UNews - Reg Bibby

God is still doing reasonably well in the polls

caroline.zentner — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 23:53:58 +0000

A majority of Canadians continue to believe in God, according to the most recent national survey by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge sociologist Dr. Reginald Bibby.

Bibby has been charting the God numbers through national surveys from the mid-1970s to December of this year.

“God is not faring all that badly in the polls,” says Bibby. “Some 60 per cent of Canadians continue to believe in God and only 15 per cent say they definitely don’t. Those numbers represent a decline in clear-cut believers since the mid-1970s, but show that belief in God is still widespread in Canada.”

Over the years, the surveys have provided interesting insights about Canadians’ spiritual beliefs. His first Project Canada survey in 1975 found that only two per cent of Canadians said they didn’t believe in God. That figure has now increased to 16 per cent. In 1975, agnostics comprised six per cent of survey respondents; in 2020, agnostics comprise 13 per cent.

Bibby’s surveys have been able to track various age cohorts, including Baby Boomers. As Boomers have aged, they and their aging parents have been less inclined to express decisive belief in God. About one in 10 have opted for atheism.

Belief in God is slightly higher in Saskatchewan and the Atlantic regions, as it is among women and people born outside of Canada. Levels of belief are slightly lower among younger adults and university graduates.

As would be expected, belief in God is considerably higher among the 75 per cent of Canadians who identify with religious groups than it is among the 25 per cent who say they have no religion.

“The God findings provide a further reminder of the reality of the growing diverse responses to religion in Canada,” says Bibby. “This religious polarization includes individuals who can be described as pro-religious, low religious and no religious.”

Bibby’s latest survey finds that 25 per cent of Canadians are pro-religious, 45 per cent are low religious and about 30 per cent are no religious.

“During this time of year when faith has traditionally been on the minds of many, more Canadians than in the past have said goodbye to the gods. But large numbers — in fact the majority — have not,” says Bibby.

Bibby has been monitoring social trends in Canada for the past 45 years and making his findings publicly available. One of his most recent religion books is Resilient Gods: Being Pro-Religious, Low Religious, or No Religious in Canada. This latest survey was conducted in partnerships with Andrew Grenville and Maru/Blue Research using a representative online sample of 3,029 people.

Canada’s millennials are an upgrade to previous generations

caroline.zentner — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 22:32:36 +0000

Contrary to popular opinion that millennials are entitled and narcissistic, three Alberta sociologists have found that millennials are not only looking good, but may well be an upgrade on previous generations.

In their newly released book, The Millennial Mosaic (Toronto: Dundurn), Drs. Reginald Bibby, from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and Joel Thiessen and Monetta Bailey from Calgary’s Ambrose ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, team up to provide an up-to-date reading on millennials, who are Canada’s youngest adults born since the mid-1980s and now reaching their 30s.

Dr. Reg Bibby

They draw on thousands of national surveys, past and present, to examine young people today and compare them to older Canadians both today and yesterday. No surprise, their research found that millennials love the internet and their smartphones. That love of technology, combined with higher levels of education, means millennials can expect to be the most informed generation in Canadian history. The research also shows millennials embrace the idea of diversity and are more inclined than older generations to accept social, demographic and lifestyle variations.

“Pluralism is in their DNA,” says Bibby. “Beyond embracing the idea of diversity, millennials maintain the need for a just and fair society.”

Dr. Joel Thiessen

While the research shows millennials are more likely than older generations to indicate they are troubled by the future and lack of money and time, it also shows most millennials have high hopes and expectations when it comes to education, careers, income, relationships and family. When the researchers looked at the levels of concern reported by young people from 1984 through 2000 and to 2016, they found rising levels of concern.

“These data point to changes that are taking place in society and the culture rather than changes that reflect the life cycle as people move from youth to early and middle adulthood,” says Thiessen. “They also reflect an information society where more problems than ever before are being identified.”

