In recent weeks, there has been much hype and hysteria over the H1N1 flu virus. Images of mask-covered travellers in airports and on subways have filled our television screens and the front pages of newspapers around the world.

Mexico is a common destination for Canadians travelling in the winter and spring, so it wasn’t surprising that intense interest in and concern about H1N1 arose here at home. But that concern led to misunderstandings, confusion and the circulation of false information, especially in the early days of the virus’s emergence.

Eventually, voices of reason and reassurance started to prevail, and I am extremely proud to say they were the voices of U of G faculty and researchers. During the height of media reports on the outbreak, scarcely a day went by without a Guelph scientist appearing on the national evening news or in a national newspaper.

There was Department of Population Medicine chair Cate Dewey, whose firm messages about how the virus is transmitted and the safety of the Canadian pork supply were loud and clear on national TV shows such as CTV’s Canada AM and CBC’s The National and in newspapers such as the Globe and Mail. On television, Dewey managed to convey both her expertise and a sense of calmness about the situation, which went a long way in providing reassurance to confused and concerned viewers.

Then there was population medicine professor David Waltner-Toews, author of The Chickens Fight Back: Pandemic Panics and Deadly Diseases That Jump From Animals to People. He landed a coveted spot on CBC’s popular talk show The Hour, where he discussed zoonotic diseases and the H1N1 virus with host George Stroumboulopoulos, who has interviewed many of the most influential and recognized people in the world on the program. David was also featured on numerous other national news programs.

And I must stress the role played by Davor Ojkic, a research scientist in the Animal Health Laboratory. Davor, a veterinarian who earned a PhD in pathobiology from OVC in 2002, was extremely helpful, especially in the early days of the media circus. He expertly and patiently explained to Canadian TV viewers what the H1N1 virus is, how it’s diagnosed and where it might have originated.

Canadians’ understanding of the outbreak was furthered by the expertise of other Guelph faculty, including Prof. Ken McEwen, a Ridgetown Campus agricultural economist who discussed the possible economic impact on the pork industry on radio stations coast-to-coast; Prof. Chris Bauch, Mathematics and Statistics, who was among the math modellers asked by the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion to make predictions about how the H1N1 virus will spread; and Prof. Jan Sargeant, who managed to persevere through logistical nightmares and officially open her Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses — a timely venture — in the midst of all the chaos.

U of G’s prominence during the H1N1 crisis underscores what I’ve been saying for a long time: It’s Guelph’s time. The global challenges arising give us the opportunity to step up to the plate and shine. That’s not to say we’re opportunists. It’s just that so many of the problems facing communities in Canada and around the world have to do with the very areas in which we excel: the safety of our food supply; the quality of our water, air and soil; and our health and well-being.

These are the areas where Guelph has the knowledge and expertise to make a difference, whether it’s educating people, providing information or developing life- improving and even life-changing innovations. U of G is becoming known as the “go to” place for answers and expertise in times of global change and uncertainty.

People will continue to look to us for help and knowledge, and we must continue with our drive to change lives and improve life.

While the world’s attention was focused on H1N1, a number of other outstanding U of G achievements were announced that may have slipped under the radar.

They include compelling research by chemistry professor Mario Monteiro on a new sugar-based vaccine that may eventually prevent “traveller’s diarrhea” and other disorders associated with the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni. This is big news because there are currently no vaccines available for the organism.

In addition, biomedical sciences professors Brenda Coomber and Roger Moorehead received nearly $1 million from the Canadian Cancer Society to support their promising efforts to find new ways to control the growth of cancer.

Cancer research and treatment were also in the spotlight when W-FIVE, Canada’s highest-rated investigative news program, did a half-hour segment on OVC’s animal cancer centre and the groundbreaking work going on at the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation. It was the second time W-FIVE has done a documentary on OVC.

Our proud tradition of providing the best educational and research opportunities to the next generation of scientists also continues to be highlighted. Three U of G PhD students have just received inaugural Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, the most prestigious doctoral awards in the country. One of our undergraduate students recently won a Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan to pursue cardiovascular research at the University of Oxford.

So whether it’s helping Canadians understand a health scare or uncertain economic times, or developing innovations to improve or save lives, or training the inventors and leaders of tomorrow, my often-repeated message holds true. It’s Guelph’s time — to act, to solve, to make positive changes, to make a difference. Now. More than ever.