University of Guelph Researchers to Share Vision of Life in 2030

GUELPH Ontario January 10, 2013 - University of Guelph News Release - What will life be like in 2030? It could be that technology will prevent your car from crashing, or that mathematics will make the difference between wealth and poverty.

These are visions of the future that researchers from Ontario universities – including the University of Guelph - will share with the public at "Life in 2030: Discuss the Future with Those who are Creating It," a free public event that will be held January 23 in Kitchener.

Hosted by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, in partnership with U of G and University of Ottawa, this is the first in a series of Research Matters discussions taking place across Ontario during the next few months.

“The work of Ontario researchers has a significant impact on the day-to-day life and future of Ontarians,” said D. George Dixon, vice-president of research at University of Waterloo. “This event is an opportunity for researchers to connect with people in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and share their hopes, concerns, and expectations for the next generation of Ontarians. Additionally, because universities are publicly funded, we recognize the importance of sharing our work with the communities to whom we are accountable.”

Moderated by Iain Klugman, president and CEO of Communitech, four researchers will discuss what life will be like in 2030 through the prism of their research:

...Ajay Heble, University of Guelph, “Music improvisation and community building: Improvisation will be at the core of sustainable communities and unprecedented change”

...Amir Khajepour, University of Waterloo, “Intelligent cars: Vehicles will prevent themselves from crashing”

...Donna Kotsopoulos, Wilfrid Laurier University, “Math pedagogy: Mathematics will make the difference between wealth and poverty”

...Andrew Pelling, University of Ottawa, “Cellular nanotechnology: Technology and biology will integrate in unpredictable ways.”

“Our universities – both locally and across Ontario – are home to some of the most prestigious, varied, and collaborative research environments in the world,” said Abby Goodrum, vice-president: research at Wilfrid Laurier University. “We want all members of our community to be able to share this wealth of ideas.”

Life in 2030 is a Research Matters event that takes place at The Tannery, 151 Charles St. W. in Kitchener, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to register online.

Research Matters events allow Ontarians to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities with researchers who are helping to shape the future, as well as voice their opinions and ideas in conversation with some of the province’s leading thinkers. There are five Research Matters events taking place across Ontario that will include 21 provincial universities. The other four will occur in Sudbury on March 7, Oshawa on April 3, St. Catharines on April 16 and Toronto on May 9. The Research Matters campaign also includes a blog and social media opportunities for Ontarians to engage with university research. Visit the Research Matters website at www.YourOntarioResearch.ca for details.

University of Guelph’s Mars Research In the News

GUELPH Ontario October 23, 2012 - University of Guelph In the News

University of Guelph physics professors and researchers are making headlines again with their research on the Red Planet.

The work by professors Ralf Gellert and Iain Campbell and research associate Nick Boyd was featured on Global National news Monday night during the station’s live broadcast from the University of Guelph. (Watch the video here; scroll to 20:50 in newscast).

Global also issued an online news story about the Mars research.

In addition, Boyd, the operations lead for the mission, is featured today in Metro, a Toronto daily newspaper. The Picton native is a Guelph physics grad, a research associate in the department, and is finishing a master’s degree in the School of Engineering.

Gellert, Campbell and Boyd are part of an international group of scientists that developed the new alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) that is mounted on the arm of Curiosity, a minivan-sized rover that is roaming around Mars.

The APXS is Canada’s contribution to NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. About the size of a soda pop can, it will measure exactly which chemical elements — and how much of each type — are in Martian rock or soil. Scientists hope it will tell us about changes in soil and rock on Mars, and provide clues about the planet’s suitability for life.

During the mission, the Guelph team will support the APXS operations and send instructions for operating the device on the rover. The team will work in a specially equipped room in the MacNaughton Building.

Gellert headed the international team that developed the APXS. Since 2005, he has been the lead scientist for the APXS systems that were mounted on NASA’s twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) that landed on the red planet in 2004 and later detected evidence of water.

Besides Gellert, Campbell and Boyd the team includes graduate students Glynis Perrett and Scott van Bommel, and post-doc Irina Pradler.