Dr. Monetta Bailey

When the researchers looked at the levels of personal concerns of young people in the mid-1980s and compared them to the levels the same cohort reported some 30 years later, they found that concern levels had decreased. They attribute the decrease to basic positive realities that, with the help of family, friends, professionals and other resources, young people learn how to live life as they get older.

“Where young people are now is not where they will be years from now,” says Bailey. “While personal concerns among millennials are pervasive, many will be resolved with time, just as they have been in the past. Emerging millennials have many positive features, with the majority saying they are either pretty happy or very happy, much like Gen Xers and baby boomers.”

Trend-identifying sociologist Dr. Reg Bibby to receive honorary degree at Spring 2018 Convocation

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 May 2018 17:36:37 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to recognize Dr. Reginald Bibby with an honorary degree at the 2018 Spring Convocation ceremonies.

Bibby, a faculty member in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Department of Sociology for more than four decades, has made substantial contributions to social research and public debate in Canada, garnering a reputation as one of the country’s most influential voices on culture, religion and youth.

“Dr. Bibby has been a leader in his field and a leader on campus for more than 40 years and we are thrilled to award him with an honorary doctor of letters,” says U of L Chancellor Janice Varzari. “He has consistently been able to capture the thoughts of everyday Canadians and present them in a way where we all gain a better understanding of our country. He has been a huge asset to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and our country as a whole.”

The U of L will present Bibby with a doctor of letters, honoris causa, at the 2018 Spring Convocation Ceremony I at 9:30 a.m. on May 31, 2018 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

Dr. Reginald Bibby

As one of the country’s most productive and accessible ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Reginald Bibby has brought sociology into the living rooms of ordinary Canadians by asking the questions they want answered and delivering answers in a relevant and understandable manner.

A faculty member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Department of Sociology for more than four decades, Bibby has written 16 books documenting and analyzing social trends.

He received the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Ingrid Speaker Medal for Distinguished Research and Scholarship in 1998 and has held the Board of Governors Chair in Sociology since 2001. In 2006, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the nation, the Governor General appointed him an Office of the Order of Canada. He also received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Canadian Catholicism showing signs of resilience and growth

caroline.zentner — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:02:50 +0000

Over the past several decades, people have claimed that Catholicism is on the decline in Canada, along with religion more generally. But new research carried out by well-known sociologists and pollsters Dr. Reginald Bibby, who holds the Board of Governors Research Chair in the Department of Sociology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and Angus Reid refute such ideas.

Drawing on national and global data, they maintain that Catholicism in Canada is experiencing new growth and vitality, stimulated by people arriving from around the world in unprecedented numbers. Catholics now number 13 million and comprise some 40 per cent of all Canadians.

What’s more, for all the talk about secularization and the decline in the importance of faith, Catholics across the country – including Quebec – do not merely continue to see themselves as Catholic. Bibby and Reid have found that a large majority say their faith is important to them, embrace belief in God, guardian angels and life-after-death, and pray privately. They do not attend as often as their parents and grandparents but they are just as likely to proclaim that they are Catholic and they aren’t going anywhere.

Bibby and Reid remind readers that almost 500,000 Catholics arrived in Canada from other places in the first decade of the 21st century – numbers that will remain high as Catholicism experiences unprecedented global growth.

Some 80 per cent of Canadians raised in Catholic homes continue to say they are Catholic, with the figure reaching 90 per cent in Quebec. More than 80 per cent believe in God and pray privately, and some 70 per cent say they have been protected by a guardian angel. About one in four claim they experience God every week.

Some 40 per cent of Canada’s Catholics say they receive strength from their faith, with the figure rising to 80 per cent among active attendees. Catholic immigrants tend to be among the most highly committed, but also are among the most morally conservative.

Catholics are just as likely as other Canadians to value compassion and forgiveness, and try to balance the Ten Commandments and personal opinion – often to the chagrin of Church leaders.

