Studying Labrador's post-secondary needs
Memorial University has appointed a Labrador-based consultant to prepare a report outlining the post-secondary needs in Labrador.
Cathy Jong of Happy Valley-Goose Bay was appointed April 15 and is currently examining the various issues facing post-secondary students throughout Labrador.
A draft report was due May 15 and a final report was scheduled to be completed by June 9. It was submitted to Dr. Michael Collins, associate vice- president (academic) of Memorial University. His office is responsible for a number of units at the university including the Labrador Institute based in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
"This is a very broad study but we want to determine Labrador's most compelling post-secondary needs," said Dr. Collins. "We need to identify those requirements which might vary amongst the regions in Labrador — Labrador West is not the same as Central or the Straits, the Southeast Coast or the North Coast — before we move forward."
He said the goals of the study include identifying the gaps between post-secondary education demands and what is currently offered in Labrador; highlighting the social, cultural and developmental issues of Labrador to understand the post-secondary education needs in the region; and determining the actual needs for post-secondary education among high school students, working professionals, aboriginal groups and other organizations. Although Memorial does not offer full-time onsite post- secondary education in Labrador, Dr. Collins noted that the university has partnered with the College of the North Atlantic to offer the College University Transfer Year and the Integrated Nursing Program. Dr. Collins expects this study will identify other ways in which Memorial and the college can partner to better serve the postsecondary needs of the regions.
"The university has committed itself to doing more in Labrador and to begin by identifying and understanding the post-secondary priorities," Dr. Collins said.
A steering committee made up of representatives from Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic was to meet to review a draft report of the study. That committee will then help implement the report's final recommendations.
Dr. Collins said he's confident Memorial, and its partners, can play a key role in offering vibrant and diverse educational programs throughout Labrador.
He goes on to say, "The recent White Paper released by the provincial government stresses not only the need for post-secondary education, but also the partnership that should exist between the College of the North Atlantic and Memorial. We'll be working with them to ensure that what comes out of this study is addressed with them."
A living memorial remembers
Every year on Nov. 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve, during times of war, conflict and peace. Ceremonies across the country honour those who fought in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953), as well as those who have served since then.
As a living memorial to those who fought in the first and second world wars, Memorial University of Newfoundland pays special attention to Remembrance Day. Because the university was closed on Nov. 11, Memorial marked Remembrance Day this year with a Ceremony of Remembrance on Friday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. in the Reid Theatre, Arts and Administration Building on the St. John's campus.
The ceremony included the laying of special wreaths and commemorative readings. In addition to the traditional ceremony, this year's event included highlights from the video documentary filmed in France during the ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The DVD, produced by Distance Education and Learning Technologies (DELT), was entitled, The Return of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment: The Battle of Beaumont Hamel Remembered.
Also featured during the ceremony was the unveiling of the Great War Veterans' Association commemorative panel donated by the Johnson Family Foundation and the Stokers Group of Rotary, as well as a reading from Your Daughter Fanny: The War Letters of Frances Cluett, VAD by Senator Bill Rompkey and Bert Riggs, archivist with the Centre for Newfoundland Studies.
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Band and the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party also participated in the ceremony at the Reid Theatre.
The university community — including students, employees, pensioners and alumni — attended this event. Following the ceremony, there was a reception.
Faculty, staff and students at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College were also encouraged to attend the annual wreath-laying ceremony held on Nov. 11, 11 a.m. at the Corner Brook Cenotaph, where a representative of the college laid a wreath on behalf of Memorial University. On Nov. 11 in St. John's, president Axel Meisen laid a wreath at the St. John's War Memorial as part of the annual Remembrance Day parade and ceremony organized by the Royal Canadian Legion.
First master's awarded in ethnomusicology
In October, Kelly Best (B.Sc.,Hons. ¡¥98, MA ¡¥06) became the first-ever graduate from Memorial's master's program in ethnomusicology, a joint program between the School of Music and the Faculty of Arts.
Her graduate research was the first to focus on the Newfoundland button accordion tradition, for which she looked at contemporary musicians.
