UNews - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

U of L researchers see Herschel mission shut down

trevor.kenney — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:51:25 +0000

Just a few days shy of its four-year anniversary, the Herschel Space Observatory has exhausted its supply of liquid helium coolant, and officially 'closed its eyes' on the universe, April 29.

Researchers around the world, and at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, now have a massive data collection, years of future research projects, and remarkable images that show unique star births sand star formations, galaxies and a host of other dramatic developments in the origins of the universe.

The pioneering space imaging mission logged more than 35,000 observations and generated more than 25,000 hours worth of science data from about 600 observing programmes. A further 2,000 hours of calibration observations will also contribute to the rich dataset.

Herschel (which operated more than 1.5 million km away from earth in deep space) included a scientific instrument co-developed by U of L researcher Dr. David Naylor (physics and astronomy) and his team, who led Canada's contribution to the Herschel project on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency.

The instrument, called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver ("SPIRE"), is one of three devices attached to the Herschel telescope system. SPIRE measures infrared light and picks up heat and chemical signals that are not visible by optical telescopes -- turning that data into images and information researchers will use to learn more about the life and death of stars and galaxies.

Image samples are available here.

Now that the school-bus sized telescope will cease its active duty, astronomers from 14 countries, including Canada, will devote their full attention to analyzing the prolific telescope's legacy of data.

The five-year, post-operation phase will see the data obtained during the mission used to develop improved calibration algorithms to allow the most information to be extracted. Eventually the data will be reprocessed and placed in an archive.

In addition to dramatically enhancing the level of information about the origins of the universe, the U of L contributions to the Herschel mission saw the creation of numerous and unique student experiences at all levels, and a high-tech spin-off company - Blue Sky Spectroscopy - founded by Naylor in 2003, and now privately owned and operated. Blue Sky is one of the three international Data Processing and Science Analysis Software centres for the SPIRE instrument. Data will continue to be downloaded from the spacecraft and stored on the Blue Sky servers. Its highly qualified staff, all with postgraduate degrees, specialize in custom hardware and software spectroscopic solutions. Customers include NASA, ESA, and CSA, and many leading research institutes such as Harvard, Berkeley, Chicago, Max Planck and Cardiff, NIST, Centre d'Etudes Atomique, Paris, Institute National d'Optique, Canada to name a few.

Additional information about future projects ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers are planning that arise from the Herschel mission can be found at this website.

As well, Naylor and colleague Roy Golsteyn (biological sciences) are collaborating on a way to use the highly-sensitive imaging systems developed for deep space to detect rogue cancer cells.

Herschel Mission Operating Phase Wrapping Up

trevor.kenney — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:54:37 +0000

A pioneering space imaging mission that sent a scientific instrument co-developed by a U of L researcher on a 1.5 million kilometre trip to deep space aboard the Herschel Space Observatory might be nearing its conclusion, but that doesn't mean the end of the project for the research team.

Dr. David Naylor (Physics and Astronomy) and his team of researchers lead Canada's contribution to the Herschel project on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency.

The instrument, called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver ("SPIRE"), is one of three devices attached to the Herschel telescope system.

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/herschel/default.asp

The helium-filled 'gas tank' cooling Herschel's equipment is expected to run dry over the next few weeks – an expected process.

As the coolant diminishes, equipment will stop working, but data transmission will continue until the bus-sized telescope parks itself in a permanent orbit around the sun.

What follows is a five-year post operation phase, where the data obtained during the mission are used to develop improved calibration algorithms to allow the most information to be extracted from the images. Eventually the data will be reprocessed and placed in an archive that will have legacy value.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Herschel_to_finish_observing_soon

The mission, launched on May 14, 2009 from the Ariane Spaceport in French Guyana, almost immediately began to shed new light on stars and galaxies by measuring a level of light called far-infrared.

Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, but travels well across the universe. Star forming regions emit light at these wavelengths and Herschel can detect it, capturing a wealth of detail such as heat signatures and chemical composition that help astronomers clearly see, for the first time, stars and whole galaxies that have previously remained hidden or only poorly understood.

"SPIRE picks up heat and chemical signals that are not visible by optical telescopes, and turns that data into the amazing images and information we and other scientists are using to learn more about the life and death of stars and galaxies," Naylor said.

