SCIENCE VOLUME 21, No 1, SPRING 2009

FACULTY OF SCIENCE ALUMNI MAGAZINE contourswww.ualberta.ca/science

Following in

Jason Hessels Observational Astronomer Four Centuries Later MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

SCIENCE Fostering an Interest in the contours

In April I attended a donor event to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. During the question period following Dr Ian Mann’s presentation, grade 6 student Alex Mc Phee asked an inter- esting question that surprised everyone in the room. Science Contours is published twice a The question had to do with the Maunder Minimum a phe- year by the Faculty of Science Office nomenon that happened about 300 years ago when sunspots be- to provide current information on the came very rare. Apart from the fact many of us in the room did many activities of Faculty and alumni. not even know what this was, we were all struck by the poise and The magazine is distributed to alumni maturity of this young enthusiastic astronomer in our midst. It re- and friends of the Faculty. minded many of us of our own youth and the events that shaped our motivation for getting a science degree. Dean of Science I always imagined myself as a biologist from the start. We spent Gregory Taylor our summers on a lake in northern Ontario, so I always had plenty of time to explore nature. Life in the water and life on land seemed Assistant Dean External Relations different to me then. As a young student, this dichotomy began to Claudia Wood break down and there were always so many interesting questions about how biological systems functioned. Assistant Dean Development But in many respects, it was the passion of the biologists that Tom Berekoff I learned from, first in high school and particularly at University that made it easy to learn. The more I learned, the more it seemed Editor there were fascinating things to explore. I have always found sci- Wanda Vivequin ence to be fun. Having fun always seemed like a good thing to Graphic Design keep me focussed on my career. Studio X Design Fostering this interest and enthusiasm in the next generation of scientists is important to the Faculty and we have outreach pro- Contributing writers grams to motivate students like Alex to get involved at an early age. Michael Brown, Ileiren Byles, Brian The first question Alex asked after the presentation was whether Murphy, Jamie Hanlon, Julie Naylor, or not he was old enough to attend the Faculty’s first ever Space Wanda Vivequin Academy in July 2009. The Space Academy is just one of the outreach programs of- Cover photography Lars Bahren ASTRON (Netherlands fered on campus. Many are run through DiscoveryE, a not-for- Foundation for Research in profit, student-run program at the U of A to foster an interest in Astronomy) and NASA science, engineering, and technology in youth. In 2008 alone DiscoveryE programs impacted the lives of almost 18,000 youth There is a saying that we have not inher- ited the world from our parents, but that we are Send your comments to: The Editor, Science Contours merely borrowing it from our children. Sci- CW 223 Biological Sciences Building ence is a part of our daily life. Everything University of Alberta we do and deal with in life is science, from Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E9 cooking, playing ball, growing a garden and Tel: 780.492.4073 understanding how technologies work to Fax: 780.492.4827 watching a rain storm. Finding fun ways to Toll-free: 800.358.8314 encourage future scientists into the field of E-mail: [email protected] discovery will inspire them to commit to Website: www.science.ualberta.ca this proverb just as many of us do today. Publications Mail Agreement No: Have a great summer. 40063605

Gregory Taylor Dean of Science Cert no. SW-COC-001609

SCIENCE 2 contours SCIENCE science bases

FACULTY OF SCIENCE ALUMNI MAGAZINE 4 Recognizing our Best contours A great faculty has, among other things, great researchers, recognized by their peers: a highlight of recent award winners and accomplishments. 5 Science in the News From the NY Times to the BBC to National Geographic, Faculty of Science researchers have been making headlines around the world. 12 International Year of Astronomy 2009 What is happening to celebrate this feature event. features 6 8 6 The Multiplying Effect of Google Googler Alona Fyshe lets us in on what it’s like to work for one of the “coolest” companies on the planet. 8 Academic All Canadians Jennifer Newton and Hugh O’Neill show how it’s possible to stay on top of your game in sports and academia at the same time. 9 Glen Loppnow Top Teacher This 3M recipient tells us how looking through the eyes of his students helped him to re-evaluate his classroom technique. 13 Science for Kids Teacher/author Ovid Wong book tally now stands at 22 with more planned and information about the U of A’s first ever space academy. 14 Rebuilding Communities 14 Geography graduate Binod Shrestha helps the UN re- build communities in Afghanistan. 16 A Long-term Relationship Produces Science for the Public Good David Schindler reflects on two decades of support from the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation. 18 Science and Swimming Mike Morrow talks about the scholarship he established Edmonton Tourism Edmonton 16 18 for members of U of A swim team.

cover story

10 Jason Hessels Observational Astronomer Holland-based science graduate discovers the fastest spinning millisecond pulsar and is now working on the largest radio telescope in the world.

SCIENCE contours 3 Awards and Accolades

Provincial Distinguished Service Prestigious Research Prize Top International Appointment Award Dr. Dennis Hall was named the 2008 Chemistry professor Dr. John Vederas Dr. Ronald Cavell was honoured with winner of the prestigious Steacie Prize has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal the Saskatchewan Distinguished Service for outstanding scientific research car- Society (London). Award for his vision and effort in secur- ried out in Canada. The prize is one of Vederas’s research focus is investigat- ing one of the world’s most advanced Canada’s most prestigious science awards ing the way Nature assembles molecules, synchrotron facilities, located at the encompassing a wide range of disciplines a prerequisite to rationally influence life University of Saskatchewan. A founding including mathematics, engineering, processes in medicine and agriculture. member of the Board of Directors for the chemistry, physics, and biology. The election to this prestigious group Canadian Light Source, Cavell is also su- Dr. Hall is an organic chemist work- recognises Vederas’s work at the cutting pervisor of X-ray Spectroscopy Projects ing on applications of compounds edge of science worldwide. He joins an for the Alberta Synchrotron Institute known as bo- outstanding group of over 1400 Fellows and served as president of the Canadi- ronic acids and and Foreign Members of the Royal Soci- an Institute for Synchrotron Radiation esters. While ety, and ranks as an international leader from 1999-2006. today’s chem- in his research field. Other Fellows elect- ists can make ed over the years include scientists like virtually any Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Ste- molecule they phen Hawking. choose, the real challenge is figuring out which molecule will serve a useful, spe- cific purpose, then finding a way to pro- duce that compound efficiently. Doing so could save millions of dollars in drug development or improve current indus- trial processes.

