SCIENCE VOLUME 20, No 2, FALL 2008

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

A peek inside the

CERN’s Large Hadron Collider ready to unlock mysteries of the universe MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN SCIENCEcontours

Science Contours is published twice a year by the Faculty of Science Office to provide current information on the many activities of the Faculty. The newsletter is distributed to alumni and friends of the Faculty.

Dean of Science Gregory Taylor L to R: Gregory Taylor, Kari Byron, Jane Taylor Assistant Dean, External and Grant Imahara

Ellis Brothers Photography Relations Claudia Wood

On July 1, I accepted another five year term as Dean of Sci- External Relations Team ence. However, this year I took a leave from academic matters and Emily Lennstrom, Rachel Marcus, have been focusing my efforts on areas like external relations and Julie Naylor, Lorna Reh CCIS. I continue to have plenty of opportunities to connect with Editor alumni and students, and Homecoming 2008 was an opportunity Julie Naylor to connect with new and familiar faces. This year we kicked off the festivities with a Faculty of Science wine and cheese, which Graphic Design Studio X Design drew record numbers. Graduands from as far back as the 1940’s

joined as we highlighted the accomplishments of science alumni, Contributing writers faculty, staff and students over the years. The following evening Michael Brown, Ileiren Byles, Suzanne the festivities continued as we celebrated the university’s cente- Chan, Geoff McMaster, Brian Murphy, nary at the gala. Jamie Hanlon, Julie Naylor We were thrilled to co-host, along with the Science Alberta Foundation and the Faculty of Engineering, the incredibly pop- Cover photography Simulated production of a black hole ular Mythbusters. Tickets for the Discovery Channel’s hit series in ATLAS were a hot commodity with our students, who were entertained CERN PhotoLab by Kari Byron and Grant Imahara. Listening to the MythBusters, who take everyday myths and use mod- ern-day science to show what is real and what is fiction, it came to me that we in science are the ones creating that modern-day science. From discov- ering the cause behind algae blooms, which can poison lakes and kill fish; Send your comments to: to confirming the ongoing, massive shrinking and drastic thinning of the The Editor, Science Contours CW 223 Biological Sciences Building Arctic’s sea ice; to solving the mystery of global mass extinction some 252 University of Alberta million years ago; to designing, building and installing components for Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2E9 the largest detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN; and, in this case, Tel: 780.492.4073 busting everyday myths… science is at the heart of them all. Fax: 780.492.4827 In the following pages you will find students, alumni and fac- Toll-free: 800.358.8314 ulty who are making a difference around the world. Enjoy. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.science.ualberta.ca Gregory Taylor Dean of Science Publications Mail Agreement No: 40063605

SCIENCE 2 contours SCIENCE science bases 4 Recognizing our Best contoursFACULTY OF SCIENCE ALUMNI MAGAZINE 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.

18 What a Party! The university’s centenary culminates with Homecoming 2008, featuring alumni awards, gala celebrations, and a convocation in Hong Kong. 5 6 features 6 Joining Two Worlds Cheryl Bartlett is creating a new approach to science education and research in higher education that is bringing together Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge.

8 Science 100 The Faculty of Science has introduced a new first year science course.

9 Unlocking Mercury Mystery An alumnae’s curiosity for physics has taken her from her home in Bogotá, Columbia to working on a NASA supported mission to Mercury.

12 Riding the Wave of Climate Change Lawrence Mysak has devoted his career to 9 understanding one of the world’s most serious issues: climate change.

14 Back to the Classroom Two companies throw their support behind educating future generations of scientists.

16 Remembered Forever Families remember their loved ones by establishing 16 18 memorial scholarships to honor them.

cover story

10 A Peek Inside the Universe’s Core CERN’s Large Hadron Collider ready to unlock mysteries of the universe.

SCIENCE contours 3 Awards and Accolades

iCORE Chair announced Most Powerful Woman ASTech recognizes

Dr. Gane Ka-Shu Wong was awarded Dr. Margaret Ann Armour was outstanding science a $4M iCORE Chair in Biosystems Infor- named by the Women’s Executive Net- Dr. Hong Zhang won the 2008 Syn- matics. The relentless improvement in work as one of Canada’s Most Power- crude/ASTech Innovation in Oilsands our ability to acquire molecular data at ful Women: Top 100 in the category of Research award for his close work with lower costs is a unifying theme behind Champions. This category acknowl- industry to develop advanced image pro- Wong’s research. Working with col- edges women who have made a distinct cessing software, which gives equipment laborators in the medical school at the and describable difference to the ad- operators an effective means to measure University of Alberta, he is developing vancement of women in the Canadian ore particles; and Dr. James Hoover methods to help identify pathogens in workplace by either helping to achieve and long-time collaborator Antony idiopathic inflammatory diseases. Wong greater opportunities for women in tra- Olekshy, won the AVAC/ICORE/ASTech also maintains strong ties with the Bei- ditional careers or acting as an ‘agent of Outstanding Achievement in Informa- jing Genomics Institute in China, which change’ on a national level. tion and Communications Technology is a prominent member of an interna- and Innovation award for their work tional consor- developing Avra tium that is now Software Lab Inc., sequencing 1000 a U of A spinoff human genomes company that to identify all provides software but the most rare development ser- polymorphisms vices and acts as in a global human an industrial test population. bed for research.

