2011 Annual Report - University of Regina

Faculty of SCIENCE
Annual
Report
January 1, 2011 to
December 31, 2011
E=mc2
Message from the Dean
My time as Dean has ended as I write this note so I am going to take the opportunity to thank all the
faculty and staff in Science for their support and for the dedication and effort they give to Science every
working day. With the appointment of two new vice-presidents on July 1, Dr. Thomas Chase as Provost
and Vice-President (Academic) and Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick as Vice-President (Research), the Faculty
wanted to provide both vice-presidents with a comprehensive picture of the teaching and research
activities in Science. With good planning and perhaps a bit of luck, we realized that we could design a tour
that illustrated the emphasis on excellence on teaching and research in Science while simultaneously
illustrating the contributions made by all members of Science. We started with the front-office staff
that might be the early contact or resource for a new student or faculty member. Then we added the
contributions of the teaching and research laboratory support teams and explained how all of these
contributions are necessary to ensure that the Faculty can carry out its teaching and research mandate.
With the tours including the normally hidden aspects of the support areas and with
Geremy Lague’s excellent video productions about this work being shown on
the “Wall” in RIC, we found a way to allow everyone to better appreciate the role
and contributions of all members of Science. It certainly gave me a much better
understanding of the complexity of delivering the various programs in Science.
The 2011 Annual Report continues last year’s emphasis on the people,
students, faculty and staff, who work, learn and, on occasion, play in the
Faculty of Science. Again, we have included dozens of photographs in this
profile of Science as feedback from last year indicated that readers were
enjoying the increased emphasis on people as opposed to facts and figures.
Construction in EQAL2 on the fifth floor of the Research and Innovation
Centre (RIC) concluded. Staff need to be hired as the emphasis moves
from creating this excellent facility to undertaking the many research initiatives that the facility will
support. 2011 also saw the relocation of most of the Geology research labs into the Laboratory Building.
We have highlighted selected examples of the accomplishments of the research activities to be found
in Science. It is not possible to cover the work of everyone so please follow the links to the Faculty’s
web site to learn more about what we do outside the classroom. The examples we have provided
cover topics from making water supplies safer, to why faster and faster computers are needed to
support research, to volcanic eruptions. Curiosity driven research is alive and well in Science.
The Faculty of Nursing, in collaboration with SIAST, offered its initial courses in the Fall semester.
The inclusion of several courses from Science in the Nursing BSc provides a nice increase in credit
hours offered by Science. However, 2011 saw a continuation of enrolment increases throughout
the University and Science continued to keep pace with healthy increases right across the Faculty.
2011 saw the initiation of awards to recognize the fine work being done by our Supplemental Instruction
Leaders, those students who undertake to share their knowledge and experience with students in
Science who are making the transition from high school to university. Science students receive several
hundred scholarships every year and you will find their many accomplishments in the pages that follow.
Please enjoy reading about the many activities and accomplishments described throughout
the Annual Report while learning more about the people who work and study in Science. Please
also welcome Dr. Daniel Gagnon who joined us as the new Dean of Science on January 1, 2012.
4.6
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Table of Contents
Academic
read about
Research
read about
Biology ..........................................6
Science in Research .......................25
Chemistry and Biochemistry ......9
NSERC Awards & Recipients............25
Computer Science ...................10
Canada Research Chairs ...............26
Geology .....................................13
Community
read about
Mathematics and Statistics .....14
Physics .......................................17
Celebrating Science Students..18
Math Central .............................19
Administrative
read about
Science’s Long Service
Honourees .................................21
New faces in Science ...............22
Admin people of Science ........23
Science in the Community .............28
Mathematics Enrichment Camp ....28
Virtual Science Fair Awards ............29
Alumni of Influence .........................30
Science Pubs Series .........................32
Science Rendezvous .......................33
Summer Science Camps ................34
duate students
dergra
Congratulations SCIENCE Un
201130 (Fall Semester)
Wallace McConnell Memorial Scholarship (1)
Wascana Preceptory No. 51 Knights Templar Scholarship (1)
Academic All Canadian Scholarship (10)
Willoughby Scholarship (2)
Academic and Athletic Achievement Award (3)
Academic Gold Scholarship (9)
Academic Silver Scholarship (105)
201120 (Spring/Summer Semester)
Association of Regina REALTORS Inc. Scholarship (1)
Academic Gold Scholarship (2)
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (2)
Academic Silver Scholarship (21)
Bert Fox/Ferguson U of R Alumni Entrance Scholarship (1)
D. M. Kent Consulting Geologist Ltd. Prize In Sedimentary Geology
Breast Cancer Action Saskatchewan Scholarship (1) tttttScholarship (1)
Canadian Council of Muslim Women - Regina Entrance Scholarship(1)
International Mobility Scholarship (1) Canadian Federation of University Women (1)
John Lewry Prize in Geology (1)
Centennial Merit Plus Scholarship (38)
Lowe Family Conservatory Bursary Viola (1)
Centennial Merit Scholarship (35)
Organic Chemistry Prize (1)
City of Regina Henry Baker Scholarship (2)
University of Regina International Experience Travel Fund Travel Fund (1)
Co-operators Life Insurance Company Actuarial Science Scholarship (2)
University of Regina Scholarship (1)
D. E. and M. W. Cuddington Scholarship (1)
Dr. Suzanne Marcia Nilson Scholarship In Biology (1)
201110 (Winter Semester)
Engineering, Math, and Science Entrance Bursary (1)
University of Regina Family Scholarship (3)
Faculty of Science 10th Anniversary Entrance Scholarship (1)
UR Undergraduate Bursary (113)
Faculty of Science Supplemental Instruction Scholar Award (3)
Academic Silver Scholarship (34)
Frederick W. & Bertha A. Wenzel Entrance Bursary (2)
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Award (2)
G.F. Ledingham Scholarship (1) CIC Aboriginal Bursary (1)
Holt-Todoruck Entrance Bursary (1)
Provincial Sport Governing Body Student-Athlete Awards at the University of
I.O.D.E. - James Henderson LL.D. Scholarship (1)
tttttRegina (9)
Independent Order of Foresters Scholarship (1)
CIPS (Canadian Information Processing Society) Saskatchewan Bursary (1)
Innovation Place Regina Aboriginal Scholarship (1)
Miscellaneous One Time Scholarship (6)
International Baccalaureate Certificate (3)
Academic and Athletic Achievement Award (1) E = hf = pc
International Baccalaureate Diploma (1)
Elmer Shaw Entrance Scholarship (1) James B. Carefoot Memorial Scholarship (1) John Spencer Middleton & Jack Spencer Gordon Middleton Scholarship (5)
Kornelius G. Toews Award (1)
Faculty of Science Supplemental Instruction Scholar Award (1)
Mature Admission Entrance Scholarship (2)
Academic Gold Scholarship (4)
Miscellaneous One Time Scholarship (10)
Miscellaneous One Time Scholarship II (1)
Muriel E. Finlayson Undergraduate Environmental Science Scholarship(1)
Simon Yu Bursary (1)
Non Direct Entry Entrance Bursary (2)
Independent Order of Foresters Scholarship (1)
Part-Time Studies Undergraduate Bursary (1)
Bruce Wayne Basketball Scholarship (1)
Pat Moir Award (1) Rural Student Entrance Scholarship (2)
Petar C. Hein Memorial Scholarship in Physics (1) Faculty of Science 10th Anniversary Entrance Scholarship (1)
Phoenix Group Athletic Award (1) Prospective Student Award (1)
Regina High School Aboriginal Scholarship (4)
Regina Medical Laboratories Ltd. Entrance Scholarship Scholarship (2)
Ross John Kirk Entrance Scholarship (1)
Rural Student Entrance Scholarship (2)
Saskatchewan Government Insurance Actuarial Science Scholarship (1)
Saskatchewan Science Fair Scholarship (1)
Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board Actuarial Science Scholarship (1)
SaskPower Award (1)
SED Systems Inc. Scholarship (1)
The Faculty of Science celebrates the 2011 scholarships
Shell Canada Scholarship In Computer Science (20)
and awards for all Undergraduate Science Students!
