The rocket team in Norway
Photo by Steven Bachiu

January 20, 2011

Wow! After a very full day, I find myself blogging at the beginning of launch day. We are at T-minus about 4 hours. But before I get started on my most exciting day, I will spend a little time catching you up with what happened yesterday.

Towards the end of the evening, I was able to deliver a very short talk, along with my new friend Julia, from Bergen, about the CaNoRock program, and our experiences, to a group that included:
- The Canadian ambassador to Norway
- Head of education for the Canadian Space Agency
- Vice-President of research for U of A
- Governor of the County Nordland
- Mayor of Andøy
- Director and Deputy Director of Norwegian Space Center
- Rector (head) of University of Oslo
- two Deans (education and research) of Oslo
- Director of research and development from University of Tromsø
- Head of Physics department, Tromsø
- and more. But, I have to go to breakfast...

It was very nerve-racking, but, from all reports, the talks went extremely well. Thanks, RCM 300.

See Steven's full account of his team's rocket launch in Norway here: http://blogs.usask.ca/rockroll/

Also, check out the video of the launch on the U of S YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Usask?feature=mhum#p/f/0/zNTxpSt_o3g

Yan attended Evan Hardy Collegiate and achieved Top Ten students each year and was involved in numerous extra curricular activities. He began his studies in the College of Arts and Science in the fall of 2003 in his pursuit to become a physician.

He was named on the Dean’s List after his first two years in Arts and Science and received numerous scholarships and awards for his academic achievements. Some of these included the University of Saskatchewan Scholarship, the Greystone Scholarship and the Canadian Millennium Scholarship to name a few.

Yan has been very active in extracurricular activities, volunteer and community services during his studies.
Mr. Huang graduated at the Spring Convocation with his Doctor of Medicine and has begun his Residency in Emergency Medicine in Vancouver, British Columbia where he continues to wear his U of S White Coat because he believes it is very important to remember one’s roots.

The extinct marine lizard was a dominant predator during the last 20 million years of the Cretaceous Period and it is estimated that the creature is about 75 million years old. The fossil, which had been discovered around the Gardiner Dam, sat in boxes for 50 years or so, until the right student came along who could not only assemble the fossil, but replicate every one of the bones using carved pieces of foam.

Evan Nordquist, a graduate of the paleobiology program in the College of Arts and Science, estimated that the complete fossil took him 250 hours of work. According to his faculty supervisor, Professor Brian Pratt, Nordquist was as rare of a find as the fossil itself.

"The fact that a student assembled the Mosasaur is very special. It took many years to find the right student to do this work," said Pratt. "Evan had all the smarts and the persistence to do it as well as the artistic skills... It feels fantastic to have a skeleton assembled and hanging. It's so eye catching and it's so different."

The Museum of Natural Sciences is open to the public.

He arrived with little pomp or circumstance – but at least five armed guards. American Ambassador David Jacobson visited the University of Saskatchewan during a trip to Saskatoon to have a discussion with a small group of students in Convocation Hall Sept. 14.

All smiles and pleasant gestures, Jacobson seemed enthused to be on campus as he was greeted upon arrival by Richard Florizone, Vice-President of Finance and Resources and Leigh-Ellen Keating, director of the International Office.

Once seated in Convocation Hall, Jacobson entertained the audience of U of S students, faculty and staff with anecdotes of past experiences in Saskatoon and stories of his friend, U.S. President Barack Obama.

Jacobson, who calls Illinois home where he works as a lawyer, aided President Obama and is hailed as one of the chief fundraisers on his campaign. He later served at the White House on Obama’s transition team prior to his appointment as the 29th U.S. Ambassador to Canada in October of last year.

“I can assure you, the President doesn’t walk on water,” Jacobson jested.

While on a more serious note, he told his audience that speaking with people in a university environment is a favourite part of his job because of the nature of the questions and discussions that are usually the result.

