UNews - Discovery Day

Looking back at an amazing year at the U of L

trevor.kenney — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 17:16:55 +0000

It has been an incredibly busy year for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on a number of fronts. From groundbreaking research activities to hosting national events to serving as a shelter for the province’s greatest storm, the U of L has been front and centre.

As we wrap up 2013, we’ve compiled a sampling of some of the major activities that took place in and around the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ this past calendar year. This is by no means a comprehensive list, nor is it a ranking, rather it is simply a snapshot of the many ways in which the U of L impacts the world we know.

The Destination Project promises to shape the future of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for the next 50 years.

Government of Alberta dedicates $200 million to the Destination Project

In December, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ announced a $200-million investment from the Government of Alberta to the Destination Project. What promises to be a transformative project that will shape the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s future for the next 50 years, it will involve the construction of new science facilities, a new energy plant and the revitalization of the original ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall.

“I cannot overstate how momentous this day is to the future of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and southern Alberta as a whole,” said ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon. “This is the most significant development of our Lethbridge campus since ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall was completed in 1972.

“The Destination Project will contribute to Alberta’s ability to recruit the best and brightest scientific talent to our province, but it is more than a teaching and research space. Rather, it is a place for community engagement and outreach; a research incubator; a place where undergraduate and graduate research opportunities develop; where knowledge transfer and commercialization happen; a place where the next generation of researchers, scientists and scholars credit for the start of their science careers.”

Rowing for research

In January, a seemingly impossible journey began off the coast of Dakar, Senegal and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was well represented.

Adam Kreek, a Canadian Olympic rower, set off on a trek with three other distance rowers, Markus Pukonen, Pat Fleming and Jordan Hanssen, as they attempted to row unassisted for more than 3,700 nautical miles to Miami, Florida.

Along the way, researchers from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, led by the late Dr. Rick Mrazek of the Faculty of Education, tracked their progress and collected data for a number of studies.

Followed by students in community classrooms, the trek received a massive amount of media interest. Unfortunately, the mission came to a dramatic conclusion in early April when the crew’s 29-foot boat was capsized by a massive wave off the coast of Puerto Rico. The crew members all survived the ordeal and the boat was eventually recovered.

We love our Canadian football

Dr. Reg Bibby (sociology) has always had an interest in Canadiana, and much of his research work involves tracking trends related to Canadian popular culture.

In advance of the November Grey Cup game, Bibby worked with Angus Reid Global to test Canadians on their sporting tastes. His findings, particularly in relation to the growth of football popularity, were featured in media across the nation.

Bibby specifically looked at not only whether Canadians loved football, but also drew a picture of our taste for both Canadian and American football and whether the National Football League could ever be welcomed in Canada. His conclusion was that the NFL could make a go, but only if the Canadian Football League would also remain strong, was a topic of interest throughout the country.

Herschel goes silent

Dr. David Naylor is at the forefront of the science of space imaging.

A pioneering space imaging mission that sent a scientific instrument co-developed by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher Dr. David Naylor on a 1.5 million kilometer trip to deep space came to its conclusion in March when the Herschel Space Observatory finally went dark.

Naylor and his team of researchers led Canada’s contribution to the Herschel project on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency. Their instrument, called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE), was one of three devices attached to Herschel. It was designed to pick up heat and chemical signals not visible by optical telescopes, and turn the data collected into amazing images and information used to learn more about the life and death of stars and galaxies.

Naylor and his cohorts are now busy in the five-year post operation phase of the project, where the data obtained is used to develop improved calibration algorithms to allow the most information to be extracted from the images.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ welcomes High River evacuees

When floodwaters began to rise in Central and southern Alberta in late June, nobody could have predicted the devastation that would eventually occur.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, although a long way from the flood zone, became a very important location to a number of flood victims as the summer wore on. With much of their town under water, High River residents were forced into a number of makeshift shelters as they waited for the floodwaters to subside. The U of L stepped up and made available its residence buildings throughout the month of July. Over the course of the month, anywhere from 200 to 400 evacuees called the U of L their temporary home, many of which were families with small children.

While at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, evacuees had access to all the U of L amenities, including the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre, the fitness centre, cafeteria and so on. Many children took part in summer camps and for a brief window of time, some normalcy and routine was returned to their lives.

Survival of the fabulous: Vasey research on the Nature of Things

Dr. Paul Vasey's research has been featured by a number of media sources.