ongratulations to all the Faculty of Science award winners who routinely receive prestigious international, national, provincial and university awards that recognize their excellence in research Cand teaching. International Schindler (Biological Sciences), the Year; Association of Professional Mark Wilson (Biological Sciences) Royal Canadian Institute for the Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Advancement of Science Sandford Fleming of Alberta (APEGGA) Voluntary Service Joseph T. Gregory Award; John Award; Eleni Stroulia (Computing Award. Vederas (Chemistry), Fellow of the Science), iCORE Chair (Services Systems Royal Society (London). Management); John Waldron (Earth University and Atmospheric Sciences), Atlantic Dennis Hall (Chemistry), National Geoscience Society Gesner Medal. Rutherford Award for Excellence in Michael Caldwell (Biological Undergraduate Teaching; Alexander Sciences), Geological Association Provincial Melnikov (Mathematical and of Canada W.W. Hutchison Medal; Ron Cavell (Chemistry), Saskatchewan Statistical Science), McCalla Dennis Hall (Chemistry), Steacie Distinguished Service Award; James Professorship; Donald Page Prize; Liang Li (Chemistry), Hoover (Computing Science) AVAC/ (Physics), Killam Annual Professorship; Canadian Society for Chemistry iCORE/ASTech Outstanding Achievement James Pinfold (Physics), McCalla Maxxam Award; Glen Loppnow in Information and Communications Professorship, Osmar Zaiane (Chemistry) Society for Teaching and Technology and Innovation; Douglas (Computer Science), Killam Annual Learning in Higher Education 3M Schmitt (Physics), University of Professorship. National Teaching Fellowship; David Lethbridge Distinguished Alumnus of

SCIENCE 4 contours SCIENCE in the news

The first evidence of pre-industrial mercury pollution in the Andes The study of ancient lake sediment from high altitude lakes in the Andes has revealed for the first time that mercury pollution occurred long before the start of the Industrial Revolution. University of Alberta Earth and Atmospheric Sciences PhD student Colin Cooke’s results from two seasons of field work in Peru have now provided the first unambiguous records of pre-industrial mercury pollution from anywhere in the world and his research finds were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). “The idea that mercury pollution was happening before the industrial revolution has long been hypothesised on the basis of historical records, but never proven,” said Cooke whose research was funded by the National Geographic Society. Cooke and his team recovered sediment cores from high elevation lakes located around Huancavelica, which is the New World’s largest mercury deposit. By measur- ing the amount of mercury preserved in the cores back through time, they were able to reconstruct the history of mercury mining and pollution in the region.

Competition may have led to Smallest ever new dinosaur species in Grande Prairie area quantum dots bring real world applications The discovery of a gruesome feeding frenzy that played out 73 million years ago closer in northwestern Alberta may also lead to the discovery of new dinosaur species in Single atom quan- northwestern Alberta. tum dots created by University of Alberta student Tetsuto Miyashita and Frederico Fanti, a paleontol- Dr. Robert Wolkow ogy graduate student from Italy, made the discovery near Grande Prairie, 450 kilo- and colleagues metres northwest of Edmonton. Miyashita and Fanti came across a nesting site and from the National found the remains of baby, plant-eating dinosaurs and the teeth of a predator. The Institute for Nano- researchers matched the teeth to a Troodon, a raptor-like dinosaur about two metres technology and in length. This finding has opened new doors in dinosaur research on this part of the Faculty of Sci- the continent: “It established that dinosaurs were nesting at this high latitude,” said ence make possible Miyashita. “It also shows for the first time a significant number of Troodons in the a new level of con- area [who] hunted hatchling dinosaurs.” trol over individual electrons, a devel- opment that sud- Fishy fight-or-flight response may denly brings quantum dot-based Solar Energy Breakthrough hold answers to devices within reach. Composed Dr Jillian Buriak and colleagues from human nerve damage of a single atom of silicon and the Department of Chemistry and the Edmonton-Researchers at the Univer- measuring less than one nano- National Research Council’s National sity of Alberta are looking to the tiny metre in diameter, these are the Institute for Nanotechnology have zebrafish for a way to regenerate dam- smallest quantum dots ever cre- engineered an approach that is leading aged nerve cells in people. Zebrafish, ated. Quantum dots have extraor- to improved performance of plastic a common fresh-water tropical fish, dinary electronic properties, like solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells). share the same fight-or-flight reac- the ability to bottle-up normally The development of inexpensive, mass- tion that humans do. This synaptic slippery and speedy electrons. produced plastic solar panels is a goal of response-the complicated brain to This allows controlled interac- intense interest for many of the world’s muscles signals-catapult an embryonic tions among electrons to be put scientists and engineers because of the zebrafish to safety and has been par- to use to do computations. Until high cost and shortage of the ultra- tially unraveled by Declan Ali. Ali, as- now, quantum dots have been high purity silicon and other materials sociate professor of biological science, useable only at impractically low normally required. says zebrafish are a good match for hu- temperatures, but the new atom- mans because nerve cells deliver their sized quantum dots perform at instant messaging the same way for room temperature. fish and people.

