GAZETTE
March 19, 2014 Volume 46 Number 11
Publication Mail Registration No. 40062527
A M E M O R I A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W F O U N D L A N D P U B L I C AT I O N
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DEAN EMERITUS
A former dean of Memorial’s business school has been admitted into a small circle of esteemed administrators.
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GREEN CLEANING
PERFECT PARTNERS
A team of engineers at Memorial are researching a more environmentally friendly process for cleaning up oil spills.
Public library cardholders can now access 50 databases, thanks to a new e-resources portal.
Galactic reach Science scholar first choice for Yale astronomy scholarship By Kelly Foss
A SECOND-YEAR
joint physics and applied
mathematics student at Memorial will spend the summer researching astronomy at Yale University. Anna O’Grady, a resident of Kilbride, has been chosen to receive the Hoffleit Undergraduate Astronomy Research Scholarship, which will allow her to work as an intern for six weeks at the institution this summer. “While I don’t have the specific details of the scope of the research, I do know I’ll be researching the brightest galaxy clusters, analyzing data about ongoing star formation in the clusters,” she said. “I will be making CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
maps of the age and mass of new stellar populations and potentially help with writing a paper that may end up in a research journal.” Of the 70 international applicants for the scholarship — 20 of whom were from Oxford University — Ms. O’Grady was astonished to find she ranked first. She
Physics and mathematics student Anna O’Grady will study at Yale this summer.
See YALE story on page 4
Ambitious goals Doubling scholarly output by 2020 By Meaghan Whelan
A MAJOR NEW initiative aimed at strengthening all
administrative heads, student representatives and the
research-based graduate student support, undergradu-
aspects of research at Memorial University was recently
university’s formal advisory and decision-making bod-
ate research incentive funding and the establishment
unveiled in draft form. Called the Strategic Research
ies in the area of research. Consultations included all
of research-based master and doctoral programs at
Intensity Plan 2014-20, this plan builds on the Research
faculties and schools on the St. John’s campus, and the
every school, faculty and campus. The recommenda-
Strategy Framework and charts the course for a historic
Grenfell and Marine Institute campuses, as well as with
tions related to student support will complement the
transformation of Memorial’s research activities and
the Labrador Institute.
university’s Strategic Enrolment Plan currently under
impact.
During this consultation process, participants agreed
development.
“As Memorial approaches the anniversary of its first
that doubling scholarly output by 2020, while ambi-
Access to appropriate quality teaching, laboratories
century of existence, the province has time and again
tious, was achievable provided that significant progress
and office space is presently a substantial barrier to
demonstrated its unwavering commitment to Memorial,
was made in establishing conditions of success.
the expansion of research programs. The university is
and has steadily increased its financial support,” said Dr. Richard Marceau, vice-president (research). “This
The Strategic Research Intensity Plan identifies 12 recommendations to support this target.
currently developing the Strategic Infrastructure Plan, which will identify the space and infrastructure needed
has translated into significant success, and we can now
The plan includes a number of recommendations
to support all academic priorities, including enhanced
afford to give ourselves goals and objectives which,
aimed at providing a comprehensive environment for
research intensity. This plan will provide clarity on pri-
only a few years ago, might have appeared outrageous
supporting faculty, including faculty member career
orities and timelines of individual projects, facilitate
rather than ambitious.”
support, research seed, bridge and multidisciplinary
planning in all units and emphasize quality project management.
The central goal of the plan is to increase Memorial’s
funding, improved research grant and contract facil-
scholarly dissemination by its faculty members in forms
itation and the allocation and/or creation of research
In order to ensure that the recommendations of the
appropriate to the discipline by 100 per cent by Dec. 31,
chairs in all faculties, schools and campuses. The
Strategic Research Intensity Plan are implemented, the
2020. A closely associated goal is to increase Memorial’s
plan also calls for advocacy in favour of new provin-
university will identify suitable metrics and implement
master and doctoral graduates by 100 per cent over the
cial research funds in the health sciences and the arts,
formal metric-tracking processes. This will include a
same period.
humanities and social sciences.
university-wide process for creating an annual inven-
meetings
To better promote and support research opportu-
with Memorial University’s senior academic and
The
creation
of
the
plan
included
nities for students, the plan recommends improved
tory of the scholarly dissemination of its faculty
See DOUBLING story on page 4
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Inspired by a summer spent teaching English in Tanzania
EF: How did the local people react to your work?
nobody spoke your language required some stamina.
in 2009, arts alumnus Andrew Harvey (BA(Hons.) ’11)
AH: Initially I think the people thought I was crazy
But it was full of chances to learn: building a mud-brick
returned to the east African country a few years later to
— why would a young Canadian be moving into their
house, chasing cows out of the cornfield, and tending to
complete a MA in linguistics at the University of Dar es
village and asking them questions with a big voice
scorpion stings, for example.
Salaam in 2013. His master’s work included making the
recorder in his hand? It didn’t take long for the local
first recordings and describing the grammar of the Gorwaá
people to realize how important the project was. After
EF: How did your time at Memorial influence you to
language in north-central Tanzania and creating a writing
all — if their language had never been written down,
continue your linguistics studies?
system for the language. Gazette contributor Elizabeth
their collective history — their stories of who they
AH: I will always remember Memorial as a safe place
Furey spoke with Mr. Harvey about his work.
are, how they got there — was only as good as their
filled with wise people who cared about my development
best speakers — many of whom were getting old and
as both a person and as a scholar. I’m lucky I ended up
without passing these stories on.
at Memorial because it left me with the confidence to
EF: Why did you decide to do your graduate work in Tanzania?
take a different path.
AH: I spent a summer in Tanzania in 2009 teaching
EF: How do you think your work has impacted the
English and returned to Memorial with an interest in
Gorwaá-speaking people?
the peoples and their languages. Tanzania is located in
AH: Perhaps the most concrete thing my work has
East Africa, where over 100 local languages are spoken
done is that it has gotten people excited about, and
by diverse ethnic groups — most of which have never
interested in their language. The Gorwaá language is a
been recorded or written down before. For a young
unique expression of Gorwaá culture and a unique lens
linguistics student looking for a big project, it was the
through which to interpret the world.
perfect place to go. EF: Where did you first learn about the Gorwaá
How long did you live there, and where did you live?
language? Who speaks this language?
AH: I was in Tanzania for 26 months, the first 12 were
AH: The first time I came across it was in a book
spent at university in Dar es Salaam — a big, chaotic
listing the languages of Tanzania — in it, Gorwaá was
city. The rest of the time, I lived in a small village called
included, but the authors noted that no study had ever
Endabeg with two elderly people, working on their farm
been completed, and there were no books published
and herding their cattle in exchange for room, board,
about it. It is spoken by approximately 75,000 people in
and help learning their language. For a city boy like me,
north-central Tanzania.
learning to adapt to life in an isolated rural community
SUBMITTED PHOTO
EF: What was your experience like living in Tanzania?
Andrew Harvey and friends in Tanzania.
with no electricity, no running water, and where
GAZETTE
special management plan be developed for the river, says Mr. Hinks. The MFN, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), has also
A M E M O R I A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W F O U N D L A N D P U B L I C AT I O N
initiated various salmon enhancement programs -- all
of which resulted is a slight increase in the number of
YOUR NEXT PROJECT
returning salmon, but were discontinued.
The project:
By Amy Tucker
Mr. Hinks hopes that researchers at Memorial can work
Special to the Gazette
to identify the causes of the continued decline and what “The MFN has resources for in-kind support, includ-
significant jobs is to provide a way for people from outside Memorial
ing boats, nets and people who have worked with DFO.
to ask for research help. With hundreds of community-suggested
We are also interested in building capacity for support
opportunities to choose from, your next project is just a click away.
of this study. In conjunction with DFO, the Aboriginal
Here’s one …
Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Program could also provide support.”
The opportunity:
Erika Parrill, a research assistant at the Environmental
Surveys consistently indicate that the Bay D’Espoir fjord
Policy Institute at Grenfell Campus, is interested in
on the South Coast of Newfoundland is important to
working on this project, and is hoping to form an inter-
the survival of the Conne River salmon stocks, which
disciplinary team.
are in decline.
Classified Advertising Kelly Hickey
“I think the analysis of the data pertaining to the
“There have been speculations about the cause of
survival of the salmon population should be holistic
the decline, as we know that sea survival for Conne
in nature,” said Ms. Parrill. “For example, not only will
River smolt are among the lowest on the island,” said
data regarding survival rates have to be collected, but
Ross Hinks, director, Natural Resources, Miawpukek
Aboriginal traditional and ecological knowledge will
First Nation (MFN). “With all other things being equal
have to be collected with sensitivity and integrity.” Interested in learning more about this project? Amy Tucker, co-ordinator
tion routes have determined that seaward travelling
of knowledge mobilization at the Harris Centre, would love to tell you
smolts and kelts spend an unusual amount of time
more. Call her at 709-864-6115 or email her at amy.tucker@mun.ca.