TD Bank Financial Group in Energy & Environmental Studies (1)
2011 Semester Totals
The Bill Ciz Memorial Athletic Award (1)
University of Regina Aboriginal Student Engineering, Math, and Science
$88,529 in the Winter Semester
tttttEntrance Bursary (2)
$11,305 in the Spring/Summer Semester
University of Regina Advanced Placement Entrance Scholarships (3)
$515,563 in the Fall Semester
University of Regina Alumni Association Children of Alumni Entrance
tttttScholarship (1)
University of Regina Alumni Association Dr. John Archer Scholarship (1)
University of Regina Alumni Association Leadership Award (1)
University of Regina Family Scholarship (9)
University of Regina Out of Province Entrance Scholarship (3)
University of Regina Rams Football Athletic Award (1) University of Regina UR X-celerating! Entering Scholarship (1)
UR Circle of Scholars Scholarship (5)
UR Connected! Award (2)
UR Undergraduate Bursary (2)
The Faculty of Science congratulates the following SCIENCE STUDENTS:
Alisha Beler as the recipient for the Canadian Cancer Society Student Assistantship.
Cheghaf Madarati as the recipient for the Canadian Cancer Society Student Assistantship.
Caitlin Hunter as the recipient for the Muriel E. Finlayson Undergraduate Environmental Science Scholarship.
“I have really enjoyed
my time here as an
undergraduate and
graduate student.
The faculty, staff, and
students are very
friendly and I will miss
them all when I leave.
The skills I have learned
while studying here
will carry me through
further education and
will be useful in helping
me establish my future
career.”
-Marc Beal, Masters Candidate
ACADEMIC
human-computer symbiosis
126.904
Department of biology
The University of Regina’s Biology Department is committed to excellence in the areas of teaching and
research. The teaching and research activities are interrelated, reinforce each other, and have been
divided into two themes: Cellular & Molecular Biology and Ecology & Environmental Biology. These areas
provide the framework for coordinated staff and student recruitment and also for program development. At
the undergraduate level, Biology offers both BSc and BSc Hons degrees, which may include a designated
“area of concentration” in one of the two themes. Biology also offers several combined BSc programs
with other units at the University of Regina, and also BSc and BSc Hons programs in Environmental Biology
offered in conjunction with three Western Canadian colleges. Graduate student research (MSc and PhD)
encompasses both laboratory- and field-based work, including research conducted at the University of
Regina Research Station located in the Cypress Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan. The Biology Department
is also home to the George F. Ledingham Herbarium, the newly expanded Environmental Quality Analysis
Laboratory (relocating to the Research and Innovation Centre), and a 1700 square foot Aquatics Facility.
The Department is home to three Canada Research Chairs, all of whom have research programs that include
investigations of environmental issues in Saskatchewan. Biology is also involved with the newly-established
University of Regina Faculty of Nursing. We offer three Biology courses (Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology)
for nursing students. Members of the Biology Dept are involved in outreach activities such as: presentations at
schools and service organizations, research collaborations with government agencies, dealing with biological
questions/issues from the public and from government agencies, and science fairs and science camps.
Faculty of Science
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Accomplishment
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• Collectively 11 faculty members in the Department plus one Lecturer and the manager of Environmental
Quality Analysis Laboratory (EQAL) held 8 NSERC Discovery Grants and a variety of other grants and contracts
totalling about $1.69 million.
• Faculty members supervised 25 MSc students (4 completed) and 12 PhD students (1 completed). The
Department supported 3 Postdoctoral Fellows and an intern from the UK.
• The Department supervised 8 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (URSAs).
• Collectively, faculty members and their students published 34 refereed articles or book chapters in national and
international journals and presented 61 oral talks or posters at national or international conferences.
BUGS
The Biology Undergraduate & Graduate Society (BUGS) is a society bringing
together all students interested in Biology. Our lounge is in LB 153 and all
BUGS members are welcome to come on in and relax, study, or socialize.
http://uregina.ca/~biolugs/ Also, feel free to join our facebook page!
University of Regina biologists, Drs. Richard Manzon and Chris Somers have teamed up with industrial
partners and faculty at McMaster University to study the effects of thermal, chemical and radiological
waste from industrial power generation on whitefish populations, physiology and development.
Dr. Richard Manzon
Associate Professor
Dr. Chris Somers
Associate Professor
CanadaResearch
Chair in Genes and the
Dr.Manzon’s research program will provide a
better understanding of how fish respond to
changes in their internal and external environment
that alter their physiology and developmental
timing. These factors ultimately influence survival
and reproduction of individual fish.
The objective of Dr. Somers’ research is to
understand interactions between humans and
wildlife and the response of animals to humanmodified environments. Ultimately he seeks to
advance our knowledge of animal behaviour,
ecology, and genetics in a way that facilitates
conservation and management.
Through a partnership with McMaster University
and the nuclear power industry, Dr. Manzon’s
research group will study the effects of multiple
stressors (temperature, chemicals, and radiation)
on whitefish development and physiology at
the cellular and molecular level. This will provide
an understanding of the long-term effects on
individuals and populations. The results will be
used to better regulate and manage thermal
and other types of water pollution.
Through a partnership with McMaster University
and the nuclear power industry, Dr. Somers is
examining the movement, habitat use, and
population structure of whitefish in Lake Huron. The
objective is to understand whether point sources
of thermal pollution from industry are potentially
affecting unique local populations of fish. The
results will contribute to long-term environmental
and fisheries management practices in the Great
Lakes region and elsewhere.
penguins walking
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• The Department supervised 3 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) and 2
Canadian Cancer Society Student Assistantships
• Collectively, faculty members published 13 refereed articles or book chapters in national and
international journals and presented a total of 21 conference papers.
• The Department participated in Science Camp, the Research Gala and Science Rendezvous 2011, the
signature event celebrating the International Year of Chemistry.
• Hosted the Reactive Intermediate Student Exchange (RISE) Conference, showcasing the University as a
premier research and teaching institution. RISE is Canada’s largest summer research exchange program
in the chemical sciences.
Pesticides – Search for their Occurrence in the Atmosphere
Agriculture is a key natural resource to Canada with 35.9 million hectares of crop land, 229,000 farms,
$248.3 billion in farm capital, and $42.2 billion in farm receipts in 2011. There are more than 500 pesticides
currently registered for use in Canada and Saskatchewan has the
highest agricultural pesticide usage in Canada. Pesticides have
a wide range of chemical and physical properties and have the
potential to be transported in the environment in the atmosphere
or water. Dr. Raina’s research group investigates the occurrence of
currently used pesticides in the atmosphere with a goal to discover
which pesticides or their breakdown products can be transported
on a regional or long-range transport scale in the atmosphere.
Dr. Raina’s group develops analytical methods for the analysis of
trace levels of pesticides in the atmosphere in the gas and particle
phase. These new analytical methods which include gas or liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry methods have enabled the
first detections of some pesticides or their breakdown products in
the atmosphere in North America. Research is continuing not only to
discover which pesticides are moving in the atmosphere but also to
discover those pesticides that can be transported in the atmosphere
longer distances and have potentially greater environmental
impacts. Atmospheric samples are collected in agricultural regions
of western Canada including the prairies, Lower Fraser Valley, and
the Okanagan Valley. These regions were selected due to the
high usage of pesticides, differences in crop types, climate, and
expected types and quantities of pesticides used. The samples
are collected with high-volume air samplers (see top right) and
analyzed for a wide range of chemical classes of pesticides in
the Trace Analysis Facility at the University of Regina. This research
will help to develop better management strategies for pesticides.
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Department of
Chemistry and biochemistry
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry contributes to all three proposed thrusts in the University’s
newest Strategic Research Plan: Sustainable Development (in sub-themes Energy and National Resources and
Environment); Human Development (in sub-theme Health); Knowledge, Creation and Discovery (in sub-theme
Pure Discovery-Based Research). These areas provide the framework for recruitment and program development
(teaching and research). The Department is working hard toward fulfilling key goals, namely (a) to achieve and
maintain excellence in its execution of Teaching and Research, and (b) to build a “critical mass” of faculty members
to facilitate the process of building and sustaining cohesive research programs in the chemical and biological
sciences, environmental sciences, and to foster meaningful research collaborations with other departments.
The delivery of quality undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
continues to be a top priority. Although the Department is fully participating in the current university wide
Academic Program Review, the Department has recently redesigned our curriculum in the undergraduate and
graduate programs. The Department aims to provide a vibrant and positive environment for higher learning and
training for our undergraduates and graduates.
• Faculty members supervised 11 MSc students (4 completed) and 8 PhD students (1 completed).