SCIENCE contours 5 The

of being a

Alona Fyshe photo credit? photo

SCIENCE 6 contours verything they say about her Masters dissertation with Computer really excited her she promptly changed working at Google – the bean Science Professor Duane Szafron. For her her focus and direction. bags, the foose ball tables, research Fyshe used a natural language “My marks went up an entire grade colourful work spaces, the processing (NLP) technique to improve point and I got to be creative and think flexibility to spend 20 percent the text classification of biological jour- for myself,” she said. ofE your work time on what you are nal abstracts. Her decision to then go on and do a passionate about, but most importantly Her supervisor Szafron said while Masters was the result of a research in- the incredibly talented people you get to Fyshe did not invent the technique ternship she completed at the U of A for work with- is entirely true according to she used, she did become the first her BSc. “Googler” Alona Fyshe (‘05 BSc,’07 MSc). person to use term generalization to “It totally changed my life,” she said Consistently ranked in international analyze biological abstracts and her when talking about the work with business surveys as one of the best em- findings formed the basis of a major Drs Szafron and Paul Lu on the Pence ployers in the world and often quoted by paper published in the international Proteome Analyst Group. The project members of Generation Y as the “cool- Bioinformatics Journal. helped biologists focus their research est place on the planet” to work, Fyshe For the last two years Fyshe’s by using computers to process the large says thanks to all of this she is now, “ten programming efforts have, however, amounts of information available. times the engineer I was two years ago been applied to something that should While at university Fyshe worked when I started at Google.” make life a whole lot easier for online hard to get other young women 28-year-old computer engineer Fyshe shoppers. interested in the traditionally male- is based in Google’s Pittsburgh office “This work fits in perfectly with dominated field of computing science. where she works on programs that will what I did at the U of A,” says Fyshe from She was president of the Computing refine product searches, a feature of her cool office on the Carnegie Mellon Science Graduate Students’ Association online shopping that she considers to be University campus. Google has located and the Undergraduate Association ineffective in its current form. several offices on university campuses of Computing Science, served on the “I am working right now on a project to give staff the opportunity to attend mentorship program, assisted with related to one of the biggest frustrations I academic talks and means interns at the WISEST and was even a keynote speaker personally have about online shopping,” company don’t have far to go to classes. at one of their conferences. says Fyshe. When Fyshe first began at Google She has kept up this commitment at “It’s hard to narrow down the results she was struck by the sheer volume of Google where she devotes much of her from a shopping query - I personally fit information the company has to deal 20% Personal Passion Project time on shoes anywhere from 7.5 to 8.5 - but most with. “The problems change when you getting women interested in computing sites will only let you choose one size.” have to multiply things by millions,” she science. More recently she became a “Then, often I’m looking for shoes said. founding member of the Pittsburgh that will fit a certain kind of outfit - like “I have learned so much from working Women in Technology Advisory casual, warm coloured, flat shoes. Any here with some of the smartest engineers Council. warm color would be okay but there are in the world who have real pride in their “The great thing about working at not a lot of sites that allow you to do this programming,” she added. Google is that it really is a “bottom up” multi-faceted attribute breakdown with Words of advice from Fyshe to stu- organization that listens to what its staff ranges of values,” says Fyshe. dents keen on working at Google are has to offer. There is incredible energy “The examples get even more simple. around here and people are really enthu- complicated when you start to “Network, keep in touch and make siastic about what they do,” she said. incorporate attributes that are related sure people know who you are,” she said. As for her future, Fyshe says her life to the product, but not supplied by the “For sure you can put your name in a is always a creative work in progress. She product’s manufacturer - I’m looking for hat but the best thing is to stay in touch has been accepted into a PhD program in an LCD monitor, for less than $500, but with networks.” C a r n e g i e M e l l o n U n i v e r s i t y ’ s C o m p u t i n g that has pretty good user reviews, and Those networks might, however, Science program – considered one of the is offered by an online merchant with a have been quite different had Fyshe – an top five in the world. good sales history,” she adds as another art lover – stayed on her original career “I think computing science is really example to illustrate what she is working path of becoming a graphic designer. creative – problem solving creative. on right now. When she discovered that the U of A Good solutions are always beautiful and The project fits in perfectly with the homework for her optional computing elegant and I have always found that expertise Fyshe developed working on science course was the only stuff that attractive,” said Fyshe. SCIENCE contours 7 Hugh O’Neill and Jennifer Newton

Hard work creates the perfect mix of science studies and sports Creative Services Creative

olden Bears kicker Hugh O’Neill is destined ennifer Newton doesn’t remember a time when she for a great sporting career according to Ed- didn’t have a hockey stick in her hand. Growing up in monton’s top coaches, but this star athlete Norglenwold Alberta, a small community just west of knows that a promising future also requires Sylvan Lake, Newton spent the summer’s water skiing him to remain on top of his studies. and the winter’s playing hockey. GO’Neill, now in his second year of a general sciences de- JPlaying competitively throughout her elementary and gree, was awarded the Mark Goodkey Memorial Trophy high school years, Newton knew exactly where she wanted to for being the U of A most outstanding male academic All go when it came time for University. Canadian at the end of 2008. The award adds to a growing “I came to the U of A for its hockey program,” said list of accolades for this talented sportsman who in 2007 Newton. was described by Eskimos Head Coach Danny Maciocia as Over five years the general sciences student has been part being, “definitely pro material.” of two national championships, and was named Canada West In 2008 O’Neill was also named the University of Player of the Year and a CIS First Team All-Canadian in 2007- Alberta Outstanding Male Rookie of the Year. 08 when she led the conference in scoring as captain of the O’Neill, at 18 years old, has taken a practical approach to Pandas. Earlier this year, she played on the inaugural women’s balancing his sports and studies and says he plans his time ice hockey team that brought home Canada’s only gold medal efficiently around football season. at the 2009 Winter Universiade games in Harbin, China. “You have to find the right balance to be able to excel at Panda’s head coach Howie Draper said he was not surprised sports and at school,” said the former Ross Sheppard High that Newton - who has been team captain for the past two School student. years – was named Academic All Canadian Athlete. “Over the years my parents and coaches have helped me “Over the past 5 years, I’ve seen Jen become a strong, to keep that balance,” said O’Neill who has been a starter confident leader, not to mention one of the most complete for the Golden Bears since he arrived at the U of A in 2007. student-athletes that we’ve ever had come through the Pandas “Fortunately the football season is not too long, so hockey program.” during that time I try and plan a lighter course load,” he Netwon’s advice to the rookies? “Stay on top of your stud- added. ies. My parents always stressed school first, then hockey.” O’Neill says he has not yet decided what area of science It’s obviously worked. Newton will be entering law school he wants to specialise in, and for now will simply focus on at the U of A next year, and will be working towards a spot on keeping his 3.5 grade point average. the women’s national hockey team. SCIENCE 8 contours admits teaching wasn’t always his Creative Services Creative