The Gazette is published 17 times annually by the Division of Marketing and Communications at Memorial University.
concentrated.” The MFN has always depended on salmon for surMIAWPUKEK FIRST NATION PHOTO
community exists in its location today. “There has, however, been little research on the decline of the salmon stocks,” said Mr. Hinks. “Salmon are counted each year, samples have been taken, and migration routes have been partially completed, but none of this research has tried to explain the declining stocks.” The MFN has already taken some measures to address the decline. The community has volunteered not to
Conne River on the South Coast of Newfoundland
Photography Chris Hammond
Next Gazette deadline April 2 for April 9 publication.
in the bay where aquaculture development has been
vival; it is one of the most important reasons why the
Cathy Newhook Naomi Osborne Michelle Osmond David Penney Marcia Porter Kristine Power Dave Sorensen Melissa Watton Meaghan Whelan Susan White-MacPherson Laura Woodford Sandy Woolfrey-Fahey
Advertising Mandy Cook Telephone: 709 864 2142 Email: mandyc@mun.ca
throughout Newfoundland, the only additional factor is the presence of aquaculture in the area. The migra-
Regular Contributors
Laura Barron Melanie Callahan Nora Daly Paula Dyke Kelly Foss Elizabeth Furey Pamela Gill Sharon Gray Janet Harron Jill Hunt Diane Keough Jackey Locke
measures might be necessary to reverse this trend. Yaffle.ca is Memorial’s online connecting tool. One of its most
EDITOR GRAPHICS Mandy Cook Jacqui Baggs
Material in the Gazette may be reprinted or broadcast without permission, excepting materials for which the Gazette does not hold exclusive copyright. Gazette, Room A-1024 Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7 Telephone: 709 864 2142 Fax: 709 864 8699 Email: mandyc@mun.ca ISSN 0228-88 77 With the exception of advertisements from Memorial University, ads carried in the Gazette do not imply recommendation by the university for the service or product.
exercise its rights to harvest salmon and insists that a
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
2
www.mun.ca/gazette
‘Live and Learn’ $23 million Grenfell residence complex officially opened By Melanie Callahan
STUDENTS, STAFF
and faculty and community
The Grenfell residence complex is a modern, state-of-
partners filled the first-floor lounge of Grenfell Campus’s
the-art building that features energy efficient mechan-
newest housing facility recently in a celebration of the
ical systems. It has five floors with 200 rooms and a
opening of the new residence complex.
lounge and kitchen on each floor for meals and socializing. There are laundry and storage facilities with an area LORI LEE HOLLETT PHOTO
Premier Tom Marshall, Kevin O’Brien, minister of Advanced Education and Skills, Dr. Gary Kachanoski president and vice-chancellor of Memorial, Dr. Mary Bluechardt, vice-president (Grenfell Campus) and resident assistant Sierra Tischler unveiled a ceremonial plaque March 6, which officially opened the new 200room residence in Corner Brook. The new facility will provide the campus with an increased capacity to house up to 600 students. “I am honoured to be a part of the official opening
From left are Dr. Mary Bluechardt, Premier Tom Marshall, Dr. Gary Kachanoski and student Sierra Tischler.
for recreational gear. A partnership between Grenfell Campus and College of the North Atlantic (CNA) allows 23 of the rooms to be available for CNA students. “With the opening of Grenfell’s new residence complex, students here have more options for safe living on campus,” said Dr. Kachanoski. “Living directly on campus puts students right at the heart of the university. By living in residence, they have an opportunity to live and learn surrounded by the supports of campus.
of the new Grenfell residence complex,” said Premier
Students living in residence become part of a commu-
Marshall. “I am delighted both as the member of the
while furthering their education. This new residence
nity and build a support network that proves essential
House of Assembly for Humber East and in my new role
demonstrates the provincial government’s commit-
to success throughout their university careers.”
as premier to see this beautiful building added to our
ment to provide affordable on-campus student housing
post-secondary infrastructure in Corner Brook.
and ensures students have the best experience while
“This is a modern residence for students to call home
getting a high-quality post-secondary education.”
University auditor takes up post By Sandy Woolfrey-Fahey
JENNY BAKER
started her new role as university
“My first few weeks at Memorial have been spent
auditor at Memorial University in February. Ms. Baker
introducing the audit mandate to key stakeholders
brings more than 20 years’ experience in internal audit,
and to identify ways the department can provide value
most recently serving as director of internal audit in a
added services,” she said. “One way is to collaborate
private sector corporation.
with Memorial process owners in assessing whether
The position of university auditor was created in 2013 with the objective of improving corporate gover-
there are more efficient methods to accomplish their objectives.”
nance by establishing an independent department that
Ms. Baker holds a bachelor of business administration
reports functionally to the Audit and Risk Committee
from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a certified public
of the Board of Regents.
accountant, a certified information systems auditor and
“My role is to provide assurance to stakeholders that strategic risks are being effectively managed,” said Ms. Baker.
a certified fraud examiner. Ms. Baker’s appointment was approved by the Board of Regents at its December meeting.
She will work closely with Kristopher Parsons, Memorial’s chief risk officer, who is introducing a risk management framework to the university.
Jenny Baker
The ups and downs of altering the sick note policy THE RE-EVALUATION
of Memorial’s policy
regarding sick notes should be opening the door for
STUDENTVIEW
a discussion between administration and student
Shannon Page
organizations in regard to medical issues on campus.
student body and with student organizations on the creation of a new policy that addresses both the concerns of professors as well as those of students. An open dialogue would bring forward new ideas and would
Instead, declarations that the university should not
least, preserved. They need only say that they have
perhaps lead to a policy that works for everyone. It
be treating post-secondary students like children who
missed a test or assignment for “medical reasons.”
would also create space for a frank dialogue of mental
need to provide a note from a higher authority seem to be dominating the conversation.
There are two sides to this issue, and both are equally
health and accessibility for differently abled students
valid. On the one hand, there is the natural concern
or those dealing with chronic or re-occurring medical conditions.
In case you haven’t heard the news, Memorial’s policy
that some students may be dishonest and abuse the new
on missed examinations and tests, which requires stu-
policy by claiming illness to get out of assignments.
The other opinion pieces I have read on this issue
dents to provide a medical note in order to be excused,
This is going to happen. There is no getting around it.
seem to take the NLMA representative’s comment and
is being re-examined after the Newfoundland and
While the majority of students will probably be honest,
fixate on how the old policy did not treat students like
Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) declared that
there will no doubt be a handful of assignments and
responsible adults. However, concerns about whether or
physicians should no longer write notes for patients
tests missed this semester for “medical reasons” that
not the policies can be taken advantage of are indeed
whose illness has lasted less than five days if the patient
probably won’t amount to much more than a really bad
valid. It is not a matter of whether or not students are
was not assessed over the course of the illness. Until the
hangover.
being treated as irresponsible, but of creating a space for
end of the semester, students will be able to verbally
who
the free exchange of ideas. A better focal point for dis-
declare their illness directly to a professor if they miss
express concern about this inevitability aren’t necessar-
cussion would be how best to create a dialogue between
an assignment or exam. The only exceptions will be
ily treating students “like elementary school kids,” as a
students and administration in order to raise awareness
final exams, which students will still need a medical
spokesman from the NLMA phrased it. They are merely
of health issues as well as come up with solutions that
note to be excused from.
being realistic about the ways that the system might be
work best for both parties.
Under the temporary policy, students will not be required to divulge the details of their illness to their professor. The student’s privacy will be, in theory at
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Instructors
and
university
representatives
abused. However, obtaining a sick note can be a huge inconvenience for both physicians and students. It would be nice to see administration work with the
3
Shannon Page is a fourth-year double major in English and classics at Memorial. She can be reached at spep60@mun.ca.
www.mun.ca/gazette
High honour
Con’t from DOUBLING on page 1
Retired business prof named dean emeritus
members. The draft Strategic Research Intensity Plan 2014-20 is available to the entire university community for review. To download a copy, visit www.mun.ca/research/2014_
By Susan White-MacPherson
university_consultation.pdf.
A FORMER DEAN of Memorial’s Faculty of Business
Feedback will be accepted until Monday, April 14, via
Administration will now retain the title in perpetuity.
email vp.research@mun.ca, or internal mail, Office of
Dr. Gary Gorman became only the fourth dean emeri-
the Vice-president (Research), A-2021, St. John’s campus.
tus in the history of Memorial University when the title was approved by the Board of Regents on Feb. 6. Three
NOTABLE
other former administrators have been named dean emeritus at Memorial: Dr. A.C. Hunter in 1957; Dr. G.A. Hickman in 1974; and Dr. Ian Rusted in 1989.
The Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Student
“I was overwhelmed, to tell you the truth. I was quite
Union (MUNSU) held an election or the union’s 2014-15
shocked,” he said.
board of directors March 11-12. The MUNSU board con-
Dr. Gorman retired in September 2013 after 36 years
sists of five full-time paid executive director positions.
with Memorial, all of which were spent in roles at or
Robert Leamon has been named director of campaigns
associated with the business faculty. He started his
and Devin Grant is director of finance and services. Ryan
career at the university as a co-ordinator in the Division
Murphy, director of external affairs, communications
of Co-ordination in 1977.
and research, Sean Kennedy, director of advocacy, and
“I have to confess: when I came to the university in
Kimberly Drisdelle, director of student life, were all
that role, I didn’t imagine it to be anything long term
acclaimed.
at all. It just looked like an interesting opportunity,” he said. “But then the opportunities just seemed to develop. The university is an incredible environment because you can get involved in so many things. That
OBITUARY
Dr. Gary Gorman
was something I didn’t really recognize until spending some time here, just the scope and range and variety of opportunities that are available.” The title of dean emeritus is conferred upon retired faculty members with at least 10 years as a regular full-
was created. He also personally recruited 25 new faculty
Dr. Darren Hynes
members through cross-Canada tours to universities
Dr. Darren Hynes, a longtime contractual
that offer doctoral programs in business.
lecturer in the history, philosophy and human-
time faculty member. The prime criterion for nomina-
He also created the business faculty’s international
tion is a sustained and superlative record as an academic
bachelor of business administration (iBBA) degree, an
administrator.
office for international business studies and a fellow
Dr. Gorman’s greatest contributions to the business
in international business, and built relationships with
faculty came from his years as dean, a role he filled from
international universities that saw increased enrolment
2002-09. During his tenure, research output by faculty
from international students in business programs.
members doubled, a PhD in management degree was developed and the role of associate dean of research
ities programs, passed away March 1, 2014. He was 50.
CORRECTION Dr. Gerard Murphy, a former professor in the Faculty of Education, passed away Dec. 16, 2013. He was 92. Incorrect information appeared in the
Con’t from YALE on page 1 believes she owes much of her
Feb. 5 edition of the Gazette.
life. I was always interested in sci-
glad
current success to taking an interest
ence,
and
to speak about my scholarship,
in science in early life.
astronomy, but that program made
because I believe it’s important to
me certain that I wanted to pursue
increase awareness of the impor-
physics as a career.”
tance of science, and to encourage
“My
three
years
at
Bishops
College High School further solidi-
particularly
physics
fied my passion for science, through
For the Grade 12 science fair,
fantastic teachers and a great aca-
Dr. Deupree put Ms. O’Grady in
demic program which included
touch with Dr. Louise Edwards
participation in the annual regional
who, at the time, worked at Mount
science fair.”
Alison University, and they worked
Her physics teacher at Bishops put her in contact with Dr. Robert
to
have
the
opportunity
other students to seek out experiences like this.”
CALLING ALUMNI NOMINEES FOR 2014 BOARD OF REGENTS ELECTION
together on a project about dark
Nominations are now being accepted for the upcoming
matter.
election of six alumni representatives to Memorial’s
Deupree, the Canada Research Chair
“Once again I went to nation-
Board of Regents. Alumni representatives are elected
in Astronomy and Astrophysics at
als, this time in Charlottetown. It
for a three-year term, commencing this year on Sept.
Saint Mary’s University in Halifax,
was another incredible experience,
1, 2014. Nominations for these positions will continue
N.S. Together they developed a proj-
which only furthered my interest
ect about the Hertzprung-Russell
in physics,” she said. “I had kept
diagram, a scatter graph of stars
up with Dr. Edwards, and she had
showing the relationship between
taken a position at Yale last year.
the stars’ luminosities versus their
She told me about the Hoffleit schol-
calling on alumni to consider running for one of the six
effective temperatures.
arship and encouraged me to apply
available positions.
“With that project I received the
for it, which I did.”
VISIT US ONLINE WWW.MUN.CA/ GAZETTE
to be accepted until April 4. The election will begin on April 28 and run until May 23. Memorial’s Office of Alumni Affairs and Development oversees the nomination and election process and are
“The Board of Regents is the governing body of
opportunity to go to the Canada-
Ms. O’Grady believes the scholar-
Wide Science Fair in Toronto and
ship opportunity will help give her
I had an amazing experience,”
a better understanding of the prac-
“Members play a key role — both in the work that
she said. “One of the awards I
tical research aspect of a career in
guides us in the present and setting a vision for the
received was a scholarship for the
astronomy.
future. The Board of Regents has 30 members in total,
International Summer School for
“These experiences during my will
tive director, Office of Alumni Affairs and Development.
so representation with six alumni members provides an
Young Physicists at the Perimeter
undergraduate
Institute for Theoretical Physics in
nitely help me explore the differ-
Waterloo.
ent options I will have in graduate
To submit a nomination or for more informa-
school and beyond,” she said. “I’m
tion on the nomination and election process, visit
“Those two weeks changed my
degree
Memorial University,” said Dr. Penny Blackwood, execu-
defi-
opportunity for meaningful contributions to strategy and long-term planning for the university.”
www.munalum.ca.
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
4
www.mun.ca/gazette
The On the Move Partnership is a story in and of itself — a massive, seven-year Social Sciences and Humanities
FRAMEWORKS AT WORK: Memorial’s frameworks in action
Research
Council-funded
project
exploring
how
employment-related geographic mobility (from long daily commutes, to extended absences from the home lasting weeks, months or even years) affects employers, workers and their families, as well as the communities where they live and those where the work. The project is a national initiative involving more than 40 researchers from 17 disciplines and 22 universities, working is a prime example of cross-discipline collaboration,
future
cross-university collaboration and public engagement.
direction — the
Research
Strategy
Framework,
the Teaching and Learning Framework and the Public
The partnership with CBC’s Ideas brings the research
Engagement Framework — are the result of several years of
to life for average Canadians — after all, the research
consultations with the university community and the people
is all about average Canadians. Who doesn’t know
and organizations of Newfoundland and Labrador. This
someone who commutes for work? A commuter in the
regular feature will help showcase the frameworks in action
Greater Toronto Area, a foreign-worker employed in ser-
by sharing projects and highlighting the successes that are
vices in a booming resource town, a family man from
bringing them to life.
rural Newfoundland trying to make a living commut-
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WOOD BUFFALO PHOTO
with more than 30 community partners. The project The three overarching frameworks guiding Memorial’s
ing to work in Fort McMurray — each person has a dif-
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Arts project forges groundbreaking partnership with CBC By Cathy Newhook
ferent story to tell about how moving for work affects their health, family, work and community. This is where CBC’s Ideas comes in. The hour-long show, hosted by Paul Kennedy, is broadcast on CBC Radio every weeknight and has an average of 800,000
Looking north on Highway 63 in Fort McMurray, Alta.
listeners (aside from online listeners). As a project partner, the show will air seven episodes over the course of
Memorial’s SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health
the research to help share knowledge and tangible sto-
and Safety Research and Department of Sociology. “The
ries and then bring the seven together for a solid week
partnership with Ideas will enable us to involve the pub-
of programming towards the end. From the show’s per-
lic in the research as it unfolds, giving them an oppor-
effectively can
spective, the mutual benefit of the partnership is clear,
tunity to be part of the discussion.”
present a significant challenge for many researchers
and collaboration with established researchers and
The first documentary in the series, On the Move to
and many universities. Even for projects that have very
community partners engaged in a well-funded and sus-
Fort McMurray, aired in November and followed the
practical implications for people and communities, it is
tained project is a significant advantage in the world of
researchers as they talked to workers employed in the
not always easy to get good research out there.
journalism.
oil sands industry in Alberta. This year’s Ideas docu-
MOBILIZING KNOWLEDGE
Memorial’s On the Move Partnership, led by Dr.
“Work-related mobility is directly impacting employ-
mentary will look at mobility in the trucking industry
Barbara Neis of the Department of Sociology, has come
ers, workers and their communities — sharing those
in Prince Edward Island. Future topics will be decided
up with an innovative solution to the challenge, and
stories and understanding this complex phenomenon
in consultation with the On the Move team. You can lis-
forged a unique partnership directly with the long-run-
is not just fascinating, it’s important,” said Dr. Neis,
ten to the archived programs on the CBC Ideas website
ning CBC Radio documentary program, Ideas.
project director and senior research associate with
or via www.onthemovepartnership.ca.
Henrietta Harvey lecturer discusses oil’s ‘unconventional future’ By Janet Harron
DR. GAVIN BRIDGE,
professor of economic
“At the global scale some significant new frontiers of
and Labrador in the past six months. He took part in
geography at Durham University, U.K., will deliver the
extraction are beginning to emerge, such as the Arctic
October 2013’s conference on Extractive Industries and
Henrietta Harvey lecture, Oil’s Unconventional Future,
and the deep water offshore, although many people
the Arctic, organized by geographer Dr. Arn Keeling
on Memorial’s St. John’s campus on Thursday, March
challenge whether these are appropriate places to be
and historian Dr. John Sandlos.
