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Lately our department researchers have been making the news.

Today,  Ralph Martin was quoted in a Globe and Mail article.  In it, Ralph commented on the growing market for locally produced food and branded farm products.

Liz Lee, Barry Shelp and Andrew Burt were featured in the University's Alumni magazine Portico.  The article details their work on creating a new strain of corn containing the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.  These two antioxidants have been found to beneficial in fighting macular degeneration - a progressive eye disease found in elderly people.

Clarence Swanton, Liz Lee and Lewis Lukens were featured in an article by Andrea Seccafien on their research project looking at weed stress in corn and soybeans.

A news release announced Lewis Lukens and his team have received $220,000 from Genome Canada.  It was part of the 2012 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Competition, a partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 

So much amazing research being done by around the department!

Today the Plant Ag Variety Club held their annual plant sale.   The front of the Crop Science building became an instant open market for the enthusiastic crowd awaiting the start of the sale.  Selling over half of its produce and plants within the first hour – the sale was a great success. 

The combination of a hard working team, enthusiastic plant lovers, unbelievable prices and a beautiful day was what made the event so amazing.

The money raised will be used to help fund activities for our department throughout the year. 




Thank you to everyone who volunteered, supported and participated in the event.

Here's the link for the TAFS program
http://www.utwente.nl/studyabroad/masterphd/files/taiwanfellowship/

Dear Author,

New SSS cordially invites you to submit a new paper to the Studies in System Science (SSS).

Studies in System Science (SSS) is an international, peer-reviewed journal, publishing original research, reports, reviews and commentaries on all areas about system science. For more information, please visit homepage: http://www.as-se.org/SSS/

To promote this journal, it provides rapid publication, indexing and reference service at the present.

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Human Activity Takes a Toll on Georgian Bay.

Threats include invasive species, development and climate change http://atguelph.uoguelph.ca/2013/05/human-activity-takes-a-toll-on-georgian-bay/

By Andrew Vowles

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is expanding its portfolio of research programs through its Global Call for Ideas. They invite leading researchers to submit proposals for creating a research network that will address a complex challenge of global importance.

CIFAR welcomes Letters of Intent (LOIs) from either individual researchers or small groups. The research must be foundational in nature and sufficiently bold, ambitious and complex to require sustained collaboration from an outstanding network that is both international and interdisciplinary. Areas of inquiry can draw on disciplinary expertise from anywhere across the spectrum, from the natural, health and social sciences, to the humanities. Its ultimate aim should be to fuel significant progress and/or a fundamental change in our collective understanding of an important issue.

Criteria: The LOIs will be evaluated against four (4) major criteria, including Significance, Potential, Excellence and Leadership. See the Global Call Details page for more information.

Duration: Each program is supported for a renewable, five-year period.

Value: Will depends largely on the size of the program. Note that expenditures for each of the existing twelve global networks range from $0.8 to $1.5M annually. See the FAQs document for more information.

Additional information: See Global Call Details page for more details, including the Letter of Intent (LOI) Instructions; information on Review Panels; FAQs, and more about CIFAR Research and Global Call Contacts.

LOI Stage I : CIFAR requires a Letter of Intent (LOI) from one or several researchers who would be core members of the project. This three-page summary should identify the elements of the research idea and the range of possible research questions for consideration. Note that applicants are encouraged to use the LOI template provided.

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On behalf of the Associate Vice-President (Academic), Serge Desmarais, you are  invited to submit an application for a 2013-14 Study and Development Fellowship. 

This competitive fellowship has been developed in cooperation between the Provost’s Office and CUPE 3913.   Details are available at http://www.uoguelph.ca/vpacademic/study-fellowship.php and in Appendix G of the Unit 2 Collective Agreement: http://www.uoguelph.ca/vpacademic/pdfs/CUPE-3913-CA-Unit-2.pdf

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact fellows@uoguelph.ca for details  on upcoming information opportunities. 

This is a reminder to eligible and interested applicants that the deadline for proposal submissions is June 1, 2013.  Given the date is a Saturday this year, all proposals received on Monday June 3, 2013 will be considered.  