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 University Mike Belosevic (Biological Canada; Wolfgang Jäger (Chemistry), David Bundle (Chemistry), Sciences/School of Public Health), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; Killam Annual Professorship; Mike American Society of Parasitologists’ Suneeta Vardarajan (Mathematical Belosevic (Biological Sciences/ Clark P. Read Mentor Award; and Statistical Sciences), NSERC School of Public Health), University George Pemberton (Earth and University Faculty Award. Professor; Greg Goss (Biological Atmospheric Sciences), Grover E. Sciences), Killam Annual Professorship; Murray Memorial Distinguished Provincial Dennis Hall (Chemistry), University Educator Award, American Association James Hoover (Computing Science), Professor; George Pemberton of Petroleum Geologists. AVAC/iCORE/ASTech Outstanding (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), Achievement in Information and University Professor; Jonathan National Communications Technology and Schaeffer (Computing Science), Margaret-Ann Armour (Dean’s Innovation; Gane Ka-Shu Wong University Professor. Office), Canada’s Most Powerful (Biological Sciences/Department of Women: Top 100; Mike Belosevic Medicine), iCORE Chair in Biosystems (Biological Sciences), Fellow of the Informatics; Hong Zhang (Computing Royal Society of Canada; Robert Science), Syncrude/ASTech Innovation in Creaser (Earth and Atmospheric Oil Sands Research. Sciences), Fellow of the Royal Society of

SCIENCE 4 contours SCIENCE in the news

Pachyrhinosaur lakustai Reducing roads could boost bear population Alberta’s scant grizzly bear population could grow by up to five per cent a year if fewer logging roads are built in the animals’ habitat, according to University of Alberta researchers. A study conducted by A new biologists Scott Nielsen and Mark Boyce showed that, dinosaur species regardless of any ecologically friendly harvesting unveiled practices adopted by industry, if road density is not A new dinosaur species, Pachyrhi- reduced in logging areas, the grizzly population may nosaur lakustai, was unveiled from continue to decline. It is estimated that there are Pipestone Creek ­Pipestone Creek, about 30 kilometres southwest of Grande Dinosaur Project currently less than 500 grizzly bears in Alberta. Prairie, Alberta. The fossils revealed a herd of dinosaurs that perished in a catastrophic event 72.5 million years ago. Dr. Philip Currie, renowned paleontologist and Canada Research Arctic sea ice Chair of Dinosaur Paleobiology, describes the animal as vanishing ­having a bony frill on the back of the skull ornamented While the summer of 2007 saw record low sea-ice with smaller horns. They also had large bony structures coverage of the Arctic Ocean, a six year study of the above their nose and eyes which lends them their name: Arctic’s sea ice has confirmed its ongoing, massive Pachyrhinosaurus (thick-nosed lizard). These structures shrinking and drastic thinning. Ice expert Christian probably supported horns of keratin. Haas, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Alberta Ingenuity Scholar, has gathered a unique data set showing that the sea Artist’s concept ice in the region of the North Pole has thinned up to of a substorm 53 per cent between 2001 and 2007.

Researcher uncovers treatment for E.coli Chemistry professor David Bundle and his colleagues- Pavel Kitov and Glen Armstrong-have created a Alberta researchers drug that lashes the E.coli solve mystery of bacteria to a naturally- massive global extinction occurring protein molecule, event 252 million years ago preventing the E.coli from NASA Alberta scientists have solved part of making contact with kidney NASA satellites discover what powers the mystery of where marine organ- cells. The drug that acts like isms that recovered from the biggest a lasso is called Polybait. Northern Lights extinction on earth were housed. “Think of Polybait as piece Dr. Ian Mann from the Department of Published in the October edition of of sticky string that wraps Physics is one of a group of researchers Geology, lead-author and graduate around the interface between who, using a fleet of five NASA student Tyler Beatty (University of the protein and the toxin,” satellites, have discovered that an Calgary), earth science professor J-P he said. “The surface of the explosion of magnetic energy a third Zonneveld (University of Alberta) toxin that kills kidney cells of the way to the moon powers the and Charles Henderson, (U of C), is drawn tightly against the Northern Lights. The mission, called discovered that the shorelines of surface of the protein and THEMIS (Time History of Events ancient Canada provided a refuge neutralizes it.” The molecules and Macroscale Interactions during for marine organisms that escaped are held together long enough Substorms), used five satellites and a annihilation during the Permian- to be transported to the liver network of 20 ground observatories Triassic extinction event. and eventually eliminated located throughout Canada and

JP Zonneveld from the body. Testing is in Alaska to observe the event. Right-bottom, Cruziana isp., top left, Protovirgularia the early stages but so far the isp., crossed over by a small Cruziana isp SCIENCE drug looks promising. contours 5 Dr. Cheryl Bartlett and Elder Murdena Marshall Cape Breton University

