How will we power the future? An exciting benefit for you as a University of Alumni Association member.

Get preferred rates and coverage that fits your needs.

Take advantage of your You save with alumni privileges. You have access to the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex preferred program. This means you can get preferred insurance insurance rates. rates on a wide range of home, condo, renter’s and car coverage that can be customized for your needs.

For over 65 years, TD Insurance has been helping Canadians find quality insurance solutions.

Feel confident your coverage fits your needs.

Get a quote now.

Recommended by HOME | CAR

Get a quote and see how much you could save ! Call 1-866-269-1371 or go to tdinsurance.com/ualbertaalumni

The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. in Québec, by Meloche Monnex Financial Services Inc. in Ontario, and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place Crémazie, 12th Floor, Montréal, Québec H2P 1B6. Due to provincial legislation, our car and recreational insurance program is not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. All trade-marks are the property of their respective owners. ® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. SPRING 2019 VOLUME 75 NUMBER 1

“We are somewhere between the hydrocarbon age and the age of electricity. And one is supporting the other.”

larry kostiuk, ’85 msc

3 39 Your Letters Trails Where you’ve been and 5 where you’re going Notes What’s new and noteworthy 40 Books 10 Continuing Education 42 Column by Curtis Gillespie feature Class Notes 13 20 51 Thesis Energy: from now to next In Memoriam It’s beyond the stars and within From fire to coal, wind to steam, our cells. How we organize our our energy has always evolved. 56 human spaces defines us. Why are we so worried? Small Talk

new trail spring 2019 1 }upfront

A Community of the ‘Kind People’ OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Native Studies its steel body was a crisp sky “rescued” from grocery stores that Sean Price, ’95 BCom Chancy Black Water, Awakas’ikitstakiaki Associate Vice-President (Deer Offering Woman), ’10 BA(NativeStu), blue. The bright-red tow arm was blemished or in damaged ’10 Cert(AborGov/Ptnshp) Greg Latham fit my tiny fingers perfectly as I packaging and would otherwise be Director, Alumni Engagement Nursing Eric Martin, ’09 BSc, ’13 BScN pushed the toy effortlessly around thrown out. The program was only Tracy Salmon, ’91 BA(Hons), ’96 MSc Kate Young, ’07 BScN, ’15 MBA Director, Alumni Programs our family’s apartment, bashing a pilot and needed volunteers to Pharmacy Coleen Graham, ’88 BSc(HEc), ’93 MEd keep going. U of A alumni stepped Ron Pohar, ’95 BSc(Pharm) into walls, my lips sputtering like Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives an old diesel engine. forward in a big way. Working Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation I loved my Tonka truck. with the Community-University ALUMNI COUNCIL EXECUTIVE Bill Werry, ’73 BA(RecAdmin) Alumni Association President Public Health And even though the Partnership, alumni lined up Ayaz Bhanji, ’91 BSc(Pharm) Salima Thawer, ’03 BSc, ’05 Dip(DentHyg), downstairs neighbours complained partnerships with grocery stores, President-Elect ’06 BSc(DentHyg), ’13 MPH daily about the noise, I didn’t care. obtained insurance and worked as Heather Raymond, ’82 BEd, ’86 Dip(Ed), Rehabilitation Medicine I was happy. I was safe. drivers to get food to those in need. ’95 MEd, ’02 PhD Grant Irwin, ’75 BSc, ’79 BSc(PT) Committee Chair: Alumni Awards Science It was 1972 and my mother, Last year, volunteers — 72 per cent Ryan Thompson, ’03 BSc(Hons), ’13 MA Ross Lockwood, ’08 BSc(Hons), ’15 PhD father, younger brother and I had of whom are alumni — gave Committee Chair: Alumni Student Council MEMBERS AT LARGE Ashlyn Bernier, ’06 BSc, ’11 PhD, ’13 MBA just arrived in Brantford, Ont., 716 hours to Grocery Run and Robert Agostinis, ’86 BMedSc, ’88 MD having been kicked out of our home supported 115 families a week. Committee Chair: Career Services Yasmin Barre, ’09 BSc, ’12 MSc Christy Ciezki, ’02 BSc(Spec), ’09 MEd country of Uganda by its ruthless Our university calls on us to Ramesh Bhambhani, ’66 BSc, ’68 MSc, ’72 PhD Committee Chair: Priority Programs Maxine Clarke, ’03 BCom dictator, Idi Amin. I remember “uplift the whole people.” Projects Phil Wong, ’85 BSc(Spec) Rick Dowell, ’03 BSc(MechEng), ’09 MBA Vivian He, ’08 BCom many visitors — “the kind people,” like Grocery Run demonstrate the Committee Chair: Strategic Planning Joel Johnston, ’16 BA(RecSpoTourism), Bill Werry, ’73 BA(RecAdmin) my parents called them — stopping power of our alumni community to F EXCE FF E EXXCCEEL FF EEXXCCEEL F EXCE O LL ’16 O OCert(AboriginalSpo/Rec),LLL ’16 OO LL O LL E E ELE EE LEE EE E E L N L NN L NN L N Committee Chair:C Volunteerism With Students CC C C C C C C R Cert(CommEngage/Serv)C R C C R by with food and to teach us the deliver on this promise. R SILVER RI SILVERSILVER E I R SILVER E I E I E I E I SILVER E SILVER Kate Young, ’07 BScN, ’15 MBA C C C C C Mark Korthuis, ’07 BA(RecSpoTourism)#1 - fewer teethC and type in circle #1 - fewer teeth and type in circle #1 - fewer teeth and type in circle finer points of Canadian life: how As a refugee, I know the smaller, moved in from outlines. smaller, moved in from outlines. smaller, moved in from outlines. Board of Governors Representatives Andre Prefontaine, ’85 BCom, ’88 ThisBSc(Spec) is Avenir. This is Avenir. This is Avenir. CASE CACASSEE (first logo isCA CAwhat was in previousSSEE (first logo is whatCA was in previousS E (first logo is what was in previous Eli Schrader, ’12 BA(RecSpoTourism)pdf - just for comparison) pdf - just for comparison) pdf - just for comparison) to turn on the stove, how to make difference “the kind people” can Mary Pat Barry,A ’04 MA A A 2014 A 20142014 A 2014 A W M W M W 2014 M 2014 WRuth Spetter, ’94 MBCom W M W M Glenn Stowkowy,A ’76 BSc(ElecEng)A A A A AA phone calls and to remind my mom make. Kindness lifted my family R R AR R A R RR A RA DS OG JessicaRDDS Vandenberghe,OG ’00 BSc(ChemEng),RDD GG RD G Senate Representatives PR S PPRRO SS PPRROO S PRO that bar soap was for the shower, beyond mere survival, paving the ’03 MSc Charlene Butler, ’09 MBA not washing clothes. way for me to go to university. Tyler Hanson, ’00 BSc(MechEng) F EXC F EFX CEXEC EX OFFICIO F EXFC EXC EXC F EXCFE EXCE F EXCE O EL O O LEL O O OLF L EL O O L L O L E LE E E L LE E E E L L LE E E L L E L One of those people also By studying at the University of L N L L E N L L L E E N L L E E L E C C NHonorary President N N N N N FACULTY REPRESENTATIVESC C C C C C C C C C R R C R C C C C C I E R I E R R I #2E - TakenR R #2 - Taken R #2 - Taken SILVER SILVER E E E E I David TurpinI I SILVER I I E I E dropped off an old Tonka truck that Alberta, many doors have been C C C apart. shows apart. shows apart. shows Agricultural, Life & EnvironmentalC Sciences C C C C C Interim Vice-President (Advancement)globe and line globe and line globe and line gave a young kid hours of fun and opened for me and it’s a privilege to Chris Kallal, ’14 BSc(Forest) options in gray options in gray options in gray CASE F EXCE CACASSEEKelly Spencer,FF E EXXCCACEE ’97CA BACASESESE-- #4 doesF E XthisCAC E CASESE -- #4 does thisCA SE -- #4 does this O L OO LL as well.O thicker L as well. thicker as well. thicker AL E A ALLE E A LAE A Arts E E EL E N L N A 2014 L WN A 2014 ML W WN A 2014M M globe line onW 2 W M globeM line on W2 M globe line on 2 the feeling that this was his home. give back as a volunteer. C CC C C C W M AC W AR M A AC W A AR &M 3. fewer A A A & 3. fewer A & 3. fewer Jim Gibbon, ’85R BSc, ’87 BA, ’06 MBA RIAssociate Vice-PresidentE (Alumni Relations)I AE A A I A SILVER RE A R I A SILVERSILVERR RE A R R A SILVERR R R R R R R R D R G C R D D R G G C R teeth on 3 D D G G teeth on 3 D G teeth on 3 We had lost everything in I’m filled with gratitude and DS PRO GC S DPSR PORO GC Sean Price, ’95 BComS PRS OPDR#1S O - PfewerRO teethG and type in circle S PRSO P#1R - fewerO teeth and type in circle S PR O Augustana smaller, moved in from outlines. smaller, moved in from outlines. This is Avenir. This is Avenir. Uganda — our home, the family pride, but also confidence that linesJeff 15% Behrens, shape 30%CA ’10 BA SEwhitelines lines 15% shape shape 20% 30%CACADean of StudentsSSwhiteEE lines white shapelineslines 15%shape20%(first shapelogo20% is CA30% what was in previousSwhiteE lineswhite shape lines 20% (firstshape logo 20% is what was in previouswhite lines shape 20% pdf - just for comparison) pdf - just for comparison) A A 2014 AAndre2014 2014Costopoulos A 2014 W M WW M W business, all our possessions — but our grads will always be there Business A A A A M M R R AR R A A RA EXC D G EXC EXC DeanRD Dof StudentsG DesignateE X EXC EX RD G E X EX E X HayatOF Kirameddine,E ’09S P BComRO F OF E E SS PPRROOO F FC E F E CE S PROO F CF E CE F C E the kind people showered us with to help those in need. You can LL O L LL O OL L L O L L O L E E E E L E E E E L L #3L - Circle text isE E L L #3 - Circle text is E L #3 - Circle text is L L E Bryce Meldrum E E E E E E N L N L L L N L L L N N N spaced out closer to N spaced out closer to spaced out closer to C Campus Saint-Jean C C C C C C C N C N C C style ofC original logo. style of original logo. R R C R R C C R C C R C style of original logo. abundance. Without the worry help by checking out volunteer I R I R R E E I I E I I I E E I E E first logo is all Avenir, I first logo is all Avenir, E Vacant Graduate Students’ Association E first logo is all Avenir, C C C C C C C C second logo is Stone C second logo is Stone second logo is Stone F EXC F EFX CEXEC F EXFC EXCE F EXCE of where to get our next meal, my opportunities wherever you live O EL O O LELZhihong Pan O O L L Serif Semi and O L Serif Semi and Serif Semi and DentistryE LE E E L LE E E L L E L CAL SE N CACAL LSESEE N CALCASLCAESEESEMetaPlus medium.CA L CASESEE MetaPlus medium.CA SE MetaPlus medium. C C N N N N A C A A C C A A C CA Third logo Ais Meta-CA Third logo is AMeta- R R Students’C Union C C C Third logo is Meta- parents could focus on building at uab.ca/volunteer. I Hafiz Zul Damani,M ’93E BSc(Dent),W R ’95I DDS M M E W RW R M M #2 - WTakenR W M M #2 - TakenW M W SILVER I W SILVER E I I W E BookE inM circle andI E Book in circle and Book in circle and C A C A A A A Aapart. shows A A apart. shows A A A C A A C A C A R MetaMediumA inC A R MetaMedium inA MetaMedium in R R R R R AdamR BrownR R R R globe and lineR R R globe and lineR R EducationD G D D G G D D R DG G G center. D D G G center. D G center. a new life. S P R O S P RS O P R O S P SR OP R SO P R O options in gray S P RSO P R O options in gray S P R O CAKen Shields,S ’69E BEd, ’84 MEd CACASSEE CACASESE -- #4 does thisCA SE -- #4 does this as well. thicker as well. thicker I was only four years old, but A A A A A Engineering2014 W A 2014 M W W M M globe line onW 2 M globe line on 2 W EXC M A W EXC EXC A M A AEXC EXC AEXCA & 3. fewer A EXC EX A & 3. fewer EX A OF E A ORF A OFE RE A ORF ORF E EFR R E ORF FE CRE F CE I think often about the kindness LRL L G LRL L OG L G L teeth on 3 O L G L teeth on 3 O L GailER J. Powley, ’84G BSc(ChemEng)E E DER OL G E E ED D EOL OL L E DE OL L E L L DS O L S DPSR EO S PRS PER E E S PR E E E PR N L PR N L L L N L L L C C C GRANDN C C C N N #4 - first two logosC N N#4 - first two logos N #4 - first two logos C C C C R R C of that community and the joy SILVER C R C C C C C R R R BRONZEfrom #3 with Rcircle from #3 with circle I I R R from #3 with circle E E I Extension GOLD E I E I I E E I E lines 15% shape 30% whitelines lines 15% shape shape 20% 30% white lineswhite shapelines shape20% 20% whiteI lines shape 20% E I E C C C type treated similar type treated similar type treated similar

C C C C and opportunity their simple Melissa Myskiw, ’05 BA, ’17 MA to original COE C to original COEC to original COE CACASESE CACACASESESE CACASCAECASESESElogo CACSAESE logo CASE logo A Graduate Studies A A A A A A A EXC EXC EXC E XA EXC Meta Bold in 2 & 3 E X Meta Bold in 2 & 3 Meta Bold in 2 & 3 gifts brought my family. As my W WINNERF E M W WF WINNERF E EM M W W F FC E WINNEREM M M W W F C E M M W M O L O O L L O O W L L center O L center OlenaEA (Alyona) Shynkaruk,L A ’16 PhDA E EA L A L A A E A E L A L A #3 - CircleA textA isE A L A A #3 - Circle textA is A center E R R E E R A RE R E RE L R N LR L R N LR LR R spacedR out closerLR to R R spaced out closer toR R two years as Alumni Association C D G C DC D G N G C DC D G D NG N G C D D G N G D G S P R O C S P R OS P R O C S P RS OP R OS R Ostyle of original logo. S P R SO R O style of original logo. S R O R R C C P C P C P R R R R I Law E I E I I I I E E E E first logo is all Avenir, first logo is all Avenir, C C lines 80% shape 60% lines 80% shape 60% C C president comes to an end, I think Simon Foxcroft, ’99 LLB C lines 40% shape 25% linesC 30%lines shape40% shape15%lines 80% 25% shapesecond 60% logo is linesStone 30% lines shape 40% 15% shape 25% second logo is Stonelines 30% shape 15% Serif Semi and Serif Semi and CASE CACASESE CACASESE MetaPlus medium.CA SE MetaPlus medium. about how our alumni community, EXC A Medicine EXC A A F EEXCX A A ThirdEXEXC logo Ais Meta- ThirdX logo is Meta- F E F EEL OF F E ECELE M F F CEE M F E CE O LL O M LL W O MO M LLLLW W O MO LLLW O L E E W LE EE W L E E LE E E Book in circleLEE and Book in circleL and L N Beverly Wilson,CL ’83A BMedSc,NN ’85 MD CE LA A EN N A LE LA N A E E C C A C CC A A L C NCAC A R C MetaMediumNA Cin R L MetaMedium Nin too, steps forward to help others. R R R CR R R R E C R R I E R II EE R R I I C RE R I C ER C C G D RC G G D D G R G center. D G center. C D C D O I C E O R S P R O S P RS O I PC R O E S P SR P R O S P R I E In January 2017, a pilot CASE C CASE C CASE C program started by two university CASE FCA EXC SE F EXCF CAEXC SE F EXFC EXCCASE F EXC E CAE E SE E E E CASE O L O AO L L O O LA L O L A A E A L E E A L L E E LW L E L A E W A E E M EA E M EW M W M L W N M L L WW N M L L W L M A N A M AN N A M N A professors called Grocery Run A A C A A C C A A RA AC C #4 - first twoR logosAC A #4 - first two logos R R RR C R RR C RR RA R R R D G R SILVERD G R GOLDDDR C GG C DR C G C G I D S O R I DS O G R R SDfrom #3O withG Rcircle D from #3 with circle S PRO S PRO E S SP RPROOE SP PRRO S PRO I E I I E E I E C C type treated similar type treated similar needed help. For the previous year, C C C to original COEC to original COE logo logo Myriad semi CACASEMyriadSE semi CACACASESESE CACASESE CASE the program had been helping to MetaPlus medium MetaPlusAvenirMyriad mediumheavy semi Avenir heavy A A A MetaPlus mediumA Avenir heavy A A Meta Bold in 2 & 3 Meta Bold in 2 & 3 W WINNER M W W WINNERM M W W M M W M A A A A A A A A center A A center feed dozens of refugee families A R A R R R R R Ayaz Bhanji, ’91 BSc(Pharm) R G R R G G R R G G R G D S P R O D S P RDOS P R O D S PDRS OP R O D S P R O

by providing them with food president, alumni association PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN lines 80% shape 60% lines 40% lines shape 80% 25% shape 60% lines 30%lines shape40% shape15% 25% lines 30% shape 15% F EXCE FF EXCCEE FFF EE XECXECE F FE XEXCCEE F EXCE O L O O LLL O OO LLL O O LLLL O LL L E EL LEE E L E E E E E E E E LE NE L E N E L L N N L N L CL CC L C C EXC N EXC CN EEXC C N EXC C C C C C F E CR OF EEL RR OFF EEL R R F E O L I O LL E I C SILVER LL E I I SILVERO L E R L C I O E E SILVER E E C E EE L E LE C L I E R L N CR L NN C R E EN E E E C C C I E I C C E L C 2 ualberta.ca/newtrail C C C CC I L NC N R R E CIR E C C I C C E I E C I C C RC R C C I E I E CAC SE CAC SE CASECOE14_REVISED STICKER.indd 4 CACASESE CACASESE CASE7/11/2014 6:32:18 PM CASE A A A A A A W M AW M A W M A W 2014 W 2014 M 2014 A A WACASEAM W CAA SEMA W M W M R ACAR SERA AA AR A AA A A CAR SE A CAR SE CASER R R R R R R DS OG RDDS OGG A RDDD GOG A DRD GG RD G A PR AA S PPRRO WA SSS P RPOR M W S SP PRROO M S PRO W M W M WA AM A A AR RA ARR RA ARR RRA R R DS PROG DSS PROG DDSS PROGG DS PROG Weston & gothic WestonMuseo & gothic justWeston aMuseo quick & gothictest of just a quickMuseo test of just a quick test of placing globe placing globe placing globe Myriad semi MetaPlusMyriad mediumsemi MetaPlusAvenir mediumheavy Avenir heavy

EXC F EXCCEE FF EEXCE F EXCE OF EL O OF LL O O LL O L L E LEL EE LE E LE E E LE NE LL N L N CL C L N CN C C C C C CR RR R I E I SILVER E I SILVER E C C I E R CR C E C C I E I C CASE C CACASESE CACASE CASE A A A A W M AW M A 2014 W 2014 A A WA AM WW M M R AR RA AA A A A RD G RD GR RR R R R S PRO DSS PPRROOG DDSS PROG DS PROG

Weston & gothic WestonMuseo & gothic just aMuseo quick test of just a quick test of placing globe placing globe } letters