In addition to literally 'clearing up' the images people have been using for two centuries to look into space, Naylor said the Herschel mission is confirming the existence of molecules on earth that originated in space.

"With SPIRE we can look at the big picture, or the very tiny picture, and gain a whole new insight into how stars live and die. The reason the imagery is so clear is that the space observatory sits more than 1.5 million km from earth, far from our atmosphere which absorbs virtually all radiation at which far-infrared wavelengths. Since the universe emits most of its energy at these wavelengths, Herschel provides us with our first comprehensive view of the universe."

The data and crisp images come from a device about as big as a large microwave oven that took more than 15 years and $100 million to develop – and has to function at a chilly -270C.

Also gratifying are the unique research collaborations that Naylor sees happening in the future. "Approximately one-third of the time available to researchers is guaranteed to those involved in key projects, and our time is included in that. We see the data here in Lethbridge before anyone else does. Scientists will be seeking our help in analyzing their data and the U of L group will be an important Canadian and international resource."

With an estimated output of up to 7,000 hours per year of data, there should be enough information to keep researchers busy for years – and some of that data flows through Blue Sky Spectroscopy, a Lethbridge-based, high tech spinoff company founded by Naylor in 2003, and now privately owned and operated.

Blue Sky is one of the three international Data Processing and Science Analysis Software centres for the SPIRE instrument. Data are downloaded daily from the spacecraft and stored on the Blue Sky servers.

Its highly qualified staff, all with postgraduate degrees, specialize in custom hardware and software spectroscopic solutions. Customers include NASA, ESA, and CSA, and many leading research institutes such as Harvard, Berkeley, Chicago, Max Planck and Cardiff, NIST, Centre d'Etudes Atomique, Paris, Institute National d'Optique, Canada to name a few.

What's next?

According to Naylor, more research that refines his current SPIRE device to make it suitable for yet another space mission currently under review by the Japanese, European and Canadian Space Agencies.

The project – SPICA, which stands for Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics – is a next-generation version of the SPIRE device, and would perform a similar function on a space telescope planned to launch in 2022.

Learn more about the SPICA project, here: http://research.uleth.ca/spica/index.php

Naylor said Herschel has been an overwhelming success, but its sensitivity is limited by its 'warm' telescope. "At a temperature of -80K (-193C) this may sound cold, but it limits the achievable sensitivity. By cooling a telescope to -6K (-267C) would increase the sensitivity by an astonishing factor of 100, allowing it to explore a volume of space 1000x greater than Herschel".

Building on the success of Herschel, the Japanese Space Agency JAXA is developing such a cooled telescope. ESA has joined forces with JAXA; in return for ESA providing the telescope and a ground station, European scientists will build one of the flight instruments.

Based on the Herschel experience, an imaging FTS similar to the ones Naylor's group has been building for over two decades has been selected and Naylor has been invited to join the international team that will build the instrument known as SAFARI.

The instrument is similar to one that the U of L team has recently commissioned on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, the world's largest submillimetre telescope located atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/JCMT/

The space-based project, SPICA – which stands for Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics – is a next-generation version of the SPIRE device, and would perform a similar function on a space telescope planned to launch in 2022.

In Alberta, a recent and significant collaboration has also been launched with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, where the U of L and the U of C and Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ have formed the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS) to work together on projects that take space research further than Herschel technology, whether on the ground or in the atmosphere.

"By nature, physics researchers don't get too excited, but to see these images and know that we're looking at them in a whole new way, and further that we'll be able to share this information with the public so they can learn about the origins of the universe, is truly exciting," Naylor said.

He estimates that more than 200 papers have already been produced using data from the Herschel mission, and approximately half of those have Canadian co-authors.

The geographical distribution of SPIRE science within Canada is broad with authors affiliated with the following universities/institutions: UBC, Calgary, CFHT, HIA/UVic, Laval, Lethbridge, McMaster, Toronto, Waterloo. As well, a large group of researchers, including more than 30 post docs, undergrad and grad students have conducted research using SPIRE data.