 

NEW: Interested applicants are also encouraged to review the presentation by Serge Desmarais offering additional information on what makes a strong application:  http://uoguelph.adobeconnect.com/p390ieqksks/

Best regards, Tammy Oakley Project Coordinator Faculty & Academic Staff Relations Office of Provost & Vice-President (Academic)519-824-4120 x54256

 Monday to Wednesday, May 27 to 29, 2013 Rozanski Hall, University of Guelph
Join the 2013 Accessibility Conference (www.AccessConf.ca) and attend:
Workshops - Monday, May 27
 - Creating More Accessible Microsoft Word Documents
 - Doing Responsive Right: Accessibility Lessons from the Field
Conference Sessions - Tuesday and Wednesday, May 28 and 29
 - Application of accessibility guidelines in course development process: a case study
 - AODA compliant sites - how to tell who can make one
 - Accessible Teaching & Learning in CourseLink
And More...
 - Tuesday Evening Social at the ‘Ring
 - A11yCamp 2013 – A participant-driven event about IT accessibility, Tuesday, May 28  - www.a11ycamp.org
For More Information,  - Visit the website www.AccessConf.ca  - Email info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca
 - Call 519-767-5000

August 6 th -9 th 2013 University of Toronto Scarborough
This course provides an overview of the knowledge, tools and resources needed to become more effective leaders and managers in adapting to climate change. During the four-day intensive session, participants will develop practical skills through lectures, step-by-step approaches, case studies and hands-on activities. As part of the course, each participant will complete, and carry away, a climate changes impacts and adaptation study for their own region of geographic interest that will include: how the climate has changed in the past; how the climate is projected to change in the future; how these changes have/will impact the region; and how best to adapt to these anticipated impacts.

For information, please refer to the attached flyer. For additional details or to RSVP, please visit www.utsc.utoronto.ca/climatelab

Authored By:
Stephanie Craig

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On Wednesday approximately 100 high school students attended the REACH AHEAD DAY hosted by our Department in conjunction with the OAC. The students were from several schools in and around Guelph. Various hands-on demonstrations gave them a taste of what Plant Science is all about.

Students were greeted in the morning and given a short welcome by the Chair, Dr. Peter Pauls, followed by a 30 minute lecture by Dr. Eric Lyons.  Students were then divided into small groups to attend various hands on sessions. 

The sessions were well received by the students and included:

DNA Isolation and Marker-Assisted Breeding in Bean Breeding - Peter Pauls lab: Jerlene Nessia, Greg Perry, Weilong Xie & Lori Wright
Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre - Matt Smyth, Ryan Vadori, Matthew Zaverl and Alexis Wagner
Plant Identification at the Bovey Greenhouses - Roger Tschanz
Competitive Turf: Science behind sports fields - Eric Lyons
Photosynthesis and carbon allocation demonstration - Hugh Earl
Plant Regeneration: tissue culture to create new plants - Scott Belton & Max Jones

A job well done by the grad students, staff and faculty who participated in the day - planned sessions, participated in the demonstrations/labs and accompanied them from one site to another. The day will surely leave an impression on the students who came.

Several hundred high school students were on campus May 9th to compete on the basis of their Science knowledge and skills in the University of Guelph Science Olympics. Francois Tardif was the adjudicator for a Jeopardy-like competitions for Junior (9 and 10) and Senior (11 and 12) students called "What weed is this?"
He was assisted by grad students MacKenzie Lesperance and Taylor Jeffery.

An OMAF and MRA-U of G Partnership KTT Public Lecture by the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre will be held June 5, 2013 at Cutten Fields.   We will hear about the development of a sustainable bioeconomy by exploring research into bioproducts as well as the production and development of feedstock value chains. International perspectives will be offered from renowned speakers from the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. OMAF and MRA - UoG KTT Bioeconomy Seminar Series If you are interested in attending, RSVP by May 27 Rachel Campbell Murdy at rachelcm@uoguelph.ca  

The Plant Agriculture Social Committee Annual Plant Sale! 

It's that time again.... time for our annual plant sale! Come on out to the front of the Crop Science building on Thursday, May 16th between 9am-1pm for a wide selection of vegetables and ornamental plants. There's sure to be something for everyone, at unbeatable prices! Just in time for planting for the May 2-4 long weekend. 

See you there! The Plant Agriculture Social Committee (flyer attached) 

Hello Everyone,

We are currently recruiting adults (18-75 years old) who are not currently taking vitamin D supplements to participate in a 6-month nutrition study on the effect of consuming a vitamin D supplemented cheese on risk factors of diabetes and heart disease.  

