Mark Lewis receives Killam Research Fellowship

Congratulations to our colleague, Mark Lewis, on receiving a prestigious 2012 Killam Research Fellowship, one of only seven awarded across Canada. Dr. Lewis, Canada Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and professor in the Dept. of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, is a leader in the field of mathematical modeling. His Killam Fellowship will help fund a research project to combat water-borne invasive species such as the zebra mussel. Lewis is also the recipient of the 2011 CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize, the top mathematical prize in Canada, for his work that is currently featured on our homepage. Again, congratulations, Dr. Lewis.

Kenya Ceramics Project in national spotlight

Congratulations to our students and alumni featured in today's Globe and Mail for the Kenya Ceramics Project. This small business produces CeraMaji, a terra-cotta pot that removes disease-causing contaminants from drinking water in developing countries. This born-in-Edmonton solution is poised to save and improve the lives of millions of people who lack access to clean drinking water. This is a great example of living the U of A promise, Uplifting the Whole People. If you haven't seen it before, here is the promise story about this project.

'Disruptive' innovation in post-secondary ed

The potential disruption to the traditional, centuries-old higher education model has been a hot topic in traditional and trade media in recent months. Bill Gates' proclamation in August 2010 that technology would make traditional, "in-person" colleges and universities less relevant was widely reported. Clayton Christensen, considered the father of the theory of disruptive innovation, turned his attention to post-secondary education with "The Innovative University" with co-author Henry Eyring (Jossey-Bass, July 2011). Forbes magazine ran an overview of the book and Q&A with the authors in September, "Can Higher Education Be Fixed? The Innovative University." More recent essays on the topic include:
    •    Ryan Craig’s essay in Inside Higher Ed, Adventures in Wonderland, which contends that it is not the massively open online courses--or MOOCs--that will truly disrupt traditional post-secondary ed, but rather competency-based training.
    •    Jeff Selingo's A Disrupted Higher Ed-System on The Chronicle of Higher Ed's site.
    •    Sarah Cunnane's Stormy waters ahead as ‘disruptive forces’ sweep the old guard on Times Higher Education.
    •    Saul Garlick's An Ecosystem for Innovation in Higher Education on Huffington Post.
 

With online enterprises such as Udacity, University of the People and Khan Academy to name a few, can universities continue to maintain their same traditional model? Why does every university need to have, say, in-person lectures of Physics 101? Why not have the very best professor of physics do the lectures via videoconference, webinar or other technology with each university offering small labs and discussion groups with its own professors? Are gradual evolutions enough to keep universities relevant? Do universities need to change more radically, more disruptively to stay relevant?

Honorary degree for Peter Brabeck-Letmathe

On March 1 the university will confer honorary degrees on three individuals: PeterBrabeck-Letmathe, Steve Hrudey, and Sunita Narain. A number of requests coming in via this blog, email, and Twitter have asked that we provide some explanation of the selection of Peter Brabeck-Letmathe in particular.
 

As is the case with all nominations for honorary degrees, the nomination of Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was brought forward to the Honorary Degrees Committee by a nominator, with letters of support from informed and distinguished referees familiar with the nominee’s accomplishments.
 

The selection process
Honorary degree recipients are chosen by the University of Alberta Senate's Honorary Degrees Committee, which is chaired by the Chancellor and comprises broad representation, including the President and Provost; elected members of Senate; and representatives from the academic community, support staff, the Alumni Association, Students' Union, and the Graduate Students' Association. Total membership on the committee is 20.
 

Complete nominations are sent to all members of the committee for their review and research prior to the selection meeting, and then each member brings his or her assessment to the meeting. Prior to voting and selection, thorough discussion of the merits of each nomination occurs. The nominations and the proceedings of these meeting are strictly confidential in order to protect the privacy of the nominees and to ensure that frank discussions can occur among members of the committee.

At the end of this process, the Honorary Degrees Committee elected to confer an honorary degree on Peter Brabeck- Letmathe, along with Steve Hrudey and Sunita Narain. All three recipients have provided extraordinary leadership in sparking dialogue, conducting research, and pushing for major policy change in addressing critical challenges relating to the management and safety of water.
 

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was chosen in recognition of his emerging and growing role as a worldwide leader in water resource management. His recent advocacy and leadership calling attention to water issues worldwide is challenging industry and government to take quick action. He leads a worldwide project on “Water Resources,” as an active member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, and is one of the co-authors of the 2009 report of the 2030 Water Resources Group entitled Charting Our Water Future: Economic Frameworks to Inform Decision-Making. Of particular note to the selection committee was Brabeck-Letmathe’s decision to use his exceptional position within the global corporate sector, as Chairman of Nestlé, to engage government and business leaders on the critical issues of water resource scarcity and security.

