Lakehead Donation Creates Northern Lake Superior Research Award
Lakehead President Dr. Brian Stevenson and Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs helped launch Research and Innovation Week at the Intercity Shopping Centre.
(February 9, 2013 " Thunder Bay, ON)
A generous donation to Lakehead University's
Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies has allowed the creation of the
Northern Lake Superior Research Awards.
With various University departments matching the contribution,
the Faculty has received almost $400,000 to provide research stipends and
awards to undergraduate and graduate students' research projects pertaining to
Northern Lake Superior.
"The largest freshwater lake in the world is on our
doorstep and provides a unique and special research opportunity for our students,"
said Dr. Andrew Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies.
"While the southern portion of Lake Superior is
well researched, the northern side is relatively unexplored from a scientific
point of view," Dr. Dean said.
Research topics can range from fish conservation,
the effects of climate change, invasive species, or the economic and social
impacts of resource development.
Up to 10 undergraduate students will receive research
stipends of $600 to help with the costs associated with their respective
honours theses. Additionally, every year up to five $12,000 awards will go to
graduate students in the Faculty who are in their Masters or Doctoral programs.
"These awards will allow several students to do
exciting projects that will have outcomes relevant to the region
scientifically, socially and economically," Dr. Dean said. These awards will contribute greatly to the Faculty
of Science and Environmental Studies' efforts to add more field-based curricula
into degrees.
"The recent accreditation of the Environmental
Science and Environmental Studies degrees by ECO-Canada and the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding with Parks Canada will be further enhanced by the
Northern Lake Superior Awards," Dr. Dean said.
Dr. Rui Wang, Vice President of Research, Economic
Development and Innovation believes these awards will increase the level of
research within the University. "Lakehead is matching this donation because we
see value in our students engaging in research. We are a research-intensive
university and we know these awards will encourage more research within the
University," Dr. Wang said.
Lakehead University President and Vice-Chancellor,
Dr. Brian Stevenson, said the awards mean a lot to students. "This is a good news
story for many of our University's researchers, as well as Northwestern
Ontario. The Northern Lake Superior Awards will help students learn more about
our Great Lake, which, in turn, not only benefits science, but the communities
living around it, as well," Dr. Stevenson said.
Recipients will be chosen by a three-member panel
of senior Science and Environmental Studies faculty members. The awards will be
offered for the next six years starting in March.
Media: For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177.
Lakehead University
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.