“Catholics are highly divided in their views of sexual and family issues,” says Bibby. “Catholics in Quebec tend to be far more accepting of diverse behaviour and lifestyles than Catholics living in other parts of Canada.”

Bibby and Reid’s overall findings point to a bright future for Catholicism in Canada; there will be no lack of Catholics. The primary question is how the Church will respond to the opportunities and challenges it faces.

Bibby asks the questions that are on everyone's mind

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 16:02:01 +0000

Everybody has those “I wonder” moments but it’s safe to say that nobody has done more with them than Dr. Reginald Bibby.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair and professor in the Department of Sociology has made a name for himself by asking Canadians the questions everyone seems to have on their minds. It has made the Bibby name synonymous with popular culture and solidified him as one of the country’s most respected and accessible sociologists.

Reg Bibby's name is synonymous with popular culture and is one of the country’s most respected and accessible sociologists.

“In a nutshell, my career has come from having the luxury in sociology, and through surveys, to be able to take a lot of things I have been interested in all my life, whether it’s faith or sports, and explore it on company time,” says Bibby, only half-joking.

He presented to a packed Lethbridge City Hall on Thursday night as the latest PUBlic Professor Series speaker, discussing Beyond the Gods & Back: The Return of Religion in Canada. It’s a topic that is close to Bibby, having grown up in a household where faith was a staunch family value. It even led him down a path towards the Protestant ministry but after earning his BA from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, and a BD (Bachelor of Divinity) from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Bibby turned to academia.

“What happened along the way is pretty simple; the Baptists introduced me to higher education,” he says. “Particularly down in Louisville, a number of my friends were going on to grad school, which was something I’d never given a thought to previously. I was intimidated by the thought of university when I started, but it became a matter of using sociology to really provide a new way of looking at something that had been familiar to me my entire life. I valued faith and was interested in it but had no idea, until I was exposed to sociology, that there was another way of looking at it.”

He completed his master’s studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and followed with a doctorate at Washington State ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. All the while, he began to carve out a reputation as somewhat of a know-it-all, not necessarily because he was smarter than everybody else, but because he had the data.

“I came back to Canada and I was at York ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 1974 and nobody had really ever done a comprehensive national survey of religion in Canada,” he says. “Looking back it was a big long shot in terms of cost and everything else but I pulled it off.”

To make it happen, Bibby needed to find funding support from a variety of sources, so he expanded the scope of the survey. He asked about drug use, opinions on marijuana, capital punishment, interpersonal relationships, racial intermarriage and so on.

“I assumed it would be a one-shot deal and that would be it but then I got the idea five years later to repeat the survey? So we did it again in 1975 and 1980 and it just evolved into doing surveys every five years.”

The result has created a series of snapshots of the Canadian psyche over the last 40 years that are now being carried out in partnership with Angus Reid. It has spawned 14 books, numerous monographs and some 100 journal and magazine articles. More than 160,000 copies of his books have been sold. He’s also one of the most quoted sociologists in the country.

“From the time I found the research to be of interest and importance to people outside of the academic community, a major goal of mine has been to make it readily accessible,” says Bibby.

It also allows him to do what he calls, “the fun stuff”, which is to dabble academically in the world of sports.

A lifelong Canadian Football League fan (he grew up in Edmonton but somehow found himself supporting the underdog Saskatchewan Roughriders), Bibby regrets not pushing harder for sports content in the early iterations of his polls.

“In the early surveys we were really reluctant to get into some things, such as sports, in part because ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ would never have respected it,” he says, his latest polling showing that CFL interest in Canada is on the rise. “The consensus was you could ask about major social issues in Canada but if you asked people how closely they followed the CFL, it would be deemed as fluff. I finally got over that but really didn’t incorporate sports until about 1990. That’s one of my real regrets. I’d give anything to have had something in there in 1975 about how closely we follow the CFL or NHL.”