Just Like Teens, Parents Get Personal on Facebook

Photo Credit: Flickr fadedgenes

GUELPH, Ontario July 11, 2011 - University of Guelph News Release

They may not dress like Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez, but parents are a whole lot like their teenagers when it comes to their behaviour on Facebook. That’s the finding of a new study by University of Guelph researchers.

Parents are just as likely as their kids to disclose personal information on the social networking site, according to the research, which will be published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science and is available online now.

And (gasp!) Mom and Dad are just as susceptible to the need for popularity.

“Facebook is not just a phenomenon among young people,” said Emily Christofides, a PhD psychology student who conducted the study with doctoral student Amy Muise and psychology professor Serge Desmarais.

“The online environment influences people of all ages. Both parents and teens share and show more about themselves than they might in other social settings, and the same psychological factors underpin that behaviour.”

The study involved 285 non-student adults between the ages of 19 and 71, and 288 youths aged nine to 18. Although Facebook requires users to be 13 or older, about 7.5 million users are younger than 13.

The researchers found adolescents reveal more than older users, but only because they spend more time on Facebook, not because they care less about privacy. Teens spend on average 55 minutes a day on Facebook, compared with 38 minutes for adults.

Adults were actually less conscious of the consequences of sharing personal information on Facebook, the study revealed. For both groups, spending more time on the site made people more likely to share. Less awareness of consequences and greater desire to belong predicted more disclosure of personal information.

“Once again, the need for popularity was found to be a significant predictor of information disclosure,” Muise said, adding that information disclosure is the key factor in assessing one’s popularity.

Being on Facebook requires posting pictures and information and engaging in discussions. What others share and say about you is also a big part. “The people who are the most popular are those whose online identity is actively participated in by others. So the more you share, the more others respond,” she said.

Popularity and disclosure become linked, the researchers say. “Facebook is an environment that encourages people to share personal information,” Christofides said. “People with a high need for popularity may indeed care about their privacy, but they may not be willing to sacrifice their popularity by implementing privacy controls.”

The study was funded by a federal grant from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. The researchers selected Facebook because it’s the most popular social networking website in Canada. Launched in 2004, the site has more than 750 million active users worldwide.

Previous studies by the three Guelph researchers found that the need for popularity drives young adults to disclose more personal information on Facebook and that site use fuels jealousy in relationships.

Desmarais, who is Guelph's associate vice-president (academic), studies gender issues and interpersonal relationships. He said it’s important to research online networking sites because they are changing social relationships.

“This is the new reality for some; aspects of their lives that were once private are now open for all to see."

Veterinary Study Shows Dramatic Increase in Deadly Parasitic Disease

TORONTO, May 3, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - A 2010 study published by the Ontario Veterinary College's Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph, has revealed a 60 per cent increase in the number of pets in Ontario carrying the potentially fatal heartworm parasite. The last study that reported the prevalence of heartworm in Canada was conducted in 2002.

The 2010 report showed that 564 dogs tested positive for heartworm in Canada in 2010. Of those dogs, 431 were located in Ontario, a significant increase in cases compared to the last study conducted in 2002, when there were 268 reported cases in the province. Also of concern is that 80 per cent of the dogs that were diagnosed with heartworm had not been on heartworm preventive medication.

Ontario Veterinary Medical Association President, Dr. Ted Kilpatrick, believes the results of this study support the importance of preventive veterinary treatments,

"In recent years there has been some skepticism about the need for veterinary preventive treatments, ironically, this is partly because these treatments have been so successful in preventing the spread of disease… but I think this study shows that prevention only works if we stick with it. Pet owners need to believe in the importance of periodic testing and regular preventive treatments in order to control the spread of disease in our pets."

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition cause by parasitic worms that live in the heart and blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs of infected animals. These worms can grow to a length of 15 to 30 centimeters, and in severe cases, can cause severe damage to internal organs. In Ontario, heartworm season runs from June to mid-October of each year, when mosquitoes are most active. Now is the time of year when pet owners need to be thinking about which preventive treatments to give their pets. Pets contract heartworm disease from mosquitoes that are infected with heartworm parasites. If an uninfected pet is bitten by an infected mosquito, immature worms are injected into the tissue and then travel to the heart, where they mature into adults and begin to reproduce. Although heartworm disease in cats is less common and less severe, cats are also susceptible to heartworm if exposed.