27.
drilling for oil. “New geographies” refers to these emerg-
“I am looking forward to spending time with qual-
According to Dr. Bridge, “although oil shows no sign
ing patterns of resource exploration, and the processes
ity colleagues at Memorial and at the Labrador Institute
of running out anytime soon, the nature of oil is chang-
through which resource economies come into being,”
who are doing some very interesting work on the polit-
ing. Technology, high prices and government policy
said Dr. Bridge.
ical economy and environmental history of resources.
have opened up new “unconventional” oil reserves and
This will be Dr. Bridge’s second visit to Newfoundland
spurred oil production.”
I am also looking forward to another round of cod tongues,” Dr. Bridge said.
During his lecture, Dr. Bridge will explore the scale
The Henrietta Harvey lecture takes place on Thursday,
and significance of oil’s fast-arriving unconventional
March 27, at 7 p.m. in the Bruneau Centre, IIC-2001. A
future and demonstrate some of the emergent geog-
reception will follow and free parking is available in lot
raphies of supply and demand associated with this
15B.
future. He will then consider what they mean for estab-
Henrietta Harvey was a Nova Scotian who came to
lished geographies of production, consumption and
Newfoundland in 1905 to visit her aunt, Lady Whiteway,
regulations.
the wife of Newfoundland’s prime minister. A year later
According to Dr. Bridge, “new geographies” cap-
she settled in St. John’s as the wife of St. John’s busi-
tures the dynamic character of resource production
nessman John Harvey. When she died in 1964, her will
and the landscape of boom and bust that is associated
directed a substantial portion of her estate to Memorial
with resource-based economies like Newfoundland
University. The Henrietta Harvey Lectureship is possi-
and Labrador’s. This province, he says, is interesting
ble in any year where there are funds left over from the
because Newfoundland and Labrador’s area hosts both
funding of the Henrietta Harvey research chair, the pri-
conventional (the light or medium crude in produc-
mary purpose of the endowment fund.
tion at Hibernia and Terra Nova) and unconventional oil sources (such as the heavy crude to be extracted at Hebron). The Alberta oil sands exemplify the growing role of unconventional sources of oil, and some of the technical and environmental challenges of replacing conventional supplies.
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Dr. Gavin Bridge will deliver the Henrietta Harvey lecture on March 27. 5
www.mun.ca/gazette
Aldrich conference provides academic opportunity for graduate students By Mandy Cook
ANNA HICKS wants to break down
“There’s a big gap between high
the barriers she says exist between
school and university,” said Dr. Hicks.
instructors and students due to a lack
“A class of 200 is not conducive of
of engagement in large university
learning. After the first month, stu-
classrooms and lecture halls.
dents are not likely to show up. I felt like I was not doing my job teaching them in a way that would help them.”
Memorial is presenting at the 2014
As part of her thesis work, Dr. Hicks
Aldrich Interdisciplinary conference
and her research partners conducted a
for graduate students March 21-23 in
research study where student engage-
the Bruneau Centre for Research and
ment methods — small group work,
Innovation on the St. John’s campus.
quizzes, clickers (class response system)
CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
That’s why the part-time master’s education student and lecturer at
This year’s conference theme is
– were used to keep students active in
Breaking Down Barriers, with abstract
a large first-year class. Dr. Hicks will
submissions
present her findings during the Aldrich
Dr. Octavia Dobre and her research student Walid Jerjawi.
conference.
Data traffic
categorized
into
three
main presentation streams that support the university’s frameworks: teaching
“The benefit of the Aldrich is that it
and learning, public engagement and
will help me to spread the word about
research.
engaging teaching methods on campus
The Aldrich conference offers graduate students the opportunity to gain
Improving the speed and flow of electronic communications
and initiate conversations about teaching large classes,” she said.
valuable presentation experience in
In addition to student presentations,
a supportive and interactive environ-
the three-day conference will provide
ment at Memorial. It is open to any
networking opportunities, workshops
graduate student that wishes to pres-
and social events to discuss academ-
THE INTERNET
has become the
users, when primary/incumbent users
ent course work, a work in-progress or
ic-related topics with other students
place to watch high-definition television
do not transmit. However, secondary
a completed research paper they feel is
and faculty from Memorial.
and videos, play games and listen to
users should sense the environment and
valuable and interesting.
By Jackey Locke
The Aldrich keynote address will take
music. As the reasons to log on become
ensure transmission without generating
Dr. Hicks, who has a doctoral degree
place Friday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in the
greater every year, so does the number of
unwanted interference to the primary
in neuroscience, was compelled to
Bruneau Centre. Michel Chikwanine, a
users and the data traffic.
users. There are several aspects that need
enrol in the master’s level education
former child soldier, will speak about
program after some time spent teach-
the ability to create change.
ing biology and psychology courses. She wasn’t satisfied with the level of
For more information, please visit www.gsumun.ca/aldrich-home.
It is estimated that the increase in global
to be resolved before the CR technology
Internet traffic between 2015 and 2016
can be fully implemented in practical
will be more than 330 exabytes, which
systems, such as spectrum awareness,
is almost equal to the total amount of
resource allocation and routing.”
student attendance or student partici-
global Internet traffic generated in 2011,
Dr. Dobre’s work on CR technology is
pation she was seeing.
and that one in every five people owns a
supported by the Natural Sciences and
cellphone, which means that most people
Engineering Research Council of Canada
are likely accessing the Internet on their
and
mobile devices. As a result, every year
Centre Canada in Ottawa, Ont.
CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Communications
Research
Internet service providers are experienc-
In addition to her research on CR tech-
ing a greater demand for services, which,
nology, Dr. Dobre and fellow faculty mem-
in turn, is driving the development and
ber Dr. Ramachandran Venkatesan have
introduction of new technologies.
started an ambitions Atlantic Innovation
“In wireless communications, 4G net-
Fund project aiming to provide a techno-
works are being commercially deployed
logical solution to achieve transmission
and research has already started to be
rates higher than 100 gigabyte per second
carried out towards 5G, while in optical
in the optical transport networks.
communications, 100 gigabit ethernet
The goal is to apply orthogonal fre-
local area network systems are already
quency division multiplexing, a tech-
here,” said Dr. Octavia Dobre, associate
nique used in wireless communications,
professor, Faculty of Engineering and
to transmit at ultra-high speeds on opti-
Applied Science at Memorial.
cal transport networks — the backbone
Dr. Dobre’s research aims to find solu-
Anna Hicks will present her thesis findings about student engagement in large classrooms during the 2014 Aldrich conference.
the
for data transmission.
tions to diverse problems posed by the
“While several technical challenges
next generation communications sys-
lie before us, as well as the challenge of
tems, and involves using cognitive radio
building an optical communications lab-
(CR) technology as a viable solution to
oratory for experimental verifications, we
the efficient spectrum utilization in wire-
hope that we will be successful in provid-
less communications.
ing a commercially viable solution,” said
“Spectrum has been considered to
Dr. Dobre.
be a scarce resource, while it is actually underutilized,” said Dr. Dobre. “CR technology aims to support dynamic spectrum access, which would allow the spectrum utilization by secondary
6
www.mun.ca/gazette
Memorial’s Arctic pioneer By Janet Harron
DR. JEAN BRIGGS
has led the kind of life that a
movie could be made of. Dr. Briggs spent several years early in her anthropological career in two remote Arctic camps documenting the behaviour, language and customs of the Inuit people who lived there. And for three-and-a-half decades, while a faculty member at Memorial, she lived happily alone in her home on the Cape Spear peninsula without running water or road access. Before she left for her Arctic fieldwork in 1963, two anthropologists who had conducted research in more or less the same area – and a number of other colleagues too – warned Dr. Briggs of the difficulties she would encounter. “Everybody except my family thought I was mad,” she said. One distinguished anthropologist told her: “You are a very heavy responsibility.” Another, when she asked for advice, said dramatically: “The cold is vicious, and the dark is vicious, and if you survive you will be the woman I admire most in the whole world.” Needless to say, she survived. After spending several years living as an adopted daughter with one small group of Inuit, and informally attached to a family in another camp, both in what is now known as Nunavut, she wrote two groundbreaking anthropological books: Never in Anger (1970), which was predicted to be a classic before it was published, and Inuit Morality Play (1998), which won two awards upon publication. Dr. Briggs’ years in the North were spent primarily observing the women and children of the communities. She focused on the vocabulary of emotion, the ways in which emotions organized social life and how children were raised to think and feel like Inuit.
Dr. Jean Briggs
“Originally,” she recalled, “I went to the first camp to study the social lives of shamans, but no one would
Dr. Briggs’ first lessons in Inuktitut were given to her
let on that there even was a shaman. They were newly
by a missionary she met in an airport on her first Arctic
says Dr. Briggs. “So the dictionary began as a list of suffixes but it
minted Anglicans. So I just wrote down everything that
field trip back in 1960; he was engaged in translating
grew like topsy. I don’t remember how I got into my
happened and since I was a woman, staying at home
the Bible into Inuktitut.
present pickle of writing two dictionaries!”
with the women and children, what I saw was mostly
“The translator demonstrated what non-English
Dr. Briggs’ friend and colleague Dr. Marguerite
how women and children interacted. And as I began to
sounds to listen for, and gave me clues about how the
MacKenzie, a professor in Memorial’s Department of
learn the language, I learned a lot of the emotion words
Inuktitut language was put together,” she remembered.