His visit to the U of S was no exception as questions for the ambassador ranged from the American stance on fossil fuels, oils spills and drug policies, to more questions about his relationship with President Obama. Although the topics were often serious, the discussion forum had the informal feeling of an afternoon chat.

The event was organized by Keating and the university’s International Office and she commented that visits such as the ambassador’s offer great exposure for the university.

“Any time we can bring someone with a persona like Ambassador Jacobson, it not only bodes well for the university but it allows students to ask tough questions and become more involved in their world politically,” said Keating following the event.

Although brief, Jacobson’s visit seemed to spark a chord with many of the students in attendance.

“The U.S. relationship with Canada is an important one,” he added. “We work so very closely on so many issues.”

“John Diefenbaker believed all Canadians were equal before the law, and that the powers of government were not without limit. Above all, he believed in freedom,” Harper told the audience. “To give practical expression to these profoundly valuable ideas, he stood before the House of Commons on Dominion Day in 1960, and introduced Canada’s Bill of Rights. It is entirely fitting that 50 years after John Diefenbaker endowed Canada with its Bill of Rights, our government continues to support the Diefenbaker Canada Centre as an important national treasure.”

Michael Atkinson, executive director of The Diefenbaker Canada Centre and the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, was thankful for the investment into the Diefenbaker Building as it will allow increased capacity to preserve and interpret Diefenbaker’s collection and equip the centre to hold public policy events.

“This investment will allow expanded public use of the building and transform the museum into a unique destination site for visitors, clients of educational programming and scholars conducting academic research,” said Atkinson. “These improvements will help revitalize the wide-ranging legacy of the highly influential former Prime Minister Diefenbaker, who was also a U of S alumnus and former chancellor.”

According to a U of S news release, the rejuvenation project includes conversion of existing space into a large multi-purpose events room with the potential to accommodate 80 people; renovations and upgrade of the main gallery, and exhibit and meeting space; reconfiguration of exhibit preparation and artifact conservation area; installation of new environmental controls and high-density storage space for permanent and temporary collections; and enhancements to the lobby to accommodate larger audiences.

The Government of Canada announced it would be supporting the project through the infrastructure Stimulus Fund, “a key component to Canada’s Economic Action Plan that invests in infrastructure projects across Canada to stimulate economic activity and create jobs,” stated a release.

For more information on the event, visit the Prime Minister's website

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Bill of Rights, the Governor General of Canada arrived at the U of S campus, a place she called a comfortable environment, for a presentation about women’s rights.

“I believe in what universities like this one provide,” Michaëlle Jean told a large and enthusiastic crowd in Convocation Hall Aug. 24. “They provide spaces for thoughts, discussion, and dialogue. That is why I feel so comfortable in a space like this one.”

After touring the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, Canada’s 27th Governor General arrived at Convocation Hall to address the standing-room-only- crowd of nearly 450, and another 300 who watched a live video stream in the Physics Building.

The event began with a traditional Cree ceremony. Jean received a blanket from Elders Walter and Maria Linklater who also bestowed on her the ceremonial name Kīhcōkimāskwew Kānīkānīt, which translates into Great Woman Who Leads.

Jean seemed thrilled with the traditional greeting and then began her speech by giving a brief family history of her grandmother’s arrival to Canada from Haiti as a widowed mother of five, and then her own mother’s challenges as a single parent. Jean said it was these women who taught her that “education is the key to freedom.”

Empowering women decreases inequality, poverty and tyranny, said Jean. The Canadian Bill of Rights should be protected without exception for all people, and “women’s rights are human rights – they’re one and the same.”

Jean’s presentation was followed by a panel discussion led by Vice-President Advancement Heather Magotiaux with speakers Beth Bilson, acting dean of the College of Law, Pamela Jordan, associate professor of history, Pamela Downe, department head and associate professor of archaeology, and Omeasoo Butt, Graduate Students' Association president.