SCIENCE 6 contours ccording to the 2006 of the mainstream. relationships among ecological under- Census, of the 2.9 million Elder Albert Marshall of Eskasoni First standings and the lifestyles and practic- students who graduated Nation in Nova Scotia offered to Inte- es of the Mi’kmaq people. Images depict with a Bachelor’s degree grative Science the guiding principle of Elders’ stories, as lived and remembered from a post-secondary “Two-Eyed Seeing”. In his words, “Two- by them. institutionA across Canada, less than 2% Eyed Seeing is learning to see from our Most recently, the Integrative Science were Aboriginal students. If Dr. Cheryl one eye with the strengths of Indigenous program is participating with Canada’s Bartlett (’77 BSc) has her way, that knowledges and ways of knowing, and professional and amateur astronomy number will change, for the better. from our other eye with the strengths communities as they plan celebratory ac- A trained wildlife parasitologist, Bar- of Western (Eurocentric or mainstream) tivities for the United Nations-designated tlett began her academic career at the knowledges and ways of knowing … and International Year of Astronomy 2009. University of Guelph. After a move to learning to use both these eyes together, “Integrative Science research associ- Cape Breton University, a small, under- for the benefit of all.” ate Sana Kavanagh has worked intimate- graduate institution in Sydney, NS, she The program brings together Indig- ly with Mi’kmaq Elder Lillian Marshall continued similar research in combina- enous and Western scientific knowledge’s and Elder Murdena Marshall to create tion with teaching biology courses at and ways of knowing for the purposes of an animated audio-visual presentation both the introductory and fourth year science education, science research, and for the Mi’kmaq legend of Muin and the levels in the BSc degree program. science applications, plus science outreach Seven Bird Hunters, a story that teaches “I quickly came to realize that al- to Aboriginal youth and communities. about seasonal star patterns in the night though there were many, many Mi’kmaq The result? Cape Breton University sky as reflections of ecosystem patterns First Nation students at the university has seen a dramatic increase in the num- on earth,” relates Bartlett. there were very few if any in the sci- bers of Aboriginal students who enter The presentation will be publicly re- ences,” Bartlett says. “Being a scientist, I university science degree programs, stay leased in January 2009, as part of the first found myself asking ‘Why?’” in university science degree programs, activities within Canada’s celebrations For many Aboriginals, there is a cul- and graduate with university science for International Year of Astronomy. tural mismatch in the way science is degrees - a complete opposite of the situ- Bartlett admits to having a better un- viewed. Bartlett explains that for the ation at the university a little over a de- derstanding and appreciation for what it Mi’kmaq thinker, whose mind is condi- cade ago. The first cohort of students en- means to be Aboriginal in Canada today. tioned by traditional Aboriginal knowl- tered Integrative Science in Fall 1999 and “Many Mi’kmaq students have come edge, science has a close kinship with Spring 2003 saw the first two graduates. into the university while lacking the Mother Earth. By Spring 2008, ten Mi’kmaq students normal high school science background “For example, a Mi’kmaq thinker graduated from the Integrative Science that universities expect. Through de- would try to keep her or his understand- program, with another dozen or so who termination and commitment plus the ings of Mother Earth together as a whole, started or had a formal association with nurturing environment of Integrative rather than fragmenting them into dis- the program graduating from other sci- Science and the other support venues ciplines called biology, geology, physics, ence or science-related programs. for Aboriginal students at Cape Breton etc. As a result, mainstream science edu- In addition to advising on the educa- University, some of these students have cation can feel very alien to them.” tional component of the program, Bar- excelled and graduated, or are en route A collective effort by a small group tlett also maintains an active research to graduation,” she proudly notes. of dedicated people within the Mi’kmaq program. With a Canada Research Chair She also adds her gratitude to the El- community, including Murdena Mar- in Integrative Science, funding from ders and others in Aboriginal communi- shall (of Eskasoni First Nation), a faculty NSERC and SSERC, she works with other ties, who have given so much to create member in Mi’kmaq Studies, and Sister university-based researchers, Aborigi- this new path of science education for Dorothy Moore (of Membertou First Na- nal post-secondary science or graduate their youth. tion), the Mi’kmaq student advisor, and students, and key individuals in com- With interest in the program coming individuals at Cape Breton University munity organizations who are involved in from Australia, New Zealand, United led to a radical innovation in science in education, cultural preservation and States, Ghana, and Peru, Bartlett is opti- education. A new program, called Inte- healing, human and wildlife health mistic the world is open to a new science grative Science, was created, and is part research, science promotion, youth paradigm, one that is inclusive of mul- of the university’s four year BSc Com- outreach, Aboriginal language revital- tiple perspectives and cultures, and one munity Studies degree. ization, environmental planning, and that is respectfully and meaningfully The idea behind Integrative Science is ecosystem sustainability research. engaged with its communities. science inclusive of the knowledges and The innovative approach has lead to For more information on the Integra- ways of knowing of Aboriginal peoples the creation of training manuals and tive Science program at Cape Breton Uni- and Indigenous sciences, alongside those knowledge posters, highlighting the versity, visit www.integrativescience.ca. SCIENCE contours 7 A new way of learning

2008 Science 100 class Michael Holly, Creative Services

or most new students, the first But the field trip was no simple walk collective one. Focused on discovery week of university is dedicated in the park. Armed with laptop comput- learning, students discuss issues like to memorizing class schedules ers, digital cameras and various scientif- global warming by looking through and locations, developing rou- ic measuring instruments, the trip was the lens of a chemist, physicist and a tines, and perhaps, attending first and foremost about science. geologist to understand the multiple partiesF and campus events. But imagine “One of the goals of the trip was to factors influencing the issue and to starting your first year of university on a get them thinking,” said Dave Lawrie, explore connections between the field trip to Jasper National Park. program co-ordinator for Science different disciplines. The goal is to get Students in the Faculty of Science’s 100. “They conducted a number of them to ask questions and seek answers Science 100 class at the University of Al- experiments that could not be duplicated from all angles. berta did just that. Twenty-six students in a lab setting. They had the chance to While similar programs exist at other in the new program, designed to provide explore how the disciplines connect universities across Canada, Science 100’s a broad, interdisciplinary introduction in nature and interconnect with each scope includes components of all seven to science, participated in a three-day ex- other.” disciplines: biology, chemistry, comput- ploratory trip that set the pace for their “Among the activities planned were ing science, earth and atmospheric sci- learning for the coming school year. experiments on Newton’s laws of mo- ences, math and statistics, physics and For Jenna Motkoski, the trip was a tion and statistics, data gathering for psychology. Fully integrated, students great opportunity to get to know the earth and atmospheric science and an do not take any other separate courses people she will be working so closely observation hike that challenged stu- other than Exploring Writing, and days with this year. dents to look at nature from a broad are divided between lectures, labs and “It’s the opportunity to get involved scientific mindset, including observing group projects. doing fieldwork. It certainly was differ- varying biases and perceptions within The curriculum also includes an in- ent from what most first year students the group.” dependent research project aimed at were doing in their second week of uni- That is the concept behind Science giving students a taste of the scientific versity,” said Motkoski, a Science 100 stu- 100. Tackle an issue or problem not research process while allowing them to dent from Edmonton. from a single perspective, but from a explore a topic of personal interest. SCIENCE 8 contours Unlocking the