An example of the type of imaging and discoveries made possible by the Herschel Space Observatory can be found here:

Comet 'Demolition Derby' Creates New Information About Solar System Origin

Compelling new images from the Herschel Space Telescope – parked more than 1.5 million kilometres from earth and facing into deep space -- are showing researchers what the formation of our solar system must have looked like at its early stages: a violent, comet-laden disk of debris where thousands of 1 km wide chunks of ice collide and spin around a young star.

http://oshi.esa.int/#list=/images.html?q=pillars;detail=image.html?id=89

The images are made possible in part by technology created by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers, and designed and built by an international consortium of space agencies, universities and research institutes.

http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=300&s=17611

High school iGEM group

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:22:21 +0000

A group of Lethbridge and area high school students who want to take NASA technology and use it to help reduce the affects of Type 1 Diabetes recently came away from an international competition with an award for their research presentation -- and will be further recognized by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge with $36,000 worth of scholarships ($1,000 per student).

Six students, members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge 36-person High School iGEM (International Genetically-engineered Machines) team made their first trip to the Indianapolis, IN contest as the only Canadian contingent, and presented their take on how to use an innovative, implantable capsule (developed by NASA to release medication in space) to manage the release of insulin for people with Type 1 Diabetes.

The U of L High School iGEM Team. Back row (from L to R) Yoyo Yao, Erin Kwan, Janelle Veenendaal, Chris Isaac, Dax Law, Devan Carrier, Brianna Carrels, Trisha Bouma. Middle Row (from L to R) Orion Sehn, Branden Black, Marissa Guzzi, Cassandra Logue, Shammamah Hossain, Maya Many Grey Horses, Elaine Bird. Front Row (from L to R) Dawson Meyer, Erin Kelly, Brooke Heatherington, Alycia Amatto, Wesley Mosimann, Katelyn Harder. Missing in photo are Natalia Mitura, Iain Sander, Gerardo Karari Balderas Figueroa, Carissa Kirk, Corbin Chenger, Alli Herauf, Riley Martens, Jared Sparkes, Teddi Reynolds and Marie Cooney.

The group plans to engineer a bacteria that will secrete insulin in response to a person's glucose levels, then house it in the NASA biocapsule (so it is contained and not flowing freely in the bloodstream) where it will safely dispense insulin and could reduce the need for the continuous monitoring, injections and other challenges currently experienced by the hundreds of millions of people worldwide with diabetes.

Bold? Absolutely. Can it be done? That's what the group intends to find out.

That's why the U of L is rewarding them with scholarships – to help them pursue their interest in science and research at the U of L.

The $1,000 scholarship credit per student covers the cost of about two courses, and is available upon their successful application and acceptance to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The students will be presented with their awards at a brief ceremony that takes place Wednesday, July 11 beginning at 4 p.m. in Anderson Hall, room AH100 (Andy's Place).

"When the iGEM competition expanded to include high school students, the U of L saw an opportunity to follow suit and this year 36 students participated in the program," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's provost and vice president (academic). "Not only does this provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities, but it also augments the existing Alberta science curriculum. We are happy to be able to extend this world-class program into local high schools, exposing younger students to the unique opportunities available by pursuing a science education."

Team spokesperson Erin Kelly, a recent Catholic Central High School graduate entering fist year at the U of L in the fall, says the group brainstormed ideas with U of L iGEM team members and chemistry and biochemistry researchers that had a combination of what she describes as 'do-ability' and social relevance. They also looked to past iGEM projects for inspiration, since the work created by all iGEM teams worldwide is in the public domain and archived in the interests of conducting innovative research.

"A team at Berkeley created bacteria that could produce haemoglobin (a key component of blood) to function as a new type of red blood cell," says Kelly. "We would like to try this with the cells in the pancreas, which were damaged by the onset of Type 1 Diabetes. Another team from Missouri had figured out how to get the cell to detect glucose, which would let the cell know when there is too much sugar. Once glucose is detected, we could work on secreting insulin."

Kelly says the NASA capsule is a perfect place to house the bacteria, sustain it, and act as a filter to move the insulin from the capsule to the person.

"We would have a lot of work to do before we can get to that stage, because we have to engineer some other steps into the process. We expect that a project like this would be one that could carry through a few years of iGEM teamwork, and could be used by other teams to move their own projects forward."

At the U of L, the iGEM team concept has evolved to a point where the university-level group runs its own funded lab, regularly places in the top levels of international competitions, and has provided a significant boost to undergraduate students who wish to pursue further research at a masters level.