After the panel had finished its discussion, members of the audience asked questions on a number of topics including the disappearance of over 600 women and the government’s strategy in addressing and solving the issue. Jean said that these women are sisters and mothers, and the solution is a shared responsibility.

“We Canadians are very humble, but we need to be more daring. Our dream is an unfinished one. We have a dream about equality, but we are not.”

Following the event, Jean spent time meeting well-wishers in Nobel Plaza in front of the College Building before leaving campus for other engagements in Saskatchewan.

Read the Governor General's entire speech in French and English on the government website

Our University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers performance and cultural tour to China—two years in the making—was an amazing experience and a significant life event for us all. China is a remarkable ancient country and there is an immediate and palpable sense of 6,000 years of civilization, culture, and tradition. This was going to be quite an experience for the vast majority of our choir—some of whom had never been outside Canada, much less to Asia or the Orient. The 14-hour time difference with Saskatchewan (ahead) was quite easily adjusted to due to excitement and anticipation. Each day felt like a week’s worth of experience.

Find out more: Greystone Singers website in the U of S Department of Music

Shanghai is a city of 19 million people operating at the pace of New York; huge and impressive, but it does not seem that way at first. The airport is shiny and spotless—one could literally eat off the floor. We met our translator and personal guide for the next nine days: Michael Hai (Hai Yen). He was also our travel guide for Shanghai and area. We were starting to get a sense of culture shock (signage in both Chinese characters and some English); and sensing that we were a small minority in a very large and advanced society. This was certainly NOT the “Red China” of Mao Tse Tung in the 1970s, but a very aggressive and progressive society that will certainly displace the United States as the world trade, cultural, and economic “engine.” The city motto for Shanghai was “A better city: a better life.” Although Expo was on, we did not have the time in our packed itinerary to visit it, other than cruise by the site and see some of the pavilions from the highway overpasses. The traffic is organized confusion. Traffic lights are merely suggestive: all sorts, shapes, and manner of vehicles compete for mobility and space. Bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, motorcycles “taxis” with an “outhouse” compartment built over the back seat—none of whom wear helmets—race and outmaneuver each other against red lights and the persistent whistles of the traffic police. Amazingly, there are surprisingly few accidents or collisions: the flow of traffic seems to be similar to the pace and flow of social life as well, with verbal discourse and mannerisms similarly situated and paced. If one isn’t assertive, one gets left behind and lost in the detritus of mega-city life.

Shanghai’s experience included the “Bund,” i.e., the riverfront (barges and ocean-going boats coming right into the heart of the city beside the skyscrapers), Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Silk Factory, Jade Buddha Temple, Chinese Acrobats show (comparable to Cirque du Soleil), Yu Garden, Jiantong Tower, and the Maglev Train (top speed of 430 km/h).

We had a very successful first concert in the Shanghai “Little Companion” Theatre that seats about 250 people and was moderately full.

The audience consisted of local area choir members and students, as well as members of the general public. The reaction of the local audience is somewhat different to what we are accustomed to at home: rather than listening quietly, there tends to be a general “buzz” of conversation during performance, where people are politely commenting on the performance and interacting with their neighbors—somewhat like the 17th and 18th century European audiences in opera venues. After each piece (our program was translated into Chinese), there was applause ranging from polite to enthusiastic—most so during our renditions of three Chinese folk songs sung in Mandarin. The audience began vigorously clapping in rhythm when we began “Fengyang Song”—the first of this set.

After the last piece, they shouted for an encore, and so we did “Fengyang Song” again to their great delight. One person (it may have been a choir director) came backstage and pointed to "Away from the Roll of the Sea" on his program and asked to see my music. I just had mine at the time and obviously could not give that to him, but I gave him my card and tried to make him understand that he should contact me and then I could send him a copy.

All of these people in China are so very kind and polite and are just like us for the most part, except we cannot speak their language. It was interesting how quickly that we were adapting to the country and their mannerisms.

