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Dr. David Lesbarrères honoured as virtual researcher on call

Dr. David Lesbarrères honoured as virtual researcher on call

The award was presented at a ceremony celebrating the Partners in Research 2015 National Award recipients on May 26th.

MAY 27, 2015 – Laurentian University’s Acting Dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, Dr. David Lesbarrères has been honoured with this year’s Partners in Research Virtual Researcher on Call (VROC) Expert Participation Award.

 

The award was presented at a ceremony celebrating the Partners in Research 2015 National Award recipients on May 26th in Ottawa.

 

VROC brings Canadian university researchers and other experts into elementary and secondary school classrooms through video-conferencing, giving students direct access to some of the world’s leading scientists. Many of these discussions are available as podcasts through the VROC video library, and through YouTube and iTunes.

 

The VROC program was launched in 2006 by Partners in Research, a London, Ontario-based registered charity promoting science education, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as fields of discovery and study for Canadian students. 



 

“Dr. Lesbarrères has a gift for making his research relevant and meaningful to young people,” said VROC Executive Director Kevin Cougler.  “He has been generous with his time, and his enthusiasm for research in biology has certainly caught on with students.”

 

Dr. Lesbarrères is head of the Genetic and Ecology of Amphibians Research Group (GEARG) at Laurentian University.

 

In 2013, Dr. Lesbarrères took part in a 6-week mentorship experience with a Grade 6 class at Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik Middle School in Iqualuit, Nunavut. “Being in a remote location makes it difficult to have speakers and experts come into the classroom, especially with a biology background. With David, we got to see cells under a microscope,” said the Grade 6 teacher, Caryn Conley.  “His presentations clarified ideas for many students. They also got the students excited about science time and most importantly encouraged their curiosity.”  For more on the mentorship experience, go to http://www.vroc.ca/pir/en/tag/david-lesbarreres/

 

“I am pleased to accept the award from Partners in Research, and delighted to be part of a program bringing university research into classrooms across Canada through the VROC program.  If there is a gene for curiosity, let's make sure our children get the environment for its expression” said Dr. Lebarrères.   

 

Other Laurentian faculty who have participated in VROC programs include Dr. Daniel Campbell, Dr. Tammy Eger, Dr. Scott Fairgrieve, Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus, Dr. Thomas Merritt, Dr. David Pearson and Dr. James Watterson. 

 

Partners In Research’s (PIR) mandate is to educate the public about the importance and significance of research within the biomedical and natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics domains. Through its National Awards program, Partners in Research celebrate leading Canadian research, its promotion to the public through outreach activities and recognize the impact of this research on the lives of Canadians.  For more information about PIR and its programs, please go to http://www.pirweb.org/vroc/en/

Laurentian University to award six honourary doctorates

Laurentian University to award six honourary doctorates

Six distinguished Canadians from the spheres of social activism, architecture, business and the arts will be awarded Honourary Doctorates

May 26, 2015 – Six distinguished Canadians from the spheres of social activism, architecture, business and the arts will be awarded Honourary Doctorates by Laurentian University at Spring 2015 Convocation ceremonies in Sudbury and Barrie.

 

Honourary Doctorate recipients include: 

 

Craig Kielburger (May 27th, 2:00 pm, Barrie, ON)

Craig Kielburger is a social entrepreneur, a New York Times bestselling author, and the co-founder of a family of organizations dedicated to shifting the world from ‘me’ to ‘we.’ In 1995 at 12 years of age he co-founded Free The Children. Today, the organization’s international programs work in eight developing countries.

 

Susan Aglukark (June 2nd, 2:30 pm, Sudbury, ON)

An Inuk from Arviat, Susan Aglukark is one of Canada’s most unique and most honoured artists. As her songs have climbed the charts, her stories and her candor about the struggles of the Inuit and Aboriginal communities, and her bravery as she opened up about her own anger and struggle won her audiences.

 

Jean-Marc Aubin (June 3rd, 2:30 pm, Sudbury, ON)

For more than 30 years, Jean-Marc Aubin has been a champion for French-language education.  He has distinguished himself as an advocate for the education rights of Francophones by actively participating in the development of French-language services and the advancement of French-language public education in minority settings.