Their ongoing project involves engineering bacteria to recognize – and consume – harmful materials in oilsands tailings ponds.

"We have welcomed high-school researchers to the U of L iGEM group in the past, but to have this large number of interested and engaged students is a really great experience for all of us," says Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, a U of L biochemistry researcher and one of the faculty supervisors for both groups. "The additional support the students are receiving from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the form of scholarships is a great indicator of their achievement, and we look forward to having them join us as students when they begin their university studies. "

STUDENT NAMES, GRADES AND HIGH SCHOOL AFFILIATION

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute

Dax Law 11
Erin Kwan 12
Cassandra Logue 11
Devan Carrier 11
Teddi Reynolds 12
Gerardo Karari Balderas Figueroa 11

Catholic Central High School

Erin Kelly 12
Elaine Bird 11
Corbin Chenger 12
Carissa Kirk 10
Brooke Heatherington 11
Riley Martens 12
Marissa Guzzi 12
Branden Black 11
Katelyn Harder 11
Natalia Mitura 12
Iain Sander 11
Marie Cooney 11
Alycia Amatto 11

Chinook High School

Brianna Carrels 10
Yoyo Yao 11
Chris Isaac 11
Jared Sparkes 11
Maya Many Grey Horses 11
Wesley Mosimann 11
Dawson Meyer 11
Alli Herauf 10

Winston Churchill High School

Shammamah Hossain 11
Orion Sehn 10

Immanuel Christian High School

Janelle Veenendaal 11
Trisha Bouma 11

High school iGEM group to be recognized

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:59:16 +0000

Fresh off an impressive international performance, a group of Lethbridge and area high school students will be recognized by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge today with $36,000 worth of scholarships ($1,000 per student).

The students, who want to take NASA Space Biosciences technology and use it to help reduce the affects of Type 1 Diabetes, recently came away from an international competition with an award for their research presentation. Six students from the 36-person ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge High School iGEM (International Genetically-engineered Machines) team made their first trip to the Indianapolis, IN contest as the only Canadian contingent, and presented their take on how to use an innovative, implantable capsule (developed by NASA Space Biosciences to release medication in space) to manage the release of insulin for people with Type 1 Diabetes.

The group plans to engineer a bacteria that will secrete insulin in response to a person's glucose levels, then house it in the NASA biocapsule (so it is contained and not flowing freely in the bloodstream) where it will safely dispense insulin and could reduce the need for the continuous monitoring, injections and other challenges currently experienced by the hundreds of millions of people worldwide affected by diabetes.

Bold? Absolutely. Can it be done? That's what the group intends to find out.

That's why the U of L is rewarding them with scholarships – to help them pursue their interest in science and research at the U of L. The $1,000 scholarship credit per student covers the cost of about two courses, and is available upon their successful application and acceptance to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

The students will be presented with their awards at a brief ceremony that takes place Wednesday, July 11 beginning at 4 p.m. in Anderson Hall, room AH100 ( Andy's Place).

NASA hosts fire victim fundraiser

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:25:23 +0000

The Native American Student's Association at the U of L is organizing a fundraiser in support of the Shouting-McGinnis family, who lost their home to the Nov. 27 grassfire that swept across the prairie.

The event will be held Thursday, Dec. 15 from 4 to 11 p.m. in the Students' Union Ballroom and feature talented local musicians. Dubbed the Phoenix Benefit Rock Show, it's an event that suits the Shouting-McGinnis family well, as their two sons are musicians on the local rock scene.

"If it happened to my family, I would want to be shown the same compassion and support," says NASA president Abby Morning Bull to the Lethbridge Herald. "This family had put their hearts and souls into their home; to lose it at such a crucial time in the year is tough."

Admission to the event is $2 at the door or through a donation of any kind. For more information on the Phoenix Benefit Rock Show, call 403-715-5616 or e-mail abby.morningbull@uleth.ca

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:46:20 +0000

Chancellor named Citizen of the Year

Widely known as one Alberta's most influential people, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor Richard Davidson was recognized in May as the Lethbridge Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Herald.

"Clearly in his law practice, his work with the Chamber of Commerce, his work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and his work with virtually every other volunteer organization you could imagine, this is one cool dude," says Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck, who also presented Davidson with a key to the city. "This is the highest honour we can bestow upon anyone, and Richard is extremely deserving."

Davidson was appointed a Queen's counsel in 1986 and is a partner at the law firm of Davidson & Williams. In recognition of his many contributions to the community, he has received numerous awards including the Commemoration Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Governor General, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Community.

U of L at forefront of water hub

World Water Day, on March 22, served as the perfect occasion for federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice to announce $1.5 million in funding for the creation of the Water and Environmental Sciences Water Hub at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Hub, which will be developed over the next two years, will serve as a data repository and will be an authoritative public source of information, providing tools to analyze water and environmental data. This data will be used by governments, industry, academia and the public to make more-informed decisions regarding water, and will create a better understanding of this resource by these stakeholders.

Prentice explains that the government needs reliable water data to make better decisions concerning water.

"To make good decisions, governments in Canada need good information – and it's not as though you can just turn on a tap to get it. We need knowledge generated by scientists and researchers who can provide the evidence for informed decisions about freshwater use," says Prentice.

Ellis welcomed as new management dean

On July 1, Dr. Robert (Bob) James Ellis will join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the new dean for the Faculty of Management.

Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Ellis is an accomplished administrator who successfully bolstered business programs at both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia and Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

With a collaborative and visionary approach, he has a strong record of attracting accomplished faculty and raising the research profile of programs. His current research focuses on increasing educational opportunities in society, specifically for aboriginal students in a business environment.

Ellis is looking forward to the creative atmosphere he sees within the Faculty.

"Throughout my career, my focus has always been to try and increase opportunities for students through the development of new courses or new programs," says Ellis. "The faculty at the U of L are very innovative, and I think at the forefront of management thought and action."

Ellis succeeds Dr. Murray Lindsay, who spent the past five years in the position and is returning to the academic community at the U of L.

Education dean O'Dea passes leadership to Loewen

After 10 years of incredible success, Dr. Jane O'Dea will step away from her role as dean of the Faculty of Education at the end of June. And while she is handing the reins of leadership over with plans to return to the classroom, she has no plans to leave the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Dr. Craig Loewen

"Absolutely not. This is a tremendous ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I love its size, I love its entrepreneurial innovative spirit and its emphasis on community and student engagement," says O'Dea.

Taking over the Faculty, Dr. Craig Loewen (BEd '84) will serve as acting dean for a two-year term.

A veteran faculty member, Loewen admits he will miss the classroom, but stands firmly in a belief that whatever the setting, teaching is an important calling.

"You're looking after the path, building for the future, caring about the kids of today. I find it really hard to see anything much more important than that," he says. "The person who you are can, at some point, be traced back to a teacher or mentor."

CREATE funding translates to employment opportunities

On June 10, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) announced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the recipient of the CREATE program award. The U of L will be the only institution in Alberta to receive the award this year.

With more than $1.6 million, the CREATE program award provides funding for approximately 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates working in satellite and other imaging programs, including photonics, climate change, civil engineering and optical networks.

Through the program, 20 projects will receive $32 million over six years, support that will help science and engineering graduates upgrade their skills to make a successful transition to the workplace.

As part of this, participating students will complete work placements with local, national and international organizations including companies such as Iunctus Geomatics, the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Corporation, Natural Resources Canada, NASA and several European research institutes.

U of L Vice-President of Research Dr. Dan Weeks says this will give students a strong mix of professional skills development and workforce preparation.

"The exciting aspect for me is the employment rate for graduates," says Weeks. "It isn't unreasonable to expect 100 per cent employment, because we are looking at this as a model that will provide for sustainable training for research workforce preparation."

Top 40 Under 40

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, a biological sciences and epigenetics researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, can now add recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM to an already long list of accomplishments.

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk

Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM, a prestigious national award program, annually honours 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors under the age of 40.

With more than 1,200 nominees, honourees were selected by an independent advisory board based on five key criteria: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.

"This is an outstanding award for Olga, the members of her lab team, for her research collaborators here and literally worldwide – and for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says U of L President Dr. Bill Cade.

"Olga has worked very hard to bring new research and new programs to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and has influenced countless young researchers. With her husband and research collaborator, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, they have brought new people with a wealth of international talent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. It is an understatement to say that we are extremely proud of her achievement."

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair, as well as a Canadian Institute of Health Research Chair in Gender, Sex and Health, Kovalchuk focuses her research on the effects of long-term exposure to radiation, and how that exposure changes cellular and molecular structures in animals and people.

Inspired by her experience as a high school student living in Ukraine, only 600 kilometres from the nuclear Chernobyl blast, her work examines how radiation induces secondary tumours in cancer patients, the different effects radiation has on women and men, and what can be done to protect the children of radiation-exposed parents from contracting cancer.

Kovalchuk has also played a key role in working toward establishing an Alberta Institute for Epigenetics at the U of L.

Sakamotos give back

Ron and Joyce Sakamoto

Ron Sakamoto (LLD '03), or "Sak," as he is affectionately known, has presented shows from KISS to Shania Twain. In March, the concert provider and his wife, Joyce, announced a $200,000 donation in support of students in the U of L Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program. The gift will be matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total to $400,000.

Launched last fall, the DAA program is the first of its kind in Canada and produces graduates who are experts in music technology and have skills to integrate with visual media, audio and advanced research.

"The role of audio across all media has changed monumentally from the traditional broadcast media of the past. The culture of audio and visual media is growing and evolving rapidly," says Sakamoto.

"Joyce and I are happy to support students in the DAA program. These are the people who will be superstars in the years to come, and I look forward to the contributions this group will make to the music industry."

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

U of L gets chance to CREATE

trevor.kenney — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:36:09 +0000

Thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, young researchers will have an opportunity to creatively expand their professional and personal skills to prepare for the workplace.

"Our government is committed to developing, attracting and retaining the world's best researchers here in Canada," says Rick Casson, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, who made the investment announcement on behalf of the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology).
"Through the investment of the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program, the students involved will be making a successful transition into the knowledge workforce and strengthen Canada's economy."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will receive the only Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) CREATE program award in Alberta this year – more than $1.6 million in funding over 6 years – which will provide funding for approximately 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates.

The U of L program focuses on students who participate in satellite and other imaging programs, and is called the Advanced Methods, Education and Training in Hyperspectral Science and Technology (AMETHYST) program.

More than 80 per cent of the funding each year will go directly to students in the form of training allowances.

The program also includes a significant work placement component, with local, national and international organizations, including local companies such as Iunctus Geomatics and the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Corporation, the Lethbridge Research Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Natural Resources Canada, NASA and several European research institutes committed to providing meaningful experiences for the students.

Principal Investigator Dr. Phil Teillet (physics and astronomy) says he and his more than 15 U of L collaborators are very appreciative for the CREATE funding.

"NSERC has got it right with the CREATE program because it's about students and their research training," says Teillet.
"The U of L has added a strong dose of professional skills development and workforce preparation to the mix. I'm also very appreciative of the hard work put in by the U of L investigators and collaborators on the grant submission, as well as the enthusiastic support we received from all areas of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty and administration."

Telliet added that for most of the past decade, the U of L has invested strategically in imaging research and teaching, putting a number of important building blocks in place.

"The high-tech field of imaging is used daily throughout society and in many major job sectors in Canada concerned with areas such as natural resource management, biomedical imaging, national security, climate monitoring, water and the environment. Our program also validates the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's leading-edge expertise in research education."

Dr. Dan Weeks, the U of L's vice-president (research) says the outcomes from the program will be significant, and will benefit students and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community for years to come.

"The exciting aspect for me is the employment rate for graduates – it isn't unreasonable to expect 100 per cent employment, because we are looking at this as a model that will provide for sustainable training for research workforce preparation," says Weeks. "As well, the more big-picture aspects include a new undergraduate curriculum on imaging science and technology, a proposed master of science program in imaging science and new lab laboratory tools for studying atmospheric greenhouse gases, among many other benefits."

Campus ready to celebrate Native Awareness Week

trevor.kenney — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:24:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge boasts a strong and vibrant aboriginal community. That is especially evident during the annual Native Awareness Week, this year running Mar. 1-5.

A variety of events, including drumming and dancing, art shows, lectures, films, videos and panel discussions allows the entire campus community to celebrate this rich culture.

Following is a list of events for Native Awareness Week.

Monday, Mar. 1

10 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies & prayers, Atrium

Noon – Art Now: David General, Faculty of Fine Arts (W570)

1:30 p.m. – NASA Art Show, NAS Department

Tuesday, Mar. 2

10 a.m. – Writing on Stone, Kainai High School and Tatsikiisaapo'p Middle School Students Sing, Dance and Drum, Atrium.

Noon to 3 p.m. Storyteller & Make Your Own Medicine Bag Project, SU Ballroom A

Wednesday, Mar. 3

9:30 a.m. to Noon – FNMI Languages, Cultures and Identities: Six Special Academic-Community Lectures, Atrium

Noon to 1 p.m. – Special Video Presentation: Qallunaut! Why White People are So Funny, Atrium

Noon to 3 p.m. – Language, Culture and Identity Panel, L1060

3 to 7 p.m. – Participatory Language Teaching Demonstration, Language and Culture Videos, L1060

7 to 9 p.m. – Roy Pogorzelski, Metis Scholar TKARONTO Award-Winning Film on Urban Aboriginal Identities, L1060

Thursday, Mar. 4

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – The Identity Dialogues, Andy's Place (AH100)

Friday, Mar. 5

Noon – Métis Star Dancers, Atrium

1 to 2 p.m. – FNMI Alumni Chapter Mix and Mingle, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre foyer

2 p.m. – Fine Arts presents Static and Contemporary Indigenous Performing Arts Dialogue, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre

Sighting schedule for space shuttle

trevor.kenney — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:25:17 +0000

The current NASA Space Shuttle Mission (STS-127), carrying Canadian astronaut and 2005 U of L Honorary Degree recipient Dr. Julie Payette, will be visible in the night sky at specific times during July and parts of August.

The Space Shuttle is delivering people, supplies and lab components to the International Space Station.

View the sighting calendar for Lethbridge at this website:
http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=Canada&region=Alberta&city=Lethbridge

Payette joins fellow astronaut Robert Thirsk in space, marking the first time two Canadians have been in space at the same time. Thirsk is currently on board the International Space Station. A video featuring the docking process, hatch opening and welcome ceremony is available at this NASA website: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html.

Payette is a professional engineer with a BSc in Electrical engineering and a MSc in Computer engineering. Among many awards and honours, she is a Member of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec and an appointed member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC). An accomplished musician, she plays piano, sang with the Montreal orchestra Chamber Choir and speaks several languages.

Herschel Space Observatory research to keep Naylor busy for years

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:56:42 +0000

When you talk to Dr. David Naylor (Institute for Space Imaging Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy), it is easy to get excited about his research, space exploration and the thought of imaging the unknown stars and galaxies that SPIRE, an instrumental concept he has been working on for 30 years will help to discover as it sits, 1.5 million km from Earth, bolted securely to the recently-launched Herschel Space Telescope.

The European Space Agency (ESA) Herschel mission, launched successfully from French Guiana on May 14, 2009 seeks to observe stars and galaxies at long-wavelengths (far-infrared).

Dr. David Naylor.

These wavelengths are able to penetrate interstellar dust, but are difficult to observe from Earth because the far infrared signals can't penetrate the Earth's atmosphere.

As the lead Canadian researcher for the Canadian Space Agency's contribution to the Herschel project – an international project involving eight nations -- Naylor has played a key role in the big science of space imagery by designing a device that has to function at a chilly -270C, collects infrared data from the far end of the light spectrum, and turns it into valuable information about the creation of stars and galaxies.
Naylor's instrument, called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver ("SPIRE"), is one of three devices attached to the Herschel telescope system. SPIRE picks up heat signals that are not visible by optical telescopes, and will help to answer the age-old question astronomers have been asking for centuries: "What's out there?"

However, even with all his curiosity about what, in fact, might be 'out there,' it's hard to believe that Naylor can maintain that level of excitement for a project that that has faced financial and administrative hurdles, taken more than 15 years, many long days, about 100 students (in Lethbridge/Canada) and other researchers across the world to help develop.

And then there's the cost: approximately $100M to fit all that research into a box about as big as a toaster oven.

He's excited because it works. Finally.

"The mission control operators started the telescope up in stages," Naylor said. "Our instrument was the first brought on-line for performance verification. That means more than 250 tests to put it through its paces. And it is working flawlessly. The last time we had our hands on it was more than two years ago when SPIRE was sent from the UK for final testing and installation at ESA, so that was good news. To process the data to make it operate there are almost 2 billion lines of code involved, so to see a successful operation from this first test was a huge relief."

The next step, which also passed without a hitch, was to pop open the hatch -- officially called a 'cryocover', or the equivalent of a camera lens cap -- and reveal the giant 3.5m telescope mirror to the outer reaches of space.

But does Herschel do what it is supposed to do? The answer, of course, is yes – and much quicker and with more accuracy than any telescope launched to date. "Initial images reveal a level of detail never before seen from the ground or from space through the Hubble telescope, which sits only 400km from Earth," Naylor said.

"This isn't even the telescope operating at full capacity. These are initial 'test' images – like driving a racecar very slowly around the track… you know it works and is quite impressive, but wait until the driver opens the throttle!

"I am particularly proud of the first image that was released by the European Space Agency of a galaxy called the Whirlpool Galaxy. Prof. Christine Wilson, a research colleague from McMaster ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, is leading this study of nearby galaxies. Wilson is one of five scientists who have access to the guaranteed observing time awarded to Canada in recognition of its contributions to the mission, contributions that are led from the U of L."

On July 10, the European Space Agency released even more images which clearly show the additional clarity the Observatory brings to knowledge about galaxies and star formations (See the "First Light" images, at this website: http://www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=13&s=12367)

Also, gratifying -- and possibly a bit overwhelming -- are the unique research collaborations that Naylor sees happening in the future, as data from the Herschel mission starts to flow.

"Approximately one-third of the time available to researchers is guaranteed to those involved in key projects, and our time is included in that. We see the data here in Lethbridge before anyone else does," Naylor said.

"This means we will be in the best position to extract the most information from the astronomical data. Scientists will be seeking our help in analyzing their data and the U of L group will be an important Canadian and international resource."

With an estimated output of up to 7,000 hours per year of data, there should be enough information to keep researchers collaborating on current – and future -- projects busy for years.

To that end, Naylor is involved in several projects with physics and astronomy researchers across the country with diverse organizations such as the Canadian Space Agency, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies and a host of partner universities.

Worldwide, his research partners include Rutherford Appleton Labs in Oxford (UK) and other research institutions in Europe.

In Alberta, a recent and significant collaboration has been launched with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, where the U of L and the U of C have formed the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS) to work together on projects that take space research further than Herschel technology, whether on the ground or in the atmosphere.

As well, Blue Sky Spectroscopy, a local high tech spin off company founded by Naylor in 2003, and now privately owned and operated, is rapidly developing a name for itself.

Its highly qualified staff, all with postgraduate degrees, specialize in custom hardware and software spectroscopic solutions. Customers include NASA, ESA, and CSA, and many leading research institutes such as Harvard, Berkeley, Chicago, Max Planck and Cardiff to name a few.

Moreover, Blue Sky is one of the three international Data Processing and Science Analysis Software centres for the SPIRE instrument. Data are downloaded daily from the spacecraft and stored on the Blue Sky's servers. While their research might be "blue sky," down to Earth the company has an active astronomy education and outreach program within the local community.

What's next?

According to Naylor, more research that refines his current SPIRE device to make it suitable for yet another space mission which is currently under review by the Japanese,European and Canadian Space Agencies.

"Because the SPIRE device is so versatile – and is now proven to work – we expect it will be in demand for future space astronomy missions such as SPICA – the SPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics."

Put on the coffee; it seems that more sleepless nights in the lab are on the horizon.

UNews - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

U of L researchers see Herschel mission shut down

Related Topics

Herschel Mission Operating Phase Wrapping Up

Related Topics

High school iGEM group

Related Topics

High school iGEM group to be recognized

Related Topics

NASA hosts fire victim fundraiser

Related Topics

Significant And Mentionable

Related Topics

U of L gets chance to CREATE

Related Topics

Campus ready to celebrate Native Awareness Week

Related Topics

Sighting schedule for space shuttle

Related Topics

Herschel Space Observatory research to keep Naylor busy for years

Related Topics