Lakehead University and Confederation College Celebrate 7th Annual Nursing Forum: New Student Award Presented

(April 2, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University and Confederation College will hold their 7th Annual Nursing Scholarship Forum 2009: Our Future is Your Future on April 2 & April 3. The forum takes place at the third floor Auditorium of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and the Agora at Lakehead University. The attached forum brochure outlines specific times and locations.

The forum will include 14 papers and 35 poster presentations covering various topics spanning health promotion, community health, treatment and palliative care, professional issues, research, and best practices. The presentations will be made by students, faculty, staff, and representatives of health care agencies.

Among presentation titles are: Spiritual Care and the Nursing Process; Leave a Legacy: Organ & Tissue Donation among the First Nations' Community; Childhood Obesity; Building Trust and Respect Within Aboriginal Communities; Stem Cells: Miracle Cure or Fetal Mistake?

In addition to forum presentations, a new student award will also be presented for the "most scholarly" presentation. The Margaret Ruth Page Nursing Scholarship Student Award honours Margaret Page, C.M, C.D., M.P.H., R.N., and Professor Emerita of Nursing, who was the recipient of the 2000 Alumni Honour Award, the Queen's Jubilee Medal, and most notably the 1998 Order of Canada. Her contributions to nursing have been felt from Thunder Bay to Africa, through her work as the former Director of the School of Nursing at Lakehead University, and her role as Principal of the Kamuzu College of Nursing in Malawi.

The award will be presented Friday, April 3 at 2:30 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge at Lakehead University.

Our Future is Your Future is also a celebration of the graduation of the first class of the regional nursing program.


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Media: Pat Sevean (Lakehead University) and Sally Dampier (Confederation College) are available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Engineering Students Place First, Move to U.S. Finals in Bridge-Building Competition

(April 2, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON)


Team assembles winning steel bridge

Lakehead University Civil Engineering students have come out victorious at the Annual Student Steel Bridge Competition, held at the ASCE Mid-West Regional Conference at North Dakota State University in Fargo. As first place winners, the team will head to the U.S. National Finals for the tenth time in twelve years.

The competition challenges students to design and fabricate a 1/10 scale model of a century-old bridge which spans a river and adjacent floodway. The models are erected under simulated field conditions, and are then load-tested. The specification for the bridge changes from year to year; the rules mirror real-life conditions for building a full-sized version of the bridge, accounting for materials and labour cost, traffic load, and performance.

Gavin Clements, team member

"Our team faced strong competition from eight other teams from North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and especially from the North Dakota State University team," says Dr. Timo Tikka, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Lakehead University, and Faculty advisor for the Lakehead team. "This is an excellent standing, and an earned achievement for the many hours that the students devoted to their project. I'm very proud of their efforts."


John O'Malley, Iron Workers - Local 759, long-time team sponsors; team members Jeff Luckai, Jesse Zylstra, and Gavin Clements; Dr. Timo Tikka team advisor; Robert McDonald, team member; and Dr. Meilan Liu of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, Local Chapter, long-time team sponsors.
The competition also included a student paper competition, in which students were asked to compose and present a 2000-word technical paper. Fred Lavoie, third-year Civil Engineering student at Lakehead, took home first place, beating out students from nine other participating universities. The Lakehead team was also recognized with the "Person-Mileage" trophy, awarded to the university with the greatest total of registered students, multiplied by distance traveled to the competition.

Tikka explains, "There will be about 45 teams at the National Competition, which will be held at University of Nevada - Las Vegas, on May 22-23. Lakehead teams have had an excellent record at the national level, placing 2nd in 2002, 5th in 2003 and 2006, and 4th in 2007. The students are really looking forward to the upcoming National Competition."

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Media: Dr. Timo Tikka is available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Professors Awarded Lakehead’s Highest Distinction for Research

(March 26, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON) Dr. Abdelhamid Tayebi, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, and Dr. S.S. Islam, Professor of the Department of Political Science, are the winners of the 2008 Distinguished Researcher Award. The Distinguished Researcher Award is the highest honor conferred by Lakehead University for research and scholarly activity.