rowing up in Albuquer- ily how I was teaching.” these students are contributing to the que, New Mexico, Lop- Loppnow overhauled his approach, community and learning about science pnow pegged himself to drawing on a series of live experiments- at the same. be a truck driver like his the most potent of which measures the His risk taking has inspired colleagues cousin. No one in his fam- reaction rate of contact explosives-and and accelerated a bit of a revolution in Gily had gone past Grade 12, but with challenging his students to be creative. the undergraduate curriculum. Lopp- encouragement from his high school “I asked students to use things that now has organized and participated in English teacher Susan Frye, Loppnow were important for them to convey the numerous workshops that have created decided to apply to colleges across the concepts that they were learning,” he a network of instructors from Western US. After graduate work at both Berkeley said. “All of a sudden I had students do- Canada who share his vision. and Princeton, Loppnow was recruited ing rap songs and making music videos In an effort to acknowledge and re- to the U of A. He knew he was coming on the thermodynamic laws, which are ward undergraduate chemistry students into a chemistry department highly re- very abstract concepts in science.” who take on experiential components, garded for its world class research, and As one of the driving forces behind Loppnow and some of his chemistry col- after years of building up a successful Science 100, a unique program that inte- leagues have established two prizes. research program in bioanalytical and grates material from seven departments “It had been in the back of my mind biophysical chemistry, Loppnow recog- into a single, year long course designed for some time to try and pull together an nized a need to strike a better balance to encourage students to think beyond endowment to recognize the students between his passion for research and his disciplinary boundaries, Loppnow has who excel in other ways of learning, teaching interest. introduced group projects, active and particularly in the experiential com- He began to re-evaluate his classroom discovery-based learning in all levels of ponents offered, like a research project technique through the eye of the stu- chemistry. In an effort to engage all stu- or an industrial internship,” explained dent, an approach that revolutionized dents, games, demos, and clickers are a Loppnow. the way he taught and recently earned regular part of the learning experience. As for the 3M honour, Loppnow says him a 3M National Teaching Award, Perhaps one of the things he’s most he is both overjoyed and humbled by considered to be Canada’s highest award proud of is the introduction of science it, adding he had never thought of his for undergraduate university teaching citizenship projects in SCI 100. “Science teaching style as standing apart from excellence. citizenship is one of the best ways of any of the many great instructors at the Loppnow says the roots of his teach- changing students from passive absorb- university. ing success sprouted when he decided ers of knowledge to active doers and “But if it helps me change how teach- there must be a better way to connect contributors,” he said. In these projects, ing and learning is perceived at the uni- with his students who weren’t chemis- students present the science behind a versity, that’s great.” try majors. global issue, but also implement a local Loppnow is a part of a group of 10 “We were just expecting students to solution. From advising companies on recipients of this prestigious annual know these things without them hav- how to tie their new solar energy sys- award. Of the 238 3M National Teaching ing any reason to know it,” said Lop- tems into the electrical grid to educat- Fellows awarded to professors in 43 Ca- pnow. “I was expecting a long-lasting ing students on nutrition to reducing nadian universities, the U of A leads the understanding of the concepts that we university waste by making available way with 30 awards to date. were covering, and that wasn’t necessar- recycling containers for the classroom, SCIENCE contours 9 Observational Astronomer

There is a scene in the science fiction movie Contact where the character Eleanor Arroway gazes up at the giant Arecibo radio telescope. Watching that movie as a high school student, Jason Hessels (’01 BSc) dreamed that one day he too might be poised underneath this same monstrous structure with a purpose.