If eligible for the study, you will be required to:
• Consume one 30 g package of cheddar cheese each week for 6 months
• Attend study visits at weeks 0 (2.5hrs), 8 (30min), 16 (30min), 24 (2.5hrs)
• Provide fasted blood samples
• Complete two oral glucose tolerance tests (consume a glucose drink and have blood drawn for a period of 2 hours)
• Fill out questionnaires about your food intake and sun exposure

Financial compensation is provided.  This study is being conducted by the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences and has received clearance from the University of Guelph Research Ethics Board (REB#12SE021)

If you are interested please contact: 519-824-4120 x58081 or cheese@uoguelph.ca

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

*****************************************
Alison M. Duncan, Ph.D., R.D.
Professor
Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada  N1G 2W1
phone: 519-824-4120 ext. 53416
fax: 519-763-5902
email: amduncan@uoguelph.ca

Please find below a link to FAO Professional Vacancy Announcement:  'Programme Officer (Decentralization)' P4.
English URL:  http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/VA/pdf/IRC2331e.pdf

Please find below a link to FAO Professional Vacancy Announcement 'Senior Adviser' P-5.

English URL: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/VA/pdf/IRC2327e.pdf

Regards  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The Universities of Guelph and Saskatchewan are joining forces to think about food security. The Saskatoon forum on National Food Security will focus on various aspects of agricultural production, biotechnology, food safety, environmental stewardship, the changing agribusiness landscape, and modern challenges faced by farmers. The Guelph forum will be later in December.

The forum will feature speakers from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Guelph.

For questions, please contact Sylvain Charlebois atsylvain.charlebois@uoguelph.ca  

National Food Security Forum  May 15-17, 2013
The Universities of Guelph and Saskatchewan are joining forces to think about food security. The Saskatoon forum on National Food Security will focus on various aspects of agricultural production, biotechnology, food safety, environmental stewardship, the changing agribusiness landscape, and modern challenges faced by
farmers.
The forum will feature speakers from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Guelph.
Room 146, Arts Building, 9 Campus Drive University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
To register, see a full list of speakers and for more information visit http://agbio.usask.ca/nationalfoodsecurityforum General $60 • Students $20

Free public Bioeconomy Seminar hosted by the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre 
"Mark your calendars: OMAF and MRA - UofG KTT Bioeconomy Seminar Series, June 5, 2013 taking place at Cutten Fields in Guelph.
Please RSVP Rachel Campbell Murdy at rachelcm@uoguelph.ca by May 27. Attached is the speaker's biography and the program.

I am pleased to share with you the report Creating the Vision for the School for Civil Society and Engagement. This document is the culmination of an extensive consultation process that began in December, 2011. This report reflects the efforts of the “Catalyst Team”  and other convenors who carried out a design process that included research, interviews and community conversations with hundreds of stakeholders. The report outlines the details of the consultations, the rationale for the proposed school, a set of guiding principles and strategic themes and an outline of proposed programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This is a vision document that captures a set of exciting opportunities for the University of Guelph.

While this report is an important milestone in the process of shaping the proposed School, it is intended as a generative document for moving the planning forward to the next level. Specifically, in the coming months, there will be further efforts to develop the curriculum – including learning outcomes, further consultations and development of documents for the necessary approval processes.

The Vision Report is now posted on the Civil Society website alongside other consultation documents – see www.schoolforcivilsociety.ca.

Kerry Daly, PhD, Dean  MINS 109, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

University of Guelph 519 824-4120 ext. 52400

John Walsh, Vice-Provost of the University of Guelph-Humber invites you to join the 2013 graduating class for their convocation.
Monday, June 17, 2013  Pearson Convention Centre 1:00 p.m. Convocation Ceremony
Honorary Degree Recipient & Convocation Speaker: Andria Spindel Business Psychology
Reception to follow
10:00 a.m. Convocation Ceremony
Honorary Degree Recipient & Convocation Speaker: Samantha Nutt
Early Childhood Family and Community Social Services Justice Studies

Reception to follow
4:30 p.m. Convocation Ceremony
Convocation Speaker: Dr. Dan Andreae
Kinesiology Media Studies
Reception to follow
Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, June 7, 2013 by completing the Online Response Form
For inquiries, please contact Sonika Arora:
ghconvo@guelphhumber.ca or 416.798.1331 ext. 6376