June 5, 2008 Vol. 44 No. 18 The University of Western Ontario’s newspaper of record www.westernnews.ca PM 41195534 ‘Cue THE insanity’ VOLUNTEERING NEW FACULTY Student and accessibility advocate Jeff Preston is Family Medicine professor Evelyn A one-time freelance musician is cutting a wide swath across Ontario in his wheelchair Vingilis works to inspire young girls playing a different tune these days march from London to Ottawa. We checked out his about the excitement of science. as a corporate law professor. entertaining blog. Page 5 Page 7 Page 14 Mining a new generation No ticket? Watch convocation live on net of economic geologists Visitors to Western’s website will have the opportunity to access live and on-demand broadcasts of this spring’s convoca- tion ceremonies. B Y PAUL MAYNE Live video broadcasts will be accessible from a link on Wes- tern’s main page – www.uwo.ca. ith a worldwide shortage Ceremonies will be broadcast in their entirety including of economic geologists opening remarks, honorary degree recipient’s address and the Wand growing demand for bestowing of degrees. A complete schedule of convocation cere- natural resources, the Earth Sci- monies with honorary degree recipients can be found below: ences department is embarking on Monday, June 9 - 10 a.m. – a multi-million dollar initiative to CBC broadcaster Peter Mansbridge become the premier national insti- tution for graduating entrepreneur- Monday, June 9 - 3:30 p.m. – ial geologist-explorers. International development promoter Paul Polak The ambitious $41.7-million ini- Tuesday, June 10 - 10 a.m. – tiative, to which the university has Sports medicine pioneer Peter Fowler committed $23.1 million, will cre- Tuesday, June 10 - 3:30 p.m. – ate a demand for new academic Lawyer and community builder Angus McKenzie and research positions, new labo- Wednesday, June 11 - 10 a.m. – ratory space and further building Public policy expert Anne Golden upgrades, and drive new courses and field school expansions over the Wednesday, June 11 - 3:30 p.m. – next six years. Cardiac surgeon Allan Lansing The remaining $18.6 million will Thursday, June 12 - 10 a.m. – be raised through donations from Aboriginal artist Daphne Odjig industry and partners. Thursday, June 12 - 3:30 p.m. – Dean of Science David Wardlaw Distinguished scientist Malcolm Chisholm says he is thrilled to be part of the largest fundraising endeavour and Friday, June 13 - 10 a.m. – departmental transformation in his Social justice advocate Glenda Simms academic career. Friday, June 13 - 3:30 p.m. – “The goal is to enhance signifi- ‘Common Law’ expert Sir David Williams cantly economic geology education Those unable to catch the live broadcast will still be able to and research at Western, and to access on-demand video broadcasts of the honorary degree graduate a new generation of eco- recipients’ addresses. Links to the on-demand broadcasts will nomic geologists,” he says. be included in coverage of the events posted on Western News’ “Western should become the des- web pages. tination of choice in Canada for Keep an eye on the Western main page or the Western News undergraduate and graduate stu- main page (communications.uwo.ca/com/) for coverage of dents pursuing studies in this area, the ceremonies and links to the broadcasts. On-demand video for those seeking academic and broadcasts will remain available for viewing for one month research appointments in economic proceeding convocation week. geology, and for industry in terms Visitors who are unable to view video can access audio of recruitment of new employees, podcasts of the honorary degree recipients’ addresses on the collaborative research, for consul- Western main page and in the Convocation Weblog (atwestern. tations on mineral deposit geology typepad.com/convocation_addresses/). and petroleum geology, and for ana- Visit the Convocation Addresses Weblog to listen to addresses lytical services.” from past convocation ceremonies, subscribe to the Convocation Given the department’s existing feed and post comments or feedback about the ceremonies. strengths, priorities include ensur- ing it has the people, space, courses, and partnerships with industry, other institutions and government to graduate a new generation of Convocation coverage inside economic geologists. Phase one of the Initiative to Photo courtesy of Earth Sciences Pumped about pomp – meet the Convocation Brass. Page 9 Enhance Mineral Deposit Studies A $41.7-million initiative would remake the Earth Sciences department as the The story behind four extraordinary graduates. Pages 9-11 and Professional Development will go-to institution in Canada for the next generation of economic geologists. Outgoing Chancellor Arthur Labatt on his favourite duty. Page 12 Part of the plan calls for expanding field school opportunities, illustrated Continued on page 2 here. INSIDE: Academe 19 | Careers 18 | Classifieds 20 | Coming Events 19 | Letters to the Editor 5 | Student Services 18 2 JUNE 5, 2008 WESTERN NEWS Industry partnership key to national leadership Continued from page 1 initiative we will be able to add the initiative,” says Wardlaw. the additional people needed to As the initiative develops over include the appointment of an provide an exceptional command the next few years he anticipates What’s being planned Industrial Visiting Professor of all aspects of mineral deposits being in a position to form shared in Economic Geology/Mineral education – with students and ventures – such as field schools, Staffing Deposit Geology this fall and a their classroom, field-based and selected grad courses, and a Chair in Economic Geology by professional education top-of- research network – with other Chair in Economic Geology: Appointed by July 1, 2009, this leadership position will be July 2009. Professor Emeritus mind and as a principal focus,” universities and having programs designed to attract an established researcher and educator from academia, industry, or Bob Hodder will manage the proj- adds Longstaffe. in economic geology in Ontario government. ect. A number of pieces are needed and possibly in other provinces. Industrial Visiting Professor in Economic Geology/Mineral Deposit Geology: Appoint- “Faculty, funding, and facili- to complete the makeover, but a “Industry is highly motivated ed by Sept. 1, 2008, incumbents to this position will teach special topics essential to new ties are now aligned in a plan partnership with industry is a key because it is facing an imminent graduates, such as recent development in metallogeny, exploration geophysics and the and a will for Western’s Depart- to the program’s success. workforce crisis as an aging demands of exploration management and politically sensitive issues. ment of Earth Sciences to school “The support of industry is workforce retires and the recent NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Petroleum Geology: It is hoped industrial spon- future generations of geoscien- crucial and is where we are con- and current number of geology sors will help establish this chair. tists in qualitative and quanti- centrating our initial efforts in grads in Canada is far from suf- Joint Faculty Appointment Earth Sciences and Surface Science Western: A joint tative knowledge of the Earth, promotion of, and fundraising for, ficient to provide needed replace- faculty appointment will be established for the 2008-09 academic year to foster ties with how to research, learn and solve ments,” adds Wardlaw. industry partners. problems that bridge science, the “What positions Western so Postdoctoral Fellow: The department will establish an open-competition postdoctoral economy, and indeed the sustain- well in all of this is a large cohort fellow position in economic geology. ability of our species,” says Hod- of highly motivated and com- Adjunct Research Scientist: The department will forge closer ties with adjunct research der. “How could I not be enthusi- mitted economic geology grads scientist Dr. Allan Pratt of CANMET and NRC. astic and want to be involved?” who have been very successful in Research Associate: The department will hire a research associate to manage the Hodder adds it is the intent of industry and see the roots of their microprobe facility, instruct students and provide research support. the department to welcome new success in the student experience students in the front door, give and education in economic geol- Technical Staff Position: This full-time position will support operations in the thin sec- tion lab and perform curatorial duties for the substantial departmental collections. them four years on a steep per- ogy at Western.” sonalized learning curve of basic One such graduate is Keith Bar- Student Recruitment and Development Position: This part-time position will assist knowledge and skill development ron, who regards his time spent with internship placements, post-graduation employment, propel fundraising activities and engage alumni in support of the Initiative. - complete with internship and at Western to be his “geological summer employment possibili- finishing school.” University commitment $700,000 ties - and see them on to full-time As founder of the U3O8 Corp., Fundraising goal $5,650,000 employment as interested alumni a Canadian junior mineral com- with whom we keep in touch. pany focused on uranium explo- Total $6,350,000 “It does not hurt that there is Hodder ration in Guyana, South America, a great shortage of geoscientists Barron got the ball rolling on this now and in the foreseeable future, initiative with a $1.2-million con- New spaces, facilities, industry partnerships and that profitable employment tribution. awaits the graduate,” he says. He believes the university is on Continued growth of the Faculty of Science demonstrates the commitment to providing “The word is out, and needs to be the cusp of Earth Sciences resur- state-of-the-art environments to support the best and brightest faculty and students. The continually repeated, that ‘we are gence in educating, fostering and following facilities will support a new generation of students: there for you’.