TORONTO, March 10, 2004 -- York University helped to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) today with a special lecture by NSERC President Tom Brzustowski.
Brzustowski, who also recognized 39 veteran York NSERC recipients, outlined the council’s success over the past quarter century and its vision for the future.
The council has supported many York professors, students (including undergraduate and graduate) and postdoctoral fellows during its history. The 39 York faculty members being recognized for important research achievements have contributed to the sum total of human knowledge and the advancement of the economic and social well-being of Canadians over the 25 years of NSERC’s existence.
Last year alone NSERC provided over 55 York researchers more than $5.5 million in grants for projects such as: molecular evolution of nucleoside transporters; the deployment of visual attention to emotionally expressive faces; studies of the chemistry of the atmosphere using analytical spectroscopy; and voice interface for wireless personal hand-held devices.
“York is a major beneficiary of NSERC’s research programs and funding,” said Stan Shapson, York University Vice-President, Research & Innovation. “We congratulate both NSERC as it celebrates it 25th year and our world-class NSERC research winners. We look forward to York’s ongoing and significant role in NSERC’s continued success.”
York is home to some of the world’s most innovative science and engineering researchers. The York faculty members recognized by NSERC for 25 years of research achievements are:
Keith Aldridge (earth and atmospheric science), Eshrat Arjomandi (computer science), Diethard Bohme (physical chemistry), Robert Burns (mathematics and stats), Brian Colman (biology), Wade Cook (management science), Barrie Coukell (biology), Jurij Darewych (physics), Brock Fenton (biology), Arthur Forer (biology), Helen Freedhoff (physics), Michael Friendly (psychology), Brent Heath (biology), John Heddle (biology), Alan Hill (geography), Alan Hopkinson (chemistry), Ian Howard (psychology and biology), Kimmo Innanen (physics and astronomy), James Laframboise (physics and astronomy), Edward Lee-Ruff (chemistry), Barry Lever (chemistry), Clifford Leznoff (chemistry), John McConnell (earth and atmospheric science), John Miller (physics and astronomy), Peter Moens (biology), Martin Muldoon (mathematics and stats), Ralph Nicholls (physics and astronomy), Hiroshi Ono (psychology), Ron Pearlman (biology), Joan Wick Pelletier (mathematics and stats), Robert Prince (physics and astronomy), David Regan (psychology and biology), Saber Saleuddin (biology), Gordon Shepherd (earth and atmospheric science), Douglas Smylie (earth and atmospheric science), Allan Stauffer (physics and astronomy), Martin Steinbach (psychology and biology), Rod Webb (biology) and Frances Wilkinson (psychology).
York has a long and distinguished history of pioneering NSERC-supported research. Examples include Martin Steinbach’s groundbreaking contribution to vision research in Canada. Human eye movement control is Steinbech’s specialty, specifically how the brain stays informed about which way the eye is moving. His research is particularly relevant to patients with eye-muscle conditions and baby boomers who are losing their sight due to age-related, degenerative conditions.
Seven years ago, York researchers Kim Innanen (with Paul Wiegert) made the discovery that Canada was in the trajectory for asteroid 3753 Cruithne.
And David Regan, a professor of psychology and biology, was the first in the world to demonstrate how the brain computes the direction of approaching objects that underlie collision avoidance on the highway. He has also played a critical role in the development of instrumentation for cataract surgery.
Further information on innovative research at York is located at http://www.research.yorku.ca/home/index.html.
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For more information, please contact:
Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, ext. 22086
YU/039/04
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