initially thought I wanted team to discover the world’s fastest spin- to study medicine, but after ning pulsar. This discovery formed part seeing the Arecibo Telescope of his award-winning PhD thesis - com- in Contact I thought about pleted at McGill University in 2006 un- how amazing it would be der the supervision of Canada Research “Ito use an instrument like that,” said Hes- Chair in Observational Astrophysics Dr sels from his office in Amsterdam where Victoria Kaspi. he works as a staff astronomer and is the In 2008 Hessels was presented with Veni Fellow at “ASTRON”, the Nether- the Canadian Association for Graduate lands Institute for Radio Astronomy. Studies (CAGS) distinguished disserta- “The Arecibo telescope in Puerto tion award in the engineering, medical, Rico is 305 metres across and spans your and natural sciences category. entire field of view,” he said. “It is an awe- Hessels now works as a radio astrono- inspiring instrument.” mer (someone who studies stars and gal- Hessels eventually got to use the axies using their radio light). In particu- world’s largest radio telescope to gather lar, he studies millisecond pulsars which data which resulted in him leading a are a type of neutron star that spin SCIENCE 10 contours extremely rapidly, literally hundreds In many ways, the basic tech- of times a second. These are the fastest- nology of radio telescopes has spinning stars we know of and the fast- not changed since the 1960’s: est-spinning one known, spins 716 times large reflecting dishes bounce a second – the discovery Hessels made as radio signals from space to a re- part of his PhD research. ceiver which detects them. Half An all-out celebration of this incred- the cost of these telescopes lies in ible discovery had to wait, however, al- the steel and moving structure. most a year. The novel technique of com- “It wasn’t a sudden joyous occasion bining many thousands of small because it took almost a year to re- receivers together, being devel- observe the pulsar well enough to oped in LOFAR, was identified as confirm its rotation rate was in fact the critical in making the next step fastest known. There was a long period in sensitivity needed to unravel of being tentatively excited about this the secrets of the Universe. discovery,” said Hessels. For astronomers like Hessels, He roundly credits U of A Professor LOFAR will enable them to “see” Emeritus Doug Hube and Professor Sharon things never seen before. Morsink with the inspiration and support “Being able to study stars at that enabled him to embark on the career many different wavelengths of path that now lies ahead of him. light is critical for our under- Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF Hessels at 30 years old is now consid- standing of how they work,” he ered an international expert in the field said. “What I find most amazing of millisecond pulsars. He has a dream “We are really pushing the job as an astronomer and is currently boundaries with this technol- about millisecond pulsars is working as part of a Dutch and European ogy because we will have a much how incredibly fast they rotate. team building the largest radio telescope larger collecting area with which ever made. to see light at the lowest available They have as much mass as our “We are definitely breaking new radio frequencies. That opens up Sun, squeezed into the size of ground with this technology,” said Hes- all sorts of new scientific possi- sels. He said this new telescope – called bilities,” he said. just a large city, and yet they LOFAR - will enable observations of “One of the biggest hopes in rotate so rapidly that their extremely low frequency radio waves. astronomy is always that there is The ability to sensitively observe these something new and unexpected surface sweeps by at close to longer waves of light – with wavelengths out there for us to discover, and 20% the speed of light.” between 1-10 metres - will open up a this new technology makes that world of possibilities for observational possible,” he added. astronomers like him. Hessels’ conversation be- LOFAR will use an array of roughly comes much more animated when you only theorized to exist,” he said. 25,000 simple omni-directional dipole ask him what he likes about astronomy, Working in Holland has been an easy antennae, instead of large, conventional physics and millisecond pulsars in par- fit for Hessels, whose parents are both reflecting dishes. The electronic signals ticular. Dutch and who spoke the language at from the antennae will be digitised, “What I find most amazing about home. Living in a country famous for transported to a central digital processor, millisecond pulsars is how incredibly being flat and having more bicycles per and combined in software to emulate a fast they rotate. They have as much mass capita than almost anywhere else, Hes- conventional dish-shaped radio telescope, as our Sun, squeezed into the size of just sels has joined the ranks and has a return and to steer the pointing direction of the a large city, and yet they rotate so rapidly journey of almost 30km a day getting to combined array. that their surface sweeps by at close to and from work. 20% the speed of light.” Hessels loves his work and relishes the Progress in the field of ra- challenges that lie ahead in his adopted dio astronomy will be greatly homeland, but admits there are one or accelerated by what Hessels two things he misses about Canada. and the LOFAR team in Hol- “Field hockey is far more popular land are working on. than ice hockey here in Holland,” said “To think that in the 1940s the former goaltender of the McGill astronomers predicted the University physics hockey team, aptly existence of neutron stars but named “The Absolute Zeros”. It’s a small were not able to see them un- price to pay though for having the op- til the 1960s. Similarly, we are portunity to work at the cutting edge of Jason Hessels now verging on being able to a profession that is sure to propel him in and Doug Hube Richard Cairney see things astronomers have more than one way to stellar heights. SCIENCE contours 11 Four centuries ago Italian physicist Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope to the heavens and changed the way the world saw itself and its place in the universe. Through his observations many, but not all, came to understand and believe that the earth was spin- ning around the sun and this and many other discoveries led to Galileo being described by scientists who followed as the “father of modern science.” The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) celebrates his discoveries and is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. IYA 2009 organisers have said everyone should realise the impact of astronomy and other fundamental sciences have on our daily lives, and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society. IYA2009 activities are taking place locally, nationally, regionally and internation- ally. National Nodes in each country are running activities throughout 2009 which will establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres and science communicators. Over 200 countries are expected to take part.