Criteria for the award is strict, requiring a full career of internationally recognized intellectual contributions, including consistent and significant production of scholarly activity and material as documented by research bodies, professional technical committees, and other professional associations. Nominees for the award must also have shown constant and significant direct contributions toward the training of graduate students, and the receipt of research funding.

Dr. Tayebi's area of expertise is in control and robotics, which is the science and technology of robots and their design, manufacture, and application. He serves as Associate Editor for three international journals. He has 20 refereed journal papers published in prestigious journals, one book chapter, and 36 papers in the proceedings of international conferences; he is also the Founder and Director of the Automatic Control Laboratory at Lakehead University. Tayebi has received more than $850,000 in research dollars, and has supervised 8 graduate students at Lakehead University, with an additional three in progress, as well as two post-doctoral fellows.

Dr. Islam specializes in international politics and law, and third world-politics. He has published nearly 70 research articles in peer-reviewed refereed journals, 4 books written in English, and 4 books written in other languages, 14 book chapters, and 12 book reviews. He has been appointed a member of the Advisory Committee of TIMES Publications, in Singapore, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the Bangladesh Journal of International Affairs, as well as a member of the Curriculum Review Committee of the International Islamic University, Malaysia. He has supervised several Graduate theses and examined Ph.D. theses from universities around the world, and has received approximately $70,000 in research dollars.

Vice President (Research) Dr. Rui Wang says, "There is a special gratification in recognizing and rewarding a job well done. Dr. Tayebi and Dr. Islam are exemplars of research activity, and their work brings pride and honor to this institution."


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Media: Dr. Tayebi and Dr. Islam are available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca


High School Students Rewarded for Ingenuity at Software Innovate 2009

(March 23, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON)
The Department of Software Engineering at Lakehead University is holding its first annual Software Innovate contest. The call for submissions went out last February, and judging takes place on March 27, 2009.

The contest, targeted to high school students of Thunder Bay and surrounding regions, asked students to develop software-related projects such as websites, software game simulators, database applications, spreadsheet applications, Internet applications, and multimedia applications. Students with the best projects will receive prizes after the judging ceremony, which takes place in ATAC 2001 at 4:00 pm.

Project titles include:

JNetProject from students at Sir Winston Churchill C.&V.I. The project is described as a web server traffic filter and logger. This innovation promises to filter web traffic by IP, location, and several other factors.

Servo Motor Control submitted by students at Saint Patrick High School. According to the submission, Servo motors are controlled through the conversion of an analog and digital signal. A Servo is a small device used in radio controlled airplanes to position control surfaces like the elevators and rudders. They are also used in radio controlled cars, puppets, and of course, robots.

Logic Gate Circuit Constructor from students at Hammarskjold High School. Using the Logic Gate Circuit Constructor, one can create Logic gate circuits by entering a formula, or a drag and drop technique. A logic gate is an elementary building block of a digital circuit. They are the building blocks of digital electronics used in every digital product such as computers, mobile, calculators, and digital watches.

Dr. Rachid Benlamri, Associate Professor in the Department of Software Engineering and contest organizer, says, "We are impressed with the submissions we have received from the high school students. They show great ingenuity and promise, and we would be pleased if these students would consider attending Lakehead University for the post-secondary education."


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Media: Dr. Rachid Benlamri is available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead Students Win Big in TD CanadaTrust $100,000 Go Green Challenge

Lakehead Students Win Big in TD CanadaTrust $100,000 Go Green Challenge

(March 23, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University students Colleen Bator, Alesha Brekenridge, and Fiona Street of the Faculty of Education have won $25,000 from TD CanadaTrust for their submission to the Go Green Challenge. The students' Guided Eco Tours Toronto (GETT) proposal was sponsored by Sue Hamel, also of the Faculty of Education.

The second annual contests asked students to submit ideas that can improve urban sustainability, helping urban communities to coexist with the ecosystems around them. The national competition invited university and college teams of two or more students to submit an essay containing an idea or proposal that would have a positive environmental impact on a community. The contest received 162 submissions from 52 colleges and universities.