he first time Natalie Gomez Perez (‘07 PhD) held a compass, she was intrigued. How was it that such a tiny needle was able to find its way north? While most of us might look it up and move on, Gomez Perez discovered a curiosity for physics that would take her from her home in Bo- gotá, Columbia to working on a NASA supported mission to Mercury. Gomez Perez came to the University of Alberta in 2002 to begin a PhD in geophysics. She lookedT at various programs in Canada, the US and Australia, before deciding on the U of A because of its strength in geodynamics and planetary physics. “The U of A taught me all I know in planetary physics and planetary dynamics,” she says from her current home in Washington, DC. “The interaction between the space physics and geodynamics groups started when Dr. Konstantin Kabin proposed to Dr. Moritz Heimpel, my supervisor then, to work on Mer- cury. It was then I became interested in the interior of the planet.” Mercury could be called the planet of extremes. It is the smallest, the densest, has the oldest surface, and the largest daily variations in surface temperature, which fluctuate by as much as 600 degrees Celsius. It is also the least explored. Until now. In April of this year, a spacecraft named MESSENGER (Mercury surface, space environment, geochemistry and ranging), made its first flyby of Mercury, recording never-before-seen images of the mysterious planet. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Gomez Perez is now working on the mission under the leadership of MESSENGER Principle Investigator, Dr. Sean Solomon, who is also director of the terrestrial magnetism department. “About a year before I graduated, I applied to a couple of postdoctoral positions,” explains Gomez Perez. “I had sent a proposal for the MESSENGER postdoctoral fellow posi- tion, which consisted on modeling the magnetic field of Mercury and the pos- sibility of an external influence on its dynamo. I received a call from Dr. Sean Solomon offering me the position, which I accepted gladly.” The MESSENGER team has already discovered some intrigu- ing results. On the first mission flyby, images revealed more than 100 “narrow, flat-floored troughs radiating from a complex central region,” in the middle of the Caloris basin, a large impact crater measuring approximately 1,550 km in diameter. The second flyby, which just occurred in late October, showed a region of Mercury’s surface viewed at close range for the first time is big- ger than the land area of South America. The combined data from the two flybys has revealed about 95% of the planet. Soloman added “We have completed an initial reconnaissance of the solar system’s innermost planet, enabling us to gain a global view of Mercu- ry’s geological history and internal magnetic field geometry for the first time.” For Gomez Perez, the oppor- tunity to participate in discus- sions with the members of the MESSENGER Science Team has advanced her knowledge in many different areas of science. Color image of the Caloris basin and adjacent regions Image produced by NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Arizona State University/Carnegieof Washington. Institution Image reproduced courtesy of Science/AAAS.

