FaceForward October 2014: 2014 President’s Report - Memorial University of Newfoundland Over the past year, Memorial University has made some remarkable advances in knowledge, exploration and innovation. We did this by employing a multidisciplinary approach. And engaging with multifaceted individuals. Meet some of our people and learn their stories in our 2014 President’s Report.

October 2014 | 2014 President’s Report

A Message from the President
President and Vice-Chancellor Gary Kachanoski

2014 President’s Report - October 2014

In early October members of the Memorial University community participated in a significant event on our St. John’s campus. Together with students, provincial government partners and the relatives of three people who served during the First World War, we named a new student residence facility. Macpherson College, the 500-bed complex, was completed and its Cluett and Shiwak Halls fully occupied by the first residents in early 2014. In Corner Brook, a new 200-bed student residence complex on Grenfell Campus was also officially opened. Both complexes meet the latest environmental building standards and feature the latest in technology.

These are just two examples of how, across all our campuses, we are focused on meeting the needs of students, developing innovative living and learning spaces, and creating appropriate infrastructure for 21st century teaching, research and public engagement. Our latest infrastructure renewal efforts across Memorial include $125 million worth of recently completed projects, with another $525 million in projects underway.

Highlighting milestones from the past year, President and Vice-Chancellor Gary Kachanoski touches on Memorial's goals for the future.

Our three frameworks — teaching and learning, research and public engagement — guide the university’s development. Those frameworks are being brought to life by a number of operational plans including: the strategic research intensity plan; the enrolment plan; the internationalization plan and the infrastructure plan. Additionally, we are committed to an ongoing process of operations and budget review that will allow us to say with confidence and certainty that we are using our resources to advance our most important priorities.

We also appreciate that Memorial’s operations and resources have many impacts beyond our campuses. As the province’s only university, Memorial is a significant contributor to the province’s economy. In late 2013 the university’s Office of Public Engagement commissioned an economic impact study so that we would have a current view of that impact. The final report, completed by Dr. Wade Locke and Prof. Scott Lynch in the Collaborative Applied Research in Economics initiative (CARE) team, will be released later in 2014 but an early draft paints an impressive picture. While economic impact isn’t part of the mandate of a university or the goal driving our activities, the study does show that investments in post-secondary education are investments yielding benefits that extend well beyond the students who sit in classrooms today.

It’s been a busy and exciting year at Memorial, with far more happening than this brief message can capture. That’s why I encourage you to explore the rest of Face Forward, and take a look at the milestones that marked the year just past.

A Year in Review

2013
september Food addiction and the development of human obesity

A new paper from the laboratory of Dr. Guang Sun, professor in the Faculty of Medicine, shows that food addiction is an important contributing factor in the development of obesity.

september Memorial sociologist named to Royal Society of Canada

Dr. Barbara Neis, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, is named Memorial’s latest fellow to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).

september Research & Development Corporation invests $3.7 million in research

The Research & Development Corporation of NL (RDC) invests $3.7 million in support of 34 research projects in a range of areas, including natural resource industries, manufacturing and health and life sciences. These projects have secured additional investments totalling $6.3 million through federal funding, private sector investment and other sources.

september Two members of the Faculty of Medicine receive highest honour

Drs. Jane Green and Proton Rahman of the Faculty of Medicine are inducted as fellows in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). Election to fellowship in the CAHS is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community.

october Labrador Institute director named vice-president of UArctic

Dr. Keith Chaulk, director of Memorial University’s Labrador Institute, is installed as the new vice-president (Indigenous) of the University of the Arctic (UArctic) at a ceremony held in Reykjavik, Iceland.

october $890,000 investment in student-led oceans research

Student researchers at Memorial receive a funding boost thanks to the Research & Development Corporation’s of NL (RDC) Ocean Industries Student Research Awards. Approximately $890,000 is awarded to 15 graduate and doctoral students, and their supervisors.

november National award for First Nation medical student

John Jeddore, a first-year medical student at Memorial, is selected to receive the Special Youth (First Nation) Award from the Indspire Institute. The Indspire Awards, formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, recognize Indigenous professionals and youth who demonstrate outstanding career achievement.

november For he's a jolly good Fellow

Dr. Gerald Pocius of the Department of Folklore is named a Fellow of the American Folklore Society at a ceremony in Providence, Rhode Island.

november Undergraduate female engineering enrolment highest in Canada

At 29 per cent, Memorial University's percentage of female first-year undergraduate students is the highest of any major Canadian engineering school. Increasing female enrolment has been a long-time priority of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

december Geographer Awarded Arctic Inspiration Prize

Dr. Trevor Bell, Department of Geography, and the Sustainable Communities Initiative team are awarded an Arctic Inspiration Prize. The team is using the funds to build and monitor Nunatsiavut’s first sustainable, multi-unit residential dwelling; a model that is culturally relevant, affordable, energy efficient and adapted to climatic changes.