In 2005 her supervisor, Dr. Beverley Diamond, suggested she attend the annual Beaches Accordion Festival in Eastport as an opportunity to conduct research. There, Ms. Best examined the public performances — the selection of instrument and tune, and the style in which they performed. Then she went backstage and interviewed players from across the province, getting a glimpse into their personal histories and choices.
"The majority of people were middle aged, and many had come back to the accordion — sometimes 30 years after they'd put it down," she said, adding that the older players usually refreshed their skills by listening to recordings. "My research would suggest that continuity might not be absolutely necessary to maintaining a tradition."
That return to music after an absence is something Ms. Best knows all about. A musician in her youth, she decided to pursue a passion for science instead, graduating from Memorial with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in geology in 1998. But after several years working in multimedia and online technology, she realized she wanted to study music.
"I loved science, but I'd had a lifelong relationship with music and I wanted to come back to it." That choice led her back to her hometown of St. John's, and back to Memorial.
"Ethnographic research is so rewarding. You learn as much about yourself as you do others," Ms. Best said. "The process of doing my MA has changed how I look at the world. I don't hear music the same way anymore — I'm less ready to make judgments about it, and more willing to engage in questions about why it's played, who listens to it and how it has meaning."
Ms. Best will continue her studies on the Newfoundland accordion during the pursuit of her PhD at Memorial.
Famous Canadian astronaut visited Memorial
The 2006 F.W. Angel Memorial Lecture brought Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette to the St. John's campus. Ms. Payette's topic for the event was Space Exploration: AnAstronaut's Perspective.
A native of Montréal, Ms. Payette was the eighth Canadian and the second Canadian woman in space, and the first astronaut from this country to board the International Space Station.
In 1992 the Canadian Space Agency selected Ms. Payette from more than 5,000 applicants to become one of four astronauts. She completed initial astronaut training in 1998 and flew on space shuttle Discoveryin 1999, contributing to the building of the International Space Station by serving as a mission specialist, responsible for the station systems and operating the Canadarm robotic arm while in orbit. Now, Ms. Payette is the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency and has logged more than 900 hours of aircraft flight time.
Sponsored by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, the F.W. Angel Memorial Lecture was established at Memorial in 1967 through the generosity of the family of the late F.W. Angel and the firms with which he was associated. The series enables Memorial to bring an outstanding person to its St. John's campus to speak on topics related to the profession of engineering and to stimulate interest in this field among students, the academic community, and the general public.
The F.W. Angel Memorial Lecture took place on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Inco Innovation Centre. For more information, visit the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science website at www.engr.mun.ca.
Memorial's engineering program gets overhaul
The bachelor of engineering program at Memorial is getting a redesign, the first changes to take place in the program in 30 years. The program has been revamped to emphasize areas that have particular relevance to Newfoundland and Labrador such as oil and gas, offshore, process industries, energy sector and advanced technology sector, with more team project work, and increased flexibility to take courses across engineering disciplines and from outside the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
Scheduled for students entering in 2008, the most obvious change is that the program will now run five years instead of six (or eight academic semesters from the current 10). Other significant changes include the admission of students directly from high school and a reduction in the work term requirement from six to four terms. The new program will also include Engineering One, a common first-year course with more project-based, interdisciplinary courses after which there will be competitive entry into each of the five engineering disciplines: civil, electrical, computer, mechanical, and ocean and naval architecture.
Members of the Engineering Student Society feel the new program is definitely more efficient — allowing those students who are sure of their career choice to get started earlier after high school.
Dan Hatcher, vice-president academic of the society, said he thinks the time has come for changes. He also thinks fewer work terms will give many students the opportunity to pursue complimentary studies. "I personally know of people who have attended other schools because there is more flexibility in the engineering program, which has allowed them to pursue dual degrees," he said. "Now people of this mindset might consider Memorial."
Mr. Hatcher's only concern is that, although students may appreciate not having to complete six work terms, they may not realize they're missing out on great experiences and opportunities to make important contacts in industry that may lead to jobs later on.
The undergraduate engineering program has seen an increase in demand with enrolment up over 10 per cent since 2000-01. Until now, that growth has largely come from students recruited within the province. Those behind the changes are hoping that these amendments, coupled with a significant recruitment effort, will lead to more success in recruitment outside the province, including international markets, and from parts of the province where recruitment has not been a priority.