P
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Department of
Computer science
The Department has identified three principal areas of focus: Artificial Intelligence, Digital/Multi Media and
Software Systems Development. These areas provide the framework for recruitment and program development
(teaching and research) in the Department and are consistent with the theme of Knowledge Creation and
Discovery: Information and Communication as presented in the University of Regina’s Strategic Research Plan
for 2010-2015. To meet the future needs from the rapidly developing IT industry and the fast growing provincial/
national economy, the Department has developed and will continue to develop innovative programs in
collaboration with other faculties. The Department currently hosts one Canadian Research Chair in the area of
Computational Learning. In addition to their own top quality research, several members of the Department make
significant contributions to their respective research communities by serving on editorial boards of highly ranked
international journals and chairing/co-chairing national or international conferences. These activities have made
a very positive impact on the reputation of the University. Members of the Department are also actively involved
with the Sustainable Communities Initiative and promotion of Science in general plus new computer technology
in particular, to the general public.
The Department is committed to the promotion of excellence in research and teaching. It aims to build a vibrant
research and training environment for our undergraduate and graduate students. It encourages research
collaboration both internally and externally, and conducts nationally and internationally recognized scholarship.
The Department makes a special effort to strengthen its relationship with industry by developing collaborative
projects and consulting on curriculum development.
VLSI chips
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Accomplishment
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• Faculty members supervised 31 MSc students (14 completed) and 21 PhD students (1 completed)
and 1 Postdoctoral Fellow. The Department hosted 4 international Visiting Scholars.
• The Department supervised 5 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs).
• Collectively, faculty members published 53 refereed articles in national and international journals
and peer-reviewed conference proceedings, 12 books and 1 book chapter, and presented a total
of 20 conference papers.
LOL
The department is pleased to acknowledge the significant contributions and successes of our members in the areas of
research, teaching, and community engagement for 2011. Ten of the most outstanding are highlighted here:
Research
1. Four current and former faculty members in Computer Science were ranked among the top 10 most cited researchers at
the University of Regina according to Microsoft Academic Search website. Dr. Yiyu Yao of our department was ranked as
the most cited researcher. Index scores for the website measure lifetime publication productivity and citation use of those
publications.
2. Drs. Robert Hilderman and Howard Hamilton received an award from the Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery
and Data Mining (PAKDD) for the most influential research paper published from the conference ten years ago. In retrospect,
their paper made significant contributions to subsequent research.
3. Dr. Sandra Zilles, Canada Research Chair in theoretical Machine Learning, had a paper accepted in the top journal in the
field of Artificial Intelligence, for the second year in a row.
4. As program chair for the 2011 International Rough Sets and Knowledge Technology conference, Dr. Jing Tao Yao was
responsible for overseeing all aspects including venue, invited speakers, and paper submissions. The conference, which was
held in Banff, Alberta, was well received and attended.
Teaching
5. Enrolment in Computer Science courses and declared majors rose for the third consecutive year.
6. A new course on Mobile Computing, with emphasis on programming iPhone apps, attracted media attention and industrial
registrations in Winter 2011. Another new course on Building Interactive Gadgets offered in Fall 2011 was also a hit with
students and filled to capacity quickly.
7. Dr. David Gerhard has been appointed as a President’s Teaching and Learning Scholar. These awards recognize faculty at
the University of Regina who are undertaking innovative projects designed to enhance the practice of teaching.
Dr. Gerhard’s winning project is entitled, The University of Regina iPad Orchestra: Engaging Mobile Audiovisual Technologies
in Music Teaching and Learning. Dr. Gerhard is collaborating on the project with Rebecca Caines (Theatre Department) and
Pauline Minevich (Music Department).
Community Engagement
8. Alumnus Ross Mitchell received the Alumni Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement in September 2011.
9. A project team from the Department of Computer Science, led by Drs. Daryl Hepting and Howard Hamilton, worked with
the E-Learning division of the Regina Catholic School Board to develop innovative curriculum materials for CS 20 (grade 11
Computer Science class) using Scratch and Greenfoot.
10. Computer Science hosted a Professional Development Day for grade 6-12 Science teachers in December 2011. The
successes of that day led the attendees and organizers to coalesce and form a Saskatchewan chapter of the Computer
Science Teachers Association (CSTA). The mandate of the CSTA is to support and promote Computer Science education in
Saskatchewan.
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The research activities of 7 faculty members were supported by 3 NSERC Discovery
Grants and 6 other grants and contracts totalling $298,232.
• Collectively, 7 faculty members published 35 refereed national and international journals (10 were
accepted) and presented a total of 27 conference papers.
• The Department directs 121 geology undergraduate students; supervises 16 MSc and 4 PhD
students; and hosted 1 post doctoral fellow and 8 international visiting scholars/students.
• The Department graduated 26 geology undergraduate students and 3 masters students,
respectively.
Faculty members:
The 2011 Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Dr. Stephen Bend. Stephen gained a
BA (Hons) in Geology and Geography with a minor in Geochemistry from the University of Keele, England,
and received both his MSc in Petroleum Geochemistry and PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of
Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Following a period of 6 years working in industry, Stephen began his University
teaching career at the University of Regina in 1990 and has since taught over 5,100 students at various levels.
He is also the single author of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist’s (AAPG) ground-breaking
textbook (eTextbook) on Petroleum Geology. First published in 2007, it has become one of the all-time best
selling texts for AAPG and can be found in use within numerous Colleges and Universities over three continents.
Research uncovers clues: DISCOVERED NEW MINERAL WEALTH
Tiny droplets of fluid trapped in minerals for millions of years, called fluid inclusions, can provide important clues to
locating new deposits of minerals or petroleum. These ancient samples of geologic fluid are the main subjects of
research by Dr. Guoxiang Chi. By analyzing the fluid inclusions, Dr. Chi and his team can determine the composition
of the fluid and its temperature and pressure at the time the deposit was forming. They then combine this
information with numerical models to determine the speed, direction, temperature and other characteristics of
the paleo-fluid flow systems. These studies will assist mineral or petroleum exploration companies to decide the best
locations to search for new deposits. Dr. Chi and his team are currently focusing on the study of fluid flow systems
related to uranium deposits in northern Saskatchewan, one of the top uranium producing districts in the world.
Students
Ms. Rachelle Boulanger was awarded “The Best Graduate Talk” for her presentation at the Western InterUniversity Geosciences Conference 2012, Rachelle gained a Bachelor of Science in Geology at the University
of Regina in 2009. Her strong interest in economic geology led her to pursue a master degree under Dr.
Chi’s supervision. Over the course of her master program, she received the Graduate Studies Award from
the faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and won the Best Student Poster Award at the Saskatchewan
Ministry of Energy and Resources Open House. Rachelle successfully defended her MSc thesis in May, 2012.
Chromium
Faculty of Science
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Department of geology
The Department of Geology continues to maintain excellence in both research and the training of highly qualified
personnel through the dedication of its’ research-focused and student centered Faculty, whose expertise is widely
recognized Provincially, Nationally and Internationally. Our students continue to receive a level of education
that is both hands-on and at a level more typical of the very largest schools in North America.
This reputation for excellence is recognized by industry and government agencies who actively pursue our
graduate and undergraduate students. The Department seeks to continue this tradition of excellence by providing
courses that meet the standards for professional registration with the Association of Professional Engineers and
Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS).
Graduate and undergraduate students were supported in numerous field and laboratory based thesis projects by
individual faculty research grants from NSERC, PTRC, government surveys and oil industry. This focus is consistent
with the strategic areas of research emphases outlined within the University of Regina’s Strategic Research Plan.
Our reputation for excellence and the continued demand for geo-science professionals has led to a steady
increase in Geology undergraduate enrolments during the last 10 years. The Department’s daily operation
depends on 7 Faculty members, 2 Laboratory Instructors, and 2 support staff.
•
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Faculty of Science
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Department of
mathematics and statistics
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs in mathematics, statistics and actuarial science.
This variety of programs provides the framework for recruitment and development initiatives. The principal areas
of research are algebra and number theory, discrete mathematics, geometry and topology, matrix theory,
operator algebras, and probability theory and statistics. The active colloquium series and research seminars in the
Department exemplify the University's goal in scholarship and research to "sustain a vibrant research enterprise
where faculty members are enthusiastic about intellectual activity." The actuarial program and the variety of
outreach initiatives in the Department meet the University's goal in service to "Take our academic expertise into
the community…" These areas of focus are consistent with the University of Regina Strategic Research Plan that
commits to supporting high quality areas of basic research and the strategic research emphasis in Informatics.