U of A Supports The International Year of Astronomy The History of Astronomy The Department of Physics at the U of A has teamed up with organisations at the U of A around Edmonton to host and organise a number of activities to celebrate The history of astronomy at the U the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Check the IYA website for events of A began in the early 1920s with the in your region. www.astronomy2009.org appointment of Dr J.W. Campbell and E.S. Campbell. While their research and Recurring Events in the Special Events teaching responsibilities were mainly in July 20 - The 40 Year Anniversary mathematics, both spent the summers Edmonton region and sabbatical time at the Dominion Star-gazing at the U of A: of Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. Astrophysical Observatory. Summer Hours - on the roof of July 2009 – Space Academy hosted In the early 1960s, responsibility for the Fine Arts Building. Once a by The Institute for Space Science, teaching astronomy courses was officially month; Thursday June 25, 9 - 10 Exploration and Technology (ISSET) transferred to the Department of Physics . pm, Thursday July 30, 9 - 10 pm at the U of A. The first University Observatory opened Thursday August 27, 9 - 10 pm. September 6 - Party Under the in 1943 when the Wates Telescope was in- Starting September every Thurs- Stars: Star Party at Beaver Hills Dark stalled on what is now the parking lot of day; September 9 - 10pm; October Sky Preserve (Elk Island National the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. 8 - 9pm; November 7 - 8pm. Free. Park). In 1967 Professor G.L Cumming supervised Star-gazing at Telus World of September 15 - 20 - Northern the purchase of a 12-inch Tinsley reflec- Science (TWOS): Every Friday, tor and the building of the Devon Astro- Prairie Starfest: Star Party at Black Saturday & Sunday evenings at nomical Observatory. In 1977 the 12-inch Nugget Lake (about 1 hour drive East TWOS. January - June, 7-10pm; Sep- Cassegrain telescope was mounted inside a of Edmonton). tember - December, 7-10pm. Free roll-off-roof structure on top of the now de- September 26 - Space Exploration Solar Observing at Telus World molished Physics building. This telescope Symposium: 2pm at Telus World of of Science: Every Saturday & was eventually moved to the top of the Fine Science. Presented by the Institute Sunday afternoon from 1-4pm at Arts Building in time for the International for Space Science, Exploration and TWOS. Free and totally safe! Year of Astronomy in 2009. Technology (ISSET) Research tools at the U of A now include Public Lectures: Through- October 16 - 18 - The George classical and modern techniques and al- out 2009 public lectures on Moores Astronomy Workshop is an though the atomic physics and spectrosco- astronomy will be presented at astronomy retreat run by the local py program ended with the retirements of the University of Alberta, Grant RASC members, teachers, and general Dr Tony Kernahan and Dr Eric Pinnington, MacEwan College and at Telus public. Enrollment in this workshop space physics, optical astronomy and radio World of Science. is limited and preference given to astronomy remain as cornerstones. Planetarium Shows: at Telus teachers and RASC members. The Centennial Centre for Interdisciplin- World of Science in the Margaret November 30 - Galileo First ary Science will eventually provide the U of Zeidler Star Theatre. Observes the Moon in 1609. A’s astrophysics program a state of the art home from which to continue building on its already stellar international reputation. SCIENCE 12 contours where I started in 1982,” he says down- playing the impact of his work on the teaching and learning community. In 1989 Wong received the National Science Foundation’s Science Teacher in Illinois award and the National Science Teaching Achievement Recognition award by the US National Science Teach- Ovid Wong (70 BSc, 72 M.Ed, 77 PhD) admits the computer age has made his er Association. He has also been given began writing science books for kids be- work a whole lot easier. an outstanding alumni award from the cause kids liked the way he taught the “I really try and put myself in the U of A. subject. shoes of students when I write a book,” Wong’s advice to people thinking “I thought to myself, if they tell me he said. about writing a book - just I can do it, well why not share it with “I ask myself what is the go out and try it. other kids,” said Wong from his home big picture and then go into “I really did not have in Illinois where he has been living and the finer details and then much of an idea when I was working since 1977. find ways to reinforce the starting out, but I thought Since making the decision to write ideas being taught,” Wong it was a good idea and pur- books back in 1982, Wong has gone on to added. sued it,” he said 22 pub- produce 22 publications, some of them His published titles have lished books later. for children and more recently books for covered a wide range of top- His focus nowadays is teachers and education administrators. ics from prehistoric people more on writing for teach- “I never imagined I would end up being and pandas, to experiment- ers and education adminis- a writer but I have got a knack for taking ing with electricity and trators and he is currently complicated concepts and explaining magnetism and the human working on a book that incorporates things in a way that is understandable body. 2500 year old Chinese philosophies into to kids, he said. “I still consider myself a teacher first,” a modern setting. His first book “A Glossary of Biology,” said Wong. “I like to keep things fresh,” he laughs published in 1984 was written using a “Writing is just a thing on the side, adding there are a few more book ideas notepad and a typewriter and Wong but, I am definitely a long way from in the pipeline.

Students in grades 7-9 will get the chance to try their hand at being space scientists when the U of A’s Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET) holds its first ever Space Academy in July. ISSET co-director Ian Mann said two sessions of the space academy will be held and the programme will give enthusiastic, aspiring young scientists an opportunity to engage in a wide range of exciting activities that include; building Galileo telescopes, building interactive robots using LEGO, mindstorms robotics kits, spending time in a virtual reality environment (in the advanced Man-Machine Interface Lab in the Computing Science Centre) and simulating work as ground control and a space mission crew. “Space will be limited to just 20 kids in each session and on our last day we hope that participants will be able to launch the rocket they will assemble as part of the week of activities,” said Dr Mann, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Space Physics. “We are making sure that this programme will be highly interactive and exciting for all participants,” added Dr Mann. Registration for the Space Academy is being managed through DiscoverE, a not-for-profit, student-run program at the U of A that fosters an interest in science, engineering, and technology in youth through in- class workshops and summer camps. David Schmidt David

SCIENCE contours 13 creates road maps for

he extra cable protruding from the restaurant was probably barely noticed by the proprietors, because a quick glace upwards in any TKathmandu street reveals that a “spa- ghetti-bowl” approach to wiring is com- pletely normal. Fast forward 23 years and Shrestha - who is currently based in Afghanistan with the United Nations - laughs easily about his early days as a development worker trying to create a permanent presence for Canada in Nepal. “First Secretary Bill Young (based at the Canadian Embassy office in Dehli) was very interested in opening an office in Kathmandu and as I had been work- ing with him for a number of years he put me in charge of setting up the of- fice,” said Shrestha during a brief home visit to Nepal in March 2009 to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary. A U of A pin is attached proudly to the lapel of his blazer and Shrestha talks fondly of his time in Edmonton even WandaVivequin Binod Shrestha though he was regularly mistaken for an Indian because not many people knew In 1986 Binod Shrestha (84 MSc Geog) opened the first much about Nepal in the early 1980s official Canadian International Development Agency when he was on campus. Shrestha is currently employed as (CIDA) off ice in K athmandu. With no budget he resor ted Chief Technical Advisor for the UN’s to borrowing a table and chair from the restaurant next Learning for Community Empower- ment Programme (LCEP), a five-year door and then jerry rigged a makeshift phone line to project aimed at improving functional come into the “office” from the same building. literacy levels in Afghanistan. Since 2003 Shrestha has worked in crisis ridden countries on United Na- tions Human Settlement (UN-HABITTA) projects . His responsibilities in Afghani- stan are to integrate literacy and numer- acy education, stimulate self help group development for establishing commu- nity banking and develop productive Marc Vivequin Marc

