This year marked the inaugural distribution of the Dr. Daniel Archambault Research Service Awards during Research Week 2024. These awards recognize Laurentian University faculty, staff and students for outstanding dedication and commitment to, as well as impact through their valuable contributions to the academic research community.
This award is created in memory of Dr. Daniel Archambault who served the Laurentian University research community for more than 15 years, a tribute to his accomplishments and dedication. Dr. Archambault passed away in 2021.
Qualifying services may include serving on committees supporting research enterprise, mentoring and supporting colleagues and students, fostering interdisciplinary research, advancing community engagement through knowledge dissemination, and/or establishing new research collaborations.
The inaugural recipients of the Dr. Daniel Archambault Research Service Awards are:
Faculty recipient:
Dr. Thomas Merritt, (Full Professor, School of Natural Sciences)
For his outreach work exhibiting science-related themed artwork for local elementary schools and Science North, mentorship initiatives, Peer-review work for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and service at Laurentian University with his roles on the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, LU NSERC Tri-Council, and Research, Development and Creativity Committee.
Student recipient:
Valérie Gauthier-Fortin, (Doctorante en sciences humaines et interdisciplinarité)
For her work and leadership with l’Acfas-Nouvel-Ontario (formerly known as Acfas-Sudbury). Valérie first joined the steering committee in 2019 after completing her master's degree and while embarking on doctoral studies at Laurentian. She currently serves as the President of l’Acfas-Nouvel-Ontario. She is described as the driving force behind the revival of Acfas and is credited for providing researchers from Nouvel-Ontario a forum to present their work in French.
Staff recipient:
Karen Oman, (Business Manager, Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit and Vale Living with Lakes Centre)
For her professional contributions and passion for supporting world-class research out of the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit and Vale Living with Lakes Centre for the last 19 years. Karen’s assistance played a key role throughout the $22-million fundraising effort to build the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, as well as landing the $1.2-million CFI grant for equipment and research infrastructure support, all in addition to her many day-to-day duties.
The award recipient received a personalized framed certificate, and their name has been added to a permanent notation on a University display which will list the names of those who receive this honour.