The Department is also active in public outreach through Math Central and Math Camp. This is one of the stated
goals of the University of Regina in the Strategic Planning Document under public service and accountability.
Pi Day
Maxwell’s equations
Faculty of Science
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Accomplishment
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• Collectively 22 faculty members in the Department held 15 NSERC Discovery Grants and other
grants and contracts totalling about $227,000.
• Faculty members supervised 14 MSc students (3 completed), 16 PhD students and 3
Postdoctoral Fellows. The department also hosted 3 international Visiting Scholars.
• The Department supervised 3 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (URSAs).
• Collectively faculty members published 32 refereed articles or book chapters in national and
international journals and presented a total of 21 conference papers.
November 18, 2011: Volker Runde, University of Alberta
Big Things Are Rarely Amenable
Abstract: We survey how the phenomenon of amenability manifests itself for locally compact groups and for Banach algebras,
and we will try to convince the audience that amenability is best viewed as a weak finiteness condition.
November 9, 2011: Marcelo Laca, University of Victoria
Broken Symmetries
Abstract: There is a remarkable connection pioneered by Alain Connes between operator algebras, which originated as the
mathematical models for quantum mechanical systems, and abstract structures arising from number theory. This connection
is based on the fact that systems of numbers and of sub-atomic particles share some common features that make them
tractable with the same mathematical tools.
One of these features is the prominent role that symmetries play in both cases; another is the relevance of pairs of operations
that do not commute with each other. For quantum systems, the non-commuting operations are the measurements of
position and momentum of particles; for number systems, they are addition and multiplication.
I will give a nontechnical overview of the subject, discussing its motivations and implications, and then briefly report some
recent developments.
September 29, 2011: Richard Anstee, University of British Columbia
Forbidden Configurations: A Survey
Abstract: Problems in extremal set theory take the form of determining the maximum number of subsets of {1,2, ..., m } you
can choose so that the resulting family of subsets has some property. The property I will consider is a trace being forbidden
(in hypergraph terms a subhypergraph being forbidden). An incidence matrix encodes the system of subsets as an m-rowed
(0,1)-matrix A with no repeated columns. The forbidden trace becomes a ‘forbidden configuration’ namely for some given
(0,1)-matrix F you are forbidding A from having any submatrix which is a row and column permutation of F.
One defines forb(m,F) as the maximum number of columns, over all m-rowed (0,1)-matrices with no repeated column and
no submatrix which is a row and column permutation of F. This concept of forbidden configurations appears in a variety of
problems of which the study of VC-dimension has been the most notable. I will discuss a number of the bounds obtained and
the interesting variety of proofs.
September 22, 2011: Sebastian Cioaba, University of Delaware
Eigenvalues of Graphs
Abstract: Graph theory is the study of networks. In many situations, the only way we can study key combinatorial parameters
of graphs such as edge-distribution, connectivity or expansion, is by using their eigenvalues. In this talk, I will describe some
connections between the structure of graphs and their eigenvalues. The talk should be accessible to undergraduate students.
May 5, 2011: Peter Lancaster, University of Calgary
Canonical Structures for Matrix Functions
Abstract: Many problems of mechanics, sound propagation, mathematical biology, etc., can be effectively modelled with
matrix eigenvalue problems in which the eigenvalue parameter appears in a nonlinear fashion. Over the last fifty years or so,
this has given rise to a comprehensive theory. In particular, canonical structures play an important role, and can be arrived
at by either algebraic or analytical methods. We will give a survey of results of this kind in which either Hermitian or unitary
symmetry plays an important role. (This talk can be understood with little more than ideas from undergraduate algebra and
analysis.)
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n
e
m
h
s
i
l
p
Accom
• Collectively 10 faculty members in the Department held 1 NSERC Discovery Grant and other grants
and contracts totalling about $1,008,000.
• Faculty members supervised 6 MSc students (1 completed), 3 PhD students and 1 Postdoctoral
Fellow. The department also hosted 1 International Visiting Student.
• The Department supervised 3 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (URSAs).
• Collectively faculty members published 10 refereed articles or book chapters in national and
international journals and presented a total of 21 conference papers.
Random Motion
The GlueX Experiment is the definitive and detailed mapping of the
spectrum of a new family of particles called hybrid mesons. This is essential
for finding the answer to an outstanding and fundamental question in
physics - a quantitative understanding of the confinement mechanism
in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Completion of the 25 ton Barrel
Calorimeter (BCAL) and its delivery to Jefferson Laboratory (JLab) (Hall D)
ahead of schedule (December 2011) marked a major milestone for the
SPARRO group and the entire 12 GeV Upgrade Project (needed for this
experiment) at JLab. This was promoted widely through the media and
the press and subsequently featured on the front cover of the April 2012
issue of lab Product News (see accompanying photograph, left to right:
Andrei Semenov, George Lolos, Zisis Papandreou).
WEAK INTERACTIONS AND NEUTRINO PHYSICS.
Scope of Research and Major Achievements: TWIST was completed in 2011
after a decade of research at TRIUMF to determine the highest precision
(by far) parameterizations of muon decay, a fundamental process of
nature involving only leptons. The T2K Experiment is a major, long-term, international collaborative
experiment formulated to discover and measure neutrino oscillation parameters and to determine
the potential contribution from the neutrino sector to the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe. Despite the 2011 earthquake in Japan, data collection and publication
began. The T2K-Regina group has previously made a major contribution to this project, namely
the onsite construction and offsite delivery (in 2008) of a Fine-Grained Detector (FGD) for the Near
Neutrino Detector (ND280) in the facility in Tokai, Japan.
THEORETICAL COSMOLOGY.
Scope of Research: The current focus is on intersections of quantum physics and relativity in the
context of formulations of quantum phenomena on the curved space-time background of general
relativity. The primary objective is to identify possible observable consequences of such formulations
in atomic and subatomic physics. The main motivation is to gain a better understanding of the
energy regime where the general relativistic effects become important in describing microscopic
phenomena, which, in turn, may shed some light on the structure of a unified theory of gravity and
quantum physics.
THE PHYSICS OF DINOSAUR FOSSILS.
Scope of Research: This group (formed by Dr. Barbi in 2011) is investigating the elemental constitution
of Tyrannosaurus rex and other dinosaurs and is attempting to relate this to their Late Cretaceous
environment. This initiative was publicised widely through the media and the press, e.g. by The
Globe and Mail on December 27, 2011.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
16
ATOM
Department of physics
The primary emphasis of the Department is Subatomic Physics and we have active research programs
in both Experiment and Theory. There is also an adjunct faculty member, Dr. Martin Beech, who conducts
research in Observational Astronomy. The accomplishments of our faculty members are described under
headings that reflect their primary research interests and, in some cases, the major experiments they are
conducting. The Department of Physics continues its commitment to provide an enviable learning experience
for both graduate and undergraduate students and regularly enhances the classroom, laboratory and
co-operative educational opportunities that it offers. This commitment becomes a reality through the
teaching contributions of the faculty members, whose research achievements are documented herein,
and by the dedication of other faculty members whose primary role is teaching, in particular our lecturers,
Pierre Ouimet and Nikolay Kolev, and our laboratory instructors, Shaun Szymanski and Dan MacQueen.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
17
Celebrating Science sTUDENTS
Faculty of Science 5th Annual
Graduation and Awards Gala
An evening of celebration to recognize
the achievements of our graduates.
The Faculty of Science graduates, faculty members, staff and
distinguished guests were invited to a special evening full of
entertainment, conversation and hors d’oeuvres.
The guest
speaker was Donald Narcisse, 2010 CFL Hall of Fame Inductee.
V + F =E + 2
The Faculty of Science congratulates Christine
Selinger as the recipient for the Faculty of Science
Dean’s Medal for the Spring 2011 convocation.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
18
Math Central
Does P = NP?
Math Central is an Internet service for mathematics students and
teachers. This site is maintained by faculty and students in Mathematics
and Statistics and Mathematics Education at the University of
Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It became an internet
site in September, 1995 and has since earned several awards.
Math Central was created by Denis Hanson, Vi Maeers and Harley Weston
at the University of Regina. Denis and Harley are Emeritus Professors in the Department of
Mathematics and Statistics and Vi is a Professor in the Faculty of Education. The Quandaries and
Queries consultants are teachers, faculty and students at Canadian schools and universities.