SCIENCE contours 9 Peeking inside the

he world was watching on two beams head-on at very high energy. not be that hopeless, and was sent to September 10th 2008 when Teams of physicists from around the CERN,” jokes Macpherson. the first beam in the Large world will analyze the particles created He went back to CERN in 1998 to op- Hadron Collider (LHC) at in the collisions using special detectors erate and commission/upgrade the time CERN was successfully guid- in a number of experiments dedicated to of flight system he helped build and edT around the total 27 kilometres of the the LHC. install. Since then, he has been a CERN world’s most powerful particle accelera- Macpherson is no stranger to CERN. Scientific Associate in the Experimental tor. After two decades of preparation, ex- Originally from Ashburton, New Physics Division; a CERN Project Asso- periments conducted at LHC promise to Zealand, Macpherson completed his ciate with the Paul Scherrer Institut in give us a peek inside the universe’s core. MSc in general relativity at the U of A in Villigen, Switzerland; a CERN Project Standing at the centre of it all in the 1991 under renowned physicist Werner Associate with Rutgers University, New CERN Control Centre was Engineer-in- Israel, followed by a PhD in particle Jersey; a Visiting Scientist at ETH Zurich; Charge for LHC Operations, Dr. Alick physics phenomenology. During a post- and now Engineer-in-Charge for LHC Macpherson (’91 MSc, ’96 PhD). Operations at CERN. “As one of the people responsible for For Macpherson, the sheer challenge the daily operation of the LHC accelera- controlling and steering two counter ro- tor, I am in charge of ensuring the effi- tating beams of high-energy protons so cient running and the safe operation of they collide at designated points around the LHC, and the safety of all person- the 27 km circumference of the LHC is a nel involved during LHC operation,” highlight of his current post. explains Macpherson from his current “You have to remember that a nomi- residence in Geneva. Alick Macpherson nal LHC beam has the energy equivalent The LHC is a gigantic scientific in- (in glasses) monitors of a 400 ton train traveling at 150km/h, LHC operations. strument near Geneva, where it spans but with a transverse size at the collision the border between Switzerland and doctoral appointment with the U of A’s points of only 16 microns (about 1 one France about 100 m underground. It is Dr. James Pinfold and the Experimental third the diameter of a human hair). Giv- a particle accelerator used by physicists Physics Group, Macpherson worked on en that the LHC beam is an unforgiving, to study the smallest known particles – the construction and installation of high intensity beam, LHC operation is the fundamental building blocks of all a time of flight detector for the OPAL all about synchronized control of these things. experiment that was installed at CERN’s beams using a very large accelerator, and Two beams of subatomic particles LEP ­accelerator. for me that is what I really enjoy.” called ‘hadrons’ – either protons or lead “My task was to cut, polish and glue Macpherson is also struck by the ions – will travel in opposite directions optical fibres into plastic scintillator physics reach of the LHC. A lot has been inside the circular accelerator, gaining plates. At that stage I was still considered said about the search for the Higgs bo- energy with every lap. Physicists will a theoretical physicist, but my group ar- sons. Observation of the Higgs boson use the LHC to recreate the conditions gued that since I used to work in a sheep would help explain why some particles just after the Big Bang, by colliding the shearing gang in New Zealand, I should are very heavy while others have no SCIENCE 10 contours Inside the LHC tunnel CERN PhotoLab, Maximilien Brice mass at all. The search is associated with Earth over its lifetime. When keeping while doing graduate work, he hopes the the mechanism by which particles ac- in mind that the range of cosmic ray university doesn’t lose sight of the value quire mass. energies exceeds LHC energies, the fact of world-wide collaborations, such as the “The thing that I find fascinating our Earth is still here gives a simple one with CERN. and potentially very satisfying, is that and direct reassurance that collisions through collisions at the LHC, the produced by the LHC are safe. experiments may be the first to directly After a successful startup, activities observe dark matter,” says Macpherson. are on hold at LHC because “Here I am hoping that dark matter comes of a large helium leak in in the form of neutral supersymmetric the LHC tunnel. The likely particles and that their decays are cause of the incident was observed by the LHC experiments soon a faulty electrical con- after the LHC enters regular operation.” nection between two of Cosmological and astrophysical ob- the accelerator’s magnets. servations have shown that all of the vis- The sector where the inci- ible matter accounts for only 4% of the dent occurred now has to Universe. The 96% that is unaccounted be brought to room tem- for is dark matter (23%) and dark energy perature and the magnets (73%), and the search is on for particles involved opened up for or phenomena responsible for both. inspection, a process that Macpherson is aware of some of the could take three to four controversy surrounding the LHC. weeks. The time necessary “At the moment, the biggest miscon- for the investigation and ception that we have to deal with is the repairs prevents a restart notion that when we start producing before CERN’s obligatory particle collisions in the LHC, a micro- winter maintenance pe- scopic black hole could be created that riod, bringing the date for would then proceed to devour the earth. restart of the accelerator For me this is really the stuff of science complex to early spring fantasy that was picked up by the popu- 2009. lar press and has now grown to a rather While Macpherson is popular misconception.” kept extremely busy in According to Macpherson, there is the CERN Control Cen- no reason to believe that LHC could tre, he hasn’t forgotten his produce harmful black holes of any time at the U of A. Having flavour. He explains there are a flux of benefited from his interna- ATLAS beam pipe installation cosmic rays that have been hitting the tional experience gained CERN PhotoLab, Maximilien Brice SCIENCE contours 11 Riding the wave of

If Lawrence Mysak (’61 BSc) didn’t have to dissect frogs in his first year zoology class, he might not be the international renowned climatologist, mathematician and oceanographer he is today. Alain Désilets

SCIENCE 12 contours decided that dentistry was the ca- The year in Zurich was also when American Geophysical Union and of the reer for me since then I could use Mysak decided it was time to move on. American Meteorological Society. “ my handicraft and model-making “I began thinking about my time at Perhaps the two accolades he is most hobby skills,” explains Mysak. UBC, and realized this was another turn- proud of are the prestigious Alfred We- “However, in my first year of the ing point in my career,” he explains. “I gener Medal and Honorary Membership I“pre-dent” program I had to dissect frogs knew it was time for a change, and need- of the European Geosciences Union and in a Zoology lab. The spurting blood and ed to decide between moving south to the Prix Marie-Victorin (natural sci- nervous twitches of the supposedly dead Hobart, Australia to head a CSIRO physi- ences), one of 11 Prix du Quebec awards frogs were most off-putting.” cal oceanographic group, or to move given annually in all areas of culture So, under encouragement from Regi- east to Montreal, to start a new climate and the sciences. nald Jacka, his calculus teacher at the research program at McGill University.” “The Wegener Medal was a complete time, Mysak continued his studies in the Montreal it was, and Mysak soon surprise,” reflects Mysak. “This is a huge honors applied mathematics program at took a position as an NSERC Professor European association, and they only the U of A. After graduating, he worked of Climate Research in the Department give out 3 top medals in atmospheric, at the Pacific Navel Laboratory in Vic- of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at hydrological or ocean sciences. To be tory conducting research into fluid me- McGill, and it took him no time to make chosen is an incredible honor.” chanics, proving there were real-world his mark. The first Canadian to receive the applications of his mathematics degree. In 1989 he became the Canada Steam- honor (the most prestigious award made He went on to complete an MSc from ship Lines Professor of Meteorology. The by the Union reserved for scientists who the University of Adelaide, Australia fol- next year he was a founding member have achieved exceptional international lowed by a PhD in Applied Mathematics and director of the Institute of Applied standing for their merit and their scien- from Harvard University, where he did Mathematics and Statistics and an as- tific achievements), Mysak was recog- one of the first theses on continental sociate member of the then Institute of nized for his leadership in oceanogra- shelf waves. Oceanography. phy and his fundamental contributions After a 10-month postdoc at Harvard, Today, Mysak is immersed in teach- in ocean dynamics, sea-ice and climate Mysak was torn between a tenure track ing and research on oceans, climate research. He has been very active lectur- position at UBC in the mathematics de- change, and earth system science, which ing, touring and returning to Europe for partment or a faculty position at Johns involves the interactions between the sabbaticals and international scientific Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. A atmosphere and oceans, as well as ex- committee work. desire to return to Canada landed him at changes between the land surface, the Currently he is the President of the UBC, where he was a professor of math- cryosphere, and the biosphere. International Association for the Physi- ematics and oceanography, and was a More recently he has started to de- cal Sciences of the Oceans, and ex-officio founding member of the Institute of Ap- velop a climate model of intermediate of SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oce- plied Mathematics and Statistics. complexity for better understanding anic Research), a leading international During a sabbatical in Zurich in 1982, climatic variations at the thousands of non-governmental organization for the Mysak had a few revelations. years time scale, looking in particular for promotion and coordination of interna- “I remember seeing firsthand the the whole climate system response to the tional oceanographic activities. global warming trends I had been study- astronomical forcing over the last glacial- While Mysak is leading cutting edge ing for years,” he recalls. “We went on a interglacial cycles. His book Waves in the research programs, he is also teaching ski trip to the Alps only to find poor ski Ocean is often referenced and many of generations of future scientific leaders. conditions due to warm temperatures. his ~150 papers are widely cited. He has attracted many top graduate and We then visited Israel, and the desert For his outstanding scholarly achieve- postdoctoral students to his lab, super- was blooming with flowers that hadn’t ments, Mysak has been recognized often. vising 40 MSc and PhD theses, 30 post- been seen in years. Finally, Germany was He is a member of the Order of Canada, doctoral fellows. He currently has a crop experiencing El Niño, which was having which recognizes a lifetime of outstand- of six graduate students. an impact both in winter and spring.” ing achievement, dedication to the com- “To see so many of my former stu- These events had a lasting impression munity and service to the nation. He is dents in a variety of positions around on Mysak, and upon returning from Eu- a fellow in the Royal Society of Canada the world today is most gratifying. Hav- rope he began researching fisheries in (and past president of their Academy of ing a continuous flow of new students the N.E. Pacific and its relationship with Sciences), has received the Queen’s Gold- over the past 38 years has certainly kept El Niño. en Jubilee Medal, and is a fellow of the me on my toes.” SCIENCE contours 13 to the

