.” Like die name suggests, ultra- sound uses echoes of high-frequency sound waves to create images of structures and tissues in the body. In conventional scanning, the ultra- sound image is made up of a series of thin slices of data, but only one slice can be viewed at a time. The 3-D function can rotate the image 360 degrees and in multiple planes, al- lowing doctors to view and describe anomalies in greater detail than ever before. But the 3-D capability is only a small part of the value of the new equipment, says O’Grady. Because the machines collect data digitally, patient information is eas- ier to store and retrieve than with older systems that use videotape. With the separate workstation, clini- cians can finish their analyses on the computer while someone else uses the machine for another scan. Mea- surements can be taken after the fact, images can be manipulated using colour to look for particular infor- mation, and researchers can carry out retrospective studies using data collected through previous scans. Fi- nally, the information is portable; it can be easily shared with or sent to students and colleagues or used in presentations and lecture notes. “It gives you so much versatility,” says O’Grady. “In day-to-day use, this is a massive improvement from where we were before.” The Small-Animal Clinic now boasts three cardiologists, and the new equipment is needed to accom- modate growing demand and staff research activities, he says. The clinic does 25 to 30 ultrasound exams per week, with dogs making up about 80 per cent of the total. O’Grady says it’s all about em- powering owners, providing them with the best available information to make life-and-death decisions for their animal. “When they’re weighing those things, the more input I can give them in terms of how bad the abnor- mality is and how life-threatening it is, then perhaps they can better de- cide to what extent they want to en- gage in a risky procedure such as surgery. I’m often faced with people who are prepared to take huge risks because they’re faced with a terrible outcome if they don’t take the risk.” RAINBOW DAY CAMP SUMMER FUN FOR EVERYONE! Memorable, best-loved day camp activities for children and youth aged 5-14 years. JULY & AUGUST — EAST RESIDENCE Children’s Camp Sessions LIT 2 LIT 3 LIT 4 $150/sesslon July 4-8 July 11-15 July 18-22 July 25-29 Augusi 2-12* (9 day) August 15-19 / August 22-26 LIT (Leaders-ln-Tralnlng) Camp Sessions LIT 1 July 4-1 5 (ft July 16-29 August 2-1 2’ |9 days) S300/sesslon August 1 5-26 Call 837-0387 or visit us at www.ralnbowdaycamp.com The Winner Is . . . E leven people correctly reported that the photo in At Guelph’s June 1 “Where Are You Now?” column was taken in the Crop Science Building. They are Dietman Scholz, Tom Smith, Jenny Van de Kamer, Sandra Campbell, Paul Casey, Matt Vuk, Tara Signorelli, Francois Tardif, Wayne Aitken, Mike Peppard and Weidong Liu. The names of everyone who has correctly identified the photos published since January were entered in a draw for a $50 gift certificate provided by the U of G Bookstore. The winner is Judy O’Donnell of Human Resources. Sri Lanka Visit Overwhelming for OAC Prof Rural extensi on studies professor visits his homeland as part of delegation from WUSC and other universities BY ANDREW VOWLES I T HAD BEEN FOUR MONTHS since the Dec. 26 tsunami devastated parts of his homeland. But observing rebuilding efforts this spring in Sri Lanka’s wave-ravaged coastal region, Prof. Jana Janakiram, Rural Extension Studies, still felt himself overwhelmed at times. Janakiram visited the country in late April and early May as U of G’s delegate on a tour arranged by World University Service of Canada (WUSC). His group, including rep- resentatives from WUSC and four other universities — Waterloo, Manitoba, Queen’s and Trent — travelled through some of the worst-affected areas of Sri Lanka’s southern and eastern coast, where the tsunami had killed tens of thou- sands of people and left many more homeless. The group had already seen the aftermath of the deadly waves, from damaged buildings and boats still grounded ashore to people living in numerous temporary shelters. Still, Janakiram was left speechless and teary-eyed after meeting one man who, contravening official warnings, had pitched his family’s tent be- tween the road and the sea and refused to move. “For me, it was very emotional — it was like seeing my own brother or sister in trouble,” says Janakiram, whose relatives living in the capital of Colombo were unaffected by the tragedy. Four months after the tsunami, roads and railroads on the Sri Lan- kan coast are again passable, build- ings are under repair and small businesses are being resurrected, he says. The WUSC group met in Co- lombo with government officials and representatives of non-govem- mental organizations and aid groups before embarking on a six-day coastal tour. “WUSC is really on the ground — it’s a respected organization,” says Janakiram. “Because of them, a number of doors were opened to He also met Wijewickrama Abeydeera, a U of G rural studies graduate who now heads the Sri Lanka Centre for Development Fa- cilitation (SLCDF). Through its net- work of about 3,300 community groups and about 300 NGOs in the country, the organization has been involved in reconstruction and relief efforts since the tsunami hit and is one of several that has dispensed re- lief funds raised in Guelph since the disaster. “The SLCDF has been amazing,” says Jessica Paterson, a master’s stu- dent in rural planning and develop- ment, who by early June had helped raise almost $8,000, about $6,000 of which went to the SLCDF. “Almost every dollar that’s been raised they’ve given directly to the people in need.” Paterson also sent $500 to women’s groups in southern Sri Lanka for a revolving loan fund used by people in two fishing villages where she had worked with an inter- national development organization four years ago. And she sent $1,000 to the extended family she lived with during that trip, who lost their fish- ing boats to the tsunami. “They’re amazing people,” she says. “They’re frustrated at having to rely on the government for so much, mostly for food. Because they’ve lost their main source of income, they can’t provide for themselves. They just want to get back on the water. I think that’s a general feeling; they want to get back to some kind of life.” That’s a sentiment shared by Janakiram, who says the high point of his trip was observing people’s dignity in the face of tragedy and their resolve to help themselves. “They are coping; they are doing what they have to do.” The low point was the sheer ex- tent of the tsunami’s destruction, in- cluding the loss of entire areas of the coast, he says. Now back in Canada, members of his fact-finding group hope to ob- tain federal funding for an environ- mental management project to help restore the coastal environment and develop sustainable livelihoods for people. They’re discussing other possible development projects; aca- demic exchanges, training and cur- riculum development with members of universities in Batticaloa, Ampara and Ruhuna; and partnerships with WUSC and non-governmental organizations. “I hope to see organizations helping individuals and people able to help themselves,” says Janakiram. Now writing a report on the trip for U of G administrators, he plans to talk about his experiences at a public lecture. The trip was an eye-opener for Janakiram, whose distance educa- tion projects in agriculture, rural de- velopment and community development have taken him to such destinations as Cameroon, India, Egypt and Russia. He had left Sri Lanka about 40 years ago for study and work abroad. Even during re- turn visits, including a trip to see rel- atives in February, he hadn’t ventured much beyond the capital. In a sense, he returned this time as much a student as a professor. “I thought I knew my country. I didn’t. My eyes were opened to a dif- ferent perspective." at Guelph 4 June 15, 2005 for, ns U of G Convocation Clerk Is Organized to the Nth Degree BY ANDREW VOWLES S UE DESAUTELS has been on duty at every convocation ceremony held at U of G during the past 10 years. But she’s never actually seen any of those tens of thousands of students walk across the stage. Once again this week, during Guelph’s largest seasonal send-off, Desautels will be playing her crucial role out of sight of the main event. It’s her backstage job to prepare what she calls the “parade” of gown-bedecked graduands to cross the Gryphon Dome plat- form for a turn to shake the chancellor’s hand and receive their ticket to the future. “A to Z logistics captain” might be a suit- able moniker for the post she’s held for the past decade. Officially, she’s Guelph’s convocation clerk, but unofficially, the job attracts other la- bels. Laughing across her desk in the Office of Registrarial Services, Desautels says: “Some people refer to it as complication clerk. I say that, too.” Visit her about 10 days before the begin- ning of convocation week and you might call her envelope stuffer extraordinaire. On one recent morning, her desktop is nearly invisible under neat piles of materials needed to assemble degree packages, including cardboard backing, acetate and degree folders. Front and centre is a perfect stack of cream-coloured degree parchments, lined up — like surrogates for their recipients a few days hence — by degree and surname. She tucks each assembled package into an over- sized white envelope whose printed label matches the name on the degree, then places it in one of the white plastic bins on the floor of her office. It’s a routine she and colleague clerk Fran- ces Determann will repeat for almost 2,300 un- dergraduates in the three weeks preceding summer convocation (graduate degrees are prepared by Ruth Switzer of Graduate Pro- gram Services). With a full week to go, Desautels has begun filling her ninth bin; seven more occupy her colleague’s neighbouring cu- bicle. They’re about halfway through the mas- ter list, a list that has grown during her decade in the job. Ten years ago, summer convocation graduands numbered about 1,500. This week’s ceremonies culminate a pro- cess that began about four months ago — Feb. 11, to be exact — with the deadline for stu- dents’ graduation applications. Desautels’ of- fice shares the applications with program counsellors across campus to determine who’s eligible to graduate. By the final clearance date May 20, all candidates will have been checked and rechecked. She e-mails the master list of names to a Stratford printing company that produces the degree parchments. After stuffing the envelopes, she cross-ref- erences the packages against the convocation programs (produced by M&T Printing in the University Centre). She also checks sanction lists of students with outstanding fees such as library fines that must be paid before graduation. Despite all that paper and all those names, Desautels says errors are rare. Parchments with spelling mistakes can be reprinted before the ceremony (students are required to proofread their information when they apply). Not once in the past 10 years has a graduate come away from the ceremony without a parchment, she says. With every package lined up in its correct bin, the containers are secured in the regis- trar’s office. During convocation week, they’re delivered to the Gryphon Dome for each day s ceremony. Also delivered to the dome each day are the graduands themselves, but not before a visit to Desautels and her wardrobe crew in the west gym in the Athletics Centre. That’s where everyone reports to be fitted for gowns (U of G owns about 600 gowns, sizes small to XXXL) and to receive their marching orders for the day’s parades. One year, gowning took place in one of the arenas be- cause of the numbers, but that probably won't happen again. “The ice melted. It wasn t pretty.” For Desautels and the 1 4 or so people work- ing with her — including temporary staff hired for the event and volunteers from pertinent ac- ademic departments — convocation days are typically 10-hour hauls beginning at 7:30 a.m. Once gowning is complete and the graduands are parading to the Gryphon Dome and shortly before the platform guests are piped in — she takes up her post behind the stage to prepare for handing out the degree parchments. Each ceremony can bring its own chal- lenges. At winter convocation in February, where more than 800 degrees and diplomas were presented, a graduand called from High- way 401 to say her family had been involved in a car accident. Desautels was prepared for her arrival, helped her calm down and slipped her into place almost seamlessly. She also regularly receives requests from students who require special assistance during the ceremonies. “We’ve helped students who are blind, and on a couple of occasions, they’ve brought along their seeing-eye dog. Other situations have involved students on crutches and in wheelchairs. We’re always happy to do what- ever we can to accommodate people with spe- cial needs so they can celebrate their academic achievement with their classmates.” Desautels gets teary-eyed recalling the five or six degrees that have been awarded posthu- mously during her tenure, including the case of a student killed last year in a car accident. She’s responsible for discussing logistics with the family, including meeting them on cam- pus, preparing a family member to receive the degree and escorting them to the dome. “It’s very touching.” What qualities make a good convocation clerk? Ticking off such traits as organization, energy, attention to detail and patience, she says: “You have to multi-task continually. It’s a juggling act. There are so many details you’re juggling on a day-to-day basis." She might add stamina to the list, particu- larly before and during convocation week itself as she handles a rising tide of e-mail and phone queries about everything from the number of convocation guests to accommodations and restaurants. “It builds to a crescendo. On the last day of clearance, I’m on my hands and knees." One stress reliever is a round of golf at the Cutten Club, often immediately after the workday ends. Her partner is often her hus- band, Bob, who owns the Woolwich Arms. It was during Bob’s own turns on the con- vocation stage — he earned a B.Comm. in the mid-1970s and a master’s degree in the early 1980s — that she attended the ceremony as a guest rather than behind the scenes. That was in pre-dome days, she adds in a wistful tone, when smaller numbers of graduands could be accommodated in War Memorial Hall. She's also attended college graduation cere- monies elsewhere for her son, Court, and daughter, Emily, as well as ceremonies for their friends. Guelph’s convocation outshines oth- ers, she says, pointing to firm protocol here — gowns properly clasped at the neck, no purses or flowers — that ensures a decorous, dignified event. Backstage or not, “you’re all part of the cel- ebration,” she says. “On the whole, it runs re- ally smoothly. It’s fun just seeing the kids go through. We try to make it special for them." Foundation Supports Research on Heart Diseas e, Str oke CBS, OVC profs receive funding to find ways to reduce disease rates, prevent premature death T hree U of G faculty have received grants totalling nearly $182,000 from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Prof. Arend Bonen, Human Biol- ogy and Nutritional Sciences, re- ceived $86,294 to study how mechanisms that control fatty acid transport proteins in the heart. By understanding how these mecha- nisms operate, it may be possible to develop strategies to minimize ex- cess fatty acid accumulation in the heart and prevent premature deaths, he says. Prof. Alison Duncan, Human Bi- ology and Nutritional Sciences, was awarded $43,400. Duncan, who is as- sociate director of the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit, is hop- ing to discover whether the con- sumption of soy protein aids in reducing rates of heart disease and stroke in people with type-2 diabetes. Prof. Glen Pyle, Biomedical Sci- ences, received $52,201 to examine the effects of relaxin on the cardio- vascular system. He hopes to deter- mine how relaxin modifies heart muscle function in heart failure. Pyle says understanding the cellular mechanisms of heart failure is fun- damental to developing effective therapies to prevent or treat the con- dition, and is highly relevant to the mission of reducing death and disability from heart disease in Can- ada. Laura Syron, vice-president for research with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, says the ! work the organization is supporting at U of G is “world-class research fo- cused primarily on the nutritional aspects of heart disease and stroke. This research has been, and will con- tinue to be, critical in improving the heart-health lifestyles of people here in Ontario and around the world." at Guelph 5 June 15, 2005 Feeding the World, Or ie 1 Lin k at a T ime Networking project aims to help crop experts find order in maze of online research resources BY ANDREW VOWLES C ALL IT EVERYTHING a scientist ever wanted to know about maize research but didn’t know whom to ask. Prof. Manish Raizada, Plant Agriculture, and U of G graduate Rohit Makhijani are preparing this spring to unveil a comprehensive electronic resource intended to link maize researchers around the world. Their project, some three years in the making, will be the first of a planned series of international re- search databases into the world's most important agricultural crops. Raizada hopes virtual connections among crop experts worldwide will spur research that will help feed a hungry world. Not incidentally, the molecular biologist also hopes to cement Guelph’s reputation as a hub for in- formation about research on agricul- tural crops and international development. Gesturing toward the computer monitor in his office in the Crop Science Building, he says: “We want this to be the meeting place for the life sciences community.” Information age scientists work- ing on various crops can already log on to the World Wide Web and find no shortage of references to other re- searchers and resources in their field. But much of that information is scat- tered among numerous websites without coherent organization or too narrowly focused on subdisciplines or regions, says Raizada. “Type ‘maize economics’ into Google, and what comes up is a lot of very disorganized information. I can’t tell whether it’s good or bad.’’ Hence his first attempt at devel- oping a dedicated, comprehensive database called MaizeLink. The site (www.MaizeLink.org) will provide a gateway to researchers and resources around the world. Registered users can log in and use keywords or names to search the site’s database of more than 2,750 profiles of international scientists, ac- ademics and graduate students work- ing in universities, governments, non-profit organizations and private organizations. The site contains in- formation on about 80 subdisciplines from agronomy to food safety to agribusiness. Type in “Raizada,” for example, and the site returns the scientist’s contact information as well as a sum- mary of his maize genomics work, in- cluding lists of publications, patents and grant abstracts and links to his own favourite websites. The site also contains an electronic bulletin board for user discussions. Connecting to LifeSciencesLink yields access to publications, patents and grant abstracts for all life sciences research- ers, not just those registered in MaizeLink. Clicking on EquipmentLink takes users to an electronic marketplace in- tended to foster research in the devel- oping world. Modelled after eBay, this section is aimed at organizations looking to obtain or donate agricul- tural and research equipment or books for researchers or classrooms in poor countries. “MaizeLink allows you to find in- formation quickly, in an organized way,” says Raizada. “This automati- “We want this to be the meeting place for the life sciences community.” cally puts it all in one place. As with Google, the key guiding principle is that the database should be simple and fast.” Beyond the obvious users in agri- culture, the site is also intended for other researchers, even those in seemingly unrelated fields such as so- cial sciences. That patent lawyer he met recently in New Brunswick, for instance, might easily find Raizada’s work and those of related scientists on the site. Makhijani, a graduate of the De- Sofas Sectionals Club Chairs Eight-Way, Hand -Tied, Upholstered Furniture Since 1990 Main Street South, Rockwood, ON Open Tues-Sat 10-5 & Sun 12-5 1.888.339.2819 or 519.856.2575 Chaise Lounges Bergere Chairs partment of Computing and Infor- mation Science, is conducting final testing this month. They plan to launch MaizeLink for public use by the end of June. For that launch, they will broadcast an introductory e-mail to the nearly 2,800 people on the list, inviting them to enter their profile data on the site. They hope those initial entrants will also tell other researchers about the site. “We don’t know how many agricultural researchers there are in the world,” says Raizada. Pointing out that many research- ers in the developing world may lack websites, he adds that users will be able to employ MaizeLink’s simple generic design to enter information for a free web page. Raizada hopes the database will connect researchers not only online but also in real-world collaborations, particularly in projects intended to lend expertise from developed na- tions to developing countries. “I know scientists would love to make a real-world impact in the de- veloping world. We must feed more people in the next 40 years than we have in the last 10,000 years com- bined.” Using MaizeLink as a model, he and Makhijani plan to assemble data- bases for about 20 major crops, be- ginning with soybeans, rice, wheat, potatoes, teff (an African cereal crop), lentils, peanuts, sugar cane and yams. Their goal is to roll out various “link” sites and introduce an um- brella site for the project, to be called PlantLink, in about a year. Their da- tabase for these crops already in- cludes about 13,500 researcher profiles. Using funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and a Premier’s Research Excellence Award, Raizada began developing MaizeLink about three years ago with Makhijani, who now works at a soft- ware training company in Mississauga. Last summer, they also enlisted undergraduate students Carly Wight, Devon Radford and Arani Kajenthira to help collect candidates for the da- tabase by scanning online references as well as publications and conference proceedings. The group continues to update the directories to build comprehen- sive listings of worldwide researchers, and hopes to find funding to help de- velop and maintain the project, in- cluding its planned umbrella site, says Raizada. “Our goal is to make PlantLink into the world’s most comprehensive online researcher-to-researcher por- tal for researchers with a common in- terest in agriculture, whether they be social scientists, soil scientists or mo- lecular biologists.” Art Centre to Unveil Stone Sculpture A STONE SCULPTURE by promi- nent Inuit artist William Noah will be unveiled at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre June 25 at 2:30 p.m., becoming the 30th permanent outdoor installation in the Donald Forster Sculpture Park. Noah will speak at the event, which will be followed by a reception. The sculpture, made from local limestone, was commissioned with funds donated by the Macdonald In- stitute Class of 1955 in memory of Prof. Gordon Couling, founding chair of Guelph’s fine art depart- ment. Noah, the son of famous Inuit artist Jessie Oonark, is a resident of Baker Lake, Nunavut. He began his artistic career in the early 1 960s mak- ing carvings and drawings. After 1970, he focused on graphic works, exploring such subjects as shaman- ism. He began exhibiting his work in 1965 and has been represented in many travelling exhibitions in Can- ada and abroad. Noah, whose commission will be the first by a Nunavut artist for the art centre’s outdoor collection, will also give two talks at the centre — June 2 1 at noon and June 26 at 3 p.m. during Gardenscapes, the annual garden tour organized by the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre volunteers. This is the last issue of At Guelph for the summer semester. Our first issue of the fall semester will appear Sept. 14. 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DELIVERY & MORE. 1858 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, NIL 1G6 51 9.836.501 0 www.brockroadnursery.com at Guelph 6 June 15, 2005 profile Enter Stage Left, Exit at U of G Former actor turned history PhD grad now oversees WebCT courses at Guelph By Rebecca Kendall G rowing up in Etobicoke, Richard Gorrie attended a high school that was banned from the Stratford Festival Theatre after trip organizers became fed up with the disruptive behaviour of class after class who clearly didn’t appreciate Shakespeare. “Kids would throw stink bombs down the aisles and play stupid pranks to distract the actors,” says Gorrie. “They were pretty bad.” How ironic, then, that only a few years later, he would develop a pas- sion for theatre and devote much of his life to the stage. Gorrie, who now works for the University as courseware services manager for Teaching Support Services, says the drama bug hit him hard. “I started working in the theatre when all you needed was the willing- ness and the ability to stay up 23 hours a day.” He began working at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre and later honed his craft as a member of the NDWT Company. He was part of the original Donnelly Trilogy and says he was honoured to work with renowned Canadian writer James Reaney. At one point, the theatre literally became Gorrie’s home. “I actually lived in the theatre for about six months in the sound booth or on the stage when there was a bed on set,” he says. But satisfying as his work in the theatre was, he felt some- thing was missing. After performing as a variety of characters on stage, he wanted to tackle a new role in academia. Gorrie left Ontario to go west and enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan to study history. “I’ve always enjoyed learn- ing,” he says. With his feet planted firmly in campus life, he pursued both of his passions simultaneously and went on to complete his BA and MA while performing at a number of theatres in Saskatoon. He was prompted to shift his focus from performer to cre- ator after reading a history textbook that described Machiavelli, a 16th-century Italian statesman and philosopher, and his criti- cism of freelance mercenaries known as condotierri. Gorrie had been working with University of Saskatchewan professor Michael Hayden on an extension course that was being broad- cast from the campus television studio, and the Machiavelli ref- erence gave Gorrie the idea to create a docudrama to enhance the students’ comprehension of the topics under discussion. Ti- tled Condotierri Exposd, it took the form of an investigative TV news report and later earned him two awards. Based on that docudrama, he then created a series of 24 shorter historical vignettes that were used weekly throughout the extension course. The episodes would characteristically in- terrupt lectures at key points and even included the occasional live animal from the university’s veterinary college. “It was great for students because they could see history come alive and actually watch their professor interact with the past, “says Gorrie. In 1992, he came to U of G to pursue a PhD with Prof. Donna Andrew, doing research on 18th-century theatre riots. He says he found the campus to be fertile with inspiration and potential. He worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of History and, in 1995, won the Class of OAC ’60 Award for Outstanding TA. That same year, he worked with now retired history professor Gil Stelter and graduate student James Calnan to create one of the Internet’s first extensive hybrid courses, a face-to-face honours seminar with a significant online component. “We put all the course materials online, including illustrated lectures, an extensive bibliography, research papers and an in- teractive map,” says Gorrie. “We used e-mail to connect stu- dents with Gil’s urban history colleagues around the world, and the students turned their final major papers into web presentations.” Those early beginnings led Gorrie to his current role, in which he oversees more than 1,200 WebCT courses. WebCT is an Internet-based educational software program that integrates everything from quizzes and virtual labs to conferencing systems and an online gradebook in a password-protected environment He credits much of what he’s al- ready accomplished and where he is now to being in the right place and meeting the right people at the right time. Even as an actor, he visited nu- merous university campuses and says he loves what the university at- mosphere has to offer. “It ranges from the sacred to the profane. On the one hand, there’s a certain nobility in the pursuit of knowledge. This is where great minds come to research and then share that knowledge through writ- ing and teaching. On the other hand, there’s fife in its most vibrant form. You see people at such a key stage of their life, full of energy and vision. There’s an awesome vitality there, and the meeting of those two realms can have some really powerful effects. The opportunity one can find at a university for inspiration, communication, networking and sharing is in- credible. For me, it has worked out well.” Gorrie’s fascination with history follows him home to the hamlet of Damascus, where he fives in a former Methodist church built in 1896. “The sanctuary is still in its open and untouched form,” he says. “There are no pews, but you can see their outlines, almost like shadows, where they would have been at one point. Other- wise, it’s preserved. The original stained-glass windows are there with their wonderful Methodist iconography.” He says one of the most interesting aspects of his home’s his- tory is that it was once used as rehearsal space for the Juno Award-winning rock band Lighthouse. One of the church’s for- mer owners was Don DiNovo, a music producer who used the space for band practices and later as a recording studio for clas- sical music. Gorrie and his wife, Wendy, bought the church, which boasts a 25-foot ceiling, in 2001. He uses the upper balcony as his office. “It’s an inspiring writing space," says Gorrie, who continues to pen scripts and do video production projects in his spare time. “I’ve even got a couple of feature films up there,” he says, tapping his temple with his finger. Treadmill Helps Vets Assess Lameness in Dogs BY KIRSTEN ANDERSON SPARK PROGRAM T he ritual of dog walking creates a special bond between owner and pet, keeping both active and healthy. But many dogs fall victim to lameness due to aging or traumatic injury. Now, Ontario Veterinary College researchers hope to make things more comfortable for the animals. They’re testing whether a modified treadmill can help them develop and evaluate lameness treatments for dogs. Lameness can be difficult to assess visually, says Prof. Noel Moens, Clin- ical Studies. Although it may be obvi- ous that the dog is lame, it’s nearly impossible to determine how much weight a dog is actually placing on each foot — something veterinarians need to know when they’re treating lameness. That’s why he’s leading a research team to analyze gait in dogs, using a novel technique where force plates — metal plates that can measure the force and angle of a footstep — are built into the base of a treadmill. If diis technique proves to be use- ful, it could provide a new means of evaluating lameness treatments for dogs, such as surgical procedures and pain or arthritis medication, says Moens. “Force plating allows us to quan- tify the amount of lameness in dogs," he says. “By incorporating it into a treadmill, we’re able to record several consecutive footsteps, something that would have been difficult for us to do before.” Here’s how it works. Dogs are walked at a constant speed on a spe- cial treadmill outfitted with two force plates, one located behind die other. When a dog steps on the force plate, a computer records the amount of force and direction applied by die an- imal’s foot. From there, researchers can analyze the dog’s gait and deter- mine whether or not the animal is lame, which leg is weakest and a spe- cific treatment’s effectiveness. Traditional force plating is con- sidered to be the gold standard for gait analysis. In this technique, re- searchers walk a dog back and forth over a force plate in the floor to ob- tain gait data. But there are several drawbacks, says Moens. First, to ob- tain reliable data, only one foot can land on the plate at a time. In addi- tion, changes in body posture and speed — both factors that are diffi- cult to keep consistent — can affect the results. And in some cases, it can take researchers up to an hour and a half of walking a dog back and forth over the force plate to obtain suffi- ciendy good data to make a useful assessment, he says. By incorporating force plates into the floor of the treadmill, Moens has been able to eliminate some of these variables. Using a treadmill means re- searchers can keep the dog’s walking speed constant for each trial. And by using two plates, they can obtain data from both a front foot and a hind foot simultaneously, which saves time and allows several consecutive footsteps to be recorded in a short period. Preliminary results are promising. ! In one trial using eight dogs, Moens | and his colleagues found they were able to obtain enough data in a much | shorter time frame. And in one ani- mal, they picked up lameness they J hadn’t observed initially, indicating how sensitive this technique can be. "It can allow us to find lameness in dogs that we normally may not be able to catch visually,” he says. The next step for Moens and his research group will be to assess a larger number of dogs with the tread- mill to determine its effectiveness in different situations. They will also test dogs already diagnosed with lameness to see if they can obtain | similar results. This study was sponsored by i OVC’s Pet Trust. at Guelph J June 15, 2005 Renovations at Library Designed to Boost Usability, Convenience ‘It’s about creating spaces where learning can happen ’ BY REBECCA KENDALL R enovations under way at the U of G Library are designed to improve usability and convenience for its many patrons. Once completed, the physical I alterations will speak volumes about the library’s commitment to | promoting a comfortable and I user-friendly facility, says Helen ' Salmon, associate chief librarian for user services. “These upgrades are being done i partly because we're a heavily used ! library, with more than 12,000 daily j users at peak times during the fall and winter semesters, and partly be- I cause the nature of libraries has changed over the past decade to ! make them more of a study and learning centre as opposed to being j solely a place to house books,” she says. On the third floor, the group j viewing room has been refurbished ! and renamed the Florence Partridge Room after the former chief librar- 1 ian. It now boasts lockable storage cases to display collections and will be used as library and Learning Commons classroom and event space. “Florence Partridge was legend- ary for her interest in Canadian art,” says special projects manager Pat I Hock. "We're going to use some of I the larger walls to display some of the pieces on loan from the Macdon- 1 aid Stewart Art Centre." Upgrades to the library’s audio- I visual equipment have been made in j the basement media lab, the i Beckman Room in Archival and | Special Collections, the first-floor Learning Commons meeting room 1 and other study rooms. “We’ve been working for quite a few years to upgrade our meeting rooms and classrooms with the same equipment so they're interchange- able and flexible in terms of use,” says Hock. There are also new, more conve- nient entrances into two first-floor rooms to facilitate after-hours book- ings for library and Learning Com- mons events and to allow improved access to the new location of the E-Learning Operations and Reserve Services area. The most visible changes will be occurring on the first floor of the li- brary, says Salmon. Over the next few months, the flooring on the first level will be replaced with new car- pet, and quarry tile will be installed in areas that get particularly large amounts of traffic. New user seating areas will be created on the first two levels of the building to accommo- date different types of learning and studying needs. These new areas will generally be located on the edges of the building, providing ample light and good views of the campus, as well as increasing the number of electrical connections available for laptop users. To accommodate these changes, the library has moved some of its lesser-used equipment and collec- tions from high-traffic areas to more . appropriate locations, Salmon says. The front entrance of the McLaughlin Building will also be en- hanced. The front doors will be re- placed and the turnstiles removed to make way for a security detection system that is less obtrusive. The Learning and Writing Services re- ception desk and its drop-in re- source area will be moved so they’re adjacent to the other Learning Com- mons service desks for research and IT help. “We’re working to make the li- brary facilities at U of G more con- ducive to the studying and learning students are doing now,” says Salmon. “Guelph focuses on leamer-centredness, group work and collaborative assignments, so students need spaces that are invit- ing and functional for small groups of people to work and have the tech- nology at hand. It's about creating spaces where learning can happen. We want our users to be comfortable and to be able to do their work in the physical setting we provide.” The library will maintain stan- dard hours of operation throughout the entire renovation process. Energy Tip T ake the stairs instead of an elevator if you’re able. Not only does this reduce power use, but it also frees up elevators for people who genuinely need them. Try starting by never using the elevator for one or two floors, then work up your physical fitness to try five or more. EYE EXAMS NOW ARRANGED • Eye Doctor Prescriptions Filled • Two Opticians with over 49 Years Combined Experience' - • Senior's Discount Available Scott Coburn Optical "A Name You Can Trust In Eyewear" Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. 9:30 a m. -8 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p,m. Telephone 821-2020 123 WYNDHAM ST. N. Opposite the old Post Office after hours Prof. Al Sullivan AL SULLIVAN Faculty member in the Department of Plant Agriculture, joined the University in 1986 Although many people dislike unsettled weather. Prof. Al Sullivan can’t wait for it because he says it makes for great sailing. He first began sailing as a teenager growing up on the St. Clair River south of Sarnia and bought his first sailboat in his 20s. He now docks his catamaran at a sailing club in Belwood and says some days he’s the only one on the lake because of high winds and rough water. “On the high-wind days, we go out to take advantage of the speed and just hope to survive.” Sullivan says sailing can at times be relaxing and at other times exciting and exhilarating. It can also be ex- tremely strenuous, especially during the races he partic- ipates in each week, he says. "During races, we carefully monitor the wind, which is always changing in strength and direction. As a result, we are continually adjusting sail shape, weight and boat direction.” He also says sailing has been a great way to spend quality time with his children, who are now grown. When they were younger, they would bring their friends along, and everyone would have a great time playing tag and swimming around the boat, says Sullivan. He recently purchased a Hobie Tiger, a high-tech racing boat that he plans to use for more competitive races because it’s faster and has more controls. “We always have to adjust the boat to obtain maxi- mum speed and need to take advantage of wind and wind shifts,” says Sullivan. “On the water, you become an extension of the boat.” MARGARET PITRE Third-year student in marine biology Margaret Pitre has just returned from a trip to Knoxville, Term., where she was visiting her sister, brother-in-law, nephew and one-month-old niece. “It was a great trip because we got a chance to catch up and have a nice leisurely visit,” she says. “I see my sister only once or twice a year at most, so that time is im- portant.” Pitre enjoys travelling whenever she gets a chance. Margaret Pitre Over winter break, she spent two weeks in Europe visit- ing Amsterdam and western England. Although this was her third trip to Europe, it was the first time she’d travelled on her own. One of the things she appreciates about visiting other countries is the opportunity to experience a com- pletely different lifestyle and step back into history. “Everything’s so new in Canada,” she says. “Europe has some really great old buildings, cobblestone walks, castles and classic architecture that provide a sense of history you just can’t find here.” Pitre is planning to rejoin Amnesty International and says she was a member for three years in high school, taking part in letter-writing campaigns and fundraising efforts. “It was a really big part of my fife at one time, and I’d like to get back into it. People sometimes think you can’t do anything about world injustice, but that’s not always true. There are really bad things happening in the world, and it makes me appreciate the freedoms we have in Canada.” AUDREY FEENSTRA Staff member in Mail Services since 1986 For the past 11 years, Audrey Feenstra, known to many as Rikki- tikki-tavi, has camped and hiked with hundreds of kids. Feenstra, a cub leader with Guelph’s third Harcourt pack, says cub leaders take a name from the novel The Jungle Book as part of the organi- zation’s tradition. Her name is that of the storybook’s mongoose. “I first got involved as a way to spend time with my son," she says. “I wanted him to be involved in some- thing, and I grew up scouting, so it was a good fit.” She says she finds it rewarding to see the growth and progress in the children between the time they begin at age seven and the time they move on at age 1 1 . Feenstra chaperones a number of trips, activities and events, including jamborees that are held every two years. One of her favourite jamborees was held a couple of years ago in Prince Edward Island, where she took her charges deep-sea fishing for a day. “It was the first time I’d ever had fresh cod,” she says, reminiscing about cooking their catch over an open fire. Last month, her pack hosted a weekend event that drew 180 children who took part in a number of activi- ties and camped at a local site. She says she’ll be a cub leader for as long as possible, but is saddened to see the number of children coming into the program declining year after year. “Scouting is dying out. It’s unfortunate.” Audrey Feenstra Eastern Newfoundland and St. Pierre & Miquelon \P& Sept. 8 to 15, 2005 Fully Escorted by Royal City Travel •Transportation - Guelph - Toronto - Return \ • Airfare Toronto/SL John's return • Services of McCarthy's Party local Newfoundland Guide • Hotel accommodation with private bath and/or shower • Motor Coach transportation and baggage handling of one suitcase per person • Excursions to Cape Spear, Conception Bay and Brigus/ Whale/ Puffin Boat Tour (weather permitting) •Tour of Historic St. John's Entrance fees to National Historic Sites and Museums • Boat to St Pierre & Miquelon / Excursions to Trinity and Bonavista • Visit to the Ryan premises • Seven Breakfasts, Six Midday Meals and Three dinners 3295 per person based on Twin ★ Includes all taxes and GST ★ ■“fjjfc ROYAL CITY TRAVEL ROYAL PLAZA (Norfolk & Paisley) Guelph, ON 763-3520 www.royalcitytravel.com Some restrictions may apply Call lor complete details at Guelph 8 )unei 5, 2005 Shades of Green Recent arrival in OAC hopes to make Department of Agricultural Economics and Business an authority on greenbelt law Garden designs that work. . . naturally. Gardens by Nature INSURANCE • water-saving 519.836.0925 ■ animal and child-friendly www.gardensbynature.com • edible, scented and colour themes PROGRAM Designing Styles Studio Salon 307 Woolwich Street, Guelph Offering hair and reflexology services for men and women Enjoy the private relaxing atmosphere of this unique studio salon, where professionalism and your comfort is our priority. Hairstylist: (519) 341^9711 Reflexologist: (519) 827-0376 E-mail: awiesereflex@rogers.com BY ANDREW VOWLES W HY do CERTAIN basketball players get paid more than others? That’s a question Prof. Brady Deaton, Agricultural Economics and Business, likes to throw out to his undergraduate classes. Students usually offer a variety of reasons — player height, speed, jumping ability. Rarely does anyone bounce back this commonsensical answer: Because the rim is set at 10 feet high. Lower a basketball rim to, say, five feet and you’ve changed the rules and the economics of the game. Now switch the game to Deaton’s research field of property rights and owner- ship and you start to see how chang- ing the rules governing those rights might affect various players in differ- ent ways. Having arrived at Guelph last summer from his native United States, the agricultural economist is interested in applying his ideas about gains and losses to studies of rural and urban property ownership in Ontario. He got here in time to see a tai- lor-made field site of sorts fall into his lap, with passage earlier this year of a provincial law to establish a greenbelt around Toronto. The leg- islation, which pits farmland conser- vationists and environmentalists against farmers worried about de- clining property values as their land is sealed off from development, pro- vides a useful test case for an aca- demic interested in how changes to property rights affect different players. “There’s a huge concern among fanners about whether the legisla- tion will reduce the value of agricul- tural land,” says Deaton. This summer, he will begin studying the effects of the law in a planned long-term project that he hopes will help his department make a name for itself in this area. One thing’s for sure: It’s not a simple matter of taking one side or other in the debate. He says the law may lower the resale value of some farmland by disallowing develop- ment opportunities, but it may also make it easier for some farmers to ply their trade, thus raising the value of their parcels. Group Auto & Home Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts pltcb Your Group Discount! k \\V Waterloo HJ Insurance Visit us at www ecooomicniinsurance.com Prof. Brady Deaton plans to study the long-term effects of Ontario’s new greenbelt legislation. PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE “We want to tease that out,” he says. “We want to provide a careful assessment of the benefits of preserv- ing farmland and the costs associated with it and the distribution of those costs.” He’s been looking for a reliable data source and setting up a research protocol to assess the effects of the legislation on agricultural and resi- dential property values. He hopes to partner with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, a former Crown corporation, for information on sales of residential and agricultural lands. Working with him this summer on an undergraduate research assistantship is Adele Labbe, who this fall will begin the final year of a marine biology major and political science minor. Citing her longtime interest in conservation biology, ecology and environmental science, she says: “I realized that if I actually want to make a difference, I need to under- stand the politics involved. Brady’s research meshes with my goals in terms of examining environmental protection directly linked to sustainability.” Ontario’s new law requires a 10-year review of its effects. By fol- lowing developments over the next decade, Deaton hopes to establish himself — and his department — as an authority on the greenbelt legisla- tion and help influence future policy decisions. Helping to develop policy was an important part of his earlier studies, particularly his PhD in agricultural economics at Michigan State Uni- versity. There he studied property is- sues in both urban areas and on the urban-rural fringe. He examined public willingness to support farm- land preservation programs in an ur- banizing Michigan county and the effect of hazardous waste sites on surrounding property values in the city of Lansing. He looked at how residents’ sup- port for farmland preservation schemes varied with the specific type of farmland. “When people say they want to preserve farmland, what are the characteristics of farmland that mo- tivate them?” says Deaton, who saw his work considered by authorities weighing farmland preservation and development. He completed that degree in 2002 and embarked on a two-year post-doc in Michigan before coming to Guelph last year. Earlier, he had studied economics at the University of Missouri and completed a mas- ter’s in agricultural economics at Virginia Tech University. His path has been influenced by both his parents. His father, Brady Deaton Sr., is an agricultural econo- mist who last fall was appointed chancellor of the University of Mis- souri. Never mind the university classroom: Brady says much of his early learning took place around the kitchen table, where he and his sib- lings were challenged by their father and their social scientist mother, Anne, to discuss all kinds of topics. “We spent all our youth engaged in social science debates around the table. We were encouraged to ask questions even before we could make sensible statements.” He also followed his parents’ lead with a volunteer stint in Lesotho with the Peace Corps. Earlier, his fa- ther had done a Peace Corps posting in Thailand; his mother had served with the Appalachian Volunteers. Deaton says his two years spent living in a village of about 50 people was a “humbling” experience that taught him not just about interna- tional development but also about himself. “It was everything I needed and nothing I expected,” says Deaton, who was 23 at the time. He taught English, helped the community set up a holding station for water and helped with the devel- opment of small businesses. He says his current interests lie at the intersection of rural and urban, whether that’s investigating a desig- nated greenbelt area or studying and teaching here at U of G. He says agri- culture itself is “intersecting with some of the fundamental drivers of modernity," including urbanization, globalization, and technology and biotechnology. “It’s this fascinating field to me.” YOUR PREFERRED EXCLUSIVE Call today for a no-obllgation quote Or visit our t vobsito at www.staebler.com at Guelph 9 June 15, 2005 Awards Recognize Distinguished Alumni Continued from page 1 Distinguished Alumnus Award to 1976 graduate Carin Wittnich Satur- day morning at the association’s an- nual meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. in the Lifetime Learning Centre. Following the meeting, tours of the college will be available, and OVC grad Blake Graham will sign copies of his book, Sow's Ear to Silk Purse: An- ecdotes From the Life of a Veterinar- ian. Coyle is a graduate of Guelph’s rural planning program. She honed her administrative skills during a CUSO placement in Botswana, as an adviser for the Sulawesi Regional De- velopment Project in Indonesia and serving Canada’s First Nations peo- ple through the Calmeadow Founda- tion. She is now director of the Coady International Institute and a vice-president at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. As part of her commitment to sustainable development, Coyle led an effort on her campus to create the Xtending Hope project that is sup- porting African countries over- whelmed by the AIDS crisis. She is also the founding director of the Ste- phen Lewis Foundation and sits on the boards of the International De- velopment Research Centre, the In- dian School of Micro Finance for Women and St. Francis Xavier Uni- versity. Most recently, she was ap- pointed to the chair’s advisory group of the Canadian Judicial Council. Urban will be honoured for his contributions to Canadian art and culture. He is recognized as one of Canada’s most prominent painters, having shown his work in 30 solo and 40 group exhibitions in both com- mercial galleries and museums across Canada and abroad. He is also an art critic, writer and curator. In 2002, he organized a major survey exhibition of paintings by Canadian artists for the Shanghai Art Museum in China. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 2003. Urban is a frequent guest critic for Guelph’s MFA program and was a speaker at the academic symposium “PAINT!” held on campus last Octo- ber. He is also one of three artists who donated a work to the School of Fine Art and Music’s print portfolio in 2004; this fundraising venture will support the University’s fine art pro- grams and students. Warley has pursued a career in volunteerism since retiring from the faculty of the Department of Agricul- tural Economics and Business in 1991. He came to Guelph as chair of the department in 1970 and remains one of the strongest advocates for his discipline, the Ontario Agricultural College and the University. The OAC Alumni Association and OAC Alumni Foundation have relied on his talents in strategic plan- ning and communication for more than a decade. He has been integral to the development of the association’s newsletter and website, its constitu- tion and 2004 strategic plan and the establishment of a joint investment committee that serves both the association and foundation. In 1999, Warley chaired the com- munications committee for OAC’s 12 5th- anniversary celebrations. He has also contributed to community organizations, including the Guelph Wellington Men’s Club, the Guelph Horticultural Society and the Multi- ple Sclerosis Society of Canada, which awarded him a certificate of achievement to recognize more than 20 years of volunteer service. Wittnich is a professor in the de- partments of surgery and physiology at the University of Toronto and di- rector of U of T’s cardiovascular sci- ences collaborative program. She has published widely and won several prestigious awards for her research at U of T, where she has also created several new graduate and undergrad- uate courses and established the first cardiovascular sciences collaborative program in Canada. Outside the professional realm, she is a longtime volunteer for the Canadian Heart and Stroke Founda- tion and a founding member of the Oceanographic Environmental Re- search Society. She received the Or- der of Ontario in 2001 and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2002. Other Alumni Weekend events include: • June 25 — Star Party, MacNaughton Building Observa- tory. CSAHS Honours Three Continued from page 1 award by grad student Mike Glinka. “Nicole has the drive and intel- lectual talent to allow students to make goals for themselves in the classroom and in real life, and she’s enlightened me to strive for a much higher standard than I thought pos- sible,’’ says Glinka. “I can’t thank her enough. Teachers are the foun- dation of a great society, and Nicole exemplifies that.” Desmarais says the committee was impressed by Goodman’s atten- tion to detail, the care with which she develops instructional material and the highly positive comments • June 26 — CSAHS dean’s break- fast and tours, campus tours, OAC ’33 book launch, alumni associa- tion annual meetings, President’s Lunch and open house, Hagen Aqualab tour, alumni tour of the library, science complex tours, an alumni dinner in the Rozanski Hall concourse, and an alumni pub in the Bullring. • June 27 — Ecumenical service and farewell breakfast. Members of the campus commu- nity are invited to attend any of these Alumni Weekend events, but ad- vance reservations are required. For details, ticket prices and a registra- tion form, visit the website www. uoguelph.ca/alumni. STUDENT, PROF RECEIVE TWO NEW UGAA AWARDS In addition to its traditional alumni awards of merit, the UGAA has established new volunteer awards to recognize the contributions of stu- dents and employees. The first UGAA Student Volun- teer Award was presented to Xiao Wang, a master’s student in the De- partment of Sociology and Anthro- pology, at a graduate student awards ceremony in March. An international student from China, he has immersed himself in Canadian culture through volun- teerism. He is a member of the Gry- phon Toastmasters Club, the Chi- nese Students and Scholars Association, the Graduate Students’ Association and CFRU Radio, where he hosts a radio program in Manda- rin. Wang is also a volunteer for the Hillside Music Festival and Best Buddy Canada, which supports men- tally challenged adults. He maintains homeland connections by continu- ing to write for a Shanghai newspaper and help with publicity for the Shanghai Grand Theatre. University professor emeritus Leonard Adams, Languages and Lit- eratures, will receive the first UGAA Employee Volunteer Award at the University’s community breakfast in September. The award will celebrate his 40-year relationship with the University. Adams continues to work as a scholar and volunteer for the College of Arts even though he officially re- tired 10 years ago. He contributes scholarly work and translation with- out compensation, and has volun- teered to co-ordinate fundraising campaigns in the college to benefit the University and the United Way. These activities reinforce his past involvement in the City of Guelph’s anti-pollution committee, Block Parents and Family and Children’s Services of Guelph, for which he served as a foster parent for a dozen years. A talented musician, Adams has worked tirelessly for the Guelph Spring Festival and performed with the Guelph Chamber Choir. He is also the chief pianist at his church. Health on Conference Menu Continued from page 1 Kaplan Award to recognize his ef- forts to educate the public about health aspects of dietary omega- 3 and trans fatty acids. He will speak on “Good Fats, Bad Fats and Heart Health” at a public lecture June 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Rozanski Hall. “For more than 10 years, Bruce has been telling government and in- dustry about the risks of trans fats,” says Bonen, referring to the recent push to label trans fats in foods and the adoption by food companies of trans-free processing techniques. During a session to be held June 22, Mark Tremblay, scientific adviser with Statistics Canada, will discuss the Canadian Health Measures Sur- vey, a large-scale project intended to assess the health of Canadians begin- ning this year. Another symposium on June 24 will discuss Health Canada’s policies on implementing dietary reference intakes. Referring to a current review of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating by a committee whose mem- bers include FRAN professor John Dwyer, Randall Simpson says: “These new dietary recommenda- tions will be considered in the revised food guide.” Also on June 24, another sympo- sium will discuss the effects of new recommendations to extend exclu- sive infant breast-feeding to sue months. This year’s plenary speakers in- clude president Alastair Summerlee, who will present “Biomedical Sci- ences: A World of Possibilities” at a graduate student breakfast in the University Club June 23. Other ple- nary speakers are: • Claude Bouchard of the Penning- ton Biomedical Research Centre at Louisiana State University, who will discuss human genetic varia- tion and the benefits of regular ex- ercise; • Bente Pedersen of the University of Copenhagen, who will explain how low-level inflammatory agents contribute to muscle glu- cose levels; and • Amira Klip of the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto, who will focus on con- trol of the key protein involved in glucose metabolism. Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-presi- dent (research), will welcome dele- gates during the opening ceremonies in Rozanski Hall. During that func- tion, the CFBS Excellence Award will be presented to retired biomedical sciences professor Ken Fisher, CFBS honorary secretary. A dinner to be held June 22 will honour University professor emeri- tus Bruce Sells, CFBS executive di- rector and former dean of the College of Biological Science. Poster sessions and exhibits will take place throughout the three-day event in Peter Clark Hall. The CFBS consists of 14 societies of biologists and life scientists in such disciplines as biophysics and biochemistry, cell biology, physiol- ogy, immunology, nutritional sci- ence, genetics, toxicology and zoology. Both conference organizers prac- tise what they preach, through eating in moderation and moderate exer- cise, including skiing and swimming in Randall Simpson’s case. “Calories in, calories out,” says Bonen, who spends about 30 minutes a day on the treadmill. For conference information, con- tact Bonen at Ext. 53028. received from her students, includ- ing Julia Drennan, who wrote: “Nicole makes me feel comfortable. I have never had such a positive ex- perience with a TA. Her dedication has motivated me to work harder and be a critical writer.” Former student Mark Abramo- witz wrote: “I am a second-year transfer student from York Univer- sity, and out of all the TA’s I’ve had, none have shown the dedication to students that Nicole has.” Many of her students also com- mended her for her willingness to provide one-on-one attention. Larviciding Program Planned B etween June 1 5 and Sept. 30, U of G will conduct a larviciding program on campus, including the Arboretum. The program is designed to control larval mosquitoes to prevent their development into vectors of the West Nile virus. It is being conducted under the approval of the medical officer of health and the U of G administration, and by permit approval from the Ministry of the Environment. The pellet formulation of the larvicide methoprene (Altosid Pellets, Registration Number 21809, Pest Control Products Act) will be placed into the catch basins of the storm drains on the U of G campus. In addition, the granular formulation of the biological larvicide Bti (Vectobac 200G Granules, Registration Number 18158; and Aquabac 200G Granules, Registration Number 26863) will be applied to areas of standing water that cannot be drained. All larvicide will be applied by Ministry of the Environment-licensed applicators. For more information, call Paul Specht, director of maintenance and operations in Physical Resources, at Ext. 53306. at Guelph 10 June 15, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS snmsMNSM SIGNS • GRAPHIC D E S I G N • WEB FOR SALE Microwave oven, white, never used, 856-4103 or anita.luc@sympatico. Queen-size waterbed with solid pine headboard, footboard and sides, includes all rails and deck compo- nents; Kelvinator 30-inch almond electric stove; junior golf club set, includes golf bag, like new; Fisher- Price free-standing children’s bas- ketball set; microwave-size convec- tion oven, items in good condition, 837-3809. Dusty rose floral formal couch, solid tan-coloured couch and loveseat, black metal futon and mattress, dark oak dining set with two-piece hutch and six chairs, all items in excellent condition, Christy, 766-9711 between 5 and 8 p.m. Roxton solid maple kitchen set: round table with two leaves, five reg- ular chairs, one captain’s chair, Ext. 56291 or susanedw@uoguelph.ca. Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 5150 col- our printer, dog crate for large dog, both items in excellent condition, Ext. 56356, 824-0895 evenings or amwillia@uoguelph.ca. Renovated 2,500-square-foot 1922 schoolhouse, half-hour northwest of Guelph on 1.8 acres, near Ospringe/ Orton, Andy, Ext. 52415. 1982 Kawasaki 1000J Sport Tourer motorcycle, low mileage, 837-3809. Golfsmith-forged cavity-back irons, graphite shafts, standard men’s length, regular flex, four iron to pitching wedge, sand and lob wedges, Golfsmith Killer Bee tita- nium driver; Yamaha junior-size classical guitar, Jim, Ext. 56693. Five-bedroom brick house near University on Hands Drive, 2,600 square feet, four baths, large private lot facing park, family room with gas fireplace, finished basement, wind- ing oak staircase in foyer, Linda, 836-9236. 1991 Mazda Miata, red, with hard- top, car cover, many upgrades/ improvements, summer-driven, high mileage but well-cared- for, Ext. 56387 or rcarley@open.uoguelph.ca. Kids’ Adidas Kapuha TRXHG Jr. soccer shoes, black and white, size 3 U.S., 2 Vi U.K., worn only a couple of times, Cathie, Ext. 56187. FOR RENT deck/dock combination at shore, paddleboat, canoe, available Aug. 7 to 13 and 21 to 27, $800 a week, Ext. 53347 or 763-8733 evenings. Three-bedroom country home on 13 acres in Arkell, 10 minutes to campus, horse barn, gardens and woods, suitable for family or couple, available Sept. 1, long-term lease, rent negotiable, 766-7651. Four-bedroom cottage on Lake Huron at Kincardine, one-minute walk to beach, two baths, can be seen at www.lakehuroncottagerentals. com, cottage number 165, snorman @registrar.uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom home in quiet neighbourhood, five-minute walk to campus, finished basement with two bedrooms and bath, dose to bus and shopping, laundry, central air, indoor parking, suitable for profes- sional or grad student, available July 15, $1,400 a month, Heather or Rene, 519-669-1284. Furnished or unfurnished one-bed- room apartment suitable for one person in old University area, sepa- rate entrance, on bus route, no park- ing, access to swimming pool, wire- less Internet, non-smoker, available August/September to May 2006, $600 a month plus hydro, 763-0449 or mnelisch@uoguelph.ca. Furnished four-bedroom stone house downtown, lVi baths, hard- wood floors, laundry, dishwasher, parking, use of piano, non-smokers, available Sept. 1 to June 30, 2006, $1,300 a month plus utilities, Jay, 822-3493 or jIampert@uoguelph.ca. Upper three rooms of luxury town- house backing on to river and trails, two baths, share furnished kitchen/ living room with owner, suitable for professional or grad student, avail- able Sept. 1, $800 a month plus utili- ties, 820-5237 or chleslie@ uoguelph.ca. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, close to subway and shops, short-term Q rental; furnished two-bedroom holi- day home in Antibes, weekly or monthly, Nicole, 836-6745 or fhmoll@rogers.com. Furnished two-bedroom apartment in downtown century stone building, laundry in building, parking, ideal for visiting professor, professional or grad student, available November to April 2006, rent negotiable, Frank, 836-6666 or fmarchetti4@rog- WANTED Volunteers for the Residence Envi- ronmental Awareness Program for fall 2005, Ext. 58129 or send e-mail to recycle@pr.uoguelph.ca. Families to host teenagers from Spain and France for July, remunera- tion $140 per week, Kathy, 767- 6595 or kathleen029@sympatico.ca. Four-bedroom cottage and bunkie on Lake Kasshabog near Havelock, island property, comes with boat, Linda, 836-9236. Two-bedroom cottage on Lake Manitouwabing, 20 minutes east of Parry Sound, two baths, three-tiered Georse Wallace 11 Victoria Road North, Guelph, Ont. N1E 5G6 (519)821-7800 Fax (519) 881-7810 Continuing to serve the ^ / University of Guelph ", Visit and see our works at ' www.clicksigns.ca Level 1 University Centre NORTH SAUBLE SANDS CAMPGROUND SAUBLE BEACH ( 519 ) 422-1033 www.northsaublesandscamp.com AVAILABLE Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag Free kittens to a good home, 11 weeks old, males, black, used to enthusiastic, loving children, Lori, Ext. 53338 or l.hunt@exec.uoguelph. Care for your dog in my home while you travel, Cobi, 836-8086 or cdemmers@uoguelph.ca. English Editing Let me correct the grammar, spelling and style of your manuscript, document, technical report or thesis. Satisfaction guaranteed. E-mail zucker@mcmaster.ca or phone ( 905 ) 525 - 9140 , Ext. 23438 Michael H.C. McMurray Partner „ icorn Financial Services 210 Koitright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Fax: (519) 826-4994 Email: michaeImcmurray@on.aibn.com RETIREMENT & ESTATE PLANNING • Do you have questions about your retirement options? • Michael can help you explore the options available to you • Call today for a free consultation e&rg&y Windows and Doors I POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ... Design your own unique pattern, the possibilities are endless! • EXTENSIVE SELECTIONS • Ceramic Marble Slate • OVER 1000 COLOURS TO CHOOSE • “Quality and Craftsmanship are a Family Tradition” at Guelph 11 June 15, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM The Arboretum is offering work- shops on fern identification and propagation July 7 and dragonflies and damselfhes July 13. Both run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $50. Registration and payment are due June 23 and 29, respectively. Coming up in the fall semester are all-day workshops on hawks Sept. 9, late summer blooms Sept 14 and growing native woody plants from seed Sept. 20 and 22. All sessions run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For informa- tion about cost and registration deadlines, call Ext. 52358. The Arboretum Auxiliary presents its annual fundraising plant sale Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain or shine) at the R.J. Hilton Centre on College Avenue East. The lineup starts by 8 a.m. For more details or to buy a catalogue, call Ext. 52113. ART CENTRE The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre will unveil a stone sculpture by Inuit artist William Noah in the Donald Forster Sculpture Park June 25 at 3 p.m. At the centre’s brown bag lunch series June 2 1 at noon, Noah will dis- cuss his work, and Paula Jean Cowan will speak on her exhibition, “bit.” The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre volunteers present Gardenscapes 2005, a self-guided tour of nine Guelph gardens, June 26 from noon to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine. The day also features a 3 p.m. public talk by artist William Noah on his newly installed stone sculpture at the art centre. Tickets are $10 and are avail- able at the art centre. Barber Gallery, Royal City Nursery, Brock Road Nursery, Buy the Yard and the Meadowville Garden Centre. CONFERENCES U of G and Simon Fraser University are sponsoring an interdisciplinary conference called “TransCanada Lit- erature, Institutions, Citizenship” June 23 to 26 in Vancouver. Prof. Smaro Kamboureli, English and Theatre Studies, is co-organizer. For details, visit www.transcanadas.ca. The 2005 Farmland Preservation Conference runs June 28 at U of G. The theme is “Meeting the Chal- lenge of Farming in the Urban Shadow." The conference is spon- sored by the Ontario Farmland Trust, an initiative of OAC’s Farm- land Preservation Research Project. The trust, which is chaired by Prof. Stew Hilts, chair of the Department of Land Resource Science, recently received $195,400 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to promote agricultural land trusts to farmers, municipal planners and the public. For information, visit www.farm- land.uoguelph.ca. LECTURE The Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry presents the 2005 Karasek Lectureship June 16 at 3:30 p.m. in Thombrough 1200. Guest speaker is Danial Wayner of the Steacie Institute for Molecular Sci- ences at the National Research Council of Canada. He will discuss “Modification of Silicon Surfaces: Toward Functional Organic and Bio-organic Interfaces." A reception will follow in UC 103. NOTICES The Faculty of Management will host a dinner June 24 at the Atrium Restaurant to mark the end of the second MA (Leadership) summer residency. At the event, the faculty will recognize The Co-Operators Group Limited for its financial sup- port of the Centre for Studies in Leadership and for providing finan- cial aid for exceptionally qualified applicants from community-based charitable organizations who wish to enrol in the master’s program. U of G students Jody Chrobak and Dan Rossi are part of a team called Five With DRIVE who plan to walk the entire cross-Canada distance of Yonge Street, 1,896 kilometres, to raise $50,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The walk begins July 1 and is expected to take 40 days. For infor- mation or to make a donation, send e-mail to jodychrobak@hotmail. com or visit the website www. fivewithdrive.com. The Gryphon cross-country and track teams are hosting their annual golf tournament June 19 at 1 p.m. at the Guelph Lakes Golf and Country Club. Contact Reid Coolsaet at guelphrunner@hotmail.com or 837- 5456 or Dave Scott-Thomas at Ext. 53430 or dscottth@uoguelph.ca. Physical Resources is holding an energy logo design contest and invites submissions of original energy-related designs. The winner will receive $250. Full contest rules are available online at www.pr. uoguelph.ca/sustain. SEMINAR The Department of Chemistry and the Electrochemical Technology Centre present engineering profes- sor Margarita Teutli Le6n of Benem^rita Universidad Autbnoma de Puebla in Mexico June 22 at 1 1 : 1 5 a.m. in MacNaughton 222. Her topic is “Mathematical Modelling of Soil Electroremediation.” TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services is offer- ing hands-on WebCT workshops for first-time users July 5 and 28. Regis- ter at www.tss.uoguelph.ca/registra- tion/index.cfm. For information, call Mary Naim at Ext. 53571. THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of PhD candi- date Emilisa Frirdich, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is June 17 at 9 a.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. The thesis is “Lipopoly- saccharide Inner Core Oligo- saccharide Biosynthesis and Outer Membrane Stability in Escherichia colt and Klebsiella pneumoniae." The adviser is Prof. Chris Whitfield. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Van Ortega, Department of Integrative Biology, is June 20 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Neuroendocrine Control of Appe- tite in Rainbow Trout ( Oncor - hynchtis mykiss)." The adviser is Prof. Nick Bernier. The final examination of Anne Reid, a PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, is June 21 at 9 a.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. The thesis is “The Role of Tyrosine Autokinase, Wcz, in Group 1 Capsule Assembly in Escherichia coli O9a:K30.” The adviser is Prof. Chris Whitfield. The final examination of PhD candi- date Umut Oguzoglu, Economics, is June 23 at 10:30 a.m. in MacKinnon 233. The thesis is “Empirical Likeli- hood Estimation of Dynamic Panel Data Models.” The adviser is Prof. Asha Sadanand. The final examination of Ming Li, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry, is June 27 at 2 p.m. in MacNaughton 318. The thesis is “Kinetic and Electrochemical Stud- ies of Spreading DMPC and DMPC/ Cholesterol Vesicles at Air-Solution and Gold-Solution Interfaces.” The adviser is Prof. Jacek Lipkowski. The final examination of Philippa Bodolai, a master’s candidate in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, is June 27 at 12:30 p.m. in Macdonald Stewart 331. Her thesis is “Father Participa- tion in Infant Development Pro- grams: An Exploratory Study.” The adviser is Prof. Kathleen Brophy. The final examination of PhD candi- date John Motto, Chemistry, is June 27 at 2:30 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. The thesis is “Cyclizations and Substitutions of Unsaturated Sulphur Compounds.” The adviser is Prof. Adrian Schwan. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Daryl Van Moorsel, Agricul- tural Economics and Business, is June 29 at 10 a.m. in MacLachlan 107. The thesis is “Structure and Characteristics of the Canadian Bio- technology Industry.” The advisers are Profs. John Cranfield and David Sparling. An overnight walk in support of sui- cide prevention is set for Aug. 20 at Riverside Park. The event will con- clude at sunrise with closing cere- monies at the Arboretum. To regis- ter, call 836-4145. For information, visit www.thewalk.ca. The Elora Festival launches its 26th season, “A Celebration in Song,” July 8 with Haydn’s Creation and continues to July 3 1 . For ticket infor- mation, call 846-0331 or visit the website www.elorafestival.com. The annual Summer Concerts in the Park program presents the Guelph Concert Band June 26 at 7 p.m. at Riverside Park and July 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Royal City Park. On July 17, the Waterloo Concert Band per- forms at 7 p.m. at Riverside. McCrae House will host summer teas July 6, 13 and 27 and Aug. 3, 10 and 24 at 2 p.m. Reservations are required. Call 836-1221. An opening reception for the Guelph Civic Museum exhibition “Everyone Loves a Parade: Down- town Guelph Celebrations” runs June 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. The show continues to Jan. 9, 2006. Wellington County Museum and Archives hosts an opening reception for “Insights," a juried art exhibi- tion, June 22 from 8 to 10 p.m. The show continues until Sept. 5. Other upcoming events at the museum include the Summer Thyme Herb Fair July 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Antique and Classic Car Show Aug. 28 from noon to 4 p.m. McCrae House will host a Canada Day celebration July 1 from noon to 4 p.m. The annual Teddy Bear Picnic is Aug. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. Woodlawn Memorial Park hosts a summer walking tour focusing on “The Artisans” June 23 at 7 p.m. For details, call 822-1271. The 22nd annual Hillside Festival runs July 22 to 24 at Guelph Lake. For complete details, visit www.hill- side.on.ca. To order tickets, call 763-8817. The Guelph Arts Council’s historical walking tours continue until Octo- ber. This month’s tours focus on “Altar and Hearth” June 19 and “Brooklyn and the College Hill” June 26. They begin at 2 p.m. For more details, call 836-3280. Two Steps and a Glass of Water, a multimedia production about men- tal health issues directed by James Gordon and featuring the collabora- tive efforts of the community-based program Spark of Brilliance, runs June 28 to 30 at the River Run Cen- tre. For tickets, call 763-3000. The Guelph Food Bank at 100 Cri- mea St. is holding a series of garage sales and silent auctions throughout the summer. The next sales run June 24 and 25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pet Trust Honours Youngster for Supporting OVC Fund BY BARRY GUNN, OVC A LIFELONG LOVE of animals has inspired an 1 1 -year-old London girl to raise money and awareness for OVC’s Pet Trust Fund. Nicole Zinchuk raised $1,560 for Pet Trust through a charity walk, as well as a letter-writing campaign she initiated as part of a school project. The walk took place June 4 in con- junction with London-area members of the Canadian Scottish Terrier Club. The event raised $450. It was the follow-up to the fund- raising campaign Nicole organized as part of the Future Possibilities pro- gram in her Grade 5 class at Glen Cairn Public School in London. Through group workshops and activ- ities, students work on pursuing a goal that will benefit their family, school or community. They must then come up with a plan to achieve their goal. “My goal was to raise money for animals, and I had to find a place that helped animals, so 1 picked Pet Trust," says Nicole, who presented the funds to Prof. Robert Jacobs, OVC’s assistant dean for research and graduate affairs, at the annual Pet Trust Forum. The forum provides lead donors with an opportunity to learn about advances in compan- ion-animal medicine made possible through their support for Pet Trust. “This is a remarkable accomplish- ment,” Jacobs says. “It is the personal commitment of people like Nicole — through their contributions of re- sources and time — that provide the foundation upon which we are able to achieve so many wonderful things in promoting pet health.” Pet Trust promotes the health, health care and quality of life of com- panion animals. Since 1986, it has raised more than $6 million for re- search, equipment and scholarships. At Guelph 12 June 15, 2005 at GUELPH SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 • VOL. 49 NO. 13 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH • UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: VPAC DISCUSSES INTEGRATED PLANNING • FIVE STAFF HONOURED FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE How I Spent My Summer Vacation The Canadiana/Begging Bear at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre had a jam-packed summer and turned a lot of heads, thanks to the children taking art classes at the centre. Working under the supervision of art camp instructors Jennet Clayton and Aidan Ware, the young artists planned a summer itinerary for the bear and created costumes appropriate for each destination. A trip to Canada’s Far North required the fuzzy polar bear outfit seen at far left. Second from left, the bear dressed for success to attend the annual meeting of the Organic Farmers as a representative of Holstein Cows Inc. For a side trip to a concert in Woodstock, N.Y., the bear looked “groovy," second from right. And things really got out of this world when the bear suited up for a trip to the moon, far right. Other summer adventures were a bear fashion gala in Toronto, a Miss Art Centre Universe AND^Sdan ware Order of Canada, Ontario Honours to Three College of Arts, OAC faculty to receive national, provincial honours for achievements and contributions T wo College of Arts faculty have been named to the Order of Canada, and a retired OAC professor has been appointed to the Order of Ontario. Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson an- nounced in August that Prof. Judith Thompson, English and Theatre Studies, and Prof. Robert Enright, Fine Art and Music, were among 82 Canadian appointees to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest hon- our of lifetime achievement. On Sept. 20, environmental biologist Gordon Surgeoner will be among 29 people to receive the Order of On- tario, the province’s highest and most prestigious honour, from Lt.-Gov. James Bartleman at Queen’s Park. Thompson, considered one of Canada’s finest playwrights, has been named an officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of out- standing contributions in arts and writing. A U of G faculty member since 1992, she has received wide ac- claim for her work and is known for her complex and sometimes disturb- ing plays that give voice to human failings and accomplishments. She is a two-time winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama for The Other Side of the Dark (1989) and White Biting Dog (1984), and was nominated for Ge- nie Awards for her screenplays Per- fect Pie and Lost and Delirious. She is also a two-time recipient of the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award. Enright, who teaches art criticism winter semesters in Guelph’s master of fine arts program, was named a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions in communications. Appointed a U of G research pro- fessor in 2004, he is known as one of the country’s most eloquent and prolific thinkers on contemporary culture. He is editor-at-large of Bor- der Crossings magazine, spent 25 years as an art critic for CBC and reg- ularly contributes to the Globe and Mail and international art maga- zines. He is the author of Eric Fischh 1970-2000 and has contributed to several other books on artists. A col- lection of Enright’s interviews were published in a 1997 book called Pere- grinations: Conversations With Con- temporary Artists. “This is a well-deserved and great Continued on page 14 Guelph-Humber Names New Vice-Provost Hospitality and tourism management prof brings ‘outstanding record' in scholarship, teaching, administration P rof. John Walsh, Hospitality and Tourism Management, has been named vice-provost of the University of Guelph-Humber. Walsh, who recently completed a term as associate dean of U of G’s Faculty of Management, was appointed for a five-year term that officially begins Jan. 1, 2006. He will, however, start at Guelph-Humber Oct. 15 for a transition period. As vice-provost (chief academic officer), Walsh will oversee academic and administrative endeavours of Guelph-Humber, a joint initiative of U of G and the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. “I am very pleased with this ap- pointment,” says president Alastair Summerlee. “Prof. Walsh has an outstanding record of distinction in scholarship, teaching and adminis- tration. His congenial, collaborative and creative approach will be a huge asset to the University of Guelph- Humber as we meet the challenges ahead.” Humber president Robert Gordon adds that Walsh’s back- ground and experience in both col- lege and university environments “position him perfectly for this new and important role. I have no doubt he will be successful in working with our faculty, staff and students in moving Guelph-Humber forward.” Walsh's selection follows an ex- tensive search that included public presentations, interview sessions and input from the Humber, Guelph and Guelph-Humber communities. “It is an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to join an impressive team of committed edu- cators at the University of Guelph- Humber,” says Walsh. He adds that Guelph-Humber has had great suc- cess due to the “outstanding leader- ship” of retiring vice-provost Prof. Michael Nightingale. Continued on page 7 at Guelph 1 September 14, 2005 Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street Guelph, ON N1H7G5 e sure to enjoy your career and get the most out of each work day. let us help you see your world more'clearly.— 766-7676 (est 1978) I Enriched Academic Curriculum I Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga I Musikgarten I Core French I Monthly Field Trips l Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Vi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, Ont 836-3810 “Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Marla Montessori It's time to renovate! Kitchen . . . Bathroom . . . Family Room PREMIUM LUMBER The How-To People. 55 Dawson Road On the Fergus-Elora Road GUELPH ELORA 821-5744 846-5381 MARKET —5 — Mon. -Wad. Thure.-Frl Sal FMifc fna mar UUkan . . . HOT TAKE-OUT SUPPERS • Turkey Breast Parmesan • Garlic & Parmesan Mashed Potatoes • Glazed Carrots & Cashews • Storemade Chicken Noodle Soup “Fast food goes gourmet 99 GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortright just off the Hanlon 570 Kortright Plaza • j .. . 763-2284 4m " VPAC Discusses Guidelines for Integrated Planning Long-term goal is to determine what U of G must do to meet its mission BY LORI BONA HUNT P rof. Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic), has released a summary of the Vice-President Academic’s Council (VPAC) retreat held in late August, at which the operational guidelines for U of G’s integrated planning process were discussed. The summary, which is available on the Office of the Provost website, includes details of how the inte- grated planning process will co-or- dinate unit-specific planning efforts to provide a University-wide plan. The long-term goal of the inte- grated planning process — launched last spring and overseen by Mancuso — is to determine what the Univer- sity must do to meet its mission now and in the future. “Making plans in a more coher- ent and co-ordinated way will better position us to make informed, effec- tive and successful choices and to take advantage of opportunities in- stead of being forced to react to gov- ernment actions,” she says. Mancuso has asked deans to work with chairs and directors to bring forward a five-year plan for departments and units, including curriculum, strategic goals and re- search plans. There will be opportu- nities each year to revise and amend the plans. “We need to move forward from an era of making change to one of making choices,” she says. VPAC has also suggested that all units build a rolling two-per-cent budget adjustment into their annual planning. This is intended to help meet the University’s annual infla- tionary costs. “At this point, there is no infla- tionary component of the grant from the government,” says Mancuso. “We believe being proactive in this regard is the only way to maintain quality. We are con- fronting this and other issues and embarking on this new planning process because we recognize that continuing to achieve the kind of success we have experienced will de- mand careful attention and flexibility.” Publication Date Deadline Sept. 28 Sept. 20 Oct. 12 Oct. 4 Oct. 26 Oct. 18 Nov. 9 Nov. 1 During the August meeting, VPAC also discussed three organiza- tional initiatives begun last year to review the options and future devel- opment of the Faculty of Manage- ment, the School of Engineering and the Faculty of Environmental Sci- ences (FES). It’s recommending the creation of a new College of Man- agement/Commerce and locating FES in the Ontario Agricultural Col- lege. Those suggestions will be for- warded to the Senate Committee on University Planning this fall. “We need to move forward from an era of making change to one of making choices. ” “These decisions were made fol- lowing lengthy discussions and de- tailed reviews of consultant reports of the Faculty of Management, Fac- ulty of Environmental Sciences and School of Engineering,” says Mancuso. Student interest in U of G’s man- agement and business-related pro- grams has risen dramatically over the last few years. In the bachelor of commerce program, for example, enrolment has increased by 88 per cent since the 1997/1998 academic year, and graduate enrolment has in- creased substantially, with new exec- utive management and leadership programs now among the largest on campus. Organizing these and other Fac- ulty of Management programs into a new College of Management will give the University a better frame- work to advance teaching and re- search programs in these areas, says Mancuso. “This new college would distin- guish itself from a typical business school by building on Guelph’s val- ues and core mission, as well as em- phasizing our strengths in Publication Date Deadline Nov. 23 Nov. 15 Dec. 7 Nov. 29 Jan. 11 Jan. 3 Jan. 25 Jan. 17 management and leadership.” The proposed new college would include the Department of Econom- ics, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the De- partment of Marketing and Con- sumer Studies, as well as some continued contributions from the departments of Psychology and Po- litical Science. The Department of Agricultural Economics and Busi- ness would remain in OAC but would be reorganized, and its ac- counting faculty would move to the new college. Faculty in the general business area would have an oppor- tunity to discuss with the deans of OAC and the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences where they best fit in to the restructured management area. The possibility of creating a Col- lege of Engineering was also dis- cussed. It was determined that future growth and development were needed to establish a self-sus- taining and independent college. The School of Engineering will re- view its mission and strategic objec- tives and bring forward a plan for growth, including financing from increased enrolment and new op- portunities for research partner- ships, that will help support the case for creating a new college. The recommendation on FES was made as part of a Univer- sity-wide strategic realignment, says Mancuso. “We have worked closely with the deans, faculty, students and other stakeholders to determine the best structure and approach to take full advantage of academic and re- search opportunities.” OAC has the capacity and sup- port to help FES faculty strategically enhance their program, she says. In making the move, the University would make appropriate efforts to preserve the interdisciplinary nature of the program and enhance focus on graduate programs and research initiatives, she adds. Mancuso notes that, although these reorganizations will be a par- ticular emphasis during the coming year, “it’s important to understand that there are ongoing challenges and opportunities for growth and innovation in every college, so this focus should not preclude the pur- suit of appropriate discussions and initiatives throughout the Univer- sity. The choices made in each unit will contribute to the development of Guelph’s first integrated plan and thereby help position the institution for continued success.” @Guelph Publication Schedule gj Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca Design Peter Enneson At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. J Production Linda Graham Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Subscriptions pj l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Editorial Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 $22 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada 3 Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifference@rogers.com Advertising: Ext. 56580 WWW. uoguclph. ca/adguide ISSN 08364478 ; 0 Director Chuck Cunningham Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 1 1 l'"U > 1 J 1,1 1 1 1 1 1 | to c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph at Guelph 2 September 14 , 2005 news in b rief HOMECOMING KICKS OFF WITH HALL OF FAME DINNER Homecoming runs Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, beginning Friday night with the Gryphon Hail of Fame Dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. For tickets, contact Janis Macpherson at Ext. 56133 or jmacpher@ uoguelph.ca. Saturday events include an Alumni Swim Meet from 9 to 1 1 a.m. at the Athletics Centre, the Glory Bowl at 10 a.m. at Alumni Stadium, the official open- ing of the McLaughlin Library’s OAC ’39 and Florence Partridge rooms at 10:30 a.m. and a commu- nity barbecue at noon across from the stadium. The Homecoming football game at 2 p.m. at the sta- dium pits the Gryphons against the Toronto Blues. For full details, visit www. uoguelph.ca/alumni or www. uoguelph.ca/athletics. KUDOS FOR SPARK The SPARK (Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge) program in the Office of Research received the communications award at the inaugural Agri-Food Innovation Forum held in Toronto this summer. Judges said SPARK took a fresh approach to agri-food and health communication by teaching students how to effectively communicate information about science and research to targeted audiences. In Memoriam J. Douglas Cunningham Prof. J. Douglas Cunningham, a retired faculty member in the departments of Food Science and Environmental Biology, died April 5 at age 79. A BSA and MSA gradu- ate of OAC, he taught at the college for more than 42 years. During that time, he developed the industrial micro- biology program and was instrumental in creating the co-op program in the micro/environ- mental biology group. When he retired in 1990, the J.D. Cunningham Industrial Scholar- ship was established in his honour. He is survived by two daughters, Mary and Nancy, and a grand- daughter, Kendra Harry Downie Prof. Harry Downie, a retired fac- ulty member in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, died June 19 at the age of 79. A 1948 DVM grad- uate of OVC, he also held a mas- ter’s degree from Cornell Univer- sity and a PhD from the University of Western Ontario. He taught at OVC for 43 years, retiring in 1991. He is survived by his wife, Mary; four children, Su, Sandy, James and Janet; and 1 1 grandchildren. Ron Sunter Retired history professor Ron Sunter died Aug. 8 in Guelph at the age of 68. A PhD graduate of the University of Edinburgh, he taught at the University of Windsor and the University College of Cape Breton before joining U of G in 1976. His numerous publications include the 1986 book Patronage and Politics in Scotland, 1707-1832. He retired in 2000 and is survived by his wife, Donna, and two chil- dren, Mairi and Ian. Rainbow Campers Add Crowning Touch to United Way Picnic Kickoff barbecue for campus campaign set for Sept. 29 on Branion Plaza United Way co-chairs Prof. Fred Ramprashad, left, Irene Thompson and Aiden Abram don crowns made by children from the Rainbow Day Camp to encourage campus volunteers gearing up for the 2005 fundraising drive. photo by mary dickieson BY MARY DICKIESON T hey may look like royalty wearing their fanciful crowns, but Irene Thompson, Prof. Fred Ramprashad and Aiden Abram are the hard-working co-chairs of the University’s 2005 United Way campaign, which runs Sept. 29 to Dec. 8. They donned the paper crowns to help inspire other campus volun- teers who will convene the annual fundraising drive in individual units and canvass their colleagues on be- half of United Way Community Ser- vices of Guelph and Wellington. The “crowning” event was a Sept. 2 picnic that brought together many members of the 2005 volunteer team and gave them a chance to meet Thompson, assistant director of res- idence life; Ramprashad, associate dean of the B.Sc. program; and Abram, a Central Student Associa- tion board member who is complet- ing his final year of a double major in international development and Earth surface science. Children who attended Rainbow Day Camp this summer decorated the crowns with United Way logos, feathers, stickers and glitter as their way of saying thank you for the Uni- versity community’s past support. Rainbow’s summer camp is one of 78 community programs supported by the United Way. Week-long camps for children aged five to 14 were held on campus in East Resi- dences during July and August. University contributions to the United Way campaign have risen steadily in the past few years, and the 2005 volunteers hope to continue the tradition by improving on last year’s $348,179 total. They will an- nounce this year’s campaign goal at the Sept. 29 kickoff barbecue on Branion Plaza. UW volunteers will sell a hot dog and pop for $3 from noon to 1 p.m., and you’ll be able to enjoy live music while you eat lunch. The rain location is Room 103 of the University Centre. The area-wide campaign for Guelph and Wellington launches Sept. 1 4 at a downtown event hosted by 2005 campaign chair David Creech, former Guelph city admin- istrator. Creech also chaired last year’s Guelph and Wellington cam- paign, which raised $2.33 million. U of G Reaches Out to Hurricane Victims Guelph will help in any way it can , says associate vice-president (academic) T he University of Guelph is reaching out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, including offering to admit displaced students from colleges and universities in the Gulf Coast regions. "For the second time this year, we are mourning the loss of life and the spectacle of human suffering as a re- sult of a natural disaster,” says presi- dent Alastair Summerlee. “We have contacted the president of Louisi- ana’s Tulane University, as well as other colleges and universities af- fected by this devastating hurricane, and expressed our sincerest sympa- thy and offered to help in any way we can as a partner in higher educa- tion.” U of G will accept, whenever pos- sible, undergraduate and graduate students from schools that have been affected by flooding and destruction. Following guidelines developed by Gulf Coast presidents, the students would be admitted to Guelph on a visiting or provisional basis. In addition, the University will work with faculty and other re- searchers to assess what help U of G might provide in the way of research and other expertise over the short and long terms. “The dean of OVC has already been in contact with colleagues in the region to see whether there is any way we can be of assistance,” says Prof. Alan Shepard, associate vice-president (academic). “We will also continue to work with schools and colleges to find out how we can help. We anticipate collaborating with charitable organizations to pro- vide aid in the weeks to come.” U of G also lent one if its ani- mal-care vehicles to a local shelter that made a trip to Louisiana to col- lect animals in need of medical care. Summerlee adds that U of G is known for being a caring, giving community and for its commitment to collaboration and international- ism. “It is fitting that we would offer to help these schools as they face the many challenges ahead,” he says. “Our thoughts are also with the fam- ilies whose loved ones are missing and with those who have lost their homes and belongings.” To make a donation to the Cana- dian Red Cross in support of hurri- cane victims, call 1-800-418-1111. people CHESWORTH NAMED FELLOW i Prof. Ward Chesworth, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, has been named a Fellow of the Geological Society of America in recognition of his contributions to sustainable agriculture. Founded in 1888, the society advances and promotes Earth science and works to develop practical applications to support human and environmental needs. It has 18,000 members worldwide. VETERINARIAN RECOGNIZED Retired OVC professor Russ Wil- loughby was named the first recipi- ent of the Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) this summer. Presented at the organization’s annual forum in Baltimore, the award honours diplomates who have provided exemplary and sustained service to the ACVIM. ENGINEER IS TOP RESEARCHER Prof. Gauri Mittal, Engineering, received the Best Researcher Award in the international category from the Japan Food Machinery Manu- facturers’ Association for his research on pulsed electric field- work and ultrasonic equipment to monitor food safety and quality. Presented in Tokyo, the award was decided by more than 1,000 associa- tion members and researchers. KEVAN JOINS US. COMMITTEE Prof. Peter Kevan, Environmental Biology, has been named to the U.S. National Research Council’s Com- mittee on the Status of Pollinators. The council is part of the National Academies. ALFRED TEACHER HONOURED College d’Alfred instructor Serge Tremblay received the 2005 Teach- ing Excellence Award from the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs. The award recognizes consistent excellence in teaching in agriculture diploma or certificate programs. COACH CAPTURES GOLD Ohenewa Akuffo, assistant coach of the Gryphon women’s wrestling program, captured the gold medal in the 72-kilogram weight class at the World University Summer Games in Turkey. ECONOMIST JOINS BOARD Prof. Ross McKitrick, Economics, has been appointed to the editorial advisory board of the Fraser Insti- tute, an independent Canadian public policy organization. He is also a senior fellow of the institute. ESSAY WINS TOP PRIZE The winner of the Fraser Institute’s 2005 student essay contest is Guelph student Maria Kilmas, who recently graduated with a B.Sc. in environmental sciences and is beginning a master’s program this fall in agricultural economics and business. Her essay, titled “Manag- ing Nutrients With Property Rights: An Evaluation of Nutrient Manage- ment Under Central Planning and the Market,” beat out more than 70 other entries for the top spot at Guelph 3 September 14, 2005 Ottawa Invests Research Dollars at U of G Two new Canada Research Chairs to focus on Canadian literature, life-threatening animal diseases POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ... Design your own unique pattern, the possibilities are endless! • EXTENSIVE SELECTIONS • Ceramic Marble Slate • OVER 1000 COLOURS TO CHOOSE • “Quality and Craftsmanship are a Family Tradition" M ajor research funding for U of G faculty was announced over the summer, including two more Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), $5 million from Genome Canada and almost $1.3 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The chairs were awarded to Prof. Smaro Kamboureli, English and Theatre Studies, who was named a Tier 1 CRC in Critical Studies in Ca- nadian Literature, and Prof. Dorothee Bienzle, Pathobiology, who will hold a Tier 2 CRC in Veteri- nary Pathology. Tier 1 chairs are ac- knowledged as international leaders in their fields and are awarded $200,000 a year for seven years. Tier 2 chairs are considered to have the potential to become world leaders in their fields and receive $100,000 a year for five years. Kamboureli, who joined U of G last fall, will use her CRC to establish an Institute of Critical Studies in Ca- nadian Literature. The main goal is to initiate a renewal of purpose and vision in both the instruction of Ca- nadian literature and professors’ roles as academics and citizens, she says. Scholars in Canada and abroad will take part in a major rethinking of the thematic, disciplinary and in- stitutional assumptions and the frameworks within which Canadian literature has been produced, stud- ied and taught in the last 20 years. They will produce research on Cana- dian literature as an institution and develop new methods for examining and teaching the subject. The author of more than 10 books, including Scandalous Bodies: Diasporic Literature in English Can- ada , which won the Gabrielle Roy Prize for Canadian criticism, Kamboureli was formerly a profes- sor and associate dean for research in humanities at the University of Victoria. Bienzle, a faculty member at OVC since 1997, will focus her re- search in two major areas: studying cats infected with the feline immu- nodeficiency virus (FIV) and under- standing chronic lung inflammation in horses. In cats, she will study the role of dendritic cells (a type of white blood cell crucial for initiating immune re- sponses) and macrophages (scaven- ger cells found in the bloodstream and tissues) in influencing the course of FIV infection. “The disease in cats is analogous to infection of people with HIV,” she says. “Understanding how the feline virus interacts with its host at the cel- lular and molecular levels may yield important clues about preventing and treating such infection in all ani- mals, including people.” In horses, she hopes to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic ap- proaches for equine lung disease. Bienzle is the author of more than 40 refereed journal articles and book chapters and received the Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Association for HIV Research. Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-presi- dent (research), says Kamboureli and Bienzle were both “exceptional candidates” for CRCs. "They are sig- nificantly enhancing the breadth of research and scholarship that is making the University of Guelph ever more distinctive.” U of G currently has 24 CRCs and expects to eventually have 35. The $5 million in Genome Can- ada funding was awarded to Prof. Paul Hebert, Integrative Biology, to create the world’s first comprehen- sive DNA bar-coding libraries and to support a centre for high-volume DNA bar-coding. The Canadian Barcode of Life Network was one of 33 projects that received a total of $346 million in support from Genome Canada and Canadian and international part- ners. When co-funding is included, total support for Hebert’s project will exceed $9.6 million. The bar-coding network seeks to develop a universal DNA-based identification system for all the world’s birds and fish, and then of its fungi, plants and single-celled or- ganisms. It will be based at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, which is being built on the west side of the U of G campus and will be di- rected by Hebert. The institute will provide researchers with the facili- ties and equipment needed to con- duct analysis on species from around the world. “Paul Hebert’s leadership in this field is internationally recognized,” says president Alastair Summerlee, “and Genome Canada’s support is vital to the development of this lead- ing-edge facility. The potential of this work for the future of scientific discovery is profound.” The $1.3 million in CFI funding was awarded to nine U of G research- ers working on a variety of lead- ing-edge projects. They are: • Prof. Aaron Berg, Geography, who received $148,436 for a soil moisture observation network and computer facility, • Prof. Hwan Suk (Chris) Choi, Hospitality and Tourism Manage- ment, $60,169 to study behaviour, motivation and satisfaction of in- ternational tourists; • Prof. Monica Cojocaru, Mathe- matics and Statistics, $268,996 for a high-performance computing project; • Prof. Wojciech Gabryelski, Chemistry, $176,252 for equip- ment to conduct comprehensive chemical analysis of complex mix- tures in environmental and bio- logical samples; • Prof. Ze’ev Gedalof, Geography, $127,621 for a paleoecology/ paleoclimatogy laboratory; • Prof. Bahram Gharabaghi, Engi- neering, $123,613 to develop tools and technologies for water re- sources management and plan- ning; • Stefan Kycia, Physics, $125,000 for a high-brilliance small-angle X-ray scattering beamline; • Prof. Richard Manderville, Chem- istry, $125,000 to conduct novel research on structure and synthe- sis of DNA; and • Andrew Preston, Molecular and Cellular Biology, $121,296 to study host-pathogen interactions. U o f G was among 39 universities that received $25.5 million from CFI’s New Opportunities Fund. Adena Springs, Guelph to Collaborate on Equine Health, Performance Centre Facility will enhance, complement equine teaching, research, health care at U of G A dena Springs Farms and the University of Guelph have entered into discussions to build an equine veterinary clinic to deliver state-of-the-art equine health-care and advanced diagnostic perform- ance services. Frank Stronach, president of Adena Springs, and U of G president Alastair Summerlee say the equine health and performance centre would be located on the Adena Springs North site in Aurora and would serve Canada’s equine indus- try. “My vision is to help create a world-class equine health and per- formance centre, and we are excited to be working with the University of Guelph to make it happen,” says Stronach. “This facility will help the equine industry continue to grow and prosper by supporting the high-performance equine athletes that are at the core of the business. Supporting the Ontario equine in- dustry is one of my key priorities, and working with the outstanding faculty, staff and students at the Uni- versity will help position this prov- ince’s equine industry to be leaders in North America, if not the world.” Summerlee says Stronach’s vi- sion “fits perfectly with U of G’s multi-year plan to enhance existing facilities and services at the Ontario Veterinary College. As part of our planning, OVC and Equine Guelph had already determined that build- ing an equine health-care and per- formance centre would be a key objective. I am, therefore, delighted that our priorities are so closely aligned. We applaud Adena Springs and Frank Stronach for sharing this bold vision, and we look forward to making it a reality in the months ahead.” The equine health and per- formance centre would enhance and complement the various equine teaching, research and health-care programs already provided by OVC and Equine Guelph on the Guelph campus, as well as the equine work at the Arkell Research Station. Adena Springs Farms has thor- oughbred facilities in Kentucky, Florida and Canada. A multiple win- ner of Eclipse and Sovereign awards, Adena Springs has been recognized 10 times as champion breeder in Canada and the United States. It has bred more than 100 stake winners, including reigning U.S. Horse of the Year, Ghostzapper. Level 1 University Centre 987 York Rd., Guelph 836-7060 • Poster printing, mounting and lamination • Coroplast Signs, Banners and Vinyl Decals • Graphic Design and Illustrations • Exhibit / Trade Show Design and Fabrication Ext. 58031/Email: info@clicksigns.ca www.clicksigns.ca at Guelph 4 September 14, 2005 The winners of this year’s President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service are, from left, Premila Sathasivam, Paulette Samson, Denna Benn, Sharon Anthony and Patrick Scissons. photo by grant w. martin photography Five Staff Honoured for Exemplary Service President presents second annual awards at community breakfast Prof Recognized for Research, Dedication to Animal Welfare Canada Research Chair holder wins inaugural award A n assistant registrar, a technician, an IT supervisor and two directors received the President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service at the annual community breakfast Sept. 8 . The awards program was initi- ated last year to recognize U of G staff who have consistently demon- strated a commitment to excellence and exceeded the expectations of their normal employment responsi- bilities. Individuals honoured were Sharon Anthony, assistant registrar in the Office of Registrarial Services; Denna Benn, director of Ani- mal-Care Services; Premila Sathasivam, a technician in the De- partment of Human Health and Nu- tritional Sciences; Paulette Samson, director of OAC advancement; and Patrick Scissons, information tech- nology department supervisor at Kemptville College. The award recipients were cho- sen from nominations submitted by colleagues. The selection committee had representatives from alumni, Board of Governors, college deans, department chairs, students and staff. President Alastair Summerlee says he’s “extremely pleased that staff took time out of their busy schedules to nominate their col- leagues. It’s truly rewarding to see the amazing variety of people hon- oured and their unique contribu- tions to our community.” Anthony, who has completed 33 years of service with U of G, was nominated for excellence in provid- ing service to faculty, staff, students and alumni, for her positive attitude and for enhancing the reputation of the University. Benn was recognized for her strong leadership in environmental enrichment and the welfare of labo- ratory animals. Known nationally and internationally for her work, she is described by one nominator as “a colourful, committed and energetic educator.” Sathasivam was nominated for excellence in providing teaching support, general and specific re- search support and service to her de- partment. She’s also been involved in a number of charity activities, in- cluding raising donations of clothing and money for the tsunami relief effort. With more than 30 years of ser- vice, Samson was nominated for building an “extraordinary” net- work of strong relationships with alumni, donors and faculty, and for being a mentor and role model to her colleagues. Scissons was nominated for es- tablishing and maintaining the col- lege’s computer network system and being an approachable and knowl- edgeable troubleshooter. The award also recognizes his efforts to enhance the quality of life for Kemptville staff, faculty, students and retirees. The community breakfast also marked the presentation of the first U of G Alumni Association Em- ployee Volunteer Award to Univer- sity professor emeritus Leonard Adams, Languages and Literatures. The award celebrates his 40-year re- lationship with the University. In addition, the Excellence in ' Undergraduate Academic Advising Medallion was presented to program counsellor Linda Allen of the College of Physical and Engineering Science. The breakfast also celebrated the contributions of staff who are mark- ing their 25th anniversary at U of G this year. For a list of those hon- oured, see the insert included with this issue of At Guelph. BY LORI BONA HUNT P rof. Georgia Mason, Animal and Poultry Science, is one of two people worldwide to receive a new award recognizing outstanding commitment to improving the care and housing of laboratory animals. The Charles River Laboratories Excellence in Refinement Award was presented to Mason last month in Berlin at the World Congress on Al- ternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences. Bert van Zutphen, a pro- fessor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, was also honoured. “This award is exciting and flat- tering for me personally," says Mason, “but its creation is also a sign of how important the field of animal welfare science has become.” Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-presi- dent (research), says the award is well-deserved recognition for Ma- son’s work. “She is deeply committed to im- proving animal welfare and to help- ing people better understand why it’s an issue of the utmost impor- tance. Her research challenges all of us to think about the enormous con- trol we have over the lives of so many animals.” The inaugural international award is sponsored by Charles River Laboratories and John Hopkins University’s Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing. Mason, who came to Guelph in 2004 as a Canada Research Chair, was cited for re- search that "provides solid scientific grounding for efforts to refine ani- mal research studies, increases our understanding of stress biology and offers practical insights into improving animal welfare.” “I’m very interested in improving : the welfare of the millions of mice and rats used in research,” she says. There are often political or other j motives involved in animal welfare issues, she adds, “but I’m interested in assessing animals’ needs in an objective way.” Mason’s work on lab animals includes understanding their re- sponses to stress (why, for example, mice jump up and down thousands of times a night or chew on the bars of their cages for hours) and using these measures to answer practical questions such as how often to dean rat cages and what enrichments should be provided to research monkeys. She is also focused on increasing understanding of the relationships between animal husbandry and ani- mal welfare across a range of other species. f Mason came to U of G from the University of Oxford in England, ' where she was a Biotechnology and Biological Sdences Research Coun- cil David Phillips Research Fellow and an investigator in the Animal Behaviours Research Group. Her work has appeared in publications such as Nature, New Scientist and Science. Playwright, Author Earns Kudos for Contributions to Theatre, Literature Drama professor receives third Dora Mavor Moore Award BY REBECCA KENDALL U OF G drama PROFESSOR Sky Gilbert, a playwright, poet, director and author, received the Silver Ticket Award from the Toronto Theatre Alliance at the 26th annua] Dora Mavor Moore Awards in Toronto this summer. The award recognizes an individual who has excelled in his or her own career while also nurturing the development of Canadian theatre. “It means a lot to me to be recognized since I ran Bud- dies in Bad Times Theatre for 17 years, put on 34 of my own plays, spent hours watching other people’s work and served as a mentor,” says Gilbert. Past Silver Ticket Award winners include David Mirvish, Tomson Highway and George Luscombe, for whom U of G’s theatre is named. This is Gilbert’s third Dora Mavor Moore Award. He won a playwriting award for The Whore’s Revenge in 1990 and a production award for Suzie Goo: Private Secretary in 1992. Gilbert was also honoured this summer with a ReLit Award for his fourth novel, An English Gentleman. Established five years ago to celebrate books pub- lished by independent and literary Canadian presses, Re- Lit awards are given for best fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Winners received their awards at beach par- ties held simultaneously in British Columbia and New- foundland and were honoured with uniquely crafted rings that boast four moveable spheres, with the alphabet carved into each one. “This is very special because it’s an artistic award for my writing, for my recent work, and the award itself stands for something,” says Gilbert “It’s an alternative to the Giller Prize, an alternative to money and cocktail par- ties. It’s about literature.” College of Arts dean Jacqueline Murray says Gilbert brings a breadth of creativity and a wealth of experience to U of G. “We are thrilled that his many talents and con- tributions to the arts have been recognized by two such prestigious awards.” at Guelph 5 September 14 , 2005 for, us She’s Got Connections Computer analyst Gayleen Gray is part of a large team of Computing and Communications staff who work to keep members of the U of G community connected to each other and the world. PHOTO BY GRANT MARTIN BY REBECCA KENDALL G ayleen Gray is coming down from the busiest time of her work year. “The first two weeks of September are always really intense,” says Gray, a computer analyst with Computing and Communications Services (CCS). "There were some long days in there, but I believe you reap what you sow, so I work hard because 1 get a lot out of it.” She’s the first to admit that the title “com- puter analyst” doesn’t really reveal much about what her job involves. “I’m involved with CCS on a variety of lev- els, and that makes working here exciting on a day-to-day basis,” says Gray, who teaches soft- ware application courses for U of G staff through Human Resources, is chair of the In- formation Technology Student Advisory Committee, supervises the IT help desk offered through the Learning Commons and is one of I two co-ordinators for ResNet. All across campus, thousands of students are surfing the web, and she plays an important role in getting them online using ResNet, a ser- vice that’s been provided in residences to stu- dents, staff, faculty, associates and visitors for the past decade. Gray has been on staff for six of those years J and says the service and level of technical : knowledge that ResNet users have have im- proved tremendously from the early days. “Most people who use the service on cam- pus have Internet connections at home, so they’re pretty savvy. They don’t always know how it all works, so it’s a bit of an educational process for us to help them understand.” She adds that it’s important for ResNet us- ers to know how to avoid getting computer vi- L ruses and to understand their bandwidth use. “The work we do is vital because computer access is an integral part of academics as well as maintaining connections with friends and family. It’s almost as important as having a phone, and you need the tools to do what you need in your work, your studies and your life.” As a manager, Gray oversees 15 ResNet em- ployees along with about 19 part-time student staffers at the IT help desk. They work along- side staff in the CCS Help Centre to support CCS products and services and to provide as- sistance when pesky computer problems arise. Although first contact with the public is the responsibility of staff providing customer ser- vice, Gray says she carefully monitors ResNet issues as they arise from behind the scenes. “I look into every open ticket on file to en- sure it’s being taken care of efficiently. Our staff are amazing, and they do a really wonder- ful job. Customer service can be difficult.” She says the keys to being successful in the field include strong troubleshooting skills, sound technical knowledge and the ability to think on one’s feet. Many people on campus look to her de- partment to explain the technical aspects of computers and networking systems and to help them work through a variety of issues. They have varying degrees of technical exper- tise and knowledge, and Gray says it’s impor- tant to be conscious of that because the client may know less than the person troubleshoot- ing or may actually know more. She says her staff must find ways to explain concepts and terminology that might be diffi- cult for some people to understand, but they also need to know when they might be in over their head. “It’s not always what you can answer,” she says. “Sometimes it’s knowing what you can’t answer and knowing how to deal with that. You’re not going to know the answer to every- thing. None of us can.” The computer field is a far cry from the ca- reer path Gray thought she would have. After completing an honours degree in English from Carleton University, she worked as a journalist at an Ottawa Valley newspaper before moving into the hospitality industry. For five years, Gray managed the clubhouse and catering operation at a golf course. Al- though she enjoyed her work and was even ac- cepted into chef school, she wanted a new challenge. She decided to get into computing and obtained numerous Microsoft and other in- dustry certifications that qualified her for her current role. She says her background in hos- pitality and customer service, coupled with her technical computer knowledge, makes the job a good fit for her. “The opportunities provided to me through CCS are using my strengths, and I’m doing the work I want to do. At CCS, we really care about the people we’re supporting. There are a few of us who are more visible in terms of dealing with the public, but there’s a whole team of people behind the scenes, and they all do great work, so here’s a shout out to that crowd.” Students and faculty, buy a qualifying Mac and get a free iPod mini after mail-in rebate* Buy a Mac. Get a free iPod mini. And with your everyday education discount save up to $525. ** But act now. The offer is only good from June 28 through September 24, 2005. Take advantage of this offer at the Apple Store for Education online at www.apple.ca/go/getamini. T ~ ■■■ ■ — ■■ — r — *■— 1. n. nj rf mW. 01 »Bd phnB, AAaMnJlrnK «ot*» StrOftcUi OUrr Coupon or vwi MW>B»b«*dor 1 »» rdutxkxt annum on piKtvw of > 17-lncti torotoc* *rd »MS oHwrt on a cw&fn) rod TM and © JOOS *<*•* Conpm re. A* ilgha at Guelph 6 September 14, 2005 HTM Restaurant Name Honours Industry Leader Cara Operations, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management are ‘ideal partners/ says company head BY REBECCA KENDALL U OF G’S NEWLY EXPANDED teaching kitchen and res- taurant has a new name. The Atrium Restaurant is now called PJ’s Restaurant in the Atrium in memory of Paul J. Phelan, the modern founder of Cara Operations Limited, one of Canada’s largest hospitality companies. The new name and a memorial plaque were unveiled last week dur- ing a special ceremony at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Manage- ment (HTM). The name recognizes gifts received from Cara; the Percy R. Gardiner Foundation, which is headed by Gail Regan, Phelan’s daughter; and Gabriel Tsampalieros, Cara’s president and CEO. Donations from the three part- ners, totalling $750,000, have been integral to the restaurant’s expan- sion and renovation and have added strength to HTM’s ability to provide excellent experiential learning space for students, says HTM director Prof. Marion Joppe. “Our teaching facilities, includ- ing this incredible restaurant, are among the finest in North America, and we are thankful for all the sup- port we’ve received,” she says. “The restaurant is named in memory of a man who built his com- pany on the values he cherished — integrity, respect and the entrepre- neurial spirit. Indeed, he imbued Cara with a passion for the hospital- ity business, and his entrepreneurial spirit was always balanced by busi- nesslike thinking, sound manage- ment, professionalism, responsible stewardship and accountability. These are the same values we hope to instil in all our students.” Phelan, who died in 2002, made a “I look forward to playing my role as we continue to build out- standing educational experiences that meet the needs of our students,” Walsh says. A well-known teacher and con- sultant on higher education, he first joined the U of G faculty in 1988. In 1993, he moved to British Columbia when he was appointed an adviser, apprenticeship revitalization, with the province’s Ministry of Advanced Education. He also served as acting vice-president, academic, and acting president at Royal Roads University in British Columbia. He returned to U of G in 1997 as director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism major contribution to Canada’s hos- pitality industry. Cara Operations Limited is one of Canada’s leading integrated restaurant companies and the largest operator of full-service restaurants in Canada, providing employment for some 39,000 Cana- dians in its owned and franchised operations. “Cara and HTM are ideal part- ners,” says Tsampalieros. “Both are Management. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Thames Polytechnic in England and an MBA and PhD in business administration from the University of Western Ontario. Summerlee and Gordon thank the selection committee for its com- mitment and Nightingale for his leadership and vision. APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED A number of other administra- tive appointments and renewals were announced at U of G over the summer. Following committee reviews, Brenda Whiteside will continue as associate vice-president (student af- fairs) and Prof. Isobel Heathcote, recognized leaders in hospitality in Canada and share a common goal to promote and continuously improve our industry. Many of our team- mates have enhanced their hospital- ity and leadership skills at this school, and we look forward to our ongoing relationship.” The $3. 5-million expansion pro- ject, completed in 2003, doubled the teaching restaurant’s food produc- Engineering and Environmental Sci- ences, will serve a second term as dean of graduate studies. Prof. Dan Thomas, Chemistry, was named associate dean of the B.Sc. program. Prof. Neil McClusky of New York joined the Department of Biomedi- cal Sciences as chair. Two chairs were reappointed for second five-year terms: Prof. Brian Allen, Mathematics and Statistics, and Prof. Harvey Marmurek, Psy- chology. Prof. Julia Christensen Hughes, Hospitality and Tourism Manage- ment, was reappointed director of Teaching Support Services for a tion space. Third-year students use the restaurant to apply their class- room studies. Lunch and dinner are served several days a week to the public in the 85-seat dining room, which doubles as a fine-dining res- taurant on selected evenings. “We are proud that our teaching restaurant will carry P.J.’s name as a testament to his spirit and vision,” says president Alastair Summerlee. three-year term. Prof. David Murray, who re- cendy retired from the Department of History, was named acting direc- tor of the School of English and Theatre Studies until July 2006. Michael dayman was appointed managing director of Laboratory Services. Marcel Couture was named in- terim director of College d’ Alfred until August 2006. In the Centre for International Programs, which relocated this sum- mer to the University Centre, Lynne Mitchell was appointed director concurrendy with her position as study-abroad manager. Administrative Appointments Announced Continued from page 1 SAVE 25 % OFF ROGERSYaHoO? HI SPEED INTERNET Get what you want FAST with Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet. 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In a world of new globalization and greater economic, cultural and political integration, smaller nationalities and cultures have sought to reassert and revive cultural traditions and identity. Threats to human populations that include the possibility of the extinction of a culture appear unthinkable in the modem world. The Zoroastrians of Iran, India and the diaspora make up a unique culture that faces just such a danger of cultural extinction. Zoroastrians are adherents of the religious message of Zarathustra (circa 1200 BCE). Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest ethical religious systems. From the time of its be- ginnings to the eighth century, it was one of the major religions of Southwest Asia. Its in- fluence on Judaism, Christianity and Islam has been profound. After the eighth century, the conversion of the Near East to Islam saw the decline of Zoroastrianism, with only a small population remaining in Iran and a Zoroas- trian community forming in India known as the Parsis. The arrival of the Zoroastrians in India af- forded them a tolerant social and religious environment that es- sentially permitted them to be left alone. In addition, the nature of Indian caste society distinguished the Parsis as a separate and distinct community. The mechanisms the Parsis adopted to preserve and safeguard their religion and identity emerged over the centuries in India. They built the material and moral sup- ports of their community, including housing colonies, fire temples and the famous towers of silence. The Parsis faced contradictory pressures to assimilate into Indian society while preserving their religious identity amid the great religions of India. Over time, the Parsis emerged as a com- munity of complex identity: Indian in many of their social and cultural features but orthodox in religious identity. In fact, they adopted a strict endogamy — marriage solely within the Zoro- astrian fold — to safeguard identity. Identity became both reli- gious and ethnic as they married within the community and conversion became unfamiliar. (In Iran, proselytism and con- version to Zoroastrianism were prohibited by Islamic law.) The Parsis gained much prominence during the period of British imperial rule in India. The city of Bombay emerged as the major centre of the Parsis. Their economic, educational, cultural and political state was enhanced under imperialism as they formed contacts with the British and adopted aspects of western culture. The colonial period and western influences added new layers of identity to this adaptive community. From the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, the Parsis were one of India’s most prosperous, philanthropic, educated and westernized communities. Zoroastrians, to some degree, have been victims of their own success. As Parsi prosperity and accomplishment grew, a sense of distinct identity and ethno-religious pride also took shape. Conversion remains the bugbear of the community. Contro- versy and lack of consensus continue to mark the Zoroastrian response to conversion. The history of the Parsis of India wit- nessed various attempts by members of the community to chal- lenge the community consensus against the acceptance of converts, whether through intermarriage or the conversion of willing applicants. Outside India and Iran, many Zoroastrian communities have taken shape. London still claims the first and largest Zoro- astrian community from the mid- 19th century, with Toronto the second-largest community, and other communities scat- tered across North America, Asia and Australasia. Outside In- dia and Iran, conversion has been a less weighty issue because many Zoroastrian centres acknowledge the incidence of mar- riage between Zoroastrians and non-Zoroastrians and have re- ligiously confirmed the children of such marriages into Zoroastrianism — although the conversion of spouses is not practised. A handful of conversions of individuals to Zoroastrianism have also occurred over the past two decades by individual Zoroastrian priests, but there is no consensus in the Zoroastrian community about such conversions. The story of the Zoroastrians from the 20th century is one of tremendous demographic decline. The Parsi population of In- dia reached its peak in the 1940s, with 1 14,000 Parsis recorded in the Indian census of 1941 . The total world Zoroastrian popu- lation was likely no more than 135,000 in the same period. Since India’s independence in 1947, the country’s population has tri- pled, but the Zoroastrian population has declined by a third. Today, Zoroastrian deaths outnumber births, and small fami- lies and late marriage are the common social pattern. Zoroas- trian populations currently number 69,000 in India, 24,000 in Iran, 5,000 in Europe, 23,000 in North America and 2,500 in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The significance of the conversion controversy becomes ap- parent amid the demographic decline. Today, international media headlines are apt to note the extraordinary irony of one of the world’s great religions and cultures passing into oblivion: “Zoroastrianism: The Fastest-Shrinking Religion,” “Fate of Zo- roastrians Is Stark,” "Are Parsis on a Path to Self-Destruction?” The United Nations also noted the serious state of the Zoroas- trians and commemorated 2001 as Zoroastrian Heritage Year to bring attention to the situation. Zoroastrians have not been oblivious to their plight. Many organizations have formed to represent Zoroastrians on the lo- cal and international levels. The First World Zoroastrian Con- gress took place in 1962 in Tehran to bring together Zoroastrians from around the world to meet and discuss issues relevant to the Zoroastrian community. Congresses have re- convened regularly since then, with the eighth held this sum- mer in London, England. The general theme was one of inclusiveness and a wide canvassing of ideas. Two days were de- voted to addresses by speakers of Zoroastrian and non-Zoroas- trian backgrounds. Academicians, university professors, community leaders and activists, as well as knowledgeable indi- viduals with a keen interest in Zoroastrian studies, participated. All the speakers reiterated the great accomplishments of the Zoroastrian heritage and the indomitable spirit of Zoroastrians. The urgency for change was clearly evident at the congress, perhaps more so than in the past. Canadian and British dele- gates representing progressive Zoroastrians organized a session to highlight the important concerns that face the Zoroastrian community and to canvass suggestions from delegates on their resolution. The conversion question remains a vital issue at the heart of community concerns. Specifically, the delegates sought to devise a plan that entailed providing a blueprint on the ad- mission of converts to the community. For the first time, the Zoroastrians openly broached the issue of accepting anyone in- terested in becoming a Zoroastrian. This was in contrast to the usual debate over whether to admit non-Zoroastrian spouses and the children bom of Zoroastrian and non-Zoroastrian par- ents. It is a measure of how much the Zoroastrian diaspora out- side India and Iran has changed that the concern over conversion is no longer about “mixed marriages” and children and has now shifted to the question of reviving the Zoroastrian community by way of accept- ing any individual who seeks to convert. But no uniform decision was taken on con- version, and traditionalist viewpoints were also present at the congress that continue to object to conversion as being against tradition as they defined it. As has often been the case in previous meetings of the world Zoroastrian community, it was once again evident that the progressive and traditionalist segments remain unwilling to compromise on their fundamental beliefs over the future of the community. Identity politics and the desire to stake one’s own opinion to the exclusion of others’ remain as evident among Zoroastrians as among any other community in today’s world. To more objective observers, this seems unfortunate because both progressives and traditionalists have historically played and continue to play a vital role in the disposition of Zoroastrianism and the future of Zoroastrian communities. This doesn’t mean a compromising of values and beliefs, but it does mean forsaking comfortable biases. The long history of Zoroastrians reflects that social adaptability and evolution followed in the context of the sanctification and solemnization of change are called for. The situation of the Zoroastrians is very serious, and the fu- ture remains uncertain. Although the situation may seem pe- ripheral to most non-Zoroastrians, the issues of religious identity, culture and the accommodation to modernity con- tinue to affect everyone. The Eighth World Zoroastrian Con- gress and previous congresses reflect that Zoroastrians refuse to see themselves as a “dying” or “effete” community, and that the spirit of Zoroastrianism will survive in one form or another among those committed to its preservation. I have observed that, in the long history of the Zoroastrians, great schism has been avoided in the interests of preserving the unity of the community. It is becoming apparent, however, that the actual resolution to specific issues may be taking the form of responses from local and regional Zoroastrian centres. Ulti- mately, if Zoroastrianism is to continue to be a “living religion,” Zoroastrian communities will take divergent courses and unique global Zoroastrian communities will emerge. Prof. Jesse Palsetia is a faculty member in the Department of History. “Today, international media headlines are apt to note the extraordinary irony of one of the world’s great religions and cultures passing into oblivion: 'Zoroastrianism: The Fastest-Shrinking Religion, ’ 'Fate of Zoroastrians Is Stark, ’ ‘Are Parsis on a Path to Self-Destruction?’’’ brock road nursery Cfardtvc centre § skoppe TOP TEN PERENNIALS FOR FALL COLOUR & INTEREST JOIN US SEPTEMBER 1 5TH AT 7PM WHEN JANET ANDERSON OF JANET ANDERSON PERENNIALS GIVES US HER TOP TEN PERENNIALS FOR FALL INTEREST & COLOUR! CALL TO REGISTER TODAY. GOREGOUS BULB COLLECTION . WARM GARDEN MUMS . ORNAMENTAL CABBAGE & KALE . ORNAMENTAL GRASS . ICICLE PANSIES . NOW AVAILABLE ! PERENNIAL HOUSES A r ' ^IFTWARE CLEARANCE 50-60% OFF! 1 858 Gordon Street, Guelph. C. 9.836.5010 www.brockroadnursery.com at Guelph 8 September 14 , 2005 Profile Singing From the Same Song Sheet Student activities co-ordinator aims to build sense of community on campus and beyond O NE NIGHT IN August 2004, Rachel Barreca and a friend were rounding Whitefish Bay, located on the southern corner of Lake Superior near Sault Ste. Marie, en route to a folk festival. They were listening to Gordon Lightfoot’s song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. “I love the story the song tells and the respect for the men who died on that ship and the respect for the water and nature,” says Barreca. As they listened to the music, she felt a silence in the air and for the first time noticed a keyboard line she’d never heard in all the times she’d lis- tened to the song before. “It was a haunting melody in the background, like ghosts almost, and it was a really magical mo- ment. I felt very Canadian in that moment.” Barreca believes music has a magic that is un- paralleled. A singer’s voice next to a guitar riff or harmonized with other musicians can produce a bond among listeners that transcends almost anything, she says. Canadian music is an instru- mental part of her life, especially indie music, and equally important is creating and contributing to a sense of community. She’s happiest when the two are combined. Barreca first came to Guelph in 1990 to study music and completed a degree in 1995. After sev- eral years of studying and working in radio, she returned to U of G in 2001 to join the staff in Housing Services before moving into her current role as co-ordinator of student activities in 2003. She admits her transition to university as a student was bumpy at best, but once she began to settle in, she became involved in a number of campus activities, including volunteering for Guelph’s campus radio station, CFRU FM. “That’s what gave me the bug for radio.” Barreca believes an important and powerful aspect of community radio is its ability to bring people together through the exchange of ideas in music and spoken word. She says she received positive energy from bringing music to an audi- ence through the airwaves and decided radio would be the ideal career path for her. After graduating from Guelph, she began studying radio broadcasting at Algonquin College in Ottawa while working part time at Carleton University. “I thought I’d give it a go and see what happened. I figured if I didn’t, I’d regret not trying it.” Working at CBC Ottawa gave her a chance to learn from sea- soned journalists and to produce stories about things that mat- tered to her. She did a practicum there and also produced various segments and documentaries on a freelance basis. While at CBC, she played a small part in producing a docu- mentary about Ottawa arts patron Trudi LeCaine. After learn- ing that Barreca had done her degree at U of G in music, LeCaine quizzed her about what she knew of Edward Johnston, a Guelph singer bom in 1 878 who promoted music and the arts in the city and abroad. “I had to admit that I didn’t know much about him, and she really took me to task for that,” recalls Barreca. “After that, I made sure to learn about him.” LeCaine died in 1999, less than a year after the documentary was produced, and Barreca attended her funeral. To this day, she continues to be inspired by LeCaine’s devotion to appreci- ating and promoting the arts in Canada. Barreca says working in radio provided her with some great opportunities and connections both personally and profession- ally, but in the end, her radio career was short-lived by choice. She wanted more out of her job. “I don’t regret one minute of it, but it wasn’t enough to sus- tain me. I find in my daily working environment that I need to know I’m making an impact. If I’m going to work hard at a job, I want to be helping people, and I really didn’t get that feeling from the day-to-day work I was doing." She decided what she really wanted was to return to U of G and work with students. In her current role as student activities co-ordinator in Student Life and Counselling Services, she works directly and indirectly with thousands of students all the time. Her most recognizable efforts are putting together Orien- tation Week, which welcomes new students each September. Barreca is now gearing down from overseeing seven days of activities and events — 380 in all — to help new students adjust to all as- pects of university life so they can succeed in and out of the classroom. “I know that, at the end of the week, as hectic as it is from our side of things, for the most part there are 3,500 students who feel welcomed here and that they are now part of this community.” Her skills in event planning and bringing people together aren’t limited to her work on campus. For the past three years, she’s been road manager and stage manager for a Lightfoot tribute concert series spearheaded by friend and musician Aengus Fin- nan. Organizers hold concerts in various Ontario cities each January. “The shows are produced partly because of nos- talgia for a musical hero and partly to recognize that this person has contributed a body of work to this country’s culture that you sometimes take for granted,” she says. “The songs are so interwoven with references to our landscape and the trains, the tundra, the lakes, the oceans and the prairies. All that is Canada gets wrapped up in Lightfoot’s mu- sic, and it’s a celebration of that.” Canadian folk singer Valdy, acoustic blues gui- tarist Rick Fines and members of the band Moxy Friivous have all performed as part of the series. In appreciation, Lightfoot made appearances at shows in 2003 and 2004 and spent time speaking with the musicians, which Barreca says was encouraging to everyone who was part of the event. “He’s an amaz- ing songwriter and an amazing man.” Closer to home — in fact, in her home — Barreca hosts the Mill Lofts Music Series, concerts that take place in her living room. “You just can’t get over how good live music is when you’re two feet from the musician and you can ask questions about the instrument or the per- formance while the concert is going on," she says. “It’s how music should be heard.” She had her first house concert in 2003 after get- ting to know a lot of musicians, including Finnan, who per- formed at her last show. Another one is scheduled for later this month. Working to build a sense of community by bringing people together is what Barreca enjoys, and although there are times when she can’t make events happen on her own, she says she feels good knowing she can give people the knowledge they need to do it themselves. “It’s what I do professionally when I show event planners across campus where to find the resources they need to make their ideas a reality. It’s what I loved about being on the radio, letting my listeners know about a fantastic new artist or record or concert that was coming to town. And it’s why I do the Lightfoot tributes and the Mill Lofts Music Series — to share the stories and music of the incredible grassroots musicians I am lucky enough to discover. There are people in our commu- nities creating amazing art, and I want to support that. I want to be a patron of that and share it with others.” By Rebecca Kendall FREE iPod with LG handset A FREE jej = $30 Patina is evil. $30 Check us out at: (Mnnr.sffideiitpiran8s.ttm ) Or call 1-866-287-1835 This offer Is exclusive to StudentPhones.com, negotiated In partnership with the Canadian Federation of Students. If that's not enough... * You will also get a student discount of up to 33% on cell phone plans. at Guelph 9 September 14 , 2005 Parrot Lovers Boost Research Into Killer Disease Local club raises more than $9,000 to support OVC research on puzzling parrot affliction BY BARRY GUNN, OVC «l H , 1 appy Hour” at Nathalie Lemieux’s house can be a boisterous affair. But it’s parrots, not imbibers, that are making all the racket. Lemieux, a teaching lab techni- cian in the Department of Pathobiology and programs co- ordinator for the Wild Bird Clinic, is the proud owner of an African grey parrot, an Alexandrine parrot and a Quaker parakeet. The birds are par- ticularly chatty at feeding time in the morning and when settling down in the evening. She loves them all, but it’s the Af- rican grey, a three-year-old named Kito, that holds a special place in her heart. “She’s such a little talker and a singer,” says Lemieux. “She’s start- ing to imitate all the kids in the house. You get to the point where you don’t respond to the kids right away because you don’t know whether it’s the parrot calling.” Kito — Swahili for “precious” — is a bit shy and not as trusting as some parrots when it comes to being picked up or handled. This may be due to a folding fracture suffered in the nest. This type of fracture, often related to a calcium deficiency, oc- curs when pressure on the bone causes it to fold over and deform rather than break. African greys, par- ticularly chicks, are prone to these i problems. In May 2002, avian specialists at the Ontario Veterinary College worked on Kito, cutting the injured bone in the fracture zone and pin- ning it back together so it would heal properly. “Her left leg is slightly weaker now, but the average person cannot tell,” says Lemieux. “She’s done ab- Nathalie Lemieux’s fundraising efforts will help support research on a wasting disease that affects parrots like her African grey, Kito. PHOTO BY CONNIE JASINSKAS solutely amazingly since that sur- gery." Lemieux recently found a way to show her thanks. As president of the Golden Triangle Parrot Club, she helped organize an event called “All About Birds” this spring. It raised more than $9,000 to support re- search on proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) at OVC. PDD is a wasting disease that af- fects members of the parrot family. The cause isn’t known, and there’s no effective treatment. This makes it especially difficult to cope with be- cause parrot owners become deeply attached to their birds. And no wonder. Some research suggests African greys have the intel- ligence of a four- or five-year-old child. And parrots can live 30 to 60 or even 80 years depending on the type. “They talk, they interact with you, they’re affectionate,” says Lemieux. “They give kisses; some like to cuddle. It’s like having an- other little person around the house.” The funds from the parrot club will enable a team of investigators — including Profs. Dale Smith and Eva Nagy, Pathobiology, Michael Taylor of OVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Davor Ojkic of Labora- tory Services — to refocus their ef- forts and build on a Pet Trust-supported research project conducted in 2002 by then-graduate student Yohannes Berhane. “It’s really great to see the bird owners step up and organize this fundraising effort,” says Taylor. “It’s certainly the first big one of its type in Canada. It will go a long way to- wards helping us do what we’re try- ing to do.” One of the biggest challenges fac- ing researchers is the cryptic nature of PDD, says Smith. It presents itself in so many ways that it’s difficult to diagnose, and you can’t develop a di- agnostic test until you know what to test for. “Our belief is that the disease spreads through an infectious agent in the feces,” she says. “We’re trying to determine whether these virus- like particles we see in the feces are, in fact, the agent.” Although it’s easy to find birds that die showing the classic symp- toms — the Animal Health Labora- tory sees perhaps dozens of cases of PDD per year — they probably rep- resent only a small portion of the infected population, say the re- searchers. “Typhoid Pollys” can be bought, sold and traded among pet owners and aviaries, spreading PDD from place to place without the source of the infection ever being known. “We have a good feel for the numbers of cases of birds that are dy- ing of the disease,” says Taylor, “but birds are living, shedding virus and not dying. They’re the ones that are very difficult to detect until we can identify the agent.” The investigators have a suspect; an enveloped virus that to date has been impossible to grow in the lab. The challenge this summer was to obtain enough samples for microbi- ologists to do their work trying to link the suspect virus to the disease. “It’s been a tough, tough case to crack,” says Taylor. “And yet the an- swers have to come, and I’m sure they will come.” Information about the Golden Triangle Parrot Club is available on the web at www.gtpc.ca. For details about the upcoming Canadian Par- rot Conference in Hamilton, visit www.canadianparrotconference.ca. Library Acquires Collection of Golf Course Architect Stanley Thompson Society donates material to c its rightful home ’ BY REBECCA KENDALL A COLLECTION of memorabilia of renowned golf course architect Stanley Thompson (1893-1953) has been donated to U of G. It includes drawings, newspaper articles, photo- Great deals for students! compute FREE Carbon Club Card with ANY purchase! (limit one per customer) Bring in this coupon and get 10% off ALL iPod Accessories! b Also featuring fully-warrantied used systems and equipment - trade-ins welcome! w J carbon computing iPod mini ss> Extras > Setting* > Shuffle Songs Backlight .. r 1 Authorized Reseller 445 King Street West (at King and Victoria), Kitchener www.carbonation.com 519.772.1777 graphs, correspondence, contracts and agreements. “Stanley Thompson was a Cana- dian original — a genius and an ec- centric who has an almost rock-star cult status among golfers who un- derstand and appreciate his creative and challenging approach to golf,” says Michael Ridley, U of G chief li- brarian and chief information offi- cer. “The availability of this collection will help Canadians better understand a remarkable indi- vidual.” Thompson, a skilled designer and golfer, attended the Ontario Agricul- tural College and worked on more than 145 golf courses in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and e&rg&y Windows and Doors Georse Wallace 11 Victoria Howl North, Guelph, Ont. N1E 5G6 (319) 891-7800 Fa* (519) 891-7810 South America, including three of Canada’s top courses — St. George’s in Toronto, Highlands Links in Ingonish Beach, N.S., and Capilano in Vancouver. He also co-designed the course at Guelph’s Cutten Club, which he once owned, managed and resided at. A co-founder of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, Thompson was one of five brothers who represented one of the most talented golfing families in North America, says Ridley. “We are honoured that Guelph has been chosen as the repository for the collection,” he says. “The enthu- siasm, generosity and dedication of the Stanley Thompson Society have been amazing, and we look forward to working with them to grow and develop these collections.” Society president and founder William Newton says the collection is unique in Canada because it repre- sents the only archives of a Canadian golf course architect and features work from the 1920s to the early 1950s, a period when Thompson pi- oneered many design principles that are still valid today. “Old-style courses have come back in favour, so the collection per- mits study of an important period,” says Newton, who adds that the col- lection was donated to U of G be- cause of Thompson’s strong ties to the city and its campus. “We thought it appropriate to return the material to its rightful home.” at Guelph 10 September 14, 2005 OMAFRA Announces Transfer Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, was on campus last month to announce the transfer of 14 agricultural research stations and the agricultural colleges at Ridgetown, Kemptville and Alfred to the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) from the Ontario Realty Corporation. The minister is shown here with, from left, president Alastair Summerlee; Helmuth Spreitzer, chair of the Agriculture Research Coalition; and ARIO chair Ginty Jocius. photo by rebecca kendall New CBS Department Name Reflects Changes in Focus Past decade sees growing emphasis on biological aspects of human health Peach Trees That Reach for the Sky Study explores upright and columnar peach tree varieties T he former Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences (HBNS) has been renamed the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences. Senate approved the name change in June. The new moniker reflects changes in the department’s re- search and teaching focus, the re- search interests of several recently arrived faculty members, and the de- partment’s involvement in U of G’s Health and Performance Centre and the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit, says department chair Prof. Terry Graham. "During the past 1 0 years, the de- partment and the faculty have pro- gressively moved to a focus that has been consistently described in our department strategic plan as biologi- cal aspects of human health with a particular interest in nutrition and physical activity,” says Graham. Since last fall, the name change has been discussed in departmental meetings and at the College of Bio- logical Science dean’s council, as well as with other units across campus whose research and teaching in- cludes aspects of human health, he says. The latter include both the On- tario Veterinary College and the College of Social and Applied Hu- man Sciences, particularly the De- partment of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. HBNS was formed in 1995 from the merger of the former CBS de- partments of human biology and nutritional sciences. Today’s depart- ment is one of three in the college, following the CBS reorganization last year. BY CHERYL TRUEMAN SPARK PROGRAM H orticultural research at Guelph may be changing the shape of Ontario peach trees — literally. Prof. John Cline and agricultural technician Debbie Norton, Plant Agriculture, are working at the Vineland Research Station to see how upright and columnar peach trees — varieties where branches grow upward rather than spreading outward — compare with standard tree varieties in high-density orchards. The verdict so far: these trees can stand on their own. “There is increasing interest among tree fruit producers in adopting higher-density orchard systems,” says Cline. “Columnar and upright peach trees may better lend themselves to this type of sys- tem than standard trees.” Columnar and upright peach trees were developed by the U.S. De- partment of Agriculture for amateur home growers who wanted small, easy-to-manage trees. Whereas branches from standard trees tend to grow out horizontally, columnar trees branch more vertically, giving them a columnar shape. Upright tree branches grow slightly wider than their columnar counterparts. This more compact vertical growth allows more trees to be planted in a given area, and it’s be- lieved they’ll require less pruning — and as a result less management — than standard trees do. Apples went through the same revolution of higher-density fruit tree systems 20 years ago, says Cline, and this trend has since spread to fruit trees such as peach and cherry. Now, Cline and Norton want to find out if the new peach tree variet- ies can improve production effi- ciency on a commercial scale in Ontario. They* re involved in a 10-year trial launched in 1999 by Vineland researcher Neil Miles in response to grower demand for smaller trees that can increase the density of their orchards. So far, the new trees look promis- ing. Preliminary results show that, after two years of bearing fruit, the upright and columnar peach tree va- rieties generate two to three times the cumulative yield of varieties with standard branch growth. When planted in high-density systems, columnar varieties also have the po- tential to generate higher yields per given area because they can be planted closer together. In addition, they begin producing fruit in the second year after planting, shaving a season off the normal three years. Quality has not been an issue, says Cline. Producers are concerned that fruit from upright and colum- nar varieties may be below current 1 standards, and although the re- searchers likewise expected lower fruit quality, they were pleasantly surprised, he says. Only a slight decrease in fruit quality compared with commercial tree varieties has been seen so far, j says Cline. In fact, upright and co- lumnar trees may eventually lead to \ improved overall fruit quality as new varieties are developed. The researchers won’t be sure if columnar and upright varieties can be grown successfully in commercial production systems until the long- term study concludes, but Cline says he’s optimistic about the results. This research is sponsored by the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegeta- ble Growers’ Association and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. EAUAXV Visit cineplex.com, famousplayers.com or galaxycinemas.com for theatre locations & showtimes CINEPLEXODEON ✓ This week only, present your University Student Card to receive 3 fo £| MOVIE F°R| TICKETS September i6 th -25 th , 2005 IT'S FROSH WEEK AT TH E INAOVI ES at Guelph 11 September 14 , 2005 Pounding the Pavement for a Good Cause Students put their best foot forward to raise money BY REBECCA KENDALL T wo U OF G students hit the road this summer to raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Fifth-year hotel and tourism management student Jody Chrobak and third-year international devel- opment student Dan Rossi were part of a team called “Five With Drive” that spent 40 days walking the world’s longest thoroughfare — Yonge Street. Other members of the team were Jonathon Mishrigi, Mark Macdonnell and Rossi’s brother Andrew. Their cause was one particularly close to Dan Rossi’s heart. Currently a Big Brother to a 13-year-old boy, he has been a mentor with the orga- nization for the past decade and hopes people will think about volun- teering their time to help a child. “There are a lot of children out there who don’t have a positive role model in their life, especially if they lack a mother figure or father fig- ure,” he says. “We all have life les- sons we can share with another per- son. They are free to give and can bring real change to a young per- , son’s life.” On Canada Day, the group took their first steps at the most easterly point of Yonge Street in Rainy River, Ont., about 100 kilometres east of Fort Frances. "Fittingly, it was raining,” says Chrobak. “Taking the first steps seemed rather surreal. I don’t think any of us knew what truly lay ahead for the next 39 days. It was a pretty exciting moment, though.” Each day, they spent 12 to 15 hours walking along Highway 11, which is officially an extension of Toronto’s Yonge Street. Chrobak says the most challenging part of the trip was trying to stay positive out in the middle of nowhere, seeing the same things every day in the wilder- ness and waking up at 3 a.m. knowing she’d be on her feet all day. “It was tough, especially around day 16, when we weren’t even to our halfway mark. The physical part be- came routine, but the mental part, well, you can never get used to that.” Dan Rossi recalls the four-day stretch between Longlac and Hearst as his favourite part of the course. “There was nothing for miles except us, nature, a couple of lakes, the northern lights and stars.” Rossi spent 37 days walking on a ; splinted pinky toe after injuring it in | a dash to help his brother. “1 thought my brother was being attacked by a bear,” he says. “All I heard was him screaming. I had my hood on, so by the third call, I started to sprint in the pouring rain up and down a hill only to see him putting his hands up saying: ‘I just wanted you to know I love you.’ My toe finally healed at the end of Au- gust.” Chrobak says the walk taught her many things about herself and her abilities. “Patience is an extremely impor- tant trait to possess when you’re with the same four people for 40 days straight. I was also able to expe- rience my own personal strength, something I never fully knew I pos- sessed. There were many times when 1, or the others, could have quit, but 1 had to start what 1 fin- ished and I never gave up, something I am extremely proud of now.” When the group finished their 1,900-kilometre journey Aug. 9 in Toronto, they’d raised more than $48,000. Chrobak says it’s hard to know for sure how this journey af- fected people and improved the public’s awareness of Big Brothers Big Sisters, but she’s proud of her teammates for their vision and for crossing the finish line together. “Making a difference in the lives of others is easier than walking for 40 days. It could be smiling at someone when they’re down, offering advice to a sister or brother, having a posi- tive student/teacher relationship or being a friend. What we set out to do was show people that making a dif- ference and being a mentor is so easy, and most of us do it every day. Making a difference is easy because actions speak louder than words.” aftpr hours HR Booklet Only Online T HIS year for the first time, Human Resources will not be distributing a hard-copy booklet of information about faculty and staff development opportunities. Instead, the booklet will be published only online, in pdf format, at www. uoguelph.ca/hr/training. This web- site also contains the link to the online registration page. Registra- tions begin Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m. The seminars listed in the booklet are designed to enhance on-the-job effectiveness and cover such topics as communication, diversity, health and wellness, personal safety, leader- ship and computing. Karen Kovats, training and devel- opment co-ordinator in Client Ser- vices, encourages members of the University to fill out HR’s online training needs questionnaire to make suggestions about what they’d like to sec offered in the curriculum in the future. Anyone with questions can con- tact Kovats at Ext. 56495 or kkovats@uoguelph.ca or Margaret Middleton at Ext. 56800 or mmiddlet@uoguelph.ca. VITOR CASTRO Third-year student in computing science When Vitor Castro isn’t studying computers, he’s playing on one. One of the things he does for fun is attend LAN parties, where par- ticipants bring their computers and network their systems together to play games. “There are certain video games that you'd normally play ^“£ astr0 online against strangers, and in this case, you’re playing against your friends,” says Castro, who is treasurer of U of G’s Computer Science Club. He also plays fighting games, role-playing games and first-person PC shooters. Final Fantasy, Soul Calibre and Metroid Prime 2 are among his favourites. One of his ongoing interests is learning to speak Jap- anese. “A lot of games on the Internet are written in Jap- anese. I don’t think realistically I’ll be able to translate them soon, but if I ever do really learn the language and I still have an interest in playing these archaic games, I’ll be able to.” Castro is also a big music fan and attended the Sys- tem of a Down concert in Toronto Sept. 1. “It was a great show,” he says. “They really kept the crowd go- ing." JENNIFER BARRETT Development manager for the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences since 2004 Jennifer Barrett spent some of her free time this summer learn- ing to play golf. “I was always one of those people who went out golfing once or twice a summer and that was it,” she says. “It was really frustrating because I wanted to get better, but I wasn't improv- J7 n “7f er Barr et7" ing.” She finally made a commitment to take lessons and says she noticed a difference after just one session. “I needed someone to show me the technique, and once I learned that, it became a very natural thing.” Her husband is an avid golfer, and she says golfing as a couple is a great way to spend time together. “It’s a lot more fun when you know what you’re doing, though.” Off the links, she enjoys a good book. Her current read is The Chronicles of Narnia, a compilation of seven fantasy novels for children written by C.S. Lewis. One story in the series is The Lion, the Witch and the Ward- robe, which Barrett read for the first time when she was 12. “I remember it as one of my favourites,” she says. On Sept. 16, she and her husband are heading to To- ronto to see U2 perform. “I’ve never been to see them, so it should be fun.” They’re also planning to spend a few days in Mon- treal next month. Her husband lived there until he was 12, and Barrett says she’s looking forward to seeing his childhood home. RAY LU Faculty member in the Department of Molecular and Cel- lular Biology, joined U ofG in 2001 Prof. Ray Lu admits it took some time for him to let go of using film in his photographic endeavours and embrace digital cameras. “I converted last year,” he says. “I sold my film cameras and bought a good digital camera.” Now he finds it’s great to be able to store and preserve images Ray Lu in his computer. He says he gener- ■- ally has a camera with him when he’s doing fun things with his family and really enjoys taking photos of people and landscapes. Lu reads photography books and magazines to learn how to improve his shots. “I’m not necessarily a very good photographer, but I enjoy it.” He also enjoys connecting with his four-year-old son during walks they take on the trails near their home. “It’s a nice way to relax and spend quality time with him.” They spend time investigating whatever might cross their path, including the many varieties of bugs and flowers. Lu loves both classical and pop music and is a fan of Norah Jones, Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Diana Krall, Dido and U2. His favourite mov- ies include The Sixth Sense, What Dreams May Come, ThePianistand When Harry Met Sally. On television, he enjoys Seinfeld reruns and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. “Stewart’s comments are very smart, and I en- joy his humour.” The following appointments have recently been announced at U of G. • Agnes Allen, assistant to the vice-president (finance and adminis- tration) • Paul Anglin, associate professor, Department of Economics • Carol Armstrong, assistant profes- sor, Department of Biomedical Sci- ences • Benjamin Beacock, electronics technologist. School of Engineering • Janet Ferguson, veterinary techni- cian, Large- Animal Clinic, Veteri- nary Teaching Hospital • Jill Ferguson, co-ordinator, educa- tional planning and job search, Co-operative Education and Career Services • Pat Flood, assistant professor, School of English and Theatre Stud- ies • Ralf Gellert, assistant professor, Department of Physics • Angie Gallupe, service co-ordi- nator, Academic Records, Office of Registrarial Services • Kim Healey, veterinary technician, Large-Animal Clinic, Veterinary Teaching Hospital • Linda Hoffman, financial officer, research accounts and infrastructure programs. Office of Research • Paul Hossie, assistant manager, financial services, Alumni Affairs and Development • Karen Houle, assistant professor, Department of Philosophy • Denis Huneault-Jofffe, costume co-ordinator, School of English and Theatre Studies • Craig Hyatt, IT analyst/systems developer, Office of Research • Rebecca Johnston, veterinary tech- nician, Large-Animal Clinic, Veteri- nary Teaching Hospital • Matthew Kimber, assistant profes- sor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology • Lise Koenig-Langis, registered nurse, Student Health Services • Jiping Li, senior molecular biolo- gist, Analytical Services Unit, Labo- ratory Services • Allison MacDuffee, assistant pro- fessor, School of Fine Art and Music • Jennifer Maddock, leadership edu- cation and development adviser. Student Life and Counselling Ser- vices • Adrianne Mead, manager, resi- dence admissions, Student Housing Services • Jennifer Minogue, biosafety offi- cer, Environmental Health and Safety • Jason Moreton, alumni officer, advancement projects, Alumni Affairs and Development • Linda O’Loughlin, liaison officer, School of Engineering • David Pearl, assistant professor. Department of Population Medicine • John Potvin, assistant professor. School of Fine Art and Music • Jackie Radley, accounting and administrative clerk, Veterinary Teaching Hospital • Randy Ragan, contracts manager, Office of Research • Ben Reeves, assistant professor, School of Fine Art and Music • Alyson Reid, veterinary technician, Large-Animal Clinic, Veterinary Teaching Hospital • Valerie Robertson, manager, U of G NMR Centre, College of Physical and Engineering Science • Mirjana Savic, veterinary patholo- gist, Animal Health Laboratory, Laboratory Services, Kemptville • Flavio Schenkel, assistant profes- sor, Department of Animal and Poultry Science • Michael Villagonzalo, senior sys- tems adviser/project manager, business operations, Laboratory Ser- vices • David Walters, assistant professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology • Jennifer Wesley, laboratory safety officer, Environmental Health and Safety • Karen Zuccala, manager of market- ing and communications. Depart- ment of Athletics. at Guelph 12 September 14, 2005 a ppointments Teaming Up to Tackle MS Physicists and geneticists join forces to fight multiple sclerosis BY HEATHER SCOTT SPARK PROGRAM M ultiple sclerosis (MS), a devastating neurological disease affecting 50,000 Canadians, can be controlled with drugs in some people, but there's still no cure. U of G researchers are reaching across disciplines to fight the disease, and they’re using a novel imaging technique that’s helping them better understand how MS works. The technique is called solid-state nuclear mag- netic resonance (NMR). Prof. Vladimir Ladizhansky, Physics, says just five years ago, sci- entists thought it could be applied to only a few bi- ological problems. But since then, various research groups (including Robert Griffin’s group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Ladizhansky was a post-doctoral researcher) have been developing solid-state NMR with great suc- I cess and have started using it to address several I important biological problems. Ladizhansky, who holds a Tier 2 Canada Re- ! search Chair in Biophysics, is teaming up with Prof. George Harauz, Molecular and Cellular Biol- ogy, to take a closer look at MS, an inheritable dis- ease where nerve cell proteins called myelin basic proteins are distorted. This distortion disturbs proper brain function and causes brain damage, muscle weakness, balance and co-ordination problems, and even death. Ladizhansky says the key to treating MS lies in understanding how these proteins become dis- torted in the first place. That’s where solid-state NMR comes in. In NMR, powerful superconduct- ing magnets induce atoms in a protein sample to orient the same way, like a compass needle. The at- oms are then exposed to short bursts of radio waves, causing each type of atom to rotate uniquely. A computer then describes the atoms, based on the rotations observed, and scientists can assemble this information to gain a complete picture of a protein’s structure. “The workings of a car are best understood by taking the car apart and examining its pieces,” says Ladizhansky. "In the same way, the function of a protein may be better understood by examining its structure.” That’s not so easy when it comes to myelin basic proteins. Harauz and Ladizhansky say they’re RU Profs. Vladimir Ladizhansky, left, and George Harauz are using NMR to help better understand how MS works. PHOTO BY KYLE RODRIGUEZ “plastic” because their shape changes and adapts to their environment. That makes it difficult to study them with traditional biochemical techniques, which often alter the proteins’ structure. The duo hope their research will eventually lead to prevention or inhibition of the distortion of my- elin basic protein and the discovery of better ways to deal with the consequences of MS. Ladizhansky is also trying to refine the solid-state NMR tech- nique to more effectively study Alzheimer’s disease and Creutzfeldt-Iakob disease, which also involve distortion of normal protein structure. This work is sponsored by the Canada Founda- tion for Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust, Science and Engineering Research Canada, the Ca- nadian Institutes of Health Research and U of G. Project Serve Ready to Roll M ore than 400 U of G students, faculty and staff will head into the community Sept. 24 to volunteer at some 30 local agencies as part of the University’s eighth annual Project Serve day. Project Serve was launched in 1997 to introduce students to com- munity involvement and volun- teerism. In 2001, it received the Program of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Col- lege and University Student Services. Working with teams of five to 15, Project Serve participants will spend a half day doing various jobs from environmental cleanup to sorting food at non-profit agencies that address social, environmental, health and animal welfare issues. Participating agencies include the Guelph Food Bank, Roots & Shoots and Women in Crisis. Each volun- teer group is headed by a team leader who is a senior student, faculty member or staff member. After their volunteer stint, team members return to campus to talk about their experience. “Project Serve provides an im- portant link between students and the local community," says Chris- tine Victorino, co-ordinator of citi- zenship and community engage- ment in Student Life. “By actively engaging in volunteer activities, students learn first-hand about the issues facing the broader Guelph community. They’re also encour- aged to think critically about their volunteer work and reflect on their role in society and how they can make a difference in the long term." 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Solo and Solo Mobile are trade-marks of Solo brandng Inc 10-4 b a trade-mark of Bell Canada. Bell Sympatico™ High Speed Internet service • Consistently fast Internet connection of up to 3 Mbps that allows you to talk and surf at the same time. • Enhanced Internet experience with tools like MSN Encarta® • Unlimited bandwidth — download all the music and videos you want 0 • Avoid shipping fees by picking up your modem kit on campus or at a Bell World storer* Solo Mobile Plans S Include: FREE • Unlimited 10 - 4 ~ walkie-talkie service for $1 /day BEER! • FREE text messaging, Call Display and much more!' j| • Sanyo 2300 - $ 99 ’ (well, not really, but everything else is true) Offers available only at the Bell World store located below or on campus! Stone Road Mall 519 821-3792 honour for both Profs. Thompson and Enright," says president Alastair Summerlee. "Their thoughtful writ- ings and many other talents have contributed greatly to the arts and to Canadian society in general. This prestigious recognition also brings credit to the University, and I am de- lighted for them both." Thompson and Enright will re- ceive their membership insignias later this year. Surgeoner is being honoured for his distinguished teaching and re- search career, which included initi- ating programs aimed at increasing productivity in Ontario agriculture. A 1971 graduate of OAC, Surgeoner is currently president of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, a non- profit organization that focuses on Ontario’s participation in develop- ing, promoting and adopting bio- technology, including bioproducts, in an ethical and environmentally conscious manner for the agri-food sector. “I am delighted to see Dr. Surgeoner recognized for his many contributions to agriculture both in Ontario and across Canada,” says Summerlee. Recycling Tip of the Month To cut down on overflowing recycling bins, remember the first R’s: reduce and reuse. Try to avoid printing unnecessary docu- ments like e-mails, and save your smooth scrap paper to print draft copies on. For more ideas, visit www.pr.uoguelph.ca/sustain/ reducetips.html. U of G Recycles! www.pr.uoguelph.ca/recycle Where Are You Now? A new semester brings you another opportunity to win a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore for recognizing various landmarks and locations on campus. If you can identify where this photo was taken, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester. Anyone who submits the right answer by Sept. 16 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uogueiph.ca or call Ext. 56982. We also invite readers to submit their own campus photos for this feature. photo by rebecca kendall EYE EXAMS NOW ARRANGED • Eye Doctor Prescriptions Filled • Two Opticians with over 49 Ynn Combined Experience: • Senior's Discount Available Scott Coburn Optical "A Name You Can Trust In Eyewear " Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone 821-2020 1 23 WYNDH AM ST. N. Opposite the old Post Office For information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 827-9169. at Guelph 14 September 14, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE 2000 Honda Civic, five-speed, fully loaded, safety and e-tested, 180,000 km, Ext 58220, 780-1373 after 6 p.m. or jkaur@uoguelph.ca. Three-bedroom, 1,260-square-foot raised bungalow backing on to Skov Park, three baths, central air, fire- place, hardwood floors, photos at www.45sherwood.com, 824-8182. Women’s cowboy boots, size 8, excellent condition, 823-8729. Living room suite: chesterfield, loveseat and armchair, gold, sold separately or together, 836-9841 or dstoneho@uoguelph.ca. Antique Eastlake sideboard, includes 1/3 back mirror, excellent condition, mbrunt@uoguelph.ca. Yamaha FG345 guitar, great condi- tion, great sound, 823-8123 or mdecoste@uoguelph.ca. Core Secret fitness ball with pump, two videos; Everdeck Fitness System; Brenda Dygraf Ab/Gym; circuit training systems, videos; Bissell Quick Steamer carpet cleaner with attachments, items never used, 837- 4378. Antique oak desk, excellent condi- tion, best offer, 821-2493. Aerobic Rider total body exercise machine; four-year-old Welsh/thor- oughbred large pony mare, 14.1 HH; three-year-old Holsteiner/thor- oughbred mare, 15.1 HH, Susan, 848-2548 after 6 p.m. GE side-by-side fridge and 30-inch stove, almond, very good condition, delivery available, 856-0213 or kramerrkatt@yahoo.com. Red and blue metal children’s swing set, free-standing, has two swings, two-sided swing and bench swing, seven feet tall, Cathie, Ext. 56187. Nautilus Power System NT#907, professional-class equipment with Olympic bar, metal plates, bench, lat and leg attachments; Impex Power Station TC3000; black steel tube bunk bed, single top, double bot- tom; single mattress; queen brass headboard; child’s wooden school desk, 822-1438. Oval solid oak table and chairs, two leaves, four years old, clarkin@ lsd.uguelph.ca. La-Z-Boy brown armchair; uphol- stered beige swivel chair; side table; embroidered stool; floor and table lamps; small table with magazine rack; electric kettle; hot plate with two elements; entrance mat; two small folding tables, all in good con- dition, 821-3209. Vertical blinds with valance, pull chain on right, beige, 84 by 72 inches; two roller shades: 54 inches and 45 inches, cream, brackets, pull chain; vanilla sheers with tracks and hooks, 87 by 75 inches, good condi- tion, 822-0786. Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop, Pentium 4, HD 40G, 15-inch XGA screen, 3.06G processor, 512 memory, 8xCD/DVD burner, 64 NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 AGP 4xGraphics, XP Home, modem, integrated network card, two batter- ies, Dell software, one-year war- ranty, Yves, Ext. 53942. Durham Furniture solid cherry entertainment armoire, mint condi- tion, photo at www.durham fumi- ture.com/showroom/chateau/ entchiff.html; couch, loveseat and chair, neutral colour; double bed with mattress, dresser with mirror and nightstand, will help move if you supply vehicle, Ryan, 821-6738. Gym membership to GoodLife Fit- ness, marinarei@gmail.com. 1989 Honda Civic, automatic, gold, runs well, many new parts, 253,000 km, javaid@miqbal.com. Compact tabletop-style convection oven; queen-size pine waterbed; brown armchair; blue computer chair; taller brown wheeled chair, suitable for drafting table; electric kettle; vaporizer; electric and micro- wave popcorn poppers, 837-3809. FOR RENT Sublet part of house near U of T from September to April, shared with one student, furnished, two bedrooms, 514-286-4887. One-bedroom walkout basement apartment, Speedvale/Eramosa area, no pets, $750 a month, available immediately, 822-3371 or 835-8085. Spacious basement apartment for quiet professional, Speedvale/Victo- ria area, private entrance, parking for one vehicle, laundry, non-smoker, no pets, $675 a month inclusive, references required, 836-7587 after 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Three-bedroom townhouse on Gordon Street, furnished or unfur- nished, walking distance to campus, bus stop at door, two baths, parking, non-smokers, no pets, $1,150 a month plus utilities, available immediately, 519-883-8580 or nega_yahya@yahoo.com. Two-bedroom basement apartment between Guelph and Elora, separate entrance; laundry, parking, central air, satellite, suitable for sabbatical faculty or professionals, non-smok- ers, no pets, $860 a month inclusive, available Oct. 1, Ext. 52901 or ymine@uoguelph.ca. Furnished one-bedroom basement apartment, separate entrance, park- ing for one vehicle, 10-minute walk to campus, suitable for mature stu- dent, non-smoker, no pets, $550 a month inclusive, first and last months’ rent required, 763-1568. Shared accommodation in stone farmhouse between Guelph and Rockwood, 15 minutes to campus, non-smokers, no pets, car required, 856-0213 or kramerrkatt@yahoo. com. Furnished two-bedroom apartment in downtown century stone building, ideal for visiting professor, profes- sional or grad student, available November to April 2006, rent nego- tiable, Frank, 836-6666 or ftnarchetti4@rogers.com. One-bedroom apartment on edge of conservation area, five minutes from Hanlon, dishwasher, washer/dryer, fireplace, parking, non-smokers, $650 a month plus hydro, 763-5280. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short- term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, 836-6745 or frunoll@rogers.com. WANTED Volunteers for the Residential Awareness Program for fall 2005, recycle@pr.uoguelph.ca. Nanny required to care for two chil- dren aged two and four Monday to Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., duties include preparing meals, housekeeping, occasional sleepover, preferably with car, Gordon and Kortright area, 827-1644. Nanny required to care for two chil- dren aged nine and 13 Monday through Friday from 2 to 6:30 p.m., duties include supervising home- work, preparing meals, tidying up and occasional sleepover, Kortright Hills/Y area, 824-7557. AVAILABLE Experienced house cleaner, refer- ences supplied, Lisa, 763-4506. Handyman for repair jobs, Les, 856-9539. Space available before and after school for day care in Victory School area, non-smoking home, police check, snacks, early dismissal, 826-0337. Walnut French Provincial dining Day care needed immediately for room suite: buffet/hutch, table with two children aged two and five, older six chairs, good condition, jpoluch@ child in school part time, Clair/ registrar.uogueph.ca. Clairfields area, 780-1216. Pianos, books lessons & more! 2 18-A Victoria Rd.S. Guelph, Ont. N1E5R1 fax; 519.836.9474 lesson Sne: 51 9.71 6.4792 FOR RENT Two-bedroom with possible third bedroom. Beautifully decorated with full accents, French doors, clawfoot bath- tub. On the river, small fenced yard, pet friendly, four new appliances. Available November 1st. Si, 150 a month plus utilities. Call 823-0204 Island Ink-Jet® Cartridge Refill. Sale & Service Stone Road Mall (Kiosk located m front of SEARS) -while you wait service -save up to 60% Dell. Lexmark. HP. Epson. Brother. Canon 519-821-2828 stoneroadmall@islandinkjet.com Refill. . Not Landfill 1 0%OFF Garden designs that work., naturally. Gardens by CREATING "RAN QU IL L attire IVING SPACES 519.836.0925 www.garde nsbynarure. com • Fall planting • Garden prep for winer • Less work for you nexr spring “ALPHA" COURSE Starts Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 5:45 p.m. in Room 128, Food Science. Want to know more? Join us for pizza, a video and the opportunity to explore the meaning of life. Topic: “Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?” All students, faculty, staff and friends are invited. For information or to register, send e-mail to alpha@uoguelph.ca. SEE YOU THERE! Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag AIR DUCT CLEANING ■**21 Breathe Cleaner Air Steamatic Surface Contact Cleaning Removes allergens like pollen, mould, fungus and dust mites ri dgjfe Reduces household dust ri dgl Lowers energy costs Ask aboul Carpet 4 Upholstery Cleaning #4,, Call us (519) 836-7340 Nobody Cleans Better Than Steamatic! at Guelph 15 September 14, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM The annual dedication service for the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest is Sept. 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the dedica- tion grove across from the Arbore- tum information kiosk. For more information, call Ext. 52113. Horticulturist Sean Fox leads work- shops on "Shrub Identification” Oct. 11 and “Tree Identification” Oct. 20, both from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost of each session is $40. Registra- tion and payment deadlines are Sept. 27 and Oct. 6. CONFERENCE An international conference called “Rethinking Plato’s Republic runs Sept. 15 to 17 at the Ramada Hotel. Organized by Prof. John Russon, Philosophy, the conference will fea- ture 10 speakers from across North America. It opens Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. with an introductory address by Prof. Ken Dorter, Philosophy. Fri- day and Saturday sessions run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The talks are free and open to the public. For more infor- mation, contact Russon at Ext. 53553 or jrusson@uoguelph.ca. FILM The third annual "Beyond Holly- wood” film series sponsored by the U of G Library and the School of English and Theatre Studies begins Oct. 2 with the 1994 Chinese film Blush, directed by Li Shaohong. Prof. Norman Smith, History, will introduce the film at 6:45 p.m. in the Florence Partridge Room in the McLaughlin Library. Admission is free. LECTURE The Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition presents the 2005 Harshman Lecture Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Pinetree Room at the Ramada Hotel. Guest speaker is Karen Fingerman, the Berner Hanley University Scholar at Purdue University. She will discuss “Friend or Friction: Relationships Between Adults and Their Parents.” A recep- tion will follow. To attend, RSVP by Sept. 16 to Barbara Aldridge at Ext. 56321 or baldridg@uoguelph.ca. NOTICES The Campus Child-Care Co-opera- tive of Guelph turns 30 this year and will mark the anniversary with a pancake breakfast Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riverside Park. The co-op invites all former staff and for- mer member families to join the cel- ebration. For more information, call Jennifer Paean during business hours at 780-8049. Perimeter Institute is hosting “EinsteinFest” Sept. 30 to Oct. 21, offering a range of exhibits, educa- tional activities, lectures and performances to mark the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s annus mirabilis. Displays and exhibi- tions are free, but advance tickets at a set hour are recommended. Tickets can be reserved online at www. einsteinfest.ca or by calling 519- 883-4480. The institute is located at 31 Caroline St. N. in Waterloo. The Stress Management and High Performance Clinic is offering classes in “Relaxation and Stress Management Skills Training” begin- ning Sept. 27. The 12 sessions run Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1691. For more details, visit www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers, leave a message at Ext. 52662 or pick up a pamphlet at the Info Desk on Level 1 of the University Centre. The first College of Arts “Research in Progress” talk of the fall semester is Sept. 27 at noon in MacKinnon 132. Prof. Mary deCoste, Languages and Literatures, will discuss “You Know How It Ends: Boid ando’s ‘Unfin- ished’ Epic.” The U of G/Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) research program invites submissions for new research proposals from faculty and college researchers for the sustainable pro- duction systems research program and the bioproducts research pro- gram. Proposals must address pro- gram goals approved by OMAFRA and must be submitted in a specific format by Nov. 1 . For the format and information, visit www.uoguelph. ca/ research/omafra/index.shtml and click on “Call for Proposals” and “Forms and Procedures," or call the Office of Research at 826-3809. The U of G Christian Forum is spon- soring a 10-week Christian educa- tion program called “Alpha” Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. in Food Science 128. It begins Sept. 21 with the topic “Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?” A pizza sup- per will be provided. For more infor- mation or to register, send e-mail to alpha@uoguelph.ca. BIOENTERPRISE is sponsoring its second annual “Path to Commer- cialization” forum Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 at the Holiday Inn. The workshop is one of a series of upcoming events focused on building and financing sustainable, successful bio-busi- nesses. For more details, send e-mail to tiffany.king@bioenterprise.ca or call 821-2960. SEMINARS The Department of Microbiology graduate student seminars begin Sept. 16 with Michael Skalski dis- cussing “Apoptosis: Caspase-Inde- pendent vs. Caspase-Dependent Death” and Jessica Cock considering “Investigation of Host Receptors Involved in Bordetella bronchi- septica Infection” Sept. 23. The semi- nars begin at 12:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 116. The Cognitive Science Group’s sem- inar series begins this semester with Imants Baruss of the University of Western Ontario discussing “Toward a Quantum Theory of Consciousness” Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. in MacKinnon 314. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services (TSS) is offering a range of training and development opportunities for fac- ulty and instructional staff this fall. They kick off Sept. 21 with a “TSS Design Cafe” featuring Prof. Darren Wood, Pathobiology, who will dem- onstrate and discuss Diagnostic Pathfinder, a reasoning- focused software teaching tool. On Sept. 28, an informal lunchtime demo/dis- cussion series titled “Photoshop Tidbits” begins with a session on “Basic Image Correction.” For teaching assistants, TSS is running a monthly discussion series. The first session, “Connecting With Your Students,” is slated for Sept. 22. Detailed descriptions and online registration for all TSS events can be found on the web at www.tss. uoguelph.ca. If you have questions, call Mary Naim at Ext. 53571. For faculty and instructional staff who are developing or modifying online WebCT courses or course components, TSS offers drop-in WebCT clinics Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. in Day Hall 21 1. THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of Tyler Zemlak, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology, is Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Counting Fishes Through DNA Bar Codes.” The adviser is Prof. Paul Hebert. The final examinaton of M.Sc. can- didate Karine B^riault, Integrative Biology, is Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Critical Habitat of Jefferson Salamanders in Ontario: An Examination Through Radiotelemetry and Ecology Sur- veys.” The adviser is Prof. Jim Bogart. The final examination of Anna Law- son, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology, is Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Potential for Gene Flow Among Foxsnake ( Elaphe gloydi) Hibernacula of Georgian Bay, Canada.” The adviser is Prof. Ron Brooks. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate An Wang, Chemistry, is Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. The thesis is “Synthe- sis of a Trisaccharide Fragment of the Tumour- Associated Carbohy- drate Antigen Dimeric Le A x The adviser is Prof. France-Isabelle Auzanneau. The final examination of PhD candi- date Jason Bystrainsky, Integrative Biology, is Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. in Axelrod 265 A. The thesis is “Regula- tion of Gill Na+,K+-ATPase During Salinity Acclimation of Salmonid Fishes.” The adviser is Prof. Jim Ballantyne. COMMUNITY EVENTS As part of its Women of Distinction Awards program, the YMCA- YWCA of Guelph is hosting a free speaker series this fall focusing on the achievements, contributions and challenges of women who have won or been nominated for the awards. The series kicks off Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Y with 2005 arts and culture nominee Debbie Watters perform- ing her one-woman play, One Cup Left. For more information or to reg- ister for a series session, contact Robert Gruber at 824-5150 or rsvp@guelphy.org. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph is looking for volunteers to plan, orga- nize and host the 2006 Bowl for Kids Sake, the association’s largest fund- raising event, slated to run March 24, 25, 26 and 28 at Woodlawn Bowl. Volunteers will meet monthly, beginning Sept. 19 at 6 p.m., and will help form bowling teams, promote the event, and solicit corporate and cash donations and prizes. If you’re interested, contact Krissy Hamack at krissy@bigbrothersbigsisters. guelph.org before Sept. 16. Guelph’s 18th annual Take Back the Night Rally and March for women and children is slated for Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at St. George’s Square downtown. This year’s theme is “Voices Unite.” For more informa- tion, call 826-4771. The Waterloo Wellington Wild- flower Society meets Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Seniors Cen- tre. Guest speaker is Larry Halyk of the Nature Stewardship Council. The Guelph Concert Band welcomes new members for its 2005/06 season. All woodwind and brass players, as well as percussionists, are invited to inquire. The band rehearses Sundays at 7 p.m. at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. For more information, send e-mail to info@guelphconcertband. org. The Guelph/Wellington branch of Parkinson Society Canada will hold a tulip bulb sale Sept. 16 and 17 at Stone Road Mall and the annual Superwalk for Parkinson’s Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at Royal City Park. For walk sponsor sheets, call 837-2730 or 787-1905. The Distress Centre of Wellington-Dufferin seeks volun- teers to staff its distress and support line. Intensive training is provided, with new programs starting every month. Volunteers are asked to commit to 16 hours a month for one year. For more information, call 821-3760 or visit www.dc-wd.org. The Wellington County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society will meet at the Palmerston Railway Museum, 161 William St. in Palmerston, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Bob McEachem, chair of the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum Associa- tion, will discuss “Railways and the Rural Community.” For more infor- mation, call 822-2475. All U of G women are welcome to join the College Women’s Club, which offers a range of interest groups. For information, call Betty Brinkman at 821-7697. Business Travel Travel Tools - Cruises Packages Seal Sales Air Only For Last Minute Bookings ... :els rBCtcages Minute ^Sftiises -Your NEW Local on-line Booking Agent www.royalcitytravel. conriP^* ~BSrj AIR CANADA @ j*=nri Onl Reg. NBR027 16341 At Guelph l6 September 14, 2005 at GUELPH SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 • VOL. 49 NO, 14 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: TULANE UNIVERSITY STUDENT FINDS NEW HOME AT U OF G • PROTONS AND ALL THAT JAZZ PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE Prof. Bill Cormack believes his fascination with history rubs off on his students. A History of Good Teaching Students laud historian for his contagious enthusiasm and caring BY REBECCA KENDALL T he last thing history pro- fessor Bill Cormack wants is to give the impression that he thinks he’s more deserving of this year’s College of Arts Teaching Award than any of his colleagues are. “Often there’s a sense when you read about others who have re- ceived teaching awards that they’ve pioneered new courses or ways of using technology, and I don’t fit into that category at all,” he says. “Having said that, I was very pleased to be nominated. And I’m happy to have won.” Cormack says what he lacks in technical proficiency or in mastery of pedagogical theory he more than makes up for in personal interest. “I think one’s own enthusiasm accounts for a great deal. When you give a lecture that you think is really cool and you’re covering ma- terial you really care about and are interested in, it’s almost a given that students will get more out of it.” The little things that are some- times undervalued are the things Cormack excels in. Many former students who sup- ported his nomination remembered how he made the effort to learn their names, how he brought the past alive in such a way that they switched their ma- jor to history, or how he simply made time for them. PhD candidate Brodie Richards, who received a College of Arts Teaching Award in 2004 as a graduate teaching assistant, noted that Cormack spent part of his Thanksgiving weekend read- ing Richards’s research proposal and Continued on page 2 United Way Campaign Ready to Roll Fundraising goal to be announced at barbecue u OF G’S annual United Way campaign will kick off Sept. 29 with a barbecue from noon to 2 p.m. on Branion Plaza. The 2005 fundraising goal will be announced at the event and posted on the United Way website. Last year, U of G set a goal of $325,000 and raised more than $348,000. United Way co-chair Irene Thompson, assistant director of residence life, says this year’s goal is to surpass that amount. “Our campus success is pivotal to the city’s campaign because we are a major employer in the area," she says. “We have a culture of giving on this campus, recognizing our re- sponsibilities in helping our friends, colleagues, community members and others who are in need. There are many underprivileged individu- als and families in our city who must turn to resources and agencies that are supported by the United Way. This annual campaign is a reminder to each of us that we can make a difference.” Thompson, along with Prof. Fred Ramprashad of the College of Bio- logical Science dean’s office and Aiden Abram, a U of G student and Central Student Association board member, are heading up a volunteer committee of faculty, staff, retirees and students to help make U of G the city’s largest corporate sponsor of United Way Services of Guelph and Wellington. Many of those volun- teers will don aprons to help out at the barbecue, which will include live music and other activities. Following on last year’s success, the tuition lottery contest is return- ing. Sponsored by various student government groups on campus, the lottery offers a grand prize valued at $2,500. More than 150 additional prizes have been donated by Guelph businesses and campus depart- ments. Anyone can buy a ticket, but the grand prize must be designated to a current U of G undergraduate or graduate student. New this year is a reception, sponsored by U of G in collabora- tion with The Co-operators, to rec- ognize individuals from across the city who have pledged $1,000 or more to the United Way campaign. President Alastair Summerlee and Kathy Bardswick, Co-operators president and chief financial officer, will co-host the event. Award-Winning Poet Is Writer-in-Residence Members of University, local communities invited to tap into writer s expertise BY REBECCA KENDALL R OO BORSON, a Governor General Award-winning poet and essayist, is writer-in-residence at U of G this fall. Her most recent book, Short Journey Upriver Toward Oishida, won the 2004 Governor General’s Award for Poetry as well as the 2005 Griffin Poetry Prize and the 2005 Pat Lowther Award. She is also a member of the collaborative performance group Pain Not Bread. “I know there are a lot of writers here in Guelph, and I hope they’ll take the opportunity to come and see me,” says Borson. “Writing is a very technical art, and the interesting thing about literature is that what matters is not, say, a character in a novel, but rather how the mind moves and what the mind is saying.” She will be on campus two days a week until the end of the semester to consult with U of G students, staff and faculty as well as those in the broader Guelph community who are interested in creative writing. She has previously been a writer- in-resi- dence at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Toronto, Concordia University and the Uni- versity of British Columbia. “U of G’s writer-in-residence program has been extraordinarily successful at drawing some of Can- ada’s most important writers at the very height of their careers," says Prof. Daniel O’Quinn, English and Theatre Studies. “Roo Borson is arguably one of the most important poets working in Canada today. As an internationally recognized poet, she brings a sense of craft and of the ethical responsibility of poetry to everything she does. We are fortunate to have such a distin- guished practitioner among us for the next few months." Borson holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Brit- ish Columbia and has published nine other books of poetry. She will give a public reading Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. at the George Luscombe Theatre. To book an appointment with her, call Ext. 53147. at Guelph l September 28, 2005 ** BMKffT MARKET Remember V* This Thanksgiving for Plump, Julep Form Freeh TURKEYS & CAPONS Drass up your Special Dinner With Our Famous Cranberry-Apple Stuffing and Savory White Wine Gravy Pleas* call early to ardor your turkey. Telephone ardors ora welcome. GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortright just oft the Hanlon Wen-Wed 9-7 Thun.-Fii. 98 Sat M Kortright Plaza 763-2284 ilillE Michael H.C. McMurray Partner nii JXcqrn Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Fax: (519) 826-4994 Email: michaelmcmurray@on.aibn.com Do you get 2.45% on your savings account? Are you investing for your future? Do you need professional advice regarding your investments? I can help you answer these questions, call me for a free consultation. Paris Semester Co-ordinator Winter 2007 The Paris Semester Committee invites applications from interested faculty for the position of Co-ordlnator, Paris Semester Program for winter semester, 2007. This program is broadly based, drawing students from across colleges, and integrates the rich resources of Paris into each of the courses offered. The co-ordinator supervises all academic activities. Duties and responsibilities of the coordinator Include: • Organizing the content of the semester • Recruiting, interviewing and selecting students • Making travel and accommodation arrangements • Supervising the semester in Paris • Teaching two courses offered during the semester • Arranging for sessional Instructors in Paris. Interested faculty are requested to contact by Friday, October 28 Dr. Frederique Arroyas Chair, Paris Semester Committee Ext. 52885 (School of Languages and Literatures) farroyas@uoguelph.ca. It's time to renovate! KitcHen . . . Bathroom . . . Family Room RONA No Provincial Decision Yet on Propping ‘Police* Title Discussions have not taken place between ministry and Ontario universities BY LORI BONA HUNT C ONTRARY TO LOCAL media reports, there has been no provincial decision that would require U of G’s 13 campus community police officers to cease using the title “police,” At Guelph has learned. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is proposing that universities drop “police" from their identifying title. The ministry has suggested the change is needed to clarify to the public the distinction between city and campus police officers. But no discussions have taken place be- tween the ministry and the five uni- versities that now use the term “police” to identify their special con- stables and the services they provide to their campus communities. “We have been informed by the Council of Ontario Universities that the ministry is still considering the matter and has asked for written statements of position from affected police service boards,” says Nancy Sullivan, vice-president (finance and administration). In Guelph’s case, this is the Guelph Police Services Board. The board sets out the terms of recruitment, selection, responsi- bilities and jurisdiction of the Campus Community Police. President Alastair Summerlee wrote to the minister in July express- ing his deep concern about the min- istry’s proposal, noting that: “We believe that our community is best served and that our Campus Com- munity Police are better able to do their job because they are called and, more importantly, seen to be the Campus Police.” The Guelph Police Services Board and Guelph Police Chief Rob Davis have also expressed their sup- port for retaining the police title. Speaking on behalf of Guelph Police Services, Davis says: “We have en- joyed a long-standing professional working relationship with the Uni- versity of Guelph Campus Police and are most appreciative of their support and commitment to community safety." Robin Begin, director of Campus Community Police, says her unit has had police in its title for the past 40 years. “There have never been any problems, incidents or complaints related to campus officers being con- fused with city police officers,” she says. “We also have a good working relationship with the City of Guelph police, and our officers have uni- forms and vehicles that are deliber- ately distinctive from those of the Guelph police.” Bryce Kohlmeier, president of the U of G Police Association, says he’s concerned about the proposed change. The association is worried that it would affect the safety of offi- cers, he says. “Officer safety is our first concern, and I hope the minis- try is taking this into consideration.” The ministry is also suggesting some changes to the duties and re- sponsibilities of campus officers. These include taking away the ability to enforce certain provisions of the Highway Traffic Act. Begin says this would increase the workload of city police and hamper Campus Com- munity Police in their initiatives to enhance pedestrian and vehicular safety on campus. It’s expected to be several weeks before the ministry addresses the is- sue. College of Arts Professor Makes Time for Students Continued from page 1 funding application and writing a letter of support. “Dr. Cormack showed extraordi- nary attentiveness and care regard- ing the details of my program,” wrote Richards. “Countless conver- sations, happily not always aca- demic, marked the first two years of supervision.” Cormack says he worries about education becoming depersonal- ized. “I want to keep my students con- nected,” he says. “You don’t want them to feel as if it’s a factory. You want them to feel as if they’re getting an education and that we care about them.” It’s his ability to make students feel cared about that earned him ku- dos from BA graduate Elizabeth Grant. “I was not just a student or just a number," she wrote. “In Dr. Cormack’s classes, I felt special, and I felt happy to be there and at the University of Guelph.” She also lauded his “contagious enthusiasm that would sweep the class.” Cormack, who joined the De- partment of History in 1998, says he doesn’t understand why that war- rants an award. After all, he says, he’s just doing what he loves. “If they gave an award for some- thing not as fun, like marking term papers, that would be something you’d have to earn. An award for do- ing something you love is . . . He pauses. “Well, it’s very nice.” Cormack holds a bachelor’s de- gree from the University of Calgary, a master’s from Carleton and a PhD from Queen’s. He taught at Queen’s, the Royal Military College of Canada and the University of Saskatchewan before coming to U of G. “Bill is part of a long tradition of teaching excellence that character- izes the Department of History and, indeed, the College of Arts in gen- eral,” says Prof. Jacqueline Murray, dean of the college. “As humanists and creative practitioners, we tend to focus on the individual learning of each student. Bill excels at making history compelling and alive for students.” Cormack says he came from a family where talking about history was standard. “In our family, it was part of a cultural interest.” His sister is currently chair of history at the University of Alberta. His special interest lies in French history from 1789. “It’s a very exciting and romantic period. It’s all very dramatic because the struggles are about such essential issues, and I find that very exciting. When I teach things that I think are intrinsically fascinating and intrinsi- cally important, I think the students can see that I like it, and it rubs off. No matter how impressive a performance you put on, students still benefit from a direct connection to an instructor who is also engaged in the discipline." Selkci l’lll'MllJM LUMBER The How-To People. 55 Dawson Road GUELPH 821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road ELORA 846-5381 1-7 ‘ At Guelph is published every two weeks Pl b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of P- Design Peter Enneson Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G2WI. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 l.graham@excc.uoguelph.ca Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising Scott Anderson Advertising: Ext. 56580 theandersondiflFerence@rogers.com www. 110 guclph.cn/adguide c Director Chuck Cunningham Classifieds: Ext. 56581 c.cunningham@cxec.uoguelph.ca Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $22 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 ijmyi.ksun •C,u i.m at Guelph 2 September 28, 2005 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HELPS BREAK NEW GROUND CD in cp U of G students will have a chance to expand their leadership skills at the fourth annual OAC Leadership Conference Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Atrium. Titled “Breaking New Ground,” the conference will fea- ture interactive workshops and keynote speakers and is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge base needed to succeed in the agri-food industry and be- yond. Leona Dombrowsky, On- tario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, will deliver the closing address. For more informa- tion, visit www.oac.uoguelph.ca/ leadership. UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP GETS FEDERAL FUNDS U of G will benefit from a $2. 1 -mil- lion investment from the federal government to accelerate technol- ogy and knowledge transfer in southwestern Ontario. The fund- ing, from the federal Intellectual Property Mobilization Program, will support the development and commercialization of research. It was awarded to the C4 group of uni- versities, a partnership of U of G, McMaster University, the Univer- sity of Waterloo, the University of Western Ontario and their affiliated hospitals and research institutes. By sharing resources and expertise, the universities hope to establish broader partnerships, apply jointly for funding opportunities and more effectively market and commercial- ize intellectual property. DINNER TO BENEFIT GARDEN A dinner to benefit the Italian Gar- den at the Arboretum will be held Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Italian Cana- dian Club. The evening will include entertainment provided by the Ital- ian community and a raffle. Funds raised will go towards the $25,000 needed to complete the garden, which was launched in 2000. Tick- ets are $20 for adults, $10 for chil- dren aged six to 1 2 and free for chil- dren five and under. To order, call Ext. 52358 or the Italian Canadian Club at 821-1110. ARTIST MAKES AN IMPRINT The University of Guelph-Humber Art Gallery is exhibiting works by Swedish-bom Toronto artist Anne Tori until Oct. 1. Tori was chosen out of hundreds of applicants to be the first artist to exhibit work at the gallery for the fall semester. Tided “Imprint," the exhibit was devel- oped and managed by six Guelph-Humber business students. NEW COURSE FOCUSES ON CAREER TRANSITIONS The Office of Open Learning and the Educational Research and Development Unit (ERDU) are offering a new hybrid (combining online and face to face) course for people wishing to improve their career success. Called “Career Tran- sitions,” the 10- week course is being taught by ERDU director Prof. Fred Evers, Sociology and Anthropology, and ERDU research and develop- ment manager Janet Mitchell. It begins Oct. 4. For more informa- tion, call Ext. 54737. Research May Improve Understanding of How Colon Cancer Progresses Biomedical scientist's study featured in international journal BY LORI BONA HUNT N ew research by U of G scientists may lead to better understanding of the progression of colon cancer, one of the most common and deadly cancers. The study headed by Prof. Brenda Coomber, Biomedical Sci- ences, was featured on the cover of the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer Research, a prestigious international journal published by the American Associa- tion for Cancer Research. Coomber, along with her re- search group in Guelph and scien- tists at McMaster University and the International Medical Centre of Ja- pan, found a novel link among a ge- netic defect known as “mismatch repair,” the unstable environments that can surround cells and gene mu- tation. Their findings may help sci- entists better understand why cellular mutations occur in colorectal cancer and may aid in the design of new therapies. The researchers studied the mu- tation of the K -ras gene, one of the W HAT KINDS OF EFFECTS does a natural disaster have on animals? What responsibilities do corporations have to ensure the welfare of the animals used in the production of food products? These are just two of the many questions and issues to be addressed at the Ontario Veterinary College’s sixth annual Animal Welfare Forum Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. in the Lifetime Learning Centre. The forum is intended to raise awareness of the welfare of animals, including companion animals, labo- ratory and zoo animals and live- stock. Organizers also hope to raise money to help finance an annual $1,000 graduate scholarship for re- search in animal welfare at U of G. T hree former U of 6 athletes, a retired staff member and past members of the Gryphon women’s basketball team will be honoured at the Department of Athletics’ annual Gryphon Club Hall of Fame banquet Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. The event is part of Homecoming weekend. Three people will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as athletes: Heather Barrett, who participated in most common genetic alterations that contribute to cancer. The gene is an important player in normal cell function, Coomber says. “But when there’s a mutation, it’s a dangerous thing, telling the cell to do things in an uncontrolled fashion. Once it starts, it’s like turning on a light switch that you can’t turn off.” It’s believed that this mutation is one of the causes of aggressive and continuous tumour growth in colon cancer. The team concentrated on how the volatile environments that can surround cells — such as low levels of oxygen and nutrients — contrib- ute to this mutation. It’s already well-established that unstable envi- ronments damage DNA, says Coomber. “But most studies assume the DNA damage is what’s causing the mutation. Our findings show it takes more than that.” The researchers examined how different lines of cancer cells reacted in such environments, comparing cells that are “mismatch- repair defi- cient” with others. Normally, when “For many people, animal wel- fare is often a diffi cult discipline to understand,” says DVM student Jeff Rau, president of the OVC Animal Welfare Club, which is organaizing the forum. “When people become educated about how animal welfare affects — or is affected by — many aspects of their lives, it becomes a tangible entity for them intellectually.” Speakers include Kelly O’Meara, program manager for Asia and Af- rica with Humane Society Interna- tional, who was directly involved in the rescue efforts for animal victims of the December 2004 tsumani. She will present a picture diary of her ex- periences and insights into the wel- fare issues that faced animals in the cross-country/ track from 1988 to 1992; Kathy Butler, a member of the cross-country and track teams dur- ing the early 1990s who went on to the Olympics: and Chuck Sims, a former captain of the Gryphon foot- ball team who played for U of G from 1988 to 1992. Tony D’Angelo, a retired equip- ment manager and building me- chanic in the Department of Athletics, will be inducted as a builder for his support of Gryphon DNA copies itself, the body has a sys- tem in check that identifies problems and makes gene repairs, says Coomber. “It’s sort of like a built-in spell checker that looks for errors and au- tomatically corrects them." In the case of mismatch repair defects, “the system is a sloppy proofreader.” The scientists discovered that un- stable cellular environments seem to contribute to mutation of the K-ros gene by modulating mismatch re- pair. But volatile environments alone don’t appear to be enough to trigger the gene mutation in cell lines that are not mismatch-deficient. “We are hopeful that this re- search will give us a better idea of what might be going on with gene mutation and aid in increasing our knowledge of colon cancer,” Coomber says. Collaborators on this study were U of G researchers Siranoush Shahrzad, Lindsay Quayle, Courtney Stone and Claire Plumb; Janusz Rak of McMaster’s Henderson Research Centre; and Japan’s Senji Shirasawa. midst of the tsunami and the ongo- ing efforts to rebuild the affected regions. Other presenters are OVC dean Elizabeth Stone, Janice Swanson of Kansas State University, Jonathan Balcombe of the Physicians Com- mittee for Responsible Medicine, Laurie Edge-Hughes of the Canine Fitness Centre, Gordon Doonan of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Prof. Paul Woods, Clini- cal Studies. Admission to the forum is free, but a donation of $10 is suggested to support animal welfare research at the University. For more information, visit www. ovc.uoguelph.ca/associations/awc/ 2005. athletics for three decades. The 1979/80 women's basketball team, which claimed the OWIAA championship, will also be inducted. For tickets to the banquet, call Janis Macpherson at Ext. 56133. The Homecoming football game is Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. at Alumni Stadium with the Gryphons hosting the Uni- versity of Toronto Blues. Admission is $7 general, $5 for seniors and alumni, $3 for students and $1 for children under 12. people HACKER RECOGNIZED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHINESE LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY The provincial secretary of Liaoning, China, recently awarded Prof. Roger Hacker, Animal and Poultry Science, an honorary mem- bership in the Liaoning Provincial People’s Government of China. The award recognizes the significant contributions Hacker made in 2004 and 2005 to improve the livestock husbandry skills of the people in Liaoning. CBS TO CELEBRATE RETIRING PROPS CONTRIBUTIONS A retirement reception will be held Oct. 22 to celebrate the achieve- ments and contributions of Prof. Fred Ramprashad of the CBS dean’s office, who is retiring after 38 years at U of G. The event begins at 7 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall. To attend, RSVP by Oct. 7 to Toni Pellizzari at tonip@uoguelph.ca or Ext. 53343. SYMPOSIUM HONOURS HOLUB A mini-symposium and social will be held OcL 21 to honour Prof. Bruce Holub, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, who is retiring after 32 years at U of G. The sympo- sium, titled “Omega-3Fatty Acids: From Bench to Bedside,” runs from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in Room 1307 of the Thombrough Building and will fea- ture presentations by Holub’s for- mer students and post-docs. The social begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Uni- versity Club; cost is $15. In lieu of gifts, donations are invited to the Brae-' Holub Scholarship Fund. To attend either or both events, RSVP to Anne Lovett-Hutchinson at Ext. 56171 or alovett(®uoguelph.ca. RETIREMENT RECEPTION SET The Guelph Turfgrass Institute is hosting a reception Oct. 27 for Nor- man McCollum, who is retiring after 36 years at U ofG. It runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at Victoria Park Golf Club East. Cost is $20 per person. In lieu of a gift, donations are invited to establish a scholarship in McCollum’s name. To attend the reception, RSVP by Oct. 20 to Trudi Osder. For more details and an RSVP form, visit www.uoguelph. ca/GTI/retirementofhorman.pdf. WEEDS TEAM IS TOPS For the second year in a row, Uof G undergraduates won the Northeast- ern Collegiate Weed Science Con- test, held this year in Pennsylvania. They also swept the top individual undergraduate awards. Coached by Prof. Clarence Swanton, Plant Agri- culture, and graduate student Kris Mahoney, two undergraduate and two graduate teams from U of G participated in the competition, which included weed and herbicide identification, fanner problem solving and sprayer calibration. The first-place team members were Andrew Chisholm, Brian Gowan and Chrissie SchilL The sec- ond-place team consisted of Phil Aitken, Jim Bums and Gerard Pynenburg. Pynenburg, Bums and Gowan captured the top individual awards. Graduate team members were Mahoney, Joanne Liu, Eric Page, Jeff Powell, Rachel Riddle and Daryl Vermey. OVC Forum Aims to Raise Profile of Animal Welfare Student-organized event to help finance graduate scholarship at V of G Gryphon Hall of Fam e Ceremony Se t at Guelph 3 September 28, 2005 focus U of G’s Eye on the World BY REBECCA KENDALL T HE CENTRE for Internationa] Programs (CIP) not only has a new home on the third floor of the University Centre, but it also has a new director. Lynne Mitchell was recently appointed to the position, which runs concurrently with her role as study-abroad manager, a job she’s held since 1995. The centre has been without a permanent director since 2002, but Mitchell says she’s up to the task. “CIP has changed a lot over the last year, so I’m not stepping into the same job the previ- ous director had, but there will be plenty of op- portunities to reshape our department and focus more on international education, experi- ential learning and internationalizing the curriculum." Early in 2005, U of G moved to restructure international activities by redistributing CIP’s three main responsibilities to the associate vice-presidents. As a result, international re- search activities are now the responsibility of Prof. Anthony Clarke, associate vice-president (research and international relations). Inter- nationa] student advising moved to Student Life under Brenda Whiteside, associate vice-president (student affairs). And interna- tional academic activities went to Prof. Alan Shepard, associate vice-president (academic). “I’m thrilled that Lynne has taken on this new position,” says Shepard, “and I look for- ward to working with her.” One of Mitchell’s main goals as CIP direc- tor is to further internationalize programs of- fered at U of G, using feedback from the community to determine what’s viable. “It’s been part of the mandate for some time and needs to be strengthened,” she says. “ There was a time when internationaliza- tion was considered to be more of a numbers game of how many students you’re sending overseas and how many students from abroad are studying here at Guelph. We certainly want to increase opportunities for Guelph students to travel, but the idea now is to also ask what that really means. Is it really just about sending people places or is it about understanding how things work in other parts of the world and try- ing to build that into our academic programs?” Integrating overseas programs for students into Guelph’s curriculum is one idea. Offering international faculty exchanges and possibly overseas internships or service learning are others. Mitchell says all of this is important be- cause providing students, staff and faculty with international perspectives and experience is valuable not only in the current job market but in life as well. “Travel is more than just trying new food,” she says. “Once you’ve tried to get along in an- other country, speaking another language to order a meal or get your hair cut or do any- thing else you need to do, then coming back here and making a presentation to your class is a piece of cake. Your self-confidence really benefits from finding your way in another place and doing it successfully.” Mitchell also believes that an understand- ing of global issues and attitudes can help one become a more involved citizen and perhaps even a better person. “You might become a better neighbour, a better parent or a more politically active per- son. You come to appreciate Canada and other countries in a new way.” She had her own first international experi- ence when she was a student at U of G. In 1985, she flew to Jamaica on a field trip led by then rural extension studies professor Jim Shute, who went on to serve as director of CIP from 1991 to 2002. From there, she was sold on international travel and decided to volunteer with CUSO, then worked for the Thai government promot- ing and researching pest control using natural pesticides. She says becoming fluent in Thai helped her complete her master’s research in Thailand in 1992. Like Mitchell, a growing number of stu- dents are travelling as part of their education. This academic year will see more than 150 in- ternational exchange students arrive on cam- pus, and an equal number of Guelph students will be headed to partner universities around the globe. She says the computer database on her office server lists the names of more than 600 U of G students who, since January, have applied for or are taking part in an interna- tional program or course component. The growth in international interest makes it imperative that Guelph prepare its students for travel, says Mitchell. The staple used for those leaving Canada on approved U of G pro- grams and exchanges for credit is an online ac- ademic travel orientation program called DepartSmart. “We have very few problems with our stu- dents once they get overseas,” she says, “and I think that’s partly because they’re so well-pre- pared before they go. It heads off a lot of prob- lems if you know what you’re doing.” Developed in 2002 by CIP in collaboration with international educators at York and Queen’s universities, DepartSmart has become the standard for 15 other Canadian universi- ties that use the program’s comprehensive in- formation on everything from safety and health and travel preparation to cultural adaptation. Mitchell has also been a leader in interna- tional education by creating a home for the In- ternational Educators Association of Canada (IEAC). Founded in 2004, IEAC serves practi- tioners in international education through networking, training, communication and re- search activities and provides leadership to en- hance the quality of the profession in Canada. IEAC’s home base is here at Guelph, and Mitchell is its treasurer. She says IEAC is unique because it’s open to individual members rather than just institu- tions. Over the past few months, the associa- tion has grown tenfold. “As more universities are expanding their international offices, there’s more of an expec- tation from students that they’ll do part of their studies overseas as part of their degree,” she says, “and it’s important to put a founda- tion of support toward resources and training. We’re working to make U of G a hub where people from all over the world come together to get a good education and share their ideas. That’s what university is all about — sharing perspectives and coming up with better solutions.” Scottish Studies Colloquium Oct. l i Day will include celebration of the life of late history professor U OF G hosts a Scottish studies colloquium Oct. 1 in Room 102 of Rozanski Hall. The theme is the 700th anniversary of the death of Scottish patriot William Wallace, who is best known today as the subject of Mel Gibson’s award- winning film Braveheart. “The colloquium is an opportu- nity for Ontario’s Scottish commu- nity and Scottish studies at U of G to come together,” says Scottish Stud- ies Foundation Chair Prof. Graeme Morton. “It’s a celebration of culture and an important event in our I program.” Morton will give the welcome ad- dress at 9:45 a.m. and a lecture on "Jane Porter and the Scottish Chiefs: Romancing Wallace” at 11:15 a.m. At 10 a.m., Prof. Elizabeth Ewan, History, discusses “The First War of Independence.” At 2 p.m., she will lead a celebration of the life of the late Prof. Ron Sunter, who taught history and Scottish studies at U of G from 1972 to 2000 and died in August. “Scottish studies at Guelph has suffered the sudden and unexpected loss of one of its longest-serving and most devoted members,” says Ewan. “Those who regularly attend the Scottish studies colloquia will re- member his calm, quiet but always cheerful presence. His untimely death is a great loss to us all." At 3 p.m., University of Toronto professor emerita Cecily Watson will present David Stevenson, professor emeritus of history at St. Andrew’s University, with the Frank Watson Prize for the Best Book in Scottish History published in 2003/2004. Stevenson will then give a plenary talk on his book, which is titled The Hunt for Rob Roy: The Man and the Myths. The inaugural Edward Stewart Graduate Scholarship in Scottish Studies will also be presented. The $ 1 5,000 award is made in memory of Edward Stewart, a former Ontario deputy minister of education and secretary of cabinet. As past presi- dent of the Scottish Studies Founda- tion, he was chair of a fundraising committee that raised enough money to finance North America’s first endowed chair in Scottish studies. The colloquium, which was launched more than 30 years ago, will also feature performances by the Halton/Peel Burns Society and U of G history student Erin Grant, as well as a day-long book sale. The day will finish with a reception at the Mac- donald Stewart Art Centre at 4 p.m. Cost of the colloquium is $35 for members of the Scottish Studies Foundation, $40 for non-members and $10 for students. Lunch is in- cluded. For more details or to register, call Ext. 53209 or send e-mail to scottish@uoguelph.ca. Information is also available on the web at www.uoguelph.ca/scottish/news. shtml. 4b brock road nursery ^ardeiA. centre § sVioppe GORGEOUS SPRING BULBS - AVAILABLE NOW! DAFFODILS . TULIPS . ORNAMENTAL ONIONS . HYACINTHS . CROCUS . GRAPE HYACINTHS . FRITILLARIA . SNOWDROPS . SCILLA . & MORE! Visit us A find lOOs of varieties to choose from including heirloom, colour changing, exclusive, old favourites A new classics! 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MORE! 1858 Gordon Street Gnalnh On tnrin Nil IGA 519.836 5f) ID www hrnrkrnndnursfirv com at Guelph 4 September 28, 2005 Tulane Student Finds New Home at U of G Hurricane Katrina swamps history student’s plans to complete graduate work at New Orleans University BY LORI BONA HUNT C HRISTOPHER Kent tries not to get too emotional each time he thinks about his adopted hometown of New Orleans and everything and everyone he left behind. “I allow myself to have an episode every now and then, but if I cry too much, I know I’ll keep going and go- ing and won’t be able to stop.” It’s been nearly two weeks since Kent got into his 1988 Volvo and made the long trek to Canada, to a city he’d never visited and to a university he knew little about. He saw U of G’s invitation to stu- dents displaced by hurricane Katrina on a temporary website for Tulane University, where he was to start the second year of a history master’s program Aug. 31. Since arriving in Guelph, Kent has been mercifully busy: setting up residence in a graduate house; meet- ing faculty and other students; and registering for and attending classes. Things are calming down a bit now, and it makes him nervous. “Everyone has been absolutely wonderful, but I’m worried that once I settle in, reality is going to hit and the levee will break — damn those water metaphors!” Kent never expected to be in Can- ada, let alone Guelph. In fact, he never planned to leave New Orleans. He was going to ride out hurricane Katrina tucked away in his ground-level apartment. He lived less than two blocks from a river, but it was in one of the higher regions of the bowl-shaped city. “I thought I’d be safe.” He had enough food in the house and, with school starting in a few days, plenty of work to keep him busy. Plus, he was low on cash and his car is a bit of a gas guzzler. “So I figured I’d stay, thinking that if the storm got really bad, there was always the Superdome.” He started to change his mind on Sunday, Aug. 28, after seeing Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s face on the late-night news. “She’s usually so stoic, but she looked so concerned; there was real fear there. It scared me. I started thinking: 'Maybe I should get the heck out of here.’” Kent also remembered that he’d forgotten to mail his rent cheque the day before, meaning he had enough money to finance his evacuation. So at 3 a.m. Monday morning, he grabbed his wallet, keys, some shirts and a few pairs of shorts. “I figured I’d be gone for a few days — that’s how it was with hurri- cane Ivan the year before." On the way out the door, he spot- ted an old suitcase that he’d taken with him when Ivan hit. He’d left it fully packed. “It had all my valuable stuff in it: my baby blanket, the stuffed animal I had since I was four years old, my birth tertificate, some photographs and other things.” He grabbed that, too. Once on the road, things went surprisingly well. All the entrances into New Orleans had been turned into exits, and Kent joined a steady stream of cars leaving the city. Nine hours later, he arrived at a friend’s house in Houston, Tex. The next day, he was relieved to hear that the damage from Katrina wasn’t as bad as expected. “I let out a big sigh and started thinking about going home.” Then came the news that the levees had broken, and Kent’s life — and the lives of count- less others — was flooded with pain. “For the first couple of days, I was shell-shocked and in complete dis- belief. Because I was out of the city and watching everything unfold on TV, it didn’t seem real. Then the horror of it all started to hit me: the looting, the crime, the destruction, the suffering of the people. It was hellish. I couldn’t take it anymore and I shut the TV off.” He wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. He had no idea — and still doesn’t — of what became of his apartment and belongings. So he registered with FEMA; visited the Red Cross, where he picked up some much-needed donated clothing; and sent some e-mails to his family back in Michigan and to friends. He tried to contact his university, but to no avail. The scheduled first day of classes came and went. Kent didn’t think he had the lux- ury of taking a semester off from school. “I’m a ‘mature’ graduate stu- dent," he says with a smile, noting that he went back to school at age 32. He’d had a career in the telecommu- nications industry, having already earned undergraduate and master’s degrees, the latter from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. He’d worked and lived in New York, Washington, D.C., and Austin before enrolling at Tulane. When he realized he couldn’t re- turn to New Orleans, Kent consid- ered attending the University of Texas at Austin or the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. “So many universities opened their doors, which was wonderful,” he says. Tulane eventually started com- municating with students via a tem- porary website, and Kent saw the notice from Guelph. It had been posted by Prof. Karen Racine, His- tory, who did her graduate work at Tulane. He contacted Racine, learned Guelph was a good fit for his studies in 18th-century Atlantic world history and “was ready to tear up the middle of the United States to get here in time for classes." He stopped only long enough to sleep, driving 12 to 13 hours a day. Kent arrived at the border in Port Huron, Mich. "I was really nervous. I didn’t know what to expect or whether they’d let me cross." All he had was a letter from Racine and the telephone numbers of president Alastair Summerlee and Prof. Alan Shepard, associate vice-president (academic). The immigration official ended up being a U of G graduate. “She was | a joy. She went on and on about how much she loved Guelph and would 1 j say ‘hi’ to professor so-and-so in philosophy. She was unbelievably j kind.” Kent entered Canada feeling up- i beat for the first time in weeks, and [ the good feeling has continued. “I can’t describe how grateful I | am, how land the offer was for me to i come here. There just aren’t words j to describe it. There has been a tre- 1 mendous outpouring of support." He often thinks about the people who didn’t leave — who couldn’t leave — New Orleans. “Most of them were too old, too sick or too poor to go. They were the ones who ended up suffering, who ended up dying.” He could have been one of them. “Had I mailed my rent cheque, I wouldn't have been able to afford to ! leave. I’d have ended up at the i Superdome.” He physically shud- ders at the thought. “What happened there was unfathomable; it truly be- came the mouth of hell.” OVC Grad Part of Animal Rescue Team on Gulf Veterinary triage centre in Mississippi is now home to more than 1,500 animals BY BARRY GUNN, OVC W ith Hurricane Rita threatening the Gulf Coast states three weeks after Katrina devastated a region the size of Great Britain, disaster relief workers in Hattiesburg, Miss., were worried about the unrelenting heat, not another storm. “As long as it stays tracking the way it is, it’s going to miss us, but if it deviates, who knows?” said Ontario Veterinary College graduate Carin Wittnich, nearly shouting to be heard above the crackle of her cellphone, barking dogs and the roar of aircraft flying overheard. “At the moment, we’re trying to move ani- mals out, not so much because of the storm but mainly because we’re having a heat wave,” she said. "I’ve been working in 1 10-degree weather every day since I got here.” Wittnich, a professor at the University of Toronto’s medical school, is in Mississippi working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). She and U of T student Steve Soric drove down Sept. 16 after loading up her SUV with supplies donated by col- leagues, veterinary practitioners and U of G. She’s based at a veterinary triage centre — housed in a converted fairgrounds equipped with barns and stalls — in Hattiesburg, a town of about 50,000 that was heavily damaged by Katrina despite being located about 100 kilo- metres inland from the Gulf of Mexico. The centre is now home to more than 1,500 animals — mostly dogs and cats but also horses and exotics such as parrots and iguanas and turtles — with as many as 120 more arriving each day. Fortunately for the animals and the volunteers, there’s plenty of running water — though it’s not fit to drink — food and electric- ity, which is not the case in some of the worst-hit regions. “Conditions are tough, but we’re kind of spoiled here,” says Wittnich, who earlier this year received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the OVC Alumni Association. The triage centre is adjacent to a major stag- ing area for the human relief effort, and armed guards patrol the area that is now home to res- cue personnel from the U.S. armed forces, Na- tional Guard and civilian agencies. Rescued animals are often in poor shape when they arrive at the centre, where they are decontaminated, examined, vaccinated, treated and given temporary shelter. In the sweltering heat, dehydration is a major con- cern, and intravenous fluids donated by OVC “have been a godsend," says Wittnich. Now that people in some parts of the region are starting to rebuild their lives, the centre has been able to reunite some pets with their own- ers. Many more are being relocated, with the help of animal rescue groups from across the United States and at least one from the Guelph area. On the day Wittnich left for the States, Meg Brubacher and Bonnie Deekon, director of the Cambridge SPCA, returned to Guelph follow- ing a rescue mission to Alexandria, La. They brought back 15 dogs in a van lent to them by U of G’s Central Animal Facility. Despite the tough conditions and the work- days that last from 7 a.m. until one or two in the morning, Wittnich has no regrets. “I am very glad I came. We’re making a dif- ference. We’re always wearing our OVC T-shirts and Canadian flags. Everyone has taken notice of the fret that we’re here and has been really appreciative. It’s been very rewarding." For online information about the HSUS re- lief efforts, visit www.hsus. org. at Guelph 5 September 28, 2005 Grad Returns to Head Studies of Genomic Diversity Prof will also lend his expertise in genome sizes to the DNA bar-coding program run by his former PhD supervisor Prof. Ryan Gregory photo by martin schwalbe ; BY ANDREW VOWLES I T WAS ONE of the biggest surprises to come out of the Human j Genome Project. When scientists began their ambitious initiative in 1990 to sequence the entire human DNA library, they had expected to find anywhere from 60,000 to 120,000 genes, says Prof. Ryan Gregory, Integrative Biology. But by the time they read the final snippet of DNA in fall 2004, that number had shrunk to a mere 20,000 to 25,000 genes. That result didn’t necessarily shock a scientist who had already run across plenty of surprises and puz- zles while studying genome sizes at Guelph and elsewhere. Never mind sequencing genes: Gregory had al- ready figured out that studying the total amount of DNA — genes and more — in the world’s organisms and implications from genome structure to evolution would offer i plenty of scope for a research career. That’s what he plans to do as a re- cently appointed professor at his alma mater and as head of genomic diversity at the planned Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO), currently being built across Gordon Street from his Axelrod Building office. Gregory will also lend his exper- tise in genome sizes to the DNA bar-coding program run by his for- mer PhD supervisor, Prof. Paul Hebert. Together they wrote the ) funding application that yielded a $5-million Genome Canada grant this summer for continued studies of telltale DNA stretches used like su- permarket bar codes to identify spe- cies of living things. “It’s going to be very exciting,” he says, referring to his planned role at BIO. “It’s going to be unlike any other institute. There are other biodiversity centres, but none with such a broad view.” Genome size matters in a number of ways. In agriculture, differing amounts of genetic material may help certain plants adapt to colder temperatures. In human health, sci- entists believe transposable elements — mobile stretches of DNA making up large portions of the genome — can cause mutations and are impli- cated in certain diseases. Gregory’s studies will also feed into genome sequencing projects of other scientists. Genome size di- rectly affects the cost and difficulty of those projects. “In fact, genome-size informa- tion is now considered a prerequisite by many of the agencies that provide funding for large-scale sequencing initiatives,” he wrote in an article published this fall by Nature Reviews Genetics. His primary interest lies in impli- cations for evolutionary theory. “Viewing the genome as a sort of ge- netic ‘ecosystem’ shows how some DNA elements survive and repro- duce better than others, just as do certain organisms within populations.” And because genome size also af- fects such features as cell and body size, metabolic rate and develop- ment, processes occurring within the genome have consequences at other levels. The question of why different or- ganisms vary widely in amounts of DNA (also called “C-values”) has preoccupied biologists for decades. Especially intriguing was the obser- vation that a more complex creature like a human didn’t necessarily have more DNA than, say, a salamander. Scientists even labelled the apparent disconnect as the C-value paradox. Studies in the 1970s and ’80s found that genes were separated by lengthy stretches of non-coding DNA, a result that effectively settled the so-called paradox. In fact, genes coding for proteins make up only about 1.5 per cent of the entire hu- man genome. “You don’t need a lot of genes to make even the most complicated types of organisms,” says Gregory. But resolving the paradox only led to new questions. What was in those non-coding sequences? How were those sequences gained and lost over evolutionary time? How did carrying so much non-coding DNA affect organisms? Calling these and other questions the “C-value enigma,” he says: “It relates to one of the most fundamental properties of genomes, yet it’s one of the lon- gest-running puzzles in genetics.” Those are the kinds of questions he plans to address back at Guelph. It was here that he became interested in the field. He’d actually been studying biology at McMaster University, where he attended a seminar given by Hebert. Gregory’s post-lecture questions drew an invitation to visit the Guelph scientist’s lab, where they first discussed genome size. As Hebert’s PhD student, Greg- ory began an ambitious project to as- semble new and known genome sizes for various animals. So far, the re- sulting Animal Genome Size Data- base contains information for just over 4,000 species — a tiny fraction of the estimated 10 million species worldwide but still the largest collec- tion for animals. (A similar reposi- tory maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew contains data for almost 5,000 plant species.) That online database is already a well- used resource for other scien- tists, but Gregory hopes updates will make it more widely accessible. Based on his student work, he re- ceived the 2003 Howard Alper Post-doctoral Prize from Science and Engineering Research Canada. This year, he received the Arch Award for distinguished young alumni from McMaster. He worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Natural History Museum in London before returning to U of G last year as a re- search associate. He joined the faculty this summer. This year saw publication of his first book, The Evolution of the Ge- nome, edited by Gregory and con- taining chapters written by experts worldwide. He has also published more than 30 scientific articles. Gregory says what excites him most about returning to Guelph is that “I feel I am finally getting started. All that preparation is com- ing to fruition.” Cuba Offering Great Choices for an Enjoyable Vacation Villa de Santa Clara, Cuba Hotel Sol Cayo Santa Maria Our vacabon started vrfh our WesUet fight from Toronto tfred lo Vdte Santa Clara. Fighl was enjoyable, and very comfortable leather seats wflh more legroom, ant) intfividual Salewa TV. With my 2nd visit (both times lor 2 weeks) to this part o! Cuba. Vila Sanla Clara, in 1 year (and my 17th time in Cuba altogether) I think that says it alL Having experienced both resorts at Cayo Santa Marta, first frne at the Mefa Hotel, and this fene at the Sol Hotel, I lound that the quality ot services at txxh properties was fantastic. This hotel caters to couples, fami- nes and singles When we amved at the Sol Cayo Santa Marta Hotel, we were greeted with dancers, musicians, as wel as tropical drinks The entertainment team Is second to none at this resort The beach Is utspoted and dean wih daily activities lo suit all ages, or you can kfit srt tack and enjcy the ocean and the sun. The restaurants and tars at this hotel were fantastic. Would I recommend this hotel? I sure would. I look forward to rationing to check on the 2 new hotels being buA In the area Without a Travel Agent, you are on your own. Let us show you the advantages of booking travel via a local Travel Agent. Royal City Travel Royal Plaza, 10 Paisley Street, Unit 8, Guelph ON tel 763-3520 www.royalcltytravel.com B Travel Services Field of Dreams United Way co-chair Prof. Fred Ramprashad, right, takes every opportunity to promote the annual campus fundraising drive. Here he hitches a ride with associate vice-president (academic) Alan Shepard, who grew up on a farm in Minnesota and is realizing a lingering dream to get behind the wheel of a combine again. Shepard piloted the machine through a field of soybeans at the Arkell Research Station, thanks to Research Stations Operations manager Peter Milton, who set up the opportunity in exchange for Shepard furthering his support of the United Way. photo B y martin schwalbe at Guelph 6 September 28, 2005 Profile Protons . . . and All That Jazz U of G physics professor combines science and song By Rebecca Kendall D iane Nalini de Kerckhove is as comfortable having an in-depth discussion about the great jazz legends as she is expounding on the theory of physics. A natural performer who captures her audience whether it be in a concert venue or in the classroom, she started teaching at U of G this month as the newest faculty member in the Department of Physics. “I think it’s a popular misconception that physicists are nerds who live, eat and breathe physics,” says de Kerckhove. “If people would take the time to get to know some physicists, they’d find that many are remarkably well-rounded peo- ple. Most of my colleagues can hold down a conversation on anything from politics to 16th-century art and will have a lot of interesting things to say about it. I just happen to have taken my interests one step further in that I’m a working professional singer-songwriter." Her career high points so far have in- cluded winning a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University and perform- ing her music for world dignitaries such as the president of Malta, the Canadian high commissioner to London and for- mer U.S. president Bill Clinton. “Clinton wrote me such a lovely letter after the concert,” says de Kerckhove, who drops her last name and becomes Diane Nalini when she hits the stage or the record- ing studio (she founded her own recording label, Earthglow Re- cords, in 2003). “When I met him the next time a year later, he told me he had all my albums in his MP3 player.” Dining with Paul McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills, before giving a concert that the couple attended is also at the top of her list of great moments. Pinpointing the moment she knew she wanted to become a professional singer is tough, she says, because she was singing before she was talking. According to the liner notes on her latest album, Tales . . . My Mama Told Me, her love of jazz comes from her dad, who’s “a huge jazz fan,” and her mother introduced her to calypso and pop influences at a very young age. De Kerckhove speaks four languages fluently, and her albums in- clude selections in English, French and Portugese. She developed her voice by singing in a church choir and giving performances in grade school. She also spent 15 years studying classical ballet, jazz and modem dance and performed as a soloist with Les Ballets de la Jeunesse. At the height of her dance training, she was spending 20 hours a week at the studio perfecting her technique, she says. “At one point, I thought I would become a dancer, but I had this tug-of-war with myself because I loved science, and if you really want to become a professional dancer, you have to give up higher education. It’s easier to study science and dance for plea- sure than it is to become a dancer and try to do science on the side.” In the end, her dream to become a professional dancer was dashed by knee problems and Achilles tendinitis. Singing was her backup. De Kerckhove’s first paid singing gig was in a little coffeehouse at Montreal’s Dawson College, where she was at- tending school after Grade 11. Three years later, she was on the bill at the world-renowned Montreal Jazz Festival. It was the summer of 1994, and the then 20-year-old singer-songwriter was an undergraduate at McGill University, working summers at the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics. Participating in the festival was an amazing experience, she says, but that wasn’t the only thing that made a big impression on her that summer. In July, she was sent to Hawaii to observe the collision of a comet with Jupiter. “It made big news because it was the first time astronomers were able to predict the collision of a comet or an asteroid with a major planet. It was a beautiful example of mechanics in action, and it woke people up to the power of nature.” She credits Richard Shoemaker, a physics teacher at Dawson College, with her decision to explore physics as a career path. “He blew my mind and made me re- alize that physics is so logical and so sat- isfying. It explains everything from subatomic particle interactions all the way to galaxies and cosmology, so it cov- ers a huge scale. Plus, I was too squea- mish to do dissections in biology." After finishing up studies at Dawson, de Kerckhove went on to earn an hon- ours physics degree at McGill. Soon after graduation, the tug-of-war between sci- ence and art resurfaced when she was of- fered both a Rhodes Scholarship and a contract to record her first album. In the end, she decided to postpone going into the studio and took the “once in a lifetime” chance to do a doctorate in materials science. “Winning the scholarship was a huge event in my life. Without it, I would never have had the opportunity to meet the truly extraordinary people I did, in- cluding world-class scientists, writers, poets and historians. Oxford is truly the nexus for the best thinkers in the world.” Although her intention was to study astrophysics, she soon became tempted by another area. Researchers at Oxford were using proton microscopes to ana- lyze the pigments in classical paintings, and de Kerckhove was fascinated by the creative ways that physics could be used. “That’s what hooked me,” she says. In her first few months at Oxford, she also examined hair samples from Napoleon Bonaparte, Aztec mummies and the Ice Man, a Bronze Age hunter found frozen in a glacier in Italy’s Tyrolean Alps in 1991. De Kerckhove likes to talk to high school students, especially girls, about the creative and innovative side of physics to en- courage them to consider becoming scientists. “A lot of coun- tries have the problem of not having enough women in physics and mathematics and physical engineering sciences,” she says. Science and creativity are woven into her two-sided profes- sional success, and she’s found a way to balance both without sacrificing either. Here at U of G, she’s building Canada’s first one-micron proton microprobe, which she’ll use to study semiconductors such as silicon and to fabricate microscopic light-emitting de- vices. Her third album, which is currently untitled, is a project devoted to the words of William Shakespeare, for which she has written all the music. It’s slated for release this winter, and she already has a fourth album in the works. She makes her Guelph debut at the River Run Centre OcL 1 at 8 p.m., opening for Grammy Award-winning singer/song- writer Jimmy Webb. For more information, visit www. dianenalini.com. Stephen Lewis to Speak at War Memorial Hall Talk will focus on globalization, conflict, poverty and disease S TEPHEN Lewis, the United Nations special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, will speak Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. His talk is titled “Where in the World Is the World Headed?” and will focus on international issues, with an emphasis on globalization, conflict, poverty and disease. He will also discuss what people can do to make a positive difference in the world. His lecture was spearheaded by the Philosophy Graduate Stu- dents Association (PGSA) and is sponsored by various U of G colleges and offices. “Stephen Lewis is a well-re- spected speaker and activist with a great deal of passion that comes out in everything he does," says David Peck, PGSA president and event or- ganizer. “I believe people will come away with a greater sense of what so- cial justice is and their individual re- sponsibility towards creating change. Too often we fail to use the knowledge we receive in a practical manner that might allow for signifi- cant social change. It seems to me that knowledge without action is meaningless." Lewis is an internationally recog- nized public health advocate and has long worked to further the causes of compassion and HIV/AIDS preven- tion. He was appointed by the Orga- nization of African Unity to a Panel of Eminent Personalities to investi- gate the genocide in Rwanda in 1997. He was also deputy executive direc- tor of UNICEF in New York, where he served from 1 995 to 1 999, and Ca- nadian ambassador to the UN from 1984 to 1988. In 2003, he founded the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Through this or- ganization, he provides commu- nity-level care to HIV-infected women who are dying, assists or- phans and other AIDS-affected chil- dren in Africa, and supports associations of people living with HIV/AIDS so they can educate themselves and their communities. The foundation currently funds more than 60 initiatives in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In April, Lewis was included in Time magazine's list of most influen- tial people in the world under the category “Heroes and Icons." Tickets are $10 general, $5 for U of G students, and are available at the Info Desk on Level 1 of the Univer- sity Centre or at the door. at Guelph j September 28, 2005 PHOTO BY CYRIL BAND Athletics Centre Changes Aim to Improve Service, Boost Revenue Online registration will eliminate long lineups BY LORI BONA HUNT NEW SECURITY and software program at the Mitchell Athletics Centre is aimed at improving customer service and cracking down on costly abuses of the system. Once fully operational, the soft- ware program will allow people to register for classes and renew mem- berships online, says athletics direc- tor Tom Kendall. This will save both time and money, virtually eliminat- ing the long lineups at the start of each semester. That component of the program should be up and run- ning by winter semester, he says. In addition, the new system will enable the Athletics Centre to track important information such as peak hours and class attendance. "We’ll have a much better idea of when people are coming to the cen- tre, what they’re doing here, and what we can do to provide them with better service,” says Kendall. The key component of the new system is a “card swiping” mecha- nism that allows the centre to better identify and track users. Member- ship cards include photos and are scanned by staff at the front entrance for validation. "Card swipers” will eventually be set up at the entrances, and people will scan their own cards to be admitted. Currently, the cost of an Athletics Centre membership depends on whether the person is a student (whose membership is paid through student fees), a subsidized staff or faculty member or a Guelph gradu- ate. Members then pay additional charges based on the activities they want to participate in, such as using the weight and fitness rooms or tak- ing aerobics classes. Previously, people were issued shoe tags that allowed them access to the programs they’d selected. But not all membership cards included photo ID, making access difficult to control. In addition, the shoe tags could easily be shared, resulting in lost revenue. “With the old system, some peo- ple were paying for services and oth- ers were not,” says Kendall. “We want to be consistent and fair to ev- eryone, so we needed to tighten things up a bit” Under the new system, people will continue to pay an additional fee to use the weight and fitness rooms, and that information will be regis- tered on their membership card. To gain access to the fitness and weight rooms, members leave their card at the equipment-issuing desk and check out a fitness room badge. The badges are handed back after each workout, and the member’s card is returned. A similar system has been set up for fitness classes. Members who pay for classes are issued a special sticker on their ID card. They exchange their card for an arm band before each class, returning it at the end and retrieving their card. Charges of up to $50 will be applied for lost badges and arm bands. Cards and other information are also required to sign out basketballs, racquets and other sports equip- ment. Kendall admits the new system will take some getting used to. “We’re going to try it and see what works and what doesn’t. If something isn’t working, we’ll figure out a way to change it so that it does. I’m confident that, once we get the glitches worked out, people are go- ing to be happy with it." He adds that he and the entire Athletics Centre staff “appreciate ev- eryone’s patience and understand- ing during this transition.” after hours Pianos, books, lessons & more! 836.8492 2 18-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Ont. N1E5R1 fax: 519.836.9474 lesson Bne: 519.716.4792 Joe Varamo jOEVARAMO Events and community programs co-ordinator in the Department of Athletics, U ofG staff member since 2001 Joe Varamo is a big sports fan. “When I’m not at work getting ready for sporting events, I’m most likely engaged in sports in some way,” says Varamo, who still gets together with former team- mates from his days as a Gryphon athlete to play football and golf. Once a week, he sits around the table with many of the same guys to play poker. He says his friendships are important to him, and these games are a great way to stay connected when everyone’s so busy with work and family. Varamo says he’s been fortunate to do a lot of travel- ling. Over the past year, he’s been to Mexico and Ireland and has visited Manitoba, California and Florida. As part of a large Italian family, he gets invited to a lot of celebrations and events. This summer, he flew to Italy to attend a cousin’s wedding and, while in Europe, also visited England and Spain. “I have a huge travelling bug, and I don’t want to shake it,” he says. He’d like to focus more of his travels on exploring western Canada and other parts of the country. Varamo also enjoys live entertainment and likes to go to shows and concerts with his girlfriend. Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre is one of his favourite venues. DOROTHEE BIENZLE Faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology since 1999 Prof. Dorothee Bienzle takes time away from the office to enjoy out- door activities year- round. “I sit so much at work, so it’s a good balance to do things that keep me physically active,” she says. In the milder months, Bienzle ^ #1 i prefers to bike than to drive Dorothee Bienzle whenever possible. She bikes to " work, rides in her spare time and also bikes about 30 minutes to the stable where she boards her horse, a 28-year-old gelding named Fuego. Once a year, she and her family head off to Algon- quin Park to go canoeing. Although they’ve dipped their canoe into the waters around Guelph, she says it’s just not the same. Bienzle also enjoys getting her hands dirty maintain- ing her vegetable garden. She likes to cook ethnic food, although not every day, and as a vegetarian enjoys meat- less cuisine. For the past six winters, Bienzle and her husband have taught children, including their own, to cross-country ski as volunteer instructors for the Jackrabbits Club of Eden Mills. “We like snow, not ev- erybody does,” she says. With snow in mind, she’s currently reading Antarctica by sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson and recently went to see March of the Penguins. “It was abso- lutely spectacular, and it’s great that it’s so popular. It’s a really beautiful film.” HANNA SMITH Fifth-year student in the BAS program When Hanna Smith doesn’t have her nose buried in a textbook, she’s working part time for an online music journal, Critical Studies in Improvisation, and in the children’s section of the Guelph Public Library. “It great to see the same kids come in year after year and feel comfortable and connected to the library,” says Smith, who enjoys watching a child’s love of reading develop. She herself is currently reading Rats by Robert Sullivan and Alberto Manguel’s News From a Foreign Country Came. Smith has recently renewed an interest in water polo, which she played competitively for five years when she was younger. “After I talked to a few members of the University’s club, it didn’t take much for me to decide to get back into it.” She also continues to co-host the radio show Return to Soulsville on CFRU 93.3 FM. “I’m a big-time nerd when it comes to funk and soul,” she says. Smith has volunteered at the radio station for the past two years and started her show in January as a res- urrection of an earlier program called Soulsville. It airs Sundays at 8 p.m. An avid music lover, she is also a “big-time nerd” when it comes to jazz and recently wrapped up work for the Guelph Jazz Festival as co-ordinator of an on-cam- pus jazz colloquium. Hanna Smith International Film Series Set U OF G KICKS OFF its third annual international film series, “Beyond Hollywood,” Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Florence Partridge Room on the third floor of the McLaughlin Library. This year’s series of six films will focus on “Controversy and Courage.” Film introductions begin at 6:45 p.m., with screenings at 7 p.m. Dis- cussion and light refreshments will follow each film. All screenings are free and open to the public. “I’ve always had an admiration for filmmakers who have struggled in the face of adversity to pursue their art,” says Prof. Paul Salmon, English and Theatre Studies, film se- ries programmer. “It’s remarkable that so many great films have emerged out of some form of cul- tural or political upheaval.” The series opens with Blush, di- rected by Li Shaohong. Winner of the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival, Blush is set in China and follows three central characters as they struggle with the effects of the communist revolution. On Oct. 23, the featured film is The Seduction of Mimi by Italian director Lina Wertmuller. The polit- ical farce about a Sicilian labourer whose life is turned upside down as a result of not voting for the Mafia’s candidate in a local election won Wertmuller the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival. German director Joachim Hasler’s film Hot Summer will be screened Nov. 6. Referred to by some as East Germany’s version of Grease, Hot Summer is a light musical with a communist twist that explores the romantic complications that arise when a group of young women on holiday meet up with a lively group of young men. “These films are each, in their own way, a testament to the determi- nation of their directors to commu- nicate their vision of the human condition despite considerable per- sonal risk,” says Salmon. The series will continue in 2006 with Daisies Jan. 29, Ulysses Feb. 10 and Commissar March 12. FREE iPod with LG handset Q \0 + ml A HU FREE = $30 If that's not enough... * You will also get a student discount of up to 33% on cell phone plans. $30 Check us out at: )LQ ^od ( wmtifdn m) Or call 1-866-287-1835 This otter Is exclusive to StudentPhones.com, negotiated in partnership with the Canadian Federation ot Students. at Guelph 8 September 28, 2005 Wanted: A PC With Insight Guelph prof is working to make tomorrow's computers more intuitive BY ANDREW VOWLES I T’S ALL JUST ONES and zeros — and yet it’s so much more than that, says computing and information science professor Judi Thomson. “I have a fascination with information or how we can augment efficiency and creativity with something as simple as a bunch of bits. The things we can do with ones and zeros fascinate me.” Or, at least, what captivates her are the things she hopes to be able to do with tomorrow’s successors to those rather clueless laptop and desktop computers now occupying her Reynolds Building office. What the world needs, she says, is a more intuitive computer. Imagine a laptop that makes edu- cated guesses about your wants and needs — one that understands the context of your online query and can give you, say, 10 likely hits rather than 1,000 dubious ones. That’s the idea behind so-called adaptive sys- tems studied by this recently arrived U of G professor. “It’s an application of artificial intelligence techniques,” says Thomson, who’s originally from Saskatchewan and came to Guelph in 2004 by way of a government re- search lab in Washington State. Suppose you Google the word “Hawaii.” If your computer knew you were planning a trip, it would automatically limit its search to in- formation on flights, hotels and sunscreen brands. If it knew you were completing a Grade 6 project on the state, then it might give you information about landforms and history. Or, identifying you as a uni- versity researcher interested in envi- ronmental issues, it might direct you to pertinent journal articles. Call it a smarter and less smart-alecky ver- sion of Microsoft Office Assistant. Or call it the “semantic web” — the term used by World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee a few years ago. “We want the web to be meaningful, not just navigable,” says Thomson. Adaptive systems are a relatively new field that draws on artificial in- telligence, databases and informa- tion theory, even psychology. Not that we’re talking about futuristic machines able to carry on a conver- sation with you, she cautions. "It’s teaching the computer to understand information to support what’s needed.” Thomson says adaptive systems are of interest to governments and to companies looking for better infor- mation on their competitors. They’re also getting a look from marketing and promotional compa- nies interested in targeting their ad- vertising more closely. Closer to home, such a system might be useful for tutoring or on- line learning, roughly akin to a pro- ject she helped plan as a student in Saskatoon. The system matches up students with online tutors, based on the computer’s knowledge of both. Thomson grew up in small-town Saskatchewan, where her first expo- sure to a computer was playing pain- fully simplistic games on an Apple II Plus her family acquired in 1980. She completed her computing studies at the University of Saskatch- ewan, having returned to school af- ter a decade spent as a schoolteacher. Despite her high-tech field, Thomson doesn’t rely on fancy elec- tronic gizmos in the classroom. In- stead, she uses time-tested techniques, partly because she thinks students prefer them. “Students have seen so much. They almost prefer blackboards i now. It’s almost gone full circle.” Before coming to Guelph, she ! worked for the U.S. Department of Energy in Richland, Wash., for four years. There she used computers to j mine stores of data for information, a project with echoes in her current work on extracting meaning from amorphous data. Thomson embraced the chance to return to Canada last year, along with her partner, Chuck Bush, and her two children. She’s enjoying her work in a relatively small depart- ment: “Everyone’s research fits here.” The family has also found a neat fit in other ways. Longtime martial arts aficionados, she, Chuck and her son, Daniel, attend karate classes three times a week at the Fighting Griffin Martial Arts Club in Guelph. Thomson, a black belt in tae kwon do, says with a laugh: "It’s sort of like a master's degree — you've learned just enough to be dangerous , to yourself.” More seriously, she says the discipline helps her develop pa- i tience, perceptiveness and I self-awareness — qualities that translate readily to the classroom and the lab. “I like the form, mentally and physically. Martial arts is a form of moving meditation.” (So, in a sense, is being inter- viewed. Thomson spends the entire time perched atop an exercise ball: good for maintaining balance and posture, she explains.) The family’s other pursuit is con- tra dancing, which they practise with clubs in Toronto and Hamilton. Think of it as a cross between square dancing and English country danc- ing, all without the fancy costumes, says Thomson. “It’s a workout.” United Way BAZAAR! BBQ HAMBURGERS (Regular fit Veggie) fit POP FOR $5 ♦ Garage Sale ♦ Bake Sale ♦ Raffles Central Animal Facility (Bldg 12) 1 1:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, October 6, 2005 For Information about paid advertising in At Guelph, call Scott Anderson at 827-9169. Q eorye/y Windows and Doors Georse Wallace 11 Victoria Hoad North, Guelph, Ont. N1E 304 (319) W1-7S00 Fax (319) 891-7910 at Guelph 9 September 28, 2005 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 Our school has been given an AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education • full & half day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years • Government licenced • qualified Montessori teachers • reading, writing, math & life skills • French, music, art & physical education • dance lessons 821-5876 68 Suffolk Street West, GUELPH N1H 2J2 www.montessori-school.ca Mftntt notional® Options Les options makoalltho font touts difference No matter what your university education, you can enjoy a career with a difference in the Canadian Forces. • Engineers • Physiotherapists • Social Workers • Pilots • Doctors • Nurses • Pharmacists • Naval Officers To learn more, contact us today. la difference Peu Imports (a nature de vos etudes universitaires, vous pouvez beneficlsr d’une carriers diff6rente dans les Forces canadlenneB. • Ingdnleurs • Phy8k>th6rapeuteB • Travallleurs soclaux/ travailleu8es sociales • Pilotes • Mddeclns • Inflrmlers/ infirmieres • Pharmaclens/ pharmaciennes • Offlclers de markie Pour obtenlr de plus ample* renselgnements, veuillez communiquer avec nous d*s aujourcf hut. tt rasp. h s ai T t fa yl i Cssdsi Fenea. peceavr sa veaforteadansleaForcea can adi siwi as. Canada Where Are You Now? If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Sept. 30 at 4:4 5 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendali@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56982. The following people correctly reported that the Sept. 14 photo was of a flower bed outside the MacKinnon Building: Steve Forbes, Jacqueline Murray, Leaza Green, Sandra Sabatini, Jeanne Stegeman, Debbie France. John Van Manen, Carrie Tanti and Sandra Campbell. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL At Guelph Publication Schedule Publication Date Deadline Publication Date Deadline Oct. 12 Oct. 4 Dec. 7 Nov. 29 Oct. 26 Oct. 18 Jan. 11 Jan. 3 Nov. 9 Nov. 1 Jan. 25 Jan. 17 Nov. 23 Nov. 15 Feb. 8 Jan. 31 . 1 Packages with fast turn times, affordable rates, fast shipping to anywhere in North America. ■ yp On-line @ \ Matt - 905.922.8501 Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts ptuA Your Group Discount! k \\i Waterloo ^AJI Insurance Visit us at www.ecooomicallnsurance.com YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home INSURANCE PROGRAM Call today for a no-obllgatlon quote Or visit our website et www.staebler.com at Guelph 10 September 28, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Three-bedroom townhouse in Uni- versity area, 2 Vi baths, eat-in kitchen with deck, gas fireplace, inside park- ing for three vehicles, faces Speed River parkland, immediate occu- pancy, 824-8575. White-Westinghouse rollaway dish- washer, hardwood top, three years old; plastic turtle-shaped sandbox with lid; child’s dresser, top serves as change table, Ross, Ext. 52532 or rmckitri@uoguelph.ca. Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop, Pentium 4, HD40G, 15-inch XGA screen, 512 memory, 8xCD/DVD burner, XP Home, modem, integrated network card, one-year warranty, Yves, Ext. 53942. FOR RENT Furnished room on main floor of house in Rockwood area, private bath, shared kitchen, non-smoker, pets welcome, $350 a month, 853-3507. Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, 836-6745 or fiimoll@rogers.com. WANTED Two non-smoking female grad stu- dents seek clean two-bedroom accommodation, must be pet- friendly, lthomp01@uoguelph.ca. Professor and family seek three- or four-bedroom house to buy, Andreas, Ext. 53332 or aboecker@ uoguelph.ca. Pond’s foto source"* 99 Wyndham St North, Guelph, ON www.pondsfoto.com Celebrating 30 years of serving Guelph and area Now celebrates a 2nd location 292 Stone Rd. (at Edinburgh) Suppliers of goods and services to the amateur, professional, educational, commercial and industrial markets Surplus equipment for campus use only: two complete precision air tables similar to Sargent-Welch cat. #30663-01, excellent condition, Tom, Ext. 53995. Yahama 100 and Yamaha 80 dirt bikes, Ext. 52043, 821-7069 or barb@pr.uoguelph.ca. 2001 Toyota Corolla, four-door, five-speed, black with grey interior, air, CD, one owner, excellent condi- tion, 92,000 km, 826-9411. Large black computer desk; Sanyo microwave oven, white, 0.9 cubic feet; chest with five drawers, 821- 6589. IKEA loft-style bed with matching desk, white with accent colours; pine wall clock, handpainted with deli- cate floral design; vertical blinds, 103" x 60", in light grey/blue fabric with matching custom valance; PVC mini-blinds, 72" x 45", never used, original packaging, fight mushroom colour, 837-3809. Antique oak desk, excellent condi- tion, best offer, 821-2493. Two-bedroom upper-floor apart- ment close to downtown and Exhi- bition Park, recently renovated, sep- arate entrance, balcony, built-in laundry, non-smokers, no pets, $985 a month inclusive, references required, available immediately, 824-3323 or speedbike99@yahoo. com. Sublet part of house near U of T campus from September to April, shared with one student, furnished, two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, 514-286-4887. Two-bedroom apartment close to downtown and amenities, $852 a month plus hydro, immediate pos- session, Sally or Mike, 906-510- 5409. Furnished two-bedroom condo in Phoenix Mills, two baths, ensuite laundry, parking, controlled entrance, Jacuzzi, fitness room, $1,600 a month, available Nov. 1, Carol, 823-1857 or intelrent@ hotmail.com. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short-term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in AVAILABLE Experienced editor available for master’s or PhD theses, ESL students welcome, prices negotiable with pro- ject, 837-8713 or writeaway@ sympatico.ca. Space available before and after school for day care in Victory School area, non-smoking home, police check, snacks, early dismissal, 826-0337. Classifieds is a free service available to staff, faculty, students, alumni and retirees of the University. Sub- mit items to Linda Graham on Level 4 of the University Centre, fax to 519-824-7962 or send e-mail to l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca. In Century Home on lovely treed lot Newly renovated, hardwood floors Walking distance to downtown and hospital Utilities and parking included $1,300 Available Nov. 1 Call Donna, 519-241-8846 Bright , Spacious Three Bedroom GUELPH (est. 1978) ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga ■ Musikgarten ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Vi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, OnL 836-3810 u Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Marla Montessori w \\ \\ .mK'lpli mon If.ssori. atm Level 1 University Centre • Poster printing, mounting and lamination • Coroplast Signs, Banners and Vinyl Decals • Graphic Design and Illustrations • Exhibit / Trade Show Design and Fabrication Ext. 58031/Email: info@clicksigns.ca www.clicksigns.ca -it Home Lffilmcnrfware Island Ink-Jet® Cartridge Refill, Sale & Service Stone Road Mall fKiosk located in front of SEARS) -while you wait service -save up to 60% Dell. Lexmark. HP. Epson, Brother. Canon 519-821-2828 stoneroadrnall@islandlnkJet com Refill. . .Not Landfill 10%OFF Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag . Fall planring 51 9.836.0925 • Garden prep for wirier www.gardensbynaiure.com • Less work for you next spring POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ... Design your own unique pattern, the possibilities are endless! • EXTENSIVE SELECTIONS • Ceramic Marble Slate “Quality and Craftsmanship are a Family Tradition" • OVER 1000 COLOURS TO CHOOSE • at Guelph 11 September 28, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM Ion Brierley leads a workshop on “Digital Nature Photograph/’ Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $55. Registration and payment deadline is Oct. 7. CONCERTS The Thursday noon-hour concert series features Chipotle Sept. 29, Duo Sheppard-lanza Oct. 6 and pia- nist Roman Rudnytsky Oct. 13. Concerts begin at 12:10 p.m. in MacKinnon 107. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. LECTURES The Ontario Agricultural College public lecture series presents Jim Riddell, director of planning and building services for the City of Guelph, considering “A Strategy for Growth: the City of Guelph” Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. Stephen Lewis, the UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, discusses “Where in the World Is the World Headed?" Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. Admission is $10 genera], $5 for U of G students. NOTICES The Stress Management and High Performance Clinic is offering a pro- gram for managing headaches beginning Oct. 5. It runs for four Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in UC 334. The clinic is also offering a 12-session program on relaxation and stress management, beginning Oct. 11. Class meets Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in UC 334. For more information, visit www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers, leave a message at Ext. 52662 or pick up a pamphlet at the Info Desk on Level 1 of the University Centre. The Canadian International Devel- opment Agency and the United Nations Development Program are sponsoring an international work- shop on “Decentralized Partner- ships for Decentralized Develop- ment: Pooling Forces for Enhanced Effectiveness” Oct. 13 and 14 in Ottawa. For information, contact Alison Van Rooy at alison_ vanrooy@acdi-cida.gc.ca. Guelph Students for Environmental Change is hosting a celebration at the Bullring Oct. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. to thank U of G students for contrib- uting to the purchase of wind energy. The Ecumenical Campus Ministry is hosting a fundraising dinner Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. with Bishop Ralph Spence of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara as guest speaker. For information, call Ext. 52390. The Japan Foundation is calling for proposals for its special grants pro- gram and Tanaka Fund. Application deadline is Oct. 21. For details, visit the website www.aucc.ca/programs/ intprograms/japan_e.html. Participants are needed for a study on the contemporary practice of the Jewish Passover seder. It involves a 60- to 90-minute audiotaped inter- view about current seder practice and memories of the seder as a child. You must be at least 18 to partici- pate. For more information, contact U of G librarian Robin Bergart at rbergart@uoguelph.ca or Ext. 54094. SEMINARS The Multi-Faith Resource Team presents Prof. Jay Newman, Philoso- phy, discussing “Religion, Funda- mentalism and Tolerance” Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. in UC 442. The Centre for Food and Soft Mate- rials Science is hosting a seminar series titled “Soft Matters.” It begins with Prof. Doug Goff, Food Science, discussing “Composition and Func- tional Properties of Ice Structuring Proteins Derived From Cold-Acdi- mated Winter Wheat Grass” Sept. 29 at 2:30 p.m. in Food Science 241. The microbiology graduate student seminars continue Sept. 30 with Erin Westman discussing “Quantitating Pathogenicity: Alternatives to Mouse Models” and Oct. 7 with Kasia Kaluzny explaining “Defining Virulence: The Use of Signa- ture-Tagged Mutagenesis to Screen for Virulence Genes in Micro- organisms.” The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 116. “Avian Influenza Refuses to Go Away” is the topic of Davor Ojkic of the Animal Health Laboratory in the Department of Pathobiology semi- nar series Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. On Oct. 7, Uni- versity of Tennessee animal scientist Gina Pighetti presents “CXCR2: A Novel Marker for Immune Function and Disease Susceptibility?” at 2 p.m. in OVC 1715. The Department of Physics presents Stephen Julian of the University of Toronto explaining “Quantum Phase Transitions” Oct. 4. Stanley Dunn of the University of Western Ontario discusses “Energy Trans- duction in ATP Synthase” Oct. 11. The seminars begin at 4 p.m. in MacNaughton 101. Next up in the Cognitive Science Group seminar series is Prof. Geor- gia Mason, Animal and Poultry Sci- ence, considering “Why Do Captive Animals Perform Stereotypic Behav- iours?" Oct. 5. On Oct. 12, Denys Decatanzaro of McMaster Univer- sity examines “Physosocial Preg- nancy Disruptions in Mice: The Nature of Pheromones in the Bruce Effect.” The seminars start at 3 p.m. in MacKinnon 314. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services’ training and development opportunities for faculty and instructional staff con- tinue with “Photoshop Tidbits: Lay- ers” Oct. 12 and “Teaching With PowerPoint: Strategies” Oct. 13. The TA discussion series offers grading tips Oct. 14. Detailed descriptions and online registration for all TSS events can be found on the web at www.tss.uoguelph.ca. If you have questions about TSS events or ser- vices, call Mary Nairn at Ext. 53571. THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of Tracy Zahradnik, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology, is Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “An Analysis of Male Preference for Large Over Virgin Females and First Male Preference in Littorina subrotundata." The adviser is Prof. Elizabeth Boulding. The final examination of PhD candi- date Carolyn Swanson, Department of Philosophy, is Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. in MacKinnon 236. The thesis is “Reburial of Object Theory: Recon- sidering the Meinong-Russell Debate.” The advisers are Prof. Peter Loptson and Nicolas Griffin. COMMUNITY EVENTS Guelph-Wellington Women in Cri- sis is organizing a food drive for Oct. 17, in solidarity with the World March of Women and the Interna- tional Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Food will be received in the parking lot behind 18 Norwich St. E. from noon to 1 p.m. For more infor- mation, call 836- 1 1 10 or send e-mail to adminrec@gwwomenincrisis.org. The Sexual Assault Centre of Guelph-Wellington Women in Cri- sis will be running a monthly drop-in group for women who have experienced sexual assault. It begins Oct. 18 and runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at 18 Norwich St. E. To register or for more information, call 823-5806, Ext. 33. The 20th annual Guelph Studio Tour runs Oct. 14 to 16. For details, visit www.guelphstudiotour.ca. The Guelph Historical Society meets Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Guest speaker John Peter Ashton will discuss "Regional Realism: The Novels of John Galt.” The Edward Johnson Music Foun- dation is hosting an International Music Day Celebration Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Quebec Street. Guelph Little Theatre’s production of Greetings! by Tom Dudznick opens Oct. 6 and runs weekends until Oct. 22. For ticket information, call 821-1270. The Guelph Arts Council’s historical walking tours continue until Oct. 16. For details, call 836-3280, send e-mail to gac@sentex.net or visit www.guelphartscouncil.org. Theatre Guelph presents The Com- plete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 at the River Run Centre. For tickets, call 763-3000. The Guelph Arts Festival runs Oct. 15, 16, 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For details, visit www. guelphartsfestival.com. A new national fundraising event called Hike 4 ALS involves partici- pants hiking 10 kilometres to raise awareness of ALS and money in sup- port of research and client services. For more information or to register online, visit www.als.ca/hike4als. Guelph’s Locomotive 6167 Restora- tion Committee launches a major fundraising project with the unveil- ing of a limited-edition print by world-renowned transportation art- ist Larry Fisher Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. near the bus station at Carden and Macdonell streets. Wellington County Museum and Archives is hosting a Harvest Home Festival Oct. 2 from noon to 4 p.m. It will feature a display of antique and vintage tractors from various collec- tors in the county. UC VISIOI We carry Quality Eyewear and i ^ Service by Registered Optician PLUS Get a $50 Eye Exam Rebat FREE 2nd Pair of Glasses or O NOW OPEN!! * f Kill ated @ Level 1 entre Call 822-8593 i At Guelph 12 September 28, 2005 at GUELPH OCTOBER 12, 2005 • VOL. 49 NO. 15 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH • UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: LABORATORY SERVICES WELCOMES NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR • THE GREENING OF U OF G Student-Led March to Focus on Poverty There’s no reason anyone should be living in poverty, says rally organizer I N AN effort to raise public awareness of global poverty, trade justice and childhood poverty in Canada, U ofG students are staging a march and rally Oct. 17. Organized by the Guelph Make Poverty History Coalition in con- junction with efforts by similar groups across the country, the rally will mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Members of the U of G community are asked to wear white and meet on Johnston Green at 11 a.m. to create a “living band.” The living band is inspired by the white “Make Poverty History” bracelets that began to gamer expo- sure during the Live 8 concerts last summer, says organizer Lindsay Stidwill. “The human band is something people all over Canada and the world have been doing to raise awareness of these issues,” she says. The event will begin with U of G graduate Ron McLester leading an aboriginal ceremony reflective of his Oneida heritage. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., partici- pants will snap their fingers every three seconds as they leave Johnston Green and walk to Branion Plaza. There, signatures will be collected on petitions asking for increased gov- ernment support, improved trade policies for developing nations and an end to child poverty in Canada. The snapping will continue until 3,000 people sign the petition or agree to personally contact the pro- vincial and federal governments to voice their support for this campaign. “Every three seconds, a child somewhere in the world dies from extreme poverty,” says Stidwill. “We have the resources to stop this, and there’s no reason anyone should be living in poverty. This needs to end.” It’s also important to acknowl- edge that poverty isn’t an issue that affects only people in underdevel- oped nations, she says. “It’s some- thing that Canadians, especially children, also experience.” She notes that one in six Canadian children is living in poverty. From noon to 4 p.m., local musi- cians will provide entertainment, and students can participate in activ- ities to raise awareness of the need for just trade rules for farmers around the world. Donations of non-perishable food items and cash will be collected for the Guelph Food Bank throughout the day. Documentary Goes on Tour with National Film Board Film developed as class project explores questions of immigration policy BY REBECCA KENDALL T he National Film Board of Canada has selected a docu- mentary by sue U of G students to be screened during a 10-city national tour that comes to Guelph’s Old Quebec Street Mall Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CitizenShift, an NFB website, and the iiberculture collective present “Measuring Security Measures,” which brings together panellists, grassroots organizations and the public to examine issues of security and civil liberties in the aftermath of 9/11. Among the five short films to be shown is a documentary developed in 2003 by students as part of a class on “Literature and Social Change” taught by Prof. Ajay Heble, English and Theatre Studies. Security Con- sciousness: Detained in Guelph exam- ines a proposal to use the Guelph Detention Centre for immigrant de- tention. The film explores questions of immigration policy and aims to inspire opposition to current deten- tion practices. “When we looked at the film, we thought it was fantastic,” says Patri- cia Kearns, NFB marketing and out- reach officer. “For people who didn’t have filmmaking experience, they put together a cohesive product. It was a project of discovery, and what came through is this informative video made by people who just wanted to get some answers.” Filmmaker Chris Jess, now a fourth-year English student, says he and his classmates thought it was important to expose this issue and to generate dialogue. They’re pleased that their documentary is receiving attention and will be shown to audi- ences from coast to coast, he says. “We couldn’t ask for a better venue or environment for this film. We’re very excited that it’s in- cluded.” The film has already been screened in local and educational communities, and has attracted the attention and praise of journalists, activists and several community- based organizations, says Heble. “This is a remarkable achieve- ment and a tremendous source of pride for me as their teacher. It speaks very powerfully to the ways in which university-level work can establish a genuine foundation for vital forms of civic and commu- nity-based engagement.” “Measuring Security Measures" begins with an hour-long screening of selected short films, each examin- ing the consequences of laws and programs that have been developed in the wake of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,2001. A panel discussion on legal, social and cultural issues and their relation to national security and civil liberties will follow the presentation. Audi- ence members will be encouraged to participate in the discussion. Panellists are Dan Smoke- Asayenesa, aboriginal adviser for the Ipperwash Inquiry and a community advocate; U of G human rights and equity director Patrick Case, who appeared in the students’ film; and Sima Zerehi from the lobby group No One Is Illegal. The discussion will be moderated by Valerey Lavergne, CFRU promo- tions co-ordinator and producer of First Nations radio. For more information, visit the website www.citizen.nfb.ca/msm. Const. Steve Forbes, one of only two instructors in Canada qualified to teach bike patrolling courses, is an avid cyclist off the job as well. PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE Wheels of Justice Police administrators are increasingly seeing the many benefits of outfitting their services with bike patrols BY REBECCA KENDALL E N ROUTE to an emergency call, the officer manoeuvres the police vehicle through a crowded street, turning a sharp comer to take a shortcut through a narrow alley. A short flight of stairs looms in the near distance, but the officer doesn’t hesitate and descends them with ease. This is the new face of law en- forcement. Today’s officers are abandoning their cruisers in grow- ing numbers, preferring instead to work on mountain bikes. At U of G, seven campus police officers are trained to use bicycles. Each has been trained by Const. Steve Forbes. There are many benefits to out- fitting police services with bike pa- trols, says Forbes. “A lot of them have realized that bicycles are a faster way to respond to calls in congested areas, down- town areas and urban areas, and on footpaths or green spaces — gener- ally anywhere a patrol car may have I difficulty reaching. There are things we can do on bicycles that officers in cars or on foot can’t” Forbes has been patrolling his beat by bike for 10 years — the past four at U of G — and is currently one of only two International Police Mountain Bike Association instruc- tors in Canada qualified to teach bi- cycle patrolling courses. Through his instruction, officers learn to use their bikes in a variety of ways that give them an advantage from a tactical standpoint. “Bike patrols can be used for en- forcement, community events and policing and for everyday patrol,” he says. “There are many facets of the bike patrol and the ways it can be used, and that’s what police services are picking up on. Administrators have come to realize that, with the price of gas and the cost of vehicles, they can outfit three or four officers with bikes for the same amount of money and get much more of a return for it.” Having officers on bikes also Continued on page 10 at Guelph 1 October 12, 2005 ■ Enriched Academic Curriculum ■ Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga ■ Musikgarten ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Zi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, Ont 836-3810 u Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Marta Montessori w \\ w .giiclpliiiionlc.ssori.com on't let another minute go by without enjoying each day... let us help you see your world more clearly.= Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street Guelph, ON N1H7G5 766-7676 Michael H.C. McMurray Partner „ icorn Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Fax: (519) 826-4994 Email: michaclmcmurray@on.aibn.com • Do you get 2.45% on your savings account? • Are you investing for your future? • Do you need professional advice regarding your investments? • I can help you answer these questions, call me for a free consultation. It's time to renovate! Kite Ken . . . Bathroom . . . Family Room SELECT IMtlMllM I l MIll lt The How-To People. 55 Dawson Road GUELPH 821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road ELORA 846-5381 Communal Sense of Caring Shines Through at U of G Editor’s note: President Alastair Summerlee welcomes comments on his column at president@uoguelph.ca. R ecently, I had a chance to meet Christopher Kent, a graduate student from Tulane University who is among the thousands of people displaced by hurricane Katrina. Christopher came to Guelph after seeing our invita- tion to students from Gulf Coast universities on Tulane’s website. Since arriving a couple of weeks ago, he has enrolled in courses and moved into a graduate house, and is doing his best to bring some semblance of normalcy to his shattered life. When he came into my office, Christopher was smil- ing and looking like a typical student, wearing jeans and carrying a loaded-down backpack. Of course, his situa- tion is anything but typical, and he struggled to find the words to express his feelings. He must have said “thank you” half a dozen times. Meeting him was an emotional moment. Christo- pher has come to symbolize two very important things for me. He is a reminder that, once again, there are peo- ple in the world whose lives have been devastated by natural disaster and unimaginable loss. But he also rep- resents everything that is good about U of G, how our community opens its arms and hearts whenever there are people in need. This communal sense of caring didn’t just start when Christopher was packing up his 1988 Volvo for the long trek to Guelph. It long precedes hurricane Ka- trina and last year’s tsunami. So when we put the word out that Guelph was offer- ing to help universities affected by Katrina, 1 wasn’t sur- prised when the phone calls and e-mails began almost immediately. Faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends wanted to help with everything from housing, food and money to transportation, teaching and supplies. Once we learned Christopher was making his way to us, the offers of help intensified. By the time he arrived, arrangements had been made for his housing, courses, books, registration and more. And it didn’t stop when he got here. Just last week, some students who’d read about Christopher in the newspaper contacted the De- partment of History. They’ d held a fundraiser on cam- pus for hurricane victims and wanted the proceeds to go to him. Christopher says the generosity has been over- whelming. He never imagined that people he’d never met could be so kind. But those who know Guelph would have expected nothing less from this community. U of G is also work- ing to develop relationships with other universities in the Gulf Coast regions that were adversely affected by Katrina, including sharing academic programs and fac- ulty and student exchanges. The schools we are target- ing have limited financial resources and opportunities, which makes it doubly hard for them to overcome the storm’s devastation. Our hope is that these partnerships will be mutually beneficial and help develop lasting bonds between the institutions. I was reminded of the extent of the University’s commitment to caring once again during the United Way campaign’s kick-off barbecue Sept. 29. It was one of the colder days of the month, yet we had a great turn- out, with people standing outside in the chilly wind putting their all into selling hot dogs, cold drinks and ice cream. This year’s United Way fundraising target is $350,000, and there’s a sense of excitement and chal- lenge in this lofty goal. Last year, you may recall, this community raised $307,000, well above our goal of $285,00. It was the largest single contribution from a Guelph organization, earning U of G the United Way’s Leadership Giving Award. We have raised the bar significandy, and I am hope- ful that we will achieve — and even surpass — this year’s mark. Our students helped set the pace during Project Serve, held during the last weekend in September. Nearly 800 of our newest arrivals gave up their Saturday — a warm and sunny one at that — to volunteer at more than 20 community organizadons. They met on campus early in the morning, then set out for places like the Guelph Food Bank, St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Women in Crisis shelter, OPIRG’s demonstration gar- den and the donkey sanctuary. Their tasks that day included pulling weeds, paint- ing, cleaning up property and yards, and cutting grass. One group of 20 students had the thankless task of pick- ing up trash in the city’s parks and streets. In less than 2 Vi hours, they collected more than 900 pounds of waste. When they were done, instead of heading home for a much-needed nap or downtown for some well-de- served relaxation, all the students came back to campus to talk about what they’d done that day and what they’d learned. At a time when local media reports seem to focus on the inappropriate behaviour of a minority of our stu- dent population, it’s extremely satisfying to see so many of our students pitching in to help beautify and improve this city. Equally important, the Project Serve participants came away with a sense of satisfaction and appreciation. I’m happy to say that their efforts will continue long af- ter the day ended. Some 70 per cent of our students vol- unteer in the community on a regular basis, a statistic I often repeat when talking about the various attributes that make this campus a wonderful and unique place to work, study and learn. Indeed, I have often said that it’s the people, values and sense of community that distinguish Guelph from other universities. I was reminded of the true extent of this when thinking about Project Serve, the United Way and, most recently, Christopher Kent. It’s long been said that disaster brings out the best and worst in people. In the aftermath of Katrina, says Christopher, he saw and read about some of the worst. But here at Guelph, he says, he’s experienced the other end of the spectrum — he’s seen only the best brought out in people. That makes me extremely proud. AT GUELPH PUBLICATION SCHEDULE Publication Date Deadline Publication Date Deadline Oct. 26 Oct. 18 Jan. 1 1 Jan. 3 Nov. 9 Nov. 1 Jan. 25 Jan. 17 Nov. 23 Nov. 15 Feb. 8 Jan. 31 Dec. 7 Nov. 19 Feb. 22 Feb. 14 X Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every hvo weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. a Design Peter Enneson Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelpli, Ontario NIG 2W1. h- Production Linda Graham Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Subscriptions l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Editorial: Ext. 56580 $22 (includes GST): Distribution: Ext. 56581 $30 outside Canada c Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondifference@rogers.com Advertising: Ext. 56580 ww. uoguelpli. ca/ad guide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 ISSN 08364478 Director Chuck Cunningham ■ mm vi 1 "'i 1 1 ■jjiiimjj c.cunningham@cxec.uoguelph.ca Website: vunv. uoguelpli. ca/atguelph at Guelph 2 October 12 , 2005 news in brief PERSONS' DAY BREAKFAST SET U of G’s women's studies program is hosting its second annual Per- sons’ Day Breakfast Oct. 18 at 7:15 a.m. at the Arboretum Centre. Funds raised will go to support Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. Guest speakers are Sly Castaldi, director of Women in Cri- sis; Prof. Christine Bold, English and Theatre Studies; and Lisa Schincariol, a PhD candidate at York University. A fundraising raf- fle will also take place at the break- fast. Tickets are $35 (tax receipts available) or $10 for students and can be purchased from Susan Callan, Room 047, MacKinnon Building, Ext. 56866 or persons@ uoguelph.ca. Tickets are also avail- able at The Bookshelf. ANDERSON LECTURE OCT. 25 The College of Biological Science will host the 2005 Roy C. Anderson Memorial Lecture in Parasitology Oct. 25 at 12:15 p.m. in Room 1714 of O VC’s Lifetime Learning Centre. Guest speaker is Dr. Jay Keystone, a professor of medicine at the Uni- versity of Toronto who has served in various capacities in developing countries. He will discuss “Imported Exotic Infectious Dis- eases in Canada: Coming to a Neighbourhood Near You.” An informal reception will precede the talk at 11:45 a.m. Everyone is wel- come. For more information on Keystone’s visit, contact Prof. Pat- rick Woo at Ext. 53581 or pwoo@ uoguelph.ca. DA VINCI PROJECT CREATOR TO SPEAK AT CFI MEETING Brian Feeney, creator of the da Vinci Project, considered to be one of the leading global competitors in the emerging market of space tour- ism, will give a free lecture at the Arboretum Centre Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m. The lecture is part of the Can- ada Foundation for Innovation’s annual public meeting, which is being held at U of G for the first time. Feeney designed and devel- oped what is considered to be the world’s largest reusable helium bal- loon, weighing more than 4,000 pounds and capable of lifting a spacecraft to a launch altitude of 70,000 feet. He was the first Cana- dian contender for the X-Prize, a competition that challenges teams to build and fly private spaceships. STUDENTS SCARE UP FOOD This Halloween, U of G students will again dress up in costumes and go door-to-door from 6 to 8 p.m. in Guelph to collect non-perishable food items for local social organiza- tions. The annual “Trick or Eat” effort is part of the Meal Exchange program. The students will also educate members of the commu- nity about local hunger issues and provide information on volunteer- ing at local charities. FOCUS ON CAR-SEAT SAFETY The U of G Child-Care and Learn- ing Centre, in partnership with the University’s police and fire services, is offering clinics on car-seat safety Oct. 18 and 19 from 3 to 5:40 p.m. in the centre’s parking lot. To regis- ter, call Ext. 52682. Lab Services Welcomes New Managing Director Division responsible for ensuring safety and quality of food People VETS ELECTED TO CANADIAN ACADEMY OF HEALTH SCIENCES Prof. Carlton Gyles, Pathobiology, and Prof. Wayne Martin, Popula- tion Medicine, have been elected to the Canadian Academy of Heath Sciences, Canada’s first national health advisory body, which will give government and the public comprehensive expertise and advice on health issues. Only four of the 162 members of the academy are veterinarians; another of the four is OVC grad Ian Dohoo, a professor at the University of Prince Edward Island. Election to the academy, which held its inaugural meeting last month in Vancouver, is consid- ered one of the highest honours for members of the Canadian health sciences community. PROF NAMED FELLOW Prof. Michael Brookfield, Land Resource Science, has been elected an International Fellow of the Explorers Club. Founded in 1904, the New York-based club is an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to pre- serve the instinct to explore. BY ANDREW VOWLES I f Michael Clayman needs to be reminded of the importance of his new job in U of G’s Laboratory Services Division, all he needs to do is glance at that coffee cup on his desk. He’s managing director of an organization responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of numerous food and food-animal products tested every day, right down to the cream in that coffee and the coffee itself — not to mention the orange juice, toast or eggs he might have consumed this morning before arriving at 95 Stone Rd. “And that’s just breakfast,” says Clayman, who brought his com- bined business and science experi- ence to Guelph Sept. 1. He succeeds Pat Collins, who retired this summer. It’s now his job to ensure contin- ued smooth operation of the largest testing lab of its kind in Ontario and to seek out new business for its test- ing sections. The division includes the numerous labs filling the build- ing on Stone Road as well as the Ani- mal Health Laboratory located in the pathobiology wing of the Ontario Veterinary College and at Kemptville College. The division’s three lab units of- fer a full range of diagnostic and ana- lytical services to ensure safe quality food and food products and to iden- tify sources of food contamination or causes of animal illness that may affect what we eat and drink: • Animal Health Lab. Based at OVC and Kemptville, the lab deter- mines the health status of five- stock, poultry and horses, as well as pets. It’s responsible for surveil- lance for new and emerging dis- eases that may threaten food- animal production and public health. • Analytical Services Unit. Services here range from determining the isoflavone content of a new brand of soy milk to describing the ge- netic makeup of a particular plant or animal. Broadly, the unit in- cludes experts in food and dairy chemistry, molecular biology, mi- croscopy, soil and nutrients — it even offers a plant pest diagnostic clinic. • Regulatory Services Unit. Experts in food pathogens measure levels of trace organics and pesticide res- idues in fruits and vegetables, test meats for drug residues, and ex- amine other foods for bacterial contamination. In particular, they regularly test milk provided by more than 5,000 producers across the province to ensure compli- ance with government standards. Formerly part of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Lab Ser- vices is wholly owned by U of G. All of its roughly 220 employees work for the University; Clayman reports to Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-presi- dent (research). Besides providing services to help the Ontario government ensure food and agricultural safety, the division conducts testing for private compa- nies from small farm operators to multinational food processors and food researchers. Clayman says reliability is key. “That’s the first thing a lab has to be; your testing has to be rock-solid. There can be no question about the science.” The market isn’t limited to On- tario or even to Canada. The division serves as a linchpin in telling other experts about potential problems here and abroad. Referring to a recent report of suspected flu in racing greyhounds in the United States, he says: “Some- one reports that greyhounds have the flu, and within hours we have all the veterinarians in Ontario notified.” Human-health experts learn of possible problems through connec- tions with OMAFRA and the On- tario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. From SARS to bird flu, “many new diseases are ani- mal-related diseases,” says dayman. Besides ensuring safety and health of consumers in Ontario and Canada, the unit’s testing ensures that markets abroad, from the United States to Europe to Japan, stay open to Canadian food exports. “If we’re not world-class, then trade suffers.” Despite frequent headlines about various diseases, says Clayman, Ontarians need to know that Lab Services is a part of the provincial in- frastructure working to safeguard food and the health of animals, and it is there to respond when issues arise. Referring to the division’s role in supporting OMAFRA’s disease de- tection and response systems, he says: “As part of our commitment to the province, we’re there when needed.” Clayman is particularly keen about working at U of G. “Guelph is the centre of agricul- ture and agricultural research in Canada,” he says, citing the proxim- ity to OMAFRA and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as well as perti- nent departments around campus. “This community has extraordinary capacity in food and animal health. It adds a whole new level of opportu- nity for the lab when you can tap into the expertise of hundreds of scien- tists. There is no integration like this anywhere else in Canada.” Before joining U of G, Clayman ran a Toronto-based health-care consulting company for 11 years. Earlier, he worked in research and development with a Canadian phar- maceutical company, ran medical labs and operated a health-care company in Markham. He grew up in Montreal and studied at Concordia and McGill universities, earning a PhD in endo- crinology. Following a post-doc stint, he earned an MBA at the Uni- versity of Western Ontario in 1971. “I was a scientist with a business degree in search of opportunities that combined business and health," he says. OAC STUDENT CROWNED OAC student Jennifer Christie of Bruce County was crowned 2006 Ontario Queen of the Furrow last month. In this role, she will repre- sent the Ontario Plowmen’s Associ- ation and help promote the 2006 International Plowing Match. Bom and raised on a farm near Terra, Christie is studying agribusiness at UofG. KUDOS FOR TV REPORTING Marianne Clark and student writer Laura Hendrick of the Office of Research received a gold medal in the television reporting category from the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation at the federation's annual meeting last month in Alberta. They were recognized for a Town and Country Ontario InfoBreak they did on soy bread with Prof. Alison Duncan, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, and Prof. Istvan Rajcan, Plant Agri- culture. GRAD STUDENT GIVES TOP TALK AT CONFERENCE Dale Lackeyram, a PhD candidate in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science, gave the top gradu- ate student oral presentation and received a prize from the Canadian Society of Animal Science Award Committee during the society’s joint meeting with the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Associa- tion this summer in Cincinnati. PAPER EARNS PRIZE Shannon Hebblethwaite, a PhD candidate in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, received second prize in the 2004 Excellence in Canadian Work- Family Research Awards. Her paper was tided “A Critical Analysis of the Understanding of Family Leisure in Older Adults Who Are Retired." at Guelph 3 October 12, 2005 Without You, There Is No Way! Return your pledge form today to support the University of Guelph United Way campaign — Give to the 85 community programs funded by United Way Community Services of Guelph and Wellington — Qualify for more than 100 incentive prizes — Help U of G achieve its $350,000 goal — Make your community a better place to live. U of G early bird draw every Friday — Check out the prizes at www.unitedway.uoguelph.ca. hoard of governors T he UNIVERSITY OF Guelph’s Board of Governors consists of the chancellor, the president, seven members appointed by the board, three alumni appointed by the board, four lieutenant-governor order-in-council appointees (appointed by the provincial government), two staff members (one of whom is a graduate of the University) elected by U of G staff, three faculty members elected by Senate, and three students (two undergraduate and one graduate) elected by students. The following is a complete list of the 2005/2006 board. Gail Kilgour Corporate director Appointment: Lieutenant-governor order-in- council Andrea Lister PhD candidate, Department of Integrative Biology Appointment: Graduate student U of G graduate: B.Sc. 1998, M.Sc. 2001 Jeff Lozon President and CEO, St. Michael’s Hospital Appointment: Board/alumni U of G graduate: BA 1976 Linda Mahood Associate professor, Department of History Appointment: Faculty Kim Neale Student, B.Sc.(Eng.) Appointment: Undergraduate student Robin-Lee Norris Partner, Miller Thomson LLP Appointment: Board/alumni U of G graduate: BA 1980 Nancy Schmidt Co-director, Learning Commons Appointment: Staff Alastair Summerlee President and vice-chancellor, U of G Appointment: President Aiden Abram J Student, B.Sc., Earth surface science and international development Appointment: Undergraduate student Kathy Bardswick President and CEO, The Co-operators Group Limited Appointment: Lieutenant-governor order- in-council 1 1 hh w i n 1 »— ii iuniimi— miil i rcnmT'nnw’i Brian Barrington President, Barrington 8 < Associates Appointment. Board Carolyn Clark Senior vice-president, human resources, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Appointment Lieutenant-governor order- in-council PatShewen Professor, Department of Pathobiology Appointment: Faculty U of G graduate: B.Sc. 1971, DVM 1975, M.Sc. 1979, PhD 1982 Stew Hilts Chair, Department of Land Resource Sci- ence Appointment: Faculty Peter Devine President, Devine Securities Inc. Appointment: Board Dick Freeborough i Corporate director ! Appointment Board Ionathan Guss Chief executive officer, Ontario Medical Association Appointment: Board Evan Siddall Resident managing director, Lazard Canada Appointment: Board U of G graduate: BA 1987 BillTeesdale Information technology support, Department of Physics Appointment: Staff/alumni U of G graduate: B.Sc. 1986 Lyle Vanclief Agricultural and agri-food consulting Appointment: Board/alumni U of G graduate: B.Sc.(Agr.) 1966 Lyle Vanclief Rita Burak Alastair Summerlee Lincoln Alexander Chancellor, University of Guelph ! Appointment: Chancellor Douglas Derry, chair Chairman, Poplar Lane Holdings Ltd. Appointment Board Rita Burak, vice-chair President/partner, The Network Execu- tive Team, Management Consultants, Inc. Appointment Lieutenant-governor order- in-council Carolyn Clark Kathy Bardswick Gail Kilgour Nancy Schmidt Lincoln Alexander Douglas Derry Brian Barrington Dick Freeborough at Guelph 4 October 12 , 2005 Out of This World New physics prof leads team designing device destined for 2009 Mars rover BY ANDREW VOWLES M ore than a year past their best-before dates, they’re still going strong. Two robotic rovers sent to Mars in early 2004 continue to trundle around the Red Planet beyond their expiry dates, sending back information about the planet’s I surface to scientists here on Earth, I including Prof. Ralf Gellert, Physics, I who managed his own safe touchdown in Guelph this summer. The recently installed faculty member says his appointment here makes sense, not least because of the University’s earlier connections to those far-off explorers and their landmark discoveries that have sug- gested water once existed on Mars. Now Gellert stands to help make Guelph an even more central player in the science planned for the next generation of Mars rovers. Even before arriving this year, Gellert had helped lead a funding ap- plication to design and build a criti- cal instrument to be installed on a larger rover for a planned 2009 mis- sion to Mars. “We don’t know what we’ll find or what to expect there on the next mission,” he says. But he’s obviously thrilled by the opportunity to look. Opening a drawer in his MacNaughton Building office, he pulls out a clear plastic bag contain- ing a metal object about the size and shape of a soft drink can. It’s a copy of the X-ray spectrometer he and teammates at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Chemistry built for the current rovers, Spirit and Op- portunity. Mounted on flexible rover arms, the instruments take readings from rock and soil and measure their chemical composition. “I wrote most of the software to talk to the instrument and used it a lot in the laboratory,” says Gellert. “But operation on Mars is com- pletely different from the lab.” At the time, he belonged to a Signs of ancient water on Mars were found by a rover device made by physics professor Ralf Gellert. PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE team of Max Planck scientists who had travelled to NASA’s let Propul- sion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., for the 2004 mission. Here at Guelph, he recalls the cheers that echoed around the con- trol room after dozens of requisite signals from Mars indicated success- ful landing and deployment of both rovers. “It’s one of the greatest expe- riences I’ve ever had,” he grins. During the first four months, Gellert’s group spoke daily with the rovers as part of a round-the-clock rotation of scientists, pointing the robots to suitable spots and receiving back data for analysis. That initial euphoria over the safe landing was equalled only by excite- ment prompted by readings from the rovers — specifically from the device Gellert was monitoring — that pointed to the former presence of water on the Red Planet. That evidence included high amounts of salts in the layered rocks, left behind by evaporation. “That was a solid hint of water ac- tivity in the past,” he says. “At first I didn’t believe it. I looked once, twice, 10 times at the huge sulphur peak.” Opportunity encountered several unexpected objects, including an iron-nickel meteorite. Gellert says another rock outcropping showed striking similarities to a meteorite found in Antarctica about two de- cades ago, further confirming that the so-called Martian meteorites did indeed come from that planet. Having travelled a kilometre from its landing site among volcanic rocks, Spirit found an older hill where water had played a role in sculpting the rocks in the formation. More than a year and a half after both rovers revved up, they’re still beaming their findings back home. Gellert continues to receive data, not from the rovers directly but from the Earth-bound mission team. Since this summer, that informa- tion has been arriving on his com- puter here in Guelph. This year, his former Max Planck unit folded, some 20 years after it had begun de- veloping the rover instrument and six years after Gellert had joined the group. He ended up applying for a position at U of G through his con- nections with Prof. Iain Campbell — connections linked directly to that Mars mission. Those results returning to Earth from the rover instruments will be analysed and refined with a com- puter package called GUPIX devel- oped by Campbell’s research group for his PIXE (proton- induced X-ray emission) facility. Last year, Camp- bell undertook simulations here to predict what the JPL-based team should expect to “see” during sampling by the rovers. Referring to a full-size accelerator called the Guelph Scanning Proton Microprobe housed in Campbell’s basement lab for analyzing anything from rock samples to air pollutants, Gellert says: “The measuring i method we’re using on Mars is quite similar to Iain Campbell’s work. We use a small radiation source, but the j principle is the same." Through Campbell, Gellert ap- | proached the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to gauge interest in funding a more sophisticated instru- ment for a planned two-year Mars ' mission beginning in 2009. NASA j selected the instrument as a payload element last December, and the CSA approved the multi-million-dollar proposal this year. Gellert is the principal investiga- tor for the project to design, calibrate and operate the instrument, which will be installed on NASA’s planned Mars Science Laboratory. Project partners include Guelph investiga- tors, the CSA, MDA Robotics, the JPL and U.S. scientists. Says Campbell: “An improved version of this instrument is under design by a Canadian industry-uni- versity collaboration headed by Ralf Gellert, and it’ s located at Guelph — , what a coup.” Gellert declines to speculate on whether that mission might find wa- ter or even signs of life on Mars, a kind of Holy Grail for Red Planet ob- servers. In the meantime, he plans to apply for an industrial research chair in space physics at U of G. He also hopes to involve Guelph students in helping to analyze fresh results arriving from the Mars rov- ers. “It’s a very exciting project, but it’s reachable. It’s nothing out of this world.” ‘Houston, We Have No Problem’ Computing grad student uses NASA summer posting to make space missions more trouble-free BY ANDREW VOWLES M ost children know what laughable nonsense can emerge after passing a whispered message from ear to ear in a round of Telephone. But when it comes to launching expensive space missions to other parts of the solar system, software glitches caused by breakdowns in the chain of command back on Earth are a bit more serious. Helping the National Aeronau- tics and Space Administration re- duce the chance of catastrophic errors in everything from satellite re- pair missions to planetary probes was the purpose of a summer stint by a U of G graduate student at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre. John Carter, a master’s student in the Department of Computing and Information Science (CIS), carried his knowledge of software develop- ment honed at Guelph to a job at the space agency’s software engineering laboratory in Maryland. Now back at Guelph, he still con- sults periodically — along with his supervisor, Prof. William Gardner — with Goddard software engineers on the project. The Guelph scientists study tech- niques called formal methods — specifically, a method called Com- municating Sequential Processes (CSP) — meant to ensure error-free translation of instructions into soft- ware used in critical applications such as space missions. Like detailed flow charts, these methods are in- tended to help programmers encode a complex hierarchy of tasks into computerese accurately and easily. Carter says this summer's project may eventually see application in planning for such missions as carry- ing out robotic repairs to the Hubble space telescope or deploying a swarm of robotic spacecraft to the asteroid belt. Formal methods offer the level of exacting detail needed for such tasks, he says. If his grandmother at home in Nova Scotia encounters a software glitch while e-mailing him, for in- stance, she needs only to reboot her PC. Correcting a problem in a re- mote space probe is something else: “You’re not able to get it back if it gets into an error state.” His chance to work at NASA came after an agency official heard about Gardner’s work at a talk given by another Guelph graduate student. “We were in the right place at the right time,” says Carter. He admits that he was daunted at first by the prospect of working at NASA, but those initial jitters didn’t last long. “I realized I was adding expertise to their system. People with expertise in CSP are hard to find." He belonged to a team that in- cluded scientists from NASA and other institutions. Recalling the “buzz” about the space shuttle’s re- turn to flight this summer, he says there was palpable anxiety at Goddard during the Discovery mis- sion that ended safely in early Au- gust. No space buff, he still caught coverage of the mission aired on nu- merous TV monitors throughout his building. “There was a lot riding on that mission," he says. As for his own academic mission, Carter says his summer experience has helped him sharpen his thesis topic back at Guelph as part of CIS’s Modelling and Design Automation Group. Gardner says he hopes to find ways to make formal methods more attractive to the software industry. “The approach we’re working on with NASA puts the CSP formal no- tation ‘under the hood’ so that users don’t have to deal with it and conse- quently don’t need a great deal of special training to benefit from the methodology.” at Guelph 5 October 12, 2005 lette rs focus The Greening of U of G Sustainability co-ordinator Gillian Maurice’s goal is to recycle as many materials as possible on campus to keep them out of the landfill. photo by martin schwalbe BY REBECCA KENDALL A round campus, people have them slung over their shoulders or tucked away in their backpacks. The light beige canvas bags are simple in design, yet powerful in message: “Reduce Waste, Go Green, It’s in the Bag!” That message is close to Gillian Maurice’s heart, and she’s working to make it more prominent on campus as Physical Resources’ first sustainability co-ordinator, a job she’s held since September 2004. Maurice says she fell into this role serendipitously while a student re- porter for the Ontarion. In addition to writing a weekly tips- based col- umn called "Eco-Bit” for four years, she enjoyed delving into broader en- vironmental issues. One day while investigating waste management and disposal on campus for an article, she was offered much more than answers to her hard-hitting questions. “In the midst of interviewing a Physical Re- sources employee, I was offered a job to help fix it up.” Maurice began working part time as a recycling waste-management co-ordinator with Custodial Ser- vices, but her role has since grown both in scope and visibility on campus. “After a couple of years, Physical Resources recognized that it should be a full-time job and that the pro- grams needed to be expanded from recycling to a much broader sustainability scope, ’ she says. Since then, she’s been busy pro- moting energy awareness on campus and educating the community about ways to reduce energy use and mate- rial waste. These efforts include the current “It’s in the Bag” campaign, an initiative developed to encourage the use of cloth bags rather than plas- tic bags for shopping. “The bags also tie into our energy campaign, with the flip side carrying the message ‘Clean Your Air, Be En- ergy Aware, Turn It Off.’” Under her watch, computer recy- cling, battery collection, overhead transparency recycling and interac- tive environmental awareness pro- grams have become standards at the University. She’s also launched a website providing comprehensive information about waste and energy reduction. One of the newer features of the website is the “stuff swap” that provides an outlet for members of the U of G community to list items they’re looking to give away and for others to find free items they need. Working alongside a part-time student assistant and two student peer helpers who assist with educa- tional outreach and composting pro- grams, Maurice has also created a service that she’s dubbed “Destruct- a-corps.” “What that means is, we scavenge things for redistribution and break them down for proper disposal.” A binder is a prime example of something that can’t be recycled un- til it’s broken apart and the metal, paper and plastic parts separated. “Our main goal is for stuff not to go to the landfill,” she says, noting that last year the University diverted 355 tonnes of materials that had been destined for landfills. “What we’ve discovered is that a lot of what’s identified as junk can actually be reused.” Maurice has found that today’s students arrive on campus expecting recycling programs and that they know the basics. “Some people tell me they don’t think the new students moving into residence will ever figure out the three-stream waste system used throughout the city of Guelph, but I quickly remind them that we don’t use that system on campus. What we have is an enhanced recycling program.” Enhanced recycling is related to the city’s wet-dry plus system in that it’s simplified into only two streams, garbage and recyclables. U of G con- verted to the city’s original two- stream wet-dry between 1996 and 1998, but switched back to a more traditional form of recycling due to high levels of contamination in both the wet and dry streams, says Maurice. “It’s really helped our recovery rate and the cleanliness of our recov- ery,” she says. Being sustainability co-ordinator isn’t just a job for Maurice — it’s a personal philosophy and a mission of sorts. “I’m very emotionally attached to what I do. It’s always been a passion of mine to look after our planet, and having the recognition that others find this important is a huge boost and sends a message that this mat- ters. It makes me sort of hopeful that people are catching on to the idea of protecting the Earth. It’s an invest- ment in the future, it’s on the societal radar, there’s a growing awareness, and the University is plugging into that.” Ten-Digit Dialling to Debut Next June Year of Advocacy Ahead for President P RESIDENT Alastair SuMMERLEE welcomed new and returning senators to the first Senate meeting of the 2005/06 academic year Sept. 27. He reported that the year was off to a great start, thanks in part to the most successful student move-in and orientation week ever. He thanked the many students, staff and faculty involved in those programs. The president also had good news about enrolment figures. Undergraduate enrolment was just one short of target — “a remarkable achievement” — and graduate enrolment was above target. The graduate growth is par- ticularly significant because it’s one of the principal things the federal and provincial governments will be looking at in terms of funding, he said. I N June 2006, people living in several regions of Ontario and Quebec, including those in communities served by area code 519, will be asked to dial 10 digits — the area code followed by the phone number — for all local calls. Already in use in many North American cities, 10-digit local dial- ling is being introduced because of the heavy demand for new phone numbers and to provide standard- ized local dialling across neighbour- ing regions, says Jim Lennie, associate director of Computing and Communications Services. To ensure a seamless transition, businesses and consumers are en- couraged to start making the neces- sary changes right away by adding the appropriate area code to pro- grammed numbers on all their tele- communications devices and also ensuring that their security or alarm systems are compatible with 10-digit local dialling. For those publishing materials that include telephone and/or fax numbers, remember to remove the brackets surrounding the area code because it will no longer be optional. The University’s number should ap- pear as 519 824-4120. More information on 10-digit di- alling is available on the web at www.diall0.ca. As for the year ahead, Summerlee said 2005/06 will involve a consider- able amount of advocacy on his part. He noted that the two key provincial ministers Guelph deals with are both new to their posts — Leona Dombrowsky, minister of agricul- ture, food and rural affairs, and Chris Bentley, minister of training, colleges and universities. Close contact and discussions with Dombrowsky, who has already visited campus a couple of times, will be particularly important this year because U of G will be renegoti- ating the OMAFRA contract, said Summerlee. He noted that she has a strong rural background and a clear understanding of some of the pres- sures facing the sector. The president will also be work- ing closely with Bentley, who was on campus recently to look at the en- ergy-saving and deferred-mainte- nance projects that received funding in the last provincial budget. Summerlee noted that Bentley is involved in discussions with stu- dents and university presidents about a tuition framework and has made it clear that the government won’t move on the issue until it has a framework in place. The president added that later this fall he will attend a provincial summit on economic health, where he will have an opportunity to work with a number of other Ontario ministers. On the federal level, Summerlee reported that he met this summer with Prime Minister Paul Martin, who is looking for ways to transfer money directly to universities rather than into provincial coffers, but without creating any discord be- tween the two levels of governments. REVISED BYLAW APPROVED Senators approved a revised by- law for the Senate Executive Com- mittee related to the selection process for the chancellor of U of G. The revisions clearly outline the structure of the selection committee and the procedure for electing a chancellor. Committee membership will consist of the president, three ten- ured faculty, three students (two undergraduate and one graduate), one member of Board of Governors, one U of G graduate and one full-time staff member. Nominations for the committee will be solicited from the University community and brought forward to Senate for selection. It’s intended that the process be widely consultative but that the committee consider nominations for chancellor in camera. One name will be forwarded to Senate for ap- proval. To be accepted, a nominee must receive support from at least 75 per cent of die senators present. HURTFUL ACTIONS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED I am sad to report that hate graffiti of a homophobic nature were painted on the front of the Univer- sity Centre prior to Thanksgiving weekend. The University of Guelph is a community committed to civility and mutual respect and, as such, will not tolerate such hurtful ac- tions. We ask anyone with informa- tion about this incident to please come forward and call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or our campus police at Ext. 52245. We must work together to en- sure that the University 1 s core be- liefs and ideals prevail over closed- minded acts of intolerance. President Alastair Summerlee at Guelph 6 October 12, 2005 s e nate The Wonderful World of Animals Globe-trotting OVC student gains experience with animals from Iceland to India BY ANDREW VOWLES P ROVIDING VETERINARY CARE for abandoned and stray dogs at a shelter in India seems a world removed from presenting a scientific paper on Icelandic horses to animal behaviour experts gathered from around the world in Japan. But it was all in a summer’s work for fourth- year DVM student Kate Sawford, whose globe-trotting this year gave her a chance to extend her clinical and research skills developed at Guelph. Now back at U of G, where she’s begun rotations this semester in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sawford says her summer abroad has given her a new appreciation for what’s right here at home in Canada. And with an eye on graduation day, she says that varied experience has also “made me aware of different op- portunities in working and research” — not to mention whetting her appetite for international work. “I’d always wanted to gain veteri- nary experience in a developing na- tion,” says Sawford, who hails from Hamilton and arrived at U of G with a President’s Scholarship in 2000. She had her chance this summer. After spending four weeks working with horses and small animals at a veterinary clinic in Phoenix, she travelled to India for a volunteer stint at an animal shelter in Jaipur. Another DVM student, Lucas Yuricek, also volunteered at the shel- ter this summer. Located in Rajasthan province in northwest India, the shelter — called Help in Suffering — runs a number of programs intended to improve living conditions for horses, don- keys, elephants and camels. The pro- gram is run by a charitable trust set up in 1980 by a British woman who was appalled by the lack of veterinary or rescue facilities for numerous stray animals living on the streets of India’s cities and towns. (Roughly similar to Doctors Without Borders, Help in Suffering operates in India, the United Kingdom, Australia and France.) Working for the shelter’s animal birth control program, Sawford spent her time spaying and neuter- ing street dogs, vaccinating them against rabies and tagging them for release. The program was begun 10 years ago in an effort to control the street dog population and to reduce the number of rabies cases in Jaipur. “Rabies is a big human health problem,” says Sawford. “There are an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 hu- man rabies cases per year in India,” nearly all caused by dog bites. Dur- ing the last three years, Jaipur has seen no human rabies cases. In August, Sawford travelled to Japan to speak to the annual confer- ence of the International Society for Applied Ethology about her research on kinship recognition among Ice- landic horses. For the previous two summers, she had worked in Iceland on a pro- ject she designed to investigate rela- tionships among horses and, in particular, what factors determine bond formation between individual animals. That kind of information may help managers make better de- cisions when they place horses in The strength of Kate Sawford’s research on Icelandic horses earned her recognition at a conference in Japan. photo by martin schwalbe groups, perhaps helping to reduce aggression and injury. Her studies with collaborators at the University of Iceland suggest that kinship is less important in bonding than other factors. When unfamiliar horses are grouped together, for example, they gravitate toward individuals with the same coat col- our their mother had, says Prof. Suzanne Millman, a horse behaviour expert in OVC’s Department of Pop- ulation Medicine. As with many ani- mal species, newborns are believed to imprint on their mothers, she says. “Maybe there’s a link between coat colour and feelings of security,” says Millman, adding that Sawford’s findings may apply to other kinds of horses. Particularly for a horse with behavioural problems, she says, “if you knew the coat colour ahead of time and had a choice, chances are this animal might get along better with a horse that was similar to its dam.” Sawford had contacted Millman after doing summer research work with Prof. David Noakes, Integrative Biology. Noakes has worked with Icelandic researchers and students for about 20 years through exchange programs. Last fall, he helped estab- lish the Iceland-Guelph Institute for teaching and research collaborations with several Icelandic universities, including H61ar University College, home to the International Centre for Icelandic Horses. Because Iceland maintains a comprehensive pedigree for its all horses, it offered a perfect lab for de- signing a kinship research study, says Millman. She co-authored the resul- tant paper with Sawford and Hrefria Sigurj6nsd6ttir of the Iceland Uni- versity of Education. Millman had intended to travel to the Japan conference, but she’s still mending after breaking her back in a recent fall from a horse. Refer- ring to Sawford’s presentation, she says: “For a student at the under- graduate level to go in and give a spo- ken paper at an international-level meeting is pretty unusual, but it has to do with the strength of the work she did." For the future, Sawford is con- templating graduate studies, but says she plans to work in private practice first. Study will explore the stresses that dementia sufferers and their caregivers face BY SARAH FISCHER OFFICE OF RESEARCH E lderly people coping with dementia who live in long- term-care facilities often become confused and disoriented, and it’s no different at the dinner table. Forgetting where they are and what they’re doing there can make mealtime difficult and frustrating. But many people in the early stages of this disease remain at home under the care of a spouse or family member. Pilot studies on dementia and mealtime suggest that eating at home is also stressful for care recipi- ents. They often lose weight, jeopar- dizing their health. And caregivers find it stressful, too. Prof. Heather Keller, Family Re- lations and Applied Nutrition, hopes to shed some light on this situation. Over the next three years, she and her research team will interview 30 fami- lies throughout southwestern On- tario to explore the stresses caregivers face — and how to reduce them — when sitting down for din- ner with a relative living with dementia. “This study gives a voice to per- sons with dementia and will allow caregivers to share mealtime strate- gies that work best for them,” says Keller. She will interview each caregiver and care recipient together and indi- vidually, hoping these conversations will unveil how people in this situa- tion view and deal with mealtimes. Although mealtimes are often a chore for caregivers, she says, some may use food and the ritual of eating to connect with someone who is los- ing his or her ability to converse. Keller and her research group will use their results to develop educa- tional resources to make mealtimes more successful for individuals look- ing after people with dementia. This research could also build on existing educational programs created by the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. “So many people and their loved ones five with this disease every day,” says Keller. “We hope this project will enable any caregiver to develop strategies for making mealtime a good time for family, friends and de- mentia sufferers alike.” Also involved in this study are Guelph graduate student Carly Cook, University of Waterloo re- search associates Sherry Dupuis and Gayle Edward, and McMaster Uni- versity School of Nursing clinical in- structor Lori Shindel-Martin. Their work is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Society and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Island Ink-Jet® Cartridge Refill. Sale & Service Stone Road Mall (Kiosk locaicd in from ofSHARS) -while you wait service -save up to 60% Dell. Lexmark, HP. Epson. Brother. Canon 519-821-2828 stoneroadmalj@islandinkjet.corn Refill Not Landfill 10%OFF WEEKENDS An Art Show and Sals, In and Around Downtown Guelph Featuring 47 Visual Artists OCTOBER 15, 16 & 22,23 10 am to 5 pm Pick up our Brochure or visit our website for Artist Venues and to preview their works Suion lopp, Acrylic Pointing Vincent Thomoi, Digital Painting Morlono Jofriol, Acrylic, Watercolour Ron Sainibory, Watercolour, Panel Debra low*, Acrylic. Watercolour Stephanie Sehirm, Mixed Media. Tapestry Heather Annio Pool*, Mixed Medio Don Trollop*, Gouache, OH Acrylic MeGuo Farquhor, Pottery Tammy Wric*. Acrylic on Canvos Erin-Blythe Reddie, Jewellery Designs Andrew King, Painting Dole Joblin, Handcrafted Jewellery Umulo Hajdyio. Oil. Acrylic. Pastel Mary Koravoi. Poper Collage Shoron Burk*, Oil, Acrylic Watercolour Worm* Felix, Charcoal Michoel Smith, Acrylic on Comas Anna Sehnurr, Painting and Sculpture Knew Photography, Photography Ilona Pbric Ciuvik, Dry Pastel on Paper Lilian Roiendal. Watercolour Laurie Stockton, AcryTic and Oil Mathiai Muleme, Prinlmaking Craig MocNeil. Acrylic Painting Toby MocPhoe, Colloge, Mixed Media Sono Mincoff, Oil Paint Soil Pastel Connie Melnik. Oil Pointings Karin SiFrertlone, Mixed Media Mario Pexzono, Acrylic, Mixed Medio Michelle Miller, Wire/bead Jewellery Tammy Ratcliff, Prinlmaking Chfh Ahlou, Abstract Paintings Robert Howton, Acrylic Paintings Pearl Van Gees t. Pointing lo Harrii. AcryTic Pointing Kathryn Kelly-Stalker, Prinlmaking Gerry Weiler, Wotercolour Mary Calarco, Mixed Medio Painting David Bowie. OS on Canras Boerbel Kirilem, Pointer Kurt Brown, Photography Corty Holton, iBustrotire Art Krola Harper, Photography Rom Oov>dKwvPHon, Photography Brian Johmloo, Printmaker/Gide a Rebecca Erickion, Painting, Mixed Media GUELPH ARTS FESTIVAL www.guelphartsfestival.com at Guelph 7 October 12, 2005 The Links in the Food Chain Studies of agricultural co-ops and food safety fill U of G researcher s plate \ BY ANDREW VOWLES W HY CARE about agri-food co-ops? Prof. Getu Hailu, Agricultural Economics and Business (AE&B), has a ready response. Whether you live in the city or the country, do you care about how much you pay for your food? Ensuring an adequate food sup- ply and reasonable costs lie behind Hailu’s research interest in how co-ops work and particularly in how traditional kinds of co-operative or- ganizations are weathering 21st- century challenges. A related interest in food safety — especially how in- formation about food safety and health influences consumers to make wise food choices — occupies the other half of the agenda for this busy researcher. Originally from Ethiopia and a PhD graduate of the University of Alberta, Hailu is interested in mech- anisms that benefit co-ops and pol- icy changes that might help these enterprises thrive. A prolific writer who has also presented his research results to agri-food co-op associa- tions and other professional groups, he hopes to see his work feed into public policy decisions here in Canada as well as in developing countries. “As an economist, I care about the welfare of society, how taxpayers' money is spent,” be says. Like all co-operative organiza- tions, agri-food co-ops are owned and controlled by members. Includ- ing such near-iconic entities as the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool — the largest co-op of its kind in the coun- try — these groups process and mar- ket farm products and provide 5 » 5 i£ WBk* Prof. Getu Hailu hopes to see his work on agri-food co-ops and food safety feed into public policy decisions in Canada and in developing countries. photo by martin schwalbe supplies and services for farm pro- duction and marketing. Canada has about 1,300 agricul- tural co-ops, according to a 2005 re- port by the Canadian Co-operatives Secretariat, based on a survey con- ducted between 1998 and 2002. Ag- ricultural co-ops had almost 390,000 members in 2002, down from more than 450,000 in 1998. Over the same period, total agri-food co-op reve- nues fell by more than 26 per cent to $14 billion. In a mini-blizzard of papers pub- lished this year, Hailu and his co-in- vestigators in Edmonton have studied factors affecting co-ops. They note that the past quarter cen- tury has brought increased competi- tion for traditional organizations MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 Our school has been given an AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education • full & half day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years • Government licenced • qualified Montessori teachers • reading, writing, math & life skills • French, music, art & physical education • dance lessons 821-5876 68 Suffolk Street West, GUELPH N1H 2J2 www.montessori-school.ca from local investor- owned firms and multinational companies under de- regulation and globalization of trade. In the past seven years alone, a se- ries of mergers has changed the land- scape for several Canadian co-ops. In 1999, the Alberta Wheat Pool merged with Manitoba Pool Eleva- tors to become Agricore Co-opera- tive. Two years later, Agricore merged with United Grain Growers to become a publicly traded, inves- tor-owned firm called Agricore United. Elsewhere, Agrifoods Interna- tional (Dairyworld), Canada’s sec- ond-largest dairy co-op and Western Canada’s largest food manufacturer, was sold to Montreal- based conglomerate Saputo in 2001. Hailu says private multinationals are eyeing co-ops as potential buyout targets. Ironically, he says, many co-ops were established around the beginning of the 1900s precisely because their markets were seen as too small to support private businesses. “They arose because of market failure. Maybe there was lack of mar- ket access for various groups of farmers providing goods and ser- vices or an absence of markets to process and sell their products.” For his dissertation, Hailu stud- ied capital constraints in Canadian agribusiness supply and marketing co-ops. He has also examined co-op performance and long-term financ- ing, the structure and governance of agribusiness co-ops, conflicts of in- terest and efficiency of supply and marketing co-ops. In a different study, he compared the cost-effi- ciency of Alberta and Ontario dairy farms. Here at Guelph, he plans to look at some of the same issues in Ontario co-ops. Hailu also plans to continue his “The Funniest Man in Canadian TV” The Toronto Stef S&Afc w 'naprkv Mode cvecied by David Produciioooeago by Glenn Davidson One Week Local Runs Order Your Tickets Today! Visit fullycommitted.ca for theatre listings and showtimes Peterborough Oot. 11-16 706-742-7469 Guelph Oot. 18-22 1-877-620-2408 Pioton Oct 26-29 1-877-411-4761 Brampton Nov, 1-5 905-874-2800 Hamilton Nov. 8-12 905-546-4040 Gravenhurst Nov. 15-19 1-888-495-8888 North York Nov 22 - Deo 3 1-877-620-2408 Bring your Student Card. Tickets $25 eaoh at the door. Tickets still available for Matinee performances. studies of food-safety and health economics and how consumer edu- cation affects markets for various products. He’s already investigated how consumers use information to weigh the health and nutrition pros and cons of eggs. He’ll now switch his gaze to sweeteners, part of the on- going public debate over obesity and weight for consumers and pol- icy-makers alike. The questions fall naturally into an economist’s realm: How is de- mand affected by prices, income and health information? What might be the effect of placing some kind of consumption tax on “unhealthy” products, akin to taxing cigarettes? “To develop these policies, you need to have demand-and-supply parameter estimates,” says Hailu, adding that “everything in modera- tion” is his own dietary dictum. "I’ll focus on a few products and see how Canadians behave.” He studied agricultural econom- ics at Alemaya University in Ethiopia and at the University of Hannover in Germany. In Ethiopia, he served as a consultant on development research projects involving camel productiv- ity and health, and hotel and recre- ation investment. He maintains a strong interest in Africa and eco- nomic development issues. In par- ticular, he’d like to focus future research on issues of health and economic problems that result from HIV/AIDS. Beginning his PhD in South Af- rica, he moved to Canada in 2000 to complete the doctorate in Edmon- ton. That’s also where he got his first taste of Canadian winters and where he tried cross-country skiing. He plans to explore more of Ontario by hiking and biking. (Fittingly, he’s a regular customer at Mountain Equipment Co-op.) He chose Guelph based on what he says is AE&B’s reputation as one of the top departments in Canada. Settling into his new home, he fig- ures he’ll have a bit of time before having to pull out those skis. Mean- time, he’s taken excursions of a dif- ferent sort. “I discovered the African Lion Sa- fari,” he says with a laugh. George Wallace ; i >< {> : > ;« t* • U ( i > I fitexadl itaagffi <■] i; Sj*®n'g*=*3- jj 11 Victoria RMd North, Guelph, Ont. MIC 966 ji] - (519) K1-7M0 Fax (519) 8*1*7*10 at Guelph 8 October 12, 2005 STEPHEN POWELL Faculty member in the School of English and Theatre Studies since 2003 If Prof. Stephen Powell had a choice, he’d do all his long-dis- tance travelling by car. As a child, he took many road trips with his family and says it’s something he grew to appreciate. He has driven back and forth from Ontario to British Columbia more than once, and his most recent road adventure was to Newfoundland. “Road trips provide a unifying experience between the people travelling,” says Powell. “You bond, and you never know what will happen along the way. They’re al- ways an adventure.” Another adventure for him is keeping up with poli- tics. He’s a self-described “political junkie” with a strong interest in U.S. and Canadian politics. “I don’t know what that says about me, but I’m really obsessed.” During elections, he spends many hours reading news, editorials and journals. What really interests him about the process is not just the issues at hand, but also how candidates argue their positions and make their views known, he says. “I’m really interested in how dis- course is shaped to get voters to vote in certain ways.” Powell is also interested in the outdoors, with hik- ing, biking and gardening being a few of his favourite things. He especially enjoys the old rail trails near Belwood because they’re wide and free of hills. “I really love getting into nature and getting away from the noise and the dirt of urban living, if even for just a couple of hours.” TREVOR SILVANI First-year student in landscape architecture Trevor Silvani picked up a guitar for the first time six years ago, took lessons for a few years and continues to play regularly. He says his musical influences are his brother and his father, who also play guitar. Since starting his U of G stud- ies, the Guelph native has met some people to jam with in resi- dence and is hoping to start up a band. He’s also plan- ning to get out to see his brother Thomas play an Trevor Silvani Stephen Powell open-mike night at the Bullring. Recently, he went to see the rock group Metric at Pe- ter Clark Hall and says it was an “awesome” show. “I hadn’t heard of them before, but it was great.” In addition to music, Silvani enjoys playing squash and has started hitting the courts on campus once or twice a week with friends. “It’s a great workout,” he says. “It’s fun and doesn’t feel like work.” He and sue other squash “newbies” are planning to organize a tournament so they can play against each other. “It should be fun because we’re all at the same be- ginner level and we’re not taking it too competitively — not yet, at least.” Silvani also works part time at the Guelph Public Li- brary, and after his Sunday shift, he visits his parents to enjoy a home-cooked meal and to catch up. BRENDA KUPFERSCHMIDT Residential MBA graduate secretary in the School of Hos- pitality and Tourism Management, U of G staff member since 1991 On Saturday mornings, Brenda Kupferschmidt and her husband, Mark, who works in Physical Resources, can be found managing their stand at the Guelph Farmers’ Market, where they sell turkeys, ducks, geese and chickens. “We welcome new business,” she laughs, adding that Brenda Thanksgiving and Christmas are Kupferschmidt their busiest times of the year. — She’s been part of the operation for eight years and says it’s a lot of fun. She’s completed a few computer courses and uses her skills to design promotional materials for their stand. “I’ll do up signs for things like suicide horserad- ish with a devil on it and fun things like that.” Kupferschmidt also enjoys using her creative energy in other ways, including sewing and knitting. “I’ve made baby booties, baby hats and sweaters. I really en- joy sitting down and doing that.” She’s also interested in home decor and likes taking on new projects. Her basement and the bedroom of her daughter, Nicole, are two areas of the house that she’s tackled. “I’ve done sponge painting, rag rolling and border- ing,” she says. “It’s nice to be able to do those things yourself.” Cuba Offering Great Choices for an Enjoyable Vacation leresJed in visiting Vila Santa Clara, or any other place in Cuba, please contact me or any other ol our travel experts. Villa de Santa Clara, Cuba Hotel Sol Cayo Santa Maria Or* vacabon started w*h our WesUet Sghi from Toronto drect to Veto Sana Clara ftgM was enppUe and disability is a ere anxiety disorder \fy abiHlk's are in (iuife Diverse Abilities iw.ftiA.Lt4 possibilities CP£S CBS C-.AHS BY ANDREW VOWLES C OMMUNITY ENERGY planning. “Greener” animal production. Environmental and human health links. These are the themes of three collaborative projects chosen this fall for funding under the inaugural round of U of G’s new Environmental Science Research Initiative (ESRI). Each project will receive $8,500 in seed money intended to bring to- gether groups of investigators in col- laborative research and to kick-start cross-campus discussion of their re- search themes, says Prof. Joe Ackerman, associate dean of the Fac- ulty of Environmental Sciences (FES) and ESRI committee chair. The committee received 12 pro- posals for varied environmental sci- ence projects following a series of information sessions held earlier this year. “The proposals provide evidence of the wide range and diverse capac- ity in environmental research and policy across campus,” says Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (re- search). “The kind of integrated thinking this initiative has developed builds on U of G’s capability to be a leader in environmental issues.” Ackerman says the approved set of projects will bring together inter- disciplinary teams of researchers from most colleges on campus to ad- dress topical issues in energy, pollu- tion, and environmental and human health. “They’re all looking at important environmental problems or issues. They all have a large and diverse group of researchers who will work together in novel ways.” The principal investigators and funded projects are as follows: • Prof. Warren Stiver, Engineering, “Community Energy Planning”: • Prof. Claudia Wagner Riddle, Land Resource Science, “Environ- mental Impacts of Animal Pro- duction”; and • Prof. David Waltner-Toews, Pop- ulation Medicine, “Ecosystem Sustainability and Health.” For each research theme, the funding will enable a working group to identify pertinent campus re- sources, bring together participants and develop an external funding proposal. It will also pay for organiz- ing a campus workshop or event — invited speaker series, colloquium or seminar — about the project this year. “This is a fund to stimulate im- portant environmental research by bringing together researchers on campus” as well as external organi- zations, says Ackerman. The projects will be funded by FES and the Office of Research. Rep- resentatives of both units will serve on the project working groups along with two or three theme leaders. Wildeman says he’s pleased with the interest and enthusiasm sparked across campus by the inaugural ESRI competition. More than 85 people attended an information session held in the spring to introduce the idea. The ESRI committee — consist- ing of Ackerman, Prof. Anthony Clarke, acting associate vice-presi- dent (research and international re- lations), and college representatives — solicited proposals for research themes during the summer. The group judged the proposals this fall based on such criteria as quality; in- terdisciplinary scope; links among natural, physical and social sciences and the humanities; innovativeness; societal relevance; international angles; and likely research outcomes. Ackerman says the initiative will raise awareness of environmental re- search on campus and heighten the University’s international profile in environmental science. “Environmental science is not the domain of traditional disci- plines. It involves integration of dif- ferent perspectives. We’re going to make those opportunities happen here at the University of Guelph." at Guelph 4 October 26 , 2005 focus Making the Transition BY REBECCA KENDALL A sk Barry Townshend how his own experience at university prepared him for his current role as U of G’s entering student transition specialist and co-ordinator of the Centre for New Students in Student Life and Counselling Services, and he likens himself to an accident-prone rock climber who has been struck by lightning, chased by bears and fallen from high distances, but has lived to tell the tale, broken bones and all. “When I was an undergrad, espe- cially the first two years, I learned about life the hard way,” says Townshend, who began working at U of G part time in 1997 while earn- ing a degree in psychology. “I didn’t do well academically, I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, I didn’t feel like I belonged. I experi- enced the same kinds of pains, al- though they weren’t physical — they were invisible — and although I don’t regret any of them, I hope oth- ers can learn from the hard way I ex- perienced university without going through it first-hand.” Townshend’s job titles have var- ied over the years and have included residence program co-ordinator, residence manager and co-ordinator of summer orientation in Student Life. In 2003, he left to do post-grad- uate work at the University of To- ronto, then returned in 2004 to take on his current position. Adjusting to a new city, making a new set of friends and accepting new levels of responsibility and inde- pendence are fairly standard chal- lenges facing university students entering their first year of studies, says Townshend. Most are living away from home for the first time and are having lots of new experi- ences. They have a whole range of questions and concerns, and his job is to help them navigate their way safely and at their own pace. His involvement with first-year students begins months before they even set foot on campus through an initiative that began in 2002 called START Online. This web-based ver- sion of the on-campus orientation program U of G used to run each summer offers forums, chat groups and videos of the Guelph campus to help incoming students prepare for their arrival. This program is paired with START International, which provides a one-day orientation pro- gram for new international and ex- change students just prior to Orientation Week. “The whole idea is to give new students an idea of what university is like and to answer their questions, so it’s not quite so overwhelming when they get here,” says Townshend. Sixty upper-year students volun- teered with the program this sum- mer, and more than 900 first-year students participated. “It’s a very ac- tive program,” he says. Each week offers a new theme, such as course selection, studying, co-curricular involvement opportu- nities and living in residence or off campus, all of which are designed to encourage continued participation over the 10-week duration of the program. He says students tell him the topics are timely and often ad- dress issues they hadn’t even considered. With many people now using the Internet for much of their commu- nication and information, online re- sources like these are being heavily used, says Townshend. Because of this and the noticeable drop in activ- ity once students make their way here in September, his office intro- duced a service through MSN Mes- senger that uses five student peer helpers to answer questions immedi- ately throughout the year. “New students don’t always know what’s out there in terms of support and resources, so this is a way of helping them get connected,” he says. Questions range from how to pay bills to what to do if you’re failing a course or not getting along with your roommate. As the school year progresses, there are fewer questions from stu- dents but more from their parents, says Townshend. “It’s not uncommon for parents to be mystified by the University. It’s a big institution that can seem monolithic to someone not familiar with how we operate. Added to that, many parents are surprised and sometimes even upset when they no- tice dramatic changes in their chil- dren’s behaviour or how they think about the world. Part of my job is to help parents recognize some of the normal features of students’ experi- ences.” To help parents understand how the campus operates and how to ad- just to the changes they’re also expe- riencing, Townshend maintains a website at www.parents.uoguelph.ca that includes discussion forums, travel info, an e-newsletter, virtual greetings and information on deal- ing with problems and finding help. Another area of emphasis in his work revolves around first-year stu- dents living off campus. "We’ve been running a pilot pro- ject this year that involves calling these students on the phone a couple of times each semester to offer them information and support in much the same way Residence Life staff help those living on campus. It might sound simple, but meeting the needs of off-campus first-year students has been a real challenge in the past.” Students living off campus in first year frequently report that they feel disconnected from the campus com- munity. Off-Campus Connection helps fill that gap. Townshend says the first year of university is extremely important for students and their families alike be- cause it can sometimes determine how long a student chooses to re- main in school. “The first year and, in many cases, the first couple of months are the most critical in a student’s adjust- ment to university," he says. “If , someone’s going to drop out, it’ll most likely be in that first year or the | summer before second year. “If we’re committed to helping students have a socially and academ- ically positive experience, we need to work hard at understanding their ex- periences and must be able to adapt to their changing needs to give them the tools they require to be successful later in life. If students feel that what they’re doing is of value, reasonably challenging and enjoyable, they’ll tend to stay. A big part of my job in- volves helping them make those connections.” Rural Development Centre Receives $i Million Agriculture minister announces funding at groundbreaking ceremony in Ridgetown BY LORI BONA HUNT A new EDUCATION and training centre at U of G’s Ridgetown campus has received a $1 -million boost from the Ontario government. The announcement was made Oct. 18 by Leona Dombrowsky, minister of agriculture, food and ru- ral affairs, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rudy H. Brown Rural Development Centre in Ridgetown. Preliminary construc- tion has already begun on the centre, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2006. It will include classrooms and a lecture theatre to support in- novative research and learning, as well as administrative offices and community areas for local events. “This new centre will provide much-needed space so that the col- lege can deliver innovative new pro- grams, such as the bachelor of bioresource management degree program, for the benefit of our stu- dents and our communities," said Dombrowsky. It will also further enhance Ridgetown’s commitment to excel- lence in agricultural education and to the prosperity of rural Ontario, she said. The $1 -million allocation is be- ing made through ReNew Ontario, the government’s five-year infra- structure investment plan, and builds on the $2.5 million the On- tario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) com- mitted to the project in 2004. An ad- ditional $600,000 came from the Ontario Small Town and Rural De- velopment Infrastructure Initiative. “This is another excellent exam- ple of the value of the partnership between OMAFRA and the Univer- sity of Guelph,” said president Alastair Summerlee. “We are striv- ing to find new and innovative ways to meet the needs of rural Ontario, and the development centre will of- fer leading-edge educational and outreach programs. Government commitment is vital to the project. We are hopeful that this latest invest- ment will allow the University to fa- cilitate additional support from the private sector.” To date, more than $2.5 million has been raised privately by the Ridgetown College Agri-Food Foun- dation, which has played an integral role in helping to secure support from government, corporations, alumni, students, staff and the com- munity. The foundation was created by the late Rudy Brown, who taught at Ridgetown for 33 years and was committed to ensuring there were new facilities to meet the needs of rural Ontario youth. “This building project has re- ceived support from all our stake- holders," said Ron Pitblado, acting director of the Ridgetown campus. “Every gift is greatly appreciated and has helped us reach this milestone event.” Summerlee also thanked staff and officials from the foundation, Ridgetown campus, OMAFRA and the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC), the government’s real estate and facilities management agency, for their “past and future support of this important initiative.” The ORC will oversee the con- struction of the rural development centre. at Guelph 5 October 26, 2005 Prof. David Kribs brings mathematical teeth to problems of quantum computing. photo by martin schwalbe No Mistake About It Math profs research on error correction may lead to more powerful, safer computing BY ANDREW VOWLES E rrors fascinate Prof. David Kribs, Mathematics and Statistics. But when the mathematician discusses his research interest, he’s not talking about mistakes on students’ test papers. He’s interested in helping scientists develop more powerful computers whose working parts may one day test the boundaries of the vanishingly small. Error correction is a fundamental problem facing scientists working on a future generation of quantum computers. Unlike the basic on-off principle driving the silicon brain of that PC on your desktop, quantum computers are intended to work us- ing the tiniest of components. Kribs evokes Moore’s Law, which suggests that transistor density on integrated circuits doubles every 18 months: smaller parts, more power. “This can’t go on forever,” he says. “Eventually we will have to en- code bits on devices the size of elec- trons. Eventually some sort of quantum computing is going to have to become the norm.” And that means scientists will have to deal with the weird effects of the quantum world, where some- thing might be one and zero — or both or neither — all at the same time. Kribs says the laws of physics and math are "almost perfect” for de- scribing the visible world, including the action of those construction cranes at work on the new science complex outside the window of his MacNaughton Building office. “When you get to the micro- scopic level, the ‘almost’ part is non-trivial. The microscopic uni- verse becomes fuzzy. Einstein re- ferred to it as the ‘quantum spookiness’ of the universe.” Spooky, perhaps, but also possi- bly a computing scientist’s dream. If electrons can indeed occupy more than one state at a time, then they hold much more potential than mere on-off switches. “We would have quantum laptops as powerful as supercomput- ers,” says Kribs. He hopes his work will help sci- entists develop the first quantum computers, perhaps available in about 15 years. Before that, a key problem for re- searchers is ensuring accuracy of data transmission in a quantum computer and through networks linking the devices. Current com- puter networks require amplifica- tion nodes to boost information — and to ensure its accuracy — over “Science is littered with problems that just can’t be solved because there’s not enough computing power. Quantum computers don’t just offer a speed-up — it’s a true paradigm shift. ” long distances. Would it even be possible to ensure accuracy of data when the mere act of measuring in- formation at the quantum level may destroy its integrity? Along with other members of the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo, Kribs recently wrote a journal article proposing a solution to the error correction problem. Their idea — basically getting around the quan- tum problem by storing information in a more abstract form — was pub- lished in Physical Review Letters and discussed in a Science feature this summer. He expects their work may inter- est other scientists investigating data encryption and network security for transferring data safely among com- puters. (At the same time, he ac- knowledges others may be attracted precisely because they hope to use their ideas to crack security codes.) Never mind encryption: Kribs says helping to develop more power- ful computers alone will be a boon. “Science is littered with problems that just can’t be solved because there’s not enough computing power. Quantum computers don’t just offer a speed-up — it’s a true paradigm shift.” Having studied math at the Uni- versity of Western Ontario and Waterloo — and having done post-docs at Iowa, Purdue and Lan- caster University in England — he had given a talk about his PhD proof of a particular mathematical theo- rem. That work caught the attention of IQC head Raymond Laflamme, who invited him to turn his ideas to quantum computing. “I started with extremely theoret- ical work three or four years ago,” says Kribs. “I could never have imag- ined that I’d be where I am now.” Where he finds himself now is amid an eclectic group of scientists — mathematicians, physicists, stat- isticians, computer scientists, engi- neers — spanning a number of institutions. A faculty member at Guelph since 2003, Kribs is now a member of the Perimeter Institute for Theoreti- cal Physics in Waterloo. There he helps other researchers studying as- pects of quantum gravity and theo- ries of forces connecting everything from subatomic particles to the universe itself. “I give them some mathematical teeth. A science really doesn’t be- come a science until it has a firm mathematical foundation.” That’s the message he imparts to students interested in his research field. “It’s the sheer excitement of being intimately involved with an emerging science with huge poten- tial.” Kribs lives in Guelph with his wife, Lyn, an elementary school- teacher, and their two children, Mat- thew and Michelle. A former AAA hockey player, he now suits up regu- larly for recreational leagues in the city and on campus. Going Global OVC students gain skills, confidence working abroad BY BARRY GUNN, OVC W HEN TACKLING COMPLEX health issues from a global perspective, keeping an open mind can make a world of difference. A group of Ontario Veterinary College students learned that lesson first-hand this year through the Global Vets program. Confronted with challenges that have no easy so- lutions, they had to adapt to local conditions, make do with limited re- sources and accept that even the smallest step forward is important. “It’s like the ripple effect of throwing one stone into a bucket (of water),” says Suzanne Chenard, de- scribing the positive spinoffs of one healthy dairy cow for a farmer, his family and community in Tanzania. “So that’s where, as an individual, it’s the only place you can start.” This year, 1 1 OVC students — all women — took part in Global Vets, a national student network dedi- cated to promoting animal health and welfare, agricultural develop- ment and ecosystem health in devel- oping countries. Working in four teams, each spent eight weeks work- ing on projects in Peru, South Af- rica, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. For Chenard, some of the most memorable moments were also the most heartbreaking, such as per- forming meat inspections at a slaughterhouse in Tanzania, a facil- ity that was neither sanitary nor hu- mane by western standards. “But at the same time, you have to recognize that it’s a really big step that this community is bringing its animals to the slaughterhouse to be slaughtered and inspected, and the health impacts of that are impor- tant,” she says. “It’s a really big step for that community and for the wel- fare of those animals.” For Kate Lutchin, major high- lights were monitoring wildlife health and teaming up with univer- sity students in Uganda to learn proper immobilization techniques — essential when radio-collaring a lion. But the people also inspired her — from veterinarians to volunteers to the primary school students she met by helping teach an animal health course. Coming face-to-face with grind- ing poverty and the stark contrast between rich and poor was also an eye-opener. Amanda Frank visited private game reserves in South Af- rica that were equipped with re- sources that would rival anything in the world, yet in one township, the vet clinic was housed in a converted dumpster, where the staff had lim- ited training and used buckets of wa- ter for washing and fishing line for suture material. There were also no textbooks; any crucial information was written on the walls for future reference. So the Global Vets team in South Africa put together a booklet containing basic information on small-animal parasites, medications and vaccines, and surgical techniques. “We felt that we brought them a lot and we learned a lot,” Frank says. For Madelaine Hill, learning that she could adapt in difficult circum- stances was a major confidence booster. Her Global Vets experience took her to an urban cat and dog res- cue group in Peru, a primate re- search facility and a fledgling wildlife rescue program in the jungle. It also included studying llamas and al- pacas in the mountains. Hill’s group even did a little con- struction, building a maternity barn to separate pregnant goats from the herd, saving the newborns from be- ing accidentally crushed by the other animals. “It forced us to be confident,” she says. “We had to really think about what we were suggesting, make sure it was right and then be confident enough to follow it through.” Global Vets is sponsored by orga- nizations such as Rotary Interna- tional and Intervet. On Oct. 5, three of the U of G participants appeared on Canada AM to discuss their expe- riences. On Nov. 3, all the students will give a public presentation from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in Room 1714 of OVC’s Lifetime Learning Centre. cto' OVC student Madelaine Hill acquired some fine feathered friends during her Global Vets stint in Peru this summer. at Guelph 6 October 26, 2005 profile Inquiring Minds Want to Know Environmental biologist builds a career on curiosity By Andrew Vowles P ROF. guesses he was around five years old when an adult — no doubt an exasperated one — first told him he asked too many questions. Decades later, the longtime professor in the Department of Environmental Biology says he’s as inquisitive as ever. Not that the answers have got any clearer — often just the opposite. “The more you dig, the more you confuse yourself as some expla- nations are incorrect or incom- plete,” he says. "To understand a subject better, you have to be thor- oughly confused and then work to- ward the most correct explanation.” These days the questions range as widely, even if they differ in kind from those initial boyhood queries. How to use microbes to clean up contaminated soils? What happens to genetically modified field crops? Oh, and just where did life and its genetic instructions come from anyway? Ensconced in his paper-filled office in the Bovey Building, Trevors says: “I’ve always had a problem: I’m interested in too many things.” Something — his ironic tone or perhaps that puckish smile behind his beard — suggests that he actually derives a kind of perverse de- light from his particular “problem.” Take that question about the origins of life. It’s hardly a new line of inquiry for Trevors, who was about 10 when he began wondering about the existence of God. He’s still wonder- ing. Indeed, it’s a question that has consumed a fair amount of his own life recently, albeit now voiced in the language of a professional scien- tist: Where and how did the genetic code and its instructions arise? No small question. “The origin of genetic instructions in the DNA is the most pressing question in science,” he says. “Genetic instruc- tions don’t write themselves, any more than a software program writes itself.” He adds that the issue goes far beyond deci- phering the recipes for making proteins. Given that our genetic material constitutes the stuff of our own identity, “it’s the search for our- selves, our origins,” he says. Call it looking for God in our DNA — or at least that’s how a person of faith might phrase it. Trevors, a self-proclaimed atheist, is more circumspect. “If you’re a religious person, you say God. If you’re an evolutionist, you say evo- lution.” He notes, however, that not even evolution deigns to tell us where or how life itself first came about or how DNA’s instructions came to be. Perhaps the birthplace of those instruc- tions — like the very creation of the universe itself — is, in Trevors’ words, both “unknow- able and ‘undecidable’ at this point in time.” It’s a million-dollar question, literally. That’s the size of the prize in a contest being run by the Origin-of-Life Foundation based near NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland. All the winner needs to do to claim the reward — actually annual instalments of $50,000 for 20 years — is to explain how the initial genetic code arose — or, in the words of the contest rules, provide “a highly plausible mechanism for the spontaneous rise of genetic instructions in nature sufficient to give rise to life.” The Gene Emergence Project is a program of the foundation, a scientific and educational body of about 200 scientists in 40 countries. “We want the international scientific com- munity to help us prove that genetic instruc- tions don’t write themselves,” says Trevors, who got involved by contacting David Abel, the project’s program director, two years ago. “Jack relentlessly looks for evolutionary ex- planations for everything we observe in biol- ogy,” says Abel, adding that his Guelph colleague helps ensure that “life-origin theory” remains empirically responsible, or answer- able to the test of repeated observation. “He likes to include the full gamut of microbiologi- cal phenomena to make sure our models are explaining all aspects of genetic control.” Trevors has written on the topic, including a paper last year with Abel called: “Chance and Necessity Do Not Explain the Origin of Life.” There and in a more recent piece, they frame the genesis-of-life discussion in terms that might resonate with a computer programmer, including referring to genes as linear strings of digital instructions and describing DNA’s four nucleotide building blocks as four-way switches. If genes are merely algorithms, albeit highly sophisticated ones, another obvious question occurs, says Trevors. “Computer programs don’t write themselves. Why would scientists or anyone else think genetic pro- grams write themselves? The question has to be asked and examined from a scientific perspective." He has also written a paper with the Uni- versity of Washington’s Gerald Pollack about the possibility that life began in a hydrogel-like environment and about connections between the origin of life and superstring theory, which tries to explain all phenomena in the universe (the “theory of everything”) and unify the four known forces. Trevors’ own origins trace back to his stud- ies of biology and microbiology at Acadia Uni- versity in his native Nova Scotia during the middle and late 1970s. He grew up near Kentville in the Annapolis Valley, where he vis- ited his grandfather’s farm as a youngster. “I wanted to understand how the natural world worked," he says. “I’ve found I’m happi- est and most calm when I’m connecting with the natural world.” Following PhD studies at the University of Waterloo, Trevors came to U of G in 1982. (He says another early option was cancer research in British Columbia.) Along with Profs. Peter Pauls and Clarence Swanton, Plant Agriculture, and Prof. John Klironomos, Integrative Biology, he has stud- ied what happens to DNA leaching from ge- netically modified corn and soybeans into soil. Trevors also brings some of the same research questions and DNA extraction tools to his work in an international collaboration funded by NATO’s Security Through Science pro- gram. The group hopes to provide guidance to governments and agencies on how to clean up soil and water contaminated by microbes that might be used in bioterrorism. “You do sci- ence for the benefit of humanity,” he says. That work draws on Trevors’ longtime studies of bioremediation — the use of mi- crobes for cleaning up contaminated sites. He says his most useful research has been teasing out the workings of naturally occurring meta- bolic pathways in bacteria that enable us to harness them to digest a wide variety of toxic chemicals in environmental remediation. That fundamental research led to the 1996 launch of a bioremediation company, Adventus Remediation Technologies Inc., by former graduate student Alan Seech. About half of the employees are U of G graduates, including most of its senior managers. Trevors still col- laborates with the Mississauga-based firm; a sister company called Adventus Americas Inc. is an environmental services company in the United States. “Over the past 10 years, the tech- nology developed through my work with Jack Trevors has been used to decontaminate nearly one million cubic yards of hazardous waste, in- cluding soil sediment and sludge across Canada, the United States and Scandinavia,” says Seech, who holds four patents for technology for de- contaminating soil and groundwa- ter. He’s one of some 50 grad students and post-docs who have worked with Trevors, who rhymes off their first names and current job tides with universities (including re- cendy arrived departmental col- league Prof. Mark Habash), government and industry. Trevors also works with the Con- trolled Environment Systems Re- search Facility run by departmental I chair Prof. Mike Dixon. The centre studies plants grown in low-pressure and low-gravity conditions for po- tential use in the greenhouse trade here on Earth and for a possible mis- sion to Mars. In a new project, Trevors plans to study gene expression by soil bacteria that code for production of nitrous oxide, important in everything from cropping systems to studies of greenhouse gases. Among his memberships on various scien- tific and environmental bodies, he’s a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, the Linnean Society in the United Kingdom and the World Academy of Art and Science. He’s also a member of a scientific think-tank in France. Author of more than 240 journal arti- cles, Trevors edits numerous publications, in- cluding Water, Air and Soil Pollution; Journal of Microbiological Methods; The Environmental- ist ; and the Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Interna- tional Journal of General and Molecular Micro- biology. Those diverse-sounding titles hint at his conviction that the most interesting research problems lie in the spaces between the sci- ences, a belief echoed in various places around campus, not least in the construction of Guelph’s science complex “I would look for where disciplines inter- sect,” he says, enumerating the University’s strengths in combining mathematics, biology, biophysics, computing and biological imaging for such applications as human health and food safety. Thinking bigger, Trevors offers an idea, appropriately framed as yet another question: Why not establish a Guelph-based institute for advanced theoretical biology along the lines of Waterloo’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics? In an echo of his origin-of-life query, he says: “What separates us from other species?” He answers his own question with a laundry list of distinctively human traits, including imagination, communication, curiosity, cre- ativity and problem-solving skills. But one an- swer always leads to another question. Where did those traits come from? Maybe they’ re pro- grammed into us — hard-wired into our ge- netic switch-settings, says Trevors. He shrugs. Again, unknowable and undecidable. But that doesn’t mean he can’t keep asking. at Guelph ^ October 26 , 2005 PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE 2005 PRESIDENT’S & CIL U of G recognizes 10 student leaders whose intellectual i T he Lincoln Alexander Chancellor’s Scholarships and the President’s Scholarships are presented annually to students of academic distinction who have made significant contributions to their schools and their communities and demonstrate the potential to become leaders in society. The President’s Scholarships are the University’s most prestigious entrance awards. Established in 1988, the program has provided financial support and academic guidance to 218 students, including the 10 who are recognized here. The Chancellor’s Scholarships were established in 2002 to honour U of G chancellor Lincoln Alexander on his 80th birthday. They are awarded to students who are aboriginal, persons with a disability or members of a racial minority, and are intended to enhance student diversity at U of G. A faculty mentor in each scholar’s discipline of study serves as an academic adviser and career counsellor throughout the student s undergraduate program. As they advance through their programs, the scholarship recipients often become mentors themselves or peer helpers who assist younger students in particularly difficult courses. The scholarship program provides regular staff support to encourage scholars to develop their potential as student leaders and to provide information about international study, advanced degrees and other opportunities. Invariably, these students form a strong social network that, for some, may be the most memorable part of the program. Recipients of both the Chancellor’s and President’s Scholarships were honoured Sept. 6 at a luncheon hosted by president Alastair Summerlee and Alexander. The event also recognized the contributions of faculty mentors and major donors to the scholarship program. Lincoln Alexander Chancellor’s Scholarships Franchelle Lao Earl Haig Secondary School, North York F ranchelle was a top scholar and leader in her high school. She says her experience as an immigrant to Canada has taught her that compassion is one of the most important human qualities. Because of this, she has spent many hours volunteering to help others: tutoring, helping at the library, working with Alzheimer’s patients and raising money for her school to sponsor two children overseas and for other Canadian charities. She took on leadership roles in her school community by serving as administrative co-ordinator for the leadership council and organizing parents’ night, photo day and commencement. Faculty mentor: College of Physical and Engineering Science dean Peter Tremaine Sabina Martyn Branksome Hall Toronto S abina played a leadership role in the multicultural society at her school and organized numerous events to promote equality. She also organized volunteer programs to get Branksome students involved with disadvantaged children, was active in the debating society and represented her school at a World Affairs Conference and the Secondary School United Nations Symposium. An honour student who excels in mathematics and science, she is also an accomplished violinist who last year was awarded a silver medal for Ontario through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She played in the school senior orchestra and participated in school and community athletic teams. Faculty mentor: Prof. Michele Oliver, Engineering President’s Scholarships Debi Banerjee Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute Agincourt D ebi has received local and national recognition for her intellectual aptitude. She won the highest academic award in her graduating class, was selected to attend the Deep River Science Academy in Manitoba, attended the Shad Valley leadership program, worked at Toronto Western Hospital on a research scholarship and completed a co-op placement in the oncology department at Sunnybrook Hospital. She has also excelled in leadership and volunteer positions, most notably with her school’s volunteer placement agency. She co-ordinated the student-run organization, which placed more than 300 high school volunteers in the local community. She was also secretary/ treasurer of the Toronto District School Board Super Council from 2002 to 2005. Faculty mentor: Prof. Bettina Kalisch, Biomedical Sciences Chancellor Lincoln Alexander, centre, and president Alastair Summerlee welcome si Katie Clow Thousand Islands Secondary School Brockville K atie has received recog- nition through school honours, respect from her peers because of her leadership abilities, and community appreciation for her humanitarian efforts. She has been involved in student government, peer tutoring, drinking-and-driving awareness, dramatic and musical activities and sports. She also organized a variety of fundraising events to support the Canadian Cancer Society and needy families in Guatemala and Chernobyl. She volunteered at a veterinary clinic and participated in a school club called Teens Needing Teens. To recognize her community commitment, the local newspaper presented her with a Brockville community award called “Cool to Be Kind.” Faculty mentor: Prof. Chris Whitfield, Molecular and Cellular Biology Craig Hoglund West Elgin Secondary School, West Lome C raig moved throu varsity sports from play to captain to coach in much t same way he has tackl academics and commun involvement. As a result, h honours in both the huma played on both school and coi basketball, volleyball, hockey and served as captain for summer jobs have been in and weekend maintenance £ used these skills as a foundir centre’s youth board to lead i and fundraising for a local te time to coach community volleyball. Faculty mentor: Prof. Terry 1 and Nutritional Sciences President’s Schola T he President’s Scholarships acknowledge student achievement, but also honour these distinguished University leaders and supporters whose vision and generosity helped launch this annual awards program. Richard “Dick” Brown A President’s Scholarship funded by Patrick Lett, B.Sc. ’7 1 and M.Sc. '75, honours the leadership qualities demonstrated by the late Dick Brown, football coach and athletics staff member from 1968 to 1988. Cecil H. Franklin and Ingrid Franklin Cecil Franklin, H.D.Sc. ’88, a former chair of Board of Governors, is recognized for his volunteer contributions to the University and for the financial support received from him and his wife, Ingrid. JackR. Longstaffe The President’s Scholarship endowme from Jack Longstaffe, a retired executive Limited in Toronto and a friend of the U Charles $. Humphrey A gift from the estate of Charles Humphrey, a former president of Hart Chemical Company Canada Ltd. and a longtime friend of the University, has supported the President’s Scholarship program. Dr. Burton C. Matthews A President’s Scholarship honours tl whose insight and leadership established term as president of the University of Gu At Guelph 8 October 26, 2005 ANCELLOR’S SCHOLARS ability and community spirit will enrich the campus ugh iyer the ded nity he graduated with high unties and sciences. He immunity sports teams in y, badminton and soccer many of them. Craig’s residential construction at his local hospital. He Jig member of the health in construction planning een centre. He also found y teams in soccer and ' Graham, Human Health Jennifer McIntyre Lord Beaverbrook High School, Calgary J ennifer received first-class honours in all four years of high school and served as a role model for other students because of her genuine desire to help those less fortunate. She played in concert and jazz bands, organized a leadership retreat for students, chaired the anti-harrassment committee, organized a tsunami disaster relief fundraiser and launched a lunchtime program for ESL students. Outside of school, she was co-president of a student Rotary Club that volunteers in the community, and is co-writing and publishing a book for teens on the subject of depression. She also worked as a camp counsellor, volunteered as a church school teacher and participated in a mission trip to Mexico, where she ran children’s day camps. Faculty mentor: Prof. Kris Inwood, Economics Am ie Melnychuk Teulon Collegiate Teulon, Manitoba A mie has taken the 4-H motto of “Learn to Do by Doing” and put it to work in both her personal life and schoolwork. She graduated at the top of her class academically, and her leadership skills earned the respect of her school community. She was student council treasurer, president of Student Voice, school newspaper editor and a member of the social committee, debating team and spirit squad. She enjoys the dramatic arts and has written several short stories, plays and amateur screenplays. A 4-H member for 10 years, Amie has served as a provincial junior director and earned the privilege of participating in both interprovincial and international exchanges. In the spring, she attended the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa, then spent part of the summer in Japan on a cultural exchange. Faculty mentor: Prof. Doug Joy, Engineering Tamara Mischena Bishop Allen Academy Toronto T amara stands out as a compassionate leader and an outstanding student, maintaining a position on the honour roll throughout high school. Through student government, she organized fundraising events for tsunami relief, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and a Toronto school for children with disabilities. She launched a buddy program to assist high school students with disabilities, helped organize a Grade 9 leadership retreat, and started a scholarship fund for students in Ukraine. Tamara also worked with Toronto Police Services to promote a safe school environment and was a volunteer scout leader and assistant dance instructor. She travelled to Jamaica in the summer of 2004 with the Students Crossing Borders program to learn about the poverty that exists beyond the Canadian border. Faculty mentor: Prof. Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic) James Murdoch Brebeuf College School Willowdale J ames is a hockey-playing musician who welcomes the challenge of academic endeavours and likes to teach. An athlete who enjoys many sports, he was captain of both the Don Mills Flyers Triple A team and the Brebeuf senior team. He was also on the Brebeuf golf and track teams and volunteered as a hockey instructor. James earned many academic awards at Brebeuf and played first alto saxophone in the school’s concert, jazz and stage bands, which toured this year in the Washington-Baltimore area. He was also active in his school’s Can-Aid Food Drive, served as a camp counsellor for Grade 9 orientation and participated in a forum to inform local teachers about the Brebeuf e-leaming program. Faculty mentor Prof. Jon LaMarre, Biomedical Sciences Megan Selling K-W Collegiate and Vocational School and Elmira District Secondary School A fter completing high tschool in Elmira with academic honours, Megan decided to take an extra semester at Kitchener- Waterloo CVS while waiting for her chance to travel to South America, where she volunteered at a Bolivian animal rehabilitation centre. Megan’s love of adventure kept her busy throughout high school as an athlete, musician, actress, environmentalist and youth leader. She served on student council; participated in hockey, ringette, cross-country and rugby; and played the violin in school bands. Outside of school, Megan performed with a local theatre company, played and coached ringette and soccer in the community and organized a fundraiser for local children in need. An accomplished singer, she is a Kiwanis scholarship winner. She has also worked with the Ontario forest ranger program and one-on-one with special- needs children. Faculty mentor Prof. Joe Ackerman, Environmental Sciences President's and Chancellor's Scholars are nominated by their secondary school principals. The appUcahon deadline is March 1. An information package about the nomination process, along with a nomination form will be sent to all Canadian high schools this fall for fall 2006 applicants. Additional information is available from the associate registrar. Student Financial Services, at Ext. 56032. or by visiting the U of G website at www.uoguelph.ca. - irship Honourees ent fund was enriched by a bequest e with Renfrew Electric Company Jniversity of Guelph. the late Burt Matthews, BSA ’47, id the awards program during his uelph from 1984 to 1988. Frederick Metcalf and Kathleen Metcalf The late Kathleen and Fred Metcalf were strong supporters of the University of Guelph and endowed a President’s Scholarship. Fred Metcalf was a board member of the University’s Heritage Trust and had a distinguished career in cable TV, broadcasting and publishing, retiring as president ofMadean Hunter Ltd. and chair of the board of Maclean Hunter Cable Ltd. Rol-land Farms Limited President’s Scholarships endowed by the shareholders of Rol-land Farms Limited of Blenheim recognize the friendship and generous support of Hank, B.Sc.(Agr.) '65; Peter, Arthur and Eric, ADA ’93, Vander Pol and their families. Lillian Stewart Usher A gift received in 1990 from the estate of Lillian Stewart Usher was designated to support the President’s Scholarship program. AT Guelph 9 October 26, 2005 Excitement Flying High About Insect Discovery Guelph's ‘fly guys' mix science and serendipity to uncover new fly in Central America Costa Rican artist Francisco Zeledon did this drawing of the fly that’s the only known member of a new family called Inbiomyiidae. | BY ANDREW VOWLES «t he MICROCOSM is such a beautiful I space.” Matthias Buck’s slender fingers slide the steel pin into a plum-sized mound of plasticine in a plastic dish, then position the specimen beneath the light microscope. Stepping back to allow a visitor a look, he smiles. His proud-father bearing seems out of place here. This is no hospital maternity ward, after all, but U of G’s Insect Systematics Lab on the ground floor of the Bovey Building. As for those minute creatures mounted with their miniature ID tags inside a glass-topped wooden drawer on Buck’s desk — well, you might dismiss them as easily as you’d wave away a fruit fly hovering over the bowl on your kitchen table. Look closer. That’s not just any old fly. It’s a new kind of fly discovered in the I humid cloud forest, high up in a Costa Rican I nature sanctuary. Granted, finding a new species of fly would hardly impress most insect biologists. Identify a new fly so unlike its cousins that it merits its own genus — a separate grouping of species entirely — and you might make a few ento- mologists take notice. But find a new family — in effect, take that separate grouping of ob- scure species and elevate them to a par with such commonly recognized families as horse- flies or houseflies — and you’ve just found the birder’s equivalent of the wren or woodpecker families. No wonder Buck looks pleased. The curator of the insect collection in the Department of Environmental Biology has just learned that Systematic Entomology — the pre- mier journal among insect specialists world- wide — will next year publish his paper ' describing this new family of Costa Rican flies. “It’s the most prestigious journal in the field,” says Prof. Steve Marshall, Environmen- tal Biology, who is Buck’s partner in the sys- tematics of flies, especially from that part of the world. “It’s quite a coup.” It’s also the culmination of a field trip that took the pair to the Central American rain- forest and, metaphorically at least, to the other side of the world in pursuit of a missing fly specimen. And it’s a tale of systematics — the patient and painstaking sifting and classifying of living things that underpin the work of di- verse biologists at U of G — with a bit of scien- tific serendipity mixed in as well. Short-headed flies: that’s the unscientific label Buck offers when pressed for a common name for the insects. Indeed, under the power- ful light of that microscope, the unusual fore- shortening and broadening of the specimen’s head is evident. So are other not-so-unusual features, notably the compound eyes like over- sized headlights and the delicate pair of wings raised clear of the insect’s back. (The order name Diptera, Greek for “two wings,” identi- fies the signature trait that places this insect among the 1 30 or so fly families in the world.) Buck rhymes off other telling traits besides that squashed head. Note the unusually long hair-like arista and the acorn-shaped structure where the antenna attaches to the head. See the unique arrangement of bristles on the head (for a systematist, the placement and angle of individual hairs on a bug’s body are as telling as fingerprints for a detective scanning a crime scene). Look at the way the proboscis divides into two distinct lobes that give the tongue its Y-shaped appearance. Scan the other end of the fly for the novel details of its genitalia. “Zoom in on all the little details,” he says. “Insects are amazing.” Beneath the lens, that inconspicuous speck no more than two millimetres long becomes more fearsome than anything in A Bug’s Life, a kind of Mad Max gone madder. Imagine a crazy fusion of motorcycle and rider to create a goggled, helmeted creature with a thorax as sleek and rounded as a miniature gas tank, its head and abdomen bristling with appendages. Zoom back out, and the fly reverts to a speck on a pin. It would have been even less conspicuous than that in its native habitat. How did Buck find it? He didn’t — at least not the first one. That honour goes to William Mason of the Cana- dian National Collection of Insects in Ottawa, who collected the first specimen in 1980 in Monteverde in Costa Rica. His colleague Frank McAlpine examined the insect and assigned it to another family based on superficial similari- ties. Australian scientist David McAlpine (no relation) suspected a new family but, without a male specimen, couldn’t be sure. Worse, after head and wing drawings had been made, the specimen itself went missing. It was those surviving illustrations that were handed around during a meeting of fly experts in Monteverde in 2000. Among the sci- entists visiting the cloud forest was Marshall, who by then had been involved with a World Bank-funded biodiversity project there for two years. Also at the meeting was Buck. Although the drawings elicited little reaction from the other dipterists in the room, those carefully rendered body parts were instantly familiar to U of G’s insect collection curator. A year earlier, he’d been poring over speci- mens in Guelph’s two-million-strong collec- tion for an unrelated project when he came across four specimens of the unidentified fly from Peru and Guatemala. 'We’re able to document representatives of almost every family worldwide,” Buck says of the collection housed in gunmetal grey cabi- nets adjoining his lab. (He’s been curator since completing a post-doc here in 1999 and be- longs to the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, now being built on campus within a few min- utes’ walk of that Bovey lab.) “They were all fresh in my mind. It’s a distinctive fly.” He startled the assembled scientists by blurting out: “I know that.” Equally non- plussed was Marshall himself. “It was pretty cool, very exciting.” That was only the beginning. Passing his sweep net near the field station the next day, Buck found a specimen of the mystery fly. That led him to set out pan traps (dishes filled with soapy water) and conduct more sweeping — a foray that yielded thousands of tiny flies, in- cluding about 30 specimens of the very crea- ture he’d identified the day before. “Everybody was pretty astonished,” he says. Even before the U of G scientists boarded the plane back to Canada, they were fairly cer- tain that the creatures contained in their lug- gage were a new family of flies. What lay ahead was the more painstaking work of examining the insects in the lab, comparing them with nu- merous likely relatives and consulting various references to build up the case. The key moment came in 2002 when Buck examined representatives of a tiny Australian family, one that also contains only one genus. Recalling his comparison of the flies’ distinc- tive genitalia, he says: “That’s when it clicked.” He named the new family Inbiomyiidae, a pairing of “myia” (Greek for “fly”) and INBio, the Spanish acronym for the National Biodiversity Institute, located north of the Costa Rican capital. His paper describes the family, including species that range from Gua- temala to Bolivia. The scientific drawings in his paper were done by Andrea Cormier, a former part-time U of G student, and Monika Musial, now a fine art major. (The new paper describes only one species; another nine will be de- scribed in a second paper that Buck and Mar- shall plan to submit to another journal.) Some of the specimens will be returned to Costa Rica, where they will serve as references for other scientists. So will other specimens to be held in various locations around the world, including U of G’s collection. The scientists included the new group in the so-called family key in the reference man- ual of Central American flies, considered the “bible” of the field, akin to the North American Manual ofNearctic Diptera published by Agri- culture and Agri-Food Canada. “It will have widespread use for people working on South American flies,” says Buck. “It will be a standard work for everyone to use.” Adds Marshall: “It’s tremendous. I get to work with one of the top dipterists on the planet. This raises the profile of the U of G col- lection.” Marshall is currently reviewing the proofs of his own new book, a field guide and text- book about the insects of northeastern North America. “I’ve described hundreds of new spe- cies of flies but never a new family. It’s exciting to have this coming out of my lab. This is just one part of a major team effort at Guelph to document several groups of neotropical flies.” Likening Buck’s achievement to fillin g in part of a jigsaw puzzle, he says: “We just found a major edge piece.” Still, beyond the rather narrow specialty of dipterists — or the broader scope of entomol- ogists — just how significant is this new find? Guelph’s “fly guys” say they can’t imagine why the ordinary observer wouldn’t be interested in this discovery, no matter how minute or dis- tant it may appear. “We live on the planet,” says Marshall. “We’re suspended in the mesh- work of life, and the threads in that meshwork axe other species.” Not to mention the practical benefits of be- ing able to identify insects that may serve as important pollinators or that may harbour un- known crop or animal diseases. “Flies aren’t just the planet’s dominant macroscopic organisms,” he says. “They also affect our health and economy in myriad ways. Most are beneficial or innocuous, but a few are entirely responsible for transmitting diseases such as malaria and sleeping sickness.” Buck, who considers this project the high- light of his career so far, adds that one of their missions is to discover new life at every level. Recalling childhood treks in his native Ger- many with his amateur naturalist parents, he says: “My parents collected butterflies as a hobby, and that caught on with me. As human beings, we are explorers.” HI HOLIDAY CHALET OPENING SOON! OUR. HO LI PAY CHALET WILL BE OPEN NOVEMBER 4TH TO DECEMBER 24TH, 2005! ^is season join us to add the warmth and spirit of the holidays to your home — both inside and out. , . Offering beautiful, distinct gifts, ornaments, greens, fresh arrangements, brock road nursery Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, branches, berries and more! en Centre ^ shoppe 1858j3ordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, NIL 1G6 519 . 836.5010 www.brockroadnursery.com at Guelph 10 October 26, 2005 after hmir<; NOHA GERGES Second-year student in molecular biology and genetics Noha Gerges enjoys spending time with her housemates, although this can be tough to co-ordinate. “All our schedules are different because we’re in dif- ferent programs, so when we’re able to all get together, we do,” she says. When the timing's right, they like to go to a movie or out to dinner. This year, Gerges joined the Molecular Biology and Genetics Students’ Association and is the club’s repre- sentative for the College of Biological Science. She’s also a member of the University Catholic Community and handles all its marketing and advertising. She says she wants to be involved in many activities on campus and enjoys volunteering her time whenever and wherever she can. During high school, Gerges was required to com- plete 150 hours of community service and says it was a great experience. Here at Guelph, she hopes to partici- pate in Trick or Eat, the program that sends U of G stu- dents dressed in costumes across the city on Halloween night to collect donations for the Guelph Food Bank and raise awareness of hunger issues. Playing squash and reading are two other activities she enjoys when she finds time. At her parents’ home in Kuwait, “I have a bookshelf filled with books I love, but here there’s not much time to read for leisure.” GORDON HAYWARD Faculty member in the School of Engineering since 1983 If you were to look in Prof. Gordon Hayward’s shirt pocket, there’s a good chance you might see a radio transmitter. Hayward is an avid amateur radio opera- tor, more commonly known as a ham radio operator, and even builds some of the equipment himself. “I’ve been active in listening and building since the 1960s, but didn’t get my licence to operate until the ’90s,” he says. Since then, he’s talked via radio to people across the country and around the world, including some as far away as Japan and Australia. Every morning during his 30-minute drive to cam- pus, he, his wife and several friends talk to each another over their radios. He says there’s strict etiquette in- volved when using a ham radio, including not barging in on conversations among small groups of people you don’t know and not discussing matters related to your professional business. “You’re not to use the radio for financial profit,” says Hayward, who’s a member of Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Guelph Amateur Radio Club and is president of the Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club. He also enjoys kayaking and started taking rolling lessons in 2002. His first big outing was at Lake Powell, Ariz., while on sabbatical in 2003. He says rough waters can make the sport pretty challenging at times, recalling one particular day in Tobermory when the waves were about three feet high. IVAN BARRETTE Daytime porter in Student Housing Services since 1 993 Ivan Barrette enjoys the camara- derie of team sports. Baseball and darts are two of his favour- ites. He’s been playing darts for the past six years and currently plays in leagues in Kitchener and Guelph. “We’ve got a pretty close-knit family with our dart leagues,” he says. “My Guelph team has gone from being bottom-feeders to winning the Royal City Dart League championships in a matter of a few years.” Barrette says he’s made some great friends playing darts and has built such close ties that he’s become god- father to one of his teammate’s children. Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to meet some of the world’s best players and has attended provincial champion- ships. “It’s a really exciting game because it’s about pin- point precision. You can miss by a millimetre, and that alone can cost you the game.” Barrette has also spent the past two baseball seasons playing in a men’s league that was formerly reserved for police officers. “They’ve really taken me in - — they’re fantastic people,” he says. He adds that, although the average age of the people he plays darts with is mid-20s, the baseball league is for men aged 35 and up. As one of the youngest players in the league, he says he enjoys talking with his older team- mates because of their different perspectives on life. Gordon Hayward Horse Takes Treatment to Heart Clydesdale benefits from cardio technique developed at OVC BY BARRY GUNN, OVC A ONE-OF-A-KIND HORSE has a new lease on life thanks to a technique pioneered at the Ontario Veterinary College. The nine-year- old Clydesdale was successfully treated for atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm) by using catheter-mounted intracardiac elec- trodes to deliver a high-voltage jolt to the heart. The patient, an 885- kilogram colossus named Phantom, is the largest ever treated using the technique, says OVC veterinarian Kim McGurrin. “With a large, heavy horse, there is always an anesthetic risk, so we had to work as quickly and effi- ciently as possible,” says McGurrin. “And then it’s just uncharted terri- tory with the cardioversion. The largest horse we’ve ever done prior to this was 730 kilos.” Atrial fibrillation is traditionally treated with the drug quinidine, which can have adverse side effects, she says. Plus, some horses, espe- cially larger breeds, don’t respond well to the drug. "This horse was in atrial fib for at least six months to a year. And his- torically, it was thought that if a horse was fibrillating for more than four months, it had an extremely poor chance of responding.” Phantom’s owner, Stanley White Jr. of Argyle, Tex., searched for treat- ment alternatives for nearly a year. Finally, his veterinarian heard about the technique developed at OVC by a team that includes McGurrin, Prof. Peter Physick-Sheard, Clinical Stud- ies, and veterinarian Dan Kenney. Within days of contacting OVC, White loaded Phantom into a trailer and drove 2,500 kilometres to Guelph. Phantom underwent the procedure Oct. 6 and was on his way back home two days later. “I’m just ecstatic with the re- sults,” says White. “He is one of a kind. (Clydesdales) just don’t come that big in black.” Phantom stands more than 19 hands high (about sue feet six inches at the shoulder), so big that White has been unable to find a perfect hitch mate for the gentle giant. White believes the heart problem emerged after Phantom overexerted himself during a competition. “It couldn’t have worked out any better,” he says. “I just wish we’d found /all a year ago.” OVC was the first in the world to successfully adapt to horses a treat- ment that is commonly used for j atrial fibrillation in humans. It in- volves threading two catheters from | the horse’s neck through the veins into the heart and positioning the electrodes in the right atrium and ; pulmonary artery. The catheters are fitted with electrodes that deliver a ' shock to correct heart rhythm. Recovery time is much quicker j than with conventional methods. f Horses can be doing light work | within two days and can resume reg- ular training in a week. The OVC team’s work was fea- tured at the 2005 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine fo- j rum in Baltimore, and McGurrin will be presenting at the American Association of Equine Practitioners | convention in Seattle in December. Week of Events Aims to Recognize Unity of Queer Community U OF G is MARKING Queer Identities Week with a series of events and activities that include a discussion of queers in athletics titled “Playing for the Other Side” Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall. “This week recognizes the unity of those identified as queer, as well as the diversity and unique perspec- tives that we all bring to the table,” says organizer Scott Clarke of the Central Student Association’s hu- man rights office. Dave Mitchell, events co- ordinator for Guelph Queer Equal- ity, adds: “It’s important for queer people on this campus to be visible, and we hope to continue challenging assumptions and exposing queer perspectives and experiences that are all too often silenced.” Also slated for Oct. 27 are a transgender workshop on issues spe- cific to the trans community and queer inclusivity from 1 to 3 p.m. in Room 441 of the University Centre, and a queer-positive dance party and fundraiser hosted by CFRU 93.3 FM at 9 p.m. at the Bookshelf. Tickets are $15 at the door. On Oct. 28, Loree Erickson leads a “Sex/uality and DisAbility” workshop, a discussion of gender, sex and sexuality in the fives of peo- ple with disabilities, from 1 to 3 p.m. in UC 441. At 8 p.m., Ed Video at 16A Wyndham St. presents “Flesh of the World.” On Oct. 29, a queer- positive soccer game runs from 1 to 3 p.m. For the field location, send e-mail to gqe@uoguelph.ca. 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AS JJLT™ CanadS at Guelph ll October 26, 2005 Asking the Right Questions U ofG is player in new development communication network to give voices and choices to poor nations BY ANDREW VOWLES U NSAFE SEX did not cause HIV/AJDS transmission in western Kenya. At least, that was the belief among farmers who spoke to Prof. Helen Hambly, School of Environ- mental Design and Rural Development, during one visit to the East African country. Local people believed the disease (known as chiwa or "the curse”) was part of a broader environmental and economic malaise involving everything from deforestation to drought and crop failure. For Hambly, that discussion underlined the challenges in promoting locally owned social change and development in nations from Af- rica to Southeast Asia to Latin America. How to address the communication gaps in knowl- edge and beliefs that separate people within and between developed and developing na- tions, let alone improve lives and prospects in poorer countries? “We don’t even know the questions,” she says. “Communication for social change and development is about asking the questions and listening. We use the phrase: ‘Ask, don’t tell.’ Are people in developing countries ready for the information, do they have a voice and are we listening to their concerns?” Providing useful development assistance hinges on finding a common language between developed and developing countries, says Hambly. It’s also important to distinguish be- tween the communication process and the idea of "communications” or products typically used to exchange information from brochures and posters to video, radio and the web. Figuring out how to ask and answer perti- ' nent questions — the first step in providing that development assistance — was the pur- pose of a seminar she attended in the Philip- pines last month along with university representatives from around the world. Organizers expect the event will help mem- ber universities, including U of G, forge re- search and teaching links in the still-young field of communication for social change and development. Thirteen universities from Southeast Asia, North and South America, Europe and Africa took part in the conference. Along with gradu- ate student April Pojman, Hambly represented the quality of the relationships that are being formed are not monitored regularly,” says Pojman. Development communication — also called communication for social change and development — uses various tools and tech- niques to exchange diverse knowledge, behav- iours and practices, including using condoms to prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS, practis- ing agroforestry, learning about childhood vaccination or using simple sugar and salt solutions to cure diarrhea. “Very well-designed, well-run and well-funded programs can run into difficulties down the road and ultimately have reduced effectiveness if communication processes and the quality of the relationships that are being formed are not monitored regularly.” Guelph — and Canada — at the meeting orga- nized by the Communication for Social Change Consortium (CSCC). The CSCC is supported by the Rockfeller Foundation. “The goal is to develop a stronger network of universities teaching in communication for development,” Hambly says. Pojman, a master’s student in rural exten- sion studies who has worked with agricultural co-operatives in Latin America, studied com- munication and collaboration during a recent visit to Peru for a program in water and sanita- tion capacity run by World University Service of Canada. “I saw that very well-designed, well-run and well- funded programs can run into difficulties down the road and ultimately have reduced ef- fectiveness if communication processes and The field includes making appropriate use of media from radio to print and new informa- tion and communication technologies, nota- bly the Internet and e-mail. But it’s more than that, says Hambly. Development communication also involves consultation and community involvement in exchanging knowledge and information about health and reproductive rights, nutrition, pov- erty and even social and political inequality. That gives people a chance to define them- selves and their needs in a way that prompts community-based solutions, she says. So besides producing a video about a par- ticular topic, for instance, development work- ers also ensure they consult with the community about how best to design a process for using that video — or even hold discussions ahead of time to explore other communication avenues first. “It’s process-oriented, not product-ori- ented,” says Hambly. “It’s using communica- tion for consciousness-raising, voice and informed action.” During the inaugural seminar in the Philip- pines, participants discussed their institutions’ approaches to studies in communication for social change. Hambly spoke about U of G’s experience in teaching and research in devel- opment communication, including the Snowden program hosted by SEDRD that pro- motes communication for environmental and social change in rural Canada and developing nations. The new network of universities and aca- demics plans to co-ordinate development and sharing of curriculum and materials, explore joint programs such as student and faculty ex- changes, and identify and implement joint research projects. The seminar was hosted by the CSCC based in New Jersey and the School of Development Communication at the University of the Phil- ippines in Los Banos. Participants included universities from the Philippines, India, Ar- gentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Jamaica, Zambia, Sweden, Denmark and the United States. The CSCC began in 2003 as a way to strengthen local capacity for people living in poor and marginalized communities. Earlier discussions began when the group’s current president wrote a paper on the topic while at the Rockefeller Foundation. The foundation provides grants for numerous development projects, including HIV/AIDS, childhood im- munization, education, environmental issues, food security and poverty eradication. Physicist Explores the Art of X-Ray Analysis Guelph prof observes software product's artsy side in training visits to Louvre, Florence BY ANDREW VOWLES T alk about enigmas. Why did the name of Prof. Iain Campbell, Physics, appear alongside an image of the Mona Lisa on a promotional poster for a scientific gathering in Europe this fall? Science met art this month in a rather unlikely pairing that saw the longtime U of G physicist lecturing groups of European scientists and art curators at the Louvre Museum in Paris and at the University of Flor- ence. Speaking in his office before his planned October visit to run two software training schools in Europe, Campbell couldn’t resist smiling: “Imagine a Guelph physicist talking at the Louvre Museum.” His recent trip took him to Paris and Florence, where he introduced a total of about 50 researchers to re- cent upgrades to GUPIX, a software package he developed here along with Guelph software consultant John Maxwell. In turn, Campbell’s visit gave him a first-hand look at a fascinating cultural use for that soft- ware, one he hadn’t seen before in his own basement laboratory or elsewhere. Before this fall, he already knew that his software package was a vital tool for scientists at nearly 100 re- search labs worldwide in analyzing trace elements in rock and soil, mea- suring particulate air pollution, un- covering elements in biomedical samples, and even analyzing fish ear bones to learn about fish migration. Many of those researchers attended the two GUPIX schools in Europe. In those kinds of studies here at Guelph, for example, Campbell has used the program to analyze results of experiments in the proton acceler- ator housed downstairs from his MacNaughton Building office. In a kind of otherworldly application last year, he even used GUPIX in simula- tions designed to help NASA collab- orators in analyzing information from X-ray instruments on the Mars rovers that have been exploring the Red Planet since early 2004. Based on characteristic X-ray patterns, his software package pro- vides a visual spectrum of elements in specimens, even down to a speck no wider than a human hair. (Al- though the software was developed here at Guelph, the analytical tech- nique — called proton-induced X-ray emission or PIXE — was in- vented by a Swedish scientist in the early 1970s.) What took Campbell from those hard-nosed scientific applications to the Louvre? The answer lies in the basement of the museum and in a building at the University of Flor- ence. In both places, Campbell found himself viewing instruments much like the Guelph Scanning Pro- ton Microprobe in his lab. In a melding of science and art, scientists and curators use these ac- celerators and other such devices around Europe along with Camp- bell’s software package to examine works of art, from ancient Greek and Roman pottery and weapons to Re- naissance jewelry and paintings. “PIXE is a very powerful tech- nique for studying what the Europe- ans call items of cultural heritage," says Campbell. In fact, a current project called Eu-Artech involves a consortium of European researchers using these high-tech tools in artwork studies. PIXE is only one example of numer- ous non-destructive testing tech- niques for studying the creation, life and aging of precious cultural arti- facts and artworks housed in na- tional museums, galleries and other cultural institutions. Sometimes the scientists are checking works for suspected forg- ery. But more often they’re inter- ested in learning more about the provenance of an item, including ev- erything from assessing elements used in the piece to tracing restora- tion efforts. It’s those uses that also excite Campbell, who began to learn about GUPIX’s artsy side when scientists at the Louvre volunteered to play host to his planned training session. About 10 of the participants this fall were Louvre staff members, in- cluding curators, scientists and tech- nicians. They work beneath the museum itself in a research lab of the Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France, which is associated with the Centre national de la recherche scientifique. A similar facility operates at the University of Florence, where Campbell held another GUPIX school in October. Those and other experts might use his software to process PIXE spectra in a variety of projects: • studying 12,000-year-old cave paintings to learn about paint rec- ipes used by Paleolithic artists and to establish more accurate cave art chronology, • pinpointing the geographic ori- gins of gemstones; • determining the composition of materials used in the metal-point drawings of such Renaissance art- ists as Albrecht Durer; • analyzing paper deterioration caused by ink corrosion; • mapping out the chronology of writings by Galileo; and • studying bronze jewelry encased in plastic that is impervious to other testing techniques. Leafing through a recent copy of the journal X-Ray Spectrometry, Campbell points out an article about the use of PIXE for studying Da Vinci’s Madonna dei fusi in Florence. He says the technique is helping sci- entists discover secrets of the paint- ing, including confirming that certain sections were restored using pigments whose elements were avail- able only after the artist’s time. “People tend to focus on the fakes, but I think the interesting thing is understanding the history of the painting,” says Campbell. “We had a tour of the Louvre and saw some real high points, including ob- jects on display that had been ana- lyzed by PIXE. For example, jewels of the second Queen of France from the fifth century were proved by PIXE to have come all the way from India. And I simply have no words to de- scribe the art we saw in Florence.” at Guelph 12 October 26, 2005 Shelling Out Information PhD research aims to discover how painted turtles select their mates BY ANDREW VOWLES E linor Hughes hadn’t planned to become a matchmaker for painted turtles living in Algonquin Park. But pairing up prospective turtle mates and filming the resultant action — or lack of it — is what this Guelph psychology graduate turned herpetologist is now doing for her doctoral studies in the Department of Integrative Biology. Along with her supervisor, Prof. Ron Brooks, she is combining the tools of a video dating show with DNA technology familiar to TV fo- rensics fans to learn more about how painted turtles choose mates. She’s especially intrigued by a question that has puzzled biologists studying turtles in northern Ontario for al- most three decades. Why do female turtles outnumber males three to one, and what’s the effect of that sex ratio on mate selection among tur- tles living and courting in Algonquin Park’s spruce bogs? “Turtles do some interesting things,” says Hughes, who recalls Yertle the Turtle was one of her story- book favourites as a child. She cites everything from their hibernating abilities (hatchlings essentially freeze during winter, then thaw in spring) to their peculiar inability to swallow out of water (they need water pres- sure to do the trick). But it* s their sex lives that really fascinate her. In turtle populations where both sexes are balanced, females may look for physical characteristics in pro- spective mates, says Hughes, but fe- males with limited options may end up pairing with just about any male that happens along. Skew the ratio so that males outnumber females, and you should start to see sexual selec- tion intensify. Not only would fe- males become more choosy, goes the notion, but the males would begin looking for ways to stand out in the crowd. An obvious demonstration of sexual selection on land is the male peacock’s tail, an attention-grabber that serves no other purpose than catching a courting female’s eye. Among male painted turtles, sexual dimorphism shows up as longer foreclaws than in females. In addition, males are generally about three-quarters the size of fe- males. Hughes speculates that smaller males may be more nimble and less conspicuous than their larger counterparts, meaning they’re better at evading predators in the pond — traits that would end up fa- vouring smaller males and their off- spring over time. Or maybe selection is working on the female: perhaps a larger female is simply able physi- cally to produce more eggs. At the Algonquin research sta- tion, Hughes has mixed and matched turtles of varying sizes and characteristics in hopes of filming the mating ritual and learning what females are looking for. Setting four males and two fe- males at a time into artificial ponds — actually tubs measuring about two metres across — she has tried to capture the action on video. It would PhD candidate Elinor Hughes will do DNA analysis on painted turtle hatchlings next spring. photo by martin schwalbe be too difficult to do the work in real ponds, which are too large and murky for her purposes. Because the turtles seem easily distracted by her presence, she sets the video camera rolling, then discreetly leaves the turtles alone. The results have been mixed. Hughes had hoped to get a good look at the male’s courtship ritual, which includes a mixture of neck-stretch- ing and nosing at the female’s upper shell. It also involves waving those foreclaws before the female — a pos- sible clue to why bigger claws might matter. But the only foreclaw action she saw turned out to be a male mis- takenly displaying for another male. She’d also hoped to observe fe- male acceptance. “So far, the only fe- male responses I’ve seen are running away and biting.” Hughes plans to return with her video camera next summer. Meanwhile, she’s hoping to learn more by performing DNA analysis on about 270 hatchlings she brought back to U of G this year. The toonie-sized turtles — dark brown with characteristic red flashes mark- ing the edge of their shells and limbs — are currently entering forced hi- bernation in vermiculite-filled plas- tic tubs in a climate-controlled room in the Hagen Aqualab. There they’ll stay until Hughes revives them in the spring for pater- nity testing, which involves taking tissue and blood samples. She’ll compare the results with DNA col- lected from the moms and dads to see which youngsters belong to which mating pairs. She’s also intrigued about seeing how the turtles overwinter in sub-zero temperatures. Another re- searcher at Carleton University is studying hatchling freeze tolerance to learn more about possible appli- cations to human cryogenics, she says. Unlike in mammals, the sex of newly developing painted turtles is determined not by genetics but by environmental conditions. “De- pending on the temperature, off- spring are male or female,” says Hughes. “There’s no genetic basis for sex." That means sex ratios may also be affected by short-term factors such as the mother’s choice of a shady lo- cation for a nest or by larger issues. Another of Brooks’s PhD students, Sarah Holt, is studying snapping tur- tles — a species that spans most of North America — to see whether temperatures at different latitudes affect their gender. As for long-term climate change, Hughes points out that turtles shared the Earth with the dinosaurs during the Triassic period. “They’ve been through a heck of a lot. With all the other known pressures, what if they’re compounded with a rapid temperature shift?” Brooks has studied turtles in northern climates for about 25 years. “It’s clear that climate change is well on the way and that there will be huge consequences,” he says. “But even though it seems logical that warming climate could lead to tur- tles becoming all one sex and then disappearing, they have survived previous climate change better than almost any other group and still re- tained temperature-determined sex How do they do it?” Website to Offer Virtual Tours of Stage Set Models Theatre in the round is coming to your desktop BY ANDREW VOWLES T he model occupies the spotlight in a darkened room in the U of G Library* s basement. The camera clicks. A pair of hands reaches out and spins the turntable slightly, readying the subject — a foot-high building facade and fire escape used to design the full-size stage set of The Millionairess at the 2001 Shaw Festival — for another shot from a new angle. After the photographer is finished snapping all the way around the subject, he’ll be able to stitch together the digital frames to create the illusion of viewing this theatre set model rotating in seamless 3-D on the laptop screen beside him. Bringing theatre — or at least the painstakingly detailed scale models of set designs for plays staged at theatre venues around Ontario — to the Internet masses is the goal of an ambitious web project unfolding in U of G’s L.W. Conolly Theatre Archives. Starting next year, drama schol- ars, stage designers and theatre buffs worldwide visiting the archives’ website need only point and click for a panoramic virtual tour of many of i Guelph’s roughly 130 stage sei mod- els to be included on a planned on- line database, says Lome Bruce, head of Archival and Special Collections. Those images currently being shot and assembled will be married with text detailing information about the models and the pertinent productions to highlight Guelph’s extensive theatre holdings for online users. Those users will be able to ro- tate the models on their computer screen, viewing the miniature thea- tre sets through 180 or 360 degrees. Call it a version of “theatre in the round," minus the actors, on your desktop. Bruce says the project will also help preserve the original models by giving users a virtual alternative to handling the often-delicate one-of- a-kind structures that arguably are close to works of art in their own right. “It’s our responsibility to save these things," he says, likening the collection of set models to the irre- placeable posters, scripts, photos and other items that make up the largest theatre collection in Canada. Imagine an actor swallowing just enough from one of Alice’s “Drink Me" bottles to shrink to no bigger than a forefinger, and you get an idea of the size of the set models occupy- ing nearly every available horizontal surface in the library’ s basement ar- chives. They include a kitchen scene for Anne of Green Gables complete with tiny table and chairs, a sphinx dominating a courtyard for Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra and that fire escape hugging the red-brick wall of a building in The Millionairess. These models made of foam board or papier mach£ (on a scale of roughly a half inch to a foot) give set designers and other theatre princi- pals a visual aid for mapping out their productions even before rehearsals begin. It’s also useful to see how earlier designers created their productions, says Bruce. Guelph’s collection includes about 15 years’ worth of set designs from numerous theatres around Ontario, including the Shaw Festi- val, Toronto’s Tarragon, CanStage and Factory theatres, the Grand Theatre in London and Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton. The web database project is being funded by a donation from retired drama professor Bruce Koenig. (His gift is also being used for scanning archival documents and other mate- rials in the theatre collection.) Lome Bruce expects to place about 30 set models on the website beginning in 2006 and build the virtual display as more models are photographed. Dean Palmer, a Guelph photog- rapher and U of G graduate in his- tory and drama, spent a week this semester — and another week last spring — creating object movies of the set models. He shoots the “mov- ies” under studio conditions in the archives — 36 shots per model, ro- tated 10 degrees at a time to provide an all-round panorama. There’s more to the assignment than point-and-shoot. For one model from George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara, Palmer had to sort out pieces for three different scenes contained in two boxes, like putting together a piece of furniture without assembly instructions. He uses still photos from the production to en- sure the set model is assembled properly. Although the models come wrapped in heavy plastic or even mounted inside Plexiglas boxes, in- dividual pieces such as chair legs about as substantive as matchsticks may need doctoring or cleaning. “I’ve never had to take a hot- metal glue gun on a photo shoot be- fore,” quips Palmer. Bruce, a regular Shaw Festival pa- tron, says U of G receives about five to 10 set models a year from Ontario theatres. He expects the collection will top out at about 200 pieces. Al- though set designers still rely on these handcrafted models, more are turning to digital tools that allow them to construct set models di- rectly on the computer. It’s an inno- vation that presumably would allow them to share the models with U of G not as tabletop creations but as computer files to be readily added to the growing virtual collection. You can view several set models from the theatre archives — includ- ing pieces by Cameron Porteous, head of design at Shaw from 1980 to 1996 — in a current display in Ar- chival and Special Collections. at Guelph 13 October 26 , 2005 Twelve Projects Get Cl HR Support Call today for a no-obligation quote Or visit our wobslta at www.staebler.com Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts fijLotA Your Group Discount! I Insurance w.economlcallnsurance a Continued from page 1 funding enable us to perform this study, but it is also recognition from a major agency that there’s a need to study the role of pets in human disease.” Launched in 2000, CIHR is Can- ada’s premier health research fund- ing agency, supporting more than 8,500 researchers in universities, teaching hospitals and research in- stitutions nationwide. Other U of G funding recipients are: • Prof. Christopher Bauch, Mathe- matics and Statistics, who re- ceived $38,623 to study and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a universal hepatitis A vaccination program. • Prof. David Dyck, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences (HHNS), $208,602 to research the role of adipokines as regulators of skeletal muscle fatty acid metabo- lism and insulin sensitivity. • Christa Johnston, an M.Sc. stu- dent in HHNS, $17,500 to exam- ine how the regulation of an important gene in lipid metabo- lism (Pcyt2) varies in normal breast and breast cancer cells. • Rene Jorgensen, a post-doctoral associate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, $135,000 to study the structural characteristics of bacterial ADP- ribosyltransferases when com- bined with the ribosome trans- locase. Prof. Allan King, Biomedical Sci- ences, $366,600 to explore telomere length and chromosome stability in domestic animal clones and their offspring. Sean Leonard, a PhD candidate in HHNS, $17,500 for a microscopic study of the spiral arteries of the murine placental bed at various stages of gestation. Prof. Rod Merrill, Molecular and Cellular Biology, $680,350 to look at the molecular mechanisms of bacterial mono-ADP-ribosyl- transferases. Gordon Mitchell, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Pathobiology, $135,000 to exam- ine how stress compromises im- mune responses in the lung. Prof. Roger Moorehead, Biomed- ical Sciences, $275,000 for a model to map out the function of the insulin-like growth factor IGF-IR in breast cancer. Ifat Sher-Rosenthal, a post-doc- toral researcher in the Depart- ment of Biomedical Sciences, $135,000 to study the role of the growth factor VEGF in the devel- opment of ovarian cancer. Where Are You Now? If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Oct. 31 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56982. The following people correctly identified the Oct. 12 photo as a staircase at Creelman Hall: Fran Kitchen, Gary Hall, Laura Mann, Steve Gazzola, John Van Manen, Carrie Tanti, Sandra Campbell, Steve Forbes, Karen Houle, Heather Lane Vetere, Jeff Morrison, Gillian Maurice, Joyce Scherer, Josh Dehaas, Violet McGill, Judy O’Donnell, Mike Harttrup, Justin Selby, Sally Yip, Karen MacDonald, Ornella McCarron, Cathy O’Donnell, Lisa Dietrich, Jennifer Minogue, Dennis Watson, Henry Kuiper and Kul Notay. photo by rebecca kendall Workshops, Talk to Focus on Scholarship of Teaching tions to her credit, including articles in refereed journals, book chapters, book reviews and conference pre- sentations, and has served on the ed- itorial boards of three journals. She has also consulted widely on instruc- tional issues and edited or written eight books, including one devoted to faculty development and another on teaching for new faculty. Her lat- est title, Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice, was published in 2002. She is currently writing a book on pedagogical scholarship and is edi- tor-in-chief of the Teaching Professor newsletter. Weimer will be available by ap- pointment Nov. 9 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. for anyone interested in talking to her about teaching. To schedule a meeting, contact Julia Beswick at Ext. 58902 or j.beswick@exec. uoguelph.ca. The Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor program was created in 2002 to recognize and highlight the theory, practice and scholarship of teaching by bringing a notable and respected teacher to campus each year to spend several days interacting with faculty, stu- dents and staff. Developed to complement the teaching excellence of Guelph’s 3M Fellows, the program is intended to focus especially on the scholarship of teaching. INSURANCE PROGRAM REACH THE UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH WITH YOUR ADVERTISING MESSAGE . . At Guelph, the University of Guelph’s official campus newspaper, is published every other Wednesday. For information about advertising, call: Scott Anderson, 827-9169 Continued from page 1 of Higher Education at Penn State. In 1994, she became a full-time fac- ulty member at the Berks Lehigh Valley College of Penn State, where she teaches courses in communica- tions. Weimer has numerous publica- YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home At Guelph Publication Schedule Publication Date Deadline Nov. 9 Nov. 1 Nov. 23 Nov. 15 Dec. 7 Nov. 19 Jan. 11 Jan. 3 Jan. 25 Jan. 17 Feb. 8 Jan. 31 Feb. 22 Feb. 14 March 8 Feb. 28 at Guelph 14 October 26, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Dora the Explorer toddler bed, mat- tress and sheet set; Step2 Snooze 'n’ Cruise toddler bed, mattress and sheet set; navy Cosco FunSport play- pen, 780-1216. Women's 16-speed bicycle, Ben, Ext. 58394 or bbarton@uoguelph.ca. Baby items: playpen, high chair, Evenflo ExerSaucer, used for one child, 763-4358. 2000 Chrysler Neon NLX, black, standard, four cylinders, CD player, 105,000 km, safety- and emis- sions-tested within last month, win- ter-protected, clean interior, no out- side rust, Javier, 822-3584 after 7 p.m. or jmolina@uoguelph.ca. Homedics foot massager with heat/acupressure surface; Core Secret fitness ball, pump and video; GT Express 101 portable appliance; Bissell carpet cleaner, all new, 837-4378. Men’s 10-speed racing bicycle; wall unit with doors and open shelving, 48 Vi by 54 by 15V4 inches; TV pedes- tal stand; large office desk; office chair; rectangular kitchen table with four chairs; round pedestal table with two drop leaves; coffee and two end tables; choice of speaker sets, Ext. 53561 or 821-5412. 1993 white Chevy Astro van, good running condition, suitable for commercial use, 763-3908 after 6 p.m. 1998 GMC Sierra Z71 truck, bur- gundy, V8, 5.7L, third door, clean, tinted windows, running boards, CD stereo; antique vanity with round mirror; corner table; two brown loveseats; large hypertufa leaves, 82 1 - 1 879 or kczemic@ uoguelph.ca. White- Westinghouse rollaway dish- washer, hardwood top, three years old; plastic turtle-shaped sandbox with lid; child’s dresser, top serves as change table Ross, Ext. 52532 or rmckitri@uoguelph.ca. Black leather sofa, four-drawer dresser, black metal coffee table and two end tables with glass tops, 826-1861. FOR RENT Two-bedroom stone heritage home in Fergus, 2,095 square feet, master ensuite, dining room, gas fireplace, two sunrooms, appliances, non- smokers, no pets, $1,100 a month plus utilities, available immediately, 824-5478. Bright, spacious three-bedroom apartment in century home on treed lot, newly renovated, hardwood floors, walking distance to down- town and hospital, parking, $1,300 a month inclusive, available Nov. 1, Donna, 519-241-8846. Self-contained unfurnished apart- ment on top floor of house on Moore Avenue, five-minute walk to campus and shopping, close to bus route, parking, laundry, suitable for student or couple, $500 a month inclusive for student, $550 for cou- ple, available Jan. 1, Cliff, 853-2799. Unfurnished one-bedroom apart- ment, parking for one vehicle, five-minute walk to campus and Stone Road Mall, suitable for stu- dent or couple, $500 a month inclu- sive for student, $550 for couple, available Nov. 15, 836-9560 after 7 p.m. or corina@physics.uoguelph. Large room with private bath, shared kitchen, laundry facility, quiet neighbourhood, close to bus stop and shopping, no pets, $725 a month inclusive, leave message at 821-7676. Fully equipped ground-floor apart- ment in Ayr, Scotland, available for holiday rentals, two double bed- rooms, private parking, located minutes from seafront, town centre and railway station, a golfer’s para- dise, $500 a week, 826-6038 or janet.dalgleish@sympatico.ca. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street _ __ _ Guelph, ON N1H7GS 766 " on't let another, minute go by without enjoying each day... let us help you see your world more clearly .— ^ 7676 short-term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, 836-6745 or fnmoll@rogers.com. WANTED University professor seeks short- term sublet for one to two months in Guelph from early November, Alan, Ext. 53165, 766-9729 evenings or amcdouga@uoguelph.ca. Toddler outdoor play climber, child bike trailer, toddler table and chair set, csimon@uoguelph.ca. A master’s student working with Prof. Alison Duncan, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, seeks adults with type 2 diabetes for a study investigating the effects of soy on cardiovascular disease risk. Subjects must not smoke and must not be on drugs to lower blood glucose or cho- lesterol. Financial compensation wiU be provided. CaU Ext. 58081 or send e-mail to gobertc@uoguelph.ca. AVAILABLE Care for your dog in my home while you travel, Cobi, leave message at 836-8086 or cdemmers@uoguelph. Level 1 University Centre • Poster printing, mounting and lamination ■ Coroplast Signs, Banners and Vinyl Decals ’ Graphic Design and Illustrations ■ Exhibit / Trade Show Design and Fabrication Ext. 58031/Email: info@clicksigns.ca www.clicksigns.ca Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag WANTED Part-time French instructor needed for adult learners. Mother tongue must be French, and experience is preferred. Please fax your r6sum£ to 519-763-2239 or e-mail to gautier@ language-studio.com. Cuba Offering Great Choices for an Enjoyable Vacation Villa de Santa Clara, Cuba Hotel Sol Cayo Santa Maria Oi# vocation started wflh our WesUet light from Toronto ctrect to Vfe Sants Clara. Fight mbs erjtyafcte, and very comfortable lealher seats with more legroom. and individual satellite TV. W#i my 2nd vial (both firms tor 2 weeks) to me pan ol Cuba. VBa Santa Clara in 1 year (and my 17th lime in Cuba atogettier) I mink mat says it an Having experienced bom resorts a! Cayo Santa Marta, first time at the Mafia Hotel, and this 6me ai the Sd Hotel • bund that the quatfy of services at both properties was tardaske. This hotel catere to couples, farrt- fes and singles. IMten ne arrived at the Sol Cayo Santa Mana Hotel, m were greeted wih dancers, musicians, as ne# as topical drinks. The entertainment team is second to none at Ws resort The beach is irspoted and dean vnm dafy activities to sui as ages, or you can |ust sit back and enjoy the ooeen and the sun The reaaurares am bare * me hold were Utosbc. WoM I reoommend Ms homf? I sum woM I to* toward to returning to check on the 2 new hotefe being bu® m me area Without a Travel Agent, you are on your own. Let us show you the advantages of booking travel via a local Travel Agent. Royal City Travel J Travel Services Royal Plaza, 10 Paisley Street, Unit 8 , Guelph ON tel. 763-3520 www.royalcltytravel.com COLLEGE MUSIC ' IMh l iSEP $ 13 " yik i KAN YE WEST • LATE REGISTRATION includes the smalts OamonOs from Sierra Leone and OoU Uggm featuring Jamie Foot at Guelph 15 October 26, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM Naturalist Chris Earley leads a gull workshop Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An optional one-day field trip to the Niagara River and Niagara Falls is planned for Nov. 19. Cost is $70. Registration and payment are required by Nov. 4. Call Ext. 52358. The Theatre in the Trees production of There Goes the Bride by Ray Cooney and John Chapman opens Nov. 5 at the Arboretum Centre and runs weekends until Dec. 17. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m., showtime is 8 p.m. Cost is $53. To order tickets, call Ext. 54110. The Dufflebag Theatre presents Rudolf, the Red Nose Reindeer Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Arboretum Centre. Tickets are $5 and are avail- able at the Arboretum, Ext. 52358, or Simply Wonderful. ART CENTRE The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre will hold its annual general meeting Oct. 31 at 12:30 p.m. It will be fol- lowed at 1 p.m. by the unveiling of the sculpture Achilles by Ted Fullerton, who will speak at the event, and a dessert reception. The art centre’s brown bag lunch series continues Nov. 3 at noon with Guelph artist Susan Detwiler dis- cussing her exhibition “Feral.” The art centre hosts its annual “Beyond the Frame” fundraiser Nov. 1 2. A wide range of artists have contributed works to the auction, which begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for the pre-auction party. Tickets are $45 and are available at the art centre information desk and at the Framing and Art Centre. CONCERTS The Thursday noon-hour concert series continues Oct. 27 with the Khac Chi Ensemble and Nov. 3 with the Karin Plato Quartet. On Nov. 10, soprano Heather Cumine, pianist Betty Maher and cellist Orly Bitov present “Somewhere I Have Never Travelled,” featuring poems by E.E. Cummings set to music by Peter Skoggard. Concerts begin at 12:10 p.m. in MacKinnon 107. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. FILM The McLaughlin Library and the Central Student Association present “Docurama,” a free film series showcasing a variety of topical and controversial documentaries. The series continues Nov. 2 with Sacred Sacred and Nov. 9 with Invisible Children at 7 p.m. in Thombrough 1307. The Beyond Hollywood film series continues Nov. 6 with German director Joachim Hasler’s film Hot Summer. Prof. Alan McDougall, History, will introduce the film at 6:45 p.m. in McLaughlin 384, fol- lowed by the screening at 7 p.m. Admission is free. LECTURES World-renowned activist, author and physician Dr. Helen Caldicott discusses “The Age of Nuclear Ter- rorism" Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. The Canada Research Chairs lecture series presents Prof. Joe Lam, Molecular and Cellular Biology, dis- cussing “From Biofilm Studies to the Discovery of Targets for Antibiotic Development” Oct. 28 at noon in Rozanski 107. Gwynne Dyer, Canada’s best-known defence and foreign policy colum- nist, speaks Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. at War Memorial Hall. Tickets are $20 gen- eral, $12 for students, and are avail- able in UC 266, at the Bookshelf and Chapters or online at www. Guelphcp.info. The School of Hospitality and Tour- ism Management will host Jack MacDonald, chief executive officer of Compass Group Canada and ESS North America, as executive-in-resi- dence Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. In addition to meeting with the school’s stu- dents and faculty, he will give a pub- lic talk Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. in Macdon- ald Stewart 129. Physician and scientist Dr. Nancy Olivieri discusses “The Threat of Corporate Influence on University Campuses, Health Care, Education” Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall . OAC hosts the Fred Presant Memo- rial Lecture Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. The lecturer is Joe Stookey of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, whose topic is “Were the Old Ways the Best Ways for Farm Animal Welfare?” Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor Maryellen Weimer of Penn State University speaks on “Learner-Centred Teaching” Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in Massey 100. NOTICES U of G’s 31st annual Fair November, an exhibition and sale of fine Cana- dian crafts, runs Nov. 17 to 20 in the University Centre. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. The Canadian Foundation for the International Space University is calling for applications for its 2006 summer program, which runs July 3 to Sept. 1 in Strasbourg, France. The competition is open to graduate stu- dents, graduate degree holders and practising professionals from all dis- ciplines. Application deadline is Jan. 27. For more information, visit the website www.aucc.ca/programs/ intprograms/space_e.htmL The Stress Management and High Performance Clinic and the McLaughlin Library Learning Com- mons are offering “examSMART” for U of G students. It runs for four sessions beginning Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in McLaughlin 384. Cost is $20. For more information or to register, drop by the Learning Commons, visit www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers or leave a message at Ext. 52662. READING Governor General’s Award-winning poet Roy Miki, who is also an editor, critic, bibliographer, cultural activist and professor of Canadian literature at Simon Fraser University, will read his poetry and talk about Japanese- Canadian writing Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m. in MacKinnon 315. SEMINARS “Applications of Fluctuation Theo- rems in Biophysics” is the topic of Prof. Bruno Tomberli of the Depart- ment of Physics Oct 27 in the Centre for Food and Soft Materials Sci- ence’s seminar series. Guest speaker Nov. 3 is Roland Bohmer of Universitat Dortmund in Germany. On Nov. 10, Prof. Doug Fudge of the Department of Integrative Biology presents “Slime, Cells and Silk: Comparative Mechanics of Interme- diate Filaments.” The seminars begin at 2:30 p.m. in Food Science 241. The microbiology graduate student seminar series continues Oct. 28 with Ana-Rita Rebelo explaining “Subcellular Localization and Func- tion of the TGBpl of Grapevine Rupestris Stem Pitting-Associated Virus” and Nov. 4 with Michelle Smith considering “Circadian Clocks and Cyanobacteria.” The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 116. The Department of Economics visit- ing speaker series hosts Rene Kirkegaard of Brock University Oct. 28 and Florian Englmaier of Har- vard University Nov. 4. The talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 234. Next up in the Department of Phys- ics seminar series is Robert Kirshner of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics examining “A Blunder Undone: Albert Einstein and the Accelerating Universe” Nov. 1. On Nov. 8, Ravi Menon of the University of Western Ontario dis- cusses “From NMR to MRI: Func- tional Brain Mapping.” The semi- nars are at 4 p.m. in MacNaughton 101 . The Cognitive Science Group semi- nar series features Paul Fletcher of the University of Toronto exploring “Memory, Impulsivity and 5HT” Nov. 2 and Robert Gerlai of the Uni- versity of Toronto at Mississauga explaining the “Neurogenetics of Learning” Nov. 9. The talks begin at 3 p.m. in MacKinnon 314. “New Frontiers of Development” is the theme of a special presentation to be hosted by the School of Envi- ronmental Design and Rural Devel- opment Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. in Landscape Architecture 143. Discus- sion topics are “Frontiers of Interna- tional Development” with Prof. Farokh Afshar and “Economic Growth and Life Satisfaction: Japan” with Takyoshi Kusago of the Univer- sity of Osaka, Japan. The Department of Pathobiology presents Kurt Williams of the Veter- inary Medical Center at Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, Nov. 4. His topic is “Comparative Pathobiology of Idiopathic Fibrotic Lung Disease in Veterinary Medi- cine: Shedding Some Light on Human Pulmonary Fibrosis.” On Nov. 11, Dr. Nades Palaniyar of the Hospital for Sick Children considers “How Do Sugar-Binding Collectins Interlink the Innate and Adaptive Immune Systems?” The talks start at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services’ training and development opportunities for faculty and instructional staff con- tinue with “Photoshop Tidbits: Col- our” Nov. 2, “Photoshop Tidbits: Filters” Nov. 9 and 16 and “Engaging Students With Problem-Based Learning — Live Demo, Part I” Nov. 15. Detailed descriptions and online registration for all TSS events can be found on the web at www.tss. uoguelph.ca. If you have questions, call Mary Nairn at Ext. 53571. TSS hosts luncheons for new faculty Nov. 8 and 14 at 12:30 p.m. On Nov. 8, Distinguished Visiting Teaching Professor Maryellen Weimer of Penn State University will discuss “The Growth and Development of University Teachers: 10 Principles That Make Instructional Improve- ment a Positive Process.” On Nov. 14, the topic is “Developing Effective Course Outlines.” THEATRE The drama program presents Lana Turner Has Collapsed! The Poetry of Frank O’Hara Nov. 1 to 5 at 8 p.m. at the George Luscombe Theatre, with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. The production is directed by Prof. Sky Gilbert and designed by Prof. Jerrard Smith. Tickets are $7 and $9 and will be available at the door or can be reserved by calling Ext. 53147. THESIS DEFENCE The final examination of Ben Speers-Roesch, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology, is Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Meta- bolic Organization of the Chondrichthyan Fishes: Evolution- ary Implications.” The adviser is Prof. Jim Ballantyne. COMMUNITY EVENTS The YMCA- YWCA’s Women of Distinction Speaker Series presents Cyndy McLean, director of U of G’s Health and Performance Centre and a 2003/04 nominee in the wellness and health category, discussing her life experiences Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Y. To register, contact Robert Gruber at 824-5150 or rsvp@ guelph.org. Perimeter Institute’s public lecture series continues Nov. 2 with author, journalist and BBC TV producer Simon Singh discussing “The Big Bang” at 7 p.m. at Waterloo Colle- giate Institute, 300 Hazel St., Waterloo. Doors open at 6:20 p.m. Attendance is free, but tickets are required and can be reserved online at www.perimeterinstitute.ca or by calling 519-883-4480. The Guelph International Film Fes- tival opens Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at Chalmers United Church with screenings of Mark Hamilton’s Lou- isiana Fenceline: God’s Hand in Can- cer Alley and Karen Duthie’s 100% Women. Renowned Canadian direc- tor Deepa Mehta will introduce her film Water at the closing gala screen- ing Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Bookshelf Cinema. For more information about the festival, visit www. guelphfilmfest.org or call 822-3110. Out on the Shelf, a not-for-profit queer resource centre and library, celebrated its grand opening last week. It’s located on the third floor of 147 Wyndham St. N. For more information, visit the website www. outontheshelf.ca. The Guelph Guild of Handweavers and Spinners holds its annual “Fall Fibres” show and sale Nov. 1 2 and 1 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wellington County Museum and Archives. The Guelph Youth Music Centre at 75 Cardigan St. presents “Musical Chairs,” a gala fundraiser featuring a gourmet dinner, entertainment, games and prizes, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. For tickets, call 837- 1119. Touchmark Theatre is staging Good- night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) by Ann-Marie MacDonald Nov. 10 to 15 at the River Run Cen- tre. For tickets, call 763-3000. Guelph and Wellington Master Gar- deners’ 2005 fall seminar series focuses on bulbs Nov. 1 and ground covers Nov. 8. The sessions begin at 7 p.m. at the Guelph Turfgrass Insti- tute. For more information, call Ext. 56714 or 767-6536. At Guelph 16 October 26, 2005 at GUELPH NOVEMBER 9, 2005 • VOL. 49 NO. 17 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: FACULTY ASSOCIATION AWARDS TO SEVEN • UNITED WAY HELPS GIVE LOCAL YOUTH HOPE Guelph Ranks High in Maclean’s, Globe and Mail, Research Surveys Education, business leaders laud U ofG Profs. John Armstrong and Carol Armstrong study brain workings and development in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. photo by martin schwalbe They’ve Looked at Brains From Both Sides Now Newly arrived duo adds breadth to growing cross-campus expertise in neurosciences BY ANDREW VOWLES N ow that’s putting their heads together. Arriving this fall at U of G, Profs. Carol Armstrong and John Armstrong bring their studies of varied aspects of brain development and physiology to the Department of Biomedical Sciences — and add significant breadth and depth to the University’s expanding expertise in the fast-growing field of neuro- sciences. The husband-and-wife duo brings “his-and-hers” views of brain science to their respective research fields. She studies how the brain de- velops; his interest lies in how the brain works. “We have common interests, but we come at them from different she says. Stressing her basic ap- proach, she adds that her work may help clinicians understand visual de- fects and how to correct them. Other researchers may use her work to help in testing visual acuity or depth per- ception or to look closer at the genet- ics behind heritable visual disorders. Carol now uses chick models to study how the early brain develops, particularly pattern formation in the cerebellum, or the brain’s motor co-ordinator. John Armstrong uses knockout mice — rodents with a gene whose function is disrupted or “knocked out” — to probe how synapses work in the brain. Connections between individual neurons — or, more pre- cisely, missed connections — may affect behaviour and learning. He brought to Guelph a Young Investigator Award from the Na- tional Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression in the United States. That funding will al- low him to investigate brain func- tion with potential clinical applications. Continued on page 10 BY LORI BONA HUNT U OF G’S continued excellence in academic quality, the educational experience, graduate satisfaction and research intensity has been recognized recently in three independent national surveys. In the annual Maclean's rankings released Nov. 7, Guelph placed third among comprehensive institutions, down one spot from last year and be- hind the University of Waterloo and the University of Victoria. U of G was No. 1 in four of the key areas that determine the plaee- ments — quality of students, graduation rates, quality of faculty and student services — and it main- tained or improved its performance in 13 other categories. But Guelph, along with Ontario’s other universities, lost ground in ar- eas most closely tied to the effects of the double cohort, such as finances, library holdings and acquisitions, and average entering grades. "This underscores the need for and the importance of the recent re- investment in higher education by the McGuinty government, the results of which we hope will be positively reflected in rankings in the future,” says president Alastair Summerlee. Maclean’s also publishes a reputational survey based on feed- back from CEOs of major Canadian corporations, high school counsel- lors and academic administrators. Guelph was ranked second overall and second in each of three catego- ries used to determine reputation: highest quality, most innovative and leaders of tomorrow. “I’m very pleased that we con- tinue to compare favourably with Canada’s other top universities and that the nation’s business and edu- cation leaders continue to give us such high marks and positive feed- back,” saysSummeAce. "Bur in tight of our success in other recent national surveys, I am disappointed that we have slipped in the overall Maclean’s rankings. This is particularly discouraging because the staff and faculty at the University have worked hard to counteract the impact of the double cohort and bal- ance issues of education, research and revenues from government, tui- tion and other sources.” Summerlee adds that U of G is “absolutely committed” to main- taining its competitive edge and to continuing its leadership in the qual- ity of the educational experience for students. In the Maclean’s ranking issue, Guelph was featured in the lead story written by the magazine’s education Continued on page 10 Through a Lens Brightly University set to launch new coffee-table book of campus photos, memories sides,” says Carol Armstrong. They arrived in September, fresh from post-docs at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif. There, Carol worked with Dennis O’Leary, a top developmen- tal neurobiologist, in studies of de- velopment of the visual system. She used chick models to look at how wiring is laid down between the de- veloping eye and the brain’s visual area. Plenty can go wrong along the complicated sequence of tightly cho- reographed events that need to hap- pen for vision to develop normally. BY MARY DICKJESON E veryone will have to pick their own favourite photo, but for me, it’s the page 48 image of a tree and trunk and branches reflected in the water of Wild Goose Swamp at the Arboretum. It’s a view of the University campus you can’t see or capture on film without making a considerable effort, which come to think of it, is just what photographer Richard Bain has been doing for the last year. Bain has visited U of G many times, in all kinds of weather, to pho- tograph the campus. One hundred and twenty pages of his photos have been published in a new coffee-table book that will be introduced to the University community at a Nov. 24 book launch in the University Cen- tre courtyard. All members of the University are invited to the 3 p.m. event hosted by president Alastair Summerlee. Spe- cial guests will include Bain and chancellor Lincoln Alexander, who was photographed at convocation for the new book. The University of Guelph photo book will be on sale at the launch for $40 and afterwards at the University Bookstore. Chuck Cunningham, director of Communications and Public Affairs, co-ordinated the photography pro- ject in response to numerous re- quests from alumni and U of G staff. "This is the University keepsake that many people have been asking for,” he says. “Richard Bain’s photo- graphs depict both the beauty and diversity of the University. He’s also captured the excitement of being a University of Guelph student, the dignity of our important traditions and an array of seasonal landscapes that I know will evoke many great memories for all members of the University family.” The book includes a foreword by former Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar, who completed her under- graduate degree at Guelph in 1968. The pages of photos are also en- riched by reflective quotes from sev- eral other notable graduates, as well as current students and members of Continued on page 9 at Guelph 1 November 9, 2005 - Welcome Louisa! *For details call! Without a Travel Agent you are on your own ROYAL CITY TRAVEL S ROYAl PLAZA (Norfolk & Paisley) Guelph 763-3520 0*>Rja_rflV*H7 Royal City Travel would like to welcome Louisa Moretto who is joining our Corporate Sales Department. Louisa brings with her 1 7 years of travel experience. For any of your corporate travel needs please call Louisa Got an indoor project to do*? Make It Happen Seubct PREMIUM LUMBER ' The How-To People. 55 Dawson Road GUELPH 821-5744 On the Fergus-Elora Road ELORA 846-5381 AIR DUCT CLEANING ■**55 Breathe Cleaner Air Steamatic Surface Contact Cleaning Removes allergens like pollen, mould, fungus and dust miles * 5 ^ Reduces household dust Lotvers energy costs Ask about Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Call us (519) 836-7340 Nobody Cleans Better Than Steamatic! STEAMATIC. lout cleaning A iciloiiiion goby without enjoying day... let us help you more clearly.- Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street Guelph, ON N1H7G5 766-7676 on't let another, board of governors Guelph’s Share of Provincial Budget Still Unknown U OF G STILL DOESN’T KNOW how much money it will be receiving from the Ontario government as its share of the provincial budget that was released in the spring, president Alastair Summerlee told Board of Governors Oct. 27. During the board’s first meeting of the academic year, Summerlee said the University has yet to hear any details about its provincial grants, and it’s not clear when the allocations will be known. The board also reviewed a revised projection of ad- ditional government revenues for 2005/06 as a result of further information from the Ministry of Training, Col- leges and Universities. The president reiterated that U of G made the right decision to move forward with its reduced budget for 2005/06 and that it was important to proceed with plan- ning rather than wait for the province to release final al- location figures. A summary of the University’s financial results and audited state- ments, as well as a semester finan- cial report, was presented to B of G. It showed that the University’s bud- get is on target with its planning, but there will be future challenges such as increased benefit costs that will have to be discussed. The report also stated that U of G received some $124 million in research funding last fiscal year, making it one of the most research-intensive universities in Canada. B of G also approved a financial report from the University of Guelph-Humber. Governors were updated on University activities and progress on fundraising for the institution, with the goal of raising $14 million to the end of the fiscal year. As of Aug. 31, Guelph had reached 35 per cent of that goal. A science complex campaign cabinet has been orga- nized to oversee the capital cam- paign for the complex. In other business, B of G ap- proved changes to the faculty poli- cies on evaluations, tenure and promotion. Governors also heard a presen- tation from Nancy Sullivan, vice-president (finance and admin- istration), on the state of the Uni- versity’s physical plant and facilities. Faculty of Environmental Sciences to Transfer to OAC A T ITS Nov. 1 meeting, Senate approved a motion from the Senate Committee on University Planning to transfer the Faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES) to the Ontario Agricultural College. The move is intended to improve governance of FES and enhance teaching, research and outreach in envi- ronmental sciences at U of G, OAC dean Craig Pearson told Senate. It is also designed to improve multi-college input into the facult/ s management, he said. FES was established in 1991. This spring, concerns about the profile of environmental sciences at U of G, particularly in the areas of graduate programs, outreach and research, prompted Prof. Maureen Mancuso, pro- vost and vice-president (academic), to call for a review of the faculty’s organizational structure. After a consultative review of FES’s administrative and managerial structure, Prof. Ken Grant, Economics, suggested the faculty be placed within U of G’s decanal structure while maintaining its interdisciplinary nature and the participation of various colleges. VP AC then recommended that FES be placed in OAC. About two-thirds of B.Sc.(Env.) students graduate in majors offered by the college, and OAC has identified en- vironmental sciences as one of its own core strategic interests. The FES undergraduate program makes up about one in four majors offered by OAC. Pearson, who was asked to de- velop an implementation plan to relocate FES within OAC, told sena- tors that FES would move into OAC in early 2006. It will continue to be run by an associate dean (part time), who will report to the dean. A restructured Environmental Sciences Council — to be chaired by the dean and including the asso- ciate dean of FES, a representative of each of Guelph’s six colleges, and graduate and undergraduate stu- dent representatives — will provide strategic direction and ensure accountability and communica- tion. Pearson’s recommended goals for FES over the next three years in- clude encouraging interdisciplinary research across campus and with nearby universities, pursuing pro- fessional master’s programs and a PhD program, and increasing un- dergraduate enrolment and bal- ance. The new reporting structure will be reviewed at the end of three years. After approving the relocation of FES, senators showed their ap- preciation of Grant’s review with a round of applause. In other business, Senate ap- proved a motion for the board to re- align the Biosafety Committee to mirror the structure and reporting lines of the Radiation Safety Com- mittee. The Biosafety Committee will now be the responsibility of En- vironmental Health and Safety. Water Damage Affects UC Offices S EVERAL AREAS on the third and fourth floors of the University Centre were affected by a broken water pipe and subsequent water damage Nov. 6. The affected areas include the Office of Research, Hospitality Ser- vices, Revenue Control, Communi- cations and Public Affairs and the Office of Registrarial Services. Bob Carter, executive director of Physical Resources, says a return pipe that supplies hot water to the University Centre split sometime early Sunday morning in the ceiling above Hospitality Services. Most of the damage was limited to carpeting, although some computers and furniture were affected. “We are still assessing the situa- tion and investigating the cause of the incident,” he says. The affected offices remain oper- ational, but anyone requiring ser- vices from any of these units is advised to call ahead for information or to determine if staff have moved to temporary working locations elsewhere. It will likely be a few days to sev- eral weeks before services return to normal, so patience and understand- ing are appreciated at this time, Carter says. He also expresses appreciation to the University’s housekeeping ser- vices and Campus Community Po- lice for their quick response to this incident. tr Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca a £ Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Advertising Scott Anderson theandersondiffercnce@rogers.com ro Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial ; Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 www. uoguelph. cay ad guide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $22 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 UNIVERSITY 'QL T.Ll’M at Guelph 2 November 9, 2005 senate new s in SEARCH UNDER WAY FOR NEW COLLEGE OF ARTS DEAN A search committee has been struck for the position of dean of the Col- lege of Arts. Chaired by Prof. Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic), the committee consists of College of Biological Science dean Mike Ernes; Prof. Serge Desmarais, acting chair of the Department of Psychology; Prof. Andrew Sherwood, Lan- guages and Literatures; Prof. Karen Racine, History; Prof. Suzy Lake, Fine Art and Music; Susan Morri- son, administrative assistant in the College of Arts dean’s office; and Christian Casupanan, an under- graduate student in the BAS pro- gram. FOOD BANK COLLECTION TOPS LAST YEAR’S TOTAL U of G students participating in Halloween’s “Trick or Eat” event organized by Meal Exchange col- lected more than 26,000 pounds of food for the Guelph Food Bank, 10,000 pounds more than last year. In addition, the students raised more than $700 to help social ser- vice organizations in Guelph and the surrounding area. CO-ORDINATOR SOUGHT FOR 2007 GUATEMALA SEMESTER Applications are invited for the position of co-ordinator of the win- ter 2007 Guatemala semester. The co-ordinator lives in Guatemala while leading the semester, teaches one or more courses and acts as a resource for about 20 students. The program is offered jointly with the University of Saskatchewan. Clos- ing date for applications is Nov. 17. For more information, contact Prof. Kris Inwood, Economics, at kinwood@uoguelph.ca. ART CENTRE FUNDRAISER SET The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre hosts its annual “Beyond the Frame” fundraiser Nov. 12. A wide range of artists have contributed works to the auction, which begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for the pre-auction party. Tickets are $45 and are available at the art centre information desk and at the Framing and Art Centre. Advance, telephone and e-mail bids will also be accepted on the works, which are currently on exhibit at the art cen- tre. COME TO THE FAIR U of G’s 31st annual Fair Novem- ber, an exhibition and sale of fine Canadian crafts, runs Nov. 17 to 20 in the University Centre. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Fri- day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admis- sion is free. U OF G TO HOST SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SUNDAY U of G is hosting Science and Engi- neering Sunday Nov. 13 to help high school students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors learn more about the LJniversity’s engineering and science programs. Displays and information sessions begin at 10 a.m. in Rozanski Hall, followed by tours and activities in various buildings on campus. People DOUGLAS PART OF RURAL REVITALIZATION NETWORK Prof. David Douglas, Environmen- tal Design and Rural Development, has been appointed to the board of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, a Canada-wide research, policy and practice net- work. He has also become a mem- ber of the OECD Forum on Gover- nance and Local Development. Locally, he was recendy named the United Way of Guelph Wellington’s representative to the Growth Man- agement Strategy Advisory Com- mittee, which will oversee the work of the consultants who will be pre- paring a long-term development strategy for the city. ARTIST EXHIBITS WORKS, LECTURES IN MEXICO CITY Prof. Susan Dobson, Fine Art and Music, recendy had two exhibitions in Mexico City at the National Cen- ter of the Arts and the Museo Universitario del Chopo. In Sep- tember, she visited Mexico City and gave a talk on “The City and Its Periphery: Searching for Identity in Suburban Sprawl” at a symposium held in conjunction with the Inter- national Photography Biennial Fotoseptiembre. In late November, she will speak at a symposium at the Royal College of Art in London. She will also have a solo exhibition at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, Ore- gon, opening Dec. 1. UGFA Awards Recognize Contributions to Teaching Five faculty, two librarians honoured for their achievements This year’s recipients of the U of G Faculty Association’s Distinguished Professor and Academic Librarianship Awards include, from left, Linda Graburn, Prof. Bill Cormack, Jim Brett, Prof. Gordon Hayward, Prof. Tina Widowski and Prof. Pal Fischer. Missing from photo is Prof. Steve Lynch. photo by martin schwalbe BY REBECCA KENDALL F ive U of G professors and two librarians were honoured with teaching and academic librarianship awards from the U of G Faculty Association (UGFA) Oct. 27. The association’s annual awards were established in 1984 to acknowl- edge significant contributions to teaching by individual professors and academic librarians and to pro- vide tangible recognition for excellence. “We had some outstanding winners this year, and I’m truly impressed with their accomplish- ments,” says UGFA president Prof. Ed Carter, Mathematics and Statis- tics. “I was very pleased to present these awards on behalf of the association.” The awards are made on the basis of student evaluations, letters of sup- port from students and colleagues, and the recipients’ efforts in curricu- lum development. This year’s winners include Prof. Bill Cormack, History, who also re- ceived the 2005 College of Arts Teaching Award. He was honoured for his approachable nature and abil- ity to give informative, thought-pro- voking and entertaining lectures while challenging students to think about the material in new ways. Prof. Tina Widowski, Animal and Poultry Science, was recognized for her enthusiasm and attention to detail and for providing a learning environment that promotes partici- pation and academic excellence. Prof. Steve Lynch, Hospitality and Tourism Management, is de- scribed as a passionate instructor who uses a variety of methods to teach everyone from undergraduates to industry executives. “I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from colleagues who dis- tinguish themselves through their commitment to excellence,” says Lynch. “I am humbled by this honour.” Prof. Pal Fischer, Mathematics and Statistics, was recognized for his well-thought-out lectures and bal- anced courses, as well as his patience, good humour and wisdom. “I’m very pleased to see the ap- preciation expressed by my students and colleagues," he says. “I’ve always wanted to show to my students the beauty of mathematics and educate them about its numerous applications.” Prof. Gordon Hayward, Engi- neering, was cited for instilling the love of learning in students and his ability to dynamically adapt to a class’s learning style. Academic librarianship awards went to Linda Graburn of the McLaughlin Library and Jim Brett of the Ontario Veterinary College Learning Commons. Graburn was recognized for ex- emplary service to students through research consultation and meticu- lously identifying areas requiring ad- ditional or upgraded resources. Brett was honoured for providing advice, direction and guidance to colleagues and implementing novel ideas to keep the library and its resources at the forefront of technology and Gryphons Capture Provin cial Medals U OF G’S RUGBY, rowing and cross-country teams all captured medals last week in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships. The men’s and women’s cross-country teams each took gold Oct. 28, with five men and five women being named All-Stars. Silver medals went to Laura Moulton in the women’s 1,500-metre race and Cleve Thorson in the men’s 1,500-metre race. Matt Brunsting was named Male Rookie of the Year. Honours for top coach of a women’s team went to Dave Scott- Thomas. On Oct. 29, silver medals went to the rowing team in the women’s open single and the women’s rugby team in the finals against Western. The rugby team went on to capture a bronze medal at the Canadian Inter- . university Sport championships at the University of Victoria. At the annual OUA banquet Oct. 26, Jackie Dysart, Krissy Wishart, Erin Mitchell and Kalen Johnston, members of the women’s field hockey team, were named OUA All-Stars. Wishart was also named OUA Rookie of the Year. In addi- tion, the team captured its first-ever league title. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED The Guelph Trillium Rotary Club has awarded its annual scholarship for work-term excellence In the marketing management co-op pro- gram to Kate Oostrom. The award is based on the work-term performance evaluation and the student's work-term report. PROF GIVES TALK IN ENGLAND Fine art professor John Potvin pre- sented a paper in London, England, last month at a conference titled “The Esthetic Interior: Neo-Gothic, Esthetic, Arts and Crafts," held in conjunction with the University of York and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. He spoke on “The Esthetics of Community: Queer Interiors and the Desire for Intimacy,” based on research that explores notions of male intimacy, domesticity and collecting patterns in late 19th-century England. PAINTINGS ON EXHIBIT An exhibition of paintings by Prof. Will Gorlitz, School of Fine Art and Music (SOFAM), continues at birch libralato in Toronto until Nov. 19. A solo exhibition of paintings by SOFAM director Prof. John Kissick runs at the Leo Kamen Gallery in Toronto until Nov. 12. Kissick’s works are also in a touring group exhibition called “Spell” at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon. In Memoriam Chris van Stee, 19, of Moorefield, a student at U of G’s Ridgctown Cam- pus, died in an automobile accident Oct. 26. He is survived by his parents, Nico and Marian, and three siblings, Niek, Peter and Marielle. at Guelph 3 November 9, 2005 ‘My Abilities Are Infinite’ BY ANDREW VOWLES I t’s a project by her, but in a | way, it’s also a project about her. Human rights adviser Laurie Amott says her personal experience shades into her duties in U of G’s Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), not least in the current and highly visible poster campaign on campus intended to raise awareness of people with disabilities. A lawyer and U of G graduate, Ar- nott has worked at her alma mater for almost two years. Earlier, the Guelph native had articled in the hometown office of Miller Thomson, a national law firm. She’s now one of three advisers in HREO, where she helps faculty, staff and stu- dents address human rights com- plaints and conducts training and awareness campaigns intended, as she puts it, “to ensure that the cam- pus is free of discrimination and harassment.” About 50 to 60 per cent of the time she spends in her main-floor of- fice in Fielding House, north of Mac- donald Institute, is occupied with casework. It’s her job to discuss com- plaints and concerns about human rights discrimination and harass- ment raised by campus members and to help them work out steps to resolve their cases. “We try to encourage people to work out their differences," she says. That resolution may come through informal discussions be- t wee ii the parties or more formal means, including assembling a fact-finding team to conduct inter- views and write a report for use at University hearings. Other avenues of recourse in- clude mediated settlements or even pursuing the dispute with the On- tario Human Rights Commission, although that may mean a protracted affair lasting years rather than days or weeks. “What we offer here is a lot quicker,” says Arnott, who is guided in her work by the University’s hu- man rights policy and procedures. Written in 2002, that document is now under review. Rather than wait for issues to land on her desk as complaints, Amott also conducts regular training ses- sions intended to inform members of the campus community about hu- man rights issues. A recent session brought her face to face with stu- dents in the landscape architecture program to talk about accessibility issues, an opportunity that she hopes will help them translate ideas into practice after graduation. “They’re the ones who are going to be out there designing environ- ments,” she says, adding that much of her caseload involves disabil- ity-related concerns about physical and attitudinal barriers around campus. She represents HREO on campus committees, including the group that wrote U of G’s code of ethical conduct for purchasing goods, the Accessibility for Persons With Dis- abilities Advisory Committee (APDAC) — which wrote the Uni- versity’s 2005 accessibility plan — and the Human Rights Advisory Group. As with her training role, she sees these responsibilities as a way to help anticipate needs and even to head off potential disputes. It was partly that sentiment that led her to propose the current poster campaign intended to raise awareness of dis- abilities — or more correctly, awareness of abilities. You can’t go too far on campus these days without seeing one of hundreds of posters hung on walls and billboards; oversized posters are also displayed in the information ki- osks on Branion and Creelman pla- zas. In addition, the information appears in ads in At Guelph and on the U of G website (click on “Accessi- bility” on the home page). The six posters in the series fea- ture photos of individual students, staff and faculty above the tagline: “Diverse abilities, infinite possibili- ties.” The posters highlight the indi- viduals’ strengths or interests, outline the nature of their disabilities and end with the common line: “My abilities are infinite.” Funded by de- partments and offices across cam- pus, the year-long disability awareness campaign was launched during Accessibility Awareness Week last March. “Abilities” is key for Arnott, who heads APDAC’s outreach and aware- ness committee. For the bulk of her intended audience — people with- out disabilities — she hopes to un- derline the range of people on campus with varying disabilities, from anxiety and bipolar disorders to chronic fatigue syndrome to hear- ing and visual impairments. The other intended audience for her abil- ities theme is people with disabilities themselves, who may impose certain kinds of barriers on themselves or be unaware of possibilities or resources available to them. On the latter score, she confesses that she’s no exception. “I carry around stereotypes myself,” she says, laughing off a malapropism that sees her mix up the words “disability” and “accessibility.” How would she have worded her own poster for the campaign? She ponders, then offers a few lines: “I am a graduate and an employee of the University. I love music, movies and spending time with friends. My disability is a mobil- ity impairment or partial quadriple- gia. My abilities are infinite.” In fall 1994, Arnott had begun an undergraduate degree at the Univer- sity of Western Ontario when she contracted a viral infection — still unidentified today — that led to a spinal cord injury and partial paraly- sis. She spent three months on a res- pirator and underwent 10 months of rehabilitation, including learning to use the motorized wheelchair that now propels her around her office. She transferred to U of G for history and Canadian studies, then returned to Western to complete her law de- gree in 2002 , with emphasis on labour and human rights law. In hindsight, she says she could have gone straight back to Western, but she and her family thought it would be more practical for her to stick closer to home. She’s now learned to look at all solutions rather than make those kinds of assump- tions. While studying here, Arnott and her roommate — also a person with disabilities — worked with Physical Resources on plans for the first mod- ified apartment in the East Resi- dences tower. “Now there are tons of housing options,” she says. When she returned to work on campus, HREO performed necessary renovations in Fielding House, in- cluding installing an automatic door opener at the top of the ramp to the parking lot. That’s where she parks her minivan, the one with the driver’s seat removed to accommo- date her wheelchair. Hindsight again: Amott shakes her head now over her earlier as- sumption that her disability would prevent her from ever driving again. It’s not about disabilities but abili- ties: “The campaign does reflect what I’ve been through.” Kids Not Looking at Words During Story Time Psychology prof finds that reading to children doesn't help them learn how to read BY LORI BONA HUNT R eading to preschool children has developmental benefits, but it’s unlikely that they learn much about letters or how to read words during this activity, according to new research by Prof. Mary Ann Evans, Psychology. During shared reading activities, young children’s eyes focus on the words for only a few seconds per book, Evans found. The rest of the time, they’re looking at the pictures. The research by Evans and Jean Saint-Aubin of University de Moncton appears in the current issue of Psychological Science, the journal of the American Psychological Society. Shared reading is often cited as being the most common and valued home literacy activ- ity, says Evans, but few studies have investi- gated how it relates to young children’s emerging literacy skills. "To learn to read, children must develop print awareness — familiarity with letters, word recognition, etc. For shared reading to be beneficial to this process, children need to be paying attention to the text." She and Saint-Aubin set out to determine where children are looking during story time and whether book design elements such as colourful illustrations influence their attention to words. They conducted two studies with groups of children between the ages of three and five that involved their parents reading them stories presented on a computer screen. Pictures, story length, print type and the amount of text per page varied by story. In a research first, the preschoolers wore special headbands with three cameras that tracked both eye movement and the duration of fixation on print and illustrations. The studies found that young children rarely look at text and focus instead on the pic- tures. On average, the preschoolers spent only five seconds per book fixated on the words, re- gardless of the length of the book, the amount of text per page or type of illustrations. The only thing that varied was the length of time the children studied the illustrations — the more words on a page, the longer they looked at the pictures, even when they were only simple black and white line drawings. “This research led us to seriously question the effect of shared reading on print knowl- edge,” Evans says. She adds that the results don’t suggest that reading to young children doesn’t aid in cogni- tive development. “Rather, the focus and benefits should cen- tre on meaning, comprehension and the rhythms and patterns of language. It’s also a wonderful activity that can enhance a child’s interest in books and is a great shared experi- ence.” Illustrations also play a valuable role in helping children follow and recall the storyline, she says. This research was supported by the Cana- dian Language and Literacy Research Network, one of the country’s Networks of Centres of Excellence. Formed in 2001, it brings together leading scientists, students, educators and partners focused on improving and sustaining children’s language and literacy development. at Guelph 4 November 9 , 2005 United Way Helps Give Local Youth Hope Drop-in centre couldn't operate without core funding from United Way Community Services of Guelph and Wellington, says executive director Guelph grads Sabina Chatterjee, left, and Tahira Dosani of Change Now help give street-involved and at-risk youth a safe place where there’s always someone to talk to, in the basement of Norfolk United Church. PHOTO BY MARY DICKIESON community ?” BY MARY DICKIESON W HEN THE DOOR OPENS at 2 p.m., there’s always some- one waiting to come in, no matter what day of the week or time of the year. You can count on up to 20 young people showing up for supper at six, and when the doors are locked for the night at nine, there are usually eight or nine lingering in front of the TV because they need a place to sleep over. The faces change, the stories vary, but the need for a place like the Change Now Youth Drop-In and Resource Centre just keeps growing, says executive director Sabina Chatterjee. A 1997 graduate of Guelph’s women’s studies program, she has worked at the local drop-in centre for seven years. In that time, staff numbers at the centre have grown from three to 21. They’ve added 400 hours of service provision per month, and Chatterjee says the agency has undergone a lot of capacity building, strategic plan- ning and policy development. She credits the United Way for helping to raise awareness of youth issues and says the resource centre couldn’t operate without core fund- ing from United Way Community Services of Guelph and Wellington. No one wants to believe that one in five youth lives in poverty, says Chatterjee. “It’s difficult for us to see how much some of these kids have been through in their lives and frightening to admit that there’s so much need.” Some of the young people she works with have had to parent them- selves because their own parents are unwilling or unable to care for them. Some have left homes that were no longer safe; some were kicked out. Others move in and out of their fam- ily home depending on the situation there. And the Change Now food program often provides supper for youth whose working parents simply can’t afford to feed everyone in the family. Two years ago, Change Now moved into larger quarters in the basement of Norfolk United Church, where the centre can pro- vide showers, laundry facilities and a health clinic for homeless youth. It also offers a daily food program for 13- to 24-year-olds who can’t afford to buy a meal, life skills training, a recreation and athletics program, and help with homework and the never-ending search for housing. The loss of a job, a failed relation- ship, a learning disability, an emer- gency that uses up the rent cheque — these are all reasons that youth be- come homeless or hungry or stressed beyond their ability to cope, says Change Now co-ordinator Tahira Dosani, another Guelph grad. "The fact that they trust us enough to come here and talk to us demonstrates they have hope that their lives can get better,” she says. “That’s amazing and so important to the future well-being of these youth and our community.” Taking on the role of youth advo- cates was a natural progression for Dosani and Chatterjee. When they were students at U of G, both were active volunteers in human rights organizations. Dosani worked for Residential Life and the Central Stu- dent Association, and although her 2003 degree is in environmental en- gineering, she says she realized at graduation that she had always cho- sen part-time jobs and volunteer work in the support field because that’s what she enjoyed doing. Before coming to U of G, Chatterjee was a community anti- racism co-ordinator in Kingston while attending Queen’s University. After moving to Guelph, she was ac- tive with OPIRG, the Women’s Re- source Centre and CFRU. She has also worked for Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, another United Way agency, and for the Wellington County Association for Community Living. “In order to make the commu- nity I live in make sense to me, I need to be involved,” she says. Chatterjee says her experience at Change Now has shown her how im- portant it is to invest in better oppor- tunities for the youth in Guelph and Wellington. If that doesn’t happen, “they will never participate as full citizens,” she says. “If someone is to- tally disenfranchised, why would they want to participate in the At Change Now, the transforma- tion begins by giving street-involved and at-risk youth a safe, hate-free place where they can find respect and someone to talk to. The next step might be a hot meal provided by a lo- cal church group or a clean pair of socks. Eventually, many youth at Change Now are able to build rela- tionships and rapport with volunteers and staff members and become more successful in realizing their goals. Chatterjee and Dosani are excited about a new initiative called Com- munity Collaborative that aims to provide an alternative educational program for street youth and others whose learning needs don’t align with traditional school programs. Change Now has been working with other United Way member agencies to create a community-based class- room that will be more responsive to the needs of disengaged youth. “The ‘Give Yourself Credit' pro- gram addresses the barriers to edu- cation that exist for many youth in our community," Chatterjee says. Although Community Collabo- rative was initiated by the nurse practitioner who provides health- care services at Change Now, the ini- tial discussions coincided with a United Way community forum where access to education for at-risk youth was a key issue, adds Chatterjee. “The United Way is committed to giving local organizations a frame- work in which to discuss issues and needs within the community.” She says the United Way develops leadership in community planning and social development “We need the United Way and its volunteer agencies to make Guelph more responsive and more caring. “ U of G’s annual United Way cam- paign supports Change Now and 44 other local agencies. As of Nov. 7, the campus fundraising effort had raised more than $280,000, 80 per cent of the $350,000 goal. To make a contri- bution, download a pledge form at www.unitedway.uoguelph.ca. Facts About Change Now • 11,000 youth visits in 2004 • 10,000 meals served last year • 30 youth use the drop-in centre each day • 3,000 nights of safe shelter provided to 280 men and women • Two staff are always on duty • Local church groups provide one hot meal a day • Change Now serves youth aged 13 to 24 Making a Difference HTM executive-in-residence donates money to help disadvantaged youth pursue post-secondary education BY REBECCA KENDALL F amily and Children’s Ser- vices (FCS) of Guelph and Wellington will benefit from a donation from this semester’s executive-in-residence at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM). Jack MacDonald, CEO of Com- pass Group Canada, who spent three days on campus last week sharing his expertise with HTM students and faculty, donated $1,000 to FCS, in- cluding a $250 honorarium he re- ceived for participating in the executive-in-residence program. HTM, its student council and Prof. Alun Joseph, dean of the Col- lege of Social and Applied Human Sciences, added another $1,000 to the donation, bringing the total to $2,000. MacDonald presented a cheque to FCS at a dinner held in his honour Nov. 2. The money will help fund the post-secondary education of a youth in the care of FCS who is graduating from high school in June, says FCS executive director Moe Brubacher. “We’re really excited that this is available because most of the kids in our care have experienced some kind of trauma, abuse or neglect or family conflict, and it can be a challenge for them to succeed academically.” Brubacher says the recipient will use the funds to pursue a university or college education in computer science. “This young person has worked extremely hard to overcome difficult life circumstances and deserves this kind of a break. We are deeply in- debted to Mr. MacDonald and oth- ers for their generosity. Their thoughtfulness will make a huge dif- ference in this young person's life." MacDonald credits his giving na- ture to the influence of his mother, a nurse who worked in a ward for pre- mature infants. He says she taught him to be caring and to look for op- portunities to help others. “I felt there was some good that could be done with the money, and I hope it serves this student well,” he says. “It’s great to be able to give someone who's disadvantaged an opportunity to succeed and have a chance to get a head start.” MacDonald grew up in Halifax as one of six children and has worked to create a successful food-service com- pany with more than 18,000 employ- ees at 1,600 locations nationwide. He’s spent 30 years at senior execu- tive levels at a number of Canadian and U.S. corporations and has vol- unteered to serve on the board of or- ganizations such as the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research and the Canadian Physiotherapy As- sociation. EYE EXAMS NOW ARRANGED • Bye Doctor Prescription* Riled • Two Opticians with over 49 Ystrs Combined Experiem • Seniors Discount Available Scott Coburn Optical "A Namo You Can Trust In Eywoar ~ Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 o.m.-6 p.m. Fri. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone 821-2020 123 WYNDHAM ST. N. Opposite the old Post Office at Guelph 5 November 9, 2005 What’s Spanish for ‘Eh’? Guelph prof co-authors first Spanish textbook designed for Canadian university classrooms * BY REBECCA KENDALL C ANADIAN STUDENTS laking Spanish courses will now be ■ able to use a textbook that’s written [ with them in mind, thanks in part to Prof. Stephen Henighan, Languages and Literatures. Two years in the making, the j newly published Intercambios: Span- ish for Global Communication is the ! only Spanish-language textbook that asks Canadian-based questions and engages students in discussion of the Hispanic-Canadian experience, says Henighan. He already has eight books to his ' credit, including When Words Deny the World, which was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award in 2002, but this is the first textbook he’s had published. Co-authored with McMaster University professor Antonio Velasquez, who taught at Guelph from 1999 to 2003, the book will ad- vance the way Spanish is taught in Canada, says Henighan. "It’s the first time we’ve had a Spanish textbook designed for Cana- dian students and universities that uses Canadian cultural references, and 1 think this is a breakthrough. We have Canadian marketing text- books, we have Canadian economics textbooks, but we've never had a Ca- nadian Spanish textbook. " He notes that enrolment in Span- 1 ) ish courses .it Guelph used to be low. 1 . but today there are more than 70 majors and minors and a total of more than 700 students per semes- ter. As a result, Spanish is now the most widely studied language after French. It’s a trend being echoed at universities across the country since the North American Free Trade Agreement was passed in 1993, he says. “At the moment, introductory Spanish enrolment in Canadian uni- versities is about 28,000. Ten years ago, it might have been 5,000, and with 5,000, you don’t get your own textbook. Our numbers are big enough now to warrant a Cana- dian-based book, and we’re really excited about getting Intercambios into the hands of students.” All the Spanish-language text- books currently being used in Cana- dian classrooms are written and published in the United States, says Henighan, who’s been teaching Spanish since 1999. The cultural, historical and common references used in everyday dialogue in those books pose a challenge for Canadian students who aren’t well-versed in those areas, he says. As a result, one of the challenges professors have faced is having to preface their lessons with short ses- sions on the United States, covering such topics as holidays, weather and whatever other casual references stu- dents need to understand to com- plete the questions and dialogue the lessons require. “I don’t know if that’s our job as Spanish professors,” he says. To rectify that, he and Velisquez collaborated to create a Canadian version of an existing American text- book. “The publisher thought we’d just change a little, but we tore it to shreds,” Henighan laughs. Fourth-year student Amy Huras, who’s been studying Spanish for six years, believes the new book will be a good learning tool not just because of the Canadian references, but also because it teaches students how to pronounce and spell things as basic as the Canadian provinces. “This is something I’ve had to look up in a dictionary until now.” The book also acknowledges the challenge that Canadian students, with years of French-language classes under their belt, may face, she says. “When I first started taking Spanish, I confused a lot of things with French and had difficulty pro- nouncing Spanish words.” In U.S. Spanish textbooks, the standard formula is to focus on the life of one central character from the American Midwest, says Henighan. His book, however, has three charac- ters: Sara Chang from Vancouver, Lisa Turner from Toronto and Pi- erre Lemieux from Montreal. “We’ve made it a much more multicultural book than any of the American books, and at the same time, we’ve worked to balance the re- gions of Canada,” he says, adding that Turner’s family is Italian-Cana- dian and Lemieux’s mother is a Chil- ean immigrant. The experience of Chileans is unique in the Canadian cultural fab- ric, says Henighan. In the 1970s, a major influx of highly educated Chilean immigrants arrived in Mon- treal after fleeing Augusto Pinochet’s regime. Today, Canada is home to immigrants from many Spanish- speaking countries. “I think it’s important to learn about the Hispanic communities liv- ing in our country as well as the is- sues that affect them,” says Huras. “The American textbooks focus just on Cuban-Americans and Mexican- Americans. Having a variety of per- spectives generates a lot more dis- cussion, and we get to practise speaking more. It's a much more interesting way to learn.” The history and politics of His- panic-Canadians are something Vefasquez spent a lot of time work- ing into the text, says Henighan, who notes that the cultural components of each chapter are larger than in any other Spanish textbook currently available. ‘Think Big* Symposium Ponders Canada’s State of Public Affairs Discussion focuses on issues in Canadian public life that govern standards of conduct BY LORI BONA HUNT S OME OF Canada’s leading scholars, writers and leaders in ethics and democracy gathered in Elora on the weekend to ‘Think Big’ about the nation’s state of public affairs. The symposium was organized by U of G’s provost’s office. “The timely release of the Gomery report was the perfect catalyst for a weekend of frank and stimulating discussion about standards of con- duct and public perceptions,” says Prof. Maureen Mancuso, vice-president (academic), who co-ordinated the event. “The Gomery inquiry underscores that it’s time to think about the implications of delegating important social decisions to a small group of in- dividuals who serve us as leaders, and how we ex- pect those leaders to behave so as to uphold the trust we place in them.” About two dozen people attended the weekend event, which was aimed at stimulating discussion about the issues in Canadian public life that gov- ern standards of conduct. It was the first in what will be an annual series of “Think Big” symposia sponsored by U of G. Participants included academics, elected gov- ernment officials, journalists, lawyers, authors, ethicists and judges. Among them were Jean Fournier, the ethics officer of the Senate of Can- ada; Roy McMurtry, chief justice of Ontario; Ber- nard Roy, chief counsel to the Gomery Commission; Coulter Osborne, Ontario integrity commissioner; Bernard Shapiro, Canada’s ethics commissioner; and former U of G president Bill Winegard, who is also a former federal minister for industry, science and technology. The weekend featured presentations and dis- cussions on issues ranging from questions of char- acter and whether leaders know what’s expected of them to the Gomery report and the future state of Canadian politics. “The goal of the symposium wasn’t to solve ev- ery problem,” says Mancuso. “We hoped to meld diverse viewpoints into a general understanding of the issues and to help develop practical recom- mendations for consideration by decision-mak- ers*” •>- . — . — - •— ,. Future “Think Big” symposia will also bring together people from a range of backgrounds — including academics, politics, media and the pub- lic and private sectors — to engage in stimulating discussion on a topic of social importance. “Universities are communities of scholars, a unique collection of minds and viewpoints,” says Mancuso. “As such, it’s fitting that we bring to- gether experts to ask some big questions and think some big thoughts.” She adds that the symposia are not traditional academic conferences because the emphasis is on exchanging diverse knowledge and ideas, not on disseminating results. “'Think Big’ is an attempt to address important issues by approaching them from all sides at once, surrounding them with a complementary array of experiences, insights and perspectives,” she says. Let Your Aeroplan Miles Take Flight in New Directions T HIS fall, you can turn your Aeroplan miles into support for | international education at U of G. In the first-ever participation of a university in the Aeroplan Charita- ble Pooling Program, members of the U of G community can donate their Aeroplan miles to be used by undergraduate and graduate stu- dents travelling internationally for exchanges, semesters abroad, re- search or study that contributes to the completion of their Guelph degree. Prof. Alan Shepard, associate vice-president (academic), says the idea was born during a Centre for In- ternational Programs (CIP) retreat. Up for discussion was how to get more money for U of G students to study and do research abroad. Guelph currently has 65 exchange and study-abroad programs in 25 countries, with about 450 students participating each year. “The biggest barrier for students wanting to get international experi- ence through these programs is the cost,” says Shepard. “You pay the same tuition when you study abroad, but you also have to pay for airfare and all your accom- modation and living costs. As a re- sult, studying abroad is not an option for some students. That’s something we want very much to change. We want every student to have the opportunity to get the broadening and often life- changing experience that international education provides.” One suggestion from the CIP re- treat was to approach Aeroplan, which was already working with charitable organizations such as the Red Cross and Engineers Without Borders on mileage-donation pro- grams. Shepard says Aeroplan was happy to bring U of G on board. “We think it’s fabulous,” he says. “We’re really excited about the po- tential of this program and thrilled at the prospect of helping more of our students study abroad. All we need now is for people to start donating their miles.” Lynne Mitchell, director of CIP, adds that it’s "very gratifying to be asked for our ideas and then watch them turn into something concrete. We’ve always known airfare is a huge barrier for students going abroad. This is a community activity, and we need everyone to join in, donate miles and help students have the ex- perience of their lives.” To participate in the program, visit the Alumni Affairs and Devel- opment website at www.alumni. uoguelph.ca/aeroplan.htm for a printable registration form that can be mailed or faxed to Alumni House. The pledge period is from Nov. 1 5 to Dec. 15. For more information, con- tact Grace Correia at Ext. 53901 or gcorreia@uoguelph.ca. Campus Hardware Limited 1 027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag at Guelph 6 November 9, 2005 profile A Woman of the World 1 Examined life’ worth living for international development student By Rebecca Kendall S INCE LEAVING HER SMALL HOMETOWN in northern Ontario, fourth-year international development student Manon Germain has become a woman of the world. Drawn to the west coast as a teenager, she moved from Azilda, a town of about 10,000 people, to Vancouver to begin studies at Simon Fraser University in hopes of one day working to improve the living conditions of indigenous communities in developing nations. “The only way I could convince my family that I needed to go to the west coast was to take marine biology,” says Germain. “I thought it would, if anything, be a good backup because if I couldn’t work with people around the world, I would work with dolphins.” After meeting Bandele Bajowa, a Nigerian who had created a non-profit organization in Vancouver, Germain saw her chance to grow and an opportunity to learn. She went with Bajowa to Nigeria and began to work at a grass- roots level to get learning resources to schoolchildren, who, like most people in the region, were struggling with abject poverty and political turmoil. “Even though there were public schools, they were un- der a military dictatorship at the time,” says Germain. “A lot of the teachers had not been paid, and there were no supplies coming into the schools for more than six months.” She helped set up a resource library and resource cen- tre located between two rural villages in the Osooro region of southwestern Nigeria, but while there, she caught ma- laria and had to return to Canada to recover. As soon as she was back on her feet, however, she headed back to Nigeria. “I went back because this was a new pilot project and I wanted to develop the curriculum and plans for how it would be implemented,” says Germain. Her efforts, coupled with the support of Bajowa’s Canadian-based organization, resulted in the 1998 launch of the Zebulon International School, a facility providing primary education for 66 local children as well as workshops for children, youth and women. The school has been operating out of a rented building since it opened, but Germain and Bajowa have been working to raise funds to build a permanent schoolhouse. Much of that fundraising has come through Women of the World, an organization Germain founded after coming to Guelph in 2002. Here at U of G, she says, she found like-minded students who were passionate about working in international development, and she wanted to create an avenue for those net- works to thrive. With that in mind, she created Women of the World, which is now a registered non-profit. She notes that women are often in a position where they feel a lot of stress re- lated to providing for their families but have little political in- fluence or bargaining power. That’s why she wanted women to be mentioned in the name of her organization, even though its work is intended to help entire communities. “Our priority is addressing poverty and seeking security while acknowledging what the community wants and needs,” she says. “It’s about sustainable development and honouring the groups involved.” In May 2004, Germain returned to West Africa with U of G students Tyler Demers, Ramindeep Dhami and Kerri Wright. They stopped in a small community in Ghana to build one of two buildings required for the community’s primary-level stu- dents and to continue to raise funds to finish a second class- room and install a generator, solar water pump and community resource centre. They also visited the Zebulon International School to conduct workshops, work with staff and students to clear land for a new school complex, and to solicit political sup- port for the school so it could become fully certified. Full certifi- cation had never been achieved previously because the community didn’t own the land it wanted to build the school on, says Germain. She’s pleased that the school now owns a piece of land and is fully certified, so work can go forward on a building project that will give Zebulon its own home. “Land is a highly political issue in Nigeria,” she says. “We’ve had land given to us and taken away from us, but now we have land of our own. And because we now know we have perma- nency, we’ll be sharing resources with a public school nearby.” The group also worked in the region to mobilize nearly a dozen communities that are part of a women’s agricultural co-operative. Germain plans to return next year to help them create a community distribution depot and develop market dis- tribution of locally grown food for each of the communities, which operate independently but work through the co-op. Seven years after its inception, the Zebulon school is doing well, says Germain. She’s held a number of fundraisers to generate money for its development and to provide students with a school bus. Transportation has proved to be valuable, she says, because increased accessi- bility has meant a growth in enrolment and tuition funds, which allows the teachers to be paid a salary. In the midst of the school’s success, it suffered a set- back with the death of a teacher who had been in place since the school’s beginning, says Germain. “It’s been really hard since the loss. They’re doing re- ally well, but it’s been a real challenge for everyone in- volved.” To this point, her focus has been on western Africa, and she doesn’t have a firm answer when asked why. “I took the opportunity when it was presented to me. It’s not like I chose Africa — it chose me.” Africa isn’t the only region that Women of the World is working in. Next month, Germain, Jordana Ramalho and Heman Ruiz Castro, both U of G graduates, will head to Panama to work with an organization that represents rural farmers and agriculturists of different indigenous groups. Their goal is to conduct a feasibility study to de- termine what kind of work they can do there. Armed with that information, Germain, who will return to Guelph in January, hopes to get funding for a new project in Pan- ama. She notes that each project Women of the World has tackled has included someone from the region in- volved because it helps in understanding the culture and customs. She says it’s important that inhabitants of the regions she travels to feel a sense of trust andbelievc their interests arc a pri- ority and that they have some say. “If not, the community won’t have an interest in being involved in the work you’re doing.” Running an independent organization and attending school keep Germain focused but very busy. She is also the mother of five-year-old Fabiyino, who is always at the forefront of her mind when she’s planning overseas efforts. “Above everything, I have a responsibility to her,” says Germain. “The reality for me is that it’s really hard to juggle all of this and be a single parent. I have to take care of Fabi, and I’m working to make this sustainable, finish my degree and balance being in Canada and working in the field.” She says her daughter is still too young to be living in the re- gions she’s worked in, but in time, she’d like to be able to spend six months a year abroad. "People ask me why I do this,” says Germain, “and my an- swer is: ‘Why not?’ Ever since I was little, I’ve been searching for an understanding of the complexity of human relations. I think it’s easy to have everything that we want and a high standard of living, but for me, it’s deeper than that. If I’m living well as a re- sult of someone else’s poverty, then I have to re-examine how I’m living my life and diminish the amount of gain I have in my livelihood and redistribute that gain back.” CFI Supports OVC Research on Ovarian Structures Biomedical scientist receives $1 1 7,000 for studies that could lead to new fertility treatments BY REBECCA KENDALL R esearch by a U of G bio- medical scientist that may one day lead to new fertility treatments and hormonal therapies has received a funding boost from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Prof. Pawel Bartlewski received more than $117,000 to continue his studies on the development of ovar- ian structures in sheep and cattle. The announcement was made in Winnipeg Nov. 7. The award is part of the govern- ment’s New Opportunities Fund, designed to help launch the careers of new and talented faculty and help institutions recruit exceptional scholars in priority research areas. “CFI support truly makes a dif- ference for new researchers,” says Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (research). “The University is genu- inely appreciative of what the CFI has accomplished and of the contri- butions Prof. Bartlewski is bringing to an area of strategic importance." Bartlewski will use the funding to buy state-of-the-art stationary and portable ultrasound units that will allow him to study ovaries in con- scious, non-anesthetized animals. He says the ultrasonic studies com- bined with his hormonal and molec- ular research will help him anticipate the fate of individual ovarian structures. “If we can predict what will hap- pen, it will help us in clinical applica- tions and in artificially regulating reproduction," he says. “This could have groundbreaking results in developing new fertility treatments, hormonal replacement therapies and hormonal contracep- tives, as well as identifying the rea- sons for various ovarian abnor- malities in humans. Results of the studies, using farm animals as a model for ovarian function in hu- mans, promise to be a major breakthrough.” This week’s funding announce- ment marks the end of CFI’s New Opportunities Fund. It will be re- placed by the Leaders Opportunity Fund, which will have a budget of more than $300 million, to be dis- bursed from 2006 to 2010. at Guelph J November 9, 2005 From Slime to 'Bio-Steel' U of G biologist’s studies of hagfish slime help point to new way of making elusive light-but-strong materials BY ANDREW VOWLES H AGFISH would have been the last thing on Prof. Doug Fudge’s mind when he was growing up and fishing for bluefin tuna with his father off the coast of Maine. Not that he would have been likely to snag one of the bottom-dwelling scavengers anyway. But pulling one of the primitive creatures from the Atlantic depths might have meant having to grapple with a slippery eel-like animal oozing copious amounts of slime from metaphorical head to toe — perhaps enough to have scared a youngster away from hagfish for life. Today, the faculty member in the Department of Integrative Biology is studying not tuna but hagfish and, more specifically, how the revolting mess produced by these animals might help us understand more about our own cellular architecture and help us create some new biomaterials, including stronger- than-steel spider’s silk. Fudge became acquainted with hagfish and their slippery ways while studying biology at Cornell Univer- sity in the early 1990s. Not actually fishes, they are classed along with lampreys. Lacking jaws and paired fins, they look like featureless lengths of fat brown garden hose with ta- pered tails and live on the ocean floor, including both east and west coasts of Canada. Their signature attribute is an ability to chum out slime like no other creature on Earth. Poke at a hagfish in a pail, and within minutes you may see only the creature’s dis- torted form through a gelatinous mix of slime and sea water. Lift the goop out of the bucket, says Fudge, and it’s like holding a handful of slip- pery spider’s webs — an apt descrip- tion for another reason that will become apparent. Hagfish secrete the stuff through special glands running the length of their body. Biologists believe it’s produced as a defensive device, gum- ming up predators’ respiratory sys- tems and effectively choking them. (Fudge and other researchers at the University of British Columbia, where he completed his PhD, rigged up a fish head model to test the idea and found that water flow over slimed-up gills slowed to a trickle.) Hagfish rid themselves of slime through a Houdini-like trick of knotting themselves and passing the knot down their body, scraping away the material. What’s a slimy mess to fishers trying to clean a boat deck has be- come a source of fascination for this Guelph biologist. In what sounds more like a materials science project Prof. Doug Fudge, Integrative Biology, gets a hands-on look at hagfish slime. photo by martin schwalbe than zoology, he’s now studying the mechanical properties of the slime for possible applications in every- thing from human health to structural mechanics. In late October, Fudge learned that his paper on the workings of hagfish slime will appear in the Jour- nal of Experimental Biology. That pa- per actually returns to his initial research interest, work he’d begun for his doctorate before venturing down another track. At UBC, he hadn’t gone far with his slime biomechanics project be- fore he saw that fibres contained in the slime might serve as a model for studying structures in the cellular scaffolding of all animals. "Initially, I was interested in how slime works. Then I realized I was trying to figure out how the cytoskeleton works.” Clicking through microscope photographs on his computer, he points out so-called intermediate fil- aments that lend the slime its sub- stance. Normally coiled like balls of yam, the filaments — finer than spi- der’s silk — unravel when ejected and exposed to sea water. They turn out to be incredibly stretchy and can be pulled out taffy-like to three times their length before snapping. (Fudge shows off his custom-made cell stretcher resembling a ping-pong paddle with electronics in the handle and a filament for attaching tissue where the paddle should be.) Scientists already knew that in- termediate filaments exist in nearly all animal cells. They’re part of a scaffolding system of rods and strands of varied shapes and sizes that make cells rigid yet flexible, holding the cell together and main- taining its shape. Related structures include contractile filaments of mus- cle fibres made by actin and myosin proteins — a research interest of Prof. John Dawson, Chemistry — and microtubules, or protein filaments involved in cell division. “Each one of your cells, except for red blood cells, is held together by this elaborate network of filaments,” says Fudge. Biologists had assumed that these intermediate filaments were stiff and inflexible. That assumption was challenged by a paper he had pub- lished in Biophysical Journal in 2003. He found that these filaments come in various forms (some 65 genes code for different structures) and that they bend and stretch in various ways. To illustrate, Fudge reaches for a shelf in his Axelrod Building office and picks up what looks like a chem- ist’s 3-D molecular model made of coloured wooden dowels, plastic straws and elastic bands. The colour- ful, flexible sphere is actually a model of a cell’s cytoskeleton, complete with actin and myosin proteins (the straws), microtubules (the dowels) and flexible bands. Plucking at one of the bands, he says: “If cells are ‘tensegrity’ structures, then interme- diate filaments are the rubber bands that allow cells to deform but then revert to their initial state.” Fudge says not all biologists agreed that intermediate filaments in cells behave this way. Acknowledg- ing the skepticism — and even resis- tance — that the idea raised among cell biologists, he points to more re- cent results by a French scientist. That researcher used an atomic force microscope to basically trace the 3-D contour of these “rubber bands” during stretching. His results matched what Fudge had found. “Now, cell biologists have to deal with the fact that intermediate fila- ments are stretchy,” he says. (His UBC team published another paper — in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London — about the structure and mechanics of harder tissues such as hair, nail, hoof and baleen based on intermediate filaments called alpha-keratins.) Not only are these filaments stretchy, but it also turns out that stretching filaments from hagfish slime transforms them into a new material that’s fight but strong. Tug on the plastic rings holding together a six-pack and you encoun- ter initial resistance. Keep tugging and the material begins to loosen and deform. Do the same thing to these intermediate filaments and they actually snap into a new molec- ular conformation, one that looks and feels amazingly like spider’s silk. And not just any old spider’s silk, but the artificial stuff that scientists have been trying to develop for some two decades by isolating the pertinent ge- netic material from spiders and churning it out in vast amounts in goat’s milk. The goal: to develop a cheap, reli- able source of silk that might have structural uses. Make a bulletproof vest out of spider’s silk, for instance, and you’ve got a substance that’s tougher per unit weight than nylon or other synthetic materials but cheaper and more environmentally friendly to make. Researchers have been stymied in their attempts to make the cloned material — partly, Fudge believes, because something in the “magic” of the spinning pro- cess or in the glands producing the silk dope can’t be replicated in the genetically engineered version. He and his UBC collaborators think they’ve found another way to make this “bio-steel.” Just this fall, they were awarded a patent for mak- ing silk-like fibres using intermedi- ate filaments like the ones in hagfish slime. (His collaborators are work- ing with the company pursuing the goat’s milk solution.) “The more we thought about it, the more excited we got,” says Fudge. Earlier, he’d gotten excited about hagfish during his first stint as an un- dergraduate working at the Shoals Marine Laboratory, located among the Isles of Shoals off the coast of Maine. “I fell in love with the place,” says Fudge, describing the island’s gull rookery and the menagerie of crea- tures living in its intertidal zone. He still visits there in the summer to teach a science methods course. “The biology of the site is incredi- ble. It really is natural selection right in front of your eyes.” He came to Guelph to study anat- omy and biochemistry of bluefin tuna before heading to UBC for his doctorate. Returning to U of G this year, he’s now exploring ideas for biomaterials collaborations with biochemists, physicists and biomed- ical scientists interested in every- thing from the mechanics of horse hooves to the structure of whale ba- leen. Further afield, he’s working with a Scottish colleague studying mechanical properties of human cell filaments affected by a genetic mutation that causes a rare skin disorder. Fudge fives in Guelph with his wife, Esta Spalding, a writer and co-editor of the Canadian literary journal Brick and a former English instructor at U of G. They have a two-year-old daughter, Gemma. He will speak on “Slime, Cells and Silk: Comparative Mechanics of Intermediate Filaments” Nov. 10 at 2:30 p.m. in Room 241 of the Food Science Building, as part of the Cen- tre for Food and Soft Materials Sci- ence’s seminar series. £ HOLIDAY CHALET OPEN HOUSE Join us November 12 & 13 from 10am to 5pm for our holiday open house. There will be refreshments, holiday cheer 6 do not leave without your gift! Let us help add the warmth & spirit of the holidays to your home this season. brock road nursery Offering a fantastic selection of beautiful & distinct gifts, ornaments, greens, arrangements, wreaths, branches, berries, Christmas Trees & more all in a wonderful unique setting. t^ardem. centre § e^Lffc shoppe 1858 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, NIL 1G6 519.836.5010 www.brockroadnursery.com at Guelph 8 November 9 , 2005 after hours MARCO LOZE) Chiropractor and contemporary medical acupuncturist at the Health and Perfonnance Centre since 2003 After playing varsity soccer for five years at U of G, Marco Lozej recently began coaching Gryphon women’s soccer. He started as assistant coach in August, and the team’s season wrapped up in late September. “It was a good sea- son,” he says. "The team improved and played well, espe- cially near the end.” Lozej is also a competitive squash player, was a mem- ber of U of G’s squash team as an undergraduate and has worked as a squash pro. “Everyday at lunch, I play,” he says. Ten years ago, he helped found a touring team that plays against clubs around the region. In addition, he’s involved in the Guelph Gryphon football academic coaching program. “In essence, I’m part of the football team,” he says. "If there’s a conflict between academics and athletics, I help them work through that.” He meets with a couple of students each week to help them stay motivated academically, keeps an eye on their grades, helps them with goal setting, and offers advice on what kinds of support services exist for students. “It benefits the student and it benefits the team,” he says. An avid reader, Lozej enjoys both fiction and non-fiction and is currently reading Viktor E. Frankl’s Man's Search for Meaning. He also likes to catch up on the latest scientific journals on chiropractic research. MIZUKI KAYANO Fifth-year geography student Mizuki Kayano spends most of her time away from class doing kid stuff. Originally from Japan, she has a two-year-old daughter who keeps her very busy. “When I’m not at school, it’s all about Maline,” says Kayano. On weekends, she puts Maline in a baby seat on the back of her bike and heads out to explore the city. They’re regular visitors to the conservation area, the Ontario Early Years Centre, the parks and the libraries. “We leave the house in the morning and don’t come home until dinnertime,” she says. With the arrival of colder weather, she’s had to find more indoor things for them to do. Last fall, Kayano co-founded U of G’s first Student Parents Club as a way for students who are ju gglin g ba- bies and books to provide each other with support, in- formation and casual child care. She is currently doing a child-care exchange with two women in her neighbour- hood. My free time is filled with reading stories, playing with playdough and brainstorming lunch ideas, like hid- ing vegetables in the mini-omelettes so the kids will eat them.” In September, Kayano and her daughter visited fam- ily in Switzerland. CLAUDIA WAGNER-RIDDLE Faculty member in the Department of Land Resource Sci- ence since 1994 Two or three mornings a week, Prof. Claudia Wagner-Riddle laces up her shoes and heads out at 7 a.m. for a five-kilometre run. “It’s a ‘before hours’ thing,” she laughs. “This morning it was pitch black.” She says she’s always loved sports, but as her daughters got older, exercise became difficult to schedule. These early morning runs are her “alone time” and have been keeping her fit for the past four years. After work and on weekends, her spare time is spent largely with her husband, Gord, and daughters, Jackie and Julia, and their pets. The family has two indoor cats, two goats named Belle and Pepper and four sheep. Wag- ner-Riddle says she enjoys walking the goats because they stay close to her and don’t run off. As pets, they and the sheep are very low-maintenance, she adds. As a family, they enjoy taking part in a variety of ac- tivities around the city, including the Guelph Jazz Festi- val and the Guelph International Film Festival. Travel is another favourite activity, and they try to schedule a trip every year. Next month, the family is heading to Brazil for the holidays. Wagner-Riddle grew up in Brazil and lived there until she came to Canada in 1988. Besides the mild weather, she’s looking forward to spending time at her parents’ home on the beach and do- ing some windsurfing, water-skiing and snorkelling. Mizuki Kayano A Book of U of G Memories Continued from page 1 the campus community. The chancellor’s photo on page 104 will certainly be the favourite of the smiling graduate he was greeting when the picture was taken. Many other students are featured in the book along with faculty, staff and campus visitors on the main Guelph campus, as well as on the regional campuses at Kemptville, Ridgetown, Alfred and Vineland, and at the Uni- versity of Guelph-Humber. A noted photographer whose work has been published across North America and Europe, Bain has produced several other photo books, P eace by Piece Week activities continue on campus with a lecture on “Peace and Structural Violence” by Chris Keefer Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 233 of the MacKinnon Building. On Nov. 11 from 1 to 4 p.m., members of the University are in- vited to bring their art supplies, musical instruments and creativity to be part of the Artz Haiis Peace including books that document Waterloo County, the Niagara re- gion, the Stratford Festival, the Thames River and his hometown of London. His own favourite U of G photo appears on pages 94 and 95 of the book. It was taken at College Royal during teddy bear surgery at the On- tario Veterinary College. He says the interaction between a student and two young visitors says a lot about the character of the university he has come to know over the past year. “Through the University’s diver- sity, a common thread exists, and Canvas in the Maids Hall fireplace lounge. On Nov. 12, the second annual Peace by Piece Symposium features an afternoon of workshops and a panel discussion of the role of local organizations in the creation and maintenance of peaceful communi- ties. Cost is $5. Register by Nov. 1 1 at noon at the Information Desk on the first floor of the University Centre. that is the spirit and friendliness of the students, staff and faculty,” he says. “The University of Guelph is a place that truly grows on you, a cam- pus filled with people and places that touch your heart. I hope this book keeps the memory alive for those of you fortunate enough to have an af- filiation with this great university.” George \Xfallace 11 Victoria to* d North, Guelph, One N1E 5G4 (519) 991-7900 Fm (519) 991-7910 Peace by Piece Week Continues GSA SUPPORTS CANCELLATION OF LATE-NIGHT BUS The Graduate Students’ Associa- tion (GSA) is appalled by the recent physical assault of a city bus driver. We extend regrets to Guelph Tran- sit and all its drivers and staff. Whoever is responsible for the attack must be held responsible. We encourage all students to col- laborate and share any information about the attack with authorities. We all have a responsibility to re- port any disruptive behaviour on and off campus. The GSA fully supports the de- cision by Guelph Transit to cancel the late-night bus service at this time. When Guelph Transit de- cided to expand its services, gradu- ate students appreciated the late-night service and became a contributor to it because of the need for safe alternative transpor- tation for all students. In light of the recent attack, it is apparent the service is not a safe alternative for bus drivers or students. The GSA looks forward to working with Guelph Transit, the transit workers’ union, the Univer- sity administration and the Central Student Association to evaluate the issues of safety for everyone in- volved. The GSA is confident that it’s possible to make this alternative mode of transportation safe and beneficial for all stakeholders. The GSA Executive Pianos books lessons & more! 2 18-A Victoria Rd. S. Guelph, Oit. N1E5R1 fax: 51 9.836.9474 lesson line: 5 1 9. 7 1 6.4792 836.8492 ■A! National Otferca Otonae national* Options mako all tha difference No matter what your university education, you can enjoy a career with a difference in the Canadian Forces. • Engineers • Physiotherapists - Social Workers • Pilots • Doctors • Nurses • Pharmacists • Naval Officers To learn more, contact us today. Les options font touta la difference Peu imports la nature de VOS etlldeB unlversitaires, vous pouvez bdndflcler d’une carrier® different® dans les F=orc*s canadlennes. - Ing*nieure • Physloth6rapeutes • Travallleurs soclaux/ travallleuees social® 8 • Pllotes • MOdecIns • Infirm lers/ Infirmieres • Pharmaclens/ pharmaclennes • Offlclers de markie Pour obtenir de plus amples ren se Ignements, veulllez communfquer avec nous d*s aujourcfhul. 1 aOOS56-S4M WWW.fOKM.gCCI Canada at Guelph 9 November 9, 2005 Ext. 58031/Email: info@clicksigns.ca www.clicksigns.ca Top Marks for U of G Continued from page 1 Where Are You Now? editor, Ann Dowsett Johnston. The article focused on the ongoing chal- lenges the University faces with de- ferred maintenance and on Guelph’s unique teaching approach and phi- losophy, including its first-year learning seminars. The Maclean’s ranking is the most recent national survey to rec- ognize U of G’s excellence. On Nov. 2, Guelph was ranked the No. 1 university in Canada for overall quality of education, food services, availability of faculty and online teaching materials in the Uni- versity Report Card, a survey of Ca- nadian students published by the Globe and Mail The annual survey represents the opinions of some 26,000 undergrad- uate students across Canada. Letter grades are awarded in five overall ar- eas — educational quality, campus atmosphere, technology, student services and finance — and numer- ous subcategories. Among medium-sized schools, Guelph earned an A and had the highest grade average for overall ed- ucational quality, which is based on individual marks for teaching qual- ity, class sizes, faculty-student inter- action and availability of faculty outside the classroom. U of G also tied for top ranking in numerous other key areas, including teaching quality, sense of personal safety, student services, academic support, campus atmosphere and technology. In all, U of G earned five A+’s, 14 A’s and 17 A-minuses on its report card. On Oct. 25, Guelph was ranked Canada’s No. 1 comprehensive re- search university in two separate surveys by Research Infosource, Inc., a national consulting firm, pub- lished in the National Post. It was named “Research Univer- sity of the Year” for the third year in a row in the comprehensive cate- gory. The ranking is based on a com- plex integration of input and output measures that take into account re- search income, research intensity of faculty and graduate students, and the number of publications in lead- ing Canadian and international journals. U of G was also the top compre- hensive university in the country for the fourth consecutive year in the annual Top 50 Research Universities List, which ranks Canadian universi- ties based solely on sponsored re- search income. Guelph’s research income was nearly $123 million and ranked 13th among all Canadian universities. “It’s incredibly important for us to have feedback that is so positive and touches on such a wide range of issues that affect the quality of the educational experience,” says Summerlee. “It is a reflection of the dedication of our faculty and staff, who work extremely hard to ensure that the learning environment both inside and outside the classroom is first-rate.” If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of 6 Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Nov. n at 4:45 p.m. is eligible forthe draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56982. The following people correctly identified the Oct. 26 photo as an Inuit sculpture by William Noah outside the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre: Steve Gazzola, Laurie Arnott, Verena Kulak, Gary Hall, Kaye Barrett, Jennifer Barrett, David McGee and Laurie Malleau. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL Level 1 University Centre • Poster printing, mounting and lamination ’ Coroplast Signs, Banners and Vinyl Decals 1 Graphic Design and Illustrations ■ Exhibit / Trade Show Design and Fabrication Neuroscience Expertise Grows Continued from page 1 Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, and Cellular and Molecular Biology. They’re part of a rapidly growing group of neuroscience experts on campus, says Prof. Neil MacLusky, chair of the Department of Biomedi- cal Sciences, which now has five neuroscientists hired in the past four years. MacLusky, who studies the ef- fects of steroid hormones on the brain, also arrived at Guelph this fall. U of G’s current neuroscience minor, offered through the Depart- ment of Human Health and Nutri- tional Sciences, attracts students in veterinary science, biological sci- ences and psychology. Referring to the Armstrongs, MacLusky says: “The recruitment of these two junior faculty adds a new dimension to the department’s basic neuroscience research.” For now, those new recruits are getting used to mingling with veteri- nary scientists instead of medical doctors — a different milieu for them but one they’ve slipped into readily. Not that they haven’t no- ticed certain signature U of G traits that still surprise them. Carol volun- teers that she hadn’t encountered a poultry club or a swine club before. “When you give a lecture, there’s a place to tie up your horse,” quips John. Or his bike at any rate: he’s an Ironman triathlete. They’ve also brought along three sons — Jake, 8, Thomas, 4, and Luke, 2. Carol says her children pro- vide a fascinating homegrown look at the kinds of things she studies at the lab bench. Referring to the devel- opmental processes going on unseen as they’ve learned to walk, talk and become little boys, she offers in quintessential neuroscientist style: “As the axons get myelinated, it’s just amazing.” For instance, one particular syn- apse is involved in temporal lobe ep- ilepsy, the most prevalent form of the disorder. John hopes to learn more about what happens at synap- ses to trigger seizures. At the Salk Institute, he worked with Stephen Heinemann, a top neurobiologist who has studied the role of glutamate brain receptors in epileptic-type seizures. Referring to the institute’s polio-vaccine name- sake, John says Jonas Salk was a pro- ponent of basic science, not merely clinical studies. That message resonated with the Armstrongs, who had gone to Cali- fornia just as the Salk’s Sydney Brenner was receiving the 2002 No- bel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Recalling their joint arrival at the in- stitute’s molecular neurobiology laboratory as post-doctoral re- searchers, John says: “One of our first things was to go to a champagne reception honouring Brenner and other Nobel laureates.” Not bad timing for a pair of transplanted Canadian neurosci- entists looking to establish them- selves in the field. Originally from Calgary, Carol earned her PhD there in cell biology and anatomy in 2001. John, who hails from North Bay, studied behavioural neurosciences at Carleton University and went to Dalhousie University for a post-doc. That’s where they met and mar- ried while Carol was completing her master’s degree. When she returned to Calgary for her doctorate, John accepted a medical research fellow- ship there and essentially reinvented himself as a brain physiologist. They’ve worked as a kind ‘ of neurosciences tag team ever since, although they’ve never actually worked together in the lab. In the Department of Biomedical Sciences, they’re establishing sepa- rate research space. She’s upstairs in the Reproductive Biology Labora- tory; he’s downstairs in the Institute for Animal-Human Links in Health Science Research, a centre intended to promote collaborative research in biomedical sciences linking human and animal health. They also plan to investigate re- search and teaching ties in other de- partments within the Ontario Veterinary College and across cam- pus, including the departments of Psychology, Integrative Biology, POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ... Design your own unique pattern, the possibilities are endless! • EXTENSIVE SELECTIONS • Ceramic Marble Slate • OVER 1000 COLOURS TO CHOOSE • " Quality and Craftsmanship are a Family Tradition” at Guelph 10 November 9 , 2005 CLASSIFIEDS FOR RENT One-bedroom basement apartment, private entrance, close to bus stop, biking and walking trails, laundry, $650 a month inclusive, available Jan. 1,766-1452. Two-bedroom country apartment on treed lot, patio, deck, yard, pri- vate entrance, parking for two vehi- cles, 15 minutes to downtown, $895 a month plus utilities, 856-9288. One-bedroom apartment, parking for one vehicle, five-minute walk to campus and Stone Road Mall, suit- able for student or couple, $500 a month inclusive for student, $550 for couple, available Nov. 15, 836-9560 after 7 p.m. or corina@ physics.uoguelph.ca. Bright, spacious three-bedroom apartment in century home on treed lot, newly renovated, hardwood floors, walking distance to down- town and hospital, parking, $1,300 a month inclusive, available now or Dec. 1, Donna, 241-8846. FOR SALE 1993 Ford FI 50 pickup, automatic V8, 5.7-litre engine, dark brown/ beige with beige interior, air, AM/FM radio, cruise, power, 17-inch tires, low mileage, 905-873- 1 1 1 1 or bndcyr@sympatico.ca. GE 15-cubic-foot white refrigerator, excellent condition; desk and chair; end table; lamps; round chrome/ walnut top kitchen table with two drop leaves; smaller TV wall unit, Ext. 53561 or 821-5412 evenings. Vertical blinds, complete with valance and pull chain, 72 by 87 inches, vanilla, 822-0786. Dora the Explorer toddler bed, mat- tress and sheet set; Step2 Snooze ’n’ Cruise toddler bed, mattress and sheet set; navy Cosco FunSport play- pen, 780-1216. Electric wheelchair and walker, both one year old and in good condition, leather/vinyl burgundy sofa and chair, 836-7537 after 5 p.m. WANTED Gently used above-ground pool, 826-7795. Apartment to rent for winter semes- ter for quiet, mature, non-smoking graduate student couple, Ext. 52388 or kwaltner@uoguelph.ca. Professor seeks short-term rental for one or two months in Guelph from early November, Alan, Ext. 53165, 766-9729 evenings or amcdouga@ uoguelph.ca. Responsible nanny required to care for two children aged nine and 13 Monday to Friday from 2 to 6:30 p.m., duties include supervising homework, preparing meals and tidying up, Kortright Hills/Y area, 824-7557. Short-term accommodation from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31, cooking facilities required, close to bus stop, Ron, 519-993-9407 or ron.infonow@ gmail.com. AVAILABLE French grad and linguist to tutor French or English, five years’ experi- ence, Michelle, 821-1919. THANK YOU Elliptical/stepper, excellent condi- tion, hardly used, 826-7963 or bkostal@uoguelph.ca. NASCAR Diecast, approximately 96 pieces, looking to sell collection as a whole, includes Quartzo, Revelle, Race Champs, 837-2470 or sforbes@sec.uoguelph.ca. Crate Design hardwood furniture: three-drawer bedroom dresser; three-seater couch; large coffee table, can double as TV stand with storage space, 831-3691 or kmena@uoguelph.ca. Good- quality used downhill skis and boots, men’s size 7, women’s sizes 6 and 8, 826-7795. To the person who found my car key and left it on my car in the Athletics Centre parking lot Nov. 3. You saved my day and my pocketbook. Island Ink-Jet® Cartridge Refill. Sale & Service Stone Road Mail (Kiosk located in front of SliARS) -while you wait service -save up to 60% Dell. Lexmark. HP, Epson. Brother. Canon 51 9-821 -2828 stoneroadmalj@islandlnkjet.com Refill. . Not Landfill 10%OFF Call today for a no-obligation quote Or visit our website at www.staebler.com Save Up To 50% In Insurance Product Discounts Your Group Discount! YOUR PREFERRED Group Auto & Home INSURANCE PROGRAM Guelph Chonjber Choir in PRAISE of Mark Sirett - In Praise of Music Benjamin Britten - Rejoice in the Lamb John Rutter - Gloria Pops for brass and percussion Christopher Dawes organist Jiffinlits! IK lip! lira! $20 (students $10) * K 1 ] Tickets at River Run Centre 519.763.3000 1.877.520.2408 837-3030 304 Stone Rd. West Plaza with Tim Horton Donuts 836-3030 585 Eramosa Rd. Plaza with Seven-Eleven Michael H.C. McMurray Partner ^ icorn Financial Services 210 Kortright Road West, Unit #5 Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X4 Telephone: (519) 826-4774 Fax: (519) 826-4994 Email: michaelmcmurray@on.aibn.com Do you get 2.45% on your savings account? Are you investing for your future? Do you need professional advice regarding your investments? I can help you answer these questions, call me for a free consultation. GUELPH (est. 1978) I Enriched Academic Curriculum I Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga I Musikgarten I Core French I Monthly Field Trips I Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Vi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, Ont 836-3810 -Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Maria Montessori at Guelph 11 November 9, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM The Theatre in the Trees production of There Goes the Bride by Ray Cooney and John Chapman contin- ues weekends at the Arboretum Centre until Dec. 17. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m.; showtime is 8 p.m. Cost is $53. To order tickets, call Ext. 54110. The Dufflebag Theatre presents Rudolf, the Red Nose Reindeer Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Arboretum Centre. Tickets are $5 and are avail- able at the Arboretum, Ext. 52358, or Simply Wonderful. ART CENTRE The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre hosts its annual “Beyond the Frame" fundraiser Nov. 12. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are $45 and are available at the art centre and the Framing and Art Centre. Next up in the art centre’s brown bag lunch series is Guelph artist Don Russel] discussing his exhibition “Re-presentation” Nov. 22 at noon. CONCERTS The Thursday noon-hour concert series continues Nov. 10 with soprano Heather Cumine, pianist Betty Maher and cellist Orly Bitov and Nov. 17 with the U of G Concert Winds conducted by John Goddard. On Nov. 24, Prof. Marta McCarthy leads the women’s choir SIREN with guest baritone Benjamin Covey. Concerts begin at 12:10 p.m. in MacKinnon 107. FILM “Docurama,” a film series hosted by the McLaughlin Library and the Central Student Association, contin- ues Nov. 16 with Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price it 7 and 9 p.m. and Nov. 23 with The Yes Men at 7 p.m. The screenings are in Thombrough 1307. LECTURES OAC’s public lecture series contin- ues Nov. 16 with Steven Graham, vice-president for research and development at Campbell Company of Canada. He will describe “New Trends in Food Research” at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. Next up in the Canada Research Chair lecture series is Prof. Barry Smit, Geography, holder of the CRC in Global Environmental Change, speaking Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. in Thombrough 1307. His topic is “Global Environmental Change: So What for Economies, Societies and Universities?” NOTICES U of G will hold its annual Remem- brance Day Service Nov. 1 1 at 10:30 a.m. in War Memorial Hall. The ser- vice will also be broadcast on the TV monitors in the UC food court. The Women’s Campus Safety Initia- tives Committee invites proposals from all members of the U of G com- munity to receive funding for women’s safety initiatives. Proposals must demonstrate that the safety concerns of a broad range of women, or those particularly at risk, are being addressed. Applications must be submitted to the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO) by Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. Guidelines are avail- able on the HREO website at www. uoguelph.ca/hre/saftey.shtml. For more information, call Mahejabeen Ebrahim at Ext. 56025. The Stress Management and High Performance Clinic and the McLaughlin Library Learning Com- mons are offering another “examSMART” program for U of G students. It runs for four sessions beginning Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m. in McLaughlin 384. Cost is $20. For more information or to register, drop by the Learning Commons, visit www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers or leave a message at Ext. 52662. Occupational Health Services is hosting a talk on men’s health Nov. 15 at noon in UC 103. Guest speaker is Maritza Robertson, a human nutrition health professional. Regis- ter at kphillip@uoguelph.ca. The Canadian International Devel- opment Agency and the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences invite session pro- posals from associations meeting at the 75th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences May 27 to June 3, 2006, at York University. This year’s theme is "The City.” The deadline for proposals is Dec. 2. For details, contact Marianne Fizet at 613-238- 6112, Ext. 302, or mfizet@fedcan.ca. READING Prof. David Waltner-Toews, Popu- lation Medicine, will read from his books The Complete Tante Tina — Mennonite Blues and Recipes and One Foot in Heaven Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. in McLaughlin 384. SEMINARS The Centre for Food and Soft Mate- rials Science’s seminar series contin- ues Nov. 10 with Prof. Doug Fudge, Integrative Biology, discussing “Slime, Cells and Silk: Comparative Mechanics of Intermediate Fila- ments” and Nov. 17 with Molly Shoichet of the University of Toronto considering “Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering and Drug Deliv- ery.” Guest speaker Nov. 24 is John de Bruyn of the University of West- ern Ontario. The seminars begin at 2:30 p.m. in Food Science 241. The Department of Psychology presents Dan Ashbourne of the Cen- tre for Children and Families in the Justice System in London, Ont., explaining “The Expanding Role of Psychological Services Within Fam- ily Law Matters” Nov. 1 1 at 1 p.m. in MacKinnon 234. “Don’t Say A Word: Explaining Knowledge Hid- ing in Organizations” is the topic of David Zweig of the University of Toronto Nov. 16 at noon in MacLachlan 107. “Neutrino Physics Beyond SNO” is the topic of Mark Chen of Queen's University in the Department of Physics seminar series Nov. 15. On Nov. 22, Silvia Mittler of the Univer- sity of Western Ontario presents “Ultra Thin Film Analysis: Wave- guide Mode Spectroscopy and Gold Nanoparticle Plasmonic Reso- nances.” The seminars are at 4 p.m. in MacNaughton 101. The “Research in Progress” seminar series sponsored by the College of Arts continues Nov. 17 with Dominic Mamer of the School of Fine Art and Music considering “The Two Puiset Bibles” at noon in MacKinnon 132. Next up in the Department of Pathobiology seminar series is PhD candidate Armando Hernandez dis- cussing “Genetic Parameters of Immune Response of Dairy Cows” Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. On Nov. 23, Daniel Rock of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign presents “African Swine Fever Virus: A Tale of Three Hosts” at 10:30 a.m. in OVC 1715. On Nov. 25, Silvina Fernandez of the Depart- ment of Pathobiology and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Can- ada explores “ Duddingtonia flagrans as a Biocontrol Agent of Gastroin- testinal Nematodes in Livestock” at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. The Department of Economics pres- ents Chris Kingston of Amherst Col- lege discussing “Intermediation and Trust” Nov. 18 and Mattias Polborn of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Nov. 25, both at 3:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 234. The Cognitive Science Group’s fall seminar series wraps up Nov. 23 with Alex Weir of Oxford University examining “Crows and Tool Use” at 3 p.m. in MacKinnon 314. The Health and Performance Centre is launching a six-part fitness and nutrition seminar series this month. First up is “Carbohydrate Savvy” Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Powell Building. Cost is $10 for each semi- nar or $50 for all sue. To register, call Ext. 53460 or visit www.heidismith nutrition.com. The Department of Philosophy presents Joseph Heath of the Uni- versity of Toronto exploring “Social and Political Philosophy, Moral Phi- losophy, Distributive Justice” Nov. 25 at 3:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 228. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services (TSS) hosts a luncheon for new faculty Nov. 14 at 12:30 p.m. The topic is “Developing Effective Course Out- lines.” TSS kicks off its newest series, “TSS Technology Briefings,” Nov. 15. The series will focus on emerging instructional technologies and eval- uate their effectiveness for teaching. First up is a discussion of "The Value of ‘Clickers’ in the Classroom.” TSS is offering a two-part series called “Engaging Students With Problem-Based Learning — Live Demo.” Led by president Alastair Summerlee and College of Arts dean Jacqueline Murray, it runs Nov. 15 and 22. Other upcoming TSS train- ing and development events for fac- ulty and instructional staff include a continuation of the “Photoshop Tidbits” series with sessions on fil- ters Nov. 16 and masks Nov. 23. TSS’s noon-hour discussion series for teaching assistants continues Nov. 17 with an opportunity to play the “Coolest Exam Review Game in the Universe.” Registration is required for all TSS programs. Detailed descriptions and registration are available at www.tss. uoguelph.ca. If you have questions, call Mary Naim at Ext. 53571. THEATRE The School of English and Theatre Studies presents one-act plays Nov. 7 to 12 at 8 p.m. in Massey 100. Tick- ets will be available at the door. A production of The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls by Jennifer Brewin, Leah Cherniak, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alisa Palmer and Mar- tha Ross runs Nov. 24 to 26 at 8 p.m. in Massey 100. THESIS DEFENCE The final examination of Christo- pher Reid, a PhD candidate in the Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Gradu- ate Work in Chemistry and Bio- chemistry, is Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. The thesis is “Bacterial Lytic Transglycosylases: Biochemical Characterization and Rational Design of Inhibitors.” The adviser is Prof. Anthony Clarke. COMMUNITY EVENTS The Canadian Federation of Univer- sity Women is holding a fundraising dinner Dec. 6 on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Vio- lence Against Women. Guest speaker is Judy Rebick, former presi- dent of the National Action Com- mittee on the Status of Women. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. at Guelph Place, 492 Michener Rd. For tickets, contact Elizabeth Taborek at 829-2374 or cfuwguelph@yahoo.ca. The Guelph branch of Amnesty International presents “The Power of the Pen: An Evening of Under- standing and Celebration” Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. Speakers are Ethiopian journalist Martha Kuwee Kumsa and Ugandan writer Emmanuel Acheta. Admission is by donation. Guelph-Wellington Women in Cri- sis is organizing its winter gift-shar- ing program for the approximately 200 women and 300 children it sup- ports. Unwrapped new gift items can be dropped off at 18 Norwich St. E. For information about the organiza- tion’s wish list, call 836-1110, Ext. 21, or send e-mail to adminrec@ gwwomenincrisis.org. The annual reading of Charles Dick- ens’ A Christmas Carol in support of Wyndham House is slated for Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Dublin Street United Church. Tickets are $15 and are available on campus from Carla Bradshaw, Ext. 56657, downtown at Macondo Books or at the door. The Guelph Chamber Choir con- ducted by Gerald Neufeld presents “In Praise of Music” Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. at St. George’s Church. The choir will be joined by Brassroots and organist Christopher Dawes. For tickets, call 763-3000. The Wellington County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society meets Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at 122 Harris St. Catherine Patterson of Trent University will discuss 19th- century homestead burials. Downtown Guelph’s 12th annual winter lights and music event is Nov. 18 starting at 4 p.m. The evening will include a fire show, skating, a live nativity scene and Santa. World-renowned jazz trombonist A1 Kay will perform with the Guelph Concert Band Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. at E.L. Fox Auditorium. For tickets, call 763-3000. The Guelph Royalaires Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps is seeking new members. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Guelph Armoury. For details, con- tact Bill Granger at wm-susan. granger@sympatico.ca or 763-3246. The YMCA- YWCA’s Women of Distinction Speaker Series presents ergonomist Kirsti MacAuley dis- cussing “Making Ergonomics Part of Your Life” Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Y. To register, contact Robert Gruber at 824-5150 or rsvp@guelph.org. The exhibition “Sitting Pretty: The History of the Toilet” returns to the Guelph Civic Museum Nov. 15, with an official opening from 7 to 9 p.m. At Guelph 12 November 9, 2005 a t GUFT/PH NOVEMBER 23, 2005 ♦ VOL. 49 NO. 18 . WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . U Nl VERSITY OF G UELPH INSIDE: PLANNING PROCESS CONTINUES • IF ONLY THEY COULD TALK • DRIVEN TO EXPERIMENT Memories of Guelph This photograph taken at Wild Goose Swamp at the Arboretum is one of the dozens contained in a new University of Guelph coffee-table book by London photographer Richard Bain. The book will be introduced to the University community Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. in the University Centre courtyard. It will be on sale at the launch for $40 and afterwards at the University Bookstore. photo by richard bain White Paper Examines Undergrad Experience Provost urges University-wide discussion on newly released report BY LORI BONA HUNT P ROVOST and vice-president (academic) Maureen Mancuso has released a comprehensive and critical evaluation of U of G’s learning experience. Two years in the making, the White Paper is an examination of the University’s central academic mission of educat- ing undergraduate students. “It’s an inquiry into what the Guelph undergraduate learning ex- perience is and what it could be,” Mancuso says, adding that the paper takes an aggressive approach, with strong recommendations for change, bold visions and lofty goals. “The purpose was not to cele- brate our accomplishments or the well-established quality of our fac- ulty. Rather, we set out to identify challenges that could hinder our fu- ture successes. We looked at what we need to do as an institution to main- tain the leadership in undergraduate education and innovation that we have enjoyed in the recent past.” The White Paper, which is on the web at www.vpacademic.uoguelph. ca/whitepaper, is the culmination of months of discussions among the University’s curriculum commit- tees, members of the Vice-Presi- dent’s Advisory Council and associate vice-presidents. Concern about the quality of un- dergraduate education is building systemwide, says Mancuso. “Planning for the double cohort dominated efforts at most universi- ties for the past decade," she says. Many institutions, including Guelph, were successful because they linked the investment for growth to improved quality. “Now we face the challenge of continuing to maintain and enhance quality without that engine of growth. We need to concentrate on quality in a more balanced way." There’s also more attention on universities following the release of the Rae report, she adds. ” Although we welcome the new funding the report calls for, we can now expect increased expectations and pressure for accountability." The White Paper lists priorities and suggests changes U of G must make to meet future challenges, but it doesn’t provide specifics about im- plementation, says Mancuso. “Our goal is to engage faculty, staff and students and have them contribute creative ideas to the pro- cess.” The recommended changes in- clude: • extending first-year seminar pro- grams and enhancing first-year support programs, including cre- ating summer programs for enter- ing students; • exploring the feasibility of record- ing only pass/ fail grades in the first and possibly second years; • undertaking a radical re-examina- tion of curriculum delivery, in- cluding course scheduling; • identifying and expanding courses and programs that put a premium on developing literacy and numeracy skills; • extending study-abroad and stu- dent exchange programs; and • considering new ways to integrate community service into programs and majors. “The suggestions in the White Paper are far from trivial,” says Mancuso. “Some would demand a radical rethinking of entrenched as- sumptions about how U of G oper- ates. But everything outlined in the paper is open to discussion. The only requirement is that we start a University-wide conversation about these important issues.” / I 1 Scholarship Will Help Student Fulfil Her Dream University announces variety of new awards designed to help talented students reach their full potential BY LORI BONA HUNT U OF G STUDENT Miranda Johnston has done a lot of living in her 25 years. She grew up dreaming of becoming a lawyer, but when she got pregnant at age 17 and decided to raise the baby on her own, she feared her dream would never be fulfilled. But she persevered, completing two college programs before enrolling at U of G in political science, with her sights set on attending law school after graduation. Along the way, she’s been raising her daughter, Abigail, now seven, and working to support them both and to overcome personal struggles, including the death of her younger sister. So when Johnston says that receiving one of U of G’s inaugural William and Nona Heaslip Scholarships is going to change her life, you be- lieve it. “When I got an e-mail saying I had received the scholarship, I didn’t know what to do or what to say — I just kept staring at the screen,” she says. “I still don’t know what to say; I’m at a loss for words. It’s going to help me out so much. It’s going to change everything.” The scholarships from the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation provide $15,000 a year and are renewable for up to three years. Johnston, now in second year, was one of two students to receive the award, which was pre- sented at a special ceremony Nov. 21. The other recipient is John Bouwers, a dairy farmer and father of four from Welland, who is en- rolled in the B.Sc.(Agr.) program. The scholarships are open to undergradu- ates who have completed semester two, main- tained a minimum 70-per-cent cumulative average and have demonstrated financial need. The number of Heaslip awards being pre- sented at U of G will increase each year until 2007/2008, when the foundation will fund six renewable scholarships on an ongoing basis. William Arthurs Heaslip, a member of the Order of Canada, was chair and CEO of Grafton Group Ltd., the second-largest men’s Continued on page 10 Political science student Miranda Johnston, shown here with her daughter, Abigail, is one of the first recipients of a new scholarship from the William and Nona Heaslip Foundation. Johnston says the award will "change everything.” photo by martin schwalbe at Guelph 1 November 23, 2005 (est 1978 ) I Enriched Academic Curriculum I Athletic Program « Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga I Musikgarten I Core French I Monthly Field Trips I Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio Vi Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Avc. 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Plaza with Seven-Eleven from the president U of G Is the Sum of Its Choices Editor’s note; President Alastair Summerlee welcomes comments on his column at president@ uoguelph.ca. I HAVE OFTEN TALKED about the characteristics that distinguish the University of Guelph from other institutions of higher learning: our attitudes and values, approach to teaching and research, openness to differing opinions, the people who work here, and the way we work together. Indeed, this diversity is to be embraced. Not only is it what makes U of G a remarkable place to live and work, but differences among universities are also critical for the future of post-secondary ed- ucation in Ontario. There must be variety and contrasts in the preser- vation, transmission and advancement of knowledge. But what I have not talked about at great length is how our diversity evolved, for it was anything but happenstance that Guelph came to be the institution it is today. French philosopher and writer Albert Camus once said: “Life is the sum of one’s choices.” Indeed, the same can be said for the life of a uni- versity. The values and attitudes that are the underlying guiding principles at Guelph are the result of choices made and developed over the history of the institution. More than 140 years ago, the University’s founding colleges set out to be certain types of places: in- stitutions that pushed the bound- aries of research and teaching in agricultural and animal health and that provided some of the first pro- grams geared to women. U of G was built from this foun- dation of legacy and quality. Each University president inherits the traditions, values and sprit of the president who went before and commits to continue making choices and decisions that are con- sistent with Guelph’s original purpose and mission. Indeed, our tradition of embrac- ing the people and lessons of the past while reaching out to the future has been integral to our success. At heart, the decision-making process has always been focused on the quality of the learning experience for all. But it’s important to remember the definition of “choice.” Each I time a choice is made, we are select- ing from many options. There will always be many other directions, paths and alternatives we could have selected that would have brought about different outcomes. There will also always be both posi- tive and negative consequences of the choices we make. Part of the process of making choices is accept- ing this inevitability. Over the years, there have been many positive outcomes from the choices we have made in striving to be consistent with our notion of the kind of place we want U of G to be. We’ve made an effort to hire new faculty and staff to maintain the excellence of our teaching/ learning experience. In the process, we have always sought to find indi- viduals with a clear sense of vision and an understanding of the values and attitudes that make Guelph unique. Deliberate efforts were made to recruit people who would continue with these traditions, who demonstrated a real sense of caring about the people and the institution. We have created a research envi- ronment that is based on our roots of providing practical and applied opportunities. At the same time, we have chosen to expand in new di- rections that are true to our history of innovation and progression, sup- porting esoteric research that fulfils our University motto: “To Know the Meaning of Things.” We have strived to ensure that fundamental research remains free from bias and influence. We’ve chosen research support and back- ing that are appropriate to our endeavours, including pushing to have as much publicly funded in- quiry-driven research as possible. Over the last five years, the impact of our values has seen the amount of inquiry-driven research grow by 13 per cent and the amount of fund- ing from corporations and direct funding from government reduced. In our classrooms, we’ve gener- ated environments that support learning both in and outside the classroom. We’ve created a campus atmosphere where student input and diversity are welcomed. In fact, the result of student contributions has helped result in the formation of policies around sweatshops, tui- tion and not allowing exclusivity agreements for services. And U of G was the first Cana- dian university to have a fully inte- grated human rights policy. We have strived to enhance ac- cessibility on our campus and throughout the entire Ontario sys- tem. Our Presidential Task Force on Accessibility to University Edu- cation produced a report that made important inroads on this issue. It suggested changes at both the pro- vincial and federal levels aimed at making education more affordable and accessible to all. Guelph is the only university in Ontario that has published reports on accessibility and on the quality of the under- graduate experience (see “White Paper” on page 1). We’ve supported the govern- ment tuition freeze and, in years where tuition increases were al- lowed, made an effort to keep in- creases to a minimum. We’ve also resisted raising revenue by differen- tiating tuition for some of our pro- grams as part of our commitment to accessibility. I have strongly sup- ported and promoted both decisions. But these choices — as well as the many others made over the years to maintain Guelph’s unique- ness — have come at a price, and we continue to deal with the conse- quences. Our tuition fees are now $700 a year lower than the average tuition fees in Ontario, and our decision not to differentiate tuition for our professional programs translates into $11 million less in revenue each year. That difference means we have not been able to fill and aug- ment faculty and staff positions or replace teaching assistants accord- ing to the original plans, nor have we been able to replace part of the aging infrastructure every year or retrofit an energy- inefficient build- ing annually. It also means we’ve struggled to continue to deal with inflation, in- cluding salaries and benefits, hydro and gas increases, and deferred maintenance. But these decisions have been part of the balancing act of values in the institution, the consequences of the choices in keeping with the kind of university we want to be. We must decide if we will con- tinue along this path of choice- making or whether it’s time to look in new directions, to make new choices with different outcomes. This is more important now than ever as the University embarks on a transition to a fully integrated planning process. We will be look- ing back to the past and moving ahead as we strive to bring forward five-year plans for all our colleges, units and departments. There is a reason that the inte- grated planning process is called “Making Change, Making Choices.” We have arrived at a pe- riod of uncertainty and change — a crossroads in the history of this in- stitution — and this may mean a bumpier ride for Guelph than for some of our peer institutions. Yet no matter what challenges arise, we can confront them as we have in the past and emerge an even stronger institution. Our reputa- tion as a university that emphasizes creativity, innovation, artistic in- tegrity, scientific discovery and leadership — a reputation that was formed by choices and decisions made more than a century ago — will endure long into the future. Of this, I have no doubt. P- P- t — - H- 1 C Editor Barbara Chance b.chancc@exec.uoguelph.ca Design Peter Enneson Production Linda Graham l.graham@exec. uoguelph.ca Advertising Scott Anderson theandcrsondifference@rogers.com Director Chuck Cunningham c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. Inquiries: 519-824-4120 Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising: Ext. 56580 www. uoguelph. ca/adguide Classifieds: Ext. 56581 Fax: 519-824-7962 Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $22 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 nXIVhlvSITY G L 1 1 11,1 at Guelph a November 23, 2005 news in brief ART AUCTION BREAKS RECORD The Macdonald Stewart Art Cen- tre’s annual “Beyond the Frame” art auction raised a record $39,000 Nov. 12. More than 200 people attended the sold-out event, which featured a live auction of 44 works donated by a range of artists and a silent auction of more than 50 prizes provided by local businesses, individual donors and arts students at Centennial CVI and St. James Catholic High School. ONTARIO BOOSTS BURSARIES The Ontario government is launch- ing a new program to create more bursaries and improve access to post-secondary education. The Ontario Trust for Student Support will make $50 million available every year to post-secondary insti- tutions to match private and corpo- rate cash donations used by colleges and universities to set up endow- ment funds. Investment income generated by these funds will sup- port bursaries for students in finan- cial need. The initiative is expected to make available up to $5 million more per year in bursary assistance and increase the number of bursaries by 2,700 annually. BOOKS FOR AFRICA Mark Sun, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, is work- ing with U.S.-based Better World Books to organize a drive for Books for Africa, a literacy charity that col- lects and ships books to Africa to be used by schools and libraries there. Books will be collected during text- book buyback periods Dec. 5 to 16 and Jan. 3 to 6 at the Campus Book- store, Co-op Bookstore and resi- dence halls. Textbooks that don’t qualify for buyback are especially wanted, says Sun. For more infor- mation about the campaign or to volunteer, contact him at Ext. 52252 or msun@uoguelph.ca. CLOTHING DRIVE UNDER WAY Artz Haus is running a clothing drive to support several shelters in the Guelph community until Dec. 3. Drop-in bins are set up in the main lobby of the MacKinnon Building and the University Centre court- yard. Starting Nov. 26, donations will also be collected at residence desks in Johnston, Lambton, Lennox/Addington and Prairie halls, as well as the East Residences Tower. Items that are especially needed are hats, mitts, sweaters, boots and coats. For more informa- tion or to volunteer, send e-mail to hshrumm@uoguelph.ca. GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE A U of G blood donor clinic will be held Nov. 