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/
Human Genome
Dean’s Honour List
WINTER 2011
Neil Arnstead **
Marc Beaton *
Melissa Bereti *
Sara Boczulak *
Sindy Boczulak *
Kristin Bonkowski
Emily Boutilier *
Alexis Brassard *
Barry Bushell **
Irene Chair
Clinton Chess
Breanna Chin
Alana Dalrymple
Michelle Degelman *
Deric Diep
Peter Dowdy
Natasia Dreger **
Shanna Dumontier *
Justin Eckert *
Justin Ficor
Shelby Fink *
Alexander Fischer
Taegen Fitch
Thomas Fitz-Gerald **
Sarah Fortowsky *
David Don Fox *
Miroslav Golubovic
Danielle Gray **
Taylor Haid *
Shelby Herman *
Jonathon Herriot *
Karla Hillis **
Erin Hillis **
Andrew Houmphan **
Caitlin Hunter *
Benjamin Inglis *
Elliot James *
Nicole Janier
Natasha Jaques *
Samuel Jaques *
Brett Jones *
Jacey Jones *
Jordan Laing
Jeremy Lane
Adam Lanigan
Jonathan LlewelynWilliams *
Kelsey Lothian **
Katherine Ludlow **
Brittany MacDougall
Brendon Macknak
Nathan Magnus *
Blaine Marchuk *
Ryan Marcotte
Marcia Mitschke **
Johannes Moersch *
Rachelle Mondor
Ian Montgomery *
Evelyn Muma *
Geneva Murphy **
Shanda Oleynik *
Morgan Ollinger **
Anokhi Patel
Erin Patterson *
Chad Patterson **
Tara Petrie *
Noah Plosker
Jordan Power *
Brandon Prevost *
Sean Reimer *
Barret Rennie
Larissa Richards
Christian Rilling **
Timothy Sample
Izn Shahab
Gena Shepherd
Faculty of Science
Campion *, Luther **, First Nations University of Canada ***
Karla Signo
Bobby Singh
Samantha Spicer
Ashley Stahl *
Devin Storle *
Allan Stromberg *
Landon Tam
Kirsten Tangedal
Ryan Tessier *
Tanner Tetlow *
Jordan Thompson *
Jaydon Tsui **
Chidinma Ukabam
Jason Unruh *
Baljinder Uppal
Adam Vantomme **
Victoria Verlysdonk
Sarah Vinge
Megan Vogelsang *
Brendan Warner
Kevin Williams *
Jared Wolfe *
Brian Wong
Jennifer Wood **
Jacob Ziegler *
SUMMER 2011
Sarah Fortowsky*
Matthew Leib
FALL 2011
Jordan Anderson
Neil Arnstead
Nathan Baron
Melissa Baron
Tegan Beattie
Mary Lynn Beaulieu
Melissa Bereti
2011 Annual Report
Darah Boesch
Alexis Brassard
Hafsah Chalchal
Clinton Chess
Breanna Chin
Chelsea Cunningham
Joshua Davis
Megan Deck
Savannah Dreger
Aaron Eckel
Lance Erickson
Justin Ficor
Alexander Fischer
Thomas Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Fortowsky
Yun Gao
Stavroula Giannaris
Miroslav Golubovic
Adam Gorr
Danielle Gray
Ashley Halstead
Chuanzan Han
Sidra Haque
Sara Hendrickson
Shelby Herman *
Jonathon Herriot *
Kimberley Higgins *
Caitlin Hunter *
Elliot James *
Samuel Jaques *
Natasha Jaques *
Joshua Jensen *
Brett Jones *
Devon Jones *
Courtney Kelly **
Ryan King
Carter Klein *
Colin Kuntz *
Naomi Kwong
19
Jordan Laing
Ha Lam
Adam Lanigan
Jonathan Llewelyn-Williams *
Kelsey Lothian **
Katherine Ludlow **
Brendon Macknak
Courtney Maltman **
Janessa Mann *
Chance McDougall *
Kaelan McPeek
Johannes Moersch *
Roya Nabi
Shanda Oleynik
Morgan Ollinger **
Chad Patterson **
Matthew Pechey **
Tara Petrie *
Noah Plosker
Jordan Power *
Larissa Richards
Dylan Smart *
Dale Thomson
Jaydon Tsui **
Chidinma Ukabam
Jason Unruh *
Williams Usama **
Erik Vantomme **
Emilie Wellman **
Megan Wilson **
Jared Wolfe *
Brian Wong
Jennifer Wood **
William Workman
Randi Yee **
Young Yoo Ha **
Jason Yuen **
Megan Zak
Spencer Zwarych *
“As an Alumna of the
University of Regina, I
have gained valuable
experience that I
draw upon every day
in my work with our
students.”
-Jane Rose, Academic Advisor
administrative
Science’s Long Service
honourees
Teri Dibble
Chemistry &
Biochemistry
40 years
Harold Weger
Biology
20 years
Sarah Carnochan
Naqvi
Mathematics &
Statistics
10 years
LeighAnne
MacKnight
Mathematics &
Statistics
15 years
Danny Ng
Chemistry &
Biochemistry
30 years
Peter Douglas
Mathematics &
Statistics
10 years
Cory Butz
Computer Science
10 years
Terry Ross
Biology
25 years
Daryl Hepting
Computer Science
10 years
Howard Hamiltion
Computer Scinece
20 years
silicon wafer masks
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
21
Brown Dwarf
New faces in SCIENCE
Dr. Josef Buttigieg recently joined the Department of Biology in September 2011 as a
Neurophysiologist. He obtained his PhD from McMaster University in 2008, under the supervision of
Dr Colin Nurse. Here Josef studied the mechanism by which newborns are able to detect changes
in oxygen availability. After obtaining his PhD, Josef next went to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship
with Dr. Michael Fehlings at the University Health Network in Toronto. Here Josef investigated the
expression of proteins in the cell membrane during stem cell and tissue development. As an assistant
professor at the University of Regina, Josef has combined his research interests and past experience
to study how low levels of oxygen modulate stem cell development and gene regulation. He is
also exploring how environmental toxins alter the ability for animals and fish to acquire oxygen.
In addition to his love of research, Josef is an enthusiastic teacher. His teaching responsibilities
include Anatomy and Physiology (Faculty of Nursing), and various physiology courses in the
Department of Biology (Faculty of Science). When not teaching or performing research, Josef can
be found in a variety of places. He may be playing on the rugby pitch, tending to his garden,
training his dog to help herd his children (Eirene and Daniel), or up late at night as an astronomer.
Amy Hunter was appointed to a permanent full-time Administrative Assistant position in the
department office for Computer Science and Mathematics and Statistics in August 2011.
Amy is a University of Regina graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in English, Minor in
History. She also holds a Certificate in Administration (Level I and II) from the University of
Regina. Throughout her studies at the UofR Amy worked for Canada Life/Great West
Life in Regina and for Campion College as a student advisor. After she graduated she
accepted a position on campus with SPHERU (Saskatchewan Population Health and
Evaluation Research Unit). Both the position at Campion and SPHERU provided firsthand
experience using various University of Regina information systems. Amy’s background, skills
and experience are an excellent match for the skills required to successfully contribute to
the administrative support team in Science. Amy has an interest in running and soccer.
Geremy Lague was hired as a Student Summer Assistant in the Faculty of Science in May 2011. His
primary role was to work closely with Richelle Leonard and James Kraushaar to gather and prepare
video, web and print promotional materials and assist in developing a multi-media presence
for Science, specifically The Science Wall. When September arrived Geremy resumed his fulltime studies in Fine Arts and we were able to retain his assistance on a part-time basis. Projects
enhanced by Geremy’s expertise include the following Science events: Science Rendezvous,
Science Grad Gala, Alumni Homecoming, the Science Fall Social and the Science Pub Series.