 

Marguerite Andersen (June 4th, 2:30 pm, Sudbury, ON)

Novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist, Marguerite Andersen has published more than 20 works, mostly at Prise de Parole in Sudbury. Born in Germany, she immigrated to Canada in 1958. She studied letters at the University of Tunis and Freie Universität Berlin before completing a Ph.D. (Letters) at the University of Montréal. She taught in Germany, Tunisia, Ethiopia, the United States, Quebec and Ontario.

 

Peter Crossgrove (June 5th, 10:00 am, Sudbury, ON)

Peter Crossgrove was born in Sudbury and raised in Copper Cliff. An accomplished business leader and humanitarian, he has helped to raise millions of dollars for Ontario’s healthcare and cancer care organizations. He served as Vice-Chairman and CEO of Placer Dome Inc. in Vancouver, and has sat on forty-six corporate business and mining boards, with twenty-three volunteer board positions in the not-for-profit sector.

 

Douglas Cardinal (June 5th, 2:30 pm, Sudbury, ON)

As a master-builder, Douglas Cardinal’s life is dedicated to creating beautiful, thriving, and harmoniously built environments.  Renowned for his work on many landmark buildings, he has been awarded numerous national and international honours, including the title of “World Master of Contemporary Architecture” by the International Association of Architects.

 

“We are proud to be able to acknowledge these distinguished Canadians with their diverse backgrounds and various gifts,” said Steve Paikin, Laurentian University Chancellor. “Each of them has enriched our lives and communities through their contributions and we are honoured to welcome them as Laurentian Alumni.”

Laurentian University hosts 2015 Provincial French-Language Competition

Laurentian University hosts 2015 Provincial French-Language Competition

The contest aims to promote the French language and culture in Ontario

May 15, 2015 – Laurentian University today welcomed competitors in the annual Provincial French-Language Competition. The contest aims to promote the French language and culture in Ontario and is organized each year by Laurentian University, Glendon College at York University, and the University of Ottawa. Grade 12 students from Francophone high schools across the province are competing today in writing, reading, dictation, and précis skills.

 

“It is with great enthusiasm and pride that we welcome the students selected for the 2015 Provincial French-Language Competition,” said Denis Hurtubise, associate vice-president, Academic and Francophone Affairs at Laurentian University. “I congratulate also all of the young Francophones who are committed to making our magnificent language shine and prosper like a great gift that is open to the world.”

 

Organized by the Department of French Studies and the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic and Francophone Affairs at Laurentian University, the 2015 Provincial French-Language Competition also gives participants an opportunity to attend a play entitled Insomnie, by Robert Marinier, to be presented by students of the French-language theatre program at Laurentian University.

 

Competitors have the chance to win various prizes including one-year scholarships in participating universities, dictionaries, magazines and reference tools. Prizes will be awarded during the closing ceremonies to be held today at 4:30 p.m. in the Fraser Auditorium at Laurentian University. One of the winners of the 1994 competition was Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux.

 

Sponsors of the 2015 Provincial French-Language Competition

Swiss Embassy, Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario (ACFO), Carrefour francophone de Sudbury, Centre franco-ontarien de folklore, Centre franco-ontarien de ressources pédagogiques (CFORP), Chenelière Éducation, Club Richelieu de Sudbury, Club Richelieu féminin de Sudbury, Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO), Conseil scolaire public du Grand-Nord de l’Ontario (CSPGNO),  Consulate General of France in Toronto, Distribution HMH,  Éditions Alire, Éditions JCL, Édition Prise de parole, Éditions Scholastic, Festival international de la poésie, Fondation franco-ontarienne, Groupe de recherche en études francophones et Éditions du GREF, Librairie du Centre, Canadian Museum of History, Presses de l’Université de Montréal, University of Ottawa Press, Regroupement des éditeurs canadiens-français (RECF), Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, Soulières Éditeur and TFO.