Linguistics, calls her, “a trained anthropologist and a
they used, and discovered many differences in the way
“This was very helpful, as Inuktitut is so different from
practising linguist.”
they thought about emotions, compared with us. Then,
English.”
Dr. Briggs is also a committed environmentalist who
very soon, I became a social nuisance, because I didn’t
Different is perhaps a bit of an understatement.
doesn’t like to see other houses from her windows — so
know how to behave or express my feelings – and I
In Inuktitut, every verb is the equivalent of an
much so that, for 35 years, she lived in the middle of the
began observing how people interacted with me.”
English sentence. For example, the verb qupannu-
woods near Maddox Cove on a part of the Cape Spear peninsula.
Her work on the Inuktitut emotion words ultimately
aq-paaq-r^uaq-hiu-qati-gi-juma-ngngit-taatigu-lluun-
grew into a major Social Sciences and Humanities
nii-nnguq is translated as “They said they didn’t even
“I loved it because you couldn’t see anything that
Research Council-funded project to document the
want to come hunting little horned larks with us.” This
wasn’t beautiful from the windows — woods or bay or
Utkuhiksalingmiutitut dialect of Inuktitut, the speech
word consists of a base (meaning “little horned larks”)
ocean, nothing was visible that was ugly.”
of the first camp she lived in.
and 10 postbases (suffixes), each being the equivalent of
She finally sold the house in the woods — which she
one or more of the other English words in the sentence.
affectionately calls “the Treehouse”— and renovated a
is currently preparing to publish the first of two
The about-to-be-published postbase dictionary ana-
nearby Maddox Cove house which she’s dubbed “the
Utkuhiksalingmiutitut-English dictionaries (one for
lyzes the forms, meanings and conditions governing the
Shoe,” after the Mother Goose rhyme. She sold the land
word bases and one for postbases or suffixes). This pre-
occurrence of the approximately 360 suffixes that carry
she owned around the Treehouse and along the Maddox
viously undocumented dialect might have been lost for-
a large part of the meaning of an Utkuhiksalingmiutitut
Cove coastline to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
ever if not for Dr. Briggs’ preservation work.
word.
This land, which includes the Maddox Cove access
The 84-year-old professor emerita at Memorial
“Very few of the Utkuhiksalingmiut who speak the
Over the years, Dr. Briggs and her co-investigators
dialect I recorded in the camps of the 1960s remain,
have entered approximately 34,000 complex Inuktitut
and those that are still around are forgetting the words
words, taken from everyday speech and preserved in
Dr. Briggs’ last trip to the North was in January 2012,
they used to know but no longer use — for example, the
tape recordings and transcriptions, into a database to
after an absence of 10 years. She and a dictionary col-
words for traditional activities and tools.”
construct the dictionaries. The database will be archived
league went to Gjoa Haven, a hamlet in Nunavut where
The dictionaries are an important part of Inuit cul-
online and will be available in CD format for public use.
the Utkuhiksalingmiut have now settled, in order to
tural heritage and will make a major contribution to
As an anthropologist, Dr. Briggs had never intended
introduce the dictionaries to her Utkuhiksalingmiut
both the theoretical and practical study of Inuktitut.
point to the East Coast Trail, is now protected from any development in perpetuity.
to write a dictionary. During the late 1960s, Memorial
family and friends, to consult them about what they
As Inuktitut is one of the three official languages of
linguist Larry Smith, whose specialty was Labrador
wanted to call the dictionaries and what layout and
Nunavut, the dictionaries are of great interest to the
Inuktitut, urged her to make a list of the suffixes in
Inuktitut spellings would be most useful to them.
territory’s government, which is actively trying to pre-
Utkuhiksalingmiutitut.
serve Inuit cultural heritage. Materials in all dialects of Inuktitut are needed for use by the civil service, interpreters, translators and Nunavut residents in general.
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
One of Dr. Briggs’s Utkuhiksalingmiut sisters, now
“Larry said, ‘Nobody knows what the suffixes of that dialect are, so please write them down,’” she said. There are between 300 and 400 suffixes in any dialect,
7
a middle-aged matron who was two or three years old when Dr. Briggs first lived with her family, commented: “Now I understand what you were doing!”
www.mun.ca/gazette
Making more with less Educational sectors share resources
in the community who could benefit from our resources and the knowledge we have of those resources. The public library was a perfect partner in the dissemination of that information. They have 93 locations in the province and they also have a provincewide electronic presence.” Website traffic is up by 30 per cent and the relative ease of the new portal is increasing the potential for new clientele, says Emily Blackmore, lending services librarian, NLPL. “We’re already seeing more people using our resources, and hope to attract more Memorial students to sign up for provincial library cards. Before the set up of the portal, patrons had to sign in to each database separately. Now that it is a portal, users have access to everything in one convenient location and CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
with one convenient login.” The e-resources portal could mark the beginning of more fruitful partnerships between the various educational stakeholders in the province as they all strive to better serve the public. “There are economies and efficiencies to be had when we co-operate, even if it
From left are Emily Blackmore and Louise White.
is shared expertise, as well as financial contributions,” said Ms. White. “When we are talking to each other and working
By Kristine Power
A NEW E-RESOURCES
portal on
Library (NLPL) card, which is also free
together, we just never quite know where
databases that provide information on
and available online.
those conversations will take us. We will
everything from career development to
likely find continuous ways to co-op-
project serve their own clientele, but we
erate that benefit us all and allow us to
Libraries’ website is the collaborative
Patrons from across the province can
realized that a lot of the population isn’t
have a greater impact on our services.”
result of Memorial University Libraries,
now access the expensive and previ-
affiliated with any of us,” said Louise
College of the North Atlantic and
ously restricted databases for free; the
White, associate university librarian
the
only requirement is that users must have
(marine, music and education).
Newfoundland
and
Labrador
Department of Education.
children’s literature.
“Each of the partners involved in the
a Newfoundland and Labrador Public
Cleaning up contaminated environments safely By Jackey Locke
“We wanted to reach more people
and associated application technologies to adequately
biodispersants that have huge potential market values,
address the associated safety and environmental
cost-efficient
concerns.
technologies that use waste streams as substrates and oil
“We are working on a process to identify and screen
dispersion technologies that promote the application
for the superior biosurfactant-producing bacteria from
of biodispersants as an emergency measure for oil spill
oil-contaminated samples originated in the North
control in Newfoundland’s offshore,” said Dr. Zhang.
Atlantic ocean,” explained Dr. Zhang. “We will then
“Additionally, we hope to contribute to the devel-
grow that bacteria in specific substrate to generate
opment of biodispersant application guidelines for
biosurfactants.”
oil spill control in large-scale applications in harsh
Dr. Zhang and her team receive water and oil sam-
WE ALL KNOW
when an oil spill occurs, it’s
ples from offshore Newfoundland, and look at all the
important to clean it up as soon as possible. But, what
types of bacteria in the samples to find special bacteria
about the process used to clean it up?
that can be used to make biosurfactants. These special
That’s where Dr. Helen Zhang, a professor of engi-
bacteria are isolated and sent for DNA sequencing to get
neering at Memorial University, and her team, which
the pure streams, which can then be directly applied for
includes fellow faculty members, Drs. Kelly Hawboldt,
biosurfactant production.
Tahir Husain and Bing Chen, come in. They are
“Compared to their chemical equivalents, biodisper-
researching a less toxic and more environmentally
sants are less toxic, biodegradable, and can be biologi-
friendly process using biosurfactant-based dispersants
cally produced from industrial wastes or by-products,”
for cleaning up contaminated environments – a process
said Dr. Zhang.
that has never been done before.
the superior biosurfactant-producing microbes from
environments are becoming increasingly important
oil-contaminated samples with marine sources, to use
as exploration shifts to more remote areas,” said Dr.
industrial waste streams as the substrate to economi-
Zhang. “Oil spill management using dispersants has
cally produce biosurfactants, to characterize the newly
been proven to be effective under challenging environ-
produced biosurfactants and optimize their combina-
mental conditions. However, chemical dispersant usage
tion with solvents to generate advanced biodispersants
may cause some degree of environmental harm due to
and to assess the performance of newly produced bio-
toxicity and non-biodegradability of some chemical
dispersants and associated technologies for oil spill con-
dispersants.”
trol in cold and harsh environments.
The core of Dr. Zhang’s research is to find novel,
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
environments.”