The Honorary Degrees Committee also gave significant weight to the fact that, under Brabeck-Letmathe’s leadership, Nestlé was awarded the Stockholm Industry Water Award by the highly regarded Stockholm International Water Institute in August 2011. The company received this award for implementation of water management strategies put in place that include providing expert training for 300,000 farmers, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in water use and greater crop yields.

Throughout the history of the U of A, honorary degrees have been conferred on a wide variety of individuals from all over the world whose accomplishments have had a major impact on a diversity of professions and areas of expertise, in addition to society as a whole. This diversity is evident at spring and fall Convocation, and will again be evident at the special conferral ceremony on March 1.
 

Steve Hrudey, one of the two other candidates to be honoured that afternoon, has had an academic career distinguished by outstanding public service and leadership in researching, analyzing, applying, and changing public policy relating to safe drinking water. He was recently awarded the 2012 American Water Works Association A.P. Black Research Award—only the second Canadian to win this award in its 45-year history.
 

Sunita Narain, one of India’s most vocal and influential environmental advocates, has challenged and successfully incited individuals, governments, and multinational corporations to make major policy changes. For that, she with her organization, the Centre for Science and Environment, has been awarded the Stockholm Water Prize, and three times she has been listed in the US journal Foreign Policy as one of the world’s top 100 public intellectuals.
 

On March 1, we invite and encourage all members of the university community to come and hear these three diverse individuals speak about and debate their ideas on the actions local and global communities must take to preserve their access to plentiful, safe and secure water. Please see www.water.ualberta.ca to register.
 

Indira V. Samarasekera 

President and Vice-Chancellor
 

Linda Hughes
Chancellor

Four of our profs named 3M Teaching Fellows

If you have not yet heard the news, we are absolutely thrilled to let you know that four of our colleagues have been named 2012 3M National Teaching Fellows. This year’s recipients are: 


    •    Sarah Forgie, Assoc. Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
    •    Charles Lucy, Professor of Chemistry, Faculty of Science**
    •    Toni Samek, Professor, School of Library and Information Studies, Faculty of Education*
    •    Connie Varnhagen, Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Arts ***

Only 10 3M Fellowships are awarded each year, so to have four from our university is simply outstanding. As you know, the 3M Teaching Fellowship is Canada’s highest honour for excellence in undergraduate post-secondary teaching. These four colleagues join the company of 34 previous 3M National Teaching Fellows awarded to University of Alberta academic staff members, a cadre far larger than at any other university in Canada. As noted in Colleen Skidmore’s post, 2011 Fellows Scott North and Billy Strean are part of a campaign running this week that celebrates great teaching.

These faculty members exemplify a passion for teaching and for their disciplines that makes a difference is their classrooms. They are outstanding role models. All of us in the university community can be proud of this national recognition for their excellence.

Drs. Forgie, Lucy, Samek and Varnhagen: Congratulations on a well-deserved honour; we are proud to be your colleagues!



With great pride,

President Indira Samarasekera, OC
Provost Carl Amrhein

* Here is the Feb. 28 profile of Dr. Samek in Macleans OnCampus, 'Professor teaches librarians never to be meek.'
** Here is the March 9 profile of Dr. Lucy in Macleans OnCampus, 'Forming bonds between chemistry and careers.'
***Here is the May 1 profile of Dr. Varnhagen in Macleans OnCampus, 'Eureka! Discovery learning works.'

Two new funds from Undergrad Research Initiative

The Undergraduate Research Initiative announces two new funds for undergraduate student research. The first is available directly to undergrads, the second is available to undergrads but also those facilitating undergraduate research projects, including faculty and post-docs. Please share this information with any U of A colleagues and students whom you think would benefit from one of these stipends.
 
The Undergraduate Student Researcher Stipend. This stipend enables undergraduate students to carry out mentored research projects and creative works activities at the U of A. This stipend helps undergraduates enrich their university experience through hands-on discovery and skill development in a research intensive university. Priority is given to interdisciplinary work. The stipend is $5000 and may be held full time (any time of the year) for 4 months or part time for up to a year. The first application deadline is March 5, 2012.
 
The Undergraduate Research Support Fund. This fund supports undergraduate research and creative works activities at the University of Alberta.  These activities include student group trips to research facilities; undergraduate research colloquia; and any other support that encourages undergraduate student engagement in research and creative works. For example, this stipend could be used for equipment, supplies or software necessary to complete an undergraduate research project. Any member of the University of Alberta community (faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, research assistants, undergraduate students) may apply for up to $500. The application deadline is six weeks prior to need.
 
More information and application forms are found on the URI site.