4th symposium on the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' Language Planning Policy

4th symposium on the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' Language Planning Policy

For this two-day symposium, more than 80 participants came together in Sudbury

May 8, 2015) – The annual symposium on Ontario’s Language Planning Policy (Politique d’aménagement linguistique) for French-language postsecondary education and training wrapped up today at Laurentian University. The fourth annual event focussed on partnerships and collaborations and was organized by Laurentian University’s Office of Francophone Affairs.

For this two-day symposium, more than 80 participants came together in Sudbury, including representatives of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, professors, students, Francophone school board administrators as well as officers of the province’s Francophone and bilingual postsecondary institutions.

“I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the key role that Laurentian University plays in the North,” said the Honorable Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, during his opening remarks. Among other recent accomplishments, it is worth mentioning that Laurentian University became on July 1st, 2014, the first bilingual university to receive partial designation under the French-Language Services Act.

Laurentian University’s president and vice-chancellor, Dominic Giroux, congratulated the numerous symposium participants. “The connections we make today only strengthen our commitment to the Francophone community. Because of your participation and an exchange of best practices, Ontario’s Francophonie continues to shine with the support of its pillars in the education sector.” 

Five conferences were given during the event. In addition, during round table discussions preceded by preparatory work, participants were asked to reflect on three themes, namely identity hybridity and French-language education, academic competence and linguistic competence, and cultural diversity and Francophone identity in Ontario schools.

More information on the symposium is posted at: www.symposiumpal2015.com

Laurentian University hosts an international symposium in social sciences

Laurentian University hosts an international symposium in social sciences

Organized jointly by Laurentian University and Université de Toulouse 1 Capitole (France), the event will bring together researchers from different countries.

May 4, 2015 – On May 7 and 8, Laurentian University will host an international symposium on complex and relational systemic thought on its main campus in Sudbury.

 

Organized jointly by Laurentian University and Université de Toulouse 1 Capitole (France), the event will bring together researchers from different countries in an effort to promote knowledge transfers and generate debates and advances around the ways to study human science phenomena, such as interactions between people, urban planning and economic relations.

 

In addition to the participation of many professors from Laurentian University’s French-language programs and their counterparts at the University of Hearst and several universities around the world, the symposium will provide an opportunity to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the journal Nouvelles perspectives en sciences sociales (New Perspectives in Social Sciences) which aims to accompany researchers venturing into new spaces in social sciences. The journal is open to all social science disciplines and publishes all of its content in French.

 

“Laurentian University is very proud to host this international symposium,” said Dominic Giroux, President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University. “The event demonstrates our university’s role as a world leader in the field of social sciences and the recognized expertise that our students benefit from during their academic studies.”

 

More details about the international symposium on complex and relational systemic thought can be found at: http://laurentienne.ca/npss2015/.

Northern Ontario composer featured on TFO’s show “Carte de visite”.

Northern Ontario composer featured on TFO’s show “Carte de visite”.

Robert Lemay is a sessional faculty member in the Department of Music at Laurentian University.

Robert Lemay is a sessional faculty member in the Department of Music at Laurentian University. He has earned an international reputation as a composer of new music. His compositions have been performed in Europe, North America and Asia. Robert Lemay sees himself as an architect of music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWDIXG8v1ME

Geographer named adjunct professor in Chinese university.

Geographer named adjunct professor in Chinese university.

Dr. Jorge Virchez is an associate professor of Geography in the School of Northern and Community Studies.

Congratulations to Dr. Jorge Virchez, associate professor of Geography in the School of Northern and Community Studies. On April 28, 2015, he was appointed adjunct professor at the Center of Canadian Studies, at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, in the city of Guangzhou, Province of Guangdong, in China. Dr. Virchez has been working with the Chinese Association of Canadian Studies for many years.

Laurentian University History professor consulted by Parks Canada for historic plaque.

Laurentian University History professor consulted by Parks Canada for historic plaque.

Dr. Linda Ambrose (left) stands next to the reproduction of a plaque about 'Madge' Robertson Watt.

 Dr. Linda Ambrose, professor in the Department of History, recently published a biography of Margaret 'Madge' Robertson Watt, called A Great Rural Sisterhood: Madge Robertson Watt and the ACWW (University of Toronto Press, 2015); the first biography ever written about Watt. Dr. Ambrose was consulted by Parks Canada historian, Dr. Dianne Dodd, in 2007 for a plaque about Madge Watt that will be installed in British Columbia in the near future.  

Laurentian opens new occupational health and safety research lab

Laurentian opens new occupational health and safety research lab

Representatives of labour and industry joined researchers at Laurentian University for the official opening

APRIL 27, 2015 – Representatives of labour and industry joined researchers at Laurentian University today for the official opening of the new  laboratory and research facility at the University’s Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH). 

 

The laboratory will support numerous research projects led by the CROSH team, with the aim of reducing or eliminating occupational injury and illness in the workplace.  

 

“We are excited to be moving forward with studies and research projects that will have an impact on the lives of workers and working families in our communities.  The new research laboratory will be instrumental in carrying out this work,” said Dr. Tammy Eger, Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Associate Professor in Laurentian’s School of Human Kinetics.

 

Laurentian University has committed 1,695 sq. ft. of new laboratory space and 629 sq. ft. of office and meeting space to support the research work of CROSH and the research Chair in OHS.  To foster transformative and collaborative research, a dedicated lab for motion analysis, advanced biomechanics and ergonomics research has been relocated next to the CROSH laboratory.

 

CROSH was established in 2008 by Laurentian University to provide a formalized structure for industry, safe workplace associations, labour groups, government organizations and researchers to share workplace injury and disease problems and solutions.

 

“Researchers at Laurentian have been building on the expertise found in Sudbury for more than a decade now, and this is a significant step forward for CROSH,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “We acknowledge the support of many partners who have helped to build a top-notch facility to house this important research.”

 

Funders and supporters of CROSH include the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation,

Vale, Teck, Domtar, United Steelworkers, Mine/Mill Local 598/Unifor, William Shaver, United Association Local 800, Homer Seguin (in memoriam), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services, Association of Canadian Ergonomists Ontario Region, Provix, Workplace Safety North and Laurentian University. 

 

Renovations to the CROSH lab and furnishings totaled $130,000 and another $100,000 will be spent in the next year to support the purchase of new research infrastructure.

 

CROSH brings together researchers with expertise in ergonomics, human factors, occupational health, mental health and wellness, fatigue, occupational physiology, labour studies and epidemiology and occupational disease.  CROSH has mobilized 25 faculty researchers from Laurentian, encompassing five faculties (Science, Engineering and Architecture; Health; Arts; Education and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine).

 

The lab will also support undergraduate and graduate student research work.  There are currently over 15 graduate student members and 25 undergraduate student members of CROSH.

 

The establishment of the CROSH lab at Laurentian University will ensure the research team has the tools and infrastructure to solve the critical occupational health and safety problems facing northern Ontario industries so they can eliminate occupational injury and disease from their workplaces.

 

CROSH researchers are leading research to understand the link between mobile equipment design, accidents and operator injury.  Previous research has evaluated line-of-sight, vibration and working postures associated with operating mobile mining equipment. This research has led to improved design of an operating cab, and the installation of cameras to improve line-of-sight. More recently the team has also researched the link between poor sleep hygiene, fatigue and injury and accident risk in underground mining.  The CROSH lab will enable this team of researchers to continue this work with their partners and initiate new research to evaluate the impact of virtual reality and simulation training to enhance mobile equipment operator safety.

 

In 2013, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) reported a total of 195,393 registered workplace injury or illness claims. There were 82 traumatic fatal injuries in Ontario. Of the non-fatal injuries, more than 40-thousand resulted in time lost from the workplace with sprains and strains accounting for 40% of all lost-time claims.

Celebration of the Arts

Celebration of the Arts

Our book display featured over 690 publications by Arts faculty members!

On April 23, 2015, we celebrated the newly-created Faculty of Arts with live performances, book displays, posters and short films produced by members of our Faculty. 

Click HERE to see pictures from the event. 

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