The project objectives are to identify and screen
“The management of offshore oil spills in harsh
environmentally friendly and cost-effective dispersants
biosurfactant-/biodispersant-producing
“The research outputs will provide the Newfoundland offshore
petroleum
industry
8
with
effective
SUBMITTED PHOTO
the Newfoundland and Labrador Public
The portal contains more than 50
Dr. Zhang aboard the Eastern Canada Response Corporation (ECRC) boat for oil spill response. www.mun.ca/gazette
‘Meaningful opportunities’
have a formal international development presence.”
Gauging Memorial’s potential in international development
reputation upon which to build new collaborations ,
Glen Penney, a DELTS international business develop-
having worked with many international partners and
ment manager and project lead with MI International,
by sharing DELTS’ expertise in online education, educa-
is implementing the pilot and will soon begin con-
tional technologies and teaching development..
sultations across Memorial’s St. John’s and Grenfell campuses.
“In taking a considered approach to international development projects, we are ensuring that we channel
“With this pilot, we’re taking a strategic approach to
Memorial’s expertise into the right areas for the benefit
international development work, identifying opportu-
of the university and the projects which we undertake,”
By Moira Finn
nities that align most closely with our strengths and
she saide.
Special to the Gazette
giving careful consideration to our engagement in this
Projects and Consultancies pilot project or to contribute
skills and expertise of
International development projects are typically iden-
Memorial’s academic community may soon help more
tified as initiatives to help reduce poverty and improve
people, in more countries around the world.
the lives and living conditions for people in developing and
countries. While participating in international develop-
Consultancies (IDPC) is a pilot project that was
The
International
Development
Projects
ment projects would mean additional revenue for the
launched
this past January. The project is assessing
university and heighten Memorial’s profile on the world
the university’s capacity to participate in major inter-
stage, its most profound impact would be on people and
national development projects. It is a joint initiative
communities in the developing world.
of Memorial’s International Centre, DELTS (Distance
“We often hear from students that they want to con-
Education, Learning and Teaching Support) and Marine
nect their studies to the world outside and international
Institute (MI) International.
development projects provide a host of meaningful
“Many Memorial and MI faculty members and
opportunities for global engagement for students and
researchers have experience in international develop-
faculty,” said Ms. Knutson, who is also the special advi-
ment,” said Bill Chislett, director, MI International, who
sor to the president on international affairs. “We have
along with Susan Cleyle, director, DELTS, and Sonja
many more research and exchange agreements, study
Knutson, director, International Centre, are overseeing
abroad opportunities, international collaborations and
the IDPC pilot project through an ad hoc committee.
other partnerships. International development projects
“But the questions we are facing now are whether we
and consultancies may be the logical nextstep.”
can do more, how we focus our efforts and should we
to consultations, contact Glen Penney at glenp@mun.ca or by telephone at 709-778-0593.
NAOMI OSBORNE PHOTO
arena,” he said.
THE KNOWLEDGE,
To learn more about the International Development
Dr. Bill Chislett
Ms. Cleyle says Memorial already has an excellent
Diverse view
Studying the international experience at Memorial By Sandy Woolfrey-Fahey
MEMORIAL
UNIVERSITY’S
population
is
on
Working Group, Advisory Committee Chairs and
increasingly culturally diverse. Memorial is now home to
Internationalization at Memorial as well as the provin-
Steering Committee, followed by wider distribution
students from 90 countries, which provides a significant
cial and federal strategy for population growth.
to the university community. The study will be a
opportunity to create a learning environment rich in diversity for all students.
Memorial’s
recently
published
White
Paper
“Memorial has examined internationalization at sev-
valuable contribution to Memorial as it embarks on the
eral points in our history, but there has never been a
development of an international strategy. It will also
“Our international student enrolment is growing
comprehensive exploration of the needs of these stu-
inform the teaching and learning community about
steadily,” said Dr. David Wardlaw, provost and vice-pres-
dents on our campuses and our readiness to embrace a
effective strategies to pursue in support of its goal of
ident (academic). “In 2013-14, approximately 1,800 stu-
larger international population,” said Dr. Wardlaw.
creating a truly inclusive and responsive campus,
dents or 10 per cent of our total student population and
The report will be submitted to Dr. Doreen Neville,
23 per cent of our graduate students came from interna-
co-lead of the Teaching and Learning Framework and
tional locations. Now more than ever we need to make
associate vice-president (academic) planning and pro-
sure we are effectively supporting and welcoming our
grams, and distributed to the Teaching and Learning
as recommended by the Teaching and Learning Framework.
international students.” Researchers
with
the
Teaching
and
Learning
Framework (TLF) are currently conducting a pan-university study looking at students who are vulnerable based on cultural differences and second language challenges. This is the third study arising from the TLF recommendation to support vulnerable learners. The project, co-led by Dr. David Philpott, Faculty of Education, and Ms. Karen Kennedy, Office of the Provost, is proceeding in a manner similar to previous studies: examining data, holding consultations and focus groups with students, faculty and staff at all three campuses, and conducting an extensive literature review and environmental scan. “Our study has adopted a dual focus,” said Dr. Philpott. “The first explores the experience of international students studying and living at Memorial and the second explores our institution’s competency in being ready to understand and respond to an internationally diverse student population.” “We are also using the intercultural development inventory, a standardized assessment tool that measures intercultural competency,” said Ms. Kennedy. “It will establish a baseline measure of where Memorial currently stands with respect to its capacity to respond to an increasingly diverse student population.”
Members of the Pakistani Student Association have fun during the 2012 MUNdays Spirit Parade.
This study, focusing on students, complements
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
9
www.mun.ca/gazette
‘Pharm parties’ frightening reality among youth By Heidi Wicks
JUST BECAUSE
some drugs are legal, it doesn’t
these particular medications can be lethal if taken in an
mean they can’t be abused. And with frightening trends
excessive amount or if taken by someone whose system
like “pharm parties,” where prescription pills are laid
has not been introduced to the drug.
Five reasons to include the medicine cabinet in your spring cleaning THERE CAN’T BE much harm in using slightly expired
out like bowls of potato chips, on the rise, informing
Overuse and abuse of these drugs can cause psychi-
youth of the dangers of prescription drugs is more
atric impairments such as mood and anxiety symp-
important than ever.
toms, paranoia and psychosis, as well as destroy organs
According to Dr. Linda Hensman, dean of Memorial’s
outside of the brain system, causing respiratory issues,
School of Pharmacy, the No. 1 reason to discard expired
irregular heartbeats, heart attacks or seizures.
medications is because there is no guarantee of its potency
According to Health Canada, the most vulnerable victim group is youth — whose curiosity and lack of knowledge can be detrimental to their health.
“Some medication formulations are designed to
medications, right?
or effectiveness.
To help, students at Memorial’s School of Pharmacy
release the active ingredient slowly over many hours.
“The drug potency is decreased and if the label says
are using their education to inform Newfoundland and
Of great concern is when these formulations are either
100 milligrams, for example, there’s no guarantee that
Labrador’s youth by offering a series of presentations on
chewed, crushed, snorted or injected in an attempt to
100 milligrams is still there,” she explains.
the dangers of drug abuse to a number of high schools
get the high, as this leads to a rapid release of the drug
throughout March, Pharmacist Awareness Month
which can have deadly consequences.”
(PAM) 2014.
Dr. Thomas feels that when it comes to public aware-
Vanessa Bennett, a second-year pharmacy student,
ness, “we can’t take our foot off the gas.”
But that’s not all. Here are four more reasons you shouldn’t keep a cluttered medicine cabinet. 1. When medications lose their potency they will be ineffective in treating the condition for which they were
presented to high school students during last year’s
“The school system in Newfoundland and Labrador
PAM events, and says that high school is the time when
is targeting our children at an early age through pro-
2. Many childhood poisonings result from consump-
many students become exposed to drugs.
grams such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE).
tion of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
prescribed.
“Many people have the idea that just because a med-
Despite this, we continue to have problems with sub-
Also teenagers may misuse/abuse prescription medica-
ication is prescribed by a physician it is safe and will
stance abuse in our communities, and this tells me that
tions. The less medication there is available, the safer your
have no negative consequences,” said Ms. Bennett.
we may need to step it up even more.”
home will be.
“These presentations teach the students that this is not
3. Eyedrops with preservatives should be discarded 30
always the case and explains some of the consequences
days after opening, since the product will no longer be
of their misuse.”
sterile and may be contaminated. If used the drops may
Barbara Thomas with the School of Pharmacy teaches
contribute to the development of an eye infection.
substance abuse to undergraduate pharmacy students,
4. Stockpiling medications just in case you get the
and is proud they are taking the initiative to reach out
condition again is dangerous. Self-diagnosis may mean
to a vulnerable demographic.
misdiagnosis. Taking something for a condition that one
“The fact that the students are closer in age to the
believes they have but don’t could delay correct diagnosis
high school students likely adds impact to the message,”
and appropriate treatment, prolonging the ailment.
she said.