Roger Dootson, PCL Construction Management Inc.

ong time University of Alberta support- many of the recent building projects on campus. er PCL announced a gift of $500,000 to With the Engineering Building and the Health the university, $200,000 of which will Research Innovation Facility complete, CCIS support the PCL Construction Man- underway, and construction on the massive agement Inc. Lounge in the Centen- Edmonton Clinic soon to begin, PCL is getting nialL Centre for Interdisciplinary Science. quite comfortable on campus. “The University of Alberta is a significant “By February 2009, PCL will have a total of 10 institution in the city,” commented Roger Doot- cranes on campus, making it one of our top cli- son, PCL Vice President and District Manager. ents in Alberta,” added Dootson. “It’s part of our culture to give back to the city in Taylor added that he considers PCL an “hon- which we work and live.” orary” science department. Dean of Science Gregory Taylor recognized Located in the east wing of the Centennial PCL’s gift as a true gift to the students. “We can Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, the PCL Con- make great strides in providing world-class struction Management Inc. Lounge sits outside teaching through partnerships with industry.” what will be the university’s two largest lecture PCL has been in Edmonton since 1922, when halls. With up to 18 different courses scheduled founder Ernest Poole opened an office in Ed- in each of the lecture halls each term, students monton and began its first project in the city: from earth sciences to fine arts will have an op- the Edmonton Public Library on Jasper Avenue. portunity to enjoy the stunning views over the Since then, PCL has grown into the largest gen- North Saskatchewan River as they relax, study eral contracting organization in Canada and the and mingle before and after classes. eighth largest in the United States, with an an- The remaining of the PCL gift will go to the caption here nual volume of over $5 billion. Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the Fac- The company has been a major player in ulty of Engineering. SCIENCE 14 contours ne of the world’s largest that advance the care of patients seating to allow students to work in biopharmaceutical com- suffering from life-threatening diseases teams either side by side or front to back. panies is helping ensure in areas of unmet medical need. The enhanced learning environment the University of Alberta’s Headquartered in Foster City, Calif., will be outfitted with an AV central scientist feeder system con- Gilead has operations in North America, control station accessed from motorized Otinues its long tradition of excellence. Europe and Australia. Gilead Sciences lecture podium, electrical outlets in Gilead Sciences announced a gift of acquired Raylo Chemicals, a company each row, whiteboards, and universal $250,000 over a five-year period to the founded by U of A alumnus and the access student stations at the front and Faculty of Science that will support the pioneer of carbohydrate chemistry rear of room with audio assistance. Gilead Sciences Lecture Theatre in the Raymond Lemieux, in 2006. A fixed demonstration table with an Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Gregory Taylor, Dean of Science, ex- overhead projection camera to televise Science, currently under construction. plained the Gilead Sciences Lecture The- experiments to projection screens will “Having the best people with the ap- atre will be a pioneer in its own right, encourage hands on learning. propriate knowledge and skills is critical providing a 190-seat, state-of-the-art col- Slated to open in 2010, the Centen- to Gilead’s ability to deliver medications laborative learning experience complete nial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science to patients around the world,” said Robin with enhanced multimedia capabilities. will equip the Faculty of Science with a Nicol, general manager. “We have been “In this, our 100th year, it is reward- facility unlike almost any other in the associated with the University of Alber- ing to see an investment in the educa- world. ta for more than 40 years through hiring tion of tomorrow’s science leaders, like “It will provide over 1,500 more un- graduates and the Industrial Internship the one made by Gilead,” said Taylor. dergraduate and graduate students with Program, and we have seen firsthand the “Our students will be positioned to learn an opportunity to pursue the education quality of the U of A’s staff and students. in an environment that will equip them in science that they desire,” said Taylor. Gilead is delighted to take this opportu- to work in an increasingly global and in- “The increased capacity in lecture halls nity to support the education of future terdisciplinary economy.” and teaching labs will provide an un- scientists.” Designed to encourage collaboration, precedented learning experience for stu- Gilead Sciences works to discover, the tiered lecture theatre will feature dents campus wide.” develop and commercialize therapeutics fixed counters and independently mobile