Professor Loeffler honoured for teaching excellence
A professor with a passion for outdoor education and recreation received another top award this year.
Dr. T.A. Loeffler, who teaches in the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, has been named a winner of the Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) regional awards for excellence in teaching and instructional leadership.
She will receive the 2006 AAU Distinguished Teacher Award, which recognizes outstanding teaching over a number of years, at a formal ceremony in 2007.
"Receiving recognition for my work is always a big deal," said Dr. Loeffler, who has been teaching at Memorial since 1995. "This award required the co- operation of several nominators and the Instructional Development Office to pull off. That my teaching excellence has been recognized outside of MUN is a tremendous honour. It means I must really be doing something right."
Dr. Loeffler, who received Memorial's own President's Award for Distinguished Teaching in November 2005, was notified of her latest honour on June 28 by Dr. Axel Meisen, president of Memorial and chair of the AAU.
One of Memorial's best-known and prolific outdoor educators, Dr. Loeffler has taught more than 14 different courses including outdoor education, tourism, and women and sport. She was also instrumental in developing the university's bachelor of recreation program and has served on countless committees at Memorial.
Over the past 11 years, Dr. Loeffler has also become one of the most versatile teachers at the university, encouraging her students to use their creativity to realize their maximum potential.
"As an experiential and outdoor educator, I integrate experiences into every course," she explained. "Given these two identities, experiential learning opportunities are key components of any class I teach. I use a 'living the model' approach whenever possible. I request that students think about how the many things they are learning integrate and interrelate. I assign final projects that require integration of various subject matters."
She also tries to get her students out of the classroom as much as possible. In July 2006, she took a group rock climbing in Flatrock, on the province's Northeast Avalon.
"Field trips provide opportunities for application of course concepts and for fun, shared experiences that build a sense of community with each course," Dr. Loeffler said.
Editor's Note: On Dec. 28, 2006, Dr. Loeffler successfully completed a gruelling trek to the top of Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.
Grenfell Research Chair examines the true cost of a loaf of bread
CORNER BROOK — Everyone knows a loaf of bread can cost anywhere between one and two dollars, sometimes more, sometimes less. But what is the true cost of producing a loaf of bread?
Dr. Murray Rudd, assistant professor and Canada Research Chair in Ecological Economics at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, set out to determine this as an entrant in a contest run by Sustainable Ventures.
The contest, announced in the spring, focused on democratizing decision- making in the market place, and was titled, "Our Daily Bread, What Does It REALLY Cost?"
His winning entry, selected from papers that were submitted from all over the world, was awarded a prize of $10,000 USD. Dr. Rudd's submission is titled, "Evaluating the True Costs and Benefits of Bread: An Integrated Framework for Analyzing Environmental, Social and Economic Well-Being."
Sustainable Ventures is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating the people who have pension and trust funds invested in their names to take an active role in the management of their investments.
One of the goals of the contest was to provide "a systemic analytical framework based on the environmental, social and financial costs associated with a loaf of bread — a grain-based staple that most everyone eats on a daily basis." The approach developed to examine bread will be applied to other foods in the future.
A second goal is to provide the winning study to the public for discussion. This will help people who have pensions and mutual funds understand the implications of their investments and thus have more influence in financial markets and on environmental and community sustainability. With this information, people can make more informed choices in their selection and use of products and services.
"Technological advance, global sourcing of inputs, industry consolidation, and the development of highly specialized supply chains may contribute to ever-increasing economic efficiency but can impose costs on consumers and society as a whole," said Dr. Rudd. "Many costs are unaccounted for and if not identified and corrected, our food production system may be undermining the environmental and social assets that are the source of our very quality of life."
Dr. Rudd's paper develops a framework for assessing the environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of food production along the field-to- table supply chain.
"Now Sustainable Ventures will work with me on refining the paper and presenting it in a more accessible format to the public and those who work with mutual fund and money market managers," he said. "We want people to examine where their money is being used — do the objectives of the money managers coincide with those of the people who own the money? If the money is being used for something that is clearly unsustainable, that's something that people might care about."