As many of you
know, these are challenging times at the University of Alberta due to financial
matters. Some people obsess over this---the sky is falling. However, this hides
the truth about the Faculty of Science. We have a great team of professors,
staff, and students. I don’t need to justify this; actions speak louder than
words. At Thursday September 19’s “Celebrate! Teaching. Learning. Research”
event, the strength of the Faculty of Science was on display for all to see. A
total of 19 people received recognition (more than any other Faculty), and it was my privilege to be on stage
to congratulate each of the winners:
Research
Royal Society of Canada:
James Pinfold (Physics) and Raymond Egerton (Physics). This is national
recognition for a distinguished career.
J. Gordon Kaplan Award for
Excellence in Research: Roderick Wasylishen (Chemistry). Each year, one University of Alberta
researcher gets singled out for having made important research contributions.
Killam Professor:
Dennis Hall (Chemistry). This is recognition for his fundamental work that has
led to “the creation of new
compounds that are currently in preclinical development for treating cancer.”
Sloan
Research Fellowship: Julianne
Gibbs-Davis (Chemistry) and John Davis (Physics). Yes, a husband and wife team.
They each applied separately and were both successful. Although they work in
separate areas, they are competitive with their colleagues and with each other.
Teaching
The
following award titles say it all.
William Hardy Alexander Award
for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Enver
Osmanagic (Mathematical and Statistical Sciences).
Rutherford Award for
Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Alex Brown (Chemistry).
Excellence in Graduate
Teaching: Robert Campbell (Chemistry).
Support Staff
Research Enhancement Award: Charlene
Nielsen (Biological Sciences), awarded to a staff member who consistently makes
contributions to research success in their Department.
Student Achievement
Rhodes Scholarship:
Megan Engel. A Rhodes scholarship? How cool is that!
Vanier Canada Graduate
Scholarship: Tiago Simoes (Biological Sciences) and Jody Reimer
(Mathematical and Statistical Sciences). A prestigious national award.
Awards for
superior undergraduate academic achievement:
Chancellor’s Citation: Rebecca Burchett
and Taylor Rocque.
BMO Financial Group Citation: Grace
Bellerose.
President’s Citation: Deepan Hazra, Adam Mullan, and Spence Wilkie.
It is wonderful to step back from the daily
grind and reflect on the good things that the Faculty of Science team is
accomplishing. And there is much more to come…