Luckily, there’s a place for the public to discard their
Dr. Thomas says that prescription drugs can be as lethal as illegal drugs if used incorrectly. The most common classes of prescription medications that are subject to abuse are the opioid analgesics, such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), the sedative hypnotics such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium) and the psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin). Each of
&
Pictured are members of the RNC and the RCMP, Dr. Csop Glew, student Samantha House, Dr. Linda Hensman and student Kara O’Keefe at police headquarters at 1 Parade Street in St. John’s where the 2014 Public Pill Drop will take place on March 29.
expired medications. On Saturday, March 29, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., residents can drop off their expired pills at the School of Pharmacy’s Public Pill Drop at the refurbished RCMP/RNC building at Fort Townsend in St. John’s.
NEWS NOTES Listed below is a selection of the funding opportunities for
IMMINENT DEADLINES
–– Molly Towell Fellowship
which information has recently been received by the Office of
–– Operating grants
Research Services. For links to further information on these
March 27
items, visit Grant Funding Opportunities on the research web-
Human Frontier Science Program
site at www.mun.ca/research/overview/grant_opp.php
–– Research Grants (Letter of Intent)
•
Canada Council for the Arts –– Project Grants for Organizations in the Visual Arts
• Canada-Latin America and the Caribbean Research Ex-
March 31
change Grants (LACREG)
Canadian Liver Foundation Operating grants
• 2014 Competition Launch
–– Summer Studentship Program
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY RESEARCH INSTITUTE –– Prevention Research Grants (full application)
• CIHR Barer-Flood Prize for Health Services and Policy Research
Canadian Nurses Foundation
• CIHR Cancer Prevention Research Grants
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
–– Scholarships
–– Gold Medal Award (nominations)
• CIHR Catalyst Grant: HIV/AIDS Community-based Research (2014)
April 1
• CIHR Chair: Applied Public Health
Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE fund)
• CIHR Institute of Aging Betty Havens Prize for Knowledge
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council –– Hyland R. Johns grant program
–– Synergy Awards for Innovation (call for nominations)
Translation in Aging • CIHR ICRH Community Development Program Grants • CIHR Partnership Award 2014
Cancer Research Institute (New York) –– Irvington Institute fellowship program
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation –– Annaliese Maier Research Award
• CIHR Knowledge Synthesis Grant • CIHR Rapid Funding for DSEN Targeted Research • CIHR Research Catalyst Network: Rare Diseases • Canadian Liver Foundation Operating Grant
Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute –– Capacity Development Awards in Prevention
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation –– Research grants (letter of intent)
Research
• NSERC Collaborative Research Training Experience (CRE-
–– Innovation Gants (full application)
ATE) Program
–– Innovation to Impact Grants (Full Application)
Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada –– Major Research Grant
• NSERC Idea to Innovation (I2I) • NSERC Strategic Project Grants
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Molly Towell Perinatal Research Foundation
10
www.mun.ca/gazette
OUTANDABOUT Saturday, March 29 MUN Jazz Ensemble, 8-9:30 p.m., D.F. Cook Recital Hall, School of Music, Sponsor: School of Music
Monday, March 31 Environmental Management and Potential Use of Heavy Oil Fly Ash, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., IIC-2014, Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, Sponsor: School of Graduate Studies
Tuesday, April 1 Poetry Reading and Chapbook Launch, 8-9:30 p.m., A-3018, Sponsor: Department of English Hyper-Real-Time Ice Simulation and Modeling Using GPGPU, SUBMITTED PHOTO
1-3 p.m., IIC-2014, Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, Sponsor: School of Graduate Studies
Thursday, April 3 An Evening with Fergus O’Byrne and Alumni in Toronto, 5:30-
INAUGURAL VICTORY A team of four MBA students from Memorial University has won the inaugural P&G Cup, which focuses on innovation and technology. From left are MBA students Daan Goossens, David Winsor, Amy Fisher and Janine Brophy. Memorial defeated 11 teams from across Canada to claim the title.
8:30 p.m., Fionn MacCool’s, 181 University Ave. (the event will be held in Irish Family Room), Toronto, Ont., Sponsor: Alumni Affairs and Development, Johnson Insurance Using Technology-enhanced Teaching and Flipped Classroom to Engage Students in Large Classes, 2-4 p.m., ED-2030B, Sponsor: DELTS
For more on these events and other news at Memorial, please visit www.
Annual Engineering Open House, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Engineering
today.mun.ca
building, St. John’s campus, Sponsor: Faculty of Engineering and
Friday, April 4
Applied Science, Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of N.L.
CBIE Webinar Series: Attracting and Retaining International
Wednesday, March 19
Students, 3-4 p.m., ED-4008, Sponsor: International Student
The Gendered Dimensions of Employment-Related Geographical
Tuesday, March 25
Advising Office
Mobility, 12-2 p.m., ED-3023, Sponsor: Department of Sociology
Biogeochemical Prospecting for Buried Uranium Mineralization
MUN Chamber Orchestra, 8-9:30 p.m., D.F. Cook Recital Hall,
Education Information Session, 1-1:50 p.m., SN-4068, Sponsor:
and the Investigation of Black Spruce Trees as Tools for
School of Music, Sponsor: School of Music
Academic Advising Centre
Biogeochemical Sampling and for Environmenta, 10 a.m.-12
Basque Standardization and the New Speaker: Shifting Dynamics
p.m., IIC-2014, Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation,
Saturday, April 5
of Authority and Value, 3-4:30 p.m., SN-3060, Sponsor:
Sponsor: School of Graduate Studies
MUN Chamber Music Showcase, 8-9:30 p.m., D.F. Cook Recital
Department of Anthropology, Department of Linguistics
Meet up with Memorial in San Francisco Region, 6-9 p.m.,
Hall, School of Music, Sponsor: School of Music
The Challenges of Ocean Science Research, 1-2 p.m., online
Pampas, 529 Alma St., Palo Alto, Calif., Sponsor: Alumni Affairs
webinar, Sponsor: School of Graduate Studies
and Development
Sunday, April 6
Aboriginal Diversity Sessions - Day 2, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., The Loft,
Book Launch: The Ballad and the Folklorist: The Collected
Dieux! MUN Festival & Chamber Choirs, 7-8:30 p.m., St.
third floor, University Centre, Sponsor: Aboriginal Resource Office
Papers of David Buchan, 7-9 p.m., Bitters Pub and Restaurant,
Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (The Kirk), St. John’s, Sponsor:
“Can Chemicals Be Green?” With Dr. Fran Kerton, 6:30-8:30
Feild Hall, Sponsor: Department of Folklore
School of Music
p.m., The Fluvarium, 5 Nagle’s Place, St. John’s, Sponsor: WISE
The Blue Castle Presents Lisa Moore, 7-9 p.m., The Rocket Room,
NL - Statoil Speaker Series
Water Street, Sponsor: Department of Gender Studies
Monday, April 7
Course and Teaching Evaluations, 3-4:30 p.m., ED-2030B,
Better Business Writing: The Right Approach, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
The Excited-State Chemistry of Molecular Assemblies and Novel
Sponsor: DELTS
Gardiner Centre, Sponsor: Gardiner Centre
Aromatic Chromophores, 1-3 p.m., IIC-2014, Bruneau Centre for
Employment Law for Managers, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Gardiner Centre, Sponsor: Gardiner Centre
Research and Innovation, Sponsor: School of Graduate Studies
Wednesday, March 26
Digital and Social Media Strategy and Tactics, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Study of Dynamic Behaviour during Loading and Unloading of
Gardiner Centre, Sponsor: Gardiner Centre
Thursday, March 20
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Operations, 1:30-3:30 p.m., IIC-
MUN Cinema Series: Empire of Dirt, 7-8:40 p.m., Cineplex
2014, Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation, Sponsor:
Theatre, Avalon Mall, Sponsor: MUN Cinema
School of Graduate Studies
IRF-1 Responsiveness to IFN-gamma Predicts Different Cancer
Universal Design for Learning: An Introduction to UDL in Post-
Immune Phenotypes, 12-1:30 p.m., Health Sciences Centre,
Secondary Education II, 2-4 p.m., ED-2030B, Sponsor: DELTS
Luxury oceanside house for rent in Flatrock, 20 minutes
Lecture Theatre D, Sponsor: Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Giant Used Book Sale, 6-9 p.m., St. John’s Arts and Culture
from St. John’s/MUN. Three bedrooms, furnished, picture
Faculty Bible Study, 12-12:50 p.m., HH-2005, Sponsor: Phil Heath
Centre, Sponsor: Canadian Federation of University Women
windows, deck, Jacuzzi, open-concept kitchen, stainless
Fortunate Ones Headline Ottawa Social Night, 7-9 p.m., Sponsor:
CLASSIFIED steel appliances, hiking trails seconds away. Large writer’s
Heart & Crown, 67 Clarence St., Ottawa, Ont. (the event will
Thursday, March 27
studio with breathtaking ocean views. No pets/smoking.