SCIENCE 14 contours skills training. Working in Afghanistan His first contact with the U of A came presents formidable challenges, but in the late 1970s when he was hired as an Shrestha’s experience in rural Nepal has assistant by Dr Peter Apedaile, a profes- prepared him well. sor in Rural Economy who initiated the Previous projects with the UN include Karnali Bheri Integrated Rural Develop- a major role as UN-HABITAT Program ment Project. Manger in the rebuilding of Banda Aceh “After being offered the job I was on a after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami that plane to Surkhet (in mid-Western Nepal) devastated a huge swathe of South Asian the next day and began to work on this coastal countries. CIDA funded project,” he said. So began The decision in 2002 to stop working his long association with Canada. On January 3 1955 Helen Huston on projects in rural Nepal after 35 years The work Shrestha and the team did (49 BSc, MD51, 85 LLD (Hon) ) was a tough one for Shrestha. Deeply to improve rural development in this received a letter that changed the committed and connected to his coun- most remote part of the country com- course of her life. try he found the political situation in manded significant respect from schol- The request in this letter was Nepal had made it almost impossible for ars, academics and activists in Nepal and straightforward: “We urgently need a him to be effective anymore. became something of a benchmark for doctor to replace Dr Bethel Fleming in the A Maoist rebellion that started seeping projects of this nature. through remote rural areas of Nepal in Shrestha eventually convinced his old cholera hospital in Kathmandu. Can 1996 frustrated and challenged Shrestha’s employers, CIDA that he should go back you possibly come for three months?” abilities to help those who needed it most. to university and in 1983 he entered the Less than a month later Dr Huston In 2002 he decided to apply his ex- Faculty of Science Masters Program. – who had been based in India as pertise elsewhere and began working for His dissertation looked at the impact of a medical missionary since 1953 - Concern, an Irish NGO in Sudan, Soma- grazing on erosion, a proposition that landed in Nepal, then a tiny kingdom lia and Kenya. had received little attention in Nepal be- of 8.5 million people that had only just To get to this point in his life Shrestha cause everyone was pointing the finger been opened to foreigners four years took a somewhat interesting path that at deforestation. earlier. involved the sale of a much-loved mo- The time at the U of A also provided It was during this three month torcycle, a soccer game, work at a Jesuit Shrestha with a unique opportunity to placement that Dr Huston found her school in Kathmandu, handy contacts, meet fellow science graduate Dr Helen calling in life and vowed she would find all of which eventually led him in 1983 Huston who just happened to be the per- to the doors of the University of Alberta son who delivered him into this world. a way to return to Nepal and help its where he studied geography. “I was listening to CBC one day and people. It was also during this time that Were it not for a series of unlikely they were talking about a doctor who Binod Shrestha (84 MSc) was born. events, Shrestha might have graduated had been working in Nepal when King Helen Huston’s dream of returning from the U of A two years earlier. Instead Tribuhvan died in 1955.” to Nepal to work finally came true in he first began his life as a rural develop- “Well that was the time I was born 1960, and for the next 32 years she lived ment expert in 1979 after working as an and I had been told I was delivered by in the tiny village of Amp Pipal in remote assistant to the principal of Kathmandu’s a Canadian ‘Helen doctor’ so I phoned central Nepal where she and a team of esteemed St. Xavier School. CBC to find out more and from that doctors and Nepali staff established event I was able to meet her in Edmon- Binod Shrestha and a mission hospital that delivered all ton while she was here on a short visit Afghani colleague manner of medical services. from Nepal,” he said with a smile. Shrestha retains strong ties with Can- Working in primitive conditions Dr ada, both his sons are at Canadian uni- Huston worked tirelessly to improve versities and when he retires he would the health of poor Nepalese, most of love to come back and reconnect with who had only ever had to deal with some of his old friends. traditional healers before she arrived. But for now his focus is firmly on In 1991 Dr Huston was the first getting the work done in Afghanistan recipient of the Sir Edmund Hillary a formidable but rewarding challenge Foundation Award for Humanitarian Shrestha is perfectly suited to. Services for her dedication to Nepal and was also the first person to be given an honorary life membership of the Nepal Medical Association. Dr Huston, who is a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence, retired in 1992 and returned to Alberta in 1993 and now lives in Edmonton.