Colleen Bator, Alesha Brekenridge and Fiona Street's Guided Eco Tours Toronto (GETT) project builds on and supports existing and successful ecotourism in Toronto as self-guided. According to the GETT plan, Toronto residents and visitors would have the opportunity to become involved in local green initiatives, further promoting environmental sustainability in the city.

Vice President (Academic) & Provost Dr. Laurie Hayes says, "The talent of Lakehead University students continues to amaze me; I am delighted to see their inventiveness being recognized in this way. This university is committed to educating students who are recognized for leadership and independent critical thinking, and who are aware of social and environmental responsibilities. It is an honour and a pleasure to see students such as these three fulfilling that promise."

Colleen Bator says, "Our thanks to TD for supporting student ideas and giving us a reason to flex our 'green' mental muscles. TD's Go Green Challenge is a great opportunity to take environmental ideas beyond a concept and explore how they would apply in a real world setting. We're thrilled that GETT was recognized as a winning submission!"

The winners will receive their winnings at an award ceremony on Wednesday, March 25 at 12:00 noon at 1294 Balmoral.

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Media: To arrange interviews, contact Karen McCullough at 416-203-2223.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Local Poverty Concerns Socially Conscious Students

(March 19, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON)
Poverty in the Thunder Bay community is the focus of the campaign for the month of March for a group headed by Lakehead University students called Be The Change.

Be The Change has teamed up with Thunder Bay Shelter House to help raise awareness about poverty in Thunder Bay, and to help relieve some of the dire conditions facing many local citizens. Three events will be held to collect donations of clothes, non-perishable food items, and linens. People can bring their items to the Agora at Lakehead University on both Monday, March 23 and Wednesday, March 25 between 2:30 - 6:30 p.m., as well as on Friday, March 27 from 3:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Alex Boulet, a student of socio-anthropology in his fourth year at Lakehead, and the lead facilitator for Be The Change says, "It's been reported that 16,750 people are living in poverty in Thunder Bay, which represents 15% of the total population. Moreover, 44% of Thunder Bay's Aboriginal population live in poverty, and 50% of Canada's Aboriginal children live in poverty."

Boulet says that utility costs are the second largest cause of homelessness in Canada, with people who live in poverty more likely to live in older, poorly insulated homes with outdated heating appliances. Information about poverty in Thunder Bay has been taken from the poverty census released in 2006 by the Thunder Bay Economic Justice Committee. The figures are drawn from a "relative" measure of poverty using Low Income Cutoffs.

"We're pleased to have the opportunity to help those who are in need, and we regard it as our civic duty," says Boulet.

For those who wish to donate items to Be the Change, prizes are available, including gift certificates to the Mind Body Centre and the Great Northwest Coffee Company. For more information, or to make alternate donation arrangements, Alex can be reached at 251-9921 or by e-mail at bethechangetbay@care2.com.

Be the Change helps people to secure healthy choices, and fosters an environmentally and socially accountable way of life for the community of Thunder Bay.


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Media: Alex Boulet is available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Bannock Brings People Together: Contest on March 23

(March 18, 2009 - Thunder Bay, ON) On Monday, March 23 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. the Lakehead University Agora will be abuzz with a contest not seen on most campuses. Students who make the best bannock, based on a variety of criteria, will be awarded with cash prizes, while bystanders taste samples.

"This is a fun way to share a part of our culture and bring diverse groups of people together. Sharing food is a very effective way of doing that," says Joann Lesperance, Director of the Aboriginal Awareness Centre at Lakehead. "Everyone loves bannock. It doesn't matter how much of it they eat, people always want more. It's nothing fancy, but it's always the first thing to go at any potluck or feast."

Generally prepared with white or whole wheat flour, baking powder, and water, the concoction is either baked or fried in a pan with oil. Traditionally, bannock was baked in a cast iron frying pan that was propped up next to the fire so that the top baked.

"The history of bannock is a bit contested. Some friends on the west coast have told me that bannock originally comes from the people indigenous to the coast. But the history books tell us that the Scottish introduced it to North America," says Lesperance.