We would like to hear your comments about the magazine. Send us your letters Yes, In My Backyard! by post or email to the addresses on page 4. @teasin: Flipping The two articles on urban wildlife, “Are Coyotes through the Letters may be edited for length or clarity. Getting Bolder” (page 15) and “How to Protect Yourself From Urban Prowlers” (page 30), in our @UAlbertaAlumni Winter 2018 issue prompted several responses. mag and found We share one here. they don’t like the @goop I read the two articles on urban pseudoscience wildlife with much dismay and either. Excellent. frustration. All wildlife today is @DrJenGunter faced with two choices: adaptation –Genifer Thiessen, or extinction. We generally think ’11 BScN(Hons), Victoria, B.C., adaptation is a good thing but in response to “How Not to Fall for Pseudoscience” apparently not in the case of coyotes (Winter 2018, page 34) or other urban wildlife. Instead we choose the word “exploitation,” as the article did, with its negative connotations, to describe animals’ survival skills. I deplore the prevalent “not in my backyard” attitude to urban wildlife. Of course, the irony is CORRECTION that we are, in fact, in their backyard. In the Winter 2018 issue Yes, I am unabashedly on the side (page 41), we incorrectly of the few species brave and smart categorized the memoir enough to see that the one and only Six Weeks on the Throne: The Tale of a Stowaway path to survival lies on the paved Back: Alex McCalla, ’61 BSc(Ag), ’63 MA, ’14 LLD (Honorary); by Rick Frey, ‘78 PhD, as Daniel Hays, ’62 BA Front: Barbara (Thomson) Moore, ’61 Dip(RM); streets of our urban centres. Faye (MacKenzie) Naples, ’61 Dip(RM); Carol (Weber) Morse, fiction. We apologize for ’61 Dip(RM); Joann (Ellis) Day, ’61 Dip(RM); F. Ann Hayes, –Jane Calvert, ’82 BSc(Spec), the error. ’61 Dip(RM), ’68 MD; Joanne (Prockter) Watson, ’61 Dip(RM) Purposeful Retirement Cancan You Remember? For years I told students, “Embrace a purpose in life.” A sense of purpose is critical in retirement, too. I have written and researched Our Winter 2018 issue featured a historical tidbit about how kick lines were a popular part of student political campaigns on campus in the 1950s extensively since retiring in Saskatchewan. I self-published three and 1960s (“Did You Know?” page 44). We were happy to hear your stories! Second World War veterans’ biographies and had a weekly column about veterans of that war. I now spend my time researching Some of the physio class of 1961 were the kick multiple sclerosis. If you attended the and line for Alex McCalla’s 1961 campaign. Alex are retired, you have unique skills, knowledge and abilities. Don’t was elected the president of the student body waste them! Research something important to you and others. that year, with retired Canadian senator Dan Richard Dowson, ’72 BEd, ’82 Dip(Ed), ’91 MEd, Moose Jaw, Sask. Hays as his campaign manager. It was such fun being a part of the campaign, so the girls in the picture and I thought it would be fun to share it with you. MORE ONLINE –Barbara (Thomson) Moore, ’61 Dip(RM), Delta, B.C. Find these stories and more at ualberta.ca/newtrail. The kick lines in those days were such a spectacle that their songs and routines were often better than the candidates’ speeches! My campaign to be Coordinator of Student Activities in 1966 was so underfunded that all we had was a piper and a Coke crate (which I still have). But we still managed to beat the candidate who had an impressive kick line, made up of a group of well-trained cheerleaders in navy costumes. I still remember how my campaign manager at the time, Don Sorochan, ’66 BA, introduced me Not Your Bathroom Scale Prep for Next Tax Season Today at the opening rally at old Convocation Hall: “Our opponent The Bod Pod gives you a Schedule a meeting with an may have the navy but we are going to “Sinc” the ship!” much more detailed and accountant this summer plus more

BOTTOM RIGHT ILLUSTRATION ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES –Glenn “Sinc” Sinclair, ’66 BA, ‘68 BEd, ‘70 MEd, ’78 PhD, Penticton, B.C. accurate look at your health tips on how to save next year

new trail spring 2019 3 “Great things come from UALBERTA.CA/NEWTRAIL individual acts of service. Supervising Editor Mary Lou Reeleder Editor-in-Chief By sharing the knowledge Lisa Cook Managing Editor and Digital Editor and expertise each of us Karen Sherlock Associate Editors has gained, together our Amie Filkow, Mifi Purvis, ’93 BA Art Director Marcey Andrews alumni community can Senior Photographer John Ulan change the world.” Staff Writer Therese Kehler Editorial Assistant ― Heather Raymond, Stephanie Bailey, ’10 BA(Hons) ’82 BEd, ’86 Dip(Ed), ’95 MEd, ’02 PhD New Trail Digital Melissa Fabrizio, ’16 BA; Matt Schneider, ’07 BA(Hons), ’09 MA; Ryan Whitefield, ’10 BA; Joyce Yu, ’07 BA, ’15 MA Proofreader Philip Mail Advisory Board Anne Bailey, ’84 BA; Rhonda Kronyk, ’04 BA, ’07 MA; Robert Moyles, ’86 BCom; Sean Price, ’95 BCom; Michel Proulx; Karen Unland, ’94 BA CONTACT US Email (Comments/Letters/Class Notes): [email protected] Call: 780-492-3224; 800-661-2593 Mail: Office of Advancement, University of Alberta, Third Floor, Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 4P6 Facebook: UAlberta Alumni Association Twitter: @UAlbertaAlumni Address Updates: 780-492-3471; 866-492-7516 or [email protected] TO ADVERTISE Trevor Battye, Clevers Media Email: [email protected] Call: Toronto: 647-376-8090; Vancouver: 778-773-9397

This University of Alberta Alumni Association magazine is published three times a year. It is mailed to more than 160,000 alumni and friends. The views and opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Alberta or the U of A Alumni Association. All material copyright ©. New Trail cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. ISSN: 0824-8125 Copyright 2019 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40112326 If undeliverable in Canada, return to: Office of Advancement, The University of Alberta is proud to welcome Heather as University of Alberta, Third Floor, Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Ave. incoming Alumni Association president. Congratulations! Edmonton, AB T5J 4P6 Printed in Canada To learn more, visit uab.ca/AlmPres

The University of Alberta respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis people.

4 ualberta.ca/newtrail DIYANA DIMITROVA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES parasite honeybee deadly a for solution a Students engineer genetically Bee theCure notes beekeepers who are eager to start field trials. would like to bring APIS to market as soon as possible, with the help of Alberta at a better time, as the previous treatment is no longer available. The students Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition — and couldn’t have come be worsened by the cold. The product won in its category at 2018’s International world. The fungus poses a big challenge in Alberta, where its damaging effect can can help honeybees ward off Nosema ceranae , a parasite infecting bees around the fungal infection. APIS, for short antifungal porphyrin-based intervention system, industry with a genetically engineered probiotic that targets a common but deadly a cross-campus teamofundergrads has created a buzz in Alberta’s honeybee what’s new and noteworthy and new what’s

– andrew lyle , ‘11 bsc(eleceng) trail springnew 2019

5 } Alzheimer’s Earlier Disease A Saliva Test Could Identify Promising early findings could point to earlier early findings Promising 6 disabilities. with people of needs the address could that features considering aren’t cars driverless of designers the Megan Strickfaden levels.” competency normal cars designed being are for drivers with including people disabilities, with but the … promises many benefits for society, new“The car technology self-driving the Alzheimer Society of care for them, according to $10.4 billion per year to rising dramatically; it costs living with dementia is Alzheimer’s. cognitive impairment and biomarkers that detect mild patients and discovered three samples from three sets of researchers analyzed saliva Alzheimer’s? provide an early warning of could asimple saliva test intervention, most effective treatments treatments most effective intervention, notes HEALTH

The number of Canadians It’s anew possibility after ualberta.ca/newtrail , ’89 BA(Spec), ’02 MDes, U of A design anthropologist and co-author of a study that suggests suggests that a study of co-author and anthropologist design U of A MDes, ’02 BA(Spec), , ’89 metabolites — compounds examined more than 6,000 normal cognition. The pair and individuals with cognitive impairment disease, people with mild patients with Alzheimer’s saliva samples from Roger Dixon examined psychology professor professor Liang Li and diagnosis can help. or treat the disease. Early don’t know how to prevent Canada. But we currently To this end, chemistry willis and physical activity. effective, such as diet, drugs of treatments are most to determine what types could be used in testing implemented.” protocols can be that prevention of the disease so earliest signals discover the are aiming to Dixon. “Researchers been successful,” says Alzheimer’s disease have altering interventions for intervention. sooner, allowing for early neurodegenerative diseases has the potential to detect non-invasive nature. It also settings for its ease and prove useful in clinical Li adds. test of Alzheimer’s disease,” findings and develop a saliva samples, we can validate our we can use alarger set of investigation is needed. “If size was so small, more but, because the sample these three groups,” says Li. to differentiate between metabolites that can be used between groups. identify any differences metabolic processes — to that are part ofour body’s The biomarkers “So far, no disease- A saliva test would The results show promise “We found three , ’13 ba, ’18 ma ’18 ba, , ’13 – katie katie research stories, stories, research these and other visit visit great U of A U of A great For on more folio.ca 2.1 billion TO REDUCE squirming about in the mud. the in about squirming were immobile, be to thought once thatfound thetiny, beings, slug-like fossils ancient at look a closer believed. Researchers who took once scientists than earlier years Earth — 1.5 billion on appeared have may mobility with life complex that ago years of number The –cbc Pauw. De says industry,” the into out it getting and project this in produce we that tools the taking of chance per cent. 26 to up by emissions methane decrease and year per cow $108 per by costs feed reduce could money.farmers Improvements needing less feed will save cows while environment, the on impact areduced have will cows producing methane less emit. they gas much how and produce they milk much how eat, cows much how measures, among other traits, Genome Dairy ProjectEfficient The Sciences. Environmental & Life Agricultural, of Faculty the from Pauw De farts. much-maligned their than could play part an even bigger and burps bovine emissions, methane on down cut to aims industry agriculture The less? burp to cows breed we Can EMISSIONS BOVINES BREEDING GASSY COWS GASSY NUMBERS project managed by Mary Mary by managed project “I think we have a very good good avery have we think “I The purpose is twofold: Researchers from the . U of A and elsewhere elsewhere and U of A in an international less methane, cow studying are genetics to figure and produce use of their feed feed their of use breed to how out and efficient and efficient more practical make to cows

PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN Footnotes

A brief look at what’s new at the U

U of A President to Step Down Next Year The search for the university’s next president will soon begin. In March, David Turpin announced he would not seek renewal when his five-year term ends on June 30, 2020. Under Turpin’s leadership, the U of A launched its strategic plan and had two of its best fundraising years. He says a priority over the next 15 months is continuing to build a provincial coalition of post-secondary presidents and institutions to LESSEN THE STRESS OF LEAVING A groundbreaking study is shedding light on the stresses advocate for growth experienced by Indigenous communities ordered to flee to safety during a wildfire. The study, led by across the sector. Tara McGee, a science professor with expertise in the human dimensions of wildfire, looked at the 2011 evacuation of the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation in northwestern Ontario. Many left when ordered Phair Reappointed to do so, but some were reluctant to depart even as the smoke and fire threatened their homes. as Board Chair Evacuations often send residents to larger centres where there may be language barriers or few Michael Phair will lead cultural supports. Options such as helping them seek safety in nearby Indigenous communities are the U of A’s Board recommended instead to make the process less disruptive. Pictured above, evacuees returning home of Governors for a after the 2011 fire. –katie willis, ’13 ba, ’18 ma second term after being reappointed as chair. The board guides the institution’s future and EXPERT ADVICE ensures the university uses public funds SOME TIPS FOR SAFER RX appropriately. Do you wonder if the expired drugs in your medicine cabinet are safe? Or how to get rid of them? Pharmacists are a wealth of information; all you have to do is ask. For example, a 2003 study in the AI Funding Supports U.S. concluded that about 90 per cent of meds are fine long after the expiration date — but some may U of A, Industry become toxic over time while others lose effectiveness, says Jill Hall, ’01 BSc(Pharm), ’01 BSc(Spec). Alberta Machine The latter could be a serious gamble when it comes to emergency meds like EpiPens or nitroglycerine. Intelligence Institute Here are some other pieces of pharmacy wisdom. –michael brown will receive $27 million from the provincial IS GRAPEFRUIT I HAVE A COLD. WHAT SHOULD I JUST government over five REALLY A RISK? SHOULD I TAKE? THROW IT OUT? years, helping boost Grapefruit disrupts an enzyme The cold-and-flu aisle can When you have expired support for companies in the body that affects how be confusing, but Hall medications you aren’t going building in-house AI some drugs are processed, says differences between to use anymore — whether capacity, and allowing which affects drug levels in the medications offering the same an inhaler, tablets or it to expand operations bloodstream. Some experts say types of relief are negligible. cream — bring them back to the into . Meanwhile, to avoid grapefruit when taking The important thing is to treat pharmacy to be incinerated. $2.5 million in federal certain drugs, but Hall offers a the symptoms you have. “If you “It prevents them from getting funding helped create more moderate view. If you’re don’t have headaches or muscle into our landfills and water AI-Hub, an open-source not at risk for side-effects, pain, don’t get something supply, and exposing people to facility to help smaller the occasional grapefruit isn’t with acetaminophen or chemicals they don’t need to businesses access AI and

PHOTO BY THE CANADIAN PRESS / FRANK GUNN going to be harmful. ibuprofen in it.” be exposed to,” says Hall. computing expertise.

new trail spring 2019 7 }notes

that they’d even eat feathers, a behaviour rarely seen in QUOTED mammals. Scavenging in hares has “Parents may observe been previously reported, but more energy in their

MEAT CUTE this is the first study to detail kids after eating the frequency and diversity, sugar, but it’s one of It’s a Hare Eat Hare World says Peers. those self-fulfilling A new study reveals hares’ surprising The study found notions.” eating habits, especially in the winter scavenging was more common during the winter, Elizabeth Rosolowsky, a U of A desperate times call for be an effort to supplement giving rise to the theory about pediatric endocrinologist who says desperate measures — even their diet with more protein. food or nutrient limitations. the sugar high kids seem to get from overindulging in candy is likely for snowshoe hares, which “We have documented It also has researchers caused by related excitement, such have been documented them scavenging other hare wondering if there’s not as trick-or-treating, rather than the eating the carcasses of carcasses, grouse and even such a hard line between the candy itself. friend and foe when faced lynx, their main predator,” herbivores and carnivores. with months of sub-zero says Michael Peers, PhD “Researchers are temperatures. candidate in the Department beginning to suspect IMMIGRATION The normal winter diet of Biological Sciences. that the occurrence or AN EQUAL START of a hare is woody plants, The photos suggest that frequency of scavenging FOR ALL but a study over more than hares aren’t all that picky, is higher than previously NEWCOMERS two years showed that they showing them eating a suspected, by species not Some Syrian refugees in turn into carnivores — even variety of species among the often considered scavengers,” Canada experienced a tougher cannibals — that feast on 161 carcasses in the study. says Peers. –andrew lyle, time than others due to varying carcasses in what appears to Weirdly, it also discovered ‘11 bsc(eleceng) levels of sponsor commitment. Refugees sponsored by well- resourced agencies — church groups, for example — received extensive support settling into their new home, says Sandeep Agrawal, a professor whose research focuses on ethnic communities and the effects of immigration. However, some refugees received only the minimum legally required support, while others were abandoned by their sponsors altogether. “[Those sponsors] did not have the means or the time to adequately support their matched refugees,” says Agrawal, who interviewed 84 Syrian newcomers to Edmonton, along with private sponsors, volunteers and agency representatives. Refugees who came through the blended program, in which a private sponsor and the federal government share the cost and responsibility of settling the family, had the best experiences. “We should also consider the blended program as possibly a better way forward,” says Agrawal. “This composite approach could offset the deficits inherent in each single approach.” –katie

willis, ’13 ba, ’18 ma GEOFFREY REYNAUD / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES

8 ualberta.ca/newtrail the artist and creator The transition to streaming themselves,” says Fauteux. services has Here are some calls-to- hurt artists action from the report: like Danny Michel, whose income from 1. MORE PUBLIC album sales FUNDING FOR ARTISTS has dropped an astounding In North America, three 95 per cent. companies — Universal, Sony and Warner — control 86 per cent of the recording and publishing market, says Fauteux. The result is that the top one per cent of artists take home 77 per cent of all music income. The report recommends increasing public funding dedicated to smaller creators who are more likely to be squeezed out by market consolidation.

2. RETURN COPYRIGHT TO ARTISTS SOONER The report also suggests returning music rights to managing, for the most part, ARTS artists well before the current to earn a comfortable living term of 50 years after their Copyright Killed the Radio Star without ever producing a hit death. This would allow Existing Canadian copyright laws benefit song. But by 2018, his income artists to either reissue their music companies but hurt independent artists from album sales had dropped work or reinvent it in creative an astounding 95 per cent new ways while still alive. despite what many of work — changes that would due, in part, to an industry They recommend a copyright us think, copyright in help musicians like Danny transition to streaming term of 25 years after a the music industry limits Michel, a Juno- and Polaris services, says Fauteux. company first acquires the innovation and does a poor Prize-nominated singer- Spotify, for example, often rights. job of ensuring musicians songwriter from Ontario. pays an artist $0.0038 per play. earn a living, says a U of A Michel has recorded “Michel is now wondering 3. LESS ENFORCEMENT, researcher. In fact, many 25 albums in the last 13 years, how long he can remain a NOT MORE musicians end up not holding musician,” says Fauteux. People are less likely to rights to their own work and “He is not alone.” produce new, creative works the law works against them. With sound recordings out of fear of copyright Hoping to win a better accounting for about infringement, according to deal for Canadian artists, six per cent of an artist’s Fauteux and his team. The Brian Fauteux, an assistant income, Michel and many report calls for the need for professor of popular music, others are trying to make more liberal “fair play” rules, leaped into the copyright up the shortfall with live so both creators and listeners fray. In late 2018, he was part performances. That, in turn, have less-fettered access to of a multi-university team creates problems of artists audio recordings. Having that presented to the federal vying for limited venue space more works in the public committee reviewing the and reducing the time they domain helps encourage Copyright Act. need to create new work. cultural sharing, appreciation The team’s report cited an SPOTIFY “A lot of what the industry and innovation of music. imbalance of power between OFTEN PAYS has been talking about, in The standing committee’s creators and big business, terms of the changes they final report, which will be and proposed substantial AN ARTIST want to see, are more about used to revise the Copyright changes to how creators $0.0038 protecting the industry, Act, is expected later this