SCIENCE contours 15 Long relationship produces

David Schindler Creative Services Creative for the

For over two decades the University of Alberta’s internationally acclaimed environmentalist Dr David Schindler and Canada’s Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation have enjoyed a special relationship. SCIENCE 16 contours or almost two decades the Uni- prestigious environmental prizes, the versity of Alberta’s internation- Sandford Fleming award. ally acclaimed environmen- The award was presented to him in To- talist Dr David Schindler and ronto in May. It recognises Schindler’s ef- Canada’s Walter and Duncan forts to help the Canadian public and the FGordon Foundation have enjoyed a spe- world better understand science. It was cial relationship. awarded by the Royal Canadian Institute The timing of their coming together for the Advancement of Science. Institute was perfect. Around the same time as president Roy Pearson said Schindler was the Gordon Foundation begun to focus “a scientist who is able to bridge the gap its attention on more specific areas, between the lab and people.” The Walter and Duncan Gordon Schindler rose to prominence as a scholar Previous winners of this award have Foundation was established in promoting science for the public good. included David Suzuki and Nobel Prize 1965 by Walter Lockhart Gor- It was also around this time that winner John Polyani. In an interview don, his wife, Elizabeth, and Schindler joined the University of Al- conducted after receiving the award, brother, Duncan. berta. He found himself a concerned Schindler said the public has a right to The initial focus of the Foun- academic wishing to challenge some of know the relevance of publicly-funded dation was intentionally broad the polished performances of big indus- research that can affect their lives. and the letters of incorporation, tries trying to push through legislation. Dr Schindler says his association which govern the Foundation to In 1989, he was a member of a federal- with the Gordon Foundation and the this day, describe its mandate as provincial panel reviewing Alberta Pa- work they have funded has enabled him “to promote, assist and engage cific Forest Industries proposed use of contribute effectively to environmental the province’s resources. “The industry, debates and the development of sound in charitable work throughout as I expected, had very polished pre- public policy. Canada.” Its particular inter- sentations by high paid consultants,” “There have been times where their ests are promoting work with said Schindler. But he funding has allowed us freshwater resources, Canada’s says groups critical of to do research that pro- north and promoting global citi- the province and the duces clear evidence at zenship. forest industries were short notice, for example Today this independent out-gunned at public fo- when the issue of mercu- grant making Foundation is rums. “The public oppo- ry pollution at Lake Wa- dedicated to the development nents had just abysmal bamun surfaced,” said of sound and innovative public presentations. In my Dr Schindler. policies. The Foundation has new appointment as the His first association Killam Memorial Chair with the Gordon Foun- supported initiatives designed and Professor of Ecol- dation came in the early to foster new ideas and advance ogy at the University of 1990s when he and for- thinking in a variety of policy Alberta, I decided to try mer Parliamentary Sec- fields including the economy, to change that. “ retary to the Minister of politics, health, education and The long-term rela- the Environment Karen the environment. tionship with the Gor- Tourism Edmonton Kraft-Sloan sought fund- The Foundation has also don Foundation has enabled Dr Schin- ing to organise scientific information sought to promote public dis- dler, his students and fellow researchers sessions for parliamentarians to dis- cussion and the testing of new to play an often vital role in doing sci- cuss water and air pollution issues with ideas as a means to improve ence for the public good and most re- prominent Canadian scientists. public policy and enhance the cently, in September 2008, allowed him “These information sessions were a well being of Canadians. The to continue his studies on the contami- great success. A few years later people nation of the Athabasca River from oil came to me suggesting we work on ways Foundation has not promoted sands mining. to train more young people to get in- particular policy positions or “The Gordon Foundation is one of volved in what I was doing,” he said. views. Rather, it has sought to just a handful in Canada that fosters and “The Gordon Foundation was looking inform public policy by ensuring supports the research needed to collect to promote the field of science for public that a broad range of innovative valuable data that allows for the devel- interest and so from this developed our and creative ideas are given en- opment of sound and innovative public long-standing relationship,” he added. couragement and ample public policy,” said Dr Schindler. “The people who work for the Gor- discussion. This approach to “The Foundation occupies a valuable don Foundation really look ahead. They grant making continues to guide niche and has allowed me to do things, are sharp people from a variety of back- the Foundation today. often at short notice, that are critical for grounds. While they do not have a great making a meaningful and timely contri- amount of money to distribute, they re- www.gordonfn.org bution to an issue,” he said one day af- ally know how to make their dollars go a ter being awarded one of Canada’s most long way,” he said. SCIENCE contours 17 Swimming sensation Michael Phelps once said “Swimming is normal for me. I’m relaxed, I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It’s my home.” Ask Mike Morrow (’70 BSc, ’76 MSc) what swimming means to him, and the sentiment is the same.

SCIENCE 18 contours with the Bears for five years while completing his undergraduate degree. “My career was modestly successful,” he reflects. “I made appearances in two Olympic Trials, the FISU Games in Italy, and the Canada Games.” With his five years of eligibility up as a varsity athlete, Morrow stayed active with the team when he decided to continue his studies. Under the supervision of Edward Lozowski (now a Professor Emeritus, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), Morrow studied hailstorms and earned an MSc in meteorology. After almost ten years as a consult- ing meteorologist, Morrow turned into a computer consultant and now works at the University of Calgary doing system support for Web services. Morrow’s time at the U of A has had a strong and positive influence on his life. Last year during the university’s cente- nary, he decided he wanted to celebrate his time by establishing a scholarship recognizing the two constants in his life – swimming and academics. Named after a favourite swimming hole in the St. Mary River not far from the small town in Southern Alberta where Morrow spent his younger days, the Steele’s Crossing Scholarship recog- nizes the outstanding academic achieve- ment of a science student who is also a member of the Golden Bears or Pandas swimming team. The first of the awards will be given out next academic year. Chris KindratskyChris Morrow knows the challenges varsity athletes face especially at a large research he one thing that may of Science in “pursuit of objective intensive university such as U of A, and dominate my life more knowledge.” He majored in physics, the Steele’s Crossing Scholarship is one than my university and while he remembers most of his way to help a present Panda or Bear connections is com- undergraduate professors quite well, one make his or her time “in the pool” the petitive swimming.” in particular stands out. best it can be. And“T for Morrow, that’s saying a lot. “The one I remember the best is “I thought the centennial was a good His parents were associated with Frank Weichman, my first year Physics milestone to celebrate,” he explains. the university for as long as he can professor,” recalls Morrow. “Amazingly, I “It was financially painless to fund the remember – his father pursued a degree bumped into him 40 years later when I scholarship, and getting it set up went in agriculture and was president of the visited the campus for the 2008 Home- smoothly and pleasantly. May it help Agriculture Club, and his mother was a coming.” those to come.” nurse at the U of A Hospital. Six of the It was during his undergraduate days Still with some competitive fire for eight Morrow children graduated from that Morrow got serious about swimming. swimming, Morrow swims for the Cal- the U of A, and now the next generation He had started years back when he and gary Masters Swim Club His philosophy is making their way through. his siblings were given a membership to for today’s students? “Counting my parents, siblings, niec- a competitive swim club for Christmas. “I proposed the following: Apply es and nephews, we may have close to He swam several years with the local yourself to your studies, apply yourself fifty years and thirteen degrees from club, but entering university gave him to extra-curricular activities, and have there,” calculates Morrow. the opportunity to try out for the varsity fun. You can do any two of them well. As for Morrow, he entered the Faculty swim team. He made it, and competed You should do two of them.” SCIENCE contours 19 SCIENCEcontours Faculty of Science Office CW223 Biological Sciences Building University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta 40063605 Canada T6G 2E9

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