Richelle Leonard joined the Faculty of Science in January 2011 as the Communication and
Data Administrator for a one-year term appointment. Her focus in Science was to coordinate
the development, production and ongoing maintenance of The Science Wall project in the RIC
Atrium as well as lead the production of other Science communication tools such as the Annual
Report and the Science website. Prior to her work with Science, Richelle was the Research
Administrator for SPHERU (Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit),
Administrative Assistant with the Office of Resource Planning and also served as an Executive
Administrative Assistant with the President’s Office. Richelle has been with the University of
Regina since May 1995. Her expertise in database management, her skill in developing and
preparing publications and her knowledge of the University of Regina financial and human
resource systems are assets that she brings to the Faculty of Science. Away from the campus
Richelle keeps busy with her family, husband Jas and their three girls Avery, Teah and Londyn.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
22
Admin people of SCIENCE
Dean's Office
Dean of Science Brien Maguire Administrative Assistant to the Dean Michelle Kowbel Administrative Assistant Jacqui Lockert Associate Dean (Academic) Nader Mobed Associate Dean (Research) Scott Wilson Faculty Administrator Audrey Perra Science Student Services
Registration Assistant Angela Dohms
Registration Assistant
Lindsay Haubrich Academic Advisor
Jane Rose Program Coordinator (Computer Science) Wendy Preikchat Program Coordinator (Mathematics & Statistics)Ara Steininger Science Operations and Technical and Analytical Services
Coordinator, Science Operations Lee Aument Science Stores Joe Zieger Machine Shop Derek Gervais Electronics Shop Keith Wolbaum Coordinator, Information Technology James Kraushaar Technician, Biology Joanne Downing Technician, Biology Angela Arthur Technician, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Chuanzhong Wang Technician, Geology Mets Ritsema Lab for Computational Discovery John Jorgensen Environmental Quality Analysis Lab Bjoern Wissel Departments
Ag
Biology, Head (Jan - June)
Harold Weger
Biology, Head (July - Dec)
Mark Brigham
Biology, Administrative Assistant
Nicole Stark
Chemistry & Biochemistry, Head
Lynn Mihichuk
Chemistry & Biochemistry, Administrative AssistantTeri Dibble
Computer Science, Head (Jan - June)
Xue Dong Yang
Computer Science, Head (July - Dec)
Howard Hamilton
Computer Science, Administrative Assistant
Marilyn Hepp
Computer Science, Administrative AssistantAmy Hunter
Geology, Head
Hairuo Qing
Geology, Administrative Assistant
Van Tran
Mathematics & Statistics, HeadAllen Herman
Mathematics & Statistics, Administrative Assistant Pamela Sparvier
Mathematics & Statistics, Administrative AssistantAmy Hunter
Physics, Head
Neil Ashton
Physics, Administrative Assistant
Jacqui Lockert
Faculty of Science
2011Annual Report
23
In 2011, our neutrino
physics research group
was thrilled to publish
performance details of the
intricate T2K experiment
we are conducting in
Japan, after several years
of construction, and to
announce the first ever
indications of electronneutrino appearance in a
man made muon-neutrino
beam via the strange
phenomenon of neutrino
oscillations!
-Dr. Edward Mathie, Physics,
Professor
research
The Uncertainty Principle
Science in RESEARCH
Two University of Regina professors win award for
most influential paper at international conference
Two University of Regina computer science
professors have won a major international
award for their influential research paper.
The Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge
Discovery and Data Mining presented the Most
Influential Paper award to Dr. Robert Hilderman
and Dr. Howard Hamilton in Shenzhen, China.
Although computer systems can collect and store
massive amounts of information, their paper looks
at ways that such data can be examined - or
“mined” - so that interesting and relevant material
can by used by businesses, by, for example,
identifying buying patterns and quantities of sales.
Each year, the Steering Committee for the PacificAsia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and
Data Mining reviews the papers presented at the
conference 10 years ago to recognize one that
offered a significant new idea that challenged
or changed thinking in the knowledge discovery
research community. In considering all of the papers
published at the conference in 2001, the Steering
Committee chose the paper entitled Evaluation of
Interestingness Measures for Ranking Discovered
Knowledge by Hilderman and Hamilton. In this
paper, they suggest an automated approach that
identifies the most interesting patterns by ordering
and ranking them according to objective criteria.
The Faculty of Science wishes to
acknowledge the 2011 NSERC
Awards and Scholarships recipients.
Faculty MEMBERS
Dr. Bruce Gilligan (Mathematics and Statistics)
Dr. Garth Huber (Physics)
Dr. Edward Mathie (Physics)
Dr. Renata Raina (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Dr. Christopher Yost (Biology)
Dr. Chang-Nian Zhang (Computer Science)
GRADUATE Students
Matthew Bogard (Biology)
Ashley Fortney (Biology)
Post-doctoral FELLOWSHIP
Dr. Ryan Fisher (Biology)
F = ma
“I am very pleased that our paper is being
recognized for its substantial contribution to the
science of data mining, “ says Hilderman. He adds
this international attention enhances the reputation
of the University of Regina in other countries.
“This paper is frequently cited by researchers in
Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States.”
For
more
information
contact
Robert
Hilderman
at
robert.hilderman@uregina.
ca or 585-4061 or Howard Hamilton at
[email protected]
or
585-4079.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
25
Canada Research CHAIRS
Pollution: Is it In Our Genes?
Before Christopher Somers’ work, we knew that contaminants in our air and water
could cause genetic damage leading to cancer, but we didn’t know that pollution
can also cause mutations that are passed from one generation to the next.
Somers’ research examines the frequency of DNA mutations in the sperm or
eggs of wild birds and other animals exposed to environmental pollution. These
mutations can be passed on to their offspring. This scenario is fascinating
because it is so different from other aspects of toxicology. The impacts of pollution
in this case are felt by individuals that didn’t even experience the exposure.
Somers approaches this phenomena from a number of angles. In the field,
he studies the behaviour, breeding and diet of birds to understand how
they are exposed to contaminants. He is particularly interested in urban
species—such as pigeons or sparrows—because these birds share habitats,
and thereby pollution exposure, with humans. Somers then takes DNA
samples from complete families of birds and genetically profiles parents
and offspring to detect mutations that are passed to the next generation.
In the lab, Somers has housed experiments with mice outdoors in order
to isolate particular types of pollution exposure. These experiments
have shown that industrial air pollution can create mutations from one
generation to the next. This finding is especially important, as millions
of humans and other animals worldwide are exposed to air pollution.
da
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From Farm to Fork: Protecting Canada’s Food Supply From Contamination
You hear it on the evening news, and the information sends you rushing to the fridge.
You rummage and eventually find the package that contained some of the food you
prepared last night. You check the label and breathe a sign of relief—it wasn’t the brand
they mentioned on the newscast, the one recalled because it had made many seriously ill.
Stories like these are common, even in an highly developed country like Canada—
contaminated food makes many Canadians ill each year, and can destroy the
livelihood of a farmer or restaurant owner who, despite his or her best efforts,
delivers or serves contaminated food. As Canada Research Chair in Microbes, the
Environment and Food Safety, Dr. Christopher K. Yost will work to prevent food
contamination, focusing on two promising ways to enhance Canadian food safety.
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One way food gets contaminated is through irrigation of crops with dirty water—
water contaminated by fecal material loaded with potentially lethal microbial
pathogens. But where did that contamination start? This question can be
answered by microbial source tracking (MST). Yost will work to develop better bioindicators to improve the accuracy of MST, thereby helping policy-makers and
food producers design better strategies to protect watersheds from contamination.
IMPACT=P*A*T
Faculty of Science
2011Annual Report
26
“Science is a sponsor
of the Canada Wide
Virtual Science Fair:
“Thank you for your
support of this very
worthwhile program.
You are making a
difference in the lives of
children from coast to
coast.”
--Participant from Coquitlam, BC
Community
Science and the
COMMUNITY
Mathematics Enrichment Camp
The one-day Mathematics Enrichment Camp is for students in grades
7 through 12 who are interested in exploring the infinite frontier of
Mathematics beyond the school curriculum.
The Faculty of Science is pleased to participate as a sponsor in the Canada Wide Virtual Science Fair and appreciates
very much these comments received from some of the winners.
“I would like to offer my family’s thanks for your generous support of the Canada Wide Virtual Science Fair. We had
two children who participated this year, and to say that it was enlightening experience for the whole family would be
an understatement.”
“Our kids chose to be home-schooled this year, via the EBUS in British Columbia. They have many exta-curricular
activities that connect them with other children, but we are always looking for new ways to spark an interest in
learning and specifically an interest in scientific inquiry. It was a delight to sit with them and read over the many VSF
projects from previous years, and to learn that Children from right across the country would be creating experiments
just like them. We felt as though we were part of something much, much bigger and we were inspired by the amazing
websites that we viewed.”
“Thank you for your support of this very worthwhile program. You are making a difference in the lives of children from
coast to coast.” --Coquitlam, BC
The goal of URWISE is to foster and promote the full participation of women in all fields of
science and engineering by creating opportunities for networking and mentoring of U of
R women in science and engineering at the undergraduate, graduate, staff, and faculty
levels by maintaining connections with our alumni and initiating contacts with women
scientists and engineers outside academia and by encouraging girls in elementary and
high schools to consider science and engineering as viable career choices.