DANNYMICHEL.COM earn money from their PER PLAY. and aren’t as much about year. –geoff mcmaster

new trail spring 2019 9 }continuing education

Learning doesn’t end when you accept your degree. We are all lifelong learners, whether we pursue lessons in a class or a lecture hall — or these lessons pursue us. Curtis Gillespie, ’85 BA(Spec), reflects on the continuing opportunities for education that life throws our way, sometimes when we least expect them. by Curtis Gillespie

me — I began to wonder what had possessed me to become a squash referee in the first place. Adel was up It’s Your Call against the sixth-ranked player in the BECOMING A SQUASH REF WAS LIKE LOOKING AT MY OWN world, England’s Sarah Jane Perry, STRENGTHS AND FAULTS IN HIGH-DEF, ON A BIG SCREEN and neither of them was moving that smoothly. I made a couple of tough calls ne thing that unites people in sports is their universal antipathy and, after one, Adel looked at me and to referees. In baseball, managers get into nose-to-nose shouting said, witheringly, so that everyone could matches with the umpire, which usually end with the manager hear, “What are you doing?” getting tossed. In soccer, some refs need security escorts to make it I explained my call with stoic out of the stadium. In tennis, Serena Williams directed her abundant detachment and told her to play on, anger at Carlos Ramos in the U.S. Open last year. It’s not just the pros, but if I’d had the cheek to say what I either; after a recent minor hockey game in Lloydminster, fans physically assaulted was really thinking, I’d have said, “Fair Otwo refs. For decades, as an athlete, I had wondered who these people were, these refs question, let me get back to you on that.” and umpires and judges, these masochists who willingly placed themselves in the Over the last few years, my hobby has crosshairs of everyone’s rage. Why would anyone subject themselves to that? subjected me to the kind of pressure Turns out I’m the wrong guy to ask. When the Egyptian squash player Yathreb and scrutiny normally reserved for Adel, ranked 17th in the world, was upset with me in Chicago in late February during criminals on trial. Many of my friends the Professional Squash Association World Championships with fans, coaches and peers use their free time to hang

and other players watching — and the world’s top ref, John Massarella, assessing out on golf courses and beside pools, ILLUSTRATION BY SUTHERLAND; KELLY PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN

10 ualberta.ca/newtrail FESTIVAL OF }continuing education

sipping icy cold ones, while for some the professional level. Played right, as volunteers, or helping out a reason I’ve chosen to explore fresh squash’s speed and athleticism make problematic friend or family member. avenues of potential embarrassment understanding its movement patterns In the back of our minds, usually during and mortification. so difficult that you have to perceive and a rough patch, we ask what we did to My interest in reffing squash began process them nearly simultaneously. find ourselves there. That’s looking at with playing the game. People play There’s no time to filter them through a it the wrong way around. We didn’t find squash the world over and Egyptians are conscious decision-making process. the situation, the situation found us. currently the dominant world power. The Oh, and for added fun, the ref sits Usually because the situation needed sport combines athleticism, psychology in the middle of the crowd, so that something and we could bring it. and emotional control like no other sport when the aforementioned insulted When it comes to stumbling into I’ve ever played or witnessed. Forbes player challenges your original call, being a squash ref, it turns out the magazine once called it the world’s best you are part of the viewing audience demands of the role actually suit sport and if you play it, if you ever get the that watches the replay on numerous my personality, amplify my better chance to watch the world’s best players screens. At the recent Worlds in Chicago, qualities and highlight (hopefully for close up, it’s hard to disagree. the entire front wall of the court remediation) my weaker attributes. But playing squash bears about morphed into a giant, high-def screen More importantly, the pressure is the same relation to reffing it as during a video challenge, all the better forging a clearer sense of who I am. making french fries does to farming to highlight the call you just blew. It There are some good parts and some potatoes — they’re related but being is a setting in which the opportunities that need work, but they are all me. good at one doesn’t make you good at the for open derision come around with And, if I am learning one thing working other. Which was how I got started in gut‑churning regularity. these tournaments, it’s that the best reffing. I was playing at a reasonably high So why do it? refs in the business are the ones who level, but no one, me included, seemed They say life is a journey. I suppose know themselves. to understand the rules. Reffing in our that might be true for some people. In the last year or so, as people have league was fraught with anxiety. I figured But I’ve never thought that was quite vented at me in at least 15 languages, I might as well learn the rules, since no accurate, in that a journey typically I have come to understand that dealing one else knew them. That’s how I got begins with a destination in mind and with pressure is less about granular hooked. There are elements to reffing a sense of what route to take. But that’s correction and more about placing my squash that make it addictive, impossible not the way my life has gone. If my life imperfections within a broader context to fully understand and open to wide has been a journey, there has been no of striving for fairness and equity. interpretation. Kind of like watching one at the wheel and the dog ate the The best players can tell when you’re Game of Thrones or parenting teenagers. map. My life has often felt more like a making mistakes of ego as opposed to And once you get to the pro level, big pot of spaghetti. I throw a handful of errors of good faith. Those are two very well, reffing is a challenge on a whole noodles at the wall and whatever sticks different vibes. Once they know that new scale. is what I keep doing. Not the kind of life you are of the second camp, they are There are so many moving parts, advice you’d pass on to your children, more accepting of the occasional error especially when you’re on the glass but luckily mine are mostly grown and (emphasis on occasional). show court, which has seating for about even found a few strands of spaghetti Not that I’m advocating we all take 1,000 people and is televised. You’ve got still stuck to the wall that I claimed was up hobbies that give us ulcers and an earbud in one ear attached to a mic fatherly guidance. sleepless nights. I have nothing against to address the crowd and players, and But one thing I believe is that, more benign pursuits and I have been a different wire in the other ear that through some sort of alchemical magic known to indulge easier pastimes. But links you to the video referee in case that none of us truly controls, we find there’s value in scaring the jeepers out of one of the players decides they don’t ourselves in pursuits or professions that yourself every now and then. Clarifying like your call and wants to challenge are less about conscious choice and more your strengths and weaknesses is never it. This happens with unnerving about tacking toward those things that a bad thing. frequency. You have to communicate tap into our character, our essence, our Though I’d think twice about doing it with the crowd, the players and the best and sometimes our less-than-best in front of an audience. video ref simultaneously. On your selves. Maybe it’s neither surprising nor lap is an iPad, with approximately positive. Some people may find their 80 different commands and functions truest selves affirmed by becoming, say, Curtis Gillespie has written five books and earned to track the game. On top of that, white-collar criminals. seven National Magazine Awards. His New Trail article “A Hard Walk” won gold for best article of you have to actually oversee the play, Many of us end up in unpleasant 2018 from CASE, an international post-secondary which is tough at any level, let alone situations while on boards, or working association.

12 ualberta.ca/newtrail thesisdiving deep into one idea about SPACE

the skylines of north america’s cities are studded with lumbering, box-like silhouettes, marked by precast concrete Space and the City and the ungainly proportions of mid-20th-century building stock. Make no mistake, there are lovely structures dating from Our buildings, our neighbourhoods and the this time, but lovely and unlovely, they’re getting old. Architect grasslands at the edges of town have built- Vivian Manasc, ’82 MBA, spends a lot of time thinking about in value for city dwellers. Do our policies our aging buildings and the best ways to renovate and beautify

ILLUSTRATION BY ELLICE WEAVER recognize that inherent worth? those old gronks sustainably. “ ‘The greenest build is the one

new trail spring 2019 13 }thesis

that already exists’ is an oft- The new neighbourhoods repeated quote,” Manasc says. are built on former farmland For such a small package (30 x 10 x 10 cm and just “And it makes sense because and grasslands, the loss 2.64 kg) student-built there’s so much embodied of which worries Brent satellite Ex-Alta 1 (shown here with a few bragging energy in our buildings.” Swallow, a professor in the points) was such a success Embodied energy is the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & the group is at it again, total energy required for Environmental Sciences. “The building Ex-Alta 2. the extraction, processing, best agricultural land is that manufacture and delivery which is disappearing at the of building materials, and highest rate,” he says. PAYLOAD PERFECTION architects and engineers can This space at the edge No bigger than a loaf assign a dollar value to it. of town is valuable not of bread, the satellite Manasc says it’s more efficient solely for its potential called Ex-Alta 1 packed such to renovate a building than food output, Swallow says, specialized equipment as a to knock it down and start but also because native fluxgate magnetometer, a over. “Why would we redirect grasslands and wetlands multi-needle Langmuir probe and a radiation those resources to a landfill?” in this landscape are part dosimeter to monitor she asks. She’d love to see of what he calls our green space weather. policies that encourage us to infrastructure. “When we reimagine those structures convert this land, it loses its instead. Manasc says that to ability to produce ecosystem use our existing city space goods and services,” he says. better, we should think about By this he means what we densification and renovation. consume directly (food, water Our cities change, and wood) and what we gentrifying here, falling benefit from (water filtration, into neglect there. But temperature regulation and neighbourhoods don’t wildlife habitat). Grasslands go from junky to funky improve the quality of air YOUR NAME IN SPACE organically. Journalist Peter and water in a city and punch U of A’s nanoFAB etched Moskowitz says that change above their weight as habitat a tiny silicon chip with the isn’t the product of consumer for an array of creatures and names of all the donors whose choice, rather of policy plants. It’s a kind of embodied contributions helped launch the “crafted in the offices of real energy. Why redirect it? satellite. The CubeSat (and the estate moguls and in the And grasslands sequester names) travelled around the halls of city governments.” 30 per cent of the world’s world about 8,000 times before a scheduled plunge into carbon. The U of A’ s In his 2017 book, How to the atmosphere. Kill a City, he says seeing Rangeland Research Institute gentrification as mercurial values the carbon stored blinds us to its consequences, in Alberta’s grasslands at including displacement of $9 billion, Yangzhe Cao, ’18 lower-income families and MAg, writes in her master’s “decreased affordability of life thesis. On an individual for everyone.” scale, Cao demonstrates Meanwhile, new that homeowners will pay neighbourhoods with tony more for property near names pop up at the edges greenspaces. of town, pressuring a finite Before we knock down a tax base to provide new building, advocates want to infrastructure. The policies see if we can reimagine that that push city boundaries space. And before we plow ever outward also devalue a greenfield, they challenge The Life and our older neighbourhoods. us to find an alternative. Grocery stores and other When we craft our policies, amenities move farther out it’s useful to consider the Death of a Very and older neighbourhoods concept of embodied energy in the vast middle go and apply it not just to Good Satellite underserviced. New, far-flung buildings but to other spaces There’s no such thing as a free orbit schools open, while older inside and around the city. ones close. –mifi purvis, ’93 ba

14 ualberta.ca/newtrail COMMAND AND CONTROL The little spacecraft, STRENGTH which orbited at 415 km IN NUMBERS from Earth at an inclination Ex-Alta 1 was part of a of 51.6 degrees, had an onboard swarm of dozens of cube computer that stored telemetry satellites, which together and instrument data, demonstrated that building transmitting it to student viable spacecraft can be done satellite operators at quickly and cheaply, opening the U of A. new doors for researchers and industry.

SOLAR PANELS The satellite featured nine solar panels, each with two photovoltaic cells to generate power with a peak output of 1.23 W per cell. Four lithium ion cells in the battery pack stored that power, providing a reserve capacity of 38.5 Wh.

escaping the surly bonds of earth Eighteen months later, and by design, understand space weather and takes so much money and energy that it burned to a crisp as it re-entered Earth’s potentially crippling geomagnetic storms. some denizens of the International Space atmosphere. Ex‑Alta 2, due for launch in 2021, will use Station drink recycled urine to limit the Certain kinds of space science are multispectral photos to track wildfires. water that needs to be hauled up. The best done from low orbit, around 400 (It will also pioneer open-source CubeSat cost of sending astronaut Kjell Lindgren’s km above sea level. Objects orbiting at design practices.) Then it, too, will burn up bagpipes to the ISS, for example, has been that height, like the International Space in the atmosphere. estimated at $259,000. (Science can’t Station, periodically need a boost or AlbertaSat team members don’t explain why we’d do this.) they’ll slow down and burn up entering the feel too sad. “If you spend years doing So why would AlbertaSat, the atmosphere. But no such boosts come for something and it accomplishes a goal, it’s university’s donor-funded, student-led CubeSats, the loaf-sized satellites like this a success,” says engineering student Erik aerospace club, traffic in disposable one designed and built by AlbertaSat. Halliwell, who leads the design of the power satellites? In 2017, the club’s Ex-Alta 1 For its brief life, Ex-Alta 1 collected systems of Ex-Alta 2. “It doesn’t matter how satellite became the first Alberta satellite information about the Earth’s long it takes to accomplish those goals and

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDY KALE to reach orbit. magnetosphere, helping researchers then burn up.” –lewis kelly

new trail spring 2019 15 }thesis

whether I was going to keep hating it,” she told Kenton. But she loves their house. The couple designed every square centimetre — all 341,800 of them — from the solar panels on the roof to an extra-wide interior so they don’t have Tiny Gets Real to “shimmy past each other.” They sleep in the loft above the ‘We have everything we need and nothing more, kitchen and overnight guests stay in the smaller loft above and somehow that makes everything simpler’ the bathroom. There’s a couch and a fold-out table for games nights with (no more than five) friends. “We use up a lot of storage with our board game collection,” Melissa admits. There can be tension over who gets to sleep on which side When Melissa Zerbin, ’13 BA, Kenton Zerbin, ’09, BEd, ’11 Dip(Ed), of the bed, but there’s nowhere to storm off to. “My wife and and their cat moved into a 34.18-square-metre home on a farmer’s I work hard on our interpersonal skills and we don’t get into field near Edmonton two years ago, she said she was going to many arguments,” Kenton says. They just figure things out, like

hate it for three months. “And then I’d make my assessment on Melissa’s growing wardrobe. Doing her master’s in occupational PHOTO BY JOHN ULAN

16 ualberta.ca/newtrail INNER SPACE An interdisciplinary centre allows you to virtually venture where you couldn’t before

it’s hard to imagine a Zoom out further: three-dimensional space students can practise clinical based on a flat illustration, skills on virtual patients, so especially when the space by the time they meet a real is microscopic — think the one, they have exercised inside of a cell. Cognitive that muscle well. “Currently, Projections aims to examiners end up testing change all that. It’s an students’ ability to stay cool,” interdisciplinary lab that uses Maeda says. “VR practice virtual and augmented reality can remove anxiety from the in teaching and learning. Now equation so it’s students’ you can put on a headset clinical knowledge that is and take a virtual tour inside getting tested.” a cell, even manipulating Now make that space the Golgi bodies and bigger: an immersive VR mitochondria if you like. experience inside a room- “This technology is driven sized cube allows patients therapy, she needed spiffier (They pay for their water by gamers,” says Nathanial working with experts at clothes for practicums. So and rent their spot by Maeda, ’12 BSc(MechEng), the Institute for Stuttering Kenton rolls up his clothes undertaking some significant ’18 PhD, director of Treatment and Research to and stores them in a hollow in yearly farm chores.) More operations. The centre has practise speaking in front programming expertise, an of virtual crowds. Maeda the bathroom wall, near the municipalities are making artist on staff and access plans for the centre to work drying rack, washing machine, room in their bylaws for tiny to digital 3D libraries. with veterans with PTSD to shower (they truck in water) houses as more people invest Zoom out: students provide immersive therapy and composting toilet (not as the $40,000 to $120,000 it can perform their first to help them master their bad as you may think.) takes to build one. “It feels head-and-neck dissections trigger experiences. Kenton gives workshops like a shoe that fits,” Melissa virtually, getting an in-depth “We have content experts understanding of the bones, from across campus and we’re about tiny houses and the says of their home. Speaking the various tissues and their hoping to garner industry Zerbins are thrilled with of shoes, those not in season functions before they ever partners,” says Maeda. “There their small environmental live in the shed. get close to a cadaveric are so many possibilities.”

ILLUSTRATION BY ELLICE WEAVER and financial footprints. –jennifer allford, ’84 ba dissection. –mifi purvis, ’93 ba

new trail spring 2019 17 }thesis

1. Raise an Arm For 30 years, the 15-metre Canadarm did all kinds of heavy lifting for NASA’s space shuttle program: fixing satellites, positioning astronauts and moving cargo. Development of the remote-controlled mechanical arm at the National Research 1 Council was led by Garry Lindberg, ’60 BSc(EngPhys), ’12 DSc (Honorary).

2. Ride the (Martian) Wind A little instrument was a huge help 2 measuring wind speed and direction for the Phoenix Lander on Mars in 2008. The Telltale, designed in part by U of A mechanical engineering professor Carlos Lange, was a device to measure wind conditions so the Rover knew when to take samples. Rover (and Telltale) operated for five months before Martian winter disabled them.

3. Chill Under Pressure The old tin can gets pretty hot. A spaceship re-enters Earth’s atmosphere at a steady clip of 40,000 kilometres an hour and the heat it generates had to be overcome before space flight was viable. Bryan Erb, ’52 BSc(CivEng) MSc ’55, ’90 DSc (Honorary), was a big part of the team behind designing the heat shields 3 that let astronauts return home safely. 74 83% 4 4. See the Doctor As a NASA flight surgeon in 2009, engineer and physician Doug Hamilton, ’80 BSc(ElecEng), ’84 MSc, kept an eye on patient Robert Thirsk, who was hurtling through space at eight kilometres per second onboard the International Space Station. He monitored the astronaut’s health from Johnson Space Center on Earth. Hamilton also recognized and mitigated the risk of electric shock to spacewalking astronauts, for which NASA awarded him a medal. 5 5. Board the Puke Plane In 2017, Ryan Baily, ’16 BSc(MechEng), and PhD student Farhad Ismail hitched THE SPACE OVERHEAD a ride on the National Research Council’s Our ability to tinker is allowing us to travel farther than ever Falcon 20 — the puke plane — travelling in a sweeping arc to create near-zero gravity. They were testing how droplets form in microgravity as part of research our creativity and ability to make and fix things turned humans into space into how 3D printers will work in space. voyagers. And 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, when a person If you’re on a trip to Mars and a crucial first set foot on the moon. So next time you look up, take a break from connecting piece breaks, you can’t send out for spare

the dots of Aquarius and contemplate a constellation of shining achievements. parts. –jennifer allford, ’84 ba PROVOST JAMES BY ILLUSTRATION

18 ualberta.ca/newtrail Get New Trail straight to your inbox 10 times a year. Indulge in the same great storytelling as the print edition from your smartphone or tablet. Plus, access exclusive online-only articles, videos, podcasts, quizzes and more! Subscribe for FREE today. uab.ca/NTsub

Apply by October 1, 2019

uab.ca/MACT

new trail spring 2019 19 Our electricity grids were conceived 100 years ago. Our population is growing, our techenergy is power cleaner hungry and and more we efficient. are racing to make our

Meet some of the people behind the push to power the future.

20 ualberta.ca/newtrail illustration by luke lucas

21 new trail spring 2019 But people adapted, even flourished. Within 300 years, the switch to coal set the stage for electricity and an improved quality of life. Today, Canadians have light at the flip of a switch, HOW TO CATCH FIRE life‑supporting medical equipment and everyday comforts that we have Since we first burned wood, humans have sought new and come to rely on — cold beer and Netflix, better sources to meet our energy demands by therese kehler anyone? — all indirectly brought to us by a 16th-century monarch. he kingdom of Queen Elizabeth I was humming along quite nicely But what is the long-term effect of when, around the mid-1500s, Her Majesty caught wind of an our standard of living? environmental crisis in the offing. The forests were disappearing. Wood was the first energy source and had been so for canadians are voracious energy millenniums. But kilns of industry and hearths of homes had been consumers, and every year we’re using T eating up the English forests at an alarming rate and it became more. Between 1990 and 2015, the evident all this building and burning might leave the nation without nation’s energy consumption grew enough for another critical product: its warships. by 30 per cent — and we’re not alone. The monarchy declared that coal shall be burned and the kingdom made it so. Globally, consumption increased by Not easily, of course. There were fears and protests and new challenges. Someone 2.1 per cent in 2017. had to figure out how to get the coal into the cities. Homeowners had to maintain their Wonder if the trend will continue? chimneys — an added expense. And there were health risks, too. Coal mine explosions, Look around. Population growth is choking smoke in the air and a nightmare-inducing malady called soot warts, a type of an obvious factor; the United Nations

cancer caused by the accumulation of ash in the undergarments of chimney sweeps. estimates Canada’s population will ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN HUGHES P.

22 ualberta.ca/newtrail ’85 MSc, inaugural director of the eventually unlocked Alberta’s oilsands. university’s Future Energy Systems So, what does the future of energy research initiative. “The Stone Age look like to the woman at its forefront? didn’t come to an end because we ran “You’ll get some of your energy from out of stones. The hydrocarbon age is solar and you’ll get some of your energy not going to end with running out of from wind,” Naeth says. “But the sun hydrocarbons.” doesn’t always shine and the wind The conundrum is clear. We need doesn’t always blow. We’re going to cleaner energy sources but the supply, so have to have better storage batteries. crucial to our lives and economy, mustn’t We’re going to have to have a better grid be disrupted in the process. through which we can move this energy.” This is what drives the more than Underpinning it all, like the safety net 800 U of A researchers and thousands to a secure supply, will be fossil fuels. of students working to solve energy “Oil and gas are going to have a challenges. They are making solar and future. But that’s not the question we wind power easier to store. Cleaner should be asking,” says Peter Tertzakian, processes for the oil and gas industry. ‘82 BSc(Spec), an economist, author Computers that use less energy. An and public speaker on future energy electrical grid that isn’t so leaky. Each issues. “We get too hung up in trying small project creates a bigger picture: to predict [whether] we’re going to use a future where energy is produced 100 million barrels a day, or 90, or 80. It sustainably, reliably and efficiently. doesn’t matter. It’s just a huge amount. It’s a ridiculously unsustainable problem change is hard. Burning hydrocarbons when it comes to emissions. The better might not be good for the environment question is … who is going to be the most but at least we know how it works. The efficient supplier?” future, though, is a work in progress, a Then he lobs the ball into another confusing mishmash of energy sources. court. “And how are we going to use it Hard, yes. And a bit scary, too. more efficiently?” “What are the problems? What are the issues? How am I going to actually when larry kostiuk launches into learn all these things that I need to his narrative about the history of energy, learn?” says Anne Naeth, ’76 BSc, ’85 he starts at the beginning. It quickly MSc, ’88 PhD, reeling off the reactions becomes clear that this is a story he increase by 21 per cent to 45 million of average folk. People really want to has told often — and one that he needs by 2050. Economic growth is also key, understand what will happen. But if people to hear. especially in countries like China and they don’t, that’s when they get anxious. In his telling, this is not just a story India where energy use is skyrocketing. Naeth, a land reclamation scientist, of wood and coal, steam and horses. It’s And don’t discount the impact of our succeeded Kostiuk in August as a story of curiosity, innovation, comfort beloved gadgets: data centres and data director of Future Energy Systems, the and desire. It’s a story of people as energy transmission networks each account $75-million, seven-year, cross-campus consumers. The first human need, he for about 1 per cent of global electricity research initiative, federally funded by says, is warmth. The second is light. The demand. And what about a future that the Canada First Research Excellence third? “The innate laziness of mankind,” includes electric vehicles charging in Fund. The group’s mandate is to develop says Kostiuk with a mischievous grin. every driveway? the energy technologies of the near Tertzakian observes the same It’s not sustainable. future and figure out how to integrate human propensity, if not for laziness, All that burning — coal, now them into today’s social, economic and at least for making life easier. Consider joined by oil and gas — has fired up infrastructure realities. how far removed we now are from another environmental situation. Call The university has further stepped our energy. Once upon a time, heating it greenhouse gases, CO2 emissions up to the challenge, naming energy one our homes meant finding the wood, or climate change, this time it’s the of its official signature areas of research chopping the wood, getting it into atmosphere at risk, and the next and teaching, with Naeth as the director. the stove and lighting it. Now we energy transition lies in reducing our After all, the U of A has long had a focus adjust the thermostat. No wonder reliance on fossil fuels for energy. Not on energy research — perhaps most we take energy for granted. Even a because we’re going to run out of fossil notably in the 1920s when researcher few years ago, we would have at least fuels; our time to address the effects of Karl Clark dumped oily sand, hot water had to write a cheque to the utility climate change will run out before the and caustic soda into an old-fashioned company. How can we be aware of our hydrocarbons do, says Larry Kostiuk, washing machine. His experiments environmental impact, Tertzakian

new trail spring 2019 23 1800 Invention of the first battery wonders, if we don’t even go through the motions of paying the bill? If we were paying attention, though, we might notice that things have been getting cheaper over the last decade. The energy industry is in what Tertzakian calls an era of abundance; oil and gas companies are more efficient at getting products out of the ground. Lower prices, as anyone in Alberta can tell you, can hurt the economy. The drop in oil prices has contributed to a dramatic increase in the length of unemployment in the province, which has tripled in the last 10 years. Tertzakian points to another effect of this abundance: consumer trends. Seventy per cent of all vehicles purchased in Canada are trucks or SUVs, which emit significantly more CO2 than a small Toyota car. “And not even a hybrid one,” he emphasizes. “This is a social issue. This is based on consumer behaviour. But who is going to implement policy … that says you 1698 can’t buy a pickup truck? Politicians, they’re not going to touch it. Because Coal-burning steam if they do, they’re going to get voted out.” engines launch the If consumers aren’t changing, it becomes even more vital to ensure the Industrial Revolution energy we use is cleaner and more efficient. Solving these challenges will require people, research and fresh perspectives. anne naeth deals with a lot of pointed questions. Will people lose jobs? Will everyone need an electric car? Will the old appliances still work? Will this affect my life? And those are just the ones from her mom. Mary Naeth is 86 and lives on a farm near Paradise Hill, Sask., a village of roughly 500 people just northeast of Lloydminster. It’s also a place where the power, too often, is out. In answering this barrage of questions, Naeth would tell her mom about localized power sources like wind or solar or geothermal, and super‑duper batteries that will store energy until needed. She paints a picture of a world with fewer centralized power plants and fewer electricity outages due to a downed transmission line kilometres from her mom’s farm. It all sounded very familiar to Mary. “And she said, ‘Oh, so it’s just kind of like back when we got the generator,’ ” Naeth says with a smile. “So we’ve gone full circle. And my mom made that connection.” We’re all going to need to use our imaginations when it comes to ~100 ad how society will change along with the energy sources. In five, 10 or The first mention 20 years, we won’t have centralized systems in which the energy flows of a wind wheel in one direction, but multiple systems in which individuals are both consuming and producing energy. Will this mean that urban downtowns densify? Or will the prospect of reliable, localized energy encourage the proliferation of smaller, remote communities? Will everyone have a car? Or will ride‑hailing become the norm? “Our communities might need to be organized in entirely new ways, around social and environmental sustainability, instead of around the easy flow of traffic and consumer goods,” saysSheena Wilson, ’98 BA, ’06 ~200 bc PhD, a co-lead of the energy humanities theme of Future Energy Systems. First references “We can ask ourselves all sorts of questions about why we live the way we to coal extraction in China live, and if changing the way we access energy will change everything.” In other words, by looking ahead and envisioning future challenges, we can start now to figure out the best way to address them. At the centre of this energy transition is knowledge, or the lack of it. For researchers and thinkers at the U of A, it’s a matter of tackling those questions one project at a time. Perhaps the true future of energy, says Kostiuk, lies with the 1,000 grad students who will work in Future Energy Systems and beyond. Mechanical engineers talking to land reclamation practitioners. Mining engineers talking to political scientists. Assuming each student goes on to a 40-year career in energy, that adds up to 40,000 total years of work that will stem from the university’s investment in energy. “That will leave a mark,” Kostiuk says with a smile. ~300 bc Water mills are used 24 ualberta.ca/newtrail ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEVEN P. HUGHES around the world 1858 1886 1949 Humans drill The first gasoline-powered U of A professor Karl Clark the first oil well car hits the road perfects a technique to (in Ontario) extract oil out of sands

1954 Nuclear power goes mainstream

1956 Solar cells begin powering toys and space satellites

2004 U of A researcher David Bressler discovers how to convert fat ENERGY MILESTONES into fuel For millenniums, humans have sought out new energy sources to meet our growing and changing needs. Here’s 2013 Jillian Buriak, how we got from the first fire to ’96 BSc(Hons), ’01 PhD, mega‑floating solar plants. creates cheap, sprayable solar cells by kate black, ’16 ba

~400,000 bc First evidence of humans using fire

2017 A floating solar plant in China creates enough energy to power 15,000 homes 2018 ~3,000 bc A self-powered electric Horses domesticated plane takes flight new trail spring 2019 25 LED lights and consumer electronics need DC power. The power system always leaked like a sieve, but every time electricity is converted between AC and DC, it wastes a little bit more. “There’s a huge amount of power generated each day around the world and lots of energy consumption. If you’re able to save just one per cent of these losses in the system, that’s a huge amount,” says engineering professor Yunwei (Ryan) Li, who leads a team of researchers and grad students studying technologies to improve the grid. That buzzing you sometimes hear near transmission lines? That’s a sign of energy being lost. So is the heat you feel in those ubiquitous converter boxes LOST IN used in charging your phone or laptop. Reduce the number of conversions (remember that in some cases it must convert from DC to AC and back to DC again before it reaches your devices) and you improve efficiency, says Li. “Eventually it makes sense that [we] have TRANSMISSION DC-based energy storage, DC-based power generation, then you may just Solving the challenges behind the have DC grids. So that structure of the system that keeps the lights on grids will probably need to change.” by therese kehler Part of the answer lies in something called a smart grid — a seemingly all- light up a room. Charge a phone. Refrigerate the milk. The electrical grid that purpose term but what is really just the allows us to have all of this at our fingertips is considered a critical piece of North gradual morphing of the existing grid American infrastructure. But it was conceived in the time of Edison — how does it into something that connects more hold up to today’s power needs? seamlessly with digital technology and The short answer? Not very well, and one reason for that comes down to a pair of renewable energy sources. commonly used (but not necessarily well understood) abbreviations: AC and DC. The term smart grid covers a number The very first power systems were DC, or direct current. DC moves like a steady of concepts. One is the notion of two-way stream of water from a hose but is only good for very short distances. In the 1880s, electricity flow — for example, instead power companies adopted the idea of AC technology. Alternating current, or AC, is of the grid simply being a one-way an electric current that reverses direction at fixed intervals — in North America, it electricity delivery system, it would switches 60 times every second, known as a frequency of 60 hertz. also accept surplus power generated It all sounds very technical but the reasoning was purely pragmatic: AC could by solar panels on your roof. A smart be delivered to users who were many, many miles away with low transmission grid could be something that responds losses, so that meant building few power plants. The system that developed at that automatically to an outage in west time is the one still used today: centralized generating plants creating 60-hertz AC Edmonton by calling for power from electricity, transformers to the U of A micro-grid. A smart grid step up its voltage before could predict an intense storm heading high-voltage transmission toward a wind farm and take it offline and step it back down before to prevent a damaging power surge. It it enters your home, and could instruct your refrigerator to go thousands of kilometres of into low-power mode to offset high AC-friendly transmission and demand. These are the types of scenarios distribution lines. researchers are investigating in several The AC grid of But the AC grid of projects at the U of A — and while all yesteryear isn’t yesteryear isn’t keeping have long-term ramifications, the ones up with DC demands of that focus on reliability and efficiency keeping up with the today. Renewable energy are, in Li’s opinion, paramount. DC demands of today. sources produce DC power. The integration of wind energy

26 ualberta.ca/newtrail into the electrical grid is an example of an area that falls under both of those parameters, Li says. There are times when its power quality — that is, the electricity’s voltage, frequency and waveform — doesn’t match the grid’s requirement for 60-hertz AC power. “You have to store that energy somewhere because, THE CHALLENGE: How can we reduce the amount of otherwise, the voltage could methane, a heat-trapping gas, that go up or the frequency won’t human activity is putting into the be 60 hertz anymore. And atmosphere? then you have problems with power quality or system THE RESEARCH: Harness a natural phenomenon, stability,” he says. methane-eating bacteria, This includes an issue to deal with industrial called tripping the load, production of the gas which leads to power THE PLAYERS: interruptions and blackouts. Catherine Tays, ’13 BSc, a PhD One of Li’s projects is student in microbiology and to improve the supply of chemical engineering, working with renewably sourced power. chemical engineering researcher “You improve the power Dominic Sauvageau and biological sciences researcher Lisa Stein quality of the systems so that we ensure your load is always connected and running process would let the bacteria properly.” deal with methane at the And returning to the source, for example, in oilsands AC/DC dilemma, storing wastewater treatment plants, energy sourced from wind This Bacteria Eats pulp and paper mills, and even and solar requires a battery landfills. and batteries produce DC. So what’s the useful It brings us right back to Gas For Breakfast byproduct? the challenge of converting These hungry methane eaters energy to send it to the grid. Sometimes nature provides a solution to our manufactured problems. Researchers just need (called methanotrophs) All of this does not digest the delicious methane mean that transmission to find a way to make that natural solution work and, when they do, they lines (26,000 kilometres in for us. Bonus points: in solving one problem, produce compounds called Alberta alone) will need to be these researchers have also found a useful metabolites. “Then we collect byproduct. by mifi purvis, ’93 ba the metabolites to make stuff,” replaced overnight with DC she says. The aim is to make or hybrid AC/DC lines. The What’s better than solving a problem? biodegradable plastics and transition, he says, will be Solving the problem and discovering a new and useful biofuels out of them, she says. gradual. non-toxic byproduct in the process. “We need to grow the bacteria Indeed, changes are better, persuade them to do already happening. In 2015, What’s the problem anyway? what we want them to do.” Tays, Methane is a greenhouse gas, the byproduct of natural who has been supported by a two DC transmission lines and industrial processes. It gets talked about less than donor-funded scholarship, says stretching for a total of 835 CO2, but emissions of methane are rising at a higher commercial production is the kilometres were completed rate and, compared with CO2, it traps more heat. big goal. between the Calgary and About 60 per cent of methane emissions are caused by Edmonton areas at a human activity. (Researchers are working to address at What attracted her combined cost of $3.5 billion. least one other cause. Read more on page 6.) to working with bugs that eat gas? Bit by bit, the grid is You can’t ‘solve’ methane! Since she was a child, she getting smarter and the Nature already has. Methane-eating bacteria exist and wanted to help solve climate process will continue for Catherine Tays, ’13 BSc, is working on ways to harness change, Tays says. “Every little

ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN HUGHES P. decades to come, says Li. the phenomenon on an industrial scale. Optimizing the girl wants to save the planet.”

new trail spring 2019 27 THE CHALLENGE: Is it possible to harness low-temperature geothermal energy?

THE RESEARCH: Adapt a traditional Stirling engine so that it can be powered by temperatures not much hotter than a cup of tea

THE PLAYERS: Graduate students David Miller, ’16 BSc(MechEng), Jason Stumpf is part of a team the cylinder is 95 degrees Michaud, ’16 BSc(MechEng) of grad students — which Celsius — hot enough to make and Calynn Stumpf, ’16 BSc(MechEng), working under includes David Miller, some ramen or a decent cup David Nobes, professor of ’16 BSc(MechEng) of tea — and the cold side just mechanical engineering and Jason Michaud, above freezing. Suddenly, the ’16 BSc(MechEng) — working low-temperature geothermal to adapt a traditional Stirling energy that is abundant in engine to harness energy Alberta is a viable source at these less-than-100 C of power. But a larger temperatures. The Stirling temperature differential engine is not the same as the generates even more power internal combustion engine and that’s where Alberta’s in your car, but it is similar in bone-chilling winters can be some key ways. a plus, explains Michaud. “Engines turn over because This group of Alberta- of a pressure difference,” says born students — Miller is Miller. “In a Stirling engine, from St. Paul, Stumpf from it’s hotter on one side of the Lacombe and Michaud engine and colder on the from Sherwood Park –– can other side.” As gas inside the easily picture massive engine moves from one side Stirling engines dotting the to the other, it is heated or landscape, taking advantage cooled. This leads to pressure of the province’s low-grade cycles that force the piston geothermal heat. to move, he explains. The They aren’t there yet, motion of the piston turns though. They’ve built lab- OLD TECH, a shaft, and it’s the power bench-scale Stirling engines, from this rotation that can but you’d need more than be harnessed for things like 10 of them to power a single locomotion or electricity. 60‑watt light bulb. The In your car, the heat team is currently reworking comes from burning fuel and designs to maximize the NEW TRICKS the temperatures can reach power output. They will be several thousand degrees. using the data from this Grad students are adapting centuries-old But, unlike the ones in work to design a bigger engine designs to capitalize on abundant our cars, Stirling engines can engine — and one that’s cost- geothermal energy convert heat from any source effective. “It becomes more into electricity. Since the heat expensive to build a bigger the potential for out that not all geothermal doesn’t have to come from engine,” says Michaud. “It’s geothermal energy energy is equal. “The the burning of hydrocarbon important that we are able to surrounds us. “Geophysicists problem is, here it’s all below fuels, the engines can predict the power output of tell us there’s more 100 degrees Celsius,” he says. generate electricity without these engines before we start geothermal energy under It’s difficult to harness such carbon dioxide emissions. committing those resources.” the ground than there low temperatures to create The team’s Stirling engine The three students graduate is hydrocarbon energy electricity, but now a team is taps into an “ultra‑low” this year, so a new team of in Alberta,” says grad adapting a two-century-old temperature source. In other students will carry their student Calynn Stumpf, ’16 engine design to help solve words, these engines can work forward. –with files BSc(MechEng). But it turns a modern challenge. run when the hot side of from kenneth tam

28 ualberta.ca/newtrail OLEG KOV / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES Unlike the engines in our cars, Stirling engines are Friction based on a design that converts heat from any source into electricity. Is a Drag by therese kehler

It’s a fossil-fuelled world and society isn’t quitting hydrocarbons any time soon. Which is why some researchers are applying their expertise to improving how hydrocarbons are produced, consumed and — in this case — transported. “It is a fact that the standard of living of Canadians is high because we use a lot of energy. So, we can’t just stop that right away to fight climate change, to reduce emissions,” says Arman THE CHALLENGE: Hemmati, an assistant How can we make professor of mechanical the transport of engineering. “What we have petroleum products to do, however, is make a safer and more responsible use of those efficient? resources.” One way is to make the THE RESEARCH: transportation of fossil Reduce friction in fuels more efficient. To pipelines, drag on that end, Hemmati’s team transport trucks is targeting two invisible enemies: friction and drag. THE PLAYERS: Arman Hemmati, Better Pipelines assistant professor Pipelines work by pushing in mechanical engineering, and fluid forward, using Arash Zargar, pressure introduced from master’s student above-ground pumping in engineering stations. As the fluid loses acceleration, the next pumping station delivers another shot of pressure. But that process gets a lot stickier, so to speak, when the substance is bitumen. Even when diluted, the viscous substance is filled with silica sand and clay particles, which create friction that slowly wears down the pipeline, especially along the bottom. Regular (and expensive) cleaning and maintenance are required to prevent pipeline failure — and leaks. Hemmati’s team is looking at a process that could push bitumen off the walls of the pipe and force it to the middle, where it could flow more freely. Versions of this concept, called vortex generators, are currently in use but they are costly and corrode easily. Hemmati’s idea involves adding internal cross-sections to the pipes with projections that almost look like teeth. These ridges would shape the fluid so most

new trail spring 2019 29 of it spirals through the middle, reducing the impact — and wear — on the walls. Reduced friction means pumping stations won’t have to work as hard, which in turn means they’ll use less energy and THE CHALLENGE: limit corrosion damage. The result would How do we address water be less maintenance and a reduced risk of contamination from leaks. Hemmati has received a $100,000 energy production? Alberta government grant to continue the research. “I think that would be one of the THE RESEARCH: ways that we are going to change the view Use chicken feathers to of pipelines. And that will have implications remove contaminants not only in Alberta, not only in Canada, but from water worldwide,” he says. THE PLAYERS: Reducing Truck Emissions Post-doctoral fellow The same broad principles are being Muhammad Arshad applied to an above-ground challenge and PhD student Irum that can be a real drag when it comes to Zahara working under transporting fuel by truck: the wind. Tariq Siddique, associate Gusts hitting the broadside of a professor in renewable semi-trailer truck create a corresponding resources and Aman low-pressure dead zone on the other side, Ullah, associate professor which in turn creates a stability problem, agricultural food and nutritional science says Arash Zargar, a grad student working with Hemmati. The driver responds by wrestling the vehicle to keep control, which uses more fuel. Says Hemmati: “If we can reduce the drag, we can reduce the amount of emissions.” Heavy-duty diesel vehicles are responsible for about five per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. The concept is straightforward: install Decontaminate Water simple modifications on the trailer, such as flaps or teeth, to deflect the wind and increase stability. The challenge is to develop a computer simulation method With Chicken Feathers that effectively and efficiently predicts the impact of wind flow when the modifications no matter how you do it, it seems that producing energy are introduced, says Zargar. affects water. In Alberta, there are tailings ponds around oilsands In the end, any modifications must be production facilities. In the United States, the Electric Power affordable to install and proven to reduce a business’s operating costs, says Hemmati. Research Institute suggested that some types of decommissioned A reduction in emissions is just icing on the solar panels be stored until recycling processes become available, cake. –with files from kenneth tam to ensure toxic chemicals used in their construction never leach into groundwater. In Newfoundland and Labrador, concerns have been raised that hydroelectric projects might increase levels of methylmercury in nearby water. Renewable energy technologies promise to eliminate WANT MORE ENERGY? carbon emissions but their impacts on Coming in May: two opportunities water still aren’t fully understood. to go deeper on the topic

„ Keep your eyes open for the U of A’s Energy Week, May 6-10. How It Works: The week celebrates the naming of Energy Systems as one of the Feathers are more than 90 per cent keratin university’s signature areas of research and teaching. Learn more protein, made of a variety of amino acids. about Energy Week events at ualberta.ca/energy-systems. Feathers are strong because this protein is “cross-linked,” but when you break those „ Catch the Powering Up Alberta’s Energy Future panel at Calgary’s Central Library, May 22. Come hear from experts including Peter cross-links in the lab you create unravelled Tertzakian, ‘82 BSc(Spec) (page 23), Maggie Cascadden (page 33), biopolymers with a high surface area that Steve Bergens and John Parkins, ‘97 MSc, ‘04 PhD. can adsorb, or stick to (rather than absorb, ualberta.ca/alumni/events or take in) particles such as heavy metals. Researchers wash the feathers, grind them into powder and treat them with

30 ualberta.ca/newtrail modifying agents. Then they mix the powdery keratin biopolymer into industrial water, where it adsorbs contaminants. Then they remove the dirty biopolymer, leaving cleansed water.

Why It’s a Good Solution: Until now, adsorbents have been too expensive. “There are many adsorbents that can be used to remove contaminants,” says Muhammad Arshad. He’s a post- doc in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. “Few are as cost-effective as chicken feathers.” The Canadian poultry industry produces 1.2 billion kilograms of chicken meat a year. Along with that comes about 100,000 tonnes of feathers, Arshad says. “Most are landfilled or burnt, but we could use them.” As the team continues to research, they could also find opportunities to recycle the contaminants caught in the feather biopolymer.

How Close Is It? Ready to roll. A team was able to extract arsenic from contaminated groundwater this way. After refinements, the adsorbents can now remove more than 85 per cent –– in some cases nearly 100 per cent –– of certain contaminants.

Next Steps: The team will test keratin biopolymers on water collected from the field, then refine them to take on new contaminants from other energy sectors. “If we develop cost-effective methods for decontaminating water before new technologies are adopted, we can prevent environmental impacts before there’s a risk of them occurring,” Zahara says. –with files from kenneth tam

ZOONAR GMBH / ALAMY new trail spring 2019 31 NEW POWER TOOLS Our myriad devices, vehicles and appliances require more energy all the time. These research breakthroughs are poised to lessen the rate at which we burn energy, improving how we generate and store power. by therese kehler

THE NEED THE CHALLENGE THE BREAKTHROUGH

„ Computers work on internal „ Huff uses a specialized scanning probe transistors that constantly switch microscope with the world’s sharpest tip. from binary 0 to binary 1 and each (Wolkow has the Guinness World Record.) switch creates heat, explains The team believes it has reached the ultimate Taleana Huff, ’15 MSc, a physics grad limit for smallness: it’s just one atom wide research fellow working with Faculty at the business end. The tool allows Huff of Science professor Robert Wolkow. and the others to make bits that represent More switches equal more power, binary information out of just two atoms — a generating more heat. “Your whole fraction of the size that would be required laptop is going to melt if you try to using conventional seven- or 14-nanometre make it better or faster.” transistors. Ergo, faster computers need “We’re using individual atoms where you Devices that are faster, stronger a smaller, energy-efficient on-off would normally have a very large transistor. and won’t burst into flames. switch, which will also help with When a transistor does that operation, it’s Computers aren’t improving, because another big problem. By the year using tons of energy,” she says. The atomic their circuits use a lot of power 2040, experts predict the energy our switch uses “almost a negligible amount.” and throw a lot of heat. Atom-scale computers need could exceed the devices could be the solution. amount produced worldwide.

„ Triboelectric nanogenerators are „ One day, Liu was using a specialized atomic devices that convert external energy microscope that uses a tiny cantilever to into electricity — think of dragging “feel” objects to create images. He hadn’t yet your feet along a carpet — but they pushed the button to apply electricity to the produce a low-quality, alternating sample, so he was puzzled when he saw a current that no one could improve. current. Turns out, the cantilever’s movement At least until Jun Liu, ’18 PhD, was generating electricity that was flowing in a working with chemical engineering steady, strong direct current: a tiny generator. A better, portable power professor Thomas Thundat, saw Liu and Thundat have since created a generation system. something unexpected. prototype device, with a provisional patent, Remember the self-winding watch? that paves the way for future electronic Well, consider this: thanks to a devices to contain nanoscale generators lab accident, you could eventually that will harvest energy from the tiniest charge your smartphone just by movements — the swish of your clothes, walking around. engine vibrations, even a heartbeat.

„ Energy is stored inside battery „ A recent success for Xie involved replacing chemicals, then used over a specific the graphite inside a lithium battery with cycle — maybe driving a Tesla 600 silicon nanoparticles and a highly conductive kilometres or working 20 hours on graphene aerogel. The research determined a MacBook. Hezhen (Andrew) Xie, a size and shapes that would keep the silicon PhD student in chemistry professor from breaking down during repeated charging Jillian Buriak’s lab, is seeking to and discharging. Xie is also researching improve a chemical battery’s energy sodium as a cheap, plentiful replacement density, making it last longer. for lithium, which could be a breakthrough A separate challenge is to create for large-scale “batteries” — or storage Better batteries. desperately needed technology systems — for renewably sourced energy. From electronics to vehicles to that can better store renewable His breakthrough means energy could be household electricity, batteries electricity for when the sun don’t stored in a sodium-ion battery and devices are key to unplugging — or, at shine and the wind don’t blow. with these improved batteries would last least, plugging in less often. longer and go farther.

32 ualberta.ca/newtrail QUOTED we figure out a way to adequately and „ Says Huff: appropriately involve the “My adviser had been people who are next to big dreaming of testing these development projects,” circuits for, like, 10 years Cascadden says, “so, even before we actually managed though they happen to be to do it using this tool. People-Friendly next to it, they’re not doing Moving individual atoms is worse off than the people a little bit harder than you who are far away.” would think it is.” Currently, Cascadden, Energy Projects alongside PhD student Kylie Heales, is working by cailynn klingbeil under business professor Dev Jennings to determine What comes to mind Cascadden’s how to ensure the when you think of background is in best people and communities “energy”? Maybe wind practices for Impact near constructed turbines, a pumpjack or Benefit Agreements. These wetlands are involved turning on a light switch? To negotiated contracts, in the development and one PhD student in the usually between First reclamation process. School of Business, her first Nations communities Constructed wetlands thought is of people. “The and resource developers, are systems that simulate „ Says Liu: whole point of getting are meant to ensure the properties of natural “We’ve just built a bridge energy is to make people’s communities receive wetlands, nature’s water between science in the lives better,” says Maggie tangible and, hopefully, decontamination system. lab with a real application. Cascadden. But sometimes long-term benefits Researchers in Alberta are We’ve bridged the gap.” the way energy is produced from nearby resource researching constructed can have a negative effect development, rather than wetlands to reclaim on people living nearby. just incurring the costs. tailings ponds. Heales’ Cascadden wants to In such an agreement, and Cascadden’s project, change that by finding ways a community affected by a in the early stages with to make our energy projects mining project, for example, a pilot study rolling out more people-friendly. could gain infrastructure, later this year, could lead skills and jobs at all to fresh ways of doing points of the project, business — and not just Cascadden explains. Best- for companies reclaiming practice criteria include tailings ponds. THE CHALLENGE: empowerment, respecting The framework for What’s the best way to involve local land and culture, consultation will provide communities living near energy „ and communication and them a guide to involve Says Xie: developments in the decision-making understanding. communities effectively “There are so many cars process? in the world. If we use Though Impact Benefit for this project and, with electrical vehicles based on THE RESEARCH: Agreements have been some adjustments, to many clean energy, there will be Develop a framework that planners around for years, some are types of future projects that much less emissions and can use to engage nearby communities stronger than others. A affect local communities. pollution.” to ensure they see benefits from the framework for community “I’m excited because projects consultation would make I think the results of this the process smoother project will help make THE PLAYERS: and ensure communities our energy systems more PhD students Maggie Cascadden and negotiating such an people-friendly throughout Kylie Heales, working under business agreement for the first time the process, not just [at] professor Dev Jennings have a full picture of the the end point of having possibilities. energy to power our lives,” “It’s really important Cascadden says.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEVEN P. HUGHES new trail spring 2019 33 TURNING WASTE DELIVER ELECTRICITY INTO FUEL THROUGH A SINGLE WIRE Forge Hydrocarbons David Bressler, ’96 WiDyne Technologies BSc(Hons), ’01 PhD, Pedram Mousavi, professor of agricultural engineering professor, food and nutrition Adam Maunder, ’12 sciences BSc(EngPhys), ’13 MSc, and Telnaz Zarifi, ’16 MSc Forge Hydrocarbons transforms waste fats After developing and industrial oils into technology to transfer hydrocarbons such electricity through FROM RESEARCH as diesel, gas and jet a single wire (rather fuel. This technology than the double wires uses pressure and currently used), the temperature, like the researchers behind geological conditions WiDyne have teamed up that created crude with Edmonton-based TO REALITY oil — except in a matter Landmark Homes and Turn your windows into solar panels, of hours, not millions Levven Electronics of years. Forge plans to (which also began at the plus more ingenuity from U of A open a demonstration U of A) to save money on spinoff companies plant in Sombra, Ont., home construction. that is projected to by michael brown produce 19 million litres per year of renewable what if every window film collects sunlight — both liquid hydrocarbon. on a downtown skyscraper direct and diffuse — and forgehc.com WASTES NO MORE was its own little solar panel, channels it to photovoltaic collecting the sun’s energy cells inside window frames. and creating electricity? In January, AQM received AdvEn Industries The idea isn’t new. But one $420,000 in clean technology Weixing Chen, professor company has taken a big step development funding FASTER, CHEAPER, in chemical and materials engineering toward making this a reality from Alberta Innovates, an SMALLER COMPUTING with the help of tiny silicon organization that speeds AdvEn Industries dots that have the power research to market. provides materials for to create, well, power, and While still a few Quantum Silicon making electrodes such revolutionize urban spaces in years from being ready Robert Wolkow, physics as supercapacitors or the process. for market, the product professor lithium-sulphur batteries using Alberta oilsands Applied Quantum creates solar potential for Quantum Silicon uses wastes, agricultural Materials, a U of A spinoff downtown towers that atomic level science wastes, recycled plastics founded by chemistry have a lot of glass and small and “quantum dot” and biochar (a type of professor Jonathan Veinot rooftops. The company is technology to create charcoal produced from and David Antoniuk, ’78 working with partners All the same binary state organic waste matter). In BSc(ElecEng), ’83 PhD, Weather Windows and PCL used by computers (1s particular, the company and 0s) — but using provides high-end is already conducting Construction to conduct the only a fraction of the specialty activated commercial tests of tests. physical space and carbons, which are highly its luminescent solar “We hope to demonstrate only one-thousandth porous, for applications concentrator technology. that our technology will of the electricity. (More such as energy storage Luminescent solar revolutionize the building on page 32.) Past and gas adsorption. It concentrators have long industry,” says Antoniuk. partners have included has completed pilot shown promise in the quest U of A research has U.S. technology giant trials of three to five Lockheed Martin, which tons per year and is now to retrofit buildings. The spawned other energy- provided funding through waiting for funding to silicon-based film showcases related companies. Here is a an agreement with the build a 100-ton-per-year a specialty of Veinot’s U of A look at a few of them. –with Alberta government. demo plant in Edmonton. chemistry lab: quantum files from mara simmonds, quantumsilicon.com adven-industries.com dots and nanomaterials. The ’89 ba, ’90 ba(speccert)

34 ualberta.ca/newtrail What about people working for Indigenous-owned companies? People in these companies experienced less discrimination and had more avenues to advance their careers. But Indigenous-owned companies that sell goods and services to oilfield companies Indigenous Workers had to overcome stereotypes. One man from Wabasca said, “We’d have to really sell our people.” Respondents Tell Their Stories said these companies have to counter Social sciences and humanities help us examine THE CHALLENGE: discrimination not faced How does the the challenges of energy systems by mifi purvis, ’93 ba experience of rural by other businesses. Indigenous oilfield Also, Indigenous-owned As our methods of generating and consuming power change, workers, on and companies have imported we need to look at the big picture. More than asking technical off reserve, differ a system of capitalism questions, it will take thoughtful research from all fields of study. from that of other that threatens to workers? Angele Alook, ’02 BA, ’05 MA, spends a lot of time thinking about the entrench an imbalance social, economic, labour and gendered aspects of our energy use. She THE RESEARCH: into small communities, co-wrote a report for the Parkland Institute — a donor-supported, For the Parkland moving them away from non-partisan research institute — that examined the experience of Institute, Angele Indigenous social systems Alook interviewed focused on the collective Indigenous people working in oil and gas. She shared some insights. Indigenous people at work in oil and good and family networks. How do social sciences and the humanities fit into energy research? gas. Social science Literature and art reflect society around us, and right now we’re researchers wanted There must be a way witnessing a transition in our energy systems. In the past 200 years, to fill a knowledge forward. It is a complex gap about the society has become dependent on fossil fuel consumption. Social sciences experiences of these and nuanced relationship and humanities examine the impacts of this and help us imagine a future workers. between the industry in which this isn’t the only source of energy. They let us look at what that and these workers. The means for our economy, our relationships, what it means for men and THE PLAYERS: main issues we have Angele Alook, ’02 BA, to face are related to women, for Indigenous Peoples who are stewards of the land and settler ’05 MA, researcher people who want to mitigate climate change. Social sciences also help us Ian Hussey, and our colonial history articulate the stories we tell about resource extraction. Department of and lie in Indigenous Sociology grad Peoples’ relationship to What prompted you to interview Indigenous oil and gas workers student Nicole Hill the land. Despite being about their experiences? There’s emerging research into educational residents in the area and barriers that Indigenous Peoples face finding work in oil and gas but we most closely affected didn’t know much about their experiences once they were at work in the by industry, the Indigenous people we industry. For this project, I asked 16 Indigenous workers from Wabasca, interviewed were aware of the sharp employed in a range of oilfield occupations, to tell me their stories. (Over irony that they are not the primary three energy futures projects, I completed 50 such interviews.) I also relied beneficiaries of the industry — rather on Indigenous knowledge systems to guide my research, complementing companies and governments are. They my sociological approach. report feeling cut off from the land, that it has been taken from them. I believe What did you find? Four primary qualitative themes emerged: career solutions lie in looking to our treaties, mobility, effects on families, the boom-and-bust nature of the industry, taking to heart the UN Declaration and the ramifications of living in a region dominated by resource on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, extraction. Sound familiar? and creating conditions for better self-governance and nation-to-nation Yes, those are the same kinds of concerns you’d find among all oil negotiation. It’s complicated, with no workers. How did the group in Wabasca differ? Our research indicated one formula to solve it. Research based that these workers have extra layers of concern, including fewer in social science is key to developing opportunities for promotion. “It was harder for me to move up,” said one better policies as industry changes. Indigenous worker. “Even if I was better than someone else, they’d move up faster … usually the white guys.” Angele Alook specializes in labour market analysis, At the same time, the workers we interviewed live in the area, they paid and unpaid labour and social policy. From the have homes and extended families nearby, whereas workers from outside Bigstone Cree Nation, she’s part of the Corporate Mapping Project team at the Parkland Institute, and live in camps far from their homes. We found that these connections to Just Powers, a group of feminist scholars studying

SHARLOTTA / ALAMY / SHARLOTTA home helped Indigenous workers counter some of the negatives. how energy generation and use shapes society.

new trail spring 2019 35 energy is all around us — it can be harvested from sources such as wind, sun and moving water — but it’s still difficult to store effectively. Working under the supervision of Pierre Mertiny, researchers are chipping away at the challenges and high costs of energy storage. One possibility is the new use of an old technology: the flywheel. WONDER WHEEL You know, almost intuitively, how Could an old technology answer the mechanical energy storage system some modern problems? called a flywheel works. Think of a foot- operated sewing machine or a spinning by mifi purvis, ’93 ba top. Both collect and store kinetic energy in the flywheel, and release it when needed, typically over a short time. Mertiny’s team is using flywheel technology to build a mechanical battery that stores surplus energy from any source to ensure it’s available for high demand or acute energy needs, such as during peak electrical consumption or sudden power outages. Flywheels are energy dense, meaning they’re ready to supply power in quick bursts to deal with those spikes in use. “Flywheels are good at providing high power — a lot of energy in a short time,” says grad student Miles Skinner. They are also great in low temperatures, a limiting factor for chemical batteries, as anyone trying to use a smartphone outdoors in winter can attest. Plus, chemical batteries can contain materials that are hazardous to the environment. A body in motion will stay in motion unless THE CHALLENGE: something is acting on How do we create it to slow it down. In a better storage for flywheel that something renewable energy? is friction, which reduces THE RESEARCH: the kinetic energy storage Adapt a centuries- and results in energy loss. old technology to The team has worked meet today’s energy storage needs to address the friction problem, including THE PLAYERS: designing a vacuum Graduate students enclosure and employing Miles Skinner, low friction bearings to ’17 MSc, and Balakrishnan limit losses. Skinner is Nagarajan, working working on a different under Pierre Mertiny, aspect of this problem: ’05 PhD, and Ahmed the buildup of force. Qureshi, professors of mechanical The flywheels that engineering the team is working on rotate fast, around 20,000

to 40,000 revolutions per IMAGEBROKER ALAMY /

36 ualberta.ca/newtrail minute in some prototypes. “An electrical engineer might be concerned with how What’s Coming on to add or take out energy,” Skinner says. As a mechanical engineer, he explains his concern is with the force that builds the Energy Horizon? up in the rotating flywheel. “The forces are enormous. It can tear itself apart,” We asked some alumni working in the he says. He is studying the behaviour of energy sector to tell us what they see as flywheels over their service life, stress the biggest challenges in the next five to and strain buildup in a flywheel, and 10 years. Here’s what they had to say. how to use the information to improve the next generation of flywheel energy “Society’s expectations of the industry are changing storage systems. Flywheels are already in use in some rapidly, including the expectations the next European trains, where they collect, generation of workers have of employers. Companies store and release kinetic energy from the will need to recruit and manage people differently vehicles’ braking systems. Another big to attract top talent if they want to make the potential application for a flywheel is in technological advancements that are required to energy utility grids. Utility companies can use stored continue moving the industry forward.” kinetic energy as a buffer, stabilizing Mavis Ure, ’03 BSc(ChemEng), director of tailings operations and the frequency of their grid, mitigating chair of the Women’s Leadership Development Network, Suncor power fluctuations, blackouts and spikes in demand. While only certain parts of current flywheel systems are recyclable, “We need to think about it as “Alberta’s largest Skinner believes that challenge can be a two-part challenge. First, challenge will be how overcome. In the meantime, they have our economy is critically we carve our niche an exceptionally long life, 20-plus years, tied to Alberta’s oil and in a rapidly changing he says. global energy system. Mertiny’s group, which started gas sector being globally in 2006, is making prototype energy- competitive on both cost We are global energy storing flywheels. Their next challenges and carbon. The value superpowers, but include extending energy storage time this sector generates will have yet to shift our from minutes, which would be useful allow Alberta to transition focus to the changing when operating a train or a bus, to to more diversified energy landscape in this global hours or days, which would be useful in offerings with opportunities system. Our collective energy grids. And they need to make it to export our technologies expertise needs to spend cost effective. The team did some initial significantly more time work to design flywheels for residential and expertise worldwide. solar installations to collect solar energy This lets us address the thinking through how and store it to power homes through second part: transitioning we generate profits and times the sun isn’t out or when the home the consumption of energy deliver value in a world is hungry for more energy that the in Alberta to low-carbon that is moving toward installation can give. emissions solutions.” electrification and The winning formula will come from decarbonization.” interactions among multiple energy Candice Paton, ’06 BSc(MechEng), sources and the ways we integrate the executive director of clean technology, Sean Collins, ’09 BCom, president, Alberta Innovates Terrapin Geothermics new ones into our energy infrastructure. The magic of how we power ourselves in the future is at this point of interplay. “Energy storage and generation will “One of the biggest challenges is finding ways be multi-faceted,” Skinner predicts. “We to produce our energy in a sustainable and have to ask how can we maximize the environmentally responsible way. One way to tackle benefits to get the most of various this is with automation and new technologies to sources. No single one is the best, but all improve the processes that already exist.” of them will have their place.” –with files from rich cairney Nicolas Olmedo, ’10 BSc(MechEng), president and founder, Copperstone Technologies

new trail spring 2019 37 The best excuse to come back to campus FREE FIRST YEAR MEMBERSHIP FOR ALUMNI

explore the club at uofafacultyclub.ca

AdvertiseAdvertise withwith usus Send your message straight to the minds of U of A alumni around the world — in print and online.

Find our media guide at uab.ca/NTads. Email trevorcleversmedia.com or call (778) 773-9397 to book today!

38 ualberta.ca/newtrail trailswhere you’ve been and where you’re going

John William Gow Logan was a 29-year-old U of A law student when he was killed in France on the last day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Logan and 36 other law students killed in battle were admitted to the bar by the Law Society of Alberta in November 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Gow’s name appears on the Vimy Memorial in Pas-de-Calais, France. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOW LOGAN’S FAMILY

new trail spring 2019 39 }trails

What Your Financial Advisor Is Not Telling You

A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO BOOST YOUR INVESTMENT RETURNS AND MINIMIZE RISK Books by Michael Grech

U of A alumni share their new books, ’72 Dip(Ed), ’79 Dip(Ed), questions and make decision- including nature-themed word searches, self‑published making easier than before. investment advice and inspirational essays Davies explores the deep € by people of Dene descent. connections between poetry MEMOIR Compiled by Kate Black, ’16 BA and music in this harmonic More Than I Can Bear collection of 69 poems. If Not for God by Philemon Topas (Stephen € six decades of growing € Braimah, ’85 PhD), WestBow ESSAY divisions in America. HISTORY Press, westbowpress.com Dene Heroes of the Sahtu Going Down of the Sun edited by Mary-Anne Neal, € by Philip G. Winkelaar, ’63 BSc, The author shares the value of ’76 BEd, self-published BUSINESS ’68 MD, self-published leaning on his faith through Headquarters Economy: challenges of immigration, Indigenous youth and other Managers, mobility, Life stories of nine Ottawa health and academia. community members share and migration Knox Presbyterian Church stories of inspirational people by J. Myles Shaver, ’88 BCom, members who served during € of Dene descent. Oxford University Press, the First World War but died FINANCE oup.com before the 1918 armistice. What Your Financial € Advisor Is Not Telling RELIGION Shaver examines how € You: A scientific approach An Islamic Jihad of Nonviolence managerial talent allows some SCIENCE FICTION to boost your investment by Salih Sayilgan, ’12 MA, Wipf regions to develop vibrant Death for the Ageless returns and minimize risk and Stock, wipfandstock.com headquarters economies. by Dawna Gilchrist, ’72 BSc, by Michael Grech, ’98 MSc, ’79 BSc(SpecCert), ’83 MD, self- self‑published Sayilgan challenges € published misconceptions of jihad POETRY Quantitative trader and by exploring late Muslim Rape and Ruin — the Ageless physician Alys Grenell investor Grech shows how theologian Said Nursi’s Untelling of Medusa is faced with a confrontation using technology and jihad of non-violence. by Grant J. Venables, ’91 BEd, from one of her own kind. statistics can breathe life into self-published conventional investing wisdom. € € MEMOIR A retelling of the Greek myth SCIENCE FICTION € Rocks Don’t Move: through a feminist lens in long- The Youthful One WORD SEARCH Surprising discoveries poem form. by Dawna Gilchrist, ’72 BSc, Awesome A-Z Nature from our life together ’79 BSc(SpecCert), ’83 MD, self- Word Searches by Jim Edgson, ’66 BSc, and € published by Patricia “P.A.” Lin, ’97 BSc, Anne Edgson, Word Alive Press, SELF-HELP self-published wordalivepress.ca Growing Forward When The first in a series following You Can’t Go Back an ageless physician warrior’s A collection of more than 100 The Edgsons share stories and by Laurie Pawlik, ’94 BA, ’01 BEd, galaxy battles against threats nature-themed word searches. lessons learned from more than Baker Publishing Group, to civilization. 50 years of marriage. bakerpublishinggroup.com € € EDUCATION € Pawlik draws on her own SELF-HELP Assessment Strategies FICTION experience to give faith-based Let’s Be Curious: Ask the right for Online Learning Just This advice on how to flourish after questions, get better answers, by Dianne Conrad, ’87 Dip(Ed), by Katrin Horowitz, ’73 BLS, suffering loss. create what you want ’91 MEd, ’02 PhD, and Jason Quadra Books, quadrabooks.com by Debra Kasowski, Openo, Athabasca University € ’95 BScN(Hons), self-published Press, aupress.ca Follows two childhood POETRY friends — one a poet, the other a Opus (In Six Suites) Tips to hone your critical- An investigation of online right-wing journalist — through by Richard Davies, ’71 BA, thinking skills, ask insightful assessment methods and

40 ualberta.ca/newtrail learning approaches centred on authenticity and engagement. € HEALTH Confessions of a Former Cosmetic Dentist by Michael Y. Zuk, ’84 BSc(Dent), ’86 DDS, self-published, confessionsofaformer cosmeticdentist.com

A former dentist lifts the veil on what he sees as predatory practices in the industry. € MEMOIR We Were Children by Inge D. Hess, ’75 BEd, self‑published

The author documents her childhood in Nazi-dominated Germany, covering events from 1936 to 1948. € € € HISTORY MYSTERY HEALTH Edmonton: Then and Now The Eye of the Beholder Infiltrating Healthcare: How by David Aaron, by Janice MacDonald, marketing works underground ’96 BEd, PageMaster ’81 BA(Hons), ’87 MA, Turnstone to influence nurses Publication Services Inc., Press, turnstonepress.com by Quinn Grundy, edmontonscenes.com ’10 BScN(Hons), Johns Hopkins In the seventh book of the University Press, press.jhu.edu A pictorial journey into Randy Craig mystery series, Edmonton’s past comparing a murder puts Randy’s Puerto Grundy brings awareness to historic photographs from Vallarta honeymoon on hold. pharmaceutical and medical Aaron’s collection with recently device companies’ increasing taken matching images. € influence on nurses. CULTURE Steampunk FAQ: All € that’s left to know about PHOTOGRAPHY the world of goggles, Alberta Book Tell us about your recent publication. airships, and time travel by George Webber, ’73 BA, Rocky Mail your write-up and book to New by Mike Perschon, Mountain Books, rmbooks.com Trail Books, Office of Advancement, ’08 MA, ’12 PhD, Backbeat, Third Floor, Enterprise Square, 3-501, halleonardbooks.com A collection of 200 colour 10230 Jasper Ave. NW, Edmonton, photographs spanning the AB, T5J 4P6. Or email a write-up with a high-resolution cover image A celebration and historical architecture, abandoned to [email protected]. Inclusion exploration of the iconic townscapes and fading on this list does not denote esthetic’s literary and commercial signs from 1950s endorsement by New Trail. cinematic origins. and 1960s rural Alberta.

new trail spring 2019 41 }trails class notes

We’d love to hear what you’re doing. Tell us about Helen Khan and her husband, Asif, in Lahore, Pakistan your new baby or your new job. Celebrate a personal accomplishment or a volunteer activity or share your favourite campus memories. Submit a class note at uab.ca/classnotes or email [email protected]. Notes will be edited for length, clarity and style. Class Notes

Pearson International Airport into one of the world’s “mega hub” airports.

1960s Now his kids are all grown up international students to and have kids of their own! the U of A. “This has been a rewarding, challenging and ’68 Wynn Payne, BCom, wrote ’73 Helen Khan, BA, ’00 enjoyable experience,” Khan in with an update on what 1970s Dip(Ed), retired in 2008 after writes. “And it’s nice to be was a busy summer and fall, working at the University ‘back in the saddle’ with my winning the Canadian small- of Alberta for 27 years. She alma mater and employer. bore rifle championships, ’70 Reg Moncrieff, BA, and her husband have since We still live in Pakistan and competing in the organized the 30th annual moved to Pakistan, where, and are still involved in world championships in New York alumni chapter she notes, “retirement takes community life in addition Changwon, South Korea, and skating party and dinner. many shapes.” For the first to my work.” the Shooting Confederation Moncrieff started the event as few years they volunteered of the Americas games in a way to bring his kids skating at NGO hospitals before ’77 Sharon Laskiwski, Mexico as part of a three- with other alumni families. Khan began work recruiting Dip(Nu), ’82 BScN, ’89 MN, man silver medal team. Payne was the oldest competitor at all three events, proving that, as he says, “shooting is a lifetime sport.”

’69 Terrance Nord, BSc(MechEng), recently received an Ontario Professional Engineers Award for his longtime leadership in the airline and cargo industry. Over his 50-year career, Nord helped lead the creation of Canadian Airlines in Canada’s first major airline merger, served as director and CEO of global cargo air network for DHL Express Aviation, and helmed the plan to develop Toronto The reunion of the 1977 nursing class

42 ualberta.ca/newtrail Shana Wilson with her portraits celebrating courage wrote in with details from the 1977 U of A nursing 40-year class reunion. The three-day event included a four-course cooking class, a trip over the High Level Bridge Streetcar, tea at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald and a stroll through their former residence and the U of A campus. “It was a wonderful time spent together and it was great to see one another. I look forward to our next reunion,” Laskiwski writes. She encourages any November ’77 classmates who wish to reconnect to contact Sandie Nixon at [email protected].

Lettering,” has a collection “I recently co-organized our celebrate the courage of of calligraphy pens available 30-year reunion (which was the inspirational Anita Hill in stores and on her website awesome — so much fun to and Christine Blasey Ford. kellycreates.ca. Klapstein reconnect). My classmates Twenty-seven years ago, teaches lettering workshops suggested I contact the U of A Hill stood up for all women. 1980s around the world, including because my professional Twenty-seven years later, in United Arab Emirates, story is rather unique. I Blasey Ford did the same. Mexico and Chile. was the executive producer Nothing has changed in 27 ’83 Simon Eassom, MA, has of Diablo, the biggest years. This is so very wrong. been appointed group ’86 Deanna Britton, Hollywood movie ever We must each do what we executive general manager BEd, ’94 Dip(Ed), will be owned by Albertans and can in the name of equality for member education of the completing a doctorate in filmed in Alberta. It starred and inclusivity. Speak, CPA Australia, the world’s school psychology from Scott Eastwood (yes, that march, write, vote, support, third-largest professional Philadelphia College of Eastwood), Walton Goggins intervene, donate. Loudly. For members’ association for Osteopathic Medicine in and Danny Glover. me, it is to paint.” See more of certified accountants. This July 2019. She is currently I am also an artist and can Wilson’s work on Instagram follows Eassom’s 13-year stint completing an internship is no longer paint quietly. These @shanawilsonartist and at with IBM, most recently as southern Idaho. five-foot-tall tribute portraits shanawilsonartist.com. the strategy and solutions leader for IBM’s global ’87 Ehtisham Mahmud, education industry. After BSc(Med), ’89 MD, was leaving Alberta, Eassom appointed president of the spent 22 years as a teacher Society for Cardiovascular and university professor Angiography and in the United Kingdom Interventions for 2019‑20. before moving to corporate Mahmud is professor education in 2005. In his of medicine at the new role, he will use his University of California, experience with artificial San Diego, and director of intelligence and cloud interventional cardiology DID YOU KNOW? computing to transform and the cardiovascular The first U of A fraternity began as a social club lifelong learning for the catheterization laboratory at called the Rocky Mountain Goat Society, formed in accounting profession. UCSD Medical Center. 1927 by young men working summer jobs in Banff. The university allowed a campus chapter because the fraternity had no secret oaths or rituals. ’85 Kelly Klapstein, BEd, ’88 Shana Wilson, BCom,

ILLUSTRATION BY WENTING LI author of “The Art of Brush wrote in with an update:

new trail spring 2019 43 }trails class notes

to postgraduate studies at the U of A. We successfully graduated with master’s degrees in 2010 — mine in earth and atmospheric sciences, Martin’s in physics. Feeling ready to “take the plunge” and 1990s apply our scientific skills, we emigrated to the U.K. and are now both working ’90 Mitch Panciuk, BA, was at the United Kingdom’s national weather service elected mayor of Belleville, in Exeter. I am a climate Ont., in October 2018 after scientist for international serving one term as a development and Martin Belleville city councillor. lovestory is a scientific manager Panciuk and his family for defence applications. moved to Belleville in 2001. We have welcomed two IN THE STARS beautiful daughters into ’08 Tamara Janes, BSc(Spec), ’10 MSc, wrote in our lives (Maddie, three to share quite the cosmic U of A love story years, and Lila, 16 months), as well as a gregarious cat I met my husband, the remaining few months named Whiskey. Martin Veasey, ’10 MSc, of the winter term getting It’s amazing to think during an astrophysics class to know each other and that, had we not met by in 2007. I was completing quickly fell in love. Sadly, chance during ASTRO my bachelor of science at the end of the academic 322, or had Martin chosen degree with a specialization term, Martin returned anywhere else in the world in astrophysics, and Martin to the U.K. to finish his to do his year abroad, we 2000s was doing a year abroad at degree while I remained in wouldn’t be where we are U of A during his degree at Edmonton to finish mine. today. I may not remember the University of Leeds. We After spending a exactly what was taught in ’06 Kailan Rubinoff, PhD, were first introduced at a year apart and travelling that particular class, but I study session where I was between Canada and don’t know where I would Aaron Allen and proud big too engrossed in my studies the U.K. as much as be without it!” brother Taliesin are delighted and apparently showed very possible, we finished our to welcome Teyrnon little interest in him! undergraduate degrees Submit your own love story Emil Allen-Rubinoff, who Thankfully, we spent and were both accepted at [email protected]. was born at Greensboro Women’s Hospital on Aug. 21, 2018. Rubinoff and Allen are associate professors of musicology at the University Publishers Association Scholarship, the University medieval philosophy and of North Carolina at Volunteer of the Year. of Cambridge’s most hopes to open the world of Greensboro. Mroczek has volunteered prestigious international medieval thought, a topic with Glass Buffalo, a literary postgraduate scholarship. often dismissed as arcane, to magazine that highlights Noël is pursuing a PhD in a larger audience. emerging writers at the University of Alberta, since 2014. She also sat on the AMPA board for more than DID YOU KNOW? two years and volunteers as In January 1970, a female social media co-ordinator undergrad was upbraided for The Local Good. She by the U of A’s dean of received the award at the women because her hair 2010s was too long and her skirt annual Alberta Magazines Conference in April. too short. That undergrad eventually chaired the ’12 Breanna Mroczek, sociology department. MA, was recently named ’18 Roxane Noël, MA,

the Alberta Magazine received a Gates Cambridge TOP ILLUSTRATION BY SCURFIELD; LYNN BOTTOM ILLUSTRATION BY WENTING LI

44 ualberta.ca/newtrail We all have a campus memory — whether it’s a personal moment or a shared experience that connects us all. Share your memory at uab.ca/classnotes. forevergreen&gold

Owen diagnosed a mood disorder and started me on a light medication that acted as a barometer of what I would need. Every session with him reminded me that I was in control of my treatment, that how I felt was real. Owen started to convince me that I had made the right decision to seek help. Eventually he had an idea to start me on a relatively new therapy. A risk, of course, but it was ultimately up to me. “Well,” I said, “isn’t living like this worse than any side- effect?” That night, I broke the seal on the first blister pack of a new drug. When I woke, I felt more conscious than ever before. There was no painful undercurrent of suicidal ideation, no body‑bind of lethargy, no dead-end restlessness. My mind felt strangely and wonderfully wide. By the time I made it back How I Learned to Ask for Help to Owen’s office, I felt like a person for the first time in my IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES TO FIND THE RIGHT COUNSELLOR. I’M GLAD I DIDN’T GIVE UP life. With his help I learned to make choices that weren’t No one ever told me that one myself off from every friend third reluctant visit to the rooted in self-hatred — choices day my greatest enemy might who tried to help. Finally, one campus clinic. I landed in a that could potentially make be my own biochemistry. day I skipped classes to wait room with a khaki-wearing, me feel something I had only There’s little preparation for in psychological intake. bike-riding psychiatrist who coveted: happiness. When the realization you may be The counsellor who reminded me of Owen Wilson, I graduated, I also left living with a mental illness. saw me consulted three the movie star. He casually Owen’s care but his lessons Since I was 16, my daily textbooks before giving inquired into the reason for remain — I still ask for help moods were marred by up without answers. I left my visit. when I need it, and I am no cycles of exuberant laughter, feeling like a lost cause. I “I think I’m bipolar,” I less of a person for doing so. unbearable sadness, hasty and would return a year later, blurted out. It was something In September 2017, the Government unhealthy all-nighters, and encouraged by a close friend. I’d only said out loud once of Alberta announced $1 million days of listless recuperation. My second psychologist before. in mental health funding for the Living with a mood disorder was stern and promising, “That sounds serious,” he U of A, which bolsters ongoing mental health programs that is a constant battle to but shortly after moved her replied, and then added: “What support students. If you or regulate these extremes. practice without warning. do you want to do about it?” someone you know needs help At university, this behaviour Again, I felt discarded. I had never been asked now, visit uab.ca/needhelp or exacerbated my stress Eventually, my mania anything like that. My call 780-492-4773. well into my second year. reached a new peak — risk- previous counsellors had My first visit to campus seeking, rapidly pulsing given up and I realized that a Nisha Patel, ’15 BCom, ’15 Cert(Leader), is an counselling services was behaviour that saw me part of me had always given Indo‑Canadian poet and the result of a spiralling wandering the back streets up with them. artist, and a recipient of the 2018 Edmonton Artists’ depression. As my latest mood of Whyte Avenue at 4 in the “I want to get better,” I said Trust Fund. You can find out more

ILLUSTRATION BY MARY HAASDYK swing became prolonged, I cut morning. This prompted my finally. He smiled. about her at nishapatel.ca.

new trail spring 2019 45 }trails class notes

greatgrads By Amie Filkow when jerry paschen wrote in to say that his wife, Betty, has a lot of passions, he wasn’t kidding. A farm girl from Condor, Alta., Betty (Jennings) Paschen, ’52 Dip(Ed), ’55 BEd, ’82 Dip(Ed), ’83 MEd, came to the U of A to become a teacher. She chose household economics as her teaching field and quickly proved to be plucky and resourceful. A house blueprint she created in class was so well done, Betty’s professor encouraged her to find an architect. So she did! IN THE NEWS Today Betty and Jerry still live in the house built from that design. The Paschens, who celebrated their 58th Trombonist Snags Top Music Prize anniversary in December, have had many adventures together Trombonist, composer and bandleader Audrey Ochoa, ’09 BEd, ’09 BMus, mountaineering, hostelling and was awarded the $10,000 Edmonton Music Prize in recognition of her organizing political movements latest album, Afterthought, and her contributions to the local arts scene. and sustainable energy Ochoa has toured the Latin-dance groove collection across Canada and initiatives. (Betty was the first the United States. Her win came from the most competitive year yet, with president of the Alberta Green Party.) In 1972 the couple took 28 artists and groups vying for the prize. –edmonton journal a six-week canoe trip from Fort McMurray to Inuvik with their three school-age kids. As Betty wrote in her published account of the family’s journey, “experience is our best WE THINK YOU’RE U OF A+ textbook.” The couple still loves to take walks through campus Two Presidents, and attend events, because, One U of A Connection they say, it fills their cup. “For Betty and me, the curiosity and The Society of Petroleum Engineers learning never ends,” says Jerry. International has U of A alumni serving as Editor’s note: We were saddened its outgoing and incoming presidents. Darcy Know of a grad (maybe it’s you!) who is making a to learn that Betty died shortly Spady, ’86 BSc(PetEng), will pass the torch difference in the community? Tell us about them! before New Trail went to press. to Shauna Noonan, ’93 BSc(PetEng), in Our condolences to the family. September. The society is one of the world’s We’ll send them an exclusive A+ pin as a thank you largest professional associations with for representing their alma mater in a positive way. 156,109 members in 154 countries. Do you know a grad you want to brag

about? Email [email protected]. TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY URYELLE DIMAILIG Learn more at uab.ca/HonRoll 46 ualberta.ca/newtrail WE THINK YOU’RE U OF A+

Know of a grad (maybe it’s you!) who is making a difference in the community? Tell us about them! We’ll send them an exclusive A+ pin as a thank you for representing their alma mater in a positive way.

Learn more at uab.ca/HonRoll }trails class notes

MEET YOUR This sweater is a NEW ALUMNI one-of-a-kind knit by PRESIDENT Raymond, herself! The new Alumni Association president begins her two-year term in June. We caught up with Heather Raymond, ’82 BEd, ’86 Dip(Ed), ’95 MEd, ’02 PhD, a retired teacher and principal, to find out what keeps her energized as a volunteer.

By Scott Rollans, ’82 BA

What do you like most about retirement? The pace. I can actually get up and read the paper and drink my tea before I go to my desk — which I never used to do.

That sounds nice. So what would make you say yes to a new volunteer gig like this one? I had been a passive alumni member, to be quite honest, but when I became part of Alumni Council, my commitment escalated. I saw the quality of activity and started to really understand what it was all about. Alumni Council allows you to take your best skills and apply them. The [Alumni Relations] office creates that environment — they’re building on the best skills their volunteers bring to the table.

You’ve worked with children with disabilities, communities living with poverty and recent immigrants. What draws you to advocate for marginalized people? Through my journey, I came to realize that I wanted to stand beside families who are marginalized. My first administrative position, at McCauley School, was one of the most exhilarating experiences I ever had. When I started at the school, we had no parental engagement. By the time I left, between myself and the principal, we were able to get 200 families to show up at events. It wasn’t that families didn’t care about their children before then; it was the way we invited them.

48 ualberta.ca/newtrail To learn more about the University of Alberta Alumni Association, visit ualberta.ca/alumni.

You were among the first administrators to send kids to U School, which connects students from socially vulnerable communities to the U of A. Why is U School important to you? So often we say to young people, “You should go to university,” but they have no experience base. Many students that live on Edmonton’s north side don’t even travel to the south side. Some of the kids at Norwood or McCauley didn’t know the university exists. And that persists today. U School provides kids with a concrete, lived experience of what university would look like. It’s touching the lives of a lot of children — and changing IN THE NEWS their outcomes. A lot of people hesitate National Nod for BioWare Founders to volunteer, especially if they can’t spare the time. Ray Muzyka, ’90 BMedSc, ’92 MD, (above, right) and Greg Zeschuk, ’90 How do you convince those BMedSc, ’92 MD, are among the 103 Canadians appointed to the Order of people they can still make Canada in December. Muzyka and Zeschuk were recognized for founding a difference? I think back to the video-game software company BioWare in 1995. The two are active my time at Norwood School in Edmonton’s business and non-profit community — Muzyka is the as a principal. Every offer was founding chair of the University of Alberta’s Venture Mentoring Service valuable. It could be someone and Zeschuk owns the local Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Co. and Biera giving me a basket full of gastropub. –cbc edmonton school supplies or it could be someone giving me $10,000. Each of them contributed. One of the things that drew me to Alumni Council, and keeps me committed, is the number of alumni we DID YOU KNOW? have. If each of us makes a In one of the odder research small contribution, what’s projects of the Second World War, the cumulative impact U of A engineers were involved in of that? It’s huge. Operation Habbakuk, an idea from an eccentric British professor to build immense warships out of ice. This interview has been

PHOTOS BY JOHN ULAN; ILLUSTRATION BY WENTING LI edited and condensed.

new trail spring 2019 49 }trails class notes

ALUMNI ADVICE

NEW FOOD LABELS WILL HELP YOU CHOOSE Clean up your grocery cart with these tips By Emily Senger

Sugar. Saturated fat. Sodium. These are the three bad guys of IN THE NEWS public health — meaning your health. Consuming too much of them increases your risk of Local Foodie Remembered diabetes, stroke, heart attack and even some cancers. You The late Gail Hall, ’85 BA, is hailed as one of Edmonton’s first foodies. Maps, already know this, but it can be Markets and Matzo Ball Soup: The inspiring life of Chef Gail Hall, written hard to track how much of the by restaurant reviewer Twyla Campbell and published by Hall’s husband, dangerous triad you’re getting. Knowing how to read Jon, spans Gail’s multi-decade career as a Red Seal chef, award-winning a nutrition label is a good caterer, entrepreneur, broadcaster, food writer, educator and international start — and that’s about to get culinary tour guide. –cbc edmonton easier, according to William Yan, ’82 BSc,’83 BSc(SpecCert), ’86 MSc, ’90 PhD. He is overseeing the nutrition label revamp as the director of the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences Food Directorate at Health Canada. By 2021 manufacturers New Provincial Judges will have to include new nutrition labels and ingredient Melanie Hayes-Richards, ’98 LLB, and Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay, ’87 BA, ’92 LLB, are two lists. Health Canada has also of Alberta’s three new judicial appointments to the provincial court. Hayes-Richards has proposed a front-of-package practised criminal law as a Crown prosecutor and as legal counsel for the Alberta Court of nutrition symbol to help you Appeal, and Arcand-Kootenay has practised for 25 years in family and Aboriginal law. quickly and easily identify

foods high in sugars, sodium or LEFT PHOTO BY LAUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY; RIGHT PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

50 ualberta.ca/newtrail The Alumni Association notes with sorrow ’51 Jay Dahl Salmon, the passing of the following graduates BA, ’54 LLB, of Calgary, (based on information received between AB, in September 2018 October 2018 and January 2019). ’51 Frederick Roy saturated fat. The new labels Schneider, BSc, are designed to help us choose ’53 DDS, of Vulcan, in a more deliberate way. AB, in May 2018 Here’s what you should ’51 William Slemko, know before you hit the grocery BSc(MiningEng), store: of Calgary, AB, in August 2018 1) Sodium ’51 Peter R. Young, BSc, “Canadians consume way ’68 BEd, of Edmonton, more sodium than they need In Memoriam AB, in December 2018 for healthy body function,” Yan ’52 Mary Macrae of Yellowknife, NT, ’49 Wilfred Ronald says. You need only 1,500 mg of Alloway (Tocher), in November 2018 Vernon, BSc(ElecEng), sodium from all food sources Dip(Nu), ’72 BScN, of Edmonton, AB, in over the course of a day. For 1940S of Edmonton, AB, in ’47 Jack Gus Peck, BSc, September 2018 perspective, one teaspoon ’40 Frances Alberta ’49 MD, in July 2018 September 2018 Woywitka (Gust), ’49 Stephen Hart Wood, of table salt has more than ’52 Philip Norman BA, of Edmonton, AB, ’48 Russell A. Dixon, BA, ’50 LLB, of Victoria, 2,300 mg of sodium. Too much Garrison, BSc, of in November 2018 BSc, ’51 LLB, of Calgary, BC, in August 2018 causes high blood pressure, AB, in December 2018 Beauharnois, QC, which can lead to heart ’42 Claudia Ada Bain in March 2018 disease and stroke. Look for (Barker), BA, of Burnaby, ’48 Gordon Allen Heck, BC, in November 2018 BSc, in September 2018 ’52 John Ross Higgin, the “% Daily Value” column and 1950S BSc, ’56 MD, of Calgary, ’48 Frederick MacEnko, choose foods with five per cent ’43 Doris Marie ’50 Norma Marion AB, in November 2018 BSc(ElecEng), of Calgary, or less in one serving. Jewell (Thompson), Bannerman AB, in November 2018 ’52 William Alfred BCom, of Red Deer, (Fledderjohn), AB, in October 2018 Johnson, BA, ’53 LLB, 2) Saturated fat ’48 Arthur Richard BSc(HEc), of Calgary, of Nanaimo, BC, in J. Stephenson, MSc, AB, in October 2018 A small amount of this is fine ’44 Elsie Margaret December 2018 Rimmer, BEd, in in September 2018 but overconsumption is linked ’50 Harvey Allen October 2018 ’52 Lois Lucile McGhee, to heart disease and stroke. ’48 Shirley Anne Buckmaster, BSc, BSc, ’60 BEd, of Red Deer, When comparing products, ’45 Margery McLean Ungard (Tournay), of Victoria, BC, in AB, in October 2018 November 2018 choose the one with as little Blayney (Frazer), BSc, BA, of Huntsville, ON, in February 2018 ’52 Boris A. Nahornick, saturated fat as possible, ’49 MD, of High River, ’50 Murray Charles AB, in September 2018 BSc, ’56 MD, of ideally five per cent or less daily ’48 Margaret Oddny Colwell, BSc, ’54 Drumheller, AB, in value. Saturated fats are found ’45 Annie Pauline Williams (Marlatt), MD, of Calgary, AB, September 2018 in meat, lard, palm oil and Hughes (Gould), BSc, Dip(Nu), ’49 Dip(Nu), ’50 in October 2018 BScN, in November 2018 ’52 Paul Alexander butter, but only in insignificant ’48 MD, of Burnaby, ’50 Frederick William M. BC, in October 2018 Puhach, BSc, ’53 amounts in canola, olive or ’49 Tillie Beamer, Dalby, BSc, in May 2018 MSc, of Kingston, Dip(Nu), of Lamont, sunflower oil. ’46 Allen Easter Dixon, ’50 James “Jim” ON, in May 2018 AB, in September 2018 BSc, ’48 MD, of High Frederick Hole, River, AB, in January 2018 ’53 John Lewis Loughlin, 3) Sugar ’49 Benjamin Alfred BSc(CivEng), ’05 BSc, ’57 DDS, in April 2018 LLD (Honorary), of “Sugar doesn’t directly lead to ’46 Rosemary Theresa Greenfield, BSc, of Calgary, AB, in Edmonton, AB, in ’54 Donald James a specific disease, but it does Lyons, BEd, of Calgary, AB, in October 2018 September 2018 November 2018 Alexander Cross, lead to empty calories,” Yan BCom, of Calgary, says. Empty calories factor ’46 Roger Norman ’49 August Klovan, ’50 Joseph Herbert AB, in October 2018 into obesity, which is linked Paton, BSc, of Penticton, BCom, of Nepean, Treleaven, MD, of Salem, OR, in October 2018 ’54 Louis Dombowsky, to diabetes and other chronic BC, in February 2018 ON, in March 2018 DDS, of Mill Village, diseases. Health Canada says ’46 Audrey Adele ’49 Morton Lionel Libin, ’50 Faye J.E. Watkins, NS, in October 2018 a well-rounded eating plan Tetarenko, Dip(Nu), ’83 BSc, ’51 MSc, of Encinitas, BCom, of Calgary, includes about 100 grams BEd, of Okotoks, AB, CA, in August 2018 AB, in January 2019 ’54 Gordon Kay Greene, of sugar per day (equalling in December 2018 BA, ’55 BEd, ’62 MA, ’49 Amelia Margaret ’51 Alfred James of Waterloo, ON, in about half a cup). To put this ’47 William Douglas Pal (Randle), BSc(HEc), Armstrong, BSc(Pharm), September 2018 in perspective, a can of cola Baines, BSc(EngPhys), of Victoria, BC, in of Edmonton, AB, in has 39 grams of sugar with no of Manotick, ON, September 2018 September 2018 ’54 Thora Lenore appreciable nutritional value. in August 2018 Kjosness (Bolstad), ’49 Bruce Allen Powe, ’51 David Layton Dip(Ed), in January 2019 Yan recommends that you get ’47 Keith Wilfred BA, ’51 MA, of Toronto, Barss, BSc, of Calgary, most of your sugars from fruit, Dixon, BSc(Pharm), ON, in November 2018 AB, in July 2018 ’54 Malcolm Ewen vegetables and unsweetened ’55 MD, of Victoria, BC, McLeod, BSc, in ’49 William Harold ’51 Heather Belle dairy products such as plain in December 2018 December 2018 Seager, BSc(ElecEng), Dowling (Singer), milk or yogurt. Check the sugar ’47 George James of Calgary, AB, in BA, in January 2019 ’54 Wayne Ewing Moore, content and avoid anything Gibson, BSc, ’49 MD, November 2018 BSc, ’59 MSc, of Calgary, with 15 per cent or more daily AB, in November 2018 value of sugar per serving.

new trail spring 2019 51 }trails in memoriam

’55 Glenda Jean Benson ’57 Charles J. Dibble, ’60 Arleen Marie ’64 Robert Maclean ’67 Peter Frederick ’69 Beverly Rachwalski, (Johnson), Dip(Ed), BEd, ’60 BSc, of Calgary, Nicholls (Parnett), Glasgow, MD, of Kostawich, BSc(CivEng), Dip(RM), ’79 BSc(OT), ’85 ’79 BEd, of Devon, AB, AB, in January 2018 Dip(RM), of Victoria, Spruce Grove, AB, of Brigadoon, MHSA, in March 2018 in September 2018 BC, in November 2018 in January 2019 Western Australia, ’57 John Hawrelko, BEd, in December 2018 ’69 Steve A. Wawrykow, ’55 John O. Cuthbertson, ’62 MEd, in January 2019 ’61 Ronald Alfred Lant, ’64 Kathryn Elizabeth BEd, of Nanaimo, BC, BCom, of Edmonton, BA, in September 2018 Hurlburt, BA, in ’67 Michael Peter Kuly, in January 2019 AB, in September 2018 ’57 Cynthia Louise November 2018 BA, ’70 BEd, of Edmonton, Kramser, Dip(Nu), ’61 George Laverty, AB, in November 2018 ’69 Josephine Marian ’55 James Andrew of Plantation, FL, BSc, of Victoria, ’64 Roger Allan More, Emmett (Wilson), BSc, Nicas, BSc, ’57 MD, in June 2018 BC, in June 2018 BSc(ChemEng), ’67 Brenda D. ’70 MD, of Canmore, of Edmonton, AB, in of London, ON, in Wroot, Dip(Nu), AB, in August 2018 December 2018 ’57 Donald Michael ’61 Mary Alice Lorraine October 2018 ’72 Cert(AdvObst), Lemiski, DDS, of Vernon, Stever (Likuski), BEd, of Victoria, BC, in ’69 Carl Michael ’55 Craig Wilbur AB, in November 2018 in October 2018 ’64 Margaret Ellen October 2018 Young, BSc(ElecEng), Norstrom, MD, of Pedersen, Dip(RM), of Edmonton, AB, Kerrville, TX, in ’58 Donald Varcoe ’61 Wilma Marie Losing, of Moose Lake, ’68 Catherine H. Black in June 2018 September 2018 Currie, BSc, ’69 MSc, BSc(HEc), in April 2018 AB, in July 2018 (Herbut), BPE, of Orem, in October 2018 UT, in January 2019 ’55 Raymond Keith ’61 Harry Edward ’65 Verna Jean Covlin, Pringle, BSc(Pharm), ’58 Douglas Edward Ripley, BSc(PetEng), BEd, of Edmonton, ’68 Alvin George Longley, BSc(CivEng), ’67 MSc, of Calgary, AB, 1970S of Lake Worth, FL, AB, in October 2018 Gottschling, DDS, in December 2018 in January 2018 in September 2018 of Shuswap Lake, ’70 Keith Washington ’65 Sam S. Dookie, Currie, MEng, of ’58 Mary-Lou Louise ’62 Abram G. Konrad, BC, in May 2018 ’55 Donald James Taylor, BEd, ’72 Dip(Ed), in Edmonton, AB, in Rose (Duncan), BEd, MEd, of Edmonton, AB, BCom, in December 2018 November 2018 ’68 William Crichton August 2018 of Red Deer, AB, in in November 2018 Jackson, BSc, ’72 ’55 John Frederick September 2018 ’65 Morne Pier ’70 Robert Ralph ’62 Robert Glen MSc, of Victoria, BC, Whitworth, BCom, Duplessis, PhD, Morrison, BSc(CivEng), ’59 Wallace Harold Lammie, BSc(ElecEng), in October 2018 of Canmore, AB, in of Calgary, AB, in of Edmonton, AB, Dibble, BSc, of Calgary, of Edmonton, AB, in November 2018 October 2018 ’68 Beverley Lois Lewis, in June 2018 AB, in February 2018 September 2018 BA, ’76 BEd, ’79 LLB, ’56 Cecil Douglas ’65 Robert Piercy ’70 Jean Bouma Ruth, ’59 Verne Charles ’62 John Leniuk, in November 2018 Burton, BSc(CivEng), Plaxton, MEd, ’69 PhD, PhD, of Edmonton, Jones, BSc(CivEng), BEd, of Calgary, AB, of Edmonton, AB, in in December 2018 ’68 Anne Orlecky, in January 2019 December 2018 ’62 MSc, of Edmonton, in January 2019 BEd, in January 2019 AB, in July 2018 ’65 Masa Yoneda, BA, ’70 Kenneth James ’62 Alexander Oleg ’56 Peter Mario Caffaro, of Edmonton, AB, in ’68 Gene Zwozdesky, BA, Tyler, BA(Hons), ’79 ’59 Joanne Donna Mycyk, BSc, of Salt BA, ’57 LLB, of Edmonton, November 2018 ’76 BEd, of Edmonton, MA, of Surrey, BC, in King (McRae), BSc, Spring Island, BC, AB, in November 2018 AB, in January 2019 September 2018 of Winnipeg, MB, in February 2018 ’66 Richmond Man- ’56 Gwendolyn in June 2018 Ching Cheng, DDS, ’69 Gordon Charles ’71 Patrick Joseph ’63 Arthur Aubrey Joan Hnatiuk, BEd, of West Vancouver, Dunn, BSc(MechEng), Adams, BSc, of ’59 Philip “Bud” Keith Brown, MSc, in of Edmonton, AB, BC, in July 2018 of Blairmore, AB, in Edmonton, AB, Francis McEwen, November 2018 in August 2018 September 2018 in July 2018 BSc(ElecEng), in ’66 Milton Albert ’63 Bruce T. Dippie, ’56 Donald Herbert November 2018 Halvarson, BEd, ’67 ’69 Lionel John Gordon ’71 Gordon Wayne BSc(ElecEng), ’66 Laverty, BSc(Ag), ’61 MEd, in January 2019 Jago, BPE, ’71 BEd, English, MSc, of ’59 Donald Cameron MSc, of Kirkland, WA, MSc, in October 2018 in August 2018 Edmonton, AB, in Munro, BPE, ’62 BEd, ’66 in October 2018 ’66 Frank Martin Vas, December 2018 ’56 Laura Doreen Dip(Ed), in October 2018 BSc(Ag), ’69 MSc, of Red ’69 Patricia Edith Larsen, ’63 Harold Melvin McNaughton Deer, AB, in October 2018 BEd, in January 2019 ’71 Donald Samuel ’59 Ellen Louise Fisher, BEd, ’67 (Lancaster), BEd, Rencz, BEd, ’75 MEd, Paulsen (Bayly), Dip(Ed), in April 2018 ’67 Gary Stuart ’69 Judy Thelma of Red Deer, AB, in of Winnipeg, MB, BSc, of Coquitlam, Boon, BSc(MechEng), McDanal (Oman), MD, November 2018 in October 2018 BC, in May 2018 ’63 Douglas N. of Calgary, AB, in of Birmingham, AL, Youngstrom, BSc, ’56 Orville Murray January 2019 in December 2018 ’71 Sophie Sadowsky, ’59 Robert Kazuo of Penticton, BC, Wenstob, BPE, ’59 BDiv, BEd, of Edmonton, Teshima, BSc(EngPhys), in June 2018 ’67 Robin Ernest ’69 Gordon Joseph of Swan River, MB, AB, in July 2018 ’60 MSc, in August 2018 Chemago, BSc, ’69 McLeod, BSc(MechEng), in December 2018 ’64 Boris Fyk, BPE, BEd, of Port Alice, BC, of Edmonton, AB, ’71 Gordon Theodore ’69 BEd, of Kelowna, ’57 Annafred Marion in September 2018 in July 2018 Schaus, Dip(Ed), in BC, in October 2018 Bell (Fraser), Dip(Nu), December 2018 ’67 Sidney Allan ’69 Donald John of Vernon, BC, in 1960S ’64 Brian Adair Gurevitch, BCom, Nazimek, BSc, ’70 ’71 Andrew Woudstra, December 2018 Glanfield, BSc, ’70 BEd, of ’60 Kathleen Annis Dier, of Barrhead, AB, in DDS, of Camrose, BA, ’73 BCom, in Enderby, BC, in May 2018 BSc(Nu), of Edmonton, September 2018 AB, in June 2018 December 2018 AB, in October 2018

52 ualberta.ca/newtrail ’72 Donna Cheryl ’74 Lois Reeder ’76 Patricia Jean Rigby, of Calgary, AB, in ’90 John Elgin Yule, Agar (Fearey), BEd, McLatchie, BA, of Dip(RM), in October 2018 October 2018 MSc, of Edmonton, of Cold Lake, AB, in Quarryville, PA, AB, in January 2019 2010S September 2018 in August 2018 ’76 Gloria White (Yee), ’82 Dean David Bell, BSc(Pharm), of Calgary, BMedSc, ’84 MD, in ’91 Nelson Chi Choy, ’11 Karen Lynn ’72 Gail Marie Alty ’74 Susan Dell Muirhead AB, in August 2018 December 2017 BSc(Pharm), of Cryderman, BEd, in (Kennedy), BA, of (Routly), Dip(RM), ’77 Edmonton, AB, in September 2018 ’77 John Gustave Frank, ’82 Terrance Harry East Sooke, BC, in BSc(PT), of Nanaimo, November 2018 ’13 Andrew Raymond December 2018 BC, in January 2019 BSc(Forest), of Robb, Gibson, MA, ’98 PhD, AB, in January 2019 of St. Albert, AB, ’91 Terry Alan Stagg, Tang, BMedSc, ’14 ’72 Annette Eileen ’74 Patricia Shirley in August 2018 BSc(MechEng), MD, of Calgary, AB, Anderson, BA, of Calgary, Parnell, BLS, of ’78 Leigh Francis Gower, in July 2018 in October 2018 BSc, in October 2018 ’82 Neil Gerard Kutyn, AB, in August 2018 Saskatoon, SK, in ’18 Melissa Jolynn October 2018 BSc, in January 2019 ’94 Elaine Marie ’72 Dennis ’78 John Peter Harms, Rhyason, BEd, of Meulenbelt, BEd, Edward Eshpeter, ’74 Lawrence J. BSc(Ag), ’84 MBA, ’83 Norma Annesia Hinton, AB, in July 2018 in January 2019 BSc(ChemEng), Worobetz, BSc, of in January 2019 Barnett, BSc(Nu), ’93 Dip(Ed), in April 2018 ’95 Ryan Victor Bischoff, of Calgary, AB, in Kelowna, BC, in ’78 Paul Antelaus September 2018 December 2018 BSc(MechEng), of Lafortune, BEd, ’83 Gordon Grant Calgary, AB, in July 2018 ’72 Wayne Harvey ’75 Liesbeth Bakker, of Edmonton, AB, Clover, MVA, of Victoria, Flanagan, BSc(Med), ’74 BSc, in November 2018 in October 2018 BC, in October 2018 ’95 James Roy Hunter, MD, in February 2018 BA, of Camrose, AB, ’75 Bruce Gary Frankish, ’78 Andrew Borys ’83 Lorie Ann Kuchera in October 2018 ’72 Joan Mary BSc, of Edmonton, Makuch, BA(Hons), ’83 (Aucoin), BEd, in MacNeil, BSc(Nu), AB, in October 2018 MA, in January 2019 October 2018 ’95 Elaine Chris in December 2018 Warwick, BEd, of ’75 Ottmar Friedrich ’78 Joanne Marie ’84 Shawna Dee Low St. Albert, AB, in ’72 Claudette Marie Hoch, BSc(ElecEng), ’76 Overguard (Smith), (Luce), BSc(ChemEng), September 2018 Mastrovito, BSc(Pharm), MBA, of Calgary, AB, Dip(Nu), of Sundre, of Ponoka, AB, in in December 2018 in September 2018 AB, in July 2018 January 2019 ’96 Robert Murdoch Laurie, BSc(Spec), ’72 David Michael ’75 John Derek ’79 Victoria Ellen ’84 Douglas Kurt in August 2018 Nonay, BSc(MechEng), Hope, BA(Spec), in Ballard, BEd, of Monsma, BEd, of in December 2018 September 2018 Grande Prairie, AB, Edmonton, AB, in ’98 Martin Mudryk, in February 2018 October 2018 BSc(Forest), ’15 MBA, ’72 Montgomery Wild, ’75 Patricia Elizabeth of Fort Saskatchewan, LLB, of Innisfail, AB, Knoll, BEd, of Edmonton, ’79 Karl Heinz Hartig, ’86 Desmond Haldane AB, in November 2018 in November 2018 AB, in January 2019 BEd, in September 2018 Brown, PhD, in December 2018 ’73 Edith Lane Lenko, ’75 Theresa Marie ’79 Gerald William BEd, of Calgary, AB, Pond, BEd, ’82 Dip(Ed), Sack, BSc(ElecEng), ’87 Roberta Marie of Edmonton, AB, Stinson, BSc(HEc), 2000S in January 2019 of Edmonton, in August 2018 in May 2018 of Albany, OR, in ’03 Rhea Rochelle ’73 Shirley Alice Lewis, December 2018 Pollosco (Par), BA, ’79 Lorna Mae BA, in December 2018 ’76 Gerald Byron, BEd, in January 2018 of Edmonton, AB, in Stutchbury, BEd, ’88 Jacqueline Marie ’74 David Henry Edey, November 2018 of Winterhaven, CA, Breault, BCom, ’00 MBA, ’06 Tshitende Kasongo, BA(Hons), of Edmonoton, in October 2018 of Edmonton, AB, in PhD, of Edmonton, AB, in January 2019 ’76 Richard Neil September 2018 AB, in February 2018 Fedorak, BMedSc, ’78 ’74 G. Bruce Hay, BCom, MD, of Edmonton, AB, ’88 Massimo V. Rossetti, ’06 David Matthew of Edmonton, AB, in in November 2018 1980S BSc(Ag), of Edmonton, Semeniuk, BSc(Spec), December 2018 AB, in October 2018 in January 2019 ’76 Sharon Lorraine ’80 Maria Teresa ’74 Ross George Jones, BSc(HEc), of Zappone, BA, in May 2018 ’08 Shane Dermot Roche, Kobayashi, BSc(Spec), BCom, of Medicine Hat, Edmonton, AB, in ’81 William Francis ’77 MBA, of Calgary, November 2018 1990S AB, in February 2018 AB, in October 2018 Bauer, MBA, of Calgary, ’76 Cheryl Maureen AB, in May 2018 ’90 William Cleveland ’09 Sara Elizabeth ’74 Catherine Anne Mills, MA, in Nielsen, BEd, in Knebel, BCom, of ’81 John Peter Caldwell, Main-Freeman, BA, ’88 November 2018 December 2018 If you’ve lost a loved Edmonton, AB, in MSc, of Almonte, ON, MSc, in September 2018 one who is a University October 2018 in September 2018 ’90 Katherine Gay of Alberta alumnus, ’74 Rudolph Gerald Anne Pisesky, BSc, ’97 ’76 Cassie Kulmatycki, contact alumni records Mazer, BEd, of St. Albert, ’81 Julie Anne Ince BSc(Nu), of Forrestville, BEd, of Red Deer, AB, at [email protected], AB, in December 2018 (Pfeiffer), BEd, CA, in January 2019 in November 2018 780-492-3471 or 1-866-492-7516.

new trail spring 2019 53 }trails

attend / volunteer / learn / benefit thehub DON’T MISS OUT ON …

SPEAKER’S CORNER Late Roman ceramic oil lamp FAMILY EVENTS from Carthage, Reconnect with your alma mater FOUR TIPS TO North Africa and give the kids a fun day out! (5th‑6th century) Designed with little ones in UNCOVER THE mind, family events create a fun and educational experience for MYSTERIES OF children. Your kids can be creative with fine arts students or get out and get dirty at the U of A Botanic ANCIENT ROME Gardens. Check out activities By Carissa Halton like this plus more at ualberta.ca/alumni/events It’s hard to imagine your Ikea DON’T MISS OUT Poäng chair as a valuable Keep current on research object. Ancient upcoming alumni Romans might have been activities, discounts and perks with Alumni similarly stunned by our Insider. Watch for curiosity about their oil it in your inbox lamps and water jugs. Yet the every month. most mundane artifacts can provide information about people of the generosity of the material or the societies they come from. emperors and politicians who construction — in Jeremy Rossiter, ’77 MA, ’86 paid for their entertainment. order to understand PhD, a professor of history and At the same time, it cultivated the technological classics, has spent decades loyalty to the regime, he says. advancements of the travelling from Turkey to ancient world. Tunisia to study the material DON’T BLUSH: Though culture of antiquity. While few scholars disagree about the SLOW DOWN: Don’t skip over of us will ever have the chance intention of the erotica (images the signs, says Rossiter, which to unearth a gold coin from of fertility or meant to enhance explain how (for example) @aswalli: ancient ruins, we can access intimacy?), these scenes were a rhinoceros ended up on Enjoying watching these pieces in museums all featured in everything from a coin. (After ordering the @BearsandPandas over the globe. murals in private homes to transport of exotic animals vs. Dinos V-Ball To get the most out of your decoration on functional items from Africa for the Colosseum’s today with my fellow next museum visit, Rossiter like lamps. opening celebration, the @UAlbertaAlumni - offers these tips: Roman emperor stamped the Pandas take first set 25-21! PLAINWARE IS ANYTHING animals on commemorative ART IS POLITICAL: Look BUT: The Roman equivalent of coins to remind people al-karim walli, carefully at the way the Corelle dishes or Tupperware, of his generosity.) ’96 bsc(compeng) Romans decorated their these were the most frequently homes and household objects. used objects in daily life. Rossiter is one of many You might see animal fights, Archeologists like Rossiter speakers to share expertise at gladiators and chariot races. study how everyday objects alumni events. Visit ualberta. This served in part to remind change over time — in form, ca/alumni/events. EVENT WISDOM “What do you do for work? Where did you go to school? Have you Block A sweaters given out to ever used the First-Time recognize the contribution of 98 female athletes who played Home Buyers’ plan?” Volunteer mentors helping to empower in U of A varsity sports U of A entrepreneurs through the prior to 1980 but were not Really good first-date questions, Venture Mentoring Service. ualberta. awarded sweaters. (The according to Bridget Casey, ’10 BSc, ca/alumni/career-support/venture- men were.) ualberta.ca/ founder and CEO of Money After mentoring-service athletics/alumni/ Graduation, a financial literacy website 150 that empowers 20- and 30-somethings to better manage their finances. The Be Social @UAlbertaAlumni @UAlbertaAlumni @UAlbertaAlumni millennial finance expert spoke at a workshop for recent grads in Edmonton.

54 ualberta.ca/newtrail Natasha Danha is a second year Science student and scholarship recipient

Paying it forward with a gift of life insurance

Former international student Dilip Kembhavi and his wife Alaka wanted to give back to the community that gave them so much.

By arranging a gift of life insurance to the university, the Kembhavis will help more students than they ever imagined possible. “Donating life insurance was appealing — To learn how you can make a difference by giving a gift providing good tax benefits while allowing us to create a substantial impact in the future.” of life insurance, please contact us: Donors Dilip Kembhavi, ‘74 MEng, ’78 MBA, and his wife, Alaka. 780-492-2616 | [email protected] | uab.ca/LifeIns We want to hear from you! Tell us about your favourite summer job for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue. Email [email protected]. smalltalk

The One That Got Away As students, we had endless topics at our fingertips and yet sometimes graduated without taking That One Class. But take heart; as Meg Dea Vail, ’81 BA, says, “It’s never too late!” Find more or share your thoughts at facebook.com/UAlbertaAlumni.

I wanted to take the Anatomy 403 lecture SO bad, but I knew that it was a really difficult course and didn’t want to have my GPA suffer when I was was really grumpy at being forced to take applying to a professional program. an art history class during my after-degree. –Jamie Hudson, ’16 BSc(SpecCert), on Facebook II already had a whole degree I wasn’t “using,” so I resented having to take another I wish I had taken more French classes. Years class I perceived as irrelevant. Of course, now later, my daughter attended a French school in I realize that all education is worthwhile and Montreal. At a parent-teacher interview, we were told to speak more French at home. (We were totally all my university experiences contribute to English-speaking.) I tried to follow that advice my career. Today I would absolutely love to but my daughter said, “Mom, your accent is so learn from an expert about all the beautiful terrible.” So I stopped trying. My daughter, however, spoke French so well she got a job with the federal art in the world! I really regret not having a government in Edmonton. better attitude toward that class. –Joyce Mattson Cutts, ’53 Dip(Ed), ’54 BPE –Leanne Garon Thompson, ’01 BSc, ’03 BEd, on Facebook

I wish I had taken more A symbolic Music appreciation. criminology courses. I I can recognize Mozart logic class in took one and loved it. As the philosophy and Bach sometimes, a high school principal, it but I wish I knew more! department. I’m a might have come in handy. math and science –Meg Dea Vail, ’81 BA, –Lisa Hilsenteger, ’88 BEd, on Facebook on Facebook teacher and there There was an Irish literature are lots of times course I thought would have I think it would been very interesting, but it be good to use More history! Aboriginal history. was offered at 8 a.m. At the with students. It –Carol Watson, ’BA(RecAdmin), ’00 MA was always on my time, sleeping in seemed “if I have room next better than waking up for semester” list. an 8 a.m. class, but I wish I I wish I had taken something other than Fortran as a computer class. Pretty much anything else would be more useful today. –Jeff Suess, ’94 BEd, ’05 MEd, hadn’t been so lazy! on Facebook –Adam Snider, ’05 BA, on Facebook –Deanne Whitten Hislop, ’82 BA, via Facebook

I’m into genealogy now, so I wish I’d had the time to take a history class. –Jill Hankewich, ’89 BSc(Pharm), on Facebook SIMARD RÉMY BY ILLUSTRATIONS

56 ualberta.ca/newtrail Not all surprises are good ones.

Especially the ones that you aren’t financially prepared for – like a root canal, an accident that prevents you from working, or if the unthinkable happens and a loved one is suddenly no longer there. That’s why there’s Alumni Insurance.

They can help protect you against life-changing events that can happen at any stage of your life. Choose from Health & Dental, Term Life, Major Accident Protection, Income Protection and more. With Alumni Insurance Plans, affordable rates and financial security are a piece of cake.

Get a quote today. 1-888-913-6333 or Manulife.com/uAlberta

Underwri en by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design, and Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its a liates under licence. ©2018 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Manulife, PO Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8. Conditions, Limitations, Exclusions may apply. See policy for full details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Visit Manulife.com/accessibility for more information. PM40112326 syncrude.ca Learn more at Learn more the landscape, we’ve In our quest to rebuild with plants and wildlife. engaged the best minds to 62 football fi elds large, fi lled fi elds large, fi 62 football reclaimed a former mine site. a former reclaimed from across North America, has across from understand how natural systems systems natural how understand work and what they need to thrive. and what they work Syncrude, together with academics We now have a success story that’s a success story that’s have now We We think of We show & tell. show as a worthy as a worthy Sandhill Fen The Syncrude Project is a joint venture undertaking among Imperial Oil Resources Limited; CNOOC Oil Sands Canada; Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership; and Suncor Energy Inc. and Suncor Energy Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership; Limited; CNOOC Oil Sands Canada; undertaking among Imperial Oil Resources is a joint venture Project The Syncrude Inc.). liates of Suncor Energy a owned both wholly Partnership, Ventures #1 and Suncor Energy Oil Sands Partnership Canadian held by (with the Suncor interest