Ask Bibby to put a value on his work and he says it really depends on what you define as value.

“If I were looking at one thing that you can call a contribution to society, it’s that we really have some of the best descriptive data on what has been happening in Canadian life going back to the 1970s,” he says. “You want to talk about serious issues, say what’s happened with women in the workforce since the late 1960s? We have gender data from the last 40 years; we can tell you how women were feeling at any particular point in time. Descriptively there is just so much stuff there in terms of what Canadians value, their major sources of enjoyment, the concerns they’ve had. In terms of getting a read on Canadian life, it’s a gold mine.”

So, the next time you have that “I wonder” moment, give Bibby a call – he’ll likely have an answer. And if he doesn’t, chances are he will carry out a new poll to find out.

Cooper to kick off popular PUBlic Professor lecture series

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:22:43 +0000

Imagine defending yourself of a major crime where your fate is determined through a simple majority vote – by 1,500 or more local citizens. Such was the way of Athenian society, the world’s first democracy, and a major focus of Dr. Craig Cooper’s research portfolio.

Dr. Craig Cooper will present Catching the Crook in Classic Athens as the opening session for the now annual and extremely popular PUBlic Professor lecture series.

Cooper will present Catching the Crook in Classic Athens as the opening session for the now annual and extremely popular PUBlic Professor lecture series, Thursday, Sept. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lethbridge City Hall.

“Athenians espoused this idea of rule of law, that every citizen was equal before the law regardless of their social status,” says Cooper, the dean of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Arts & Science. “There is a debate among scholars about whether Athenians, though they ideologically and rhetorically espoused the rule of law, actually upheld the notion or put it into practice.”

The PUBlic Professor initiative was introduced in 2014 as a thought-provoking series of pub-style talks that bring a range of experts and researchers from across the arts and sciences to the community for a spirited conversation.

“We are a publicly funded institution, so I think we have a responsibility to communicate with the public about what we do,” says Cooper of the PUBlic Professor series. “I think what we do is very important across the disciplines, whether it’s from the sciences or the humanities, and I think it’s important to share this with the general public.”

So popular were the talks last year, the size of the crowds necessitated a change in venue from the U of L’s Dr. Foster James Penny Building to City Hall.

Cooper, an expert in ancient Greece, ancient Greek biography and historiography, turned to study Athenian law when he was asked to fill in one semester to teach a course on Athenian Law and Society at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Winnipeg. It quickly became his favourite course to teach and a passionate area of research.

He says the workings of ancient Greek courts and the lessons learned from studying them still have relevance today.

“Looking at any society and its aspects are relevant because it helps us reflect on our own. Here was the first democracy and this is how it ran. They would not in any way consider what we do as democratic,” says Cooper. “What concerned humans 2,000 years ago and what may have led to litigation, in some ways, were the same concerns we have now, so there is that continuity of the human experience. For me, it’s also an intrinsically interesting topic.”

In total, seven talks make up the 2015/2016 PUBlic Professor series schedule. All the talks are free and open to the public, with free appetizers and bar service available. The full lineup is as follows:

September 24, 2015– Dr. Craig Cooper (Arts & Science) – Catching the Crook in Classical Athens
October 22, 2015– Dr. Olga Kovalchuk (Biological Sciences) – Epigenetics of Health and Disease
November 19, 2015– Dr. Craig Coburn (Remote Sensing) – Understanding the Complexities of Imaging the Earth: The Challenge of Image Calibration
November 26, 2015– Dr. Jennifer Copeland (Kinesiology) – Physical Activity Versus sedentary Time and How They Interact to Affect Health
January 21, 2016– Dr. Harold Jansen (Political Science) – The Impact of Digital Technology on Democratic Citizenship in Canada
February 25, 2016– Dr. Shawn Bubel (Archaeology) – Prehistoric Bison Hunters in Southern Alberta: Excavations at the Fincastle Site
March 17, 2016– Dr. Reg Bibby (Sociology) – Beyond the Gods & Back: The Return of Religion in Canada

*All presentations are from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lethbridge City Hall. Seating is limited – no RSVP required.