caption here Robin Nicol, Gilead Sciences

SCIENCE contours 15 Remembered Forever Families remember loved ones by establishing memorial scholarships in their name.

Donald Scobie

onald Scobie could be de- from discarded equipment. while the family was on a ski trip. He scribed as a creator. From Donald traveled the world with his was 17. woodworking to music, family and school groups. While his “We set up the Donald T. Scobie Me- science experiments to home base was in Calgary, he lived in the morial Fund because we very much paintings, Donald added State of Qatar for six years, completed wanted to establish some worthy me- Dhis personal touch to everything he set two years of high school at Brentwood morial, to keep Donald’s memory alive,” out to do. College in Mill Bay, BC, and spent time comments Scobie. “We wanted it to “When he was 14 or 15, he was always at the family cottage in Ontario. somehow be related to science, which conducting scientific experiments in his A sports enthusiast, Donald excelled was his passion, and we also realize how room in our basement,” remembers his at squash, white-water kayaking, down- difficult it is now for students to finance father, Jeff Scobie. “The walls of his room hill skiing and water skiing. He was also their post-secondary education, so we were plastered with scientific posters, the an avid artist, playing the guitar and thought this would help.” periodic table and chemical reactions, composing some of his own pieces. Asked about what message he and he turned our work room into a “A bench he carved out of a mas- would give 17 year olds today, Scobie laboratory. He had a lot of equipment sive log still looks out over the ocean at says students should take in the whole and would do research on the internet.” Brentwood,” adds Scobie, “and a large experience and reserve time to have fun, With his self built laboratory, Donald painting he made hangs in our house.” without putting too much pressure on built a six foot tall rocket, along with Donald had applied for admission in themselves to achieve perfect grades. many smaller ones from scratch, buying the Faculty of Science at the University “I would also say, ‘work hard, and play only the engines, as well as his own of Alberta for the fall of ’08. His plan was hard’. That’s exactly what Donald did computer from the most basic parts, to become a surgeon. However he passed every day.” which he either bought or rounded up away suddenly in the winter of 2007 SCIENCE 16 contours s a young boy, Afzal Khan was a whiz at math. His father, a Captain in the British Indian Army, caught on to his young son’s enthusiasm and hired a private teacher to challenge the curious boy. Years later, Khan turned his passion of mathematics into a career in engineering, a career that would take him around the world. A At the age of 17, Khan left his home in Pakistan to join the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England as a naval officer. It was in England where he studied to be an electrical engineer, graduating from Faraday House College. After an internship in Berlin, where he learned to speak German, he took a position with Siemens Compa- ny in Lausanne, Switzerland as an engineer. His move to Canada came in 1965, when he was recruited to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and then Montreal, before finally settling in Edmonton as a project engineer for Enbridge Company. Khan’s thirst for knowledge was transferred to his children. “His passion was to engage us in meaningful learning experiences enriched by his prior travels and knowledge of history, geography, mathematics, and politics,” says his family, which includes wife Rabia, daughters Sophia, Samia, Nadia, and son Waleed. “He took delight in teaching us math at home at the dinner table, heightening our understanding of the principles and pragmatics of math in a way that went beyond the textbook.” Like their father, the children took to the challenge. All four of his children completed post-secondary education from the University of Alberta in Engineering, Science, Education and Medicine. Samia is a tenured Associate Professor of Education at the University of British Columbia. Waleed is an Aerospace Software Engineer. Nadia is a Gen- eral Internist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Univer- sity of British Columbia. Sophia is a specialist in Rheumatology who opened her own medical clinic in Edmonton. The family’s fondest memories include his teachings and hours of laughter with him at the dinner table. “Dinner table conversations were lively and spanned every topic,” they reminisce. “When we once asked him what family meant, he showed us his outstretched palm and fingers, symbolizing the oneness of family.” Khan passed away in 2001. The Khan family wanted to cre- ate a legacy that would reflect his passion for math and dedi- cation to education, and established the Afzal A. Khan Out- standing Achievement in Mathematics Scholarship at the University of Alberta. If Khan were sitting around a dinner table with to- day’s students, he would advise them to “work hard and live your life with integrity and honesty”. These Afzal Khan are the principles he stood for and lived by.

Memorial scholarships are one way to create a living memory of loved ones. They can be established in any department, and can be directed to any undergraduate or graduate year. Annual memorial scholar- ships can be established for as little as $500 per year, and require a five year commitment. Endowed scholarships, meaning they are given in perpetuity, need a commitment of $12,000 for undergradu- ate students and $24,000 for graduate students. If you would like more information, please contact ­Claudia Wood, Assistant Dean (External Relations), 780-492-6662 or [email protected].

SCIENCE contours 17 Ruth Moline, George V Schwindt (“49 BSc, ’52 MSc)

Reunion weekend is always greeted with excitement and anticipation, but this year it promised to be the biggest bash ever. The Faculty of Science kicked things off with a wine and cheese social on Friday night, to which record crowds attend- ed. The Dean hosted science alum at the sold out marquee event, the gala dinner at the Shaw Conference Centre, which featured a concert by folk legend Ian Tyson.