2014
january Marine Institute celebrates 50th anniversary

January 2014 marks 50 years since the official opening of the College of Fisheries, Navigation, Marine Engineering and Electronics at the former Parade Street campus of Memorial University College. Today called the Fisheries and Marine Institute, it is one of the most respected centres of marine learning and applied research in the world.

january Hibernia support to bolster geophysics program

Memorial’s Department of Earth Sciences will use a $1.98 million contribution from Hibernia Management and Development Company to create the Hibernia Project Geophysics Support Fund to enhance geophysics education and research.

january Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator Facility under Construction

The Hibernia Management and Development Company, along with the federal and provincial government, invests more than $6 million to create the Hibernia Offshore Operations Simulator Facility at the Marine Institute. The new simulator will train workers in in some of the toughest situations they can face offshore and enable research in ice navigation, equipment design and simulation development.

january 45th anniversary of first students at Harlow Campus, England

It was 45 years ago this month that the first Memorial University students went to Harlow to carry out education and engineering internships in Harlow factories and schools over one semester.

january $1.3 million to advance social sciences research

Researchers in the faculties of Arts, Science and Business Administration and the School of Music earn a combined $1,350,552 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

february Partnership for enhanced cultural research and collaboration

Memorial and the Nunatsiavut Government sign a memorandum of understanding to facilitate collaboration in cultural research, policy development, leadership and administration. It is based on long-standing co-operation between the people, institutions and leaders of Nunatsiavut and Memorial.

february Prestigious national teaching fellowship for music professor

Dr. Maureen Volk, professor with the School of Music at Memorial, is recognized as one of the nation’s top teachers. Dr. Volk is one of 10 Canadians honoured with a 3M National Teaching Fellowship for 2014 for her exceptional contributions to teaching and learning.

february Ocean sciences professor receives guest professorship

The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry appoints Dr. Ian Fleming to the first Wallenberg Professorship. The purpose of the professorship is to establish ties with prominent foreign scientists who can contribute to the renewal of Swedish science in the green sector, and to universities and academic institutions.

march $8.1 Million Boreal Ecosystem Research Facility Officially Opened

A new boreal ecosystem research facility opens at Grenfell Campus. The facility, with its three interconnected research laboratories, will build capacity in analytical research with a particular focus on soils, plants, air and water.

march Ice mechanics chair appointed

Dr. Rocky Taylor is appointed the new Centre for Arctic Resource Development (CARD) Chair in Ice Mechanics. The chair is funded by CARD, a centre of excellence for medium- to long-term Arctic research and development. The new chair is funded using $500,000 over five years.

march MBA team wins inaugural P&G Cup with focus on new technology

Four Memorial University MBA students win an inaugural technology and innovation case competition. Janine Brophy, Amy Fisher, Daan Goossens and David Winsor, all graduate students of the MBA program in the Faculty of Business Administration, won the first P&G Cup competition at Ryerson University.

april Biblical scholar off to Oxford

A graduate student in Memorial’s Department of Religious Studies is this year’s recipient of the Rothermere Fellowship, one of the most prestigious and lucrative scholarships offered at Memorial. Trevor Pomeroy will spend the next three years completing a PhD at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

april CFI funds four Memorial research projects

Four Memorial researchers receive funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation in a competition meant to help institutions attract and retain some of the world’s most talented researchers. More than $320,000 is awarded to researchers in the Faculties of Medicine, Science, Engineering and Applied Science, and Grenfell Campus.

april RDC invests in mining and petroleum-related R&D

Five research projects related to mineral exploration and development receive more than $475,000 from the Research & Development Corporation (RDC). The projects are led by researchers in the Faculties of Science and Arts, as well as Grenfell Campus and the Labrador Institute.

april Education student named 3M National Student Fellow

An Education student is recognized as a 3M National Student Fellow. One of only 10 recipients across Canada, Heather Carroll is the first female from Atlantic Canada to receive this fellowship. Ms. Carroll has spent time as a volunteer teacher at a school in Fiji and an orphanage and school in Cambodia.