The bannock-making contest is held every year. According to Lesperance, its function is not just to share food, but to swap stories and teachings as well. She says, "A few years ago we had two non-Aboriginal ladies enter the contest and win. They had looked up a recipe on the Internet for bannock with blueberries. They said it was their first time to make bannock. They were so happy and proud, and they learned something."

The Aboriginal Awareness Centre holds events throughout the year that are designed not only to share Aboriginal culture, but also to facilitate the sharing of culture generally. Other activities put on by the centre include pancake breakfasts, print-making workshops, feasts, film showings, and traditional crafts such as beading and moccasin-making. The Aboriginal Awareness Centre is a division of the Lakehead University Student Union.


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Media: Joann Lesperance is available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca


Nuclear Waste Management Topic at Lakehead University Speaker Series

(March 17, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON) Canada's approach to the long-term safe and secure containment of used nuclear fuel is Adaptive Phased Management. Ongoing public involvement and a collaborative approach are key in the implementation of Adaptive Phased Management, as the Nuclear Waste Management Organization begins its work on this initiative.

Pat Patton, Director of Aboriginal Relations at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), and Sean Russell, Acting Vice President of APM Technology provide insight into this important issue with their talk, Long-Term Management of Canada's Used Nuclear Fuel, as part of the Lakehead University Speaker Series.

NWMO is a not-for-profit, federally registered organization, created under the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act in 2002 to assume responsibility for the long-term management of Canada's used nuclear fuel. The organization seeks to manage used nuclear fuel in a way that is socially acceptable, technically sound, environmentally responsible, and economically feasible.

Pat Patton says, "Canada has just over 2 million used fuel bundles in storage, all of which is safely stored on an interim basis at licensed facilities, located at reactor sites. While the toxicity of used nuclear fuel reduces with time, it remains a potential hazard essentially indefinitely."

Lakehead University President Dr. Fred Gilbert says, "This is a topic that is relevant to all Canadians, not just those in the nuclear use provinces. It is critically important that everyone is informed and engaged in the issue of storage and containment of used nuclear fuel. Because used nuclear fuel is highly radioactive, fears and health concerns about it are common. Therefore, we are pleased to host speakers who can dispel some of the unfounded concerns and help allay others by raising awareness and answering questions."

The Speaker Series is a free public lecture offered by Lakehead University as an information-sharing event and dialogue, in partnership with The Chronicle Journal, and Travelodge Hotel Airlane. Long-Term Management of Canada's Used Nuclear Fuel begins at 6:00 p.m. sharp in the Agora at Lakehead University. Everyone is welcome, but seating is limited, so early arrival is recommended. Parking on campus is free after 5:30 p.m. This event will be video-conferenced to Lakehead University Orillia Campus in room HP0004.

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Presentation
: Click here to download the Presentation Material. (PDF)

Media: Mike Krizanc, Manager of Communications at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is available for media interviews prior to the event, and can be reached at (647) 259-3043. Pat Patton and Sean Russell are pleased to address media inquiries at the event. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead Celebrates Diverse, International Community March 16 - 20

(March 16, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON) March 16 - 20 is a week-long celebration of culture and diversity at Lakehead University. The entire Thunder Bay community is invited to participate in on-campus festivities that highlight both the differences and the similarities between people of separate nations and cultures.

China, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe are among the places from which students have come in order to attend Lakehead University. Each of these students brings attitudes, goals, values, and way of living - culture - resulting in strength through diversity within our community.

"Lakehead has approximately 130 international students from about 41 different countries," says Tanka Awosika, International Student Advisor at Lakehead. "Lakehead is a multicultural place, where the expression of customs and culture is encouraged, and this week is about showcasing the diversity of the international community at Lakehead." Awosika was himself an international student at Lakehead, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics. He has been working with Lakehead International as the International Student Advisor since May 2007.

