Chandrika Liyanapathirana, a PhD student in the Department of Biology, was awarded the Young Scholar Award at the third International Conference on Food Factors: Physiologic Functions and Disease Risk Reduction, held in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 1-4, 2003. Ms. Liyanapathirana, whose research is centred on bioactives in wheat, works with Dr. Fereidoon Shahidi, University Research Professor, who is cross-appointed to Biology. At the conference, Ms. Liyanapathirana presented the poster titled Antioxidant Activity of Wheat Extracts as Affected by In-vitro Digestion. The award included a plaque and a cheque for $1,200.

Dr. Julie Brittain, Department of Linguistics, was recently profiled in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s annual Performance Report for 2002-2003. Dr. Brittain used her SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship to continue examining language change and evolution in the Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi (CMN) language complex and to extend the research to include Plains Cree and Eastern Naskapi dialects. SSHRC is required to submit a Performance Report annually to ensure accountability to Canadians through Parliament. The report contains information about the achievements of SSHRC-funded researchers and students.