Pet owners should be preparing for heartworm season now, by speaking to their veterinarian about proper testing and protection against this serious but preventable disease.

For more information about heartworm visit: www.ovma.org

Founded in 1980, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association represents more than 4,400 Ontario veterinarians in private practice, government, academia, industry and public service. Its mandate is to advance and promote excellence in the veterinary profession in Ontario, and contribute to the betterment of animal health and the protection of human health.

Linamar Funds Novel Engineering Scholarships

GUELPH, Ontario, March 30, 2011 - University of Guelph News Release

The University of Guelph will recruit and produce even more top engineers, thanks to a $1-million gift from Guelph-based Linamar Corporation.

The University will use the gift, announced today by U of G president Alastair Summerlee and Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz, to establish the Linamar Engineering Design Scholarships.

The gift will fund 10 entrance scholarships a year in perpetuity, each worth $2,500.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the University of Guelph’s School of Engineering in this initiative,” said Hasenfratz. “Competitiveness on a global stage is absolutely based on our ability to be innovative in product and process design, and the key to doing so successfully is plenty of strong engineers with a solid grounding in practical and theoretical knowledge.”

Summerlee said the scholarships demonstrate Linamar’s commitment to building global competitiveness in the region while enhancing the School of Engineering’s leadership in teaching and research.

“Through its generous support, Linamar has made a significant contribution towards creating highly skilled engineers in Canada,” said Summerlee. “These scholarships will enhance our ability to attract top students who excel in engineering design and innovation.”

Each year, five scholarships will go to students coming directly from high school and five to students transferring to engineering programs at Guelph from Ontario college and international technology programs.

In addition, U of G is proposing to the provincial government to increase opportunities and access to Guelph’s engineering programs for university, college and international students as well as industry professionals via a new Pathways program. The collaboration is subject to government approval and accreditation review, and would involve U of G and Ontario colleges.

“Students who have industry experience or who are entering the program from college bring practical skill sets that are important to engineering design,” said Summerlee. “Linamar recognizes that having these students in the classroom will not only help improve the overall learning experience but also produce well-rounded engineers who will become leaders in their field.”

Hasenfratz said her company looks for grads with practical skills and theoretical smarts.

“For us there is no better combination for our manufacturing and processing engineers than someone with a skilled trade designation such as a machinist who has gone on to acquire an engineering degree,” she said. “Skilled people are experts at developing the best process to most efficiently produce the components and assemblies we manufacture. Add to that the theoretical design, design for manufacturing knowledge and program management skills of an engineer, and we have a hugely effective person who can absolutely help us gain an edge over our competition and grow our business.”

U of G engineering programs cover biological, biomedical, computer, engineering systems and computing, environmental, mechanical and water resources engineering.

The new Linamar Engineering Design Scholarships will help improve engineering education and training, said Anthony Vannelli, dean of the College of Physical and Engineering Science.

“The field of engineering plays an important role in solving today’s world problems,” said Vannelli. “Engineering has the potential to drive human development and make positive changes to the environment, health and medicine, economics and whole societies.”

About the University of Guelph

The University of Guelph is ranked as one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities because of our commitment to student learning and innovative research. We are dedicated to cultivating the essentials for our quality of life: water, food, environment, animal and human health, community, commerce, culture and learning. The University community also shares a profound sense of social responsibility, an obligation to address global issues and a concern for international development.



About Linamar Corporation

Linamar Corporation is a diversified global manufacturing company of highly engineered products powering vehicles, motion, work and lives. The company is made up of four key divisions — Manufacturing, Driveline, Industrial Commercial Energy (ICE) and Skyjack, all world leaders in the design, development and production of highly engineered products. The company’s Manufacturing and Driveline divisions focus on precision metallic components, modules and systems for engine, transmission and driveline systems designed for passenger vehicle markets. The ICE group concentrates on similar products for on- and off-highway vehicle, energy and other industrial markets. The company’s Skyjack division is noted for its innovative high-quality mobile industrial equipment, notably its class-leading aerial work platforms and telehandlers. With more than 12,500 employees in 39 manufacturing locations, five R&D centres and 13 sales offices in 11 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, Linamar generated sales of more than $2.2 billion in 2010.