International Days events include Opening Ceremonies featuring traditional dance of various places including Egypt, China, and Scotland; a public lecture by Political Science Assistant Professor Dr. Charles Conteh, former Sierra-Leone refugee; an NGO fair; a dance-a-thon; Bollywood Night with dinner and a movie; an international marketplace; a global taste testing event, and much more. The full schedule of events is available at http://international.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University values its international community, and is committed to fostering the skills of both its domestic and international scholars-in-training, providing personal mentoring by outstanding faculty, researchers, and staff. Lakehead University values its people and the diversity of their ideas, contributions, and achievements, and International Days is a celebration to honor this diversity.


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Media: Tanka Awosika is available for media interviews. For more information contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, or commun@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca


Dying Arctic Ecosystems act as Sentinels for Climate Change: Scientists from Various Universities add Warning Voices to Loss of Global Species

(March 11, Thunder Bay, ON) Scientists attending a national symposium on "The Ecological and Evolutionary Implications of Climate Change" at Lakehead University warn that the disappearance of Arctic ecosystems, and the invasion of non-native species, are sentinels of catastrophic changes under way in more southerly environments. Dr. Stanley A. Boutin, University of Alberta, Dr. Marie-Josee Fortin, University of Toronto, Dr. John P. Smol, Queen's University, Dr. Warwick F. Vincent, Université Laval, Dr. M. Alex Smith, University of Guelph, and Dr. Hugh J. MacIsaac, University of Windsor were panellists at the symposium.

Symposium organizer, Dr. Douglas Morris, states "the evidence that climate change is responsible for the disappearance or massive alteration of some northern ecosystems is overwhelming. Earth's surface temperature is rising, and most dramatically in the Arctic. Research by Canada's scientists documents that small lakes which typify Canada's north, and that have existed for many thousands of years, have dried up over the span of a decade or so. And the ecological communities that exist in other ponds have changed completely. Wetlands may be especially at risk."

Lakes and ponds are not the only Arctic ecosystems under stress. Many freshwater systems have coexisted for millennia adjacent to their marine counterparts. Walled in by ice dams, these unique freshwater "lagoons" are also disappearing at an alarming rate. When the dams melt, the entire community dies as salt concentrations rise. Even the ice itself is a habitat for unique living communities, and these are now on the brink of extinction. At larger scales, melting sea ice allows species formerly restricted to the Pacific Ocean, access to the Atlantic. Scientists are unable to predict how these species will alter ocean communities, but it is certainly cause for alarm.

Within Canada, Arctic marine ecosystems are threatened by invaders from the south. Increased shipping from southern ports into the Arctic will release southern "migrants" as ships exchange ballast from one port to another. Ballast is responsible for many of the serious ecological and economic problems that non-native species are creating in southern lakes. New regulations requiring an exchange of freshwater for marine ballast while transoceanic ships are at sea are ineffective to prevent the future exchange of southern and northern marine species.

Change is normal, says Morris. "But the pace of ecological changes associated with global warming is occurring far too rapidly for most populations to adapt. Although there are a few examples where genetic differences are associated with climate change, there are many counterexamples where species unable to adapt have become extinct. Although southern species can and will move north with climate change, there will be no place left for those unique species that live only in the north. All of this is happening against a backdrop of unparalleled extinctions of the world's biodiversity."

What worries scientists the most, however, is the lack of action directed toward climate change and other ecological threats such as the global loss of the world's species. According to Morris and others, some of the blame lies with university curricula. "How can we justify that the vast majority of our university graduates obtain more instruction in ecology and evolution during primary school than they do in four years of university? Universities must work to ensure that their graduates, tomorrow's leaders in business and politics, are literate in the problems that will dominate economic and political agendas for decades and centuries to come."

Universities cannot accept all of the blame. Any informed citizen knows that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by human activity. The death of Arctic ecosystems may appear distant and unimportant to Canada's southern residents. People living in Toronto, Vancouver, and elsewhere in southern Canada need to recognize that Canada is an Arctic nation carved by glaciers less than 20,000 years ago. The effects of climate change may be most dramatic in Canada's north, but the same general processes are also at play across the nation, and around the world. The real question is: will Canada's leaders heed the warnings of its sentinels, and act while there is still time?


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Media: To interview Dr. Douglas Morris and other scientist panellists, please contact him directly at douglas.morris@lakeheadu.ca, 807-343-8162.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

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