be held in Peter Devine room), Sponsor: Alumni Affairs and
Lunch and Learn on Wind Power, 12-1 p.m., EN-4000, Sponsor:
Professionally managed. $1350/month. Utilities extra. Email
Development, Johnson Insurance
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
kati@agocsmusic.com
MUN Cinema Series: Tim’s Vermeer, 7-8:20 p.m., Cineplex
Friday, March 21
Theatre, Avalon Mall, Sponsor: MUN Cinema
Fully furnished house for rent in St. John’s east end. 3 bedrooms,
Blood Drive, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Landing, University
Characterization and Role of Major Deep-sea Pennatulacean
1.5 bathrooms, on an elementary school street in a lovely, quiet
Centre, Sponsor: Canadian Blood Services
Corals in the Bathyal Zone, 1-3 p.m., IIC-2014, Bruneau Centre
neighbourhood. Fenced backyard, off-street parking, and on
Aldrich Conference Keynote Address, 7-8 p.m., Bruneau Centre
for Research and Innovation, Sponsor: School of Graduate Studies
busline, close to amenities. September-May/June (negotiable).
for Research and Innovation, Sponsor: Graduate Students Union
Meet up with Memorial in Los Angeles, 6-9 p.m., W Los Angeles
Please call 860.918.5927 or email lstoyles@hotmail.com
The Ethnography of Resistance: Notes from the Field on Thick
– Westwood, Whiskey Blue Restaurant, 930 Hilgard Ave., Los
Description and Activist Engagement, 3-4:30 p.m., QC-4028,
Angeles, Calif., Sponsor: Alumni Affairs and Development
ACADEMIC EDITING. Experienced technical writer and editor
Sponsor: Department of Anthropology
Berries for the Newfoundland Garden: From Garden to Campus
with a background in sciences, humanities, and health studies
Screening of Pandora’s Promise, 2-4:40 p.m., EN-2006, Sponsor:
Brown Bag Workshop Series, 1-2 p.m., UC-3018, The Landing,
offers editing and indexing services for papers, theses, articles,
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of Business
Sponsor: MUN Botanical Garden
and books. English as a Second Language students welcome.
Administration
Henrietta Harvey Lecture: Oil’s Unconventional Future, 7:30-9
Contact NLAcademicEditing@gmail.com or call 726-7711.
Visiting Scholar: Demographic Diversity and Team Performance,
p.m., IIC-2001, Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation,
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., BN-4000, Sponsor: Faculty of Business
Sponsor: Faculty of Arts, Department of Geography
Lawyer seeking two other professionals or students to
Administration
Giant Used Book Sale, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., St. John’s Arts and Culture
share a furnished four bedroom house. Shared laundry,
Centre, Sponsor: Canadian Federation of University Women
kitchen, bathrooms. Digital cable, wi-fi, heat and light
Saturday, March 22
included. Off street parking. Centrally located. Call
16th Annual Curling Bonspiel for Alumni and Friends, 9:30
Friday, March 28
a.m.-5 p.m., RE/MAX Centre, St. John’s, Sponsor: Alumni Affairs
Giant Used Book Sale, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., St. John’s Arts and Culture
and Development
Centre, Sponsor: Canadian Federation of University Women
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
691-9446.
11
www.mun.ca/gazette
Plan for the worst, hope for the best Safeguarding Memorial University Libraries’ digital assets By Kristine Power
AMIDST THE EVER increasing evolution of digital content, concerns about how to protect, preserve and access that information are becoming paramount to libraries and archives. The need to stay one step ahead of developing technology could explain why a group of university libraries, that now includes Memorial, has come together to create their own solution. The LOCKSS program is a library-led digital preservation system created in 1999 and based out of Stanford University that works on the principle that “lots of copies keep stuff safe” (LOCKSS). Memorial University Libraries has just signed a formal agreement based on LOCKSS principles with four other European universities: Universität Bielefeld, Ghent University, de Bruxelles. This independent agreement is the first of its kind; other agreements have been signed, but by previously existing consortiums. Libraries are banding together in a self-sufficient and self-sustainable fashion that guarantees their resources are protected for generations to come.
CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
Université Catholique de Louvain and Université Libre
From left are Lorraine Busby, Dr. Faye Murrin, Pauwels Benoit, Slavko Manojlovich and IT Services Consultant Casey Hilliard in the QEII Library lobby.
“Memorial University Libraries began to realize there was a need to safeguard our digital resources and create a contingency plan,” said Slavko Manojlovich, associate university librarian (information technology). “By using
innovation, and representative of Université Libre de
Communications recently collaborated on a stream-
the LOCKSS network software, participating libraries
Bruxelles, who was on hand to present the agreement
lined process for graduate students to upload their the-
acquire copies of each other’s select digital resources,
to Lorraine Busby, university librarian. “If everything
sis and associated files (research data, video, images,
and through computers and network connections, we
burns down in Brussels, we will have a copy here.”
etc.) directly through a secure form on the my.mun.ca
can provide access to our e-content should one library’s
LOCKSS software also has built-in features to protect
system go down or be compromised by a catastrophic
the integrity of the information so it doesn’t deteriorate
“It certainly instills confidence to know that our grad-
event.”
over time and that preserve the authenticity of the orig-
uate scholarship output is protected with a contingency
inal digital object — articles from scholarly journals, for
plan should some unforeseen event happen and we lose
example.
that unique data,” said Dr. Faye Murrin, associate dean,
One of the fundamental preservation principles of LOCKSS is that participating libraries should be separated by a minimum of 100 kilometres of geographical
Under the newly signed agreement, Memorial
distance to ensure the data’s survival.
portal.
SGS.
University Libraries will add an additional layer of pro-
“This is about making sure that you have enough cop-
tection to its e-thesis repository, as well. Memorial’s
ies around the globe so you are sure you will never lose
School of Graduate Studies (SGS), the Queen Elizabeth
anything,” said Benoit Pauwels, head of systems and
II
‘Starting point’
the Double Mer Point site near the town of Rigolet,
interaction with European settlers, he cited factors
Labrador, under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Rankin,
such as non-adoption of a fur trade, disease, starvation,
head of Memorial’s Department of Archaeology.
competition for resources with Europeans, avoiding
Graduate student receives scholarship honouring late Beothuk scholar By Janet Harron
Library and the Department of Computing &
“I am delighted that Jeralyn was awarded this schol-
contact with Europeans, and the precarious nature of
arship,” said Dr. Rankin. “Her research on European-
Newfoundland’s ecology for their extinction. For its
Inuit contact aligns well with Dr. Pastore’s and like
impact on Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural her-
Ralph, she made the move to Newfoundland from the
itage, the Boyd’s Cove site was designated a Provincial
U.S. to further her research. International graduate stu-
Historic Site in 1999.
dents don’t always have the same access to scholarship
“Ralph discovered over 25 sites in the Notre Dame
funds that our Canadian students do and I am grateful
Bay area, the most famous of which is Boyd’s Cove,”
student Jeralyn Bohms from
that the Amina Anthropological Resources Association
said Dr. Latonia Hartery, president of the Amina
the Department of Archaeology received the 2013
opened up this competition to all students studying in
Anthropological Resources Association and Social
Pioneer’s Scholarship at an event earlier this month
the North.”
Sciences and Humanities Research Council post-doc-
MASTER OF ARTS
held in honour of the late Beothuk scholar and former
Dr. Pastore moved to St. John’s in 1968 to begin lec-
toral fellow in Memorial’s Department of Archaeology.
turing at Memorial. His most notable contribution to
“Through his research, we gained a more rounded
Dr. Pastore, who passed away 12 years ago, is credited
Beothuk studies was determining the multifaceted
view of who the Beothuk were as people, and his work is
with discovering the Boyd’s Cove Beothuk site and was
reasons for Beothuk demise. In addition to adverse
still the starting point for anyone interested in Beothuk
Memorial faculty member Dr. Ralph Pastore.
a prolific writer on Beothuk archaeology.
Archaeology.” The scholarship was sponsored by the Amina
with me is his dedication to sharing his research with
Anthropological Resources Association, the travel com-
the communities where he worked,” said Ms. Bohms,
pany Adventure Canada, the Pastore family, the Mogford
who arrived at Memorial after completing a graduate
family and Dr. Ingeborg Marshall. An overview of Ms.
degree in Wisconsin. “I hope to live up to that prece-
Bohms research supported by this award can be read
dent with my work in the Inuit community of Rigolet,
at www.aminainc.org/Scholarship/Scholarship_Bohms.
where I will be doing my master’s research this sum-
html.
mer. I am grateful to the Pastore family, the Amina Anthropological
Resources
Association,
Adventure
Canada and all the other individuals who contributed to the scholarship fund for sharing their generosity.” For her master’s thesis, Ms. Bohms will be excavating an 18th-century Inuit communal winter house at
Gazette | Wednesday, March 19, 2014
CHRIS HAMMOND PHOTO
“One of the aspects of Dr. Pastore’s work that resounds
Those interested in further information on the scholarship can contact Dr. Hartery at ljharter@aminainc. org.
Jeralyn Bohms 12
www.mun.ca/gazette