april Doctoral student receives prestigious national award

Justin King, a doctoral student in the Immunology and Infectious Disease program of the Faculty of Medicine, receives a three-year Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Doctoral fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

may Memorial University president appointed to second term

Iris Petten, chair of Memorial’s Board of Regents, announces that the board has unanimously approved Dr. Gary Kachanoski as the university’s president and vice-chancellor for a second five-year term. President Kachanoski’s term will now extend to June 2020.

may Memorial students win national championship, advances to World Cup

Enactus Memorial cements its position as one of the top student entrepreneur teams in the world with another win at nationals, bringing home a seventh national title in nine years – a feat no other team in the world has matched – from the Enactus Canada National Exposition, April 28-30 in Calgary, A.B.

june Memorial University launches WW100 commemoration program

Dr. Gary Kachanoski launches WW100, Memorial University’s commemoration program. The university will undertake commemorative activities in three broad areas: academic programs; physical commemorations; and library, archives and other resources.

june Canadian Academy of Engineering honours Memorial University alumni, faculty and staff

The Canadian Academy of Engineering inducts a number of Memorial University alumni, faculty and staff into its ranks: Dr. Ray Gosine, associate vice-president (research); Charles Randell, president and CEO, C-Core; Earl Ludlow, president and CEO, Newfoundland Power; Gilbert Bennett, vice-president, Lower Churchill Project, Nalcor Energy; and Ross Peters, former dean of engineering.

june Class above

Josh Hancott returns from South Africa as a world champion. The 20-year-old bachelor of business administration student broke four world records and won three gold medals and one silver medal at the International Powerlifting Federation’s world championships June 4 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

june Education Alumna named French teacher of the year

Lieutenant-governor Frank Fagan presents Shalane Spurrell with the Canadian Parents for French Teacher Graduate of the Year Award. Ms. Spurrell’s mother, Lavina Miller, accepted the award on her behalf as Ms. Spurrell is currently teaching in Port-aux-Basques, N.L.

june Grad student takes people's choice award in national competition

Kirk Luther, a PhD candidate in Memorial’s Department of Psychology, takes home the People’s Choice Award from the national Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

june National student leadership award for political science major

Jennifer Crowe, political science (honours) student in the Faculty of Arts, is named the 2014 recipient of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services Student Leadership Award. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of a student with potential for a future career related to student affairs.

july Hibernia Investment grows enrichment programming at Memorial University

The Hibernia Management and Development Company creates the Hibernia Project-Shad Valley Fund to encourage high school students to pursue studies in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It will also encourage students from across the country to pursue post-secondary studies at Memorial.

july MOU signed with Miawpukek First Nation

A memorandum of understanding is signed July 5 between the Miawpukek First Nation and Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine, signifying the desire for future collaboration in capacity building by providing opportunities for eligible members of Miawpukek to pursue a career in medicine.

july Writer in (permanent) residence

One of Canada's pre-eminent novelists, Lisa Moore, is appointed as Memorial's new assistant professor of creative writing in the Faculty of Arts.

july $2.3 million to overcome challenges in oil and gas sector

The Research & Development Corporation announces a $2.3 million investment in 17 Memorial-led R&D projects. The projects will address opportunities and challenges related to harsh and Arctic environments.

july National association honours MI senior leader

At the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) conference, Dr. Robert Shea, associate vice-president, academic and student affairs at the Marine Institute, is named the 2014 recipient of the Moe Ktytor Award, commonly referred to as the conference’s “Oscar.”

august Well preserved

A paper co-authored by a Dr. Duncan McIlroy, Department of Earth Sciences, sheds light on a fossil discovery in Newfoundland and Labrador. The discovery was made by Dr. Alex Liu, who was co-supervised during his PhD at Oxford University by Dr. McIlroy. The paper was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

august Memorial welcomes first dancer-in-residence

Celebrated dance artist and choreographer Karen Kaeja is spending six weeks in the province this fall as Memorial University’s first dancer-in-residence. First stop: Grenfell Campus.

august 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the Memorial University Act

It was 65 years ago this month that the Newfoundland House of Assembly enacted legislation elevating Memorial University College to university status as Memorial University of Newfoundland. Speaking in the House, Premier Smallwood said "that university is going to [be a] live, dynamic centre of learning [and] culture [of which every Newfoundlander] can be proud."