Psychology professor Dr. Paul Vasey was all over the newswire in November when his research on the Samoan fa’afafine went mainstream with a spot on David Suzuki’s The Nature of Things.

Vasey’s research into the ‘third gender’ biological males who live as women, was a key ingredient of the program and brought to light the evolutionary debate about why homosexuality survives despite it being a trait that seems to prevent reproduction.

Alumnus takes a stand against bullying

Manwar Khan, a 37-year-old IT professional, saw his life change in an instant when he witnessed a brutal beating on an Edmonton LRT train. Powerless to stop the attack, he struggled coming to terms with the victim’s eventual death and decided to take action.

In April, Khan staged the first of three anti-bullying rallies he would hold across the province. His first, in Edmonton, attracted city officials, concerned citizens and multiple media outlets.

“I want to encourage people to stand up against bullying, not just stand by,” said Khan.

With support from the U of L, the proud alumnus would go on to host rallies in both Calgary and Lethbridge, furthering the community-minded attributes he acquired during his time as a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student.

Protocol handbook a guide for FNMI inclusion

What began as an exercise in process turned into a major leap forward for the First Nations, Métis and Inuit community at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The creation of the FNMI Protocol Handbook has initiated a unique way of sharing knowledge between the FNMI community and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and ensured that the significance of FNMI traditional activities will endure at the U of L.

The subject of a CBC television and radio feature story, the handbook received a great deal of media attention when it was released.

Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04), professor of Native American Studies and the FNMI Advisor to the President, says the handbook is more than a simple document, rather it is a living text that will continue to evolve as does the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and its relationship with the FNMI community.

“I was recently telling my class that one of the most profound ways that humans learn is through exchange with other humans and exchanges of ideas and experiences,” says Little Bear. “Not much learning occurs in a vacuum. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has developed and continues to foster these relationships, and I am very pleased to have had a role in developing this resource, which provides a foundation for ongoing exchange that we hope enriches the educational experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

Nurturing the next generation of scientists

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ hosted one of the largest events it has ever staged in May when it opened its doors to more than 1,100 students, chaperones, judges and sponsors at the 2013 Canada-Wide Science Fair.

The venue was perfect for the fledgling scientists as they had the opportunity to take part in Discovery Day, a chance to learn about the exciting multidisciplinary research activities that take place on a daily basis at the u of L.

The amazing event went off without a hitch and close to $1 million in cash, prizes and scholarships were handed out to the best student presentations.

All the while, the southern Alberta community was treated to some incredible science from the next generation of researchers.

Rankings tell us what we already know

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has never been about defining itself through external ranking devices but when the rankings consistently show the institution as one of the country’s best, it’s hard not to take it as a feather in the cap.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ continues to pride itself in providing the best educational atmosphere for its students.

This past year, the U of L maintained top-three national rankings in both Maclean’s and Research Infosource. But rather than the ranking, it was the way in which the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ achieved its lofty status that pleased President Mike Mahon.

“We’re very pleased that the ranking indicators reflect many of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s fundamental priorities, notably our philosophy of creating a supportive atmosphere for our students in a setting that fosters academic excellence and engaging research opportunities,” said Mahon. “All of this would not be possible without the contributions of our faculty and staff who have embraced the U of L’s vision and made the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ a destination of choice for our students.”

At the end of the day, it is all about creating opportunities for success for our students and the U of L will continue with that as its guiding principle for years to come.

Discovery Day for CWSF participants

trevor.kenney — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:33:55 +0000

Canada-Wide Science Fair participants will not just be sitting by their projects this week.

In addition to a host of local and regional tours and activities, faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students and staff from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College have developed a large number of hands-on activities for the students to participate in, and which showcase the diversity of research and creative activities taking place on both campuses.

All events run from 1:30 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m., on Monday, May 13. Events are hands-on, and media friendly.

CWSF participants were able to choose two activities from a total of 25 from departments/faculties including physics, chemistry and biochemistry, biology, geography, Math and Computer Science, New Media, Fine Arts, Kinesiology, Management, Nursing, Modern Languages and Neuroscience.

Lethbridge College's Wind Energy program is featured, alongside their engineering technology programs.

A short list is below, and a complete list can be found here.

Discovery Day activities for participants in grades Seven to 9

Francophone Science Sampler – This session will be exclusively in French and include a variety of science activities and tours of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Students will have the opportunity to learn about multiple science disciplines through demonstrations and hands on lessons.