Sarah Oosman, a PhD student of interdisciplinary studies, was one of only three people across the country awarded the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (CIHR-IAPH) Scientific Director’s Award of Excellence.

Originally from Humboldt, Oosman is a physical therapist with a strong background in physiology. Having completed a bachelor’s degree in physiology and physical therapy at the University of Saskatchewan she went on to complete her Master of Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a focus on the physiology of body weight regulation, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolism. Presently in her third year of a PhD program Oosman’s work focuses on health promotion through implementing community- and school-based interventions where she merges the disciplines of kinesiology, community health and epidemiology.

“My PhD work combines my clinical experience along with my physiology knowledge to promote health among Métis people living in Saskatchewan specifically related to addressing the health challenges of obesity andT2D,” Oosman explains. “More specifically, I am working on collaborating with a northern Saskatchewan Métis community to integrate their knowledge and expertise toward the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating with their children living in that community.”

The CIHR-IAPH excellence award recognizes outstanding students in aboriginal health research at the master and doctoral levels. This year, three awards were given to Canadian students who demonstrate a high potential to become outstanding aboriginal health researchers and whose research has significant potential for improving knowledge of aboriginal health. The award ceremony took place at the Annual National Gathering of Graduate Students in Aboriginal Health Research at UBC in Vancouver in June.

“Saskatoon is very much my home and I have many strong family and friend roots here,” Oosman says. “The U of S provided the opportunity for me to work with and learn from two supervisors who are very strong researchers in the fields of health promotion and aboriginal health research, Karen Chad (vice-president research) and Dr. Janet Smylie (Department of Health Sciences, University of Toronto). I would not have had this opportunity to learn from these mentors if I had chosen to do my research at a different academic institution. “

Oosman has received funding for her PhD from the Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre (IPHRC). She is focusing her future on promoting Métis and First Nations health at the school and community level, specializing in physical activity and nutrition intervention research that integrates community-specific knowledge and local knowledge to combat the health challenges of obesity and T2D.

More information on Doc is available in the College of Engineering website and the D.K. Seaman Chair website

He became one of Alberta's most successful oilmen and industrialists through his company, Bow Valley Industries, and many other ventures. He and his brothers, B.J. and Don Seaman, were among the first wave of adventurous oilmen who pioneered the industry after the Second World War. Doc's war record was itself remarkable; he flew eighty-two successful combat missions out of North Africa as a sub-hunting pilot, earning a Government of France citation for bravery.

An original Calgary Flames owner, Doc followed the team passionately to the end. Besides bringing the Flames to Calgary, he was a key player in building the Saddledome and bringing the 1988 Olympic Winter Games to Calgary.

A true hockey fan, Doc joined a small group of visionaries to save Canadian hockey from mediocrity at a time when the European game was becoming dominant. Canada's five straight junior hockey gold medal wins have their roots in Project 75, now called the Seaman-Hotchkiss Foundation. He was a strong supporter of Hockey Canada's grass root development programs as well as Hockey Hall of Fame's founding principles of "Entertainment, Education and Excellence".

Alongside Mr. Seaman, other Inductees for the 2010 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction include Dino Ciccarelli, Cammi Granato and Angela James, in the player category; as well as Jim Devellano in the builder category. The 2010 Induction weekend kicks off on Friday, November 5th and culminates with the Induction Celebration on Monday, November 8th at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

More information can also be found at: http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/ind10menu.htm

As part of the MPAcc Gives Back community outreach program, students in the Master of Professional Accounting program in the Edwards School of Business read books they donated to students at Bishop Roborecki Community School.

On June 8, a group of U of S students and faculty gathered in the gymnasium of Bishop Roborecki to meet Principal Glen Hunks who thanked the MPAcc group for their support.

To make a point about how little money his students have, Hunks asked the U of S students if they had ever been on a tropical holiday to Mexico or Hawaii or the Caribbean.