Donna Stewart Williams (’48 BSc), Barbara Kozoriz (’58 BSc Home Ec)

Yoonjung Huh, Stephanie Wong (’05 BSc), Javier Cuervo (’08 BSc) Marie Rutter, Laurence Hoye (‘55 BSc, ‘56 MS), Nat Rutter (’65 PhD)

Hong Kong Convocation celebrates U of A ties to Asia

The U of A’s relationship with Asia goes back at least as meeting with alumni during the special convocation far the 1920s, when Japanese education student Yuichi and gala banquet dinner.” Kurimoto became our first international student to More than 200 alumni received special Centenary graduate. certificates at convocation and later that day some 500 Kurimoto returned to his home country to found alumni and members of the region’s business commu- three schools, including a university. Since then some nity convened for a sold-out gala. 4,000 students from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan Attending the convocation, the first such event and Korea have graduated from the U of A, comprising in Hong Kong since

the university’s largest concentration of alumni 1998, were University Dean Gregory Taylor (in outside of North America. of Alberta President red robe), congratulates To celebrate those deep-rooted ties, along with Indira Samarasekera, alumni convocating in Hong Kong the Centenary, the U of A held a special convocation Chancellor Eric New- ceremony in at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong ell, Alberta Minister of Nov. 1, the only Centenary event outside of Canada. Advanced Education “The University of Alberta is proud of its interna- and Technology Doug tional reputation and our alumni from all over the Horner and several world who represent us as ambassadors,” said President university deans and Indira Samarasekera. “I have been looking forward to senior administrators.

SCIENCE 18 contours rise to the top

Each year, the University of Alberta hands out awards to exceptional alumni during Reunion Weekend. Here are this year’s science winners.

The Award of Excellence The Alumni Honour Award with universities around the world. She recognizes specific, recent accomplish- recognizes the significant contributions invented a new educational framework, ments of University of Alberta graduates. made over a number of years by Online Multimedia Innovative Item University of Alberta alumni in their Types, which helps bring high quality David H. Evans, ’78 BSc, ’82 PhD, is an local communities and beyond. education to students through adaptive internationally recognized poxvirus learning and evaluation. researcher and a member of the smallpox Tako Koning, ’71 BSc, has been scientific advisory panel of the World described as “an Angolan Angel” for his Daniel McKennitt, ‘06 BSc, is an Health Organization. A faculty member humanitarian work in that country. emerging leader in Aboriginal health at the University of Guelph for 15 years, A geologist for more than 30 years research and awareness. A member of he returned to Edmonton as chair of the working worldwide in the oil industry, the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, Department of Medical Microbiology he organized major donations of he founded the University of Alberta and Immunology in 2003. His team textbooks and journals for universities Aboriginal Health Group, and in 2008 from Edmonton and Calgary was in Nigeria and Angola, countries where organized the University’s first-ever recently awarded $24.9 million from the he has lived and worked for the past 16 Aboriginal Health Awareness Week. His Canadian Foundation for Innovation years. Since his retirement he has worked contributions to campus—and beyond— and the Province of Alberta to create the with a humanitarian organization that have earned this U of A medical student Alberta Institute for Viral Immunology. provides clean drinking water to rural numerous honours. In 2006 he was one In 2007, he was appointed director of populations in northern Angola, and of 12 selected to receive the National this new institute. His work concerning he chairs the Mosquito Nets Project, Aboriginal Role Model Award. In 2008 poxvirus replication has been funded supplying nets that prevent malaria. he received an Alberta Aboriginal Youth for more than 20 years by the MRC and For his work he was honored with the Achievement Award and a $10,000 CIHR. Regional Services Award presented by National Award for Excellence in Youth the Society of Petroleum Engineers Leadership from the Kaiser Foundation. Malcolm Whiteway, ’83 PhD, is an International. expert in yeast signal transduction Erik J. Saude, ’00 BSc (Augustana), and genetics. He is a principal research ’07 PhD, is a stellar young researcher officer and leader of the Genetics Group making groundbreaking strides by at the National Research Council’s The Alumni Horizon Award applying Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Biotechnology Research Institute and an recognizes the outstanding achieve- spectroscopy in the field of medicine adjunct professor at McGill University. ments of University of Alberta alumni to help diagnose patients quickly and His research focuses on understanding early in their careers. tailor treatments to their specific disease. the biology of the yeasts Saccharomyces A direct result of his work with the cerevisiae and Candida albicans. He has Irene Cheng, ‘96 BSc, ’99 MSc, ‘05 University’s National High Field Nuclear published more than 100 scientific PhD, is an award-winning, innovative Magnetic Resonance Centre was the papers, and two first-author articles computer scientist making a tremendous formation of the Magnetic Resonance in Cell and Science provided seminal impact on multimedia research Diagnostic Centre, a collaboration of insight into the yeast mating pathway. internationally. She is the scientific several U of A faculties and departments. In 2008, he was elected as a Fellow of the director of the University’s NSERC/ A strong supporter of his alma mater, he American Academic of Microbiology for iCORE Multimedia Research Centre, and volunteers his time with the Office of his outstanding scientific achievements an adjunct professor in the computing the Registrar during student recruitment and original contributions to the science department. As a leader in and participated in the University’s advancement of microbiology. interdisciplinary collaborations, she has Centenary Road Trip. In September 2007, established partnerships with other U of this Camrose-raised, Augustana grad A faculties—including a joint curriculum started medical school at the University with the art and design department—and of Calgary. 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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