May 11, 2018 Volume 25, Issue 9
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May 11, 2018 Volume 25, Issue 9 Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 ON CAMPUS NEWS [email protected] news.usask.ca SETTING THE STAGE Preparations are underway for Spring Convocation at TCU Place from June 4-7. Close to 3,700 students will walk across the stage to accept their degrees, and we profile a couple of those exceptional, soon-to-be grads. We also highlight the recipients of our major convocation awards and honorary degrees in this issue. SEE PAGES 8-11 GAME ON 3 COMET CRISIS 5 EPIC EARTH 6 Western College of Veterinary On Campus News is published 12 times Medicine accreditation achievement per year by University of Saskatchewan Marketing and Communications. It is distributed to all U of S faculty, staff, MYRNA MACDONALD graduate students and members of governing bodies, as well as to others After undergoing intensive review Accreditation is the ideal opportunity to in the university community, related in 2017, the Western College of organizations, some Saskatchewan demonstrate everything that we do very well government officials and news media. Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has Subscriptions are available for $22 successfully maintained its accred- at the WCVM, and these results confirm what per year. Story and photo ideas itation with the American Veteri- are welcome. Advertising rates are nary Medical Association’s (AVMA) our outstanding outcomes are already available online or on request. Council on Education. demonstrating. “Accreditation is the ideal On Campus News aims to provide a opportunity to demonstrate every- — Douglas Freeman forum for the sharing of timely news, thing that we do very well at the information and opinions about WCVM, and these results confirm maintain the high quality of our veter- taking the North American Veteri- events and issues of interest to the nary Licensing Examination; 98 per U of S community. what our outstanding outcomes inary college’s academic programs, are already demonstrating: we have facilities and clinical services, so it’s cent of WCVM alumni who were The views and opinions expressed by writers of letters to the editor and a high calibre veterinary college gratifying to receive this interna- surveyed two years after graduation viewpoints do not necessarily reflect that meets and exceeds interna- Freeman tional confirmation that our efforts felt prepared for their careers; and those of the U of S or On Campus News. tional standards,” said Dr. Douglas are successful,” said Freeman. 85 per cent of employers respon- Freeman, dean of WCVM. typically resolved within one year. Statistics collected since the dents are either satisfied or very Accreditation with the AVMA Examples included having last accreditation site visit in 2010 satisfied with their WCVM-edu- We acknowledge we are on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the council represents the highest adequate signage in patient isolation show that the WCVM is succeeding cated employees. Métis. We pay our respect to the First standard of achievement for veteri- areas and a clarification of admission in its mission to serve as a western The WCVM submitted a Nation and Métis ancestors of this nary medical education globally. In requirements on the college’s web Canadian centre of veterinary comprehensive self-study in August place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. mid-April, the council confirmed site. Freeman said much of the work education, research and clinical 2017. Two months later, a council-ap- the WCVM’s status of “accredited in resolving these minor issues has expertise. Examples include the pointed team conducted a five-day with minor deficiencies,” referring to already been done or is close to following: WCVM students have site visit that included meetings NEWS EDITOR items that have minimal or no effect completion. consistently scored in the top 22 Kris Foster on student learning or safety and are “Our team works very hard to percentile of all students globally SEE FINDING, PAGE 14 WRITERS Chris Morin James Shewaga DESIGNERS Brian Kachur Pierre Wilkinson IN CASE YOU MISSED IT EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD A lot happens at the U of S during the weeks when On Campus News isn’t published. Patrick Hayes Here are a few of the top stories from news.usask.ca: Fiona Haynes Sandra Ribeiro Sharon Scott Stephen Urquhart David York Métis studies Invest in the west Out of this world Inclusive campus The Gabriel Dumont Research Western Economic Diversification In what will be Saskatchewan’s first The U of S converted 31 single-stall Chair in Métis Studies and Gabriel Canada investment of $5.25 million in student-designed satellite mission, a unisex washrooms on campus into Dumont Graduate Scholarships for three U of S research centres— Vaccine U of S-led space design team has been inclusive washrooms that people of Métis Students have been launched and Infectious Disease Organization- chosen by the Canadian Space Agency any gender or gender identity can at the U of S as part of a new five- International Vaccine