Membership is open to anyone on campus (Undergraduates, Graduate Students, Staff and Faculty) as well as associate
members from the greater Saskatchewan science community who support the URWISE mandate. Diversity strengthens
our membership and helps achieve the URWISE mandate. http://www.urwise.uregina.ca/
Na
SCIENCE HOMECOMING
2011 marked the first ever University of Regina
Homecoming. Alumni were encouraged to Shake it
up at the Science Soda Pop Shop (DIY Ice Cream Parlour and
Candy Bar) and stroll through the hallways and labs . The displays and
presentations included: Science photos through the years posted on the
walls of the Lab Cafe and hallway, DNA isolation, bats, chess strategies,
making and measuring the world with computers,
homemade bottle rockets as well as lab tours of our
newest research facilities in the Research and Innovation
Centre (Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry).
Faculty of Science
2011Annual Report
28
Science and the
COMMUNITY
The Faculty of Science supports the 2011 Canada Wide Virtual Science Fair
Cum Laude Awards (value varies for each award)
Irradiated Foods and Birth Defects Grades:7-9 Health/Sport
Does The Nose Know? Grades:4-6 Biology
Reaction Time Grades:7-9 Health/Sport
Catch that Drug: The Nanonet Grades:10-12 Engineering/
ComputerScience
Wind Turbines Grades:4-6 Earth/Energy/Environmental
Tired Muscles Grades:4-6 Biology
Enzymes Grades:4-6 Biology
Urinary System Grades:4-6 Biology
Skeletal System Diseases Grades:4-6 Biology
The Nervous System Grades:4-6 Biology
What Controls the Brain? Grades:4-6 Biology
Different Toothpastes Grades:4-6 Biology
Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses Grades:4-6 Biology
Vision Test Grades:4-6 Biology
Coffee has gone CRAZY Grades:4-6 Biology
Lighting a R room Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
The Passage Way Grades:4-6 Biology
Poisons in Tobacco Smoke Grades:4-6 Biology
Heart Rate Grades:4-6 Biology
Antioxidant Flavonoids in Dandelion Grades:7-9 Biology
Fanta Soda vs. Crush Soda Grades:4-6 Chemistry
Remote Control Grades:4-6 Engineering/ComputerScience
Coke and Mentos Grades:4-6 Chemistry
Finding the Vitamin C in Juice Grades:4-6 Chemistry
Hair Static Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
The Average Family’s Diet Grades:4-6 Biology
Non-Newtonian Fluid Grades:7-9 Chemistry
See It Smell It Taste It Grades:7-9 Health/Sport
The Soap Scoop Grades:7-9 Biology
The Product You Don’t Pay For Grades:7-9 Chemistry
Keep It Fresh Grades:7-9 Health/Sport
Hot Ashes Grades:7-9 Chemistry
Beans And Water Grades:7-9 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Birds In Oil Spills Grades:7-9 Earth/Energy/Environmental
Temperatures of the Ocean Grades:7-9 Earth/Energy/
Environmental
Light & Colour Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Blobs In A Bottle Grades:4-6 Chemistry
Swirling Milk Grades:7-9 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Tired Muscles Grades:4-6 Biology
Testing Toilet Paper Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/
Mathematics
Nervous System Grades:4-6 Biology
Recycling Paper Grades:7-9 Earth/Energy/Environmental
Melting Ice Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Temperature Effect On Magnets Grades:7-9 Physics/
Astronomy/Mathematics
Hot Ice Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Fire in a Cup Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Gravity Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Acid Rain Grades:7-9 Chemistry
Popcorn Grades:7-9 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Bed of Nails Grades:4-6 Physics/Astronomy/Mathematics
Optical Illusions Grades:4-6 Biology
Food-Tastic Grades:7-9 Biology
http://www.virtualsciencefair.com/
SCIENCE Faculty elected to
the Board of Governors
Mark Brigham has been elected as the faculty representative to
the Board of Governors. His term expires June 30, 2014. Brigham
is a professor and head of the Department of Biology whose
research interests include the behaviour and ecology of free-living
animals under natural conditions. He has received the University
of Regina Alumni Awards for both Public Service and Teaching.
smooth
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
29
Alumni of
influence
MIT chancellor receives University of Regina Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Eric Grimson BSc’75 (High Honours) receives 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. -Photo: Adam Hunger
Photography.
Critically-ill patients undergoing surgery and thousands of students are among the many that have
benefited from University of Regina alumnus Dr. Eric Grimson’s love of research and teaching. Grimson, who
was appointed chancellor earlier this year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has worked
to develop computer systems that can be used to analyze images and infer information about them. One
use of this technology is the analysis of medical images.
“Our systems build detailed, three-dimensional models of patient-specific anatomy, which are then
used to provide surgeons with guidance during surgery,” said Grimson. “This enables minimally invasive
neurosurgical procedures, in which the surgeon operates through a small opening, yet accurately and
safely reaches and removes a tumor.”
Grimson says it is extremely satisfying to know that the research he and his
graduate students have done has been used in hundreds of neurosurgical
cases, enabling surgeons to complete procedures in less time, with less
collateral damage, and with improved patient outcomes.
Prior to his appointment as chancellor, Grimson built his career at MIT
as a faculty member and was the Bernard Gordon Professor of Medical
Engineering and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science. As a teacher, he focused on undergraduate education,
in particular introductory courses in computer science.
In his 27 years as a faculty member, Grimson taught more than 10,000
students, supervised close to 50 PhD students and was awarded the Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching in
the School of Engineering at MIT. He says this aspect of his work, whether it’s been offering advice on career
paths, making students aware of the exciting opportunities in science and technology or development of
new curriculum, has given him great satisfaction.
Grimson credits his years at the University of Regina and the mentorship provided by some of the faculty
members he encountered, with helping him grow intellectually and providing him the confidence needed
to succeed at MIT.
“I was fortunate to have a set of inspiring faculty members who encouraged me to aim high, provided me
with opportunities, and fostered a strong sense of tackling challenging situations by reasoning from basic
principles,” said Grimson.
Grimson will receive the 2011 Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the University of Regina
and the University of Regina Alumni Association, which recognizes an alumnus who has distinguished himself
or herself on a regional, national or international basis.
Grimson was one of five distinguished alumni honoured at the 7th Annual Alumni Crowning Achievement
Awards Gala, the pinnacle event of the Alumni Homecoming Weekend that took place on September
29 - October 1.
Faculty of Science
2011Annual Report
30
Alumni of
influence
Medical imaging informatics researcher is outstanding alumnus
Dr. Ross Mitchell BSc’86 (High Honours), MSc’89 receives 2011 Alumni Award for Distinguished Professional
Achievement -Photo: Todd Korol Photography
Dr. Ross Mitchell’s first experience at the University of Regina took place when he was 12 years old. He enrolled
in a computer class for kids, sparking a life-long passion.
He went on to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Regina in computer science, where,
throughout his studies, he spent co-operative education terms at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina.
From this transformative experience on, Mitchell knew that he would apply his computer skills to the field of
medicine.
Today, Mitchell is an expert in biomedical informatics, and at the forefront
of technological research aimed at improving health-care delivery and
patient outcomes. He is co-founder and founding scientist of Calgary
Scientific Inc. (CSI).
Working with CSI, he developed a medical application that allows doctors to
examine and manipulate brain-scan images on their smartphones or iPads,
then diagnose and prescribe treatment for patients who have suffered
stroke, heart attack or trauma. This gives medical facilities access to experts
thousands of kilometres away.
“An expert can now weigh in on the diagnosis and, hopefully, this will mean
the patient not only is treated sooner but may not even have to be moved
to another centre,” said Mitchell. “This will be better for the patient and
better for the health care system.”
At CSI, Mitchell also ensures the commercialization of research. This fall he will begin work as the division chair
for health sciences research at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. He will also be a full professor at Arizona
State University, which is collaborating with the Mayo Clinic in expanding research in biomedical informatics.
Mitchell has held such positions at the University of Calgary as professor in the Departments of Radiology
and Clinical Neurosciences, adjunct professor of computer science and the Alberta Innovates Technology
Futures/CSI and industrial research chair in medical imaging informatics.