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall. To book an appointment, call Canadian Blood Services at 1-888-236-6283. Walk- in donors are also welcome. BAS OPEN HOUSE PLANNED The bachelor of arts and sciences program is hosting an open house Nov. 27 to highlight the innovative coursework of senior students in the program. The students will present posters and project propos- als from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Arbore- tum Centre. Everyone is welcome. People Planning Process Continues Goal is to determine what Guelph must do to meet its mission now and in the future BY LORI BONA HUNT T he integrated planning pro- cess launched last November by provost Maureen Mancuso is continuing, with departments, schools and units across campus making plans for the future. “We are addressing many issues as part of this process,” says Mancuso, adding that students, fac- ulty, staff and alumni have been in- volved in the discussions. The intent is to bring forward a coherent plan for each college, de- partment and unit that includes is- sues and priorities, as well as ideas for new revenue generation. There will be opportunities each year to re- vise and amend the plans. "Our goal is to determine what the University must do to meet its mission now and in the future,” she says. “Making plans in a more coher- ent and co-ordinated way will better position us to make informed, effec- tive and successful choices and to take advantage of opportunities in- stead of being forced to react to government actions.” Mancuso emphasizes that the planning initiative is separate from the University’s annual budgeting planning process. U of G will not be- gin its formal budget process until the winter semester, which is standard procedure. “Before we can begin talking about next year’s budget, we need to have a lot of information that we’re currently lacking,” she says. First, the University must have information about winter enrol- ment, which isn’t available until Feb- ruary. It also needs confirmation of the 2005/2006 provincial grant, in- cluding the Quality Improvement Fund. “We’re just starting to learn how much money we’ll be receiving from the Ontario government as our share of the provincial budget that was re- leased in the spring,” says Mancuso. “Being engaged in the planning pro- cess will help us avoid the last-min- ute cuts that have dominated the budgeting process for the last several years.” By early next year, Guelph should also start to receive information about the anticipated provincial grant amounts for 2006/2007. In ad- dition, Ontario universities are still waiting for the government to de- velop a new framework for tuition for the coming year. “Without these missing pieces of information, it’s not possible to start the process of looking at the next fis- cal year’s budget,” Mancuso says. Earlier in the fall, VPAC sug- gested that all units build a rolling two-per-cent budget contribution into their annual planning. That rec- ommendation was independent of the formal budget process and is in- tended to help meet the University’s annual inflationary costs, she says. This is not unlike the processes at other major institutions and is in- tended to help stabilize planning so Guelph can focus on strategic mea- sures rather than short-term ones, she adds. “No one relishes this process, but it’s better to be in control of the plan- ning.” Renovations Designed to Build Stronger U of G Learning Environment MacKinnon Building classrooms identified as a priority BY REBECCA KENDALL A S PART OF ITS COMMITMENT to enhancing the student learning experience, U of G has allocated $1.5 million to renovate teaching facilities used broadly by the campus community. “This will allow us to continue our push to improve our buildings and strengthen our learning envi- ronment,” says Prof. Alan Shepard, associate vice-president (academic). A classroom advisory group has identified a list of priorities for reno- vations, repairs and technology up- grades. Based on that, it’s expected that most of the work will be done on the third floor of the MacKinnon Building, where 16 classrooms and associated corridors and lounges are being considered for upgrading with new carpeting, paint, window cover- ings, lighting and audio-visual teach- ing aids. Consolidation of four 60-seat classrooms into two 100-seat class- rooms on the second floor of the building is also being discussed. “The renovations to these class- rooms are both timely and an im- portant investment in our students and faculty,” says College of Arts dean Jacqueline Murray. “The modes by which we deliver courses and facilitate teaching and learning have undergone tremen- dous changes and innovations, par- ticularly through the incorporation of things like WebCT, PowerPoint and real-time Internet searches, and it’s critical that our classrooms are able to support these changes.” Other work may include the ad- dition of audio-visual teaching aids in Crop Science Building class- rooms, as well as seating, finishes and lighting improvements in a Macdonald Institute classroom. The renovations are slated for summer 2006 to minimize class disruption. “The refurbishment of class- rooms in Macdonald Institute will complement the efforts of alumni to restore the heritage value of one of the most architecturally Significant buildings on campus,” says Prof. Alun Joseph, dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. “I applaud the University’s decision to fund these improvements.” This allocation is possible be- cause of a one-time $8.3-milIion in- crease in funding restricted for facilities renewal from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universi- ties at the end of the fiscal year, says Nancy Sullivan, vice-president (fi- nance and administration). And it represents only a fraction of the pro- jects that have been undertaken to advance campus infrastructure. The balance of the one-time funding has been put toward a num- ber of critical utility and energy retrofits, including the Crop Science Building energy retrofit, which has greatly reduced the building’s elec- trical, natural gas and water use and its carbon dioxide emissions, says Sullivan. The project included interior lighting retrofits; building control upgrades; modifications to the heat- ing, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; and building envelope sealing. In the Central Utilities Plant, the original boiler control system has been replaced with a state-of-the-art electronic system, creating increased reliability in the steam production system and improving plant effi- ciency, she says. As a result, costly maintenance to the old system and a large deferred-maintenance concern have been eliminated, a solid foun- dation for boiler plant expansion has been established, and carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced. In ad- dition, the water-treatment plant has been upgraded to support University expansion, allowing the delivery of higher-quality deionized water to the boilers and labs and reducing a major deferred-maintenance issue. At the Ontario Veterinary Col- lege, a project to replace and extend underground utilities is nearing completion, says Sullivan. This multi-million-dollar project in- volves the construction of more than 450 metres of tunnels and utilities to replace deteriorating trenches and buried services. Benefits include increased integ- rity of services feeding OVC, the elimination of significant deferred maintenance, provision for future expansion, and a more robust and easily maintained utility supply sys- tem to serve the University in years to come, she says. PIONEERS OF COMPUTING Prof. Dilip Banerji, Computing and Information Science (CIS), and two retired faculty members — Prof. Tom Wilson and Prof. Jim Linders, formerly CIS chair — have been named among 50 Pioneers of Com- puting in Canada by the IBM Cen- tre for Advanced Studies. At an event held in Toronto OcL 19, they received awards honouring their university careers and significant contributions to computing science education and research in Canada. A BEAUTIFUL MIND Prof. Sky Gilbert, English and Thea- tre Studies, was one of 23 people named in the National Post’s “Beau- tiful Minds” series, a search for Canada’s most important public intellectuaL Gilbert, who has been teaching at U of G since 1997 and became an assistant professor in 2003, is an award-winning play- wright, poet, author and director. VOLUNTEER WORK LAUDED Victoria Zimmer of Otterville, a second-year applied human nutri- tion student, was awarded an Ontario Medal for Young Volun- teers from Ontario’s lieutenant- governor at a ceremony held at Queen’s Park in October. She was honoured for her work in creating a “Garden of Learning,” an outdoor classroom incorporating different soils, rock types and ecosystems and the reintroduction of Carolinian tree species and flora that are native to the region in her hometown. WUSC DIRECTOR RE-ELECTED At the annual genera/ assembly of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) in Ottawa, College d’Alfred professor Robert St-Amant was re-elected to the board of direc- tors as representative for Ontario. St-Amant established the WUSC local committee at Alfred. MFA STUDENTS EXHIBIT WORK "Just What I’ve Always Wanted,” an exhibition of works by MFA stu- dents from Guelph, York University and the University of Western Ontario, is currendy on display at the Artery Gallery, 158 King St W., Kitchener. Three U of G students are represented in the five-person show: Melanie Authier, Sara Gra- ham and Martin Gotland. The exhi- bition continues to Dec. 10. For gal- lery hours, visit www.finearts. uwaterloo.ca/artery/indexJitml. The following appointments have recendy been announced at U of G: • Elizabeth Gilbertson, secretary to the chair of the Department of Pathobiology • Andrew MacPherson, manager of networking services, Computing and Communications Services • Barbara Robbins, manager of family housing rentals and com- munity life, Student Housing Ser- vices • Nicole Shepard, liaison officer (recruitment events). Admission Services, Office of Registrarial Ser- vices • Liz Snyder, secretary. Office of the Associate Vice-President (Agri- Food and Partnerships). CO at Guelph 3 November 23, 2005 uBiuruiodde focus His Art’s in the Right Place BY REBECCA KENDALL W HEN YOU ENTER an art gallery and see the works on display, you shouldn’t be able to tell that there’s anything deliberate about the presentation, says Verne Harrison, gallery co-ordinator at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (MSAC) since 1992. The collections should seem like they belong in the space they’re in, and not much thought should be paid to how they got there, he says. “It should look completely natu- ral. It shouldn’t look like it’s con- trived or that something silly or weird has been done to it. If I’m do- ing my job properly, I should be in- visible.” Harrison says his responsibilities at the art centre go largely unnoticed by the average patron. In addition to co-ordinating installations, he works behind the scenes on everything from arranging staging and seating for events to liaising with contractors when building repairs are needed to supervising the centre’s summer art programs for children. "Anything that’s hands-on is my responsibility,” he says. In addition, he handles some of the details when MSAC circulates any of its own exhibits or borrows exhibits from other locations. Such details include taking care of paper- work for customs documentation for international shipments, book- ing and scheduling transportation for the art to be moved, and arrang- ing labour to help with heavier installations. The installations are his favourite part of the job. As a working artist himself — his own show “A Postmodern Parody: The Popeye Chronicles” ran at MSAC for nearly four months in 1999 — he enjoys in- teracting with a variety of artists to create spaces that display their art in the way they’ve envisioned. “The artist is the person who pre- pares the piece to be put on the wall, and my job is about the spaces in be- tween,” he says. This can prove to be a challenge at times, especially when the artist in- sists that a three-tonne water-filled piece must hang from the ceiling or when the show requires a piece of technology that’s nearly impossible to come by, says Harrison. One exhibition, for example, re- quired him to find a computer-pro- grammable Yamaha piano as well as a couple of classic-style 16-milli- metre projectors. The artist specified the projectors couldn’t be visible to the audience in any way, so Harrison had to cut a hole into the gallery wall to conceal them. He then had to hire someone to fabricate film loop de- vices to the artist’s specifications that clamped on to the projectors because all the ones the artist owned were out on loan. In addition, he had to buy double-white theatrical paint that couldn’t be found anywhere in Guelph. “You have to go into every exhibit with the philosophy that anything is possible and then make it happen by whatever means necessary and within your budget.” When arranging an installation, a gallery co-ordinator must think about things the average person isn’t even aware of, says Harrison. “For example, traffic flow is a consideration. People tend to turn to the right and follow the space around that way. They enter our front foyer and then move to the right into the bigger gallery on the south side of the building.” That pattern is important to be aware of, especially when it comes to hanging shows that an artist wants to be viewed in chronological order, he says. “You need to know which direc- tion the audience will naturally be drawn toward. Otherwise, you have them started at the end, rather than the beginning.” He also finds the main wall past MSAC’s foyer to be particularly powerful in terms of drawing in an audience. “It’s the most important because it’s the first thing a visitor will see. It’s like the hook.” As a result, he tends to reserve that area for larger pieces or works with high visual impact. Harrison installs between 16 and 22 exhibits every year. He’s currently working on a 26-piece exhibit by Montreal artist Lyne Lapointe titled “La Tache Aveugle” (“The Blind Spot”) on the main level of the gal- lery. The show, which explores no- tions of seen and unseen, the constellations and their mythologies, and the graphic strangeness of an- cient games, will be ready for viewing Dec. 9. In addition, he’s working on the design and preparing to install an ex- hibit by Guelph-based cartoon artist Seth on the second level of the gal- lery. Both shows will have opening receptions Jan. 19. A Head Above the Past Ups and downs of Canadians’ height give researchers picture of history BY SARAH FISCHER SPARK PROGRAM C anadians are getting taller, but that hasn’t always been the case. According to U of G research, Canada was part of a 19th-century global trend of decreasing height, which may reflect economic changes of the time. Profs. Kris Inwood, Economics, and John Cranfield, Agricultural Economics and Business, are chart- ing the height of Canadians through- out the 19th and 20th centuries. Although height increased steadily throughout the 20 th century, re- cords from a century earlier show a decline in national average stature. The researchers believe that may re- flect the nutrition and health conse- quences of 19th-century indus- trialization and market integration. “Industrialization and market in- tegration are linked to the spread of disease as well as increasing food prices,” says Inwood. “These two factors played an inhibiting role in an individual’s ability to grow during the 19th century.” Although surveys of school-aged children and government studies such as the 1953 National Weight-Height Survey clearly dem- onstrate a continual increase in Ca- nadian stature throughout the 20 th century, 19th-century measure- ments are more difficult to find. Inwood and Cranfield first looked at military records of Canadian soldiers in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War, where they found people bom in the 1840s were shorter than those bom in the 1830s and earlier. Records of Boer War troops indi- cate further decline in stature in peo- ple bom in the 1880s. This decline continued until the 1890s, according to First World War enlistment records. Federal penitentiary records also provide confirmation of the down- ward trend in height before 1900 and provide some evidence of decreasing height in women as well. Inwood believes industrialization and market integration may explain this lost height. As industrialization improved transportation and in- creased population densities, infec- tious diseases spread more easily, and the need to fight off disease probably diminished the energy available for physical growth, he says. Market integration may also have led to shorter stature because the price of food relative to manufac- tured commodities rose, he adds. For example, the Ontario dairy in- dustry was small-scale and locally based until transportation improve- ments after 1870 permitted an ex- pansion of long-distance trade, driving up local dairy product prices relative to other goods and services. “When the cost of food increases relative to other goods around them, people don’t buy food in the quan- tity they once did,” says Inwood. “In the 19th century, this could have had a significant impact on an individ- ual’s height if the food was one criti- cal to human growth, such as milk.” He and Cranfield are in the ex- ploratory phases of this study and, with help from history graduate stu- dent Asher Kirk-Elleker, will expand their records of female stature and also explore potential provincial dif- ferences. They hope to eventually compare 19th-century Canadians’ average height with that of their Aus- tralian, South African and New Zea- lander counterparts to examine how migratory patterns and ethnic differences affect stature. “Records of stature in the 19th century are important because they are the only real indicator of the physical standard of living prior to the 20th century,” says Inwood. “They offer evidence of how social and economic conditions affect our physical well-being.” brock road nursery garden. centre § Ljlft shoppe Cliilcfeerys Yiolid&y Join us November 26th from 10am until 2pm for a fun filled holiday craft session! All materials will be provided along with tasty holiday treats! Let us help add the wamcth § spirit of the holidays to your howce this season.. 1858 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, NIL 1G& SI 9.836.5010 www.brockroadnursery.com at Guelph 4 November 23 , 2005 Guelph Geneticists Hope Fruit Fly Studies Will Yield Treatment for Rare Disorder U of G grad suffering from Friedreich’s ataxia helps put human face on research BY ANDREW VOWLES H elping scientists battle a rare genetic disorder that normally kills by early adulthood is the research goal of Guelph fruit fly geneticists whose new model may eventually lead to the development of therapies for treating the disease. Prof. John Phillips, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and PhD can- didate Peter Anderson have pub- lished a journal article on the first-ever fruit fly model for studying the neurodegenerative disease. Their paper, listing Anderson as the lead author, was published this fall in Hu- man Molecular Genetics. The scientists hope their work will ultimately yield treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia, an inherited dis- ease that affects one in about 50,000 people in the United States — and that afflicts one particular Guelph graduate who, wheelchair and all, has visited their lab to see their re- search first-hand. People normally develop the dis- order between the ages of five and 15 and are usually wheelchair-bound within 20 years of showing the first symptoms. It causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of co-ordi- nation in the limbs, vision and hear- ing impairments, spine curvature and serious heart disease. Most peo- ple die in early adulthood of heart complications. No cure or treatment exists. The disease is named for Hans Friedreich, the doctor who first diag- nosed the disorder separately from other forms of ataxia — neurode- generative diseases that affect movement. The Guelph scientists have devel- oped the first-ever “knockdown” model in fruit flies for this particular disease. Scientists already use “knockout” mouse models in which rodents bred with the disease-caus- ing mutation are unable to make a protein involved in cells’ energy- making machinery. In the U of G model, fruit flies make reduced amounts of this frataxin protein as in human pa- tients. That may give other research- ers and clinicians a new tool to study treatments such as nutrition or other environmental factors, says Phillips “If anyone has a potential thera- peutic molecule or we have an idea about how to correct this failure of frataxin synthesis and make flies better, that might be something that could be used for people,” he says. He became interested in Friedreich’s ataxia after noting simi- larities between the disease and his own research field, especially the ef- fects of free oxygen radicals on nor- mal aging and in Lou Gehrig’s disease. People with Friedreich’s have se- verely reduced amounts of frataxin, a protein that normally helps to con- trol iron distribution in tissues. They also have excess iron in their blood. “Excess iron is a co-conspirator with reactive oxygen in doing bad things to cells,” says Phillips. In his Axelrod Building lab, he and Anderson created mutant fly embryos, raised the larvae on a com meal “porridge” in growth chambers and tested the adults on a kind of fruit fly jungle gym. (They stuck to- gether a series of plastic pipette tips — normally used to deliver precise amounts of liquids — to assemble an upright tower about as long as a fore- arm, then compared the climbing abilities of normal and mutated flies inside it.) Altering the frataxin gene had a dramatic and unexpected effect on the flies’ life cycle. Normally, fruit flies spend about 10 days as larvae, doing nothing but bulking up for metamorphosis. Adults live for about 90 days. But the genetically altered flies didn’t metamorphose until after 45 days — almost half the normal life- span of a fruit fly. Many plumped out to more than twice normal size, then died before pupating. “Ours want to stay larvae,” says Anderson. In fact, fewer than one per cent become adults, and they survive for only about five days. They appear normal for the first two or three days, then rapidly lose co-ordination and motor skills and are soon unable to move at all. Anderson says he hadn’t known what behaviour to expect, let alone the delayed larval stage. “It’s like a medical student walking into a hos- pital and the instructor says: ‘Tell me what’s wrong with this patient.’” To make sure, he repeated his ex- periments and did other genetic and biochemical tests to verify the re- sults. Phillips stresses that they’re not actually witnessing human ataxia symptoms in the flies. What’s im- portant, he says, is that the flies offer an experimental model in which changes may be traced to the mu- tated gene. Noting that U.S. researchers have asked about the model and a candi- date treatment compound, he adds that more work needs to be done us- ing various animal models and ap- proaches. "It would be naive to say we’re going to find a cure for Friedreich's ataxia. We’d be happy to identify other genes that would improve lives and that would give ideas of thera- peutic interventions.” That idea gained poignancy when Phillips got a phone call last year from Brent Moore, a Guelph zool- ogy graduate. Moore was initially di- agnosed with the disease during the first year of his undergraduate de- gree at U of G. He was still walking unaided when he graduated in 1995 but was falling more often. By age 29, he was using a wheelchair all the time. Two years ago, Moore spotted a description of Phillips’s work on ani- mal models at an ataxia conference in Georgia. After reading again about the U of G research in a maga- zine published by the National Ataxia Foundation based in Minne- sota, he called Phillips. “I thought it’d be good for both of us,” says Moore, who lives in Ayr. “He and Peter could put a person to the fruit fly.” Recalling his Guelph studies — and especially how he'd been able to put his own face on things he’d learned in genetics and molecular bi- ology classes — Moore adds: “I’m interested in the biological aspect of it.” He was also keen to learn what their research might ultimately hold j for ataxia patients like himself, his | girlfriend and a younger brother ! (another brother doesn’t have ataxia | but is a carrier of the genetic disor- der). Acknowledging the distance between a fruit fly model and a treat- ment — let alone a cure — for the disease, he insists that the research- ers’ work is important. “The fruit flies may seem trivial to some, but John and Peter could help a lot of people.” Moore plans to return to college next year to study geographic infor- mation systems. Noting that some people with less severe forms of Friedreich’s have lived into then- eighties, the 34-year-old says: “I’m optimistic about the future and not sitting around waiting for a cure. V m going ahead and living my life. But if a treatment comes along — great” Haring the rare chance to put a human face on his research has made a difference for Phillips as well (he was also contacted this fall by a man whose 12-year-old son has the disor- der). He confesses he had mixed feel- ings about meeting Moore, who is about his own son’s age. “I wasn’t flooded with any sense ofi ‘Gee, aren’t we wonderful, we’re saving humankind here.’ It was an overwhelming sense that here’s a person who had such a positive and healthful attitude about himself, in- cluding being realistic about his prospects.” Their research is supported by the National Ataxia Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Re- search, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Community Energy Planning Focus of Public Lecture U OF G, Guelph Hydro, the City of Guelph and other local partners are teaming up to promote the concept of community energy planning. The public is encouraged to get involved, starting by attending a lecture and information session Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the River Run Centre. The guest lecturer is Peter Garforth, a Purdue University pro- fessor and consultant known for his success in working with communi- ties, corporations and policy-makers to reduce energy consumption. He will discuss how community energy planning can help reduce the harm- ful economic and environmental effects of energy use. “Peter Garforth will be bringing ideas from around the world to Guelph, and there is much we can learn,” says Karen Farbridge, a polit- ical science instructor at U of G who is co-ordinating the lecture and Garforth’s visit. “The ways in which energy is used and delivered have a profound effect on the community at many levels, ranging from pollution and water quality to residential growth and maintaining green spaces,” says Farbridge. “Good energy planning is key to addressing such challenges, and with energy prices expected to increase, there is no better time to find bright ideas to save energy and money and to create jobs in our community.” Garforth, who is based in Ohio and Belgium, has held senior man- agement roles in major corporations and helped initiate unique energy conservation programs globally. He was the chair of the International In- stitute for Energy Conservation: co-chair of the International Advi- sory Committee of the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, D.C.; a founding member of the European Business Council for a Sustainable Energy Future; and a member of the Steering Committee on Energy Efficiency Financing of the Russian Federation. His Dec. 5 public lecture and par- ticipation in a campus workshop are being supported through U of G’s Faculty of Environmental Sciences under its new Environmental Sci- ence Research Initiative (ESRI). It funds projects that bring together teams of researchers to address topi- cal issues such as energy and pollu- tion and environmental and human health. The community energy planning project, one of three to receive inaugural funding from ESRI this fall, is headed by Prof. Warren Stiver, Engineering, who holds a Chair in Environmental Design Engineering from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. The lecture is co-sponsored by Guelph Hydro Inc. and the City of Guelph. For more information, contact Farbridge at Ext. 56641 or kfarbrid@uoguelph.ca. at Guelph 5 November 23, 2005 i it m m molecular biology student ami a President’s Scholar I am a writer, itlin maker and producer with films screened at international film festival* JfiHtlr. arc chrome s> ndronie and flfir mn s al^ia iH« arc inlimte “My name has been given wings,” says Prof. Susan Douglas. PHUIU BY UKANI MAKIIN She’s Wingin’ It! Former student pays tribute to fine art prof by naming fly species after her BY REBECCA KENDALL P rof. Susan Douglas, Fine Art and Music, has made a | name for herself in a way she never I expected — as a bug species. Owen Lonsdale, a PhD candidate I in the Department of Environmental Biology, is naming a new species of fly after Douglas, whose course he \ took as an undergraduate in \999 . He credits her with showing him how to appreciate and analyze visual art and says her classes were pro- found. “One of the things you normally don’t have going into art is a sense of how to critically assess art, and she helped develop that,” he says. Lonsdale now uses his talent for illustration and his eye for detail when drawing scientific diagrams of the insects he studies and identifies. Beyond blending art and science in his artistic renderings of bugs, he has woven his own history with art into his decision to name his discovery of a new fly species after Douglas. “It’s not common practice to name a species after someone who isn’t entomologically based,” he says, “but after diagnosing the spe- cies, I wanted to recognize the fine art part of my background and the contribution Susan has made.” From there, Sobarocephala douglasea was bom. Lonsdale hasn’t published details on his finding yet, but within the meticulously detailed description, it’s known that the in- sect is a small yellow fly, half a centi- metre in length, with a slender yellow body, dark spots and yellow bristles. “My name has been given wings,” says Douglas. Bom in England and raised in Ar- gentina, she just returned to Guelph from Argentina in August after spending a year there doing research. She’s working to develop an analysis of Argentinian and Canadian art that articulates national identity, specifi- cally from 1960 to the present, using international exhibitions of art that include collections, official commu- nications, photographs, articles and books. She hopes to determine how cultural identity relates to the idea of nation and how the institutions, cul- tural policies and art forms project each nation’s sense of self. While on sabbatical, Douglas was invited to lecture at key universities in Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza and San Juan. Here at Guelph, she lectures on the visual culture of Latin America in the modem period. Diverse Abilities ii/vflpute Possibilities rrr'riwi Fax (519) M1-7S10 BY ANDREW VOWLES T hat student you see tuned in to her iPod may be listening not to her favourite hip-hop artist but to her engineering professor giving this week’s lecture in a third-year course in signal processing. Referring to his experimental use of podcasting to share his digitally recorded lectures — raw and uncut — with almost 100 students on the course website. Prof. Bob Dony quips: “You can tell they’re listening if their eyes are glazed over.” He hopes to find out whether giving tech-sawy students a chance to hear his lectures again at their own convenience will help reinforce his conventional chalk-talk lectures this semester. I’m digitally recording the voice part of my lecture and sticking it on the web. It’s a perfect application be- cause we talk about audio processing and communication systems in that course.” Students can log on to the course website to hear the lecture on their PC at home, on their laptop in the li- brary or on their iPod, MP3 player or other devices they normally use to listen to music and other audio files. The recordings are available to stu- dents with hearing impairments us- ig ordinary assistive devices. Dony says he’d been seeking ways to incorporate new technology and improve his delivery of the course. This particular technology has been used at other universities, including several American schools that even provide iPods to some stu- dents enrolled in courses that use podcasting. Might students see it as a way to skip lectures and catch up later? Dony shakes his head, explaining that the recordings are no substitute for in-class work involving lots of math and equations on the black- board. His thrice-weekly lectures in the Landscape Architecture Building also give him a chance to answer in- dividual questions and gain stu- dents’ feedback on concepts and his teaching. At the same time, he figures his recorded lectures will help students underline ideas discussed in class — not to mention offering them differ- ent ways to learn the material. He plans to survey students about the experiment at the end of the semester. Dony says he created a buzz when he showed up for the first lec- ture wearing what one student called a “Starship Enterprise” gizmo. The earpiece — actually a digital micro- phone/speaker designed for hands- free use with a cellphone — records his voice digitally on to his pocket PC (a hand-held Hewlett-Packard iPAQ). Back at his office, it takes only a few minutes to load the file on to the course website. Within five minutes, students registered in the course can down- load the file to hear the lecture again. (They can also obtain the file through an RSS webfeed, a feature that works like an e-mail alert to in- form them when new content has been placed on the course website.) Allowing that he’s a more visual than auditory learner, engineering systems and computing student Tom Watts says he’s used the course podcast only once to catch up on a missed lecture. Not that he misses many of Dony’s classes: Watts says the professor’s blackboard work is a vital part of the course. He says podcasting may be more useful for instructors who bring a “PowerPoint” approach to the class- room. “They shoot through things fairly quickly, so when you go home and listen, you can follow along more easily.” Katie McQuoid, a fourth-year bi- ological engineering student, says she finds the podcast useful when she’s working on an assignment sev- eral days after a lecture on a particu- larly complicated topic or when she’s missed something in her class notes. “I had never heard of podcasting before this course, although I defi- nitely think it would be handy for most classes.” Aldo Caputo, manager of learn- ing technology and courseware in- novation in Teaching Support Services, says his office has helped instructors use audio or music on- line within WebCT, but not for podcasting. Referring to Dony’s course, he says: “I think this is part of a trend to examine how different technologies can allow professors to break out of the traditional course delivery model and provide an en- hanced learning experience for students.” For Dony, podcasting is the clos- est he'll come to providing course notes on his website. “For this type of course, students do learn best when they’re deriving equations with me. Having notes on the web is not as useful.” In the lab, he studies image and audio processing for various appli- cations, from improving hearing aids to cleaning up recordings of, say, horse heartbeats used in teach- ing veterinary students to diagnose diseases. He views podcasting as a kind of e-leaming strategy to reach students accustomed to using a variety of technologies inside the classroom and out. “It’s an audience that’s techno- logically aware,” he says. Dony smiles as he contrasts to- day’s learning tools with the clunky Radio Shack TRS80 displayed in his Thombrough Building office — the very machine he used in the early 1980s to learn programming in his own university student days. “They have their iPods. They’re the digital generation.” Engineering Prof Tests iPod Use Experiment examines whether podcasting technology improves delivery of third-year signal processing course at Guelph 6 November 23, 2005 profile If Only They Could Talk Improving lives of captive animals drives U of G researcher By Andrew Vowles W hat’s the worst case of animal suffering that Prof. Georgia Mason, Animal and Poultry Science, has ever seen? It seems a likely question for the Canada Research Chair in Animal Welfare. After all, she’s just finished rhyming off a litany of practices endured routinely by many pets, livestock and zoo and lab animals, from unnatural surroundings and too-early weaning to any number of ways to end their lives. Mason’s matter-of-fact words belie the passion in her voice — a London accent further inflected with irony — as she says: “From birth to death, there’s a wide range of things going on there.” But her answer to the query brings home the issue of animal welfare in an unexpected way. Never mind those oc- casional headlines about horrifically abused pets or farm animals. For all the horrors, those stories make headlines partly because of their rarity. Instead, think about what you did when you heard that telltale scrabbling behind your walls or in your ceiling, or the last time you spotted those calling cards deposited in your cupboard or drawer. “The most personally upsetting thing was a review commis- sioned by the London Zoo on pest control for rodents,” says Mason, whose CV includes extensive hands-on experience with everything from captive bears to caged songbirds. “I just stum- bled into a world of pain and misery, affecting millions of ani- mals, that I’d never thought about before.” That study, published in 2003 while she still belonged to the Animal Behaviour Research Group in the zoology department at the University of Oxford, acknowledged the importance of controlling rodents to prevent loss of crops and to stem the spread of disease. Still, her paper questioned the humaneness of various control practices, especially sticky boards that hold ani- mals fast like “giant flypaper” or anticoagulants, the most com- mon means of rodent control, which may leave animals bleeding internally to death for days. (Also acknowledging that scientists disagree over whether animals suffer, Mason takes the ethical view of “better safe than sorry.”) From highlighting paradoxes in how we treat different ani- mals — even rodents — to pointing out how we might improve animal husbandry and housing, Mason is interested in animals motivations and how they cope with stress, especially how and why they develop stereotypic behaviour. That’s no small mat- ter, she says, referring to the estimated 85 million or more ani- mals in labs, farms and zoos around the world that show some form of stereotypy: repeated and seemingly purposeless behav- iour such as a bear pacing its enclosure or a baboon absorbed in plucking at its fur. “There’s plenty to worry about.” And, like her answer to the suffering-animal question, it’s more complicated than it might look. Even well-intentioned as- sumptions may turn out to be false. An observer watching as a polar bear measures out its enclosure again and again may as- sume that the animal is acting out a thwarted hunting ritual. But Mason’s work shows that stereotypy here has more to do with an instinct to roam a territory the size of Italy — a revela- tion that may help in designing better enclosures. Mason brought her research to Guelph in fall 2004. Having spent the past two decades studying, teaching and advising on animal welfare issues in England — including the past 10 years as a lecturer and scientist at Oxford — she now aims to help build on U of G’s reputation as a centre for animal welfare studies and practice. “We already had excellent cover in the area of farm animal welfare, probably one of the strongest groups in North Amer- ica,” says Prof. Ian Duncan, holder of a chair in animal welfare in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science. Other cam- pus experts in animal welfare are Prof. Tina Widowski, Animal and Poultry Science, and Prof. Suzanne Millman, Population Medicine. “Georgia’s expertise with lab animals and zoo ani- mals means we must now be considered one of the top two or three animal-welfare research groups in the world,” Duncan says. On the phone in her office one recent morning, Mason is discussing not animals but paint choices. With a new Canada Foundation for Innovation grant, she is outfitting a new re- search suite with lab and office space for analyzing behavioural videos and investigating animals’ stress hormone levels. If it helps to attract more top students and post-docs to Guelph, Mason figures it’s worth paying a bit of attention to layout, lighting and colour schemes for the new space — not the only instance where her studies of animal housing and surroundings spill over into the human domain. She says the past year spent adjusting to her new post has made her something of a behavioural test case herself. Mason ticks off the recent changes: buying and selling a house, getting married to her former Oxford colleague and now U of G envi- ronmental biology professor Jonathan Newman, leaving her family and packing up their possessions — including two part- Abyssinian cats — for a move to a new country, culture and work environment. Small wonder she’s been feeling a bit like one of her dispossessed lab animals. “I’ve really not been myself, but it’s not surprising. These major life events, as they’re called in the psychology literature, have long been known to cause stress.” She confesses to some wry amusement in recognizing the roots of her own behaviour. “For example, when I sleep badly, I know it’s likely because the daily rhythms of my corticosteroid hormones are messed up, and when I succumb to yet another bug, I realize I’m proba- bly immunosuppressed. Homesickness hasn’t been too much fun, but I can’t help admitting the process has been quite interesting.” Besides plans to populate a lab with rodents such as gerbils and deer mice in U of G’s Central Animal Facility, Mason is eye- ing possible locations on campus to house American mink for a newly arrived graduate student to study how fur farms may af- fect carnivore psychology and breeding. On campus or at Guelph’s field stations, she hopes to investigate behaviour in farm animals. Dairy cattle, for instance, show interesting oral stereotypy, including tongue twisting. Duncan says her methods, including the use of non-in vasive stress measures, mirror techniques used by U of G researchers to investigate animal welfare. He says that approach involves “developing various techniques of ‘asking’ animals what they feel about the conditions under which they are kept. Says Mason: “My main goal is to refine the science of welfare assessment and to understand what’s going to cause problems. Then the whole field could use measures more confidently and draw inferences more certainly.” Not to mention earning more respect from other scientists for a relatively young and still-growing research discipline. She says some researchers still re- gard animal welfare at times as “sappy and anthropomorphic" or driven by a political or animal-rights agenda. There’s more than a bit of irony in that, i The first animal-welfare specialist to be published in Nature says her own pas- sion for animals led her to science rather than to activism. "The reason we’re doing science is that we should not be led by feelings but by data,” says Mason, whose work has also appeared in Science, Trends in Neuroscience and New Scientist, as well as the primary journals in her field, in- cluding Applied Animal Behaviour Sci- ence, Animal Welfare and Animal Behaviour. The research questions involve eth- ics, animal-handling practices, psy- chology, neuroscience — a raft of study areas that mirror the diverse interests of Guelph researchers who have been affiliated with the Colonel K.L. Camp- bell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare on campus. Having found her- self over the past year discussing cogni- tive science with neuroscientists in the Department of Psychology and exploring the question of consciousness with a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, she says: “Asking how I have changed the world is like asking a con- servation biologist whether he or she has saved any species from extinction or asking a biomedical scientist whether he or she has found a cure for a disease. The answer from one scientist is almost always going to be ‘no.’ It takes a diaspora, plus additional people who aren’t scientists, to then turn the results into action.” Obtaining data, of course, requires observing animals raised and kept in ideal and not-so-ideal conditions, yet another irony for this year’s recipient of a prominent inaugural international award given by the Johns Hopkins University’s Centre for Al- ternatives to Animal Testing and Charles River Laboratories. “You have to use practices that may not be optimal for wel- fare,” says Mason. “I’m interested in seeing how delaying rear- ing or enriching environments affects behaviour. Yet, to do this, I will be deliberately housing some animals in barren con- ditions. It’s a real quandary.” That’s balanced, however, by the prospect of improving conditions for animals, whether that involves better ways to clean rat cages or consulting with zoo officials as she did in Eng- land through membership on the U.K. Elephant Taxon Advi- sory Group. She says her most useful work so far was her post-doc research at the University of Cambridge on weaning ages of mink raised on fur farms. Leaving the young with their mothers for an extra three weeks led to a sharp and lasting de- cline in such abnormal behaviours as pacing and plucking of tail fur. “That work helped make the difference for tens of thousands of baby mink." It also reflects her interest in how early life experiences affect animals’ long-term responses to captivity, whether in zoos, labs or bams. As for her own formative years, growing up in a Lon- don suburb hardly exposed her to many exotic animals. But she fed a growing interest by looking after a steady stream of cats and by soaking up books and documentaries. “James Herriot has a lot to answer for." She had planned to complete vet school at Cambridge, but two years into that program, she switched to zoology. “I loved this subject so much from the day I started,” she says, recalling her early fascination with the evolutionary roots of animal be- haviour. Looking for words to express her thoughts and feelings, she says: “I want to use the language of esthetics. I was being taught about how animals have been beautifully designed by evolution and also how neat and elegant scientific experiments can be. Yet the economy and efficiency of animals living in the natural world seemed a stark contrast with the bizarre, counterproduc- tive excesses they can show in captivity. It was that paradox that first got me hooked.” at Guelph 7 November 23, 2005 Driven to Experiment Multidisciplinary research planned for new virtual-reality driving simulator aims to reduce risk of vehicle accidents BY ANDREW VOWLES H ands up, anyone who’s fiddled with a BlackBerry while driving. What about punching numbers into a cellphone while behind the wheel? Twirling the radio dial? Applying makeup? Reading the newspaper? All of the above, at once? They’re all potential distractions that can fragment a vehicle driver’s attention into something resembling multiple split screens on a computer. And, says Prof. Lana Trick, Psychol- ogy, the distracted driver may be- come a dangerous driver. Referring to collisions caused by momentary attention lapses, she says: “One of the reasons people have these 'looked-but-didn’t-see’ accidents is that they were distracted while driving." In Canada, 2,778 people died in car accidents in 2003 and more than 222,000 were injured, according to Transport Canada. That year, there were almost 2,500 collisions causing death and more than 154,000 acci- dents causing injury. Those numbers don’t even begin to include the attendant costs of health care and social services, lost work time and property damages, says Prof. Blair Nonnecke, Comput- ing and Information Science (CIS). “It’s a mess.” Reducing the risk of vehicle acci- \ dents — and heading off damages, injuries and deaths on the road — is a key goal of the Guelph scientists’ multidisciplinary research planned for a new virtual-reality driving sim- ulator that opened on campus this fall. The new $1 -million lab, called DRIVE (Driving Research in Virtual Environments), will allow the U of G investigators to study three main topics: how age and experience affect crash risk, the impact of new tech- nologies in vehicles and factors that influence drivers’ attention. “I’m interested in the mystery of why people drive into things the/ re looking at,” says Trick, explaining that some drivers have trouble keep- ing track of events on the road. “Of- ten the information was right there in front of them, but they didn’t pay attention to it.” She plans to study two groups with disproportionate crash risks: younger drivers, whose lack of expe- rience may cause risky behaviour, and older drivers, whose greater ex- perience behind the wheel may be compromised by other problems that come with age. For older drivers, those problems may include everything from a re- duced visual field to restricted mo- bility of the head and eyes. But Trick says it’s not strictly a physical issue. She believes there’s something else involving the brain and changes to attentiveness and mental processing. “I believe part of the reason it’s harder for older people is that they have to devote more energy or atten- tion to more sensory things that oth- ers take for granted.” She adds that many older drivers — and older airline pilots — may compensate for sensory problems by thinking more strategically. The ability to keep track of many differ- ent objects or people — whether you’re driving or playing hockey — has been shown to vary with age as well. Along with Prof. Lori Vallis, Hu- man Health and Nutritional Sci- ences, she plans to test head and eye movement in older drivers in the new simulator using an eye-tracking monitor. Trick and a master’s student, Julie Famewo, also plan to look at how drivers, no matter their age, handle distractions on the road. They want to see whether experi- enced drivers are better at noticing changing conditions, including at busy places such as intersections. (Roughly akin to that earlier “looked-but-didn’t-see” problem, an inability to pick up changes, or so-called change blindness, may ex- plain the phenomenon voiced by many drivers at accident scenes as “it came out of nowhere.”) The researchers are also inter- ested in the effects of a growing array of potential distractions inside the car. Earlier studies already suggest that various technologies from cellphones to DVDs contribute to inattentiveness and accidents. Take those in-vehicle navigation systems designed to provide travel information, help with night driving or even, ironically, warn of potential collisions. Nonnecke, who worked at a company making online maps and directions before coming to U of G, used one such instrument recently to drive to a conference in Boston, home to what he calls some of the most hazardous interchanges on the continent. Although the system worked, it was “amazingly distracting,” he says. As with his collaborators’ studies of driver attention, he wants to learn more about how to make cars and ancillary systems easier and safer to use. “The simulator is a safe place to do it,” he says, glancing around at the specially designed and equipped DRIVE lab that opened in the Thombrough Building in September. Nonnecke explains that the DriveSafety simulator is designed to provide sensations of driving with- out the real-life road dangers, allow- ing the researchers to safely test challenging conditions that might normally lead to accidents. The centrepiece of the lab is a car — a used Saturn, forest green, “non-smoking,” quips Nonnecke — surrounded by seven-foot projection screens playing a simulated driving environment beamed on to the screens by overhead projectors. The scenarios themselves are pro- grammed by the researchers and their students through computer monitors in the lab’s observation area. (For programming, they attach a mock steering wheel normally used in video gaming to the computers.) Inside the car, the steering wheel, pedals, gear shift and other controls work normally. The investigators can alter road, weather, lighting, traffic and other conditions to test the driver’s reactions. Information flows back from the vehicle to the computers, allowing the researchers to study driver behaviour and per- formance and collect mechanical data from vehicle speed to the angle of the steering wheel. (The car’s en- gine has been removed — only nec- essary hydraulics remain — and replaced by electronic and feedback equipment.) Miniature cameras provide further information. The system even allows the driver to trigger changes in the simulation: adjusting the radio, for example, might cause an image of a pedestrian to flash up on the screen. Nonnecke says he’s been con- tacted by Ontario Ministry of Trans- portation officials who want to program moose into the simulation to mimic road hazards in northern Ontario. Trick has used the system for a preliminary study of drivers’ use of an in-vehicle navigation system. She had wondered whether the system’s flashing directional arrows and audi- tory instructions would distract the attention of older drivers in particu- lar. The study found that older and younger subjects alike benefited from voice-over directions. Acknowledging concerns about simulator adaptation syndrome (SAS) — an affliction caused by vir- tual-reality systems that may induce nausea and other motion sickness symptoms, particularly in older us- ers — Nonnecke says subjects com- plete a detailed questionnaire intended to screen out potentially squeamish drivers. The simulation itself may be altered to, say, play a straight road with few changes. And Trick says training with short, re- peated practice sessions also helps build subjects’ tolerance for SAS. She became interested in study- ing the role of attention in driving as a post-doc at the University of Brit- ish Columbia after witnessing two cars collide in broad daylight at an intersection with no other vehicles nearby. Oil That’s Good for You Researchers test the effects of adding omega- 3s to everyday foods BY KATE ROBERTS SPARK PROGRAM C ERTAIN FATTY ACIDS in fish reduce heart disease mortality and improve brain functioning and visual and cognitive performance. For convenience’s sake — and because some people just don’t like to eat fish — products containing fish fatty acids are being developed. But researchers wonder if these alternative forms are truly as effective as the real thing. Prof. Bruce Holub, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, and McGill University professor Peter Jones are planning to use clini- cal trials to test products that have been enhanced with omega-3s to see if they’re giving consumers the same amount of the substance — and the same health benefits — that fish does. Research has shown that fish oil can lower a blood fat called triglyceride, a risk factor for heart at- tacks, says Holub. “If we can show that the fish oils in alternative forms are just as effective as natural fish oils in lowering triglycerides, people can get the benefits without actually hav- ing to eat fish.” Most North Americans don’t get enough omega-3s, but scientists have figured out ways to get the fatty acids into well-liked foods such as eggs, milk and bread. Omega-3s can be added to some foods naturally, such as feeding cows and chickens an omega-3 diet that they pass on through their milk and eggs. For baked goods, fish oil can be added in microencapsulated form (surrounded by a starchy coating). This makes a fine powder, like flour, that can be used in a highly stable, heat-resistant form as an ingredient in baked products and beverages. Other strategies for boosting omega-3 consumption include add- ing high-quality fish oil to products such as ready-to-use scrambled egg mixes. If the alternative forms are found to be effective, Holub says doctors could suggest that their patients eat certain omega- 3 -enriched foods, which could ultimately prevent them from having to take triglyceride drugs by the time they’re 50. It could also prevent early heart disease and heart attacks. “If the health-care system can be- come involved, we can have foods that reduce risk factors for heart dis- ease and introduce them to people in their 20s, so they can avoid having a heart attack 30 years down the road,” he says. “This will dramatically re- duce health-care costs.” This project was funded by the Advanced Foods and Materials Net- work, the Heart and Stroke Founda- tion of Ontario and Bumbrae Farms. at Guelph S November 23, 2005 after hours Henry Thille HENRY THILLE Faculty member iti the Department of Economics since 2001 Prof. Henry Thille likes to canoe in the summer and curl in the winter. He’s currently gearing up for another season of hitting the rocks with friends at the rink. Besides the exercise benefits, Thille enjoys curling for its social aspects. “It’s something you can do with friends and family, and we always get together for a beer afterward,” he says. In the warmer months, he likes going up north and spending time in the wilderness for seven to 10 days at a time. He and his family try to go every year and have par- ticularly enjoyed visits to Temagami and Woodland Caribou, near Red Lake, Ont. “We never go to the same place twice.” Thille recently spent a year-long sabbatical in Eng- land, and while there, he and his wife, along with their seven-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, visited France, Scotland and Cyprus. “Travelling with children means you do things a lot differently,” he says. Whenever possible, they made a point of visiting a zoo in whatever city they were staying MEREDITH CRAIG Research assistant in the Department of Population Medi- cine since 2004 Meredith Craig is an avid fan of video games. She admits she’s “more than a little addicted” to her computer. Recently, she’s been spending a lot of her spare time playing GTA and MVP 2004. A graduate of Durham Col- lege’s graphics design program, she also uses her computer to cre- ate graphics and logos for a vari- ety of uses. “I do a lot of things, in- cluding making business cards for my family and labels for my dad’s homemade wine.” Craig enjoys spending time with friends and explor- ing some of the city’s restaurants. She’s particularly fond of the curry dishes at Diana Downtown and the burgers at the Bookshelf Caft. “I don’t know what is it about Meredith Craig them, but they’re fantastic.” She’s currently finishing the last book in the five-book series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and says it’s time for a change in genre. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is her next selection. “My sister gave it to me.” Craig also enjoys foreign films and doing the cross- word in the Globe and Mail every Sunday. “The weird thing about me doing crosswords is that I’m a really bad speller,” she laughs. She is the proud owner of a four-year-old calico cat, Ripley, named after Sigourney Weaver’s character in the movie Alien. SHEELAH RODRIGUEZ Fifth-year student in English With a recent change in her major and a move that requires her to commute from Waterloo, Sheelah Rodriguez has been facing new challenges this semester. “Allotting time for work, homework and catching up with my friends, family and boyfriend on top of the commute has been a big challenge,” she says, “but learning I had to wake up two hours before class was the toughest. Despite the changes, this is my best year yet.” Pursuing a degree in English combines her favourite pastime — reading — with education and encouraged her to join the Creative Writing Society and the Litera- ture and English Society. Both campus groups focus on literary technique and stylistic improvement, the former in creative writing and the latter in academic work Rodriguez is also a volunteer writer for the Ontarion , using the opportunity to gain experience for a future ca- reer in either publishing or journalism. On nights when she can find time for herself, she dives into her creative writing. She’s also a big fan of po- etry, particularly works by Sharon Olds and Shel Silverstein, and recommends The Wellspring by Olds and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Silverstein. In addition, she likes to spend quality time with her cat, Hershey. Rodriguez makes a point of spending time at the gym each week, an activity she considers particularly impor- tant as winter nears. “The winter can get depressing, but working out lifts my mood and keeps me focused,” she says. 8o Donors Take the Prizes Campus United Way campaign tops $300,000 mark T he United Way campus campaign has given away 80 prizes in five weekly incentive draws designed to encourage early con- tributions to the annual fundraising drive. “We’ve had a great response,” says co-chair Prof. Fred Ramprashad of the College of Biological Science. “Our campaign has reached $311,000 on our way to a goal of $350,000. It’s terrific. The campus community is being very generous.” Generous, too, are the individu- als, departments and local busi- nesses that donated those 80 incentive prizes, adds Irene Thomp- son, assistant director of residence life. She is also campaign co-chair along with undergraduate student Aiden Abram. Thompson reminds donors that the biggest prize is yet to come — a Stage West theatre week- end for two donated by Goliger’s TravelPlus in Guelph. Everyone who has turned in a pledge form is eligible for the grand prize, which will be drawn Dec. 1. Pledge forms can be downloaded from the United Way campaign website at www.united way.uoguelph.ca. The website also includes a listing of incentive prize winners and do- nors, along with announcements of special United Way events such as the Nov. 24 performance of the To- bago Signal Hill Choir. It begins at 8 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. Call 763-3000 for tickets. Other coming events include a giant United Way raffle sponsored by Student Affairs. Tickets are $1 each or 3 for $2, available at Co-op Education and Career Services and the Centre for Students With Dis- abilities on Level 3 of the University Centre. The draw is Nov. 24. Financial Services is running a Mini-Putt Challenge Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Level 5 of the University Centre. Cost is $2. Grand prize is a gift basket. On Nov. 28, Abram will have his head shaved for the United Way in the University Centre courtyard at 1 p.m. He says anyone who wants to make a pledge or join him in the bar- ber’s chair can contact him at mabram@uoguelph.ca. At Guelph Publication Schedule Publication Date Deadline Publication Date Deadline ' Dec. 7 Nov. 29 Feb. 8 Jan. 31 Jan. 11 Jan. 3 Feb. 22 Feb. 14 Jan. 25 Jan. 17 March 8 Feb. 28 Hammond Lectures Focus of CBC Radio Program Dec. 7 I ti (lanetary Health” is the tide of a CBC Radio program set to air in December based on the 2004/05 Kenneth Hammond Lectures on Environ- ment, Energy and Resources sponsored by U of G’s Faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES). The program will examine links between environment and human health, says Prof. Joe Ackerman, as- sociate dean of FES and organizer of the annual lecture series. “A lot of people are interested in the relationship between environ- mental conditions and the health of organisms, including humans,” says Ackerman. “Environmental condi- tions do affect humans.” CBC's Ideas program, hosted by Paul Kennedy, will draw on re- corded lectures given last March on campus by Prof. Ward Chesworth, Land Resource Science, who dis- cussed sustainable agriculture; Murray McBride of Cornell Univer- sity ( neurodegenera tive diseases and the environment); David MacLean of the University of New Brunswick (forests); and Dominique Charron of the Public Health Agency of Canada (climate change). A book containing the lecture transcripts and commentary by Guelph faculty will also be made available through the CBC. The hour-long program will air Dec. 7 beginning at 9:05 p.m. Earlier Hammond lectures have been broadcast on Ideas in past years. The 2005/06 lectures planned for March 2006 will focus on envi- ronmental science and the health of aquatic environments. 1*1 Options Les options make all the font touts difference la difference No matter what Peu Imports your unhrermtty la nature eta education, you can vos etudes enjoy a career with university ires, a difference in the vous pouvez Canadian Forces. bdndf icier d’une carriers difTdrente • Engineers dans les Forces • Physiotherapists canadlennes. • Social Workers • Pilots • ingenleurs • Doctors • Phystothdrapeutes • Nurses * Ttavallleurs • Pharmacists soclaux/ • Naval Officers travallleuses soclaleB To team more, • Pilotes contact us today. • Mddeclns • Infirm tors/ In firm fores • Pharmaclens/ pharmaciennee • Offlclers de marine Pour obtentr de plus amp lee rente tenements, veulllez communiquer avec nous d*s aujourd'hul. CanadS at Guelph 9 November 23, 2005 New Scholarships Announced Continued from page 1 ' retail clothing chain in Canada. Nona Macdonald Heaslip is a former journalist and public relations spe- i cialist who began her career with the CBC in Vancouver, Toronto and ! Montreal and as a reporter in Saskatoon and Vancouver. She i moved to the United Nations, then to Time Inc. in New York City, be- I fore returning to Canada and her j alma mater, the University of To- ronto, as public relations manager. The Heaslips believe in giving back to the community and have supported hospitals, non-profit agencies and many cultural organi- zations such as the Canadian Opera Company, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Shaw Festival. In addition, they've established similar scholar- ships at six other Canadian universities and colleges. “William and Nona Heaslip have made an outstanding commitment to assisting undergraduate students with financial need by establishing these renewable awards,” says presi- dent Alastair Summerlee. “Their generous gift will help many talented students reach their full potential.” Johnston is a perfect example. She moved out on her own when she was 17, shortly after discovering she was pregnant, and supported herself while finishing high school. After her daughter’s birth, “every- thing changed,” she says. "At that point, I’d given up all hope of going \ to \aw school, but I still wanted to work in the field.” So she enrolled in the law and se- curity administration program at Conestoga College. During her first semester, her sister, Jaimie Lynn, died. “I struggled with that and failed a couple of courses." She ended up dropping out. “I went to work until the next fall, when I could enrol again and start anew.” Johnston obtained her diploma, then enrolled at Mohawk College, earning a certificate in small busi- ness management with a 95-per-cent average. “I started to realize that maybe I could do it — go to univer- sity and on to law school.” She enrolled at U of G, schedul- ing her classes around Abigail’s school hours. Juggling a child and university has its challenges, she says. “I’m used to it, but it takes some serious time-management skills, not to mention budgeting.” Despite her time constraints, she continues to do volunteer work, a tradition she began in Grade 8, and is involved in U of G’s peer helper program. Johnston, who also received the inaugural City of Guelph 175th- An- niversary Scholarship this fall, a one-time $2,000 award, hopes to eventually apply to law school at the University of Toronto. “Ever since I can remember, the law is the only thing I’ve ever been interested in,” she says. And Abigail may follow in her footsteps. “She says she’s going to work in my office — she wants to be my little law clerk.” In addition to the Heaslip schol- arships, several other new under- graduate and graduate scholarships were announced during the Univer- sity-wide undergraduate student awards presentations Nov. 9 and the graduate student awards presenta- tions Nov. 21. Close to 250 people attended the events, including undergraduate and graduate students who were recog- nized for their academic achieve- ments and scholastic goals. Award donors, including individuals, fami- lies, corporations and organizations, also attended and were thanked for investing in the students’ futures. “Each award, each recipient and each donor represents a personal story and a shared commitment to higher learning,” Summerlee says. Other new scholarships an- nounced during the ceremonies in- clude: • The Edward Stewart Graduate Scholarship in Scottish Studies. Created and endowed by friends and family of the late Edward Stewart, a former Ontario deputy minister of education and secre- tary of cabinet, the scholarship honours his lifelong interests in higher education, Scottish culture and history. • The Anna Hovanec and Val Hovanec OGS Funds. Established by the Lupina Foundation of To- ronto, the first scholarship hon- ours foundation chair Margret Hovanec’s mother, Anna. It will support Ontario Graduate Schol- arships for students doing re- search related to women’s health in rural communities. The second scholarship honours her late fa- ther, Val, and is directed to gradu- ate students pursuing research in environmental biology, with a preference for recipients studying the impact of agricultural chemi- cals on farmers’ health. • Bayer Crop Science OGS Fund. This one-time funding is for On- tario Graduate Scholarships for students doing research in envi- ronmental biology and plant agri- culture. • The Agnes Varis Undergraduate Scholarship in Women’s Studies. A new College of Arts award es- tablished by Agnes Varis, founder and president of Agvar Chemicals, will be presented annually to a student who demonstrates a pas- sion for and commitment to ad- vancing education for women. If you can identify where this photo was taken on campus, you will have your name entered in a draw to be held at the end of the semester for a $50 gift certificate donated by the U of G Bookstore. Anyone who submits the right answer by Nov. 25 at 4:45 p.m. is eligible for the draw. Send your response to r.kendall@exec.uoguelph.ca or call Ext. 56982. The following people correctly identified the Nov. 9 photo as a mural near the Pages entrance in the NlacNaughton Building: Dave Eickmeyer, Carrie Tanti, Lucia Costanzo and Karen MacDonald. PHOTO BY REBECCA KENDALL Recycling Tip of the Month Make sure you flatten your card- board and place it by a recycling container. Flattening the card- board preserves space in the out- door blue bins and also prevents indoor bins from overflowing too quickly. For more ideas and information, visit the website www.pr.uoguelph.ca/sustain. For information about At Guelph advertising, contact Scott Anderson at 827-9169 or theandersondifference@rogers.com. mmmmMm \ 1 POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS ... Design your own unique pattern , the possibilities are endless! • EXTENSIVE SELECTIONS • Ceramic Marble Slate • OVER 1000 COLOURS TO CHOOSE • "Quality and Craftsmanship are a Family Tradition" MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WELLINGTON established 1996 Our school has been given an AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education • full 8 half day programs for 2 1/2 to 5 years • Government licenced • qualified Montessori teachers • reading, writing, math 8 life skills • French, music, art 8 physical education • dance lessons 821-5876 68 Suffolk Street West, GUELPH N1H 2J2 www.monte8sori-school.ca at Guelph 10 November 23, 2005 CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Large oak rolltop desk, 36 by 58 by 48 inches, 766-9093. Bissell carpet cleaner, lightweight; Homedics Ultra foot bath with heat, acupressure surface; Denise Austin book Sculpt Your Body With Ball and Bands, includes three Pilates bands, 837-4378. La-Z-Boy chair, medium blue, excellent condition, 821-2273 after 6 p.m. Solid oak Palliser entertainment unit for television and stereo, extra stor- age space, like new, 763-1386 or nrigby@hrs.uoguelph.ca. FOR RENT Basement apartment for mature stu- dent for winter semester, close to downtown and bus route, private entrance, non-smokers, cat wel- come, $500 a month inclusive, Melanie, mmisanch@open. uoguelph.ca. Two-bedroom century home in St. George’s Park area, close to down- town and bus route, fireplace in liv- ing room, laundry, parking, suitable for married couple, grad student or professor, available mid-December or Jan. 1, $1,200 a month plus utili- ties, Henry, 837-2252. Two-bedroom townhouse, College/ Scottsdale area, on bus route, close to shopping, large bedrooms, laun- dry, available Jan. 1, $995 a month plus utilities, John, 829-0506. Two-bedroom country apartment on treed lot, patio, deck, yard, pri- vate entrance, parking for two vehi- cles, 15 minutes to downtown, $895 a month plus utilities, 856-9288. Bright, spacious three-bedroom apartment in century home on treed lot, newly renovated, hardwood floors, walking distance to down- town, parking, $1,300 a month inclusive, available immediately, Donna, 519-241-8846. One bedroom in upper part of new house, close to campus, available immediately, $495 a month, Mike, 823-2029. Three-bedroom house with separate one-bedroom in-law suite, large two-level deck, fenced yard, double driveway, close to schools, bus routes, walking trails and shopping, available May 1, 2006, $2,000 a month plus utilities; one-bedroom basement apartment, private entrance, close to bus and walking trails, laundry, available Jan. 1, $650 a month inclusive, 766-1452. Fully equipped ground-floor apart- ment in Ayr, Scotland, available for holiday rentals, two double bed- rooms, private parking, located min- utes from seafront, town centre and railway station, $500 a week, 826- 6038 or janet.dalgleish@sympatico. ca. Furnished one-bedroom apartment in southwest Paris, France, short- term rental; furnished two-bedroom holiday home in Antibes on French Riviera, weekly or monthly, Nicole, 836-6745 or fiunoll@rogers.com. AVAILABLE Dog grooming, Tom, 823-9049. WANTED Responsible nanny required to care for two children aged nine and 13 Monday to Friday from 2 to 6:30 p.m., duties include supervising homework, preparing meals and tidying up, Kortright Hills/Y area, 824-7557. SHORT- OR LONG-TERM RENTAL Upscale, professionally decorated, immaculate, furnished two-bed- room condo in Phoenix Mill, in the heart of Guelph. Amenities include Jacuzzi, two bathrooms, TV, stereo, fully equipped kitchen, ensuite laundry, parking, controlled entrance, fitness room, cable. Available Jan. 1. $1,400 a month, inclusive. E-mail to Intelrent@hotmail.com or call Carol, 519-823-1857. FOR SALE 10 Gryphon Place Beautiful custom-built 2,200-square-foot four-bedroom executive family home on extra large lot. Spacious kitchen and family room, finished basement. Many upgrades. $439,000. 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For any of your corporate travel needs please call Louisa *For details call I ROYAL CITY TRAVEL M ROYAL PLAZA (Norfolk & Paisley) Guelph 7 63-3520 ** Repair ** ** Renovate ** Whatever Your Project Make It Happen !! I’UKMIIJM IJ) MISER The How-To People. 55 Dawson Road On the Fergus-Elora Road GUELPH ELORA 821-5744 846-5381 at Guelph *1 November 23, 2005 EVENTS ARBORETUM The Theatre in the Trees production of There Goes the Bride by Ray Cooney and John Chapman contin- ues weekends at the Arboretum Centre until Dec. 17. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m.; showtime is 8 p.m. Cost is $53. To order tickets, call Ext. 54110. ATHLETICS The women’s hockey Gryphons host the University of Toronto Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Gryphon Centre. Admission is $4 general, $2 for stu- dents. CONCERTS The Thursday noon-hour concert series continues Nov. 24 with Prof. Marta McCarthy leading the women’s choir SIREN with guest baritone Benjamin Covey. On Dec. 1, student soloists perform. Con- certs begin at 12:10 p.m. in MacKinnon 107. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The Tobago Signal Hill Alumni Choir performs Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in War Memorial Hall. Tickets are $25 general, $20 for students and $10 for youths. To order tickets, call 763-3000. U of G’s musical ensembles are giv- ing a series of semester-end per- formances. Prof. Howard Spring conducts the Jazz Ensemble Nov. 24 at 9 p.m. at the University Club. Admission is $2. The Contemporary Music Ensemble, led by Prof. Ellen Waterman, performs Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. Cost is $5. On Nov. 30, John Goddard conducts the Concert Winds at 7 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall. Admission is free. The U of G Choirs conducted by Prof. Marta McCarthy perform Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. at the River Run Centre. Tickets are $20 general, $12 for students and seniors, and are available at 763-3000. LECTURES OAC’s public lecture series contin- ues Nov. 28 with Moshe Rosenberg of the University of California (Davis) giving the Alexander Pearson Lecture in Food Science. His topic is “New Ways With Whey: Unique Opportunities to Bridge the Delivery Gap.” On Dec. 5, Julie Caswell of the University of Massa- chusetts gives the Kenneth R. Farrell Distinguished Public Policy Lecture, considering "Globalization and Agriculture: The Impact of Food Quality and Safety Concerns.” The talks are at 5:30 p.m. in OVC 1714. The School of Languages and Litera- tures presents award-winning Salvadoran writer Horacio Castellanos Moya Nov. 28 at 2:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 309. His topic is Latin American fiction. The talk will be in Spanish. NOTICE The School of Languages and Litera- tures is hosting an interactive session on Cuban percussion Nov. 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in MacKinnon 236. Mireya Escalante, creator of Toronto’s Cuban Percussion School, and percussionist Mario Del Monte Martinez will discuss “Ori- gins of Cuban Musical Culture, Tra- ditions and Fusion of Influences.” This will be followed by an interac- tive drumming session. SEMINARS The Centre for Food and Soft Mate- rials Science’s seminar series contin- ues Nov. 24 with John de Bruyn of the University of Western Ontario and Dec. 1 with Prof. Anthony Clarke, Molecular and Cellular Biol- ogy, presenting “Peptidoglycan Metabolism: Searching for Other Chinks in the Armour.” The semi- nars are at 2:30 p.m. in Food Science 241. Next up in the microbiology gradu- ate student seminar series Nov. 25 is “Studies on Structural and Func- tional Aspects of Bovine IgM Anti- body” with Madhuri Koti. On Dec. 2, Andrew McGuire explores “The RNA World.” The seminars begin at 12:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 1 16. "Duddingtonia flagrans as a Biocon- trol Agent of Gastrointestinal Nem- atodes in Livestock” is the topic of Silvina Fernandez of the Depart- ment of Pathobiology and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Can- ada in the department’s seminar series Nov. 25. On Dec. 2, PhD can- didate Paula Katavolos discusses “Elucidating the Role of Clara Cell Secretory Protein in Equine Heaves.” The seminars are at 2 p.m. in Pathobiology 2106. The Department of Economics visit- ing speaker series features Mattias Polbom of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Nov. 25, Bruce McCullough of Drexel Uni- versity discussing “Replication and Economic Research” Dec. 2 and Pierre Lasserre of University du Quebec h Montreal Dec. 16. The talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 234. Christine Alksnis of Wilfrid Laurier University is guest speaker in the applied social psychology program’s brown bag discussion series Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. in MacKinnon 306. Her topic is "Stereotypes and Sexual Assault: Examining the Experiences of Sexual Assault Victims in the Courtroom.” The Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences presents Prof. Leah Bent discussing “Investi- gations Into Human Sensory Sys- tems Using Microneurography” Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. Next up in the Department of Inte- grative Biology’s seminar series is Randall Peterman of Simon Fraser University explaining “Spatial Scale of Variation in Survival Rates of Pacific Salmon” Nov. 29. On Dec. 6, the topic is “The Roles of Genetic Integration and Constraint in Adap- tive Evolution: A Floral Case Study” with Jeff Conner of Michigan State University. The talks begin at 3:30 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. “NMR Studies of Viral Fusion Pep- tides and Proteins and High-Tem- perature Metal Selenophosphate Synthesis” is the focus of David Weliky of Michigan State University in the Department of Physics semi- nar series Nov. 29 at 4 p.m. in MacNaughton 101. The Department of Crop Science presents thesis proposal seminars by Cynthia Rougoor, Sarah Stephenson and Adam Queen Nov. 30 beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Crop Science 307. TEACHING SUPPORT Teaching Support Services’ training and development sessions for faculty and instructional staff continue Nov. 29 with “Peer Microteaching,” Nov. 30 with “Photoshop Tidbits: Filters” and Dec. 7 with “Photoshop Tidbits: Type, Etc.” TSS is also offer- ing a session on “Preparing a 3M Teaching Fellowship Nomination” Nov. 30. The TA discussion series wraps up with an end-of-semester debriefing and celebration Dec. 2. On Dec. 7, TSS hosts a new-faculty luncheon focusing on “Assessment and Grading Issues” and a new-fac- ulty social. Registration is required for all TSS programs. Detailed descriptions and registration are available at www.tss.uoguelph.ca. If you have questions, call Mary Naim at Ext. 53571. THEATRE The School of English and Theatre Studies presents The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls by Jennifer Brewin, Leah Cherniak, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alisa Palmer and Mar- tha Ross Nov. 24 to 26 at 8 p.m. in Lower Massey Hall. The House of Yes by Wendy MacLeod runs Dec. 1 to 3 at 8 p.m. in the George Luscombe Theatre. Tickets will be available at the door. THESIS DEFENCES The final examination of Changhee Lee, a PhD candidate in the Depart- ment of Pathobiology, is Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. The thesis is “Functional Char- acterization of the Structural Pro- teins of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus.” The adviser is Prof. Dongwan Yoo. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Lori Rutkevich, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. in Axelrod 337. The thesis is “Expression of Human Cardiac Actin and Two Mutants Associated With HCM Using a Baculoviral Expression System.” The adviser is Prof. John Dawson. The final examination of Alicja Zachertowska, a PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, is Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. in Axelrod 337. The thesis is “Identi- fication of Myxoma Virus Structural Proteins, M131R and Its Binding Partners Using RP-HPLC/MALDI- TOF Mass Spectrometry.” The advisers are Prof. Peter Krell and David Evans. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Reynald Tremblay, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is Nov. 29 at 8:30 a.m. in Axelrod 337. The thesis is “Functional Characterization of the IDD Gene Family in Arabidopsis thaliana.” The adviser is Prof. Joseph Colasanti. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Valentina Palucci, Animal and Poultry Science, is Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. in Animal Science and Nutri- tion 141. The thesis is “Non-Addi- tive Genetic Effects for Fertility Traits in Canadian Holsteins.” The adviser is Prof. Larry Schaeffer. The final examination of Erin Mulrooney, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, is Nov. 30 at 8:30 a.m. in Animal Science and Nutri- tion 141. The thesis is “Biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetyl-fucosamine and Derivatives in Pseudomonas aerugi- nosa.” The adviser is Prof. Joseph Lam. The final examination of PhD candi- date Shaidoh Jusoh, Engineering, is Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. in Thombrough 1360. The thesis is “Collaborative Behaviour- Based Approach for Robot Natural Language Inter- faces.” The adviser is Prof. Simon Yang. The final examination of Carrie MacKinnon, an M.Sc. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biol- ogy, is Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “Spatial Ecology, Habitat Use and Mortality of the Eastern Foxsnake ( Elaphe gloydi) in the Georgian Bay Area.” The adviser is Prof. Ron Brooks. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Mahmood Tazari, Depart- ment of Animal and Poultry Science, is Dec. 6 at 9 a.m. in Animal Science and Nutrition 141. The thesis is “Strategy for Improving Genetic Aspects of Fertility and Hatchability in Breeding Lines of White Leg- horns, and for Culling Hens From the First Production Cycle.” The adviser is Prof. Ian McMillan. The final examination of Fengshen Fan, a PhD candidate in the School of Engineering, is Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. in Thornbrough 1360. The thesis is “Fouling Mechanisms and Control Strategies for Improving Membrane Bioreactor Processes.” The adviser is Prof. Hongde Zhou. The final examination of Pam Stuiksma, a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology, is Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in UC 441. The thesis is “Perception of the Adequacy of Dif- ferent Kinds of Families to Raise a Child.” The adviser is Prof. Michael Grand. The final examination of M.Sc. can- didate Alexander Wilson, Depart- ment of Integrative Biology, is Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. in Axelrod 265A. The thesis is “The Perceptual Basis for Alterna- tive Foraging Tactics in Brook Char ( Salvelinus fontinalis).” The adviser is Prof. Robert McLaughlin. The final examination of PhD candi- date Laurel Johnson, Department of Psychology, is Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. in Johnston Hall 104. The thesis is “Predicting Young Women’s Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eat- ing During the Transition to Univer- sity.” The adviser is Prof. Barbara Morrongiello. COMMUNITY EVENTS The 13th annual Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, runs Nov. 23 to Dec. 11 at the River Run Centre. It features themed decorated trees, a gift shop, a raffle, senior lunches Dec. 2 and 9 at noon and a craft night Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 767-3424. The Willis Karate International Competition Team is hosting a Christmas dance Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. at the Red Chevron Club, 34 Elizabeth St. The evening will feature live music, door prizes and draws. For tickets, call Ext. 53347. The College Women’s Club is host- ing a holiday dessert party Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Guelph Country Club, 133 Woodlawn Rd. E. Special guest is Prof. Thomas King, English and Theatre Studies. For tickets, call 763-0012, 837-3895 or 780-2280. The next meeting of the Glass Guild of Guelph is Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church. The Guelph Youth Singers and the Suzuki String School of Guelph’s senior quartet present “The New Christmas Carol” Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the River Run Centre. For tickets, call 763-3000. The Guelph Historical Society meets Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church. Guelph Museums curator Bev Deitrich will discuss “McCrae House and Keeping the Faith for Which They Died.” At Guelph 12 November 23, 2005 at GUELPH DECEMBER 7, 2005 • VOL. 49 NO. 19 • WWW.UOGUELPH.CA/ATGUELPH . UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH INSIDE: CAMPUS UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN GOES OVER THE TOP • FORUM TO FOCUS ON BSE, BIRD FLU Warm wishes for the holiday season! May you and your family be blessed with good health and happiness, and may we have peace and prosperity in 2006 . Chancellor Lincoln M. Alexander * * * Best wishes for the holidays and for the new year to the faculty, staff and students at our campuses across the province. The past year has, as usual, been full of all sorts of trials and tribulations and some stunning successes. Thank you to everyone for making our community a continued success and for helping those in the communities we live in. We hope you will have a restful holiday and look forward to dealing with all the challenges and opportunities that 2006 will present. Alastair and Catherine Summerlee On the Rhodes to Success Recent engineering grad wins prestigious scholarship to study at University of Oxford BY LORI BONA HUNT A rani Kajenthira thought she was dreaming when she got the call telling her she had won a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. “Seriously, I was half asleep when the phone rang, so I wasn’t sure if it was real or not,” says Kajenthira, three days after learning she would be on her way to the University of Oxford. “It took until yesterday for it to seem real to me.” She is one of two students from Ontario — and 1 1 nationwide — to receive a Rhodes Scholarship. The award, which covers tuition, other fees and a living allowance, is worth about $35,000 US a year. “I’ve always wanted to go to Ox- ford,” she says. "It’s been a dream of mine since high school. I just didn’t think it would ever be financially fea- Kajenthira, a 2005 engineering graduate, was one of 12 Ontario stu- dents selected from applications to be interviewed for two Rhodes Scholarships. She travelled to To- ronto on the weekend of Nov. 26 for her 5:20 p.m. interview, then spent an anxious evening waiting for the phone to ring. “They warned us it would be late. So I went out to dinner with my par- ents, but we all kept looking over at the cellphone, waiting for it to ring. Later, I got tired of waiting and was falling asleep when the call came in at about 10:45 p.m.” It was a long time in coming. Kajenthira had hoped to attend Oxford immediately after graduat- ing last spring because she’d been in- vited to be one of Guelph’s two nominees for a Rhodes Scholarship in fall 2004. “I had found an amazing pro- gram that was in line with what I want to do,” she says. Unfortunately, she wasn’t selected for an interview. “I went ahead and applied to Ox- ford anyway and ended up getting into the college I wanted. But I turned it down because it just didn’t make any sense financially, and I had found a job.” Kajenthira is currently a staff sci- entist with GeoSyntec Consultants, performing environmental field sampling, data analysis and engi- neering and earth science calculations. “I decided to think about it and maybe apply again later,” she says. “So when I was asked to put in an ap- plication this year, I figured: ‘Why not?”’ Kajenthira will head for England next fall. She hopes her graduate work will lead to her developing cost-effective remediation technol- ogy to remove contaminants from soil and groundwater in Third World countries. She became interested in the sub- ject while conducting a research pro- ject as a U of G student with Engineers Without Borders. “I was working on introducing a clean water supply to a rural com- munity in Tanzania,” she said. “It re- ally opened my eyes.” Her long-term career goal is to forge a link between industry and non-govemmental organizations. “I’d like to connect the experi- ence of people in industry with the passion and contacts that NGOs have. A lot of NGOs rely on young people, university students who may be very dedicated but don’t have as much practical experience because they’re in school or just out of school. People in industry have a lot of experience but may not have time to go overseas. We need to bring the two groups together to create a greater impact.” While a U of G student, Kajenthira won prestigious Natural Continued on page 14 OVC Prof Among First Recipients of Cancer Funding Biomedical scientist’s studies of ovarian cancer could lead to powerful therapies to combat or prevent the disease BY LORI BONA HUNT P ROF. JlM PETRIK, Biomedical Sciences, is among the first researchers to receive funding from a new provincial network dedicated to supporting cancer research. Petrik was awarded more than $500,000 for his work on ovarian cancer, the most aggres- sive and lethal form of cancer in women. His studies will focus on the use of a molecule called thrombospondin to prevent the forma- tion of blood vessels that supply blood to can- cer tumours in ovaries. This could lead to the development of powerful therapies to combat or prevent the disease. “I am ecstatic about receiving this grant,” Petrik said, adding that his colleague Prof. Roger Moorehead was the co-applicant on the project. “I am very optimistic that we can have a positive impact on our understanding of ovarian cancer. This funding will provide us with the opportunity to generate an animal model to study this disease, which is something that doesn’t exist currently. This is very excit- ing for us.” The funding was announced Dec. 2 by Pre- mier Dalton McGuinty, who is also minister of research and innovation. It will be provided through the new Ontario Cancer Research Network, a provincially funded non-profit or- ganization that helps transform promising lab- oratory research into new treatments. “This is wonderful news for the University of Guelph and well-deserved recognition for Dr. Petrik,” says president Alastair Summerlee. “Once again, it confirms the pre-eminence of Guelph researchers in applying their work to helping solve some of the most pressing health issues of today.” McGuinty also formally launched the On- tario Institute for Cancer Research, the first collaborative research institute in Canada to focus efforts on the entire spectrum of cancer issues — from prevention right through to treatment. The Ontario government is investing more than $142 million over four years through the new institute. Of that, $65.2 million will sup- port ongoing research such as Petrik’s through the Ontario Cancer Research Network. Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (re- search), notes that Petrik is “one of a number of Guelph scientists increasingly recognized for their biomedical research. His contribu- tions to this new provincial initiative are very significant.” Petrik, who joined U of G in 2001, teaches courses in physiology and anatomy. He also studies the regulation of growth factors and formation of blood vessels in the ovary. He’s interested in learning more about the causes of diseases such as polycystic ovarian syndrome. As the most common cause of infertility, it pre- vents ovulation in 15 per cent of women. at Guelph l December 7 , 2005 " " u.^iu'lplimoiili'.ssori.coiii CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Your Family's Best Friend Steamatic patented cleaning methods Removes soil and dust accumulations Reduces allergens like pollen, mould, fungus and dust mites Recommended by leading manufacturers Ask about Air Duct Cleaning (/afar* Pao/Cae Call us (519)836-7340 Nobody Cleans Belter Than Steamatic! ' STEAMATIC. (oul cl eta mg k reuoniic- (est 1978) I Enriched Academic Corricnlom I Athletic Program • Martial Arts • Skating • Swimming • Yoga I Musikgarten ■ Core French ■ Monthly Field Trips ■ Certified Montessori Teachers Low Student Teacher Ratio V» Day Preschool Full Day Jr. & Sr. Kindergarten Elementary Grades 1-6 Extended Hours Available Downtown Guelph 151 Waterloo Ave. Guelph, Out 836-3810 “Within the Child Lies the Fate of the Future ” Dr. Marla Montessori Canvision Optical 666 Woolwich Street _ _ _ ___ _ Guelph. ON N1H7GS 766-7670 e sure to enjoy i your career and get the most out of each work day., let us help you I see your world more' clearly. GOURMET MARKET TURKEY “YULE” LOVE Remember us this holiday season for Plump, Juicy, Farm Fresh Turkeys, Capons, Ducks & Geese Phone orders welcome. Please call ahead to reserve for Dec. 23 or Dec. 24 pickup. GUELPH POULTRY MARKET Kortrlght Just off the Hanlon Mofl.-Wad. 9-7 Thurs.-Fri. 0-8 Sat 0-6 Sun. Closed 570 Kortrlght Plaza 763-2284 u Picture Perfect President Alastair Summerlee, left, chancellor Lincoln Alexander, centre, and London photographer Richard Bain introduced U of G’s new coffee-table photo book to the University community Nov. 24. Produced by Bain, the book is dedicated to Alexander. Proceeds from sales will go to the Chancellor’s Scholarship program, an endowment established in 2002 to honour Alexander on his Both birthday. The book is available for $40 at the University Bookstore. photo by grant martin BS E, Bird Flu Topics of Forum Event part of ‘Taboo Topics’ public series sponsored by Royal Society of Canada T HE PUBLIC will have a chance to ask questions about BSE and bird flu and to learn about the effect the diseases are having on Canada during a community forum Jan. 9 at the River Run Centre. The free event is sponsored by U of G and the Royal Society of Canada. “This will be an opportunity to discuss why BSE created the prob- lems it did and what Canada should be doing to better deal with such cri- ses in the future,” says Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (re- search). “We live in a complex and inte- grated world where food and values and economics and politics inter- sect,” he says. “Whether it be BSE or bird flu, the need for dialogue and exchange of ideas is cruciaL” The forum, titled “BSE: Finding Solutions to the Madness,” runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Co-op- erators Hall at the River Run Centre. Moderator is Bob McDonald, host of CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks. McDonald has been a science writer and radio and TV host for more than 25 years, and his books and videos on science for elementary and sec- ondary schools are widely used across North America. The public forum is part of the “Taboo Topics” public series spon- sored by the Royal Society of Can- ada, a 122-year-old organization consisting of distinguished Cana- dian scientists and scholars that pro- motes teaching and research in the arts and sciences. The purpose of the series is to give citizens and pol- icy-makers a forum to discuss thorny issues and subjects of na- tional concern, says Karen Farbridge, a U of G political science instructor who is co-ordinating the forum. “BSE and bird flu are of great in- terest not only to people working in fields impacted by the animal dis- eases but to the general public as well,” says Farbridge. “Many people may have con- cerns about how these issues could affect their lives or about the mea- sures in place to protect them. This forum will allow the community to ask questions and to share their views on these important topics.” The forum will include a panel of some of Canada’s leading experts on consumer and food safety, animal health, agriculture and government. They will answer questions and en- gage the public in a discussion about the health, trade, policy and other is- sues surrounding BSE and bird flu. In addition to the evening public session, the Guelph “Taboo Topics” event will include a day-long round-table discussion. People from a range of backgrounds — academ- ics, politics, health, animal science, media, the public and private indus- try — will critically examine issues associated with BSE and bird flu. The group will meet earlier in the day, and a summary of the discussions will be published as a paper by the Royal Society of Canada. For more information on the public forum, contact Farbridge at Ext. 56641 or kfarbrid@uoguelph.ca. This is the last issue of At Guelph for the fall semester. The first issue of the new year will appear Jan. 11. Deadline to submit copy for that issue is Jan. 3. X Editor Barbara Chance b.chance@exec.uoguelph.ca Design Peter Enneson At Guelph is published every two weeks by Communications and Public Affairs, Level 4, University Centre, University of P- Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. h- Inquiries: 519-824-4120 l.graham@exec.uoguelph.ca Editorial: Ext. 56580 Distribution: Ext. 56581 Advertising Scott Anderson Advertising: Ext. 56580 theandersondifference@rogers.com www. uoguelph.ca/adguide e Director Chuck Cunningham Classifieds: Ext. 56581 c.cunningham@exec.uoguelph.ca Website: www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph Articles may be reprinted with credit to At Guelph. Subscriptions $22 (includes GST); $30 outside Canada ISSN 08364478 UMYl.KMn C,i Ill'll at Guelph 2 December 7, 2005 news in brief TURN TO RADIO, WEB WHEN WINTER WEATHER HITS When a winter storm hits and you want to know if the University is open, the best information sources are the radio and U of G’s home page. Radio stations in Guelph, Kitchener- Waterloo and Toronto are immediately notified if the pres- ident decides to shut the University because of bad weather or an emer- gency. Area TV stations are also notified, and U of G’s home page will contain up-to-date informa- tion. The campus switchboard will have a recorded message about the closure, but it may be jammed with callers trying to get through. The University’s policy on inclement weather/emergency procedures is on the web at www.uoguelph. ca/hr/hrmanual/5 12.htm. HELPING TO FIGHT HUNGER U of G students donated $15,399 to fight hunger in Guelph and the sur- rounding area through last month’s “Skip a Meal,’’ a campaign orga- nized by the campus chapter of Meal Exchange. Donations are used to buy non -perishables for 15 area organizations. Meal Exchange co-ordinator Tommy Lau offers thanks to the volunteers who helped out with the program and to all the students, faculty and staff who donated their meal points and cash. NO MORE ACCESS TO FIELD Construction of a hotel and athlet- ics club is about to begin on the land at the corner of Gordon Street and Stone Road. The full site will be under construction and will be dan- gerous for people to cross. Fencing will soon go up that will completely surround the project area. People who normally cut across the field will now need to use the sidewalk along Gordon. Y MCA- YWCA SEEKS NOMINEES FOR uTH ANNUAL WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARDS The YMCA-YWCA of Guelph is calling for nominations for its 11th annual Women of Distinction Awards. The awards honour out- standing women in eight categories: arts and culture; business, labour, the professions and entrepreneurs; education and training; public ser- vice; science, technology and research; voluntary community ser- vice; wellness and health; and young woman of distinction. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 31. Bro- chures are available at the Y or online at www.guelphy.org/wod. The Y will host a workshop for nominators Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. The awards will be presented at a gala May 1 1 at the River Run Centre. CONFERENCE TURNS 25 The Guelph Organic Conference will celebrate its 25th anniversary Jan. 26 to 29. The conference, which is held in the University Centre, will feature some 30 workshops, a mar- ketplace of more than 130 exhibi- tors and a free two-day Organic Expo Canada Sampling Fair. Key- note speaker is David Pimentel, a Cornell University professor of ecology and agriculture. For com- plete details, visit www. guelphorganicconf.ca. Over the Top Again! Campus community exceeds United Way fundraising goal Five U of G students raised a total of $2,500 for the United Way by having their heads shaved Nov. 25. Newly shorn, from left, are Aiden Abram, Alex Dykstra, Matt Rush, Tommy Lau and Sean Yo. Wielding the razors are friends of the students and staff from Trends Hair Design in the University Centre. photo by rebecca kendall BY MARY DICKIESON T he University has once again exceeded its United Way fundraising goal. A total of $360,292 was announced Dec. 5 at the United Way volunteer appreciation lunch. The 2005 goal was $350,000. “We are delighted that the U of G community continues on with the culture of giving,” says United Way co-chair Irene Thompson, assistant director of residence life. "Our staff, faculty, retirees and students con- tinue to amaze us with their generos- ity, even though we are being asked so often to give more and dig deeper.” Thompson co-chaired the 2005 campaign with Prof. Fred Ramprashad of the CBS dean’s office and undergraduate student Aiden Abram. Each expressed their appre- ciation to donors and the volunteer co-ordinators and canvassers who are the backbone of the University’s annual fundraising drive. In addition, a number of volun- teer awards were presented at the luncheon. The annual Gabrielle Hubert Award for outstanding con- tributions by an individual volunteer went to United Way canvasser Denise McClellan of the Department of Integrative Biology. President Alastair Summerlee presented the 2005 President’s Award to the U of G Library. The award recognizes a unit, department or college that achieves the highest increase in both participation and dollars raised and demonstrates an increase in awareness about United Way programs. It was accepted by the Library’s United Way co- ordinators, liaison librarian Robin Bergart and Janet Kaufman, head of information services and co-director of the Learning Commons. They led a library committee that created its own United Way website and organized an internal incentive program to promote giving by pay- roll deduction. Prizes were donated by library staff, and draws were held at regular coffee meetings, where the library hosted representatives of sev- eral local agencies that receive fund- ing from United Way Community Services of Guelph and Wellington. “Pat-on-the-Back” awards were presented to other individuals and units who made an extra effort in this year’s campaign. The recipients were Erika McMillan, Security Services; Jane Alexander, Student Housing Services; the Graduate Stu- dents’ Association; Human Re- sources; and the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences. Maria Lilley of Goliger’s TravelPlus in Guelph attended the luncheon to draw the winning ticket for a Stage West theatre package do- nated by Goliger’s as grand prize in the campus committee’s incentive draw. The winner’s name was not available at press time. Although Dec. 5 was the official closing date of the 2005 campaign, Thompson, Ramprashad and Abram note that some departments and units are still holding special events, so they expect the $360,292 total to increase before year end. At Guelph will announce the final tally in January. People NSERC APPOINTS PHYSICIST Prof. Iain Campbell, Physics, has been appointed to the Natural Sci- ences and Engineering Research Council’s interdisciplinary grant selection committee for a three-year term. DIRECTOR NAMED HEAD OF PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION Prof. Daniel Chouinard, director of the School of Languages and Litera- tures, has been appointed president of the Association des directeurs de dSpartements d’6tudes franchises des university de l’Ontario for a two-year term. HISTORIANS GIVE TALKS Prof. Alan McDougall, History, spoke on “A Generation Twice Betrayed? The Hider Youth Gener- ation and the Transition From Nazism to Communism in Post-War East Germany, c. 1945 to 1949” at the 29th annual conference of the German Studies Association in Milwaukee. Prof. Stephanie Bangarth, History, presented a paper on “Fighting Oppression Abroad, Guarding Against Injustice at Home — Canadian Minorities and the ‘Early’ Human Rights Movement, 1945 to 1949” at the biennial meeting of the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States last month in St. Louis, Mo. She also chaired a session on “Images of Canada From Canadian and American Perspectives.” LAKE EXHIBITS IN NEW YORK Prof. Suzy Lake, Fine Art and Music, will have a survey show at Hall walls Gallery in Buffalo /an. /•/ 1 to Feb. 18. It is the inaugural show for die gallery’s new space. The works that were selected are from 1973 to the present. Lake will also be part of a group show called “Faking Death” that opens Jan. 6 at the Jack Shainman Gallery in Chelsea, N.Y. Cabinet Formed to Help Raise Funds for Science Complex MAGAZINE AD EARNS KUDOS Owen Roberts and Marianne Clark of the Office of Research won a bronze award in the recent CASE District II Accolades Awards pro- gram in the print advertising cate- gory. The award recognized an ad tided “Introducing the Latest in New Technology,” which appeared in the inaugural issue of Advance magazine. Group to support U of G’s most ambitious capital project A cabinet of prominent scientists and business leaders has been formed to help U of G raise private funds for the new science complex. The cabinet is co-chaired by Rob- ert Farquharson, vice-chair of AGF Management Limited, and Rainer Engelhardt, CEO of GangaGen Life Sciences Inc. Members are Wayne Gudbranson, president and CEO, Branham Group Inc.; Michael Hincks, vice-president, Bodycote In- ternational; Brenda Irwin, director, BDC Venture Capital; Jacques Mess- :r, general manager, Semex Alli- ance; Bert Mitchell, former associate director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veteri- nary Medicine; and Christopher Naese, country manager, Quest International. “Our vision is to build the most significant and comprehensive re- search, teaching and public educa- tion science facility in Canada,” says Board of Governors chair Douglas Derry. “The cabinet will create the cam- paign platform and help solicit pri- vate donations for the science complex, the University’s largest and most ambitious capital project in its history.” President Alastair Summerlee says Guelph is “fortunate to have knowledgeable, dedicated and active volunteers to spearhead our co-ordinated efforts and promote die University’s achievements.” Phase 1 of the $ 144-million sci- ence complex, which will add 390,000 square feet of space for some 2,600 faculty, students and staff, offi- cially opened last December. The next phase will open in 2006, and the project is slated for completion in In Memoriam Retired engineering professor Hugh Ayers died Nov. 2 1 at the age of 84. A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and Washington State University, he served in the Second World War and worked for the federal agriculture department before joining U of G in 1951. The first director of the School of Engi- neering from 1968 to 1977, he was one of the first to consider applying knowledge in the biological and physical sciences to the solution of environmental problems. Prof. Ayers retired in 1983 and was awarded a U ofG Medal of Merit in 1992. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, five children: Kathryn, Carol, George, Michael and Gord; and six grandchildren. at Guelph 3 December 7, 2005 Environmental Engineering Gets Top Marks Australian survey identifies U of G program as a leader in North America BY ANDREW VOWLES A ce! That’s the thumbs-up — in colloquial Aussie, at least — I that a professor at Monash ! University in Australia might have given in assigning top marks to the ! University of Guelph’s environ- | mental engineering program this year. The program beat out seven Ca- nadian and American university programs surveyed by Gary Codner, a civil engineering professor and di- j rector of the environmental engi- neering undergraduate program at Monash. He spoke about his survey as a J keynote speaker at an environmental engineering workshop this fall in Sydney, Australia. The workshop was part of an international gather- ing held by the American Society for Engineering Education and the Australasian Association for Engi- neering Education for educators, industry, policy-makers and organi- zations. Referring to the paper’s emphasis on Guelph’s interdisciplinary pro- gram, industry support and student demand, Prof. Doug Joy, acting as- sociate director of the School of En- gineering, says: “1 was delighted to see it.’’ Earlier this year, he had met the Australian researcher during a I visit requested by Codner to discuss ! Guelph’s program. \ lw YV\s. paper, caWcd “TVve future ( for Environmental Engineering,” | Codner compared seven programs in Canada and the United States with the Monash degree program. Besides Guelph, he looked at the University of Waterloo, the University ofWind- sor and the University of British Co- lumbia. In the United States, he visited Georgia Tech, the University of New Orleans and the University of California at Berkeley. “In general, environmental engi- neering education is currently not doing well in England, America and Canada,” he wrote in his report, not- ing lack of industry support and a perceived paucity of jobs in the field. “The major exception to this was the University of Guelph course, which is strongly supported by local indus- try and has very strong student demand.” He praised the structure and phi- losophy of U of G’s program and said the interdisciplinary courses and co-operation are attracting students. As acting director of the school, Prof. Richard Zytner says the paper told him nothing he didn’t already know about engineering at Guelph. Still, he welcomes the report as inde- pendent validation of the program. Environmental engineering brings science and engineering prin- ciples to bear on protecting and re- storing the natural environment, including soil, water, air and waste. Graduates face a welcoming job market in government, industry and consulting, judging by a Fortune magazine survey published last spring that named environmental engineering tops among hot job prospects. About 180 undergraduate stu- dents are enrolled in Guelph’s envi- ronmental engineering program — one of four programs offered by the School of Engineering. Just over half of those students are in co-op pro- grams, and more than half are fe- male. Between 45 and 50 first-year students enter the program each year. Joy says U of G’s program has three key strengths: a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary curriculum, a strong engineering design theme, and faculty members’ research interests. He says students like the broadly based program at Guelph, ranging from water and air pollution to solid-waste management to soil remediation and risk management. Because U of G has a relatively small engineering school compared with those of other universities, students learn from varied science and engi- neering faculty here, he adds. Prof. Ed McBean, Canada Re- search Chair in Water Supply Secu- rity, who tracked down the survey this fall after learning of it from an Australian colleague, says the most telling argument in the report is the interdisciplinary courses attracting large numbers of students. “Quite frankly, that’s one of the reasons I’m here,” he says. “I liked the lack of defined disciplines that tend to create barriers between fac- ulty members in different disci- plines.” Faculty members point to the un- dergraduate design theme, including senior design projects, as another advantage of Guelph’s program. This summer, a fourth-year design team won the international student design competition sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural/ Biological Engineers. For his third-year design course, Zytner has assigned practical prob- lems, including having students con- duct an energy audit for the City of Guelph’s waste-water treatment plant. He says the approach stresses problem solving, communication and design basics. Prof. Warren Stiver, who holds the Natural Sciences and Engineer- ing Research Council Chair in Envi- ronmental Design Engineering, notes that the school’s long-standing commitment to an interdisciplinary engineering education “has been a strength of all our programs, and this recognition by Prof. Codner is a credit to the entire school.” Substantial research funding for faculty members — from govern- ments and the private sector — also makes for a strong program, says Zytner. He studies site remediation, especially groundwater and soil con- tamination at former gas stations across North America. “In the environment sector, there are a lot of problems to solve,” he says, ticking off everything from air pollution to Toronto’s solid-waste problems. Those issues also provide job prospects for graduates, he says, referring to the recent Fortune report about careers in environmental en- gineering. Take the growing need for ex- perts in risk assessment and risk management, for example. “It’s a huge emerging field,” says Joy, who routinely fields calls from consulting engineers, manufacturers and government agencies interested in talking to students. Those factors resonate for Linda O’Loughlin, liaison officer with the School of Engineering and a 2001 graduate of the program. As a student, she saw the benefits of U of G’s interdisciplinary ap- proach, its smaller size and more in- timate atmosphere, and its strong design element. After graduating, she worked at Zenon Environmental Inc. in Oakville, designing systems for water-treatment plants and later working to install those systems and components. “I went for only one interview,” she says, recalling that most of the 30 environmental engineering students in her class landed jobs on gradua- tion. Back at Guelph, she now finds herself selling those strengths to pro- spective students, parents and teach- ers. She figures she’ll tuck the recent Monash report into her portfolio to share at liaison events and promo- tional activities. “It’s great that we’re getting in- ternational recognition.” Study of Rural Conflict Resolution Earns Kudos Provincial award for OAC researchers recognizes value of training materials, tools BY ANDREW VOWLES T he cottagers were “ballistic.” Here it was, the start of another long weekend on Lake Huron, and as with every other long weekend before, there was that telltale odour of freshly spread manure wafting from the same farm backing on to their vacation properties. But by the time several of them drove over to | complain, the farmer was away, leaving only his 1 kids to take in an earful and the visitors I steaming worse than that manure. It was a classic case of rural conflict, and one that could well have cost plenty in time, money and blood pressure had the issue escalated into a court battle. But not this time, says Prof. Wayne Caldwell, School of Environmental De- sign and Rural Development. A local advisory committee set up expressly to handle such property disputes was able to sort out the con- flicting sides and resolve the issue. That story was one of numerous experiences collected through research into rural conflict resolution that netted an award this fall for Caldwell, PhD candidate Jennifer Ball and mas- ter’s student Alicia Evans. The trio received the Excellence in Planning Award from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) at its annual conference in September. “To me, the award speaks to connections between the University and the research we do here and professional practice,” says Caldwell, who was also named OPPI president-elect at the conference. “The practical applications of the research for me are important” Ontario’s rural landscape is changing, he says. That traditional patchwork quilt of forms is increasingly becoming broken up by other uses, from cottages to towns and retirement properties. Former city dwellers are coming into close and often uncomfortable quarters with farmers and their attendant practices, from manure spreading to intensive livestock handling. And that doesn’t include the overall growth forecast for the province, with some four million more people expected to arrive within the next three decades. All of that means added pressures for prop- erty owners in the countryside, often leading to conflict between farmers and their neighbours. Helping to sort out those problems was the purpose of a study in several Ontario commu- nities that yielded training materials and a com- munity-based approach to conflict resolution developed by the U of G researchers. They documented best practices for local conflict resolution, looked at experiences of farm communities with the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board, and assessed the role of local committees in mediating disputes. Their resul- tant training videos for municipal councillors, farmers and planners — as well as information on a website and in printed materials — earned the research team this year’s OPPI award. The selection jury lauded their project — called “Conflict Resolution in Rural Ontario: Strategies for Responding to the Environmen- tal, Economic and Social Impacts of Agricul- ture” — as “effective and practical implementation tools that can be used by a diverse audience.” Key to resolving disputes is the creation of a local advisory committee, says Caldwell. Estab- lished under the provincial Nutrient Manage- ment Act, these groups of local residents are formed to mediate disputes as an alternative to more expensive and drawn-out proceedings, including lawsuits. “The Farm Practices Protection Board, the OMB and the courts are expensive means to deal with escalated conflicts,” he says. A planner and cash-crop farmer in Huron County, he chairs the provincial nutrient management ad- visory committee. Under the legislation, local advisory com- mittees exist in Huron, Perth and Oxford coun- ties. Similar bodies have been set up in Brant, Norfolk, Elgin and Oxford to deal specifically with irrigation disputes, such as disagreements over access to a stream or pond for watering livestock or crops. Caldwell says these groups successfully resolve disputes in 80 to 90 per cent of cases in those communities. He adds that such groups could work in many of Ontario’s 35 to 40 counties. His re- search project is intended to help in establish- ing and operating these advisory committees. Training materials from the project, includ- ing the video and a training manual, have been distributed across the province since 2004 through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and through munici- palities and farm groups. The U of G research- ers have also written about their work in planning journals. At the OPPI conference, Caldwell and Ball raised some eyebrows with a session on an as- pect of the graduate student’s research: the use of storytelling in planning. “Conflict resolution requires people under- standing each other, not through statistics and numbers but through a process that allows the stories to be told back and forth,” Ball explains. She suggests local authorities allow people to share stories and vignettes that lend a human face to the numbers and that invite discussion of values and “meaning” embedded in land or property. “We often think of planning in a rational, objective, scientific manner,” says Caldwell, “but we’ve attended many public meetings where people are deathly angry. In the final analysis, you have to stand back and listen to people’s stories. There’s a difference between a student collecting pages of data versus listening to get depth of understanding.” In that case of the Lake Huron cottagers, for instance, the farmer turned out to be a recent immigrant with little English. He hadn’t real- ized a problem was brewing, let alone under- stood the importance of a long weekend to his city-dwelling neighbours. “This is about building community, build- ing connections between people,” Caldwell says. at Guelph 4 December 7, 2005 - — focus The Ball’s in His Court BY REBECCA KENDALL W HEN Tillsonburg native Chris O’Rourke first stepped onto the basketball court at Guelph as a rookie in 1989, he was here to do business. He donned the U of G jersey for five years as one of Canada’s premier three-point shooters and became so well-known for his ability to close a game that one TV station covering Gryphon sports dubbed him “The Coffin Maker.” A decade later, he goes by "Coach” and is leading a new genera- tion of U of G athletes (see story be- low). With a 7-1 season record, this year’s team is looking great, he says. “We’ve got lots of young talent and a solid core of older guys. I’m re- ally excited about this season.” Basketball is in O’Rourke’s blood. With two brothers playing the sport and a father who was a legend in high school coaching circles, he grew up with basketball as a big part of his life. Even his hometown has a strong history with the sport. In 1952, Tillsonburg’s men’s basketball team won the Canadian Senior Championship and the right to rep- resent Canada at the Olympic Games in Finland. O’Rourke came to Guelph to get an education and to play basketball, but he says it’s difficult to determine which part took priority. After graduating with a BA in so- ciology in 1994, he became assistant coach for the Gryphons. “The last thing I thought I wanted to do was be a coach,” he says. "I still had that player mentality, but I loved coaching, and that kick-started ev- erything.” At the end of that first season, he was approached with an opportunity to coach bantam and junior-level teams in minor development and ju- venile teams for Basketball Ontario during the summer. He took the challenge and led his junior team to victory in the Ontario Summer Games three years in a row. In 1998, O’Rourke became the youngest men’s university basketball coach in Canada. At 27, he was young enough to relate well to his players, he says, but the challenge lay in competing against teams with coaches who had many more years of experience. “There’s a big difference between being an assistant coach who makes suggestions and a head coach who makes decisions,” he says. “At the end of the day, the responsibility for the team and the program is on your shoulders.” Among his responsibilities, he develops strength and endurance conditioning programs for the play- ers, reviews countless hours of game footage and takes part in fundraising initiatives. His evenings and weekends are spent leading practices, developing his players, travelling to games and recruiting new players. “Basketball isn’t a typical nine- to-five job,” he says. “It’s a lifestyle.” Much of this month will be spent at high school basketball tourna- ments, where O’Rourke will be look- ing for new talent and maintaining contact with players he’s already in- dicated interest in. He says recruiting is the most de- manding part of his job. "It’s chal- lenging, but in a good way.” Some of the top players will choose to go stateside because they can secure athletic scholarships, he says. Others simply don’t have the marks they need to get accepted to a program at U of G. With 16 Ontario universities all working to woo basketball players to their schools, competition among coaches is fierce, says O’Rourke. “I’m a very competitive person, and I work hard to get them here.” But it’s not just about getting them here, he adds. It’s also about keeping them here and helping them develop as people and players. “I have to make sure they stay, succeed and graduate. It’s more than ‘See you at the game’ or 'See you at practice.’ I help them with their so- cial problems, academic problems and family issues.” This summer, he was named as- sistant coach for Team Canada at the Under-21 Tournament of the Amer- icas for the fourth year in a row. In addition, the men’s national team — O’Rourke has been the team’s assistant lead coach for the past four years — took bronze at the world championships in Argentina, marking the first time in more than 65 years that Canada has come home from the event with a medal. “It was history in the making," he says. It’s been 16 years since that kid ; from Tillsonburg dressed for his first game in the Mitchell Athletics Cen- tre, and although he now dons a business suit instead of a warmup suit, his enthusiasm for the game is just as strong. Many would argue it’s stronger. “I love being part of my alma ma- ter, “ says O 'Rourke. "That has spe- cial meaning, and that's why I take so much pride in coaching here.” They Shoot, He Scores, She Scores, He Scores Triple- threat siblings are a first for Gryphon athletics BY REBECCA KENDALL K ate Nevar and her twin brothers, Luke and Zack, have been shooting hoops together since they were old enough to dribble a ball. Now, they’ve brought their family act to U of G, where they’re all members of the basketball Gryphons. “This is a first for the University,” says Michelle Turley, sports infor- mation co-ordinator for the Depart- ment of Athletics. “We’ve had pairs of siblings in every combination, and we’ve even had twins play the same sport, but having three siblings play- ing the same sport at the same uni- versity is pretty unusual.” Kate, a third-year biomedical sci- ences student, jokes that her broth- ers “came here because of me.” It’s a statement that’s flatly denied by Luke and Zack, who are both in first year and credit a variety of other de- ciding factors. “The coaching staff is great, we knew some of the older players al- ready and, facility-wise, it’s not too big and not too small,” says Zack, who is studying international devel- opment. Academics and the school’s atmosphere were also important, adds Luke, an economics major. As fraternal twins, Zack and Luke say that, although they look a lot alike, most people can tell them apart. There are exceptions, of course. “One of our teammates at Guelph who played against us in high school didn’t know there were two of us,” says Zack. “He used to yell at the ref because he thought there was one guy playing the whole game, which isn’t allowed.” Kate, Zack and Luke, along with their older brother, Matt, a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier Univer- sity, all started playing basketball around age seven in their hometown of Port Colborne, but only the youn- ger three went on to play at the uni- versity level. “Matt didn’t play past high school, but he’s by far the best shooter among the four of us," says Kate. “I won OFSAA, though. Did you guys ever win OFSAA?" A deaf- ening silence fills the room, only to be broken by the reporter’s next question. Kate says her younger brothers now understand how difficult it is to take a full university course load while balancing practices, workouts and games (about 20 hours a week during the season). Both Luke and Zack say their sister has been helpful in easing their transition to becom- ing student athletes at U of G. “People don’t understand how hard it is being a varsity athlete,” says Luke. “You have your team and coaches who support you, but it’s nice to have family.” Adds Kate: “I love the fact that they’re here. I didn’t appreciate them as much when I was younger, but when I moved away, I definitely missed them. When they decided to come here, I was so happy. I wait for them after practice every day and give them big hugs.” The trio says it’s also great for their parents, who can hit one stop to see their three children play. And with the Nevars playing on both the men’s and women’s teams, their par- ents have better odds that at least one of their children will have a winning result on any given game day. “They love that we’re here to- gether,” Kate says. Basketball is a family affair for Kate, Zack and Luke Nevar. PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE at Guelph 5 December 7, 2005 Three Guelph Faculty Named Among 90 Canadian Computing Pioneers “ During my career , the technology has gone from vacuum tubes to multiple processors embedded on a chip the size of a thumbnail BY ANDREW VOWLES P rof. Dilip Banerji, Comput- ing and Information Science (CIS), and two retired colleagues — Tom Wilson and former department chair Jim Linders — have been named among 90 "Pioneers of Computing” by the IBM Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) and the National Research Council. The honour recognizes individu- als who have influenced the history of computing. The pioneers, all of whom received their PhD in 1972 or earlier, were chosen based mostly on their computing science teaching and research at Canadian universities. They’ve been involved in numer- ous aspects of computing science, from founding university depart- ments in the 1960s and 1970s to groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence, networking and various programming languages, says Kelly Lyons, director of the CAS in Toronto. “Many innovative technology companies call Canada home, and Canadian universities continue to graduate top-notch computer scien- tists who are in demand here and around the world,” she says. Banerji says he was “very sur- prised” by the honour. “1 was almost ) humbled because among the list of honourees were some really out- standing people.” In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Guelph professor called for de- sign reuse in computer-aided design (CAD) of microelectronics to make computer chips. At the time, chip makers routinely threw out earlier designs for microelectronic compo- nents and built new ones from scratch. He argued that it would be less costly and more efficient to reuse existing designs — an argument that met with stiff industry opposition. “Fifteen years later, everybody is doing what we proposed in design- ing computer chips” used in every- thing from cars to toys, he says. Intense competition means compa- nies are now looking for any way to shrink time-to-market for their products. Banerji’s been working on micro- electronics CAD — designing tools used in turn to make chips — since arriving at Guelph in 1983. Earlier, he worked with Bell-Northern Re- search (now Nortel Networks) and with AT8cT Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. His early work on computer arithmetic and microprogramming became textbook material in the 1980s. He had been a faculty member at the University of Ottawa when he was invited back to his native India in 1978 to help establish the coun- try’s first dedicated computer sci- ence department. He served as founding dean of the School of Computer and System Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi for five years. But even a pioneer in computing can use a little technical help some- times. Allowing that he doesn’t keep up with the latest computer gizmos, Banerji says he occasionally calls on his son to help him with software up- grades or computer problems at home. His son, Arijeet (Joy), who completed his undergraduate degree in CIS in 2000, is now a systems ana- lyst with Computing and Communi- cations Services. Wilson retired early this year af- ter more than 30 years at Guelph. “The interesting thing about be- ing a pioneer was that they didn’t even have degrees in computing when I was an undergraduate,” he says, recalling his first encounter with a computer while studying math at the University of Iowa. He was hired at Bell Laboratories while embarking on a master’s de- gree in computer science at the Uni- versity of Chicago. There he helped design the first computer-controlled switching equipment, the forerun- ner of equipment used routinely to- day in telephone communications. Wilson completed his PhD at the University of Waterloo and came to BY LORJ BONA HUNT T hree U of G professors are among 64 researchers who have each received $100,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. The funding was provided through the newly created Early Researcher Award program. Profs. Kevin McCann, Integra- tive Biology, Vladimir Ladizhansky, Physics, and Jayasankar Subramanian, Plant Agriculture, will use the funds to help build research teams of graduate students, post-docs and research associates. “It’s great to see the province making investments in people still early in their careers,” says Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (re- search). “The peer-review process for these awards is very stringent, and all three of these researchers should be proud of their accom- plishment.” The Early Researcher Award pro- gram succeeds the Premier’s Re- search Excellence Awards program and is open to researchers in the first five years of their career. A total of $6.4 million was invested in this round of awards, and the provincial money is supplemented by contribu- tions from the universities. "This really is a tremendous hon- our,” says McCann, who, since join- ing U of G in 2003, has been developing an internationally recog- nized research program on the role and function of biodiversity in eco- systems. Guelph a year after CIS was estab- lished. “If there’s any reason I’m a pio- neer, it’s because I was involved in curriculum and program develop- ment at Guelph for 32 years,” he says. He taught extensively and helped design numerous courses. He co-authored two textbooks used for a number of years in introductory courses at U of G. His research in- volved efficient translation of pro- gramming languages and devel- opment of design automation soft- ware for use in specialized commu- nications applications. Now designing a website for his church — when he’s not catching up on reading or playing jazz piano for an ensemble at home in Waterloo — he says he was flattered to be named a computing pioneer. “It made me stop and reflect what a privilege I’ve enjoyed by having the vantage point I had. I got to watch the whole discipline grow from in- fancy to something that was sophis- ticated and multi-faceted. During my career, the technology has gone from vacuum tubes to multiple pro- Both he and Ladizhansky also hold prestigious Tier 2 Canada Re- search Chairs (CRCs), but the CRC funding and most other research grants are earmarked for infrastruc- ture, McCann says. “That’s why this award is so won- derful. I’ll be able to use the money to hire talented researchers and as- semble a support staff to help run the laboratory.” BY ALICIA ROBERTS SPARK PROGRAM C ANADIAN CONSUMERS are curious customers, but how much information do they really want? That’s the question Prof. David Castle, Philosophy, is trying to answer. He’s leading a study that’s investigating whether or not food labels should include information about genetically modified (GM) foods. “Genetic modification means different things to different people,” says Castle. “We’re investigating from an ethical standpoint and try- ing to determine more than just whether or not people want the in- formation, but also why they want the information and how they can cessors embedded on a chip the size of a thumbnail.” Professor emeritus Linders re- tired in 2001 after a career spent de- signing digital maps and related database and geographic informa- tion systems (GIS). He arrived from a faculty position at the University of Waterloo to chair the CIS depart- ment from 1978 to 1981 and served another five-year stint as chair starting in 1996. Working as a consultant with the Canadian government, he helped automate the process of making top- ographical maps, a task that had for- merly occupied hundreds of drafters working on paper. That work began in the early 1970s. He even worked with individuals who had produced maps of the Nor- mandy coastline used in planning the Allied D-Day invasion in 1944. “I met everyone who mattered in mapping for the Second World War,” he says. Linders has worked in about 50 countries, from automating land re- cords in Sri Lanka to creating a land database in Bhutan to making maps of coffee plantations — under armed Ladizhansky, who also joined the University in 2003, says: “This is a very important award and timely as well. It will certainly enhance my re- search and will let me attract new graduate students.” He is investigating the develop- ment of sophisticated techniques to learn about the structural detail of biological materials at the atomic level. The research could lead to an use it. We ultimately want answers to these questions so we can develop recommendations for labelling poli- cies that accurately reflect Canadian values.” When asked, a majority of Cana- dians say they would prefer to have labels on GM foods and would like more information as opposed to less. But consumers don’t specify what type of information they would prefer and, more important, why they want that information, says Castle. This makes it difficult to de- termine what and how much infor- mation is appropriate. And currently, the Canadian General Standards Board says labelling is a voluntary standard, which means the industry creating the product can decide to use labels or not. escort — in Colombia. He’s now planning a trip to central Europe to discuss so-called electronic gover- nance, which involves integrating land data with demographic and so- cioeconomic information to create decision support systems for government. He draws a straight line from his early consulting to today’s use by federal and provincial governments of electronic maps, along with GIS databases and land information management systems. He served on a technical committee to develop digital topographical maps and re- lated information through the On- tario Ministry of Natural Resources. Locally, he worked with the City of Guelph and Waterloo Region on systems still used to monitor munic- ipal plants and utilities. He’s presi- dent of Waterloo-based Georef Systems Ltd., a company that makes GIS and transportation manage- ment software. “It all came from Guelph,” says Linders. “I loved it. It wasn’t the money — it was the challenge of do- ing something that had real value to society intellectually." increased understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. Subramanian, a tree fruit breeder, is isolating the antioxidants found in plums and other stone fruits and testing them to see how they can improve human health. He received a “New Opportunities” re- search grant from the Canada Foun- dation for Innovation in 2004. He is working with Conrad Brunk of the University of Victoria; Prof. Karen Finlay, Marketing and Consumer Studies; and Guelph graduate students Chris Nolan and Anthony Vander Schaaf. The team is analyzing existing studies and con- ducting focus-group exercises to help determine whether labelling GM foods would be useful to con- sumers and what motivates them to buy GM or non-GM products. “The scope of what people worry about with genetic modification is wide, and it always will be," says Cas- tle. “The cause for concern might arise from a different background of information than what industries expect, so we need to know why the information is needed and how it will help the consumer.” ‘Early Researchers’ Nab Provincial Support Funds will enable three scientists to boost their research teams The Writing Is on the Label Less could be more when it comes to labelling genetically modified foods at Guelph 6 December/, 2005 Leadership MA Attracts Diverse Students Eclectic mix of job and life experiences adds richness to online graduate program for working professionals BY LORI BONA HUNT D ave Virgin, Michael Turner and Kim Wingrove lead very different lives. Virgin is a married father of four who has travelled around the world. He’s been a pilot for a major Cana- dian airline for 26 years, a job that can take him away from Guelph for days and even weeks at a time. Turner is a former teacher, a cer- tified health paramedic and an RCMP officer who once lived in Nunavut. Now stationed in Nova Scotia, he is currently on parental leave, helping care for two-month- and two-year-old sons. Wingrove once managed IT cli- ent services for four government ministries. She is now the director of rural programs for the Ontario Min- istry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. She’s also a single parent of two teenagers and a nine-year-old. Their commonality is that they all aspire to become better leaders and have enrolled in U of G’s MA (Lead- ership) program. And they all agree that the differences among the pro- gram participants make all the dif- ference in the program. “It’s a rare privilege to work and exchange ideas with a group of peo- ple from such diverse backgrounds who share a common vision,” says Virgin, who enrolled in the MA pro- gram in the summer of 2004. “That eclectic mix of experiences is what creates the flavour of the pro- gram. It’s truly what gives it richness. What’s wonderful is that each cohort will have a completely different ex- perience, based on the backgrounds of the individuals involved.” The program was designed for working professionals, with courses conducted in an innovative and ac- tive online learning environment. There are also three one-week resi- dential components. Started in 2002 as a diploma pro- gram, it became a master’s-level pro- gram in 2004, and the first cohort will graduate at winter convocation. Turner, who enrolled in June 2005, says that, at 35, he is “on the younger side” of most of the stu- dents. “I’d say we range in age from the 30s to the 50s, and there is an equally broad range of careers. There are Dave Virgin PHOTO BY MARTIN SCHWALBE other police officers, firefighters, politicians, people who work in sales, etc. That’s the neat thing about it. Everyone brings so much to the table.” That "eclectic mix” is no acci- dent. From the start, the program aimed to bring together people with diverse work and life experiences and outlooks, says Ralph Sykes, di- rector of graduate programs in the Faculty of Management. “We set out to have a broad ap- proach to the study of leadership. In each cohort, we try to bring together people with different life and work experiences. We want a good mix of all the sectors." That diversity is integral to the program’s success, Sykes says, add- ing that the variation is not limited to the students. The program draws instructors from numerous disci- plines at U of G — including psy- chology, political science, and hospi- tality and tourism management — and also involves external specialists in various fields. Program participants are ex- pected to dedicate 20 to 25 hours a week to their studies, plus attend all three residential stays, says Sykes. “But we’re flexible in terms of when they do their academic work.” One need only look at the logs of the various discussion groups to see just how accurate that statement is, says Virgin. “People are online at all different times of the day and from all different time zones.” He’s taken to travelling with a laptop and studying during down- time between flights and in hotel rooms during layovers. “The Internet definitely makes the world a smaller place. I was once sitting in an Internet cafe in Buda- pest, surrounded by people from all January Workshop to Focus on Balancing Work, Eldercare T he Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being is hosting a workshop on “Balancing Work and Eldercare” Jan. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 1715 of the OVC Learning Centre. Designed for people who are employed and caring for an elderly loved one, the workshop is free and open to the public. Speakers include Prof. Heather Keller, Family Relations and Ap- plied Nutrition, who will talk about eating and feeding in a caring rela- tionship. Pauline Corcoran, financial manager in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences dean’s office, will discuss her own personal challenges in balancing employment and elder caregiving. Other speakers are Audrey Devitt Wilson of St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Abigail Dancey of the Com- munity Care Access Centre in Cam- bridge and Teresa Daily, an eldercare social worker in Guelph. Registration is required for the workshop; deadline is Jan. 9. To register, call Ext. 53714, fax to 823-1388 or send e-mail to gjoseph@uoguelph.ca. For complete details and a regis- tration form, see the workshop bro- chure at www.worklifecanada.ca/ balance.pdf. Michael Turner different locations who were watch- ing a rugby game between England and Australia, while I was logged onto the U of G website catching up on a class discussion.” Wingrove says she fits in her schoolwork whenever possible, add- ing that it’s a good thing she’s always been a morning person. “Now, the definition of morning has expanded to include 4 a.m. My kids, who have been wonderfully supportive, are convinced I don’t ac- tually ever sleep.” Turner logs onto the computer when his sons are napping during the day and after they’ve gone to bed at night. “Family time is all about quality time now and not quantity time,” he says. “My wife has been great about it, and you have to have that kind of support to do this because it’s an in- tense program. It just grabs you and pulls you in. I can’t wait to get at the computer each night.” Virgin agrees. “It does become habitual. You get up in the morning and want to sign right in to see what’s up.” He adds that, when he’s at home, he and his children do homework to- gether. “I’ve also had exceptional support from my wife, Kathryn, and that’s clearly one of the hinges of my success at being able to balance ev- erything.” The leadership program includes seven eight-week courses that focus on theory, organizational change, decision-making, skills development and increasing self-awareness. “It’s really an in-depth study of who you are, which is perfect for me in terms of where I am in my life right now,” says Turner. “You learn what makes you work in an organi- zation and what makes you work as a leader, as well as your weaknesses and limitations. You apply every job you’ve ever done and every life expe- rience you’ve ever had to your work in the program." Wingrove says she chose to enrol in June 2005 because she wanted to “challenge myself to lead more effec- tively, communicate clearly and in- spire others to act .” Virgin signed on because of a longtime interest in leadership coaching. The program begins each year in June with a one- week residential stay on campus. New students and fac- ulty meet for the first time and par- ticipate in intensive sessions; returning students come back for more face-to-face interaction and re- search presentations. “The residential component was an excellent way to get the class func- tioning as a team and working to- gether effectively very quickly,” says Wingrove. “We were together day and night working on a project. The whole week was extremely rewarding.” Turner agrees. ,r You really bond with everyone in class. You get to know everything about them, which is great because later on, when you’re home working online, you know the person behind the name.” Virgin adds that he has developed friendships that will carry on long af- ter graduation. “That’s one of the most reward- ing aspects of this program — the re- lationships that the cohort develops with each other as a collective. It re- ally is an extended family. You’re in daily contact with one another. You care about one another." at Guelph 7 December 7 , 2005 insight Reclaiming Higher Education, Research From Corporate Agenda “Let the corporate donations come, but not to fund donors’ commercial research” Editor’s note: The following is an edited version of a talk given by University professor emeritus elect John McMurtry, FRSC, of the Department of Philosophy when he introduced a recent lecture on campus by Dr. Nancy Olivieri. L et us begin by getting bearings on the meaning of education and research, which is so widely ignored in our commercial culture. There are two anchoring principles. 1. Education consists of the learning of capabilities to think independently, literately and constructively in evolved codes of human understanding that academic disciplines bear. 2. Research is the leading edge of these disciplines and of new human understanding. Business leaders and university administrations may say they agree with these defining criteria, yet over the last two de- cades, an unspoken corporate agenda has inverted these defin- ing objectives towards the undebated purpose of “global market competitiveness and productivity.” Neo-liberal federal and provincial government policies have led this “structural adjust- ment,” with senior university administrations in energetic tow. Few people notice that this “competitiveness” is not for better or more universal education or discovery. It is to com- petitively increase private stockholders’ money returns. Fewer still notice that “higher productivity" means only increasing corporate revenues over costs — for example, by the develop- ment of biotech commodities. Increasing corporate revenues over costs is now the dominant selector for medical and so-called “life science” research, and why Dr. Nancy Olivieri was prohibited from informing patients in a clinical trial of her concerns about an experimental drug. On the most general plane, the system-wide trends to subju- gate public education and research are: • training students to serve corporate labour-market functions (thus ever higher tuition fees as “investment costs for having higher-priced market skills”); • selling students and campus grounds as marketing sites ( thus the commercial creep on campus of corporate ads, junk food and beverage outlets, market franchises and insidious brand postings); and • redirecting public research funds to development of new cor- porate products (such as pharmaceuticals and GMOs). Across all public sectors, there is one unifying pattern — to reduce the social life functions of government to corpo- rate-market service functions. At the University of Guelph, for example, our agricultural and veterinary sciences and facilities have been redirected since the late 1980s to massive animal ex- perimentation and factory-farm methods to serve corporate ag- ribusiness instead of family farms and balanced rural development. Ontario family farms and agricultural and rural programs have been correspondingly bankrupted and defunded in the process. At the most general level, funding for non-profit science in the public interest — once the standard of objective research in universities — has been subverted. This dumb-down pattern crosses university campuses. The degradation of the higher-learning mission is part of a much wider social-structural shift in which corporately fi- nanced and media-supported government parties have exten- sively stripped the public economy by: • continual funding slashes through lavish tax cuts and subsi- dies to corporations and the wealthy (which means ever higher student debts to pay the costs); by John McMurtry • continual privatization of public services by direct-sale, pri- vate-sector management of resources, contracting out and part-time staffing (with the current Ontario government’s so-called “infrastructural rebuilding project” a $30-billion privatization scheme under another name); and • continual selection against funding of public and environ- mental health, education and other social regulations and services that don’t make a profit for the corporate market (thus the increasingly deadly pollution of our air and water since the privatization and private-public partnerships be- gan). University administrations have collaborated on the ratio- nale that funds must be found. Yet the underlying conflict of in- terest is not seen. In “university-corporation partnerships,” university researchers must find projects that big business is willing to co-fund. This means that what corporations find no profit in — for example, preventive medicines for Third World malaria, which kills millions annually, or exercise-diet routines to prevent epidemic diseases — aren’t funded. Within government, the conflict of interest is more blatant. Pharmaceutical corporations fund 75 per cent of Health Can- ada’s drug-approval process, and scientists who find hazards with new drugs have — like Olivieri — been fired for identifying them. “No private research money should be involved in any public or university research where there is any conflict of interest” The problem is quite soluble. No private research money should be involved in any public or university research where there is any conflict of interest. Let the corporate donations come, but not to fund donors’ commercial research. Otherwise, there is no research integrity left in the process. A World Bank paper has even declared that worldwide edu- cation reform demands a more radical market restructuring in which educational decision-making must shift from faculty and from “inappropriate curricula.” In step with the global agenda, the monthly business maga- zine of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Interna- tional Trade has announced “the $2-trillion global education market,” which it approvingly affirmed as “an academic gold rush.” This is the mentality universities are “partnering” with. “Ad- ministrative leadership” is much prized in management litera- ture, but there has been none here. An official booklet on the research-market connection, The Canadian Agri-Food Research Strategy, 1997-2002, stated (emphases added): “Increasing competition for research funding . . .will demand that Canada identifies its research strengths and capabilities to focus on those areas with highest value and return on investment Priorities for applied research are set by the marketplace via partnerships, e.g., industry funds research that fits their priorities .... Aug- mented private-sector participation in research priority setting will . . . ensure scientists have access to the appropriate market signals, are aware of the technology requirements of industry, and can focus their research appropriately.” Our University research office willingly distributed this prescription for research funds. Prof. Ann Clark of the Department of Plant Agriculture has bravely warned of the distortion of research at U of G with such a for-profit bias. In a paper to the October 1999 Conference of the Canadian Association of University Teachers in Ottawa, she wrote: “Non-proprietary research — of the sort that benefits everyone — is of no interest to industry sponsors.” In agricul- ture, for example, integrated pest management, organic form- ing, management-intensive grazing, small-scale producer co-operatives, and alternatives to factory-processed livestock and genetically engineered commodities have been isolated and given little or no research support. In general at the university level, administrators in areas whose research can be commercialized for biotech commodi- ties such as pharmaceutical and GMO products have been prone to attack faculty researchers who publicly question such research on precautionary grounds. On the wider government plane, the incoming federal administration of 2004 campaigned on the “tripling of the commercialization of university re- search,” which Paul Martin proclaimed, as he became prime minister, was “not nearly fast enough.” Corporate marketization of the university proceeds on many levels — ever more expenditures on administrative posi- tions and management-decided chairs and special projects as funding cutbacks on university courses and teaching are de- manded. Lecture halls and walls are insidiously made into cor- porate brand-promotion sites. At the same time, academic resources are downgraded by part-time sessionals and limited contracts in place of full-time professors (60 per cent of the teaching at York University) and — in the professorial ranks themselves — careerist grant-chasing by faculty in place of original depth research. In overview approval of this corporate barbarization of higher education and research, global management guru Peter Drucker has opined: “Thirty years from now, university cam- puses will be relics. Universities won’t survive.” The Contradiction of Values Corporate marketization of the academy undermines it from within. The first contradiction is between the academy’s purpose of critical search for truth and the corporate market’s final goal of financial self-maximization. Good reasoning and research in education require educators and researchers to ad- dress problems independently of their money payoff, whereas market competitiveness is bound by corporate fiduciary duty to maximize money returns to stockholders. The second contradiction of regulating values is between the free and open dissemination of knowledge and the private pat- ent and copyright control of all knowledge that corporations can copyright or patent. This explains why endless animal-ex- periment protocols are kept secret at our university. The hidden war of values also reaches into our very identi- ties as persons. The development of abilities of autonomous thought and action is education. Consumption of ready-made commodities, often junk, is the corporate market. The univer- sity should stand and fight for education, not corporate marketization of itself. The final contradiction is the most lethal. The university is constitutionally committed to critically reasoned inquiry that goes wherever the quest for truth leads it, whereas corporations succeed by one-sided conditioning of unconscious desires of buyers so as to maximize sales of products. The truth is only what sells. That a “knowledge economy” can now be declared across universities and the world with no criterion of knowl- edge to distinguish it from falsehood reveals the cognitive disorder of our condition. brock road nursery garden Centre § shoppe 2006 PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR We would like to thank our customers for wonderful 2005 season. J* We our looking forward to a fantastic 2006 season. Stay tuned for 2006 perennial of the year & 2006 Hosta of the year! certificates make a great gift § they are always only a phone call away. 1858 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, NIL 1G6 519.836.5010 www.brockroadnursery.com at Guelph 8 December 7 , 2005 Profile _ _ A Designing Woman New drama prof brings wide experience in design for theatre, film and TV By Rebecca Kendall A t the Cannes Film Festival debut of Atom Egoyan’s latest film, Where the Truth Lies, in May, the audience was captivated by its provocative story of intrigue, deception and murder under the curtain of Hollywood celebrity. Since then, the film, which stars Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth and is based on a novel by Rupert Holmes, has been making waves across the globe. That’s something that makes Prof. Pat Flood, English and Theatre Studies, proud. After all, she designed many of the film’s sets. From her office in Massey Hall, Flood speaks of the flurry of early morning calls from England’s Shepperton Studios in London — the film was shot in London, Los Angeles and Toronto — and hand-drawn sketches that were routinely faxed back and forth between her and the set builders. “I originally created the designs using a computer program, but there were technical difficulties on their end and they asked for hand-drawn sketches,” she says. With her first semester of teaching at Guelph under her belt, Flood is putting her extensive design schedule on the back burner and has stepped back into the classroom on a full-time basis. She’s now winding down from teaching a course in script analysis and gearing up for the winter session, when she’ll be teaching a course in costume and fighting design and designing the set for Snowman, a play directed by Prof. Ric Knowles that will run in February at the George Luscombe Theatre. On the research front, Flood is embarking on the creation of the first comprehensive web-based collection of theatrical de- signs in Canada, something she says will be extremely helpful to those studying and working in the field of set design and art direction. “There are many different archives across the country, in- cluding an amazing one here at Guelph, but nobody has cen- tralized them,” she says. “If you’re teaching design, you need examples, and right now there’s nowhere you can go to see this work.” She hopes this project will aid in preserving the history of Canadian theatrical design and raise the profile of Canadian work internationally. A BFA graduate of the University of Alberta, Flood had her sights set on being an actor when she started her studies, but over the course of four years, her goals changed and she left wanting to design productions rather than star in them. She also studied at the University of Minnesota, where she received a Bush McKnight Fellowship and apprenticed at the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. She headed east to Toronto at a time of great change and ex- citement in the Canadian entertainment industry. Then prime minister Pierre Trudeau had invested a lot of money in the arts, and theatres were popping up everywhere, says Flood. “It was the late ’70s, early ’80s, and there were a lot of really important pieces of Canadian theatre being done.” In addition to landing work at a number of Toronto thea- tres, she was part of a group that founded the Toronto Free Theatre, a venue that aimed to have free admission for all pa- trons as well as free experimentation with theatrical form and content. Flood later went on to spend many years working with the Blyth Festival, the Stratford Festival and the CBC. She says she’s always believed her design work mattered because, in its own way, it has helped bring Canadian literature and scripts to fife. Sharing her knowledge and passion for the craft comes natu- rally to her, and in 1986, she became a tenured professor at Montreal’s Corcordia University. She taught full time for six years, leaving in 1992 to pursue a career in film and television. She remained active in the academic circle by finding time to teach one semester a year. “Teaching keeps me young, and it keeps me in touch with an age group that I’d probably have lost touch with otherwise. I love their enthusiasm.” Flood’s experience in design spans decades, and many peo- ple who are reading and hearing about her for the first time may find it surprising to learn they’re already familiar with her work. In addition to working as set designer for Egoyan’s 2002 film, Ararat, which won the National Film Review’s Freedom of Ex- pression Award, she was assistant set designer on Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock series, art director for the last season of La Femme Nikita and art director for the last two seasons of Kids in the Hall “I’d have to say that working on Kids in the Hall was probably the most challenging,” she says. “I love the guys (actors Mark McKinney, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Dave Foley and Scott Thompson), and I had a really great time doing it, but it was re- ally stressful. Comedy is serious business.” ^ A sketch comedy show like Kids in § the Hall requires the creation of many ” varied and unusual sets in a short pe- | riod. Flood explains. Failure to meet | those demands results in serious finan- » rial implications for the studio. “With television and film, time is money and you have to get your shots done correctly and on schedule.” She says fife on the set of Kids in the Hall could get pretty crazy at times be- cause the writers’ imaginations knew no bounds. “We did everything from takeoffs of European art films to broad visual comedy, and you really had to know what you were doing.” Thanks to her experience, Flood has learned to think quickly on her feet and has developed a creative mind to bring the vi- sion of a production to life. “Often, people think those who design sets and costumes and lights are glorified technicians,” she says. “I don’t actually build anything; I’m an artist with a vision and concept of the production. Whereas the director tells the story through the ac- tors, I tell the story through the visuals. It’s developing a visual vocabulary in response to the text, and there’s an awful lot of re- search and thought that goes into it. ” Flood says there’s a big difference between designing for theatre and designing for film and TV because theatre design is much more poetic and abstract Film work requires her only to design the sets. In the theatre, she’s responsible for two or three components. “I usually handle sets and costumes and collaborate closely with the fighting designer," she says. “Theatre design is conse- quently more creative and challenging.'’ That’s because more is left to the imagination in the theatre, and every detail doesn’t have to be spelled out for the audience, she says. “Design isn’t about things; it’s about time and space and what you’re trying to express through the play. It’s long hours and a lot of work, but it’s a great way to make a living.” Flood says she’s excited to be at Guelph not only because she loves the city and because it’s ideally situated for access to the Blyth Festival, the Shaw Festival, the Stratford Festival and the bustling entertainment industry in Toronto, but also because there’s a great pool of talented, accomplished and creative thinkers on faculty. “It’s an honour to work with them,” she says. Adventure Novel Draws on Longtime Interest in Egypt BY ANDREW VOWLES H e’S been a U of G textiles engineering professor, a playwright and an actor. Now add novelist to Keith Slater’s CV. This fall, the retired professor has published an adventure novel that draws on his longtime interest in an- cient and storied Egypt. Slater says his new book, called The Unpardon- able Heresy of Nefertiti, weaves in- trigue and skullduggery around an archeologist and his engineer girl- friend drawn to the land of the Pha- raohs to search for tombs and treasure. His novel, published by PubfishAmerica based in Maryland, offers readers his ideas on the an- swers to some enduring questions. What happened to the body of Nefertiti — wife of Akhenaten, half-sister of Tutankhamen and one of the most controversial queens of ancient Egypt? Where are the mummy and tomb of Horemheb, the last king of Egypt’s 18th dynasty? And why is the biblical story of Mo- ses found nowhere in Egyptian records? “They’ve never been answered — they’ve fascinated me for years,” says Slater, who retired from the School of Engineering in 2000 (he was cross-appointed to the then Depart- ment of Consumer Studies). He says he might have studied Egyptology instead of engineering, but there was no program available at his alma mater, the University of Leeds. He adds that the novel has been fermenting for years, perhaps since he visited Egypt while on sab- batical in England in 1984. A Nile cruise with his wife, Rosalind, to cel- ebrate their silver anniversary in- cluded visits to the Valley of the Kings and the temple complex of Karnak in Luxor. Keith Slater has written numer- ous plays, many of them staged at amateur theatres around southern Ontario. This time, he chose to write a novel, figuring the story would be too complex to put on the stage. (Al- though it’s his first hard-copy novel, he’s written two other adventure sto- ries for electronic publication.) He says he has no trouble crank- ing out the words, normally writing a chapter in a morning. “I tend to write it in my head before putting it on paper.” Rosalind Slater, who completed a master’s in English at Guelph, is his first reader and editor. The retired engineer always has numerous writing and acting pro- jects on the go. “It’s a way I’ve found of avoiding writer’s block," he says. Two more novels — one set in India, the other in Portugal — will be pub- lished by PubfishAmerica in the next two years. He’s now writing a new play, an- other novel (a murder mystery set in the Alps) and two technical books about textiles and environmental issues. On the acting front. Slater is cur- rently performing in the Theatre in the Trees production of There Goes the Bride at the Arboretum. He also auditioned for a movie role this fall. at Guelph 9 December 7 , 2005 after hours U of G, OVC Alumni Associations Seek Award Nominees Honours recognize contributions of alumni, volunteers T he U of G Alumni Association seeks nominations for five awards honouring the achievements of alumni and the contributions of volunteers. The Alumnus of Honour Award celebrates alumni who have brought great honour to their alma mater through professional, community and/or personal endeavours. The Alumni Medal of Achievement rec- ognizes a graduate of the last 1 5 years who has achieved excellence through contributions to the coun- try, community, profession or the world of arts and letters. The Alumni Volunteer Award, Employee Volun- teer Award and Student Volunteer Award recognize those who have volunteered their time by working with students, faculty or alumni. Nominations must be submitted to the UGAA Honours and Awards Committee do Alumni House by Jan. 27. For more information and to download the nomination form, visit www.alumni.uoguelph.ca/asso- ciation_awards.htm. If you have questions, contact Jason Moreton at Ext. 53718 or jmoreton@uoguelph. ca. Nominations are also sought for the OVC Distinguished Alumnus Award, which recognizes an OVC graduate who has brought honour to the college and other Guelph alumni through his or her leadership and service to country, science, educa- tion, profession or alma mater. Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 30 to the OVC Alumni Asso- ciation do Laurie Malleau, OVC ’s manager of alumni affairs. To re- quest a nomination form for the award, visit the website www.ovc. uoguelph.ca. Energy Tip of the Month Buy energy-efficient LED holiday lights. They’re a bit more expensive up front but worth the investment. Sometiydro utilities also offer cou- pons to encourage the use of these energy-saving decorations. For more ideas and information, visit www.pr.uoguelph.ca/sustain. Owe Km Cut off & mall your gift to: Change Now Youth Drop In and Resource Centre 10 Cork Street East, Guelph N 1 H 2 W 8 Youth Drop In and Resource Centre Christmas Offer a help make a difference In 200t. Change Now provided safe shefcer for 300 youth, many of whom hxl beer iKing on the slim At Change Now; youth can access hoi meals, medical attention, showers. laundry facilities, and h»e a safe, warm place to While at Change Now. yonth are assisted with homing and employment searches, and participle in Ufe stalls discussion groups. Many of the yrmih come from abusive backgrounds and are In desperate need of a safe place to s vtf. Trained tfaff assist them get the help they need to survive. Please help us help them. ConsMft dorcftng a gift on behalf cf a lore! one this holiday season. We will jtrnd tkl person a card kiting them know a douAion was made on their Mad. A tax receipt will be included. Please specify i you would Ike it to go to the purchaser or tlie person in whose name the donation was made. ■ YES. I limit to help. Here is 1 mid shelter to bids in need. Your Information Nam© | Address — I Postal Cod© __________ my Christmas gift to help proride food Please complete: I The person you irisb to make the donation for: | Name ■ -- | Address . Postal Code _ _ Phone # _ Charlene Elsby ★ Please make my donation a maniily gift ■ Plewse make cheques payable to Change Now and return it with this coupon. Your cootrlbatlon b tax deductible aid a receipt will be nulled to you shortly cturmbte #133*64 Ktf MOO l Change Nowb proud to be a K linked Way Man ber Agency _ Thunk mu in advance fnrynm consideration. I very bit helps. CHARLENE ELSBY Third-year student in theoretical physics Charlene Elsby, a member of the Canadian Poetry Society, has just released her first chapbook. The 40-page collection of short stories titled Dirt Wet With Blood was published by the society and came out in November. She says the society’s president encouraged her to put out the book, which is currently available at Bibliomania Books in downtown Guelph and sells for $6. Elsby has been writing for seven years. “I love writing because it’s a maimer of expression and you can use all sorts of methods to communicate your thoughts.” She’s also a member of the American Physical Soci- ety, and although she’s never attended any of its meet- ings in the United States, she does enjoy one particular membership benefit. “I receive a free subscription to Physics Today , and as a student with limited funds, I find it’s a pretty good perk.” She says she enjoys the magazine because it contains up-to-date information on different developments in the field of physics. Elsby is also a member of Mensa Canada and gets to- gether occasionally with other members from Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge “to play Scrabble and invent new puns,” she laughs. She works part time on campus in Financial Services and enjoys reading. She is currently tackling Phenomen- ology of Spirit by G.W.F. Hegel. PETER GODDARD Faculty member in the Department of History since 1991 Prof. Peter Goddard spends some of his time away from the office volunteering in early literacy training at Paisley Road School. Even with the demands of his job, he has been able to afford a few hours each month and hopes to find a little more time come the new year. He says he got involved p eter Goddard in reading with kids while in — — — — ■— Ottawa on research leave last year, adding that there’s nothing more interesting than watching a child learn to read. “I like seeing them progress and become more confi- dent in their reading skills,” he says. Last summer, while in East Asia, Goddard trekked through the jungles of Borneo and achieved a memora- ble feat. “I climbed Mount Kinabalu. It’s the highest peak between the Himalayas and Australia. Goddard says he and his family are drawn to outdoor activities. In the summer, they like to canoe in the Massassauga wilderness in the heart of Georgian Bay* s 30,000 islands. In the winter, they enjoy taking to the trails cross-country skiing at Nordic Highlands near Collingwood. He and his wife, Prof. Theresa Lee, Political Science, have a six-year-old son named Jerome. Goddard has be- come a hockey dad and enjoys spending time at the rink watching his son play. JIM ARMSTRONG Campus community police officer since 1988 Const. Jim Armstrong is an avid fisher and takes to the water with friends and colleagues year- round. In the winter, he likes to ice fish in Lake Simcoe near Keswick. In the milder months, his prefer- ence is the Nottawasaga River near Wasaga Beach. Armstrong tells the story of a day when he and colleague Const. Bryce Kohlmeier and U of G Con- trol Centre technician Alex Magyar were out in Magyar’s boat and were trying to videotape their attempts to catch fish. “Kohlmeier cast the line and hooked the camera,” Armstrong laughs. “It sank to the bottom of the river. After that, we caught about 50 fish.” His biggest catch, according to him, was a 25-pound Chinook salmon he caught in Owen Sound’s Sydenham River. During the holiday season, Armstrong hopes to reel in donations for the Guelph Food Bank by playing key- board at various functions. In exchange for a contribu- tion of non-perishable items, he will play a selection of holiday favourites at your home or office gathering. “It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit, and I do something that will make a difference to someone in need,” he says. Armstrong began playing piano at age six and contin- ued until he was 14. “It’s been more than 30 years since I’ve taken les- sons,” he says, “but if you don’t mind a sour note or two at your party, then I’m your man.” To book him, call Ext. 52245. Jim Armstrong Getting an Arm up on Saving Lives Members of the U of G community rolled up their sleeves and donated 215 units of blood to Canadian Blood Services (CBS) at a clinic held Nov. 29. “Every donation can help save or improve the lives of up to three people,” says Sharr Cairns, recruitment co-ordinator for CBS. “Everyone at the University of Guelph should be proud to know that their generosity may help approximately 645 Canadians who will need blood or blood products.” She notes that 55 of the people who turned out for the clinic were first-time donors. As part of the clinic, challenges were issued to residences and varsity athletic teams. In the residence challenge, Mountain Hall came out on top with 20 donors taking part. In the team challenge, issued by rower Sonya Kamps, shown above, the swim team, with five members participating, edged out the competition. photo by Rebecca kendall at Guelph 1ft December 7 , 2005 An Insect Family UofG insect biologist and Gold Medal winner has been chasing bugs since he was knee-high to a you-know-what BY ANDREW VOWLES D ad would have been proud. So says Prof. Peter Kevan, Environmental Biology, reliving the moment when he accepted a top honour from his peers this fall. The longtime insect biologist received the 2005 Gold Medal from the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) last month, almost a quarter-century after his father, Keith Kevan, had accepted the same award. “It was a very emotional experi- ence,” says Peter Kevan. “It meant a great deal to be recognized and have that kind of respect from the na- tion.” The award, which recognized his contributions to the field during the last three decades, was presented during a joint meeting of the ESC and its provincial affiliate in Alberta. Recalling that his father had received the Gold Medal in 1981, Kevan says: “He was in my mind. That was pretty special.” In fact, given the entomological leanings of his paternal grandfather as well, there may have been a couple of spirits hovering over the gathering that heard Peter Kevan discuss his lifelong study of “the little marvels” as he accepted the award in early November. This year’s award recognizes the Guelph professor’s many contribu- tions to the study of insects, particu- larly interactions between insects and plants and pollination ecology. The respected insect ecologist has published more than 150 peer- re- viewed articles covering such topics as conservation, behaviour and learning, physiology, soils, flower colour and colour vision. Ask him to zero in on his key achievements and Kevan heads north. The Canadian Arctic maybe a place few people would consider when embarking on a PhD in insect ecology, but that’s where he turned in the late 1960s for his doctorate at the University of Alberta. That early work overturned a couple of accepted ideas about in- sects in the Arctic: first, that there were few critters worth looking at there and, second, that those bugs could hardly be considered to play a key role in plant pollination. Wrong on both counts, says Kevan, whose repeated forays to Ellesmere Island found plenty of insects and an im- portant place for them in pollinating such widespread plants as mountain avens, purple saxifrage and louseworts. He has returned numerous times, mapping a research and teaching journey that has taken him from the Mackenzie Valley through the Arctic Islands to Hudson Bay. Along the way, he’s studied everything from how plants and insects cope with cold — imagine discussing “butter- fly solar basking” in Canada’s North — to the effects of heavy vehicles on the fragile terrain, a key concern par- ticularly as industry eyes oil and gas deposits in the Mackenzie River delta and the western Arctic. On the teaching side, Kevan vis- ited Churchill, Man., just last year for the latest in a variety of northern field courses he’s been involved with. Besides teaching in U of G field courses in Resolute, N.W.T., Igloolik and Iqaluit, Nunavut, and other lo- cations, he has co-taught a course in Arctic and boreal entomology for the past four years at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre with col- laborators at the University of Mani- toba and the University of the Arctic in Finland. He’s now part of another pro- posed research collaboration based at Guelph that hopes to study Arctic and sub-Arctic biodiversity. In a project reminiscent of his early work there, Kevan says the proposal would see scientists survey plants and ani- mals using more sophisticated tools, including DNA bar-coding technol- ogy developed by Prof. Paul Hebert, Integrative Biology, for identifying species of organisms. Despite long-standing studies of Canada's North, Kevan says there’s still much to learn about that part of the world, particularly as scientists continue to debate questions about effects of global climate change. “We should be more cognizant of life on Earth,” he says. Referring to the circumpolar na- tions, he adds: “The Canadian Arctic is among the least known in natural history and biodiversity .” Another main research field stemming from that doctoral work is his career-long interest in pollina- tion biology, mostly involving bees but also flies and other insects. Start- ing with work in blueberry fields in New Brunswick, Kevan has pursued that interest across the Maritime provinces and into forests in Quebec and Ontario. His studies have con- firmed that human activities — no- tably pesticide use in forestry and on farms — disrupt pollinator popula- tions. Those effects may be traced to production of fewer fruits and ber- ries and resultant problems for birds and animals. He says that work has led to changes in policy and practice, in- cluding reductions in amounts of in- secticides applied in woodlands. “Forests are healthier places for wildlife to live,” says Kevan, who continues to study crop pollination and pest control. He was named this year to the U.S. National Research Council expert panel on the status of pollinators. He has also studied insect vision and flower colour — work that took him to Europe on a German fellow- ship to study with neurobiologists. including Humboldt Prize laureate Randolf Menzel at the Free Univer- sity of Berlin. Anyone observing a much youn- ger Peter Kevan toddling around Nairobi might have expected that he’d end up pursuing not bees but grasshoppers. “Since before 1 was knee-high to one, my dad was interested in them," he wrote in a tribute published in an ESC bulletin to mark his father’s re- tirement from McGill University in 1987. Peter was about IVz years old when he met his father. A taxono- mist and soil zoologist from Edin- burgh, Keith Kevan had been posted to Kenya, where he worked with the country’s agriculture department in monitoring and control of desert lo- custs in East Africa. After returning to the United Kingdom, he became head of zoology at the University of Nottingham. In 1958, the family came to Can- ada, where Keith had been appointed McGill’s entomology chair. He was a director and former president of the Entomological Society of Canada and a founding member of the soci- ety’s Biological Survey of the Insects of Canada. He even melded science and art by studying insect-related history, literature and art and writ- ing a series of poems under the mon- iker The Land of the Locusts. Peter remembers collecting trips with his father in various parts of the world. (Keith’s career took him to every continent except Antarctica. It also brought him occasionally to Guelph, where he identified several specimens in the U of G Insect Col- lection, housed downstairs from Pe- ter’s office in the Bovey Building.) A number of insect species are named after Kevan ptre, father and son pub- lished three times together on springtails and on grasshopper be- haviour. Grasshoppers vied with beetles for Peter’s attention during his childhood. His grandfather Douglas Kevan was an accountant by profes- sion but a natural historian by avoca- tion and a leading Scottish authority on beedes. He collected specimens, named insects and wrote on taxon- omy for Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine published in England. Re- membering bug-catching outings and picnics with his grandfather, Pe- ter says: “My most vivid memory of my grandfather was his explanation of stinkhom fungus in Pennycuik Woods.” Not planning initially to become an entomologist, Peter eventually studied zoology at McGill. The only exception to his father’s hands-off approach to his son’s career was a suggestion that Peter continue grad- uate work at the University of Al- berta. It was there that he met his supervisor-to-be, Brian Hocking, an expert in insect flight and control of blackflies and mosquitoes, particu- larly in Canada’s North. (Hocking received the ESC Gold Medal in 1973.) After a National Research Coun- cil post-doc in Ottawa, Peter Kevan worked and taught at Memorial Uni- versity and at the University of Colo- rado. While there, he visited Indonesia for three months to study pollination biology in Sulawesi as part of Operation Drake. That 1978 to 1980 venture saw various land- based projects completed as part of a circumnavigation of the globe that traced the exploration route of Sir Francis Drake. Kevan moved to U of G in 1982. He has worked with his wife, Sherrene, a biology instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University; they have a joint patent on veterinary drugs for bees. He has served on the board of the Entomological Society of Canada and of Ontario and as editor of the Proceedings of the ESO and of The Canadian Entomologist. He still op- erates Entomo-L, an Internet discus- sion list for entomology he created. As for continuing the Kevan “entomo-dynasty,” neither his son nor his daughter from his first mar- riage have picked up the, er, bug — although his daughter does keep bees in Colorado. Level 1 University Centre • Poster printing, mounting and lamination • Coroplast Signs, Banners and Vinyl Decals 1 Graphic Design and Illustrations 1 Exhibit / Trade Show Design and Fabrication Ext. 58031/Email: info@clicksigns.ca www.clicksigns.ca fjt|Home hardware Campus Hardware Limited 1027 Gordon Street Guelph, Ontario NIG 4X1 Tel. (519) 836-3721 Fax (519) 836-5664 Helen Maciag U of G Recycles! www.pr.u oguelph.c a/recycle at Guelph 11 December 7 , 2005 Higher Dissolved Oxygen Could Boost Productivity for Greenhou se Growers U of G researchers study use of oxygen diffusers in growing hydroponic crops Lands, Resources Come Together in Conference and New Handbook BY ROBERT FIELDHOUSE SPARK PROGRAM D issolving more oxygen into hydroponic solutions could increase greenhouse productivity and provide a whole host of other benefits, say Prof. Mike Dixon and research associate Youbin Zheng, Environmental Biology. They’re investigating the positive aspects of using an oxygen diffuser to increase oxygen levels in green- house hydroponic solutions used to grow roses, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Preliminary results suggest a higher dissolved oxygen level in- creases productivity, health and root vigour in greenhouse plants and helps keep harmful microbes in check. “These findings are really benefi- cial to the industry,” says Zheng. “If we can use oxygen to boost plant health, making them stronger and more resistant to disease, we've dis- covered a very helpful tool.” Oxygen isn’t as prevalent in warm water as in cool water, so oxy- gen levels tend to be low — about two to four parts per million (ppm) — atYuyh greenhouse temperatures, compared with eight to nine ppm in cool water. Under hot weather con- ditions in the greenhouse, the root zone is especially short on oxygen because root respiration depletes ox- ygen in hydroponic solutions, says Zheng. Excessive watering can further depress oxygen levels because it makes growth media such as rockwool and coconut fibre less po- rous, blocking air. These factors all weaken plant disease defence sys- tems, making them more susceptible to disease-causing microbes such as Fusarium and Pythium, which cause root decay. To prevent this problem, green- house growers typically bubble air into hydroponic solutions to bring oxygen levels up to about nine ppm. But sometimes this still isn’t enough. Two years ago, the B.C. Green- house Growers’ Association asked Dixon to investigate using even higher oxygen levels in hydroponic solutions. His literature review re- vealed that little work had been done in this area, suggesting the problem had been largely ignored — until now. Dixon and Zheng are using an Researcher Youbin Zheng is studying whether oxygen levels can be raised in hydroponic solutions to help growers ward off harmful microbes and enhance productivity. photo by olivia brown oxygen diffuser recently developed and manufactured by Seair Diffu- sion Systems Inc., an Edmon- ton-based company with an interest in the greenhouse sector. The dif- fuser concentrates atmospheric oxy- gen and dissolves it into hydroponic solutions. When this technology is used, oxygen levels can reach as high as 60 ppm in hydroponic solutions. The research team is currently studying the effects of different oxy- gen levels, ranging from about nine to 40 ppm. So far, preliminary results are promising. But creating optimal su- persaturated oxygen solutions re- quires extreme precision. Oxygen can be damaging at very high levels, says Dixon, so it’s important to es- tablish application methods for us- ing this technology for different crops. If the methods can be worked out, the inexpensive oxygen diffusers stand to emerge as an eco- nomical, environmentally friendly solution for growers looking to en- hance their crops, he says. “Greenhouse growers are vora- cious technical consumers — they’ll try anything. But by the same token, they’re also very shrewd business people, and they won’t waste money unnecessarily.” Dixon and Zheng will continue their research and will further inves- tigate oxygen’s effect on plant growth, physiology and disease. For example, they will inoculate green- house plants with specific microbes to see how the plants cope with this challenge under different oxygen levels. Others involved in this project include technician Linping Wang, graduate student Johanna Valentine and undergraduate student Mark Mallany. The research is being con- ducted at greenhouses in Guelph and Leamington and is sponsored by Seair Diffusion Systems Inc., Flow- ers Canada Ontario and the Fred Miller Rose Research Fund. “Healthy W aters, Healthy Communities" focus of University’s 12th annual Latornell Conference BY ANDREW VOWLES W HAT DOES drinking-water safety in Walkerton have to do with protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine north of Toronto from unrestrained development? Probe into human health and environ- mental concerns, says Prof. Stew Hilts, chair of the Department of Land Resource Science, and you often arrive at the same point: We need to take better care of our lands and resources. That’s the common theme of two recent outreach initiatives by mem- bers of his department: an environ- mental and conservation conference held off campus last month and pub- lication this fall of a new handbook for property owners around the Oak Ridges Moraine. About 1,000 practitioners, stu- dents, academics, politicians and representatives of non-governmen- tal organizations discussed environ- mental and conservation issues at the 12th annual A.D. Latornell Confer- ence. Called “Healthy Waters, Healthy Communities,” it took place last month in Alliston. The confer- ence is sponsored by U of G and Conservation Ontario, which repre- sents 36 conservation authorities in the province. It’s named for 1950 OAC graduate Art Latornell, a long- time administrator with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and a lifelong conservationist. “It’s the biggest and best annual conservation conference in On- tario," says Hilts, a conference co-or- ganizer. “It’s a place where science and policy come together.” Participants discussed water- quality monitoring and new source- water protection legislation and reg- ulations for the province. Other top- ics included land stewardship, fisheries management, forest resto- ration, climate change and risk management in natural areas. Speakers included Sheela Basrur, Ontario medical officer of health; and Justice Dennis O’Connor, asso- ciate chief justice of Ontario and for- mer commissioner of the Walkerton water inquiry. U of G speakers were Prof. Alan Wildeman, vice-president (research); and Prof. Rob de Loe, Canada Research Chair in Rural Water Management. Keynote speakers at the event were William Rees of the University of British Columbia, author of Our Ecological Footprint-, and Ryan Hreljac, who began raising money at age six for water-well projects in Af- rica. The group also heard from Lau- rel Broton, Ontario minister of the environment, and Ron Bonnett, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. In addition, the 2005 symposium marked the graduation of 20 stu- dents from this year’s Young Con- servation Professionals Career Development Program. Land stewardship is also the theme of a new handbook for people living on and near the Oak Ridges Moraine, an environmentally sensi- tive landform covering 190,000 hect- ares in south-central Ontario. Written by Hilts and research associate Peter Mitchell, it is the third publication in a series called “Caring for Your Land,” published by the University’s Centre for Land and Water Stewardship. The centre published a stewardship handbook for landowners on the Niagara Es- carpment in 1995 and a guide to the southern Ontario Carolinian region in 1993. The series is intended as a user-friendly land stewardship guide to help growing numbers of non- farm property owners learn about their property and protect and im- prove their piece of nature. “South of Algonquin Park, about half of the rural landscape is owned by non-farmers,” says Hilts. “I’m in- terested in seeing environmental stewardship improved. I’m inter- ested in enhancing appreciation of what you own.” The handbook is not a scientific publication, he adds, pointing to its straightforward explanations of such things as tree-planting, managing a woodlot and buffering a stream. “It’s an attempt to take an issue and translate it into simple terms for landowners.” Hilts is now beginning discus- sions with prospective partner agen- cies about writing a fourth guidebook about southern Ontario. at Guelph 12 December 7, 2005 Striking the Right Balance Human health scientist ponders the question of why people fall over BY ANDREW VOWLES S HE DREAMED of becoming a ballet dancer. Today, Prof. Leah Bent, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, studies human movement not on the dance floor but in a U of G research laboratory. Behind the shielded walls of a specially equipped lab, she hopes to learn more about the choreography of muscles and nerves involved in plain old walking — a pursuit that may help in preventing falls, particularly among a growing elderly population, and offer ideas for rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries. Bent studies posture and balance and the seemingly simple question of why people fall over. Behind that ba- sic premise lies a research program that sees her manipulating individual nerve fibres and investigating a more important role for the spinal cord than formerly believed. If she’s per- forming these days, it’s a pas de deux of biomechanics and neurophysiol- ogy — one that began with her un- dergraduate studies in this very department. She explains that receptors in the soles of your feet tell your central nervous system not just about the surface you’re walking on but also about where your foot is in relation to the ground and the rest of your body. But those receptors lose their acuity with age, leading to the risk of poor posture or repeated falls. “This may be one step closer to understanding why people fall,” she says, pointing to her 92-year-old grandmother’s problems with dizzi- ness that may be related to balance trouble. In her lab, Bent will use fine elec- trodes to measure the firing of indi- vidual nerves in response to repeated stroking of the foot. (The tip of the electrode is only a micron wide; a hu- man hair is between 25 and 100 mi- crons.) She plans to marry that informa- tion with signals travelling from the other end of the body — specifically, information from the inner ear that tells our brain when the head has moved. Again, age can play havoc here. As fluid in the inner ear canals becomes more viscous, it may am- plify smaller movements and conflict with what your eyes are telling you about your surroundings. “If we have information from the vestibular system and information from the skin, where does it meet?” she says. If that meeting place is located not in the brain but in the spinal cord, then clinicians may be able to investi- gate new diagnostic and treatment options for people with spinal cord injuries. “I think there are complex spinal cord connections.” Because her equipment will be able to measure minute differences in response times, she’ll be able to tell whether information is being pro- cessed in the brain or whether a shorter information loop exists in the spinal cord alone. Having arrived at Guelph this summer, she now plans to recruit study subjects to test her ideas. Along with colleague Prof. Lori Va llis, she will supervise a graduate student who will work with subjects, beginning with younger people and then bring- ing in more elderly subjects. A room at the back of Bent’s lab in the Animal Science and Nutrition Building is made of galvanized sheet metal and copper to shield it from Prof. Leah Bent studies balance and posture, photo by martin schwalbe outside electromagnetic “noise” that would interfere with the painstaking recordings. “Human movement had always interested me," she says. She started ballet lessons at age four and even thought about pursuing dance, but came to Guelph to study human ki- netics. For her master’s degree, she stud- ied anticipatory postural adjustment, or how the body prepares itself for a step or other movement. She was in- terested in teasing apart the contri- butions of movement and balance control and learning where that control was based. “If we can pinpoint balance con- trol in the spine, that could have huge implications for rehabilitation.” It was those studies — involving mild shocks administered to the soles of the feet — that pointed to the ex- istence of a spinal loop. Bent likens it to the automatic reflex that causes you to jerk your hand away from a hot stove element. For her PhD at the University of British Columbia, Bent and her co-supervisors studied modification of information from the inner ear in balance studies. Her most recent work in Australia on a post-doc funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council involved even finer studies, recording the firing of single nerve fibres. She studied microneurog- raphy with Vaughan Macefield, who investigates motor sensory control and the spinal cord at the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute.