UNews - Canadian Wildlife Federation

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recognizes faculty excellence

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:21:16 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge honoured faculty and postdoctoral fellows across campus who received academic research awards of distinction, secured research funding or published their research findings in the last year at Thursday's Celebrating Research Reception in Markin Hall.

The U of L also recognized those who had books published within the last calendar year.

Below is a list of the awards presented.

Research Awards: External

Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Foundation (ASTech) Award: Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness
Kristy Burke | Conference & Event Services

American Oil Chemists' Society Timothy L. Mounts Award
Roman Przybylski | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Campus Alberta Innovates Program (CAIP) Chairs
Chris Hopkinson | Geography, Terrestrial Ecosystems Remote Sensing
Greg Pyle | Biological Sciences, Aquatic Health

Canada Research Chairs
Louise Barrett | Psychology, Cognition, Evolution and Behaviour, Tier 1
Stacey Wetmore | Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computational Chemistry, Tier 2

Canadian Insolvency Foundation Lloyd Houlden Research Fellowship
Gordon Hunter | Management

Confederation of Alberta Faculty Association (CAFA) Distinguished Academic Award
Trudy Govier | Philosophy

Pat Clifford Award for Early Career Research in Education
Michelle Hogue | First Nations' Transition Program

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal
Reginald Bibby | Sociology
Peter McCormick | Political Science
Richard Mrazek | Education

World Council for Curriculum & Instruction Distinguished Leadership Award
Peter Heffernan | Education

Research Awards: Internal

Ingrid Speaker Medal for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Performance
Joseph Rasmussen | Biological Sciences

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair

Igor Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy
Sergio Pellis | Neuroscience

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Scholars
Janice Rahn | Education
Peter Visentin | Music
Judith Whitehead | Anthropology

Research Grants: External

Alberta Advisory Committee for Educational Studies Grant
Noella Piquette | Education
Jennifer Thannhauser | Education

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Wei Xu | Geography

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research Grant
(2) Claudia Malacrida | Sociology

Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Mary Kavanagh | Art
Taras Polataiko | Art
Janice Rahn/Michael Campbell | Education/Art Co-Principal Investigators

Alberta Gaming Research Institute Grant
Yale Belanger | Native American Studies
Cheryl Currie | Public Health
Gabriela Novotna | Addictions Counselling
Claudia Steinke | Nursing

Alberta Inflammatory Bowel Disease Grant
Sameer Despande | Management

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Grant
Gerlinde Metz | Neuroscience, Co-Director

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Sustainability Funds
Roy Golsteyn | Biological Sciences
Aaron Gruber | Neuroscience
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy
Paul Vasey | Psychology
Ute Wieden-Kothe | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) Grant
Shawn Bubel | Geography
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies
Jon Doan | Kinesiology & Physical Education
Leanne Elias | New Media
Carmen Mombourquette | Education
Monique Sedgwick | Nursing
David Slomp | Education
(2) Carol Williams | Women & Gender Studies

Alzheimer Society of Canada Grant
Shannon Spenceley | Nursing

American Cancer Society Grant
Raphael Lencucha | Public Health

ATB Financial
Gordon Hunter/Dan Kazakoff | Management

Canada Council for the Arts Grant
Mary Kavanagh | Art
Maria Ng | English

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Grant
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences, Co-applicant

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Nadia Rochdi/Karl Staenz | Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre/Geography

Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund Grant
Aaron Gruber | Neuroscience
Paul Hazendonk | Chemistry & Biochemistry
Andrew Iwaniuk | Neuroscience
Hans-Joachim Wieden | Chemistry & Biochemistry

CIHR Emerging Team Grant
Gabriela Novotna | Health Sciences

CIHR Café Scientifique Grant
Penny D'Agnone | Office of Research & Innovation Services

CIHR Operating Grant
Sameer Deshpande | Management, Co-applicant
Judith Kulig | Nursing

CIHR Research Planning Grant
Sameer Desphande | Management, Co-applicant

Canadian Space Agency Contract
Karl Staenz | Geography
(2) David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy

Canadian Wildlife Federation
Richard Mrazek | Education

Department of Defense Contract
Albert Cross | Neuroscience

European Union FP7 Grant
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy, Co-applicant

Grand Challenges in Global Health Grant
Gerlinde Metz | Neuroscience, Co-applicant

Health Canada Grant
Judith Kulig | Health Sciences, Co-applicant

Heritage Canada Grant for Aid to Scholarly Publication
Peter Heffernan | Education

Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Grant
Judith Kulig | Health Sciences

Max Bell Foundation Award
Noella Piquette | Education, Co-applicant

Monieson Centre, Queen's Business School
Gordon Hunter | Management

National Science Foundation
Jennifer Mather | Psychology, Collaborating Consultant

NSERC Collaborative Research & Training Experience (CREATE) Grant
Robert Sutherland | Neuroscience

NSERC Discovery Grant
Louise Barrett | Psychology
Sarah Boon | Geography
Howard Cheng | Mathematics & Computer Science
Saurya Das | Physics & Astronomy
Jon Doan | Kinesiology & Physical Education
Cam Goater | Biological Sciences
Bruce McNaughton | Neuroscience
Jackie Rice | Mathematics & Computer Science
Elizabeth Schultz | Biological Sciences
Robert Sutherland | Neuroscience
Soroosh Yazdani | Mathematics & Computer Science

NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grant
Amir Akbary | Mathematics & Computer Science
Paul Hazendonk | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
Shahadat Hossain | Mathematics & Computer Science

SSHRC Aid to Scholarly Journals Grant
Peter Heffernan | Education
Edward Jurkowski | Music

SSHRC Insight Development Grant
Abdie Kazemipur | Sociology, Co-applicant

SSHRC Insight Grant
Harold Jansen | Political Science
Heidi MacDonald | History
Noella Piquette | Education, Co-applicant
Paul Vasey | Psychology

SSHRC Partnership Grant
Yale Belanger | Native American Studies, Co-applicant
Henning Bjornlund | Economics, Co-applicant
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies, Co-applicant
Abdie Kazemipur | Sociology, Co-applicant
Richard Mueller | Economics, Co-applicant
Ivan Townshend | Geography, Co-applicant
Wei Xu | Geography, Co-applicant

SSHRC Public Outreach Grant
Debra Basil | Management

TECTERRA
Wei Xu/Karl Staenz | Geography

Research Grants: Internal

Emmy Droog Research Awards in Health Sciences Grant
Cheryl Currie | Public Health
Ruth Grant Kalischuk | Nursing

Interdisciplinary Research Development Fund Grant
Leanne Elias | New Media
Team: John Usher (Management), Janice Rahn (Education), Michael Campbell (Art) and Cheryl Meheden (Management)
Roy Golsteyn | Biological Sciences
Team: Olga Kovalchuk (Biological Sciences) and David Naylor (Physics & Astronomy)
Josephine Mills | Art
Team: Louise Barrett (Psychology), Lisa Doolittle (Theatre & Drama), Emily Luce (New Media), Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education Program) and Tiffany Muller Myrdahl (Women & Gender Studies)
Nicole Rosen | Modern Languages
Team: Inge Genee (Modern Languages), Robbin Gibb (Neuroscience), Claudia Gonzalez (Kinesiology & Physical Education), Fangfang Li (Psychology) and Noella Piquette (Education)
Carol Williams | Women & Gender Studies
Team: Glenda Bonifacio (Women & Gender Studies), Bonnie Lee (Health Sciences), Linda ManyGuns (Native American Studies) and Patrick Wilson (Anthropology)

Parkland Institute Faculty Research Grant
Claudia Malacrida | Sociology

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community of Research Excellence Development Opportunities (CREDO) Grant
Jerimy Cunningham | Anthropology
Claudia Malacrida | Sociology
Janay Nugent | History
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Internal
Artistic/Creative Grant
Michael Campbell | Art
Dagmar Dahl | Art
Mary Kavanagh | Art

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Internal SSHRC Grant
Michelle Hogue | First Nations' Transition Program
Janay Nugent | History
Kent Peacock | Philosophy
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Dissemination Grant
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies
Inge Genee | Modern Languages
Catherine Kingfisher | Anthropology
Janice Newberry | Anthropology
Hillary Rodrigues/John Harding | Religious Studies
Arlan Schultz | Music
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Fund Grant
Vishaal Baulkaran/Ebenezer Asem | Finance
Sarah Boon | Geography
Shawn Bubel | Geography
Michael Campbell | Art
Arundhati Dasgupta | Physics & Astronomy
Larry Flanagan | Biological Sciences
Claudia Gonzales/Fangfang Li | Kinesiology & Physical Education/Psychology
Ute Wieden-Kothe | Chemistry & Biochemistry
Jason Laurendeau | Sociology
Raphael Lencucha | Public Health
Hua Li | Mathematics & Computer Science
Heidi MacDonald | History
Kimberly Mair | Sociology
Steve Patitsas/Saurya Das | Physics & Astronomy
Adriana Predoi-Cross | Physics & Astronomy
Drew Rendall | Psychology
Shelley Scott | Theatre & Drama
David Siminovitch/Tony Montina | Physics & Astronomy
D. Andrew Stewart | Music
Mark Walton | Physics & Astronomy
John Zhang | Mathematics & Computer Science

Post-Doctoral Fellow Awards Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Postgraduate Fellowship
Ben Clark | Neuroscience
Corinne Montes-Rodriquez | Neuroscience
Jake Ormond | Neuroscience
Ivan Skelin | Neuroscience
Aaron Wilber | Neuroscience

Canadian Space Agency Space Science Enhancement Award Postdoctoral Fellowship
Matthijs Van Der Wiel | Physics & Astronomy

CIHR Fellowship
Hendrik Steenland | Neuroscience

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers
Noelle Gunst | Psychology

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Research Support Allowance (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers
Noelle Gunst | Psychology

Book Awards 2013 recipients

M. Gordon Hunter & Dan Kazakoff (authors): Small Business: Journey to Success

Shawn Bubel, James McMurchy & Duncan Lloyd (authors): Record In Stone: Familiar Projectile Points From Alberta

Jean-Baptiste Leca, Michael A. Huffman & Paul Vasey (editors): The Monkeys of Smokey Mountain

Sarah Glassford & Amy Shaw (editors): A Sisterhood of Suffering and Service: Women and Girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War

Geoffrey Hale (author): So Near Yet So Far: The Public and Hidden Worlds of Canada-U.S. Relations

Aaron Taylor (editor): Theorizing Film Acting

Marc R. Roussel (author): A Life Scientist's Guide to Physical Chemistry

Glena Tibe Bonifacio (editor): Feminism and Migration: Cross-cultural Engagements

Robert J. Williams, Robert T. Wood & Jonathan Parke (editors): The Routledge International Handbook of Internet Gambling

Arundhati Dasgupta (editor): Recent Research in Quantum Gravity

John S. Harding (editor): Studying Buddhism in Practice

Yale D. Belanger (editor): First Nations Gaming in Canada

Yongjian Bao & Wenlong Yuan (authors): The Contrarian Way of Crisis Management

Keith Roscoe & Rick Mrazek (authors): Developing Scientific Literacy: Ideas and Strategies for Planning, Assessment, and Instruction

Blythe Shepard & Lorna Martin (authors): Supervision of Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Handbook for Canadian Certified Supervisors and Applicants

Margaret A. Winzer & Kas Mazurek (editors): International Practices in Special Education: Debates and Challenges

Judith C. Kulig & Allison M. Williams (editors): Health in Rural Canada

Olga Kovalchuk & Igor Kovalchuk (authors) Epigenetics in Health and Disease

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Mrazek

trevor.kenney — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:19:08 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community wishes to express its most sincere condolences to the family, many friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Richard (Rick) Mrazek, our associate dean, Faculty of Education and a veteran educator, who passed away on Sunday, Mar. 17.

He is survived by his mother, Mary-Rose, and daughter, Kristen. Rick had a personalized license plate on his car that read DAD1DR2, so it was quite evident where his priorities were.

His boundless energy and enthusiasm for life, his family and education will be sorely missed on campus and among the many groups Rick touched.

"Rick was a wonderful man, an accomplished scholar, and a strong promoter and defender of this faculty, this institution and its programs," says Dr. Craig Loewen, the dean of the Faculty of Education.

"More importantly, he was a devoted son and father, and a dear faithful friend. He will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his family at this very difficult time."

A natural teacher, Mrazek's influences in the education community extended from the grade three classes he once taught in Coaldale to being internationally recognized as a leading science, technology and environmental educator.

Mrazek's contributions over the past 30 years helped establish sustainable environmental and conservation education programs in the K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, parks, and communities throughout Alberta and Canada.

Most recently, Mrazek was an enthusiastic champion of a cross-Atlantic Ocean trip organized by Olympian Adam Kreek who, with three colleagues, is presently rowing across the Atlantic and scheduled to arrive in Florida in late March/early April.

His work with the Canadian Wildlife Federation on the curriculum and educational components of this project were particularly meaningful to him, partly because of his love of water, but also because of the enthusiasm with which young students embraced the educational concepts he was talking about and, in turn, became excited about learning.

Mrazek was a proud U of L graduate (BASc/BEd '78), member of the U of L Alumni Honour Society and Alumnus of the Year (1993) who obtained his MEd and PhD from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. He began his academic career at he U of L in 1986 as an assistant professor.

A memorial service is not confirmed at this time. More details will be released when that information is available.

Mrazek kept an online CV which is quite extensive and can be viewed at this website: http://richardmrazek.com/

Additional obituary information will be added as it becomes available.

Condolences may be sent to the family in care of the Faculty of Education.

Please e-mail darcy.mckenna@uleth.ca

Rowing for research

trevor.kenney — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:11:50 +0000

They're rowing across the Atlantic Ocean? Are they out of their minds?

Actually, no – but Adam Kreek and his teammates are mindful of the stresses, both physical and mental, that taking on a more than 3,700 nautical mile (6,700 km) trip entails. The group will set off from Dakar, Senegal, in mid January, rowing a sophisticated, open 29-foot rowboat, the James Robert Hanssen, on a world-record-attempting journey that will take them to Miami, Florida.

The late Dr. Rick Mrazek, centre, with Adam Kreek, far left, and members of his crew.

Along the way, researchers from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will be tracking their every movement and collecting valuable data for use in a number of studies.

The mission is expected to take 60 to 100 days to complete. Their original target date of arrival in Miami was Mar. 22 (World Water Day), but had to be pushed back by shipping delays caused by Hurricane Sandy.

When Kreek, an Olympic gold medal winning rower, visited the U of L this past fall, he turned his passion for water and adventure loose on land-locked faculty, students and community members in a way that got them thinking in innovative ways about water – a subject Kreek knows well.

"Let's face it: Lethbridge isn't surrounded by a lot of water," says Dr. Rick Mrazek, Faculty of Education Associate Dean and science educator. "The Oldman River, while picturesque, isn't massive, there are no great lakes nearby, and what water we do have in this area is highly managed to make sure it supports our regional water needs, agri-business and the farming economy. Working with the Canadian Wildlife Federation to support Adam's trip and the opportunities we have to be involved as interactive observers on this adventure is extremely exciting."

Mrazek says it's one thing to teach students about the Atlantic Ocean, but it's quite another to follow someone, in real time, who is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. "Through our relationship with Adam and his team, our education students, teachers in the area and our researchers can take advantage of his trip to bring students authentic data and information about ocean and weather dynamics, marine life, the biomechanics of rowing and movement, and other real-life research opportunities."

Mrazek says the rowers will be collecting data which could be available to researchers and students here at the U of L. Students in community classrooms will also be following the trip online, and Kreek and his team will be checking in regularly.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation, OAR Northwest and a host of sponsors who have provided everything from satellite phones to the massive amounts of high calorie food the team members will require for their journey, are supporting the trip.

GET THE FACTS

· Kreek will be joined by teammates Markus Pukonen, Pat Fleming and Jordan Hanssen for their journey

· Mrazek is a bold proponent of environmental sustainability and the latest application of his research can be found at the Water in a World of 7 Billion legacy website (www.ww7b.org)

· Kreek's team will gather data from the ocean environment, marine life and themselves (relating responses in human physiology under stress) throughout the trip

· The team will row 24 hours per day and in two-hour shifts, allowing for sleep and rest

· Kreek competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, winning gold with the Canadian men's eights team at Beijing in 2008

This story first appeared in the January 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Experts gather for water conference

trevor.kenney — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:07:12 +0000

Decisions made about water are fundamental to society's long-term social, environmental and economic prosperity.

In the face of compelling regional, national and global water challenges, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, with local, regional, national and international partners, is hosting Water in a World of Seven Billion, an innovative conference taking place in Calgary, May 8-12, bringing together leading experts in water conservation, usage and policy development.

Leading sponsors of the conference include the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Alberta Innovates: Energy & Environment Solutions and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. More than 30 speakers are on the agenda.

Dr. Rick Mrazek is a driving force behind the U of L's water research.

Conference organizers say this is a unique opportunity to learn from water scholars, decision-makers, managers and educators, who will focus on identifying and articulating the science, knowledge and activities that lead to game-changing improvements that support sustainable water management outcomes.

"A primary focus of this event is to enable the direct engagement of students and education professionals with the participants and experts attending the conference," says Dr. Rick Mrazek, one of the conference organizers and a faculty member in the Faculty of Education.

"To create an enduring product and ongoing dialogue, the sessions will be video-taped and in some cases live-streamed via the event website. Presenters and participants will be able to provide their reaction to the events and discussions through various social media channels and there will be an opportunity for students in remote locations to directly participate in some sessions."

Mrazek says the final day of the conference is organized as an education forum.

"Throughout the event, a number of students, educators and education organizations will attend to gain important background knowledge on the range of issues that can be addressed through improved education activities and resources.These educators and students, along with other education professionals, will spend the Saturday exploring opportunities to bring new science into the classroom as part of curriculum, to explore activities and opportunities to put that knowledge to work, and to explore new tools, mechanisms and opportunities to improve learning."

The complete conference schedule, speaker list and registration information are all available at www.ww7b.org/site

This story first appeared in the May issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Focused on water

trevor.kenney — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:39:13 +0000

Teaching upcoming generations about the environment is critical to ensuring a healthy future for all of us, says long-time educator Dr. Rick Mrazek.

"The bottom line is, you can't have healthy human beings in an unhealthy environment. We have to understand that relationship," he explains.

Mrazek, a veteran professor in the Faculty of Education and Board of Governors Teaching Chair, has been internationally recognized as a leading science, technology and environmental educator and researcher. For decades, he's dedicated his research to helping upcoming generations understand the world around them.

But he says traditional methods are proving to be less effective. His research now explores how to integrate new technologies into classroom learning.

"We know that this generation now thinks differently and uses information differently," he explains.

Mrazek isn't just researching the use of technology in education – he's creating digital resources too. With U of L geography professor Dr. Jim Byrne and George Gallant of Gallant Productions, he helped create the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Water Under Fire website from the Water Under Fire documentary series, which draws upon the knowledge of water scientists from coast-to-coast to create concise public service announcements and webisodes about our water systems and conservation topics.

The short videos provide key information about surface water, ground water, wastewater, and how to use water in a more sustainable way.

Water Under Fire public service announcements run on television networks across Canada to the general public, but the series is meant to also function as a teaching tool for educators, says Mrazek.

"It provides authentic information 'on demand' anywhere, anytime – which is what today's youth prefer," he says.

Mrazek is presently taking part in a national study, funded by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, which is examining levels of adoption of emerging technologies – particularly web applications like YouTube and TeacherTube – by teachers of conservation and environmental education.

"We know that a lot of people are being exposed to (online) information, but now we're trying to figure out how this is being used in classes."

The Water Under Fire webisodes and public service announcements are available online at www.waterunderfire.ca and cwf-fcf.org.

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