Bibby survey good news for Canadian Football League

trevor.kenney — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:06:05 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge sociologist Dr. Reg Bibby has released the results of his latest survey and its good news for the Canadian Football League.

Bibby and Vision Critical contacted more than 4,000 Canadians and 4,000 Americans regarding their interest in select professional sports and the Canadian Football League is continuing to trend upwards.

The survey found that 26 per cent of people across Canada follow the CFL very closely or fairly closely, a figure that is slightly higher than interest in the National Football League (23 per cent) and trails only the National Hockey League (46 per cent). Interest in Major League baseball checks in fourth at 22 per cent, followed by the National Basketball Association (12 per cent) and Major League Soccer (9 per cent).

“Despite the massive exposure that other sports and leagues receive from both sides of the border, the CFL has been able to hold its own – something of a cultural miracle,” says Bibby in a Project Canada Surveys news release. “Many other corporate and cultural things Canadian have not been able to withstand the might of American competition.”

Over the past 25 years, Canadian interest in the CFL has increased substantially, from 16 to 26 per cent since 1990.

What was most surprising to Bibby was the twin survey conducted south of the border that showed CFL interest was also growing rapidly in the United States, and specifically in the younger fan demographic.

The U.S. survey found that 10 per cent of Americans say they are following the CFL, and that is led by 22 per cent of adults under the age of 35. Only about 5 per cent of Americans over 35 consider themselves as followers of the CFL. Bibby credits the rise of the Internet.

“The league is finally visible,” he says. “For the first time in history, Americans who want to follow many of their favourite college players who are playing in Canada can readily do so by going online.”

Bibby adds that the findings show the CFL continues to know considerable vitality and that further exposure can only create greater opportunity for growth.

“The league is now on the verge of an unexpected and extraordinary opportunity to increase its brand exposure well beyond Canada.”

The surveys of 4,022 Canadians and 4,079 Americans was designed by Bibby and carried out online by Vision Critical in mid-February 2015. A probability sample of this size carries an error range nationally of about 2 per cent either way, 19 times in 20.

Annual Long Service Awards and Retiree Recognition Ceremony, May 6

trevor.kenney — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:44:42 +0000

The annual Long Service Awards and Retirement Recognition Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 6, at 1 p.m. in the Students' Union Ballrooms. Faculty and staff are invited to join in the celebration. Please visit the Notice Board for more information and a full list of recipients.

This year, 146 employees will be honoured at this event, along with 17 retiring employees. We recently caught up with Drs. Reg Bibby and Peter McCormick, who both are celebrating 40 years at the U of L. Check out the photos from their early days on campus.

Dr. Peter McCormick

After an illustrious 40-year career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Peter McCormick will be retiring this year. He won’t be slowing down, though – McCormick plans to pen two books, including a biography of Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin, and will continue to teach at the U of L.

“I’ve had a wonderful time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ,” McCormick says, explaining that he has constantly expanded his research and teaching horizons as his career progressed.

McCormick has taught a wide variety of political science courses over his tenure, and has had the opportunity to mentor many students. “I’ve had many fantastic students. Some have gone on to be Rhodes Scholars, some have clerked at the Supreme Court,” he says, “The most gratifying thing, for me, is seeing everything clicking together for them. It’s so rewarding to see that.”

Dr. Reg Bibby

When Dr. Reginald (Reg) Bibby came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1975, he didn’t anticipate staying for very long. “I had a bit of ambivalence about coming here,” he says. “Lethbridge was very small and the university was relatively unknown at the time. I was afraid I might disappear.”