The Undergraduate Research Initiative is off to a fantastic start. Thanks to all of you for your support in providing invaluable research opportunities for our students.

Sincerely,
Connie Varnhagen
Director, Undergraduate Research Initiative
Professor of Psychology

3M fellows part of Thank Your Teacher campaign

Those of you who read the Globe and Mail may have noticed ads that began running on Saturday, Feb. 4, featuring the 2011 3M National Teaching Fellows as part of a campaign that celebrates the importance and impact of great teaching.

Each ad features a 3M Fellow and an open thank you letter to a teacher who made a big impact in that Fellow's life. As you know, two of our outstanding colleagues are 2011 3M Fellows: Billy Strean in Physical Education and Recreation and Scott North in Medicine & Dentistry. These professors will be featured Wednesday, Feb. 8 and Monday, Feb. 13, respectively. Congratulations again, Drs. Strean and North!

Other teachers or students may post their own messages to inspirational college or university teachers on a new website related to the campaign called www.thankyourteacher.ca. The campaign is supported by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Council of Ontario Universities and the 10 universities with award recipients.

Closer to home as part of the 5th Annual Festival of Teaching on March 12-15, we have a video contest for our students, asking them, “Who is the greatest teacher of all time?” They can feature anyone at all, living or dead. The deadline for entry is 4:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17.

I hope that you will join us at the Festival of Teaching. And stay tuned to learn who the 2012 3M National Teaching Fellows are; they will be announced this Thursday, Feb. 9.

Sincerely,
Colleen Skidmore, PhD
Vice-Provost and AVP (Academic) 

New board chair named

I am very pleased to inform you that Douglas O. Goss, Q.C. has been appointed as the new Chair of the University of Alberta’s Board of Governors. His three-year term begins immediately.

An alumnus of the University of Alberta (LLB ’84, BComm ’81), Doug Goss has deep roots in Edmonton and his influence and impact are felt throughout the province and across Canada. He will bring to the board an extensive record of professional leadership, coupled with a deep commitment to causes that help advance important initiatives in our communities.

Mr. Goss is currently counsel at the law firm of Bryan & Company LLP and general counsel at Premium Brands Holdings Corporation. He also serves as chair on a number of boards, including the ATAC Resources Ltd. Board of Directors, TELUS Edmonton Community Board, and the Fort Edmonton Management Company, and is a member of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. On the national front, Mr. Goss currently serves on the board of both the Hockey Canada Foundation and of B2ten, an organization dedicated to supporting Olympic athletes. You will find a full account of his career and volunteer service in a news release that will be up on the U of A website shortly.

Given his background and obvious passion for enriching the community and advancing opportunities for talented young Canadians, it will be a privilege to work with Doug Goss in our many efforts to provide excellence in learning and discovery at the U of A.

Mr. Goss succeeds acting-chair Gordon Clanachan. I would like thank Gordon for his very capable leadership over the last three months and his willingness to serve in the period between Brian Heidecker’s retirement on Oct. 31, 2011, and today’s appointment of a new chair. Gordon will continue in his role as vice-chair of the Board of Governors.

Sincerely,

Indira Samarasekera, OC

President and Vice-Chancellor

Occupy Edmonton and the University of Alberta

Members of the University of Alberta community,

You may have heard about the recent attempts by the Occupy Edmonton organization to establish a camp on the University of Alberta North campus. Here’s what we can tell you:

First of all, the University of Alberta welcomes debate and dialogue and encourages diversity of thought and opinion.  At no time does the university want to limit such healthy intellectual discussion, on any subject—and indeed, the Occupy movement itself is a subject of interest within the university community. For example, there are two different events focusing on the Occupy movement involved with I-Week currently underway this week on campus.

After learning from Occupy Edmonton’s intention to occupy campus, the university made several attempts to begin a dialogue with Occupy Edmonton organizers, but those organizers were resistant to communicating with the university.  Representatives of the university did speak directly and in person with Occupy Edmonton organizers earlier today as they gathered prior to their planned march.  It was made clear to Occupy organizers why the university cannot permit such an occupation and that any attempts to do so will result in their removal from university property.  Our hope was that in speaking with organizers in advance we might avoid the potential for any confrontation.

The university has a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of its students, staff and faculty, and to put first the protection of an environment conducive to research and learning.  As a result, policies and procedures are in place at the U of A precisely designed to accomplish these goals.  In any circumstances, unauthorized camping is not permitted on campus. Simply, any attempt to establish an Occupy camp on University of Alberta property—which is private property—will put the U of A community at risk, and, further, it will interfere with the university’s clear responsibility to effectively deliver its programs and services to students, staff and faculty.

There are ample measures and mechanisms for members of the University community broadly defined to engage in healthy, peaceful and respectful debate on campus.