“Put your hand up if you’ve ever been on a holiday like that,” he asked, to which most of the respondents answered ‘yes’.

“Ok, look around the room. Most of you have your hand up. If I were to ask this same question to my students at Bishop Roborecki, it is most likely that none of them would put their hand up.”

The MPAcc students realized their support to Bishop Roborecki was appreciated. Then, they dispersed throughout the school to meet a new friend and share some stories.

For more information on the Master of Public Accounting Program, visit the program website.

The phytotron facility in the Agriculture Building provides an environment that enables year-long plant growth by controlling variables such as temperature, humidity and light. This allows for plant testing and selection in a range of conditions including drought and frost simulations.

“The phytotron has been and continues to be critical to the work of the college, particularly the pulse breeding and research programs,” says Graham Scoles, associate dean, research and graduate studies, College of Agriculture and Bioresources. “Not only does it support the breeding programs by allowing more than one generation per year to be grown, but it allows graduate students to perform research projects in areas such as disease and nitrogen fixation under controlled conditions ensuring that experiments can be executed successfully.”

Phytotron experiments could address global challenges—climate change, disease and pests infestations, environmental degradation, and global population growth and food requirements—by helping to develop plant and crop varieties that are more nutritious, productive and hardy.

The phytotron supports the innovative plant and soil science research in the college and is an important teaching and training tool for U of S students.

The U of S News Release on the $ 1million gift can be read HERE
For more information on the phytotron renewal project, see the story in the April 9, 2010 issue of On Campus News HERE

Horwitz, along with 10 upper-year students, spent six weeks in and around South Africa during a study abroad term in the spring of 2010. She said that a typical day during the program included lectures, tours, community visits, and the occasional game of soccer.

Some of the highlights for her students, said Horwitz, included visits to schools in Soweto and attending a World Cup pre-tournament "friendly" between host nation South Africa and Colombia.

For more information on study abroad programs at the U of S, click HERE

With a passion for health and medical research into lymphomas and cell death in atherosclerosis, Kalra has been accepted into the U of S College of Medicine in the fall where he will pursue a career as a physician.
In his spare time, Kalra is an avid volunteer and soccer referee.
Check out the complete article on Neil Kalra in the Globe and Mail here.

The two winners of the FIA Formula One World Championship will receive a six-month internship (one in the UK and the other in France).

For more information, check out the Altran website here

“You just have to look for opportunity,” said Scrimshaw. “So many of the amazing experiences I had during my undergraduate degree were the result of simply not ignoring an email that was sent my way.”Seeking opportunities and replying to emails has served Scrimshaw well and in many cases, the opportunities led her around the world.

“Personal growth has always been as important to me as professional growth,” said Scrimshaw who was raised in Duck Lake, Sask. “For that reason, I decided to incorporate travel into my academic career.”

In 2008, as a Canadian Youth Ambassador with the Junior Team Canada program, Scrimshaw went to Peru on an economic trade and development mission. The program, she said, gave her the opportunity to learn about the impact that trade, investment and economic development have on Canada’s success in the international marketplace.

“We worked with the Peruvian indigenous population, doing grassroots development work in the Yurak Yaku community in the Andean highlands. I was truly honored to be one of four aboriginals in the program’s 17-year history,” said Scrimshaw, a member of the Hatchet Lake First Nation. “That allowed me to represent my culture on a national and international level.”

More recently, pursuing another opportunity that could not be passed up, Scrimshaw found herself at the University of Canberra, spending her last semester studying international business in Australia.

“I have done a lot of reflection on my university experience. After four years of hard work, determination, late hours and early mornings, I am happy to say it was all worth it. It shaped so much of who I am, I was fortunate to meet so many brilliant people and have so many amazing opportunities.”

None of which would have happened if she had not taken that first step four years ago to pursue opportunities at the U of S.

Now, armed with a marketing degree and international experience, the world is open for business, said Scrimshaw, who is searching for her next step and sifting though the job opportunities that have come her way.