Centre, the to design, build, launch and operate a use. With the conversions, and the year partnership agreement between Canadian Light Source and the Global small cube-shaped research satellite new construction of the Collaborative ISSN: 1195-7654 the university and Gabriel Dumont Institute for Water Security—will help for launch in 2021. The U of S Space Science Research Building, A-Wing PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065156 Institute of Native Studies and protect Canadians against infectious Design Team’s Mars rover prototype and Merlis Belsher Place, there will Return undeliverable addresses to: Applied Research. The new chair disease, produce and deliver medical (a space exploration vehicle) was also be a total of 56 inclusive washrooms UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN will increase research and teaching isotopes to hospitals using non-reactor selected to compete in the finals of on campus by 2019. All new buildings MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS capacity in Métis studies, while the nuclear technology, and help conserve the prestig ous 2018 University Rover on campus will include inclusive G16 THORVALDSON BUILDING 110 SCIENCE PLACE scholarship will create two annual water and energy by advancing green Challenge that takes place in Utah this washrooms, and female and male SASKATOON, SK S7N 5C9 awards of $20,000 each. roof technology for cold climates. June. washrooms. Email: [email protected] FOR MORE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE NEWS, VISIT: news.usask.ca @usask 2 MAY 11, 2018 Western College of Veterinary Medicine accreditation achievement Regan Mandryk researches gaming technology to improve physical and mental health. More than a game MARTIN LIPMAN/NSERC U of S computer scientist awarded Steacie Fellowship University of Saskatchewan time and energy entirely to the work. in using elements of digital games to intervention. Further, she is looking will help in areas such as clinical computer science professor Regan In addition, the fellowship will design interventions in both physical beyond designing games geared at psychology, game design and player Mandryk, whose ground-breaking provide the U of S up to $90,000 a and mental health. For instance, she treatment to performing digital- assessment. research involves developing digital year for a replacement to perform has designed digital “exergames” ly-based mental health assessments. Her research involves two game technology to assess mental her teaching and administrative that incorporate physical activity. “There’s potential for changing complementary approaches. The first health, has been awarded one of duties for the duration. She also has developed a system that the lives of a lot more people by is to develop and use games designed Canada’s highest honours for young “Having two years to focus uses off-the-shelf commercial digital using game-based data to assess especially for mental health assess- scientists. solely on my research is extraordi- games to help children with Fetal mental health issues such as anxiety ments. These games are designed in Mandryk is among six univer- nary,” said Mandryk. “I get a lot of Alcohol Spectrum Disorder improve and depression in an ongoing way,” a way that players’ choices or actions sity researchers across Canada who job satisfaction from training my focus and attention related to better she said. mirror basic cognitive processes received a E.W.R. Steacie Memorial graduate students to do excellent behaviour and sleep. During the fellowship she will or executive functions that involve Fellowship by the Natural Sciences research, and the Steacie provides an Mandryk said for the past be working with many of her 15 mental control and self-regulation. and Engineering Research Council exciting opportunity to concentrate couple of years she has moved away graduate students on the project “In isolation, a task doesn’t of Canada on May 1. on doing just that.” from designing games for physical and has hired a third-year computer indicate much, but a lot of tasks Mandryk will be awarded Working with industry partners health to designing games for mental science student as an intern to placed together in a game can $250,000 over two years to advance such as gaming giant Electronic Arts, health because this area provides support the research. As well, she has her research, enabling her to devote Mandryk has done pioneering work more opportunities for effective collaborators around the world who SEE PREDICTING, PAGE 15 NEWS.USASK.CA 3 Spaghetti and 3-D printers Mobile learning and makerspaces drive research KRIS FOSTER A small, clear acrylic cube whirs and But as the flip phone became building are for Cree language physical or virtual. They can be of increasing student engagement hums on Marguerite Koole’s desk in the smartphone, Koole began learning. The apps would address high-tech and use 3-D printers, or and creativity in K-12 classrooms. her office on the third floor of the exploring the use of learning apps ways of knowing that are linguis- low-end and use spaghetti for engi- To that end, Koole has been Education Building.