This year, Bibby celebrates 40 years with the U of L and says the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has provided him with incredible opportunities as a researcher and teacher. “I’ve been given the resources to do everything I have wanted to do,” he says. “There’s also a certain tranquility to the city and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. It’s a great base to work from.”

Bibby also credits fellow faculty members for his success. “I’ve worked with some exceptional colleagues,” he says, adding that Dr. Owen Holmes (LLD ’05) served as an important mentor in his early years at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. “He was wise, generous and encouraging – I owe a lot to him. Owen symbolized the best of the U of L.”

Bibby’s research has focused on social trends, youth, and religion, and has received considerable media attention throughout his career. “My explicit goal has always been to make the material accessible not only to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ but to others with an interest in the material,” he says. That goal has clearly been met – Bibby’s research has been featured on the cover of Maclean’s four times, and his work has been featured by a variety of media organizations, including the Globe and Mail, CNN and The New York Times. More than 150,000 copies of his fourteen books have been sold. In recognition of the impact of his work on Canadian life, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006.

“My passion for research comes from my love of ideas. Picking a research area and delving into it is so enjoyable for me,” he says. Currently holding his third U of L Board of Governors Research Chair appointment, Bibby has two new books scheduled for publication in 2016.

Dr. Jennifer Mather

After 30 years at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Dr. Jennifer Mather continues to be inspired by her research and teaching endeavours.

“I keep enjoying what I’m doing,” she says. “I love research and teaching, and I keep postponing my retirement.”

Mather’s primary research is in the behaviour of cephalopod molluscs (octopuses and squid), and her areas of expertise include women in science and examining teaching and learning in higher education. Over the years, she has helped facilitate more than 100 applied studies, and believes in equipping students with the skills and passion required to succeed in a variety of fields.

“I love giving students the opportunity to learn. Watching them grow as individuals, and as scholars, is so rewarding,” she says.

As part of two courses she teaches, including one on Schizophrenia, which she has taught since 1993, and another on Alzheimer’s, Mather requires students to gain personal contact with those affected by the illness.

“In the textbook, it’s a few paragraphs. In the real world, it’s someone’s life,” she says. “For a lot of the students, it’s life-changing.”

As she looks ahead, Mather will continue doing what she enjoys – advancing knowledge and inspiring the next generation.

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.

Kolb, McDaniel join list of Jubilee medalists

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:12:12 +0000

In late February, Dr. Bryan Kolb (Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience) and Dr. Susan McDaniel (Sociology, Director, Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy) received Jubilee Medals awarded by the Royal Society of Canada. Both Kolb and McDaniel are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC). This was the first visit to the U of L campus by Royal Society executive director Darren Gilmour and Royal Society President, Yolande Grisé.

In addition to Kolb and McDaniel, a number of U of L faculty members have also recently received Jubilee medals, among them Dr. Peter McCormick (Political Science), Dr. Reg Bibby (Sociology), Dr. Dayna Daniels (Women and Gender Studies), Dr. Rick Mrazek (Education), Tanya Harnett (Fine Arts/Native American Studies) and U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon. A complete list of medal recipients to date is available on the Government of Alberta website: alberta.ca/diamondjubileemedal.cfm

UNews - Reg Bibby

God is still doing reasonably well in the polls

Related Topics

Canada’s millennials are an upgrade to previous generations

Related Topics

Trend-identifying sociologist Dr. Reg Bibby to receive honorary degree at Spring 2018 Convocation

Related Topics

Canadian Catholicism showing signs of resilience and growth

Related Topics

Bibby asks the questions that are on everyone's mind

Related Content

Dr. Reginald Bibby - PUBlic Professor

Related Topics

Cooper to kick off popular PUBlic Professor lecture series

Related Topics

Bibby survey good news for Canadian Football League

Related Topics

Annual Long Service Awards and Retiree Recognition Ceremony, May 6

Related Topics

Looking back at an amazing year at the U of L

Related Topics

Kolb, McDaniel join list of Jubilee medalists

Related Topics