Mitchell says there is still much research to be done in biomedical informatics because health care has been
slow to use information technology to improve efficiencies and quality of care. The core of his research has
been, and continues to be, a virtual biopsy or developing methods to extract additional information out of
medical images to help doctors diagnose, treat and monitor disease.
The University of Regina and the University of Regina Alumni Association named Mitchell as the recipient of the
Alumni Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement, which recognizes an alumnus who has achieved
professional excellence and shown leadership.
Mitchell was one of five distinguished alumni honoured at the 7th Annual Alumni Crowning Achievement
Awards Gala, the pinnacle event of the Alumni Homecoming Weekend that took place on September 29 October 1.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
31
Science Pub
SERIES
The Science Pub Series began as a joint venture
between Bushwakker Brewpub and three
faculties at the University of Regina, namely:
Arts, Engineering and Applied Science and
Science. The series launched on a monthly basis
beginning September 2011. Each session was
led by a University of Regina faculty researcher
and includes a 30-40 minute presentation
and an open question and answer period.
The 2011 Speakers:
Thursday, September 15th
The DIY Robo-Revolution
presented by David Gerhard
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Thursday, October 20th
Seeing the Unexpected:
Peeking at the Earth from Space
presented by Joseph Piwowar
Department of Geography
Faculty of Arts
Thursday, November 17th
Eco-Friendly Residential Housing Design
presented by Nathan Brenner
on behalf of the Faculty of Engineering
and Applied Science
Thursday, December 15th
Furry and Feathered Bats: Myths,
Mysteries and Mushrooms
presented by Mark Brigham
Department of Biology
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science
2011Annual Report
32
Science
RENDEZVOUS
Science Rendezvous is a non-profit
organization that partners with top
Canadian
research
institutions
to
present an annual science festival that
is free for everyone! On Saturday, May
7, 2011, the Faculty of Science at the
University of Regina held the event for
the first time. With the co-operation of
beautiful sunny weather, an estimated
800 participants swarmed our campus
for a day of fun in Science. More than
20 activities were planned and some of
the highlights included: magic chemistry
show, bottle rockets, our planet earth,
bats in the prairie, DNA isolation, and
an interactive lab tour. We are thrilled
that our visitors, volunteers, faculty
members and staff had a great day.
Faculty of Science
2011 Annual Report
33
Science and the
COMMUNITY
50
University of Regina Summer Sports (and ‘Science’) Camps
For the fourth consecutive year Science collaborated with the Faculty
of Kinesiology and Health Studies to provide a ‘science’ component
to the Summer Sports Camps. Our part of the series included
activities from all six departments. The science portions were highly
subscribed and we intend to increase our involvement next summer.
The Science camp program provides children with the opportunity
to explore science in a controlled environment. Instructors from the
Faculty of Science engage children in experiments and hands on
learning around the campus. Over a third of the Science program is
delivered by Professors in the Faculty of Science assisting in experiments
such as creating your own vibro-bot, searching the campus in a
geology scavenger hunt, and learning how to create the biggest
bubble to name a few of examples. Children spend approximately
an hour and a half participating in science and the other hour and a
half of the program participating in sports and recreational activities.
The Faculty of
Science holds a
Gold Corporate
Membership with
the Saskatchewan
Science Centre.
Research & Innovation Centre GRAND OPENING
Faculty of Science
2011Annual Report
34
Congratulations S
CIENCE Graduate
students
2011 Fall
2011 Spring/Summer
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Dean’s Scholarship Azam, Nouman, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Centre for Teaching and Learning Graduate Teaching Award Agasthian, Vijayaparvathy, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Research Award Nadarasah, Geetanchaly, Science (Biology)
Torres Saldarriaga, Andrea, Science (Geology)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Research Award Abbasian, Reza, Science (Computer Science)
Fan, Gaojian, Science (Computer Science)
Gardiner, Laura, Science (Biology)
Giffin, Spencer, Science (Physics), Ph.D. Candidate
Moise, Marian, Science (Computer Science)
Tang, Wei, Science (Statistics), Ph.D. Candidate
Wrolson, Bree, Science (Geology)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Scholarship Abbasian, Reza, Science (Computer Science)
Ahmadi, Bahman, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Ahmed, Sultan, Science (Computer Science)
Beal, Marc, Science (Biology)
Boulanger, Rachel, Science (Geology)
Deng, Xiaofei, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Dong, Jun, Science (Chemistry), Ph.D. Candidate
Fillmore, Julie, Science (Geology)
Lach, Peter, Science (Computer Science)
Liu, Yong, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Ludlow, Sarah, Science (Biology)
Malik, Obaid Ullah, Science (Computer Science)
Mamun, Kazi, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Samei, Rahim, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Stefanovic, Daniel, Science (Biology)
Vaheesar, Kandasamy, Science (Chemistry), Ph.D. Candidate
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Teaching
Assistantship Agasthian, Vijayaparvathy, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Beal, Marc, Science (Biology)
Bhat, Supriya Venkate, Science (Biochemistry)
Gaudet, Carolyn, Science (Biology)
Giffin, Spencer, Science (Physics), Ph.D. Candidate
Heisler, Leanne, Science (Biology)
Kovatch, Leah, Science (Biology)
Tahani, Mehrnoosh, Science (Physics)
Wrolson, Bree, Science (Geology)
Gerhard Herzberg Fellowship Robinson, Shawn, Science (Biology)
Graduate Centennial Merit Scholarship Fu, Rong, Science (Computer Science)
Graduate Student Scholarly Research Award Azam, Nouman, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Fillmore, Julie, Science (Geology)
Graduate Student Travel Award Abbasian, Reza, Science (Computer Science)
Anas, Mohamed Usoof, Science (Biology)
Annadi, Krishna, Science (Chemistry), Ph.D. Candidate
Chacko, Aneesh, Science (Chemistry)
Deng, Xiaofei, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Fergus, Nicole, Science (Chemistry)
Smith, Erika, Science (Chemistry)
Starks, Elizabeth, Science (Biology)
Swarbrick, Vanessa, Science (Biology), Ph.D. Candidate
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Scholarship Agasthian, Vijayaparvathy, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Ahmadi, Bahman, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Balogianni, Vasiliki, Science (Biology), Ph.D. Candidate
Maddigan, Alison, Science (Biochemistry)
Samei, Rahim, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Zhao, Yang, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
International Graduate Student Scholarship Ahmadi, Seyedruhallah, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Azam, Nouman, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Sampson J. Goodfellow Scholarship Azam, Nouman, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Dosselmann, Richard, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Robinson, Shawn, Science (Biology)
2011 Winter
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Dean’s Scholarship Sadeqi, Mehdi, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Research Award Wagaye, Abrha Molla, Science (Chemistry)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Scholarship Ahmadi, Bahman, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Ahmadi, Seyedruhallah, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Ahmed, Sultan, Science (Computer Science)
Gaudet, Carolyn, Science (Biology)
Luo, Jigang, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
Vaheesar, Kandasamy, Science (Chemistry), Ph.D. Candidate
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Graduate Teaching
Assistantship Allonby, Odette, Science (Biochemistry)
Daku, Rhys, Science (Biochemistry)
Gardiner, Laura, Science (Biology)
Heisler, Leanne, Science (Biology)
Kirzinger, Morgan, Science (Biology)
Laprairie, Mark, Science (Computer Science)
Robinson, Shawn, Science (Biology)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Recruitment Scholarship Ming, Yao, Science (Physics), Ph.D. Candidate
Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Graduate Student Travel Award Cai, Jianxin, Science (Chemistry)
Smith, Erika, Science (Chemistry)
Starks, Elizabeth, Science (Biology)
Graduate Centennial Merit Scholarship Abbasian, Reza, Science (Computer Science)
Liu, Yong, Science (Mathematics)
Mazadi, Zeinab, Science (Computer Science)
Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Scholarship Ahmadi, Bahman, Science (Mathematics), Ph.D. Candidate
Kirzinger, Morgan, Science (Biology)
John Spencer Middleton & Jack Spencer Gordon Middleton
Scholarship Anas, Mohamed Usoof, Science (Biology)
Azam, Nouman, Science (Computer Science), Ph.D. Candidate
R.A. Kelln - J. Neuhard Graduate Entrance Scholarship in Biochemistry/
Molecular Biology Bhat, Supriya Venkate, Science (Biochemistry)
Faculty
Faculty of
of Science
Science 2011
2011Annual
Annual Report
Report
F = -kx
35
35
Faculty of Science
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4S 0A2
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