"Performing" Science – Bringing Science to Life: Students will take to the stage to apply their creativity by composing a theatrical version of the various processes and reactions that you would normally see in laboratory.

U of L Art Gallery Science Challenge! – Discover just how much math and science is needed to work in the art field - both as an artist and as someone who works at a gallery.

International Wind Energy Academy, Lethbridge College – KidWind Challenge: How does a wind turbine work?

The Science of Stop Motion Technology – Students in this session will explore motion capture technology and learn why it is used in the entertainment industry as well as scientific research.

Fine Arts Maker Fair - Soldering and Circuit Boards

Water Watch – Monitoring Pollution in Our Water (Bilingual)

Computer Science – Lego Robotics Challenge

Kinesiology and the Human Body

Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building Interactive Tour

Logic and Puzzles

Discovery Day activities for participants in grades 10 – 12

The Science Behind Nursing – Students make Life and Death Decisions in the SimLab

I made millions! I crashed the stock market! – Students will use the U of L's Faculty of Management's Financial Trading Room to learn about Finance and the basics of trading. They will simulate multi-million dollar trades and compete (for prizes!) to see who can make the best trade

Digital Musical Instruments – Design and Performance

Digital Audio Arts – Listening and Mixing in the U of L's $1million sound studio

The Physics of Music – This session will give students a chance to create sound waves, observe resonance and to learn about harmonics and overtones using computer software. Students will also explore electronics and futuristic physics designs.

GIS Mapping Lab

All About ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Synthetic Biology Overview – Hosted by the award-winning ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge international Genetically
Engineered Machine competition (iGEM) team

3 Dimensional Scanning and GIS Network Analysis – Lethbridge College Engineering program will show students how traditional surveying methods are now being replaced by methods such as 3 Dimensional scanning.

Moving Past the Two Dimensional – Using the computer program Autodesk Inventor students will transform 2D sketches into 3D components that they will ultimately bring together to build a 3D assembled model.

Organic Chemistry and the Chemistry of Carbon Compounds (Bilingual)

The Brilliant World of Fluorescent Proteins (Bilingual)

Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience Interactive Tours

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ welcomes Canada-Wide Science Fair participants, organizers

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:06:56 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to welcome the country's top young scientists to campus, May 11 to May 18, as the 52nd annual Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) 2013 comes to Lethbridge.

Approximately 1,100 students, chaperones, judges, sponsors and dignitaries are expected to attend CWSF 2013, an event that will award close to $1 million in cash, prizes and scholarships to the best students.

There are public viewing days scheduled, along with school visits, and many innovative, hands-on activities designed for the science fair participants that have been created and organised by undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members at the U of L, Lethbridge College, and other partner groups throughout the city and region.

Featuring the top 400 science projects by students from Grades 7 to 12 in the country, CWSF 2013 is a showcase of Canada's top young scientific minds.

"As Canada's Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Year 2012 (undergraduate category), we are uniquely suited to host this event and could not be more excited to open our doors to these bright young scientists," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President, Dr. Mike Mahon.

As the host venue, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's faculty, staff and students will play a major role in the success of CWSF 2013.

A total of 78 of the Fair's 300-plus judges are U of L faculty and staff members, while more than 150 people from throughout the community are acting as volunteers in helping to create a lifelong memorable experience for the participants and their families.

In addition to the display and judging of projects, CWSF 2013 offers participants exciting opportunities to experience all that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and southern Alberta has to offer.

As well, the fair provides local area school children the chance to view and interact with the projects on display as over 2,700 children will visit the U of L through school tours.

Discovery Day, Monday, May 13, is an opportunity for the finalists and delegates attending the CWSF to learn about the exciting multidisciplinary research activities at the U of L.

From 1:30 to 5 p.m., participants will be able to choose two activities from a total of 25 being offered that showcase everything from physics, chemistry and biochemistry to new media, fine arts and neuroscience.

"We're pleased to be able to show off some of the research activities that are taking place here at the U of L every day and in a variety of disciplines," says Mahon. "We expect this will give our guests a real taste of the student experience here at the U of L and what makes this Alberta's Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Throughout the week, the general public is encouraged to view the projects on display in the 1st Choice Savings Centre Gymnasium. Public viewing times are available Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday and are listed below.

Public Viewing Times (1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness Gymnasium)
Free admission / Free Parking in Lot E

Sunday, May 12 -- 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 13 -- 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thursday, May 16 -- 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Friday, May 17 -- 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

UNews - Discovery Day

Looking back at an amazing year at the U of L

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