inbrief

(February 7, 2002, Gazette)

CIHR projects approved
Research projects at Memorial University did well in the latest round of funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). Four out of 14 projects were approved, a 29 per cent success rate for a total value of $1,725,519.

Drs. Laura Gillespie and Gary Paterno of the Terry Fox Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, will receive $117,516 in operating funds for three years, plus a $13,890 equipment grant. Their project is a functional analysis of ERI: A novel tumour-associated transcription factor.

Drs. Robert Gendron and Hélène Paradis, Medicine, were approved for an annual operating grant of $99,451 for three years plus a $40,255 equipment grants. They are studying the novel protein tubedown-1 in blood vessel health and disease.

Drs. James Friel, Biochemistry and Khalid Aziz, Medicine, will receive $85,984 annually for three years plus a $6,605 equipment grant. Their project is iron supplementation of full-term breast-fed infants.

Dr. Christopher Kovacs, Medicine, was approved for CIHR funding of $136,491 annually for five years plus a $73,460 equipment grant for a small animal bone densitometer. He is studying the regulation of murine fetal-placental calcium metabolism.

Whitney delivers SPE lecture
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) hosted a lecture titled The Future of Computing in Exploration, Development and Production or Why Nintendo may be the Preferred Platform for Asset Optimization, on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Guest speaker for the event was Dr. Earl M. Whitney, project leader for oil and gas programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico.

Dr. Whitney spoke about his development of computer codes that mimic complex coupled physical processes in the upstream petroleum industry. Citing advances in computational hardware and software, he offered an optimistic view of the future of esoteric computing.

Deadline for Grenfell teaching awards
The purpose of the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Teaching Award is to recognize and encourage excellence in teaching and/or teaching innovation and/or teaching leadership. This award is offered on an annual basis and is meant to acknowledge excellence primarily attained over (but not restricted to) the calendar year prior to the awarding of this distinction. The award is open to both academic faculty and laboratory instructors.

Normally, a recipient is not eligible for consecutive awards. The committee will be accepting nominations up to Feb 15, 2002. This will then leave three weeks for nominees to get their supporting dossier to the committee. Full details of the award are available from Michael Newton, mnewton@swgc.mun.ca.

A reminder about campus tours
The Office of Student Recruitment and Promotion handles the university’s tours program, a free service for prospective students, school and youth groups, and other visitors to the St. John’s campus. Staffed entirely by undergraduate students, the program offers general campus tours or more personalized tours, according to the desires of the groups/individuals involved. It is recommended booking be made two weeks in advance, if at all possible, particularly if special requests are being made. Note that tours are not available during university examination periods.

The tours telephone line is 737-2697, or e-mail tours@mun.ca

Stokes named Bayer nominee
Memorial basketball player Erika Stokes is a nominee for the prestigious James Bayer Scholarship Award. Atlantic University Sport made the announcement Jan. 28.

The James Bayer Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an Atlantic University Sport athlete that best demonstrates excellence in academics, athletics and exhibits strong leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship qualities.

Ms. Stokes is a fourth-year kinesiology student.

The winner of this year’s James Bayer Memorial Scholarship will be announced at the scholarship dinner to be held at the Westin Nova Scotian on Feb. 7.

Poetry wanted
Submissions are invited from full-time or part-time Memorial students for the 2001-2002 Gregory J. Power poetry awards. The awards are to be given for original, unpublished poetry. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges appointed by the Pratt committee of the Department of English.

Students submitting a poem for the competition must supply, on a separate sheet, their home addresses and student numbers, telephone numbers and email addresses, together with signed declarations that the work submitted is their own and has not previously appeared in print. Poems will not be returned. Announcement of winners and presentations of prizes – ranging from $200 for third place to $400 for first – will take place at an awards ceremony in April.

Send entries, along with required information, to The Secretary, Department of English Language and Literature, Memorial University, St. John’s, A1C 5S7.