June 25, 2002 For Immediate Release

UNBC Professor Receives Prestigious National Appointment

Josef Ackerman, a University of Northern British Columbia Environmental Studies professor, has been appointed as a Canada Research Chair as announced today in Vancouver.

Canada Research Chairs are funded by the Government of Canada and are granted to scientists and scholars who are at the forefront of their disciplines. Dr Ackerman's research evaluates the influence of physical factors, environmental disturbances, and climate change on aquatic ecosystems. This is particularly relevant for forest streams that have been affected by timber harvesting and for coastal environments that have been subjected to environmental stress from human activities.

"Climate change and the increasing pace of human activity in natural environments can have major impacts on aquatic ecosystems," says Dr Ackerman, a Canada Research Chair in Physical Ecology and Aquatic Science. "By studying aquatic plants and the physical structure of fluid dynamics, we can determine how productive streams, rivers, or coastal areas are. This knowledge will give us an understanding of how to implement effective management techniques."

The Canada Research Chairs program lies at the heart of the Federal Government's innovation strategy and is aiming to establish 2,000 Canada Research Chairs in Canadian universities by 2005. Two other UNBC professors have already been named Canada Research Chairs: Dr Greg Halseth is a Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies and Dr Joselito Arocena is a Canada Research Chair in Soil and Environmental Sciences.

"These Canada Research Chairs will enable Canadian universities to achieve the highest levels of of research excellence and become world-class leaders in the global knowledge-based economy," says Industry Minister Allan Rock. "Not only will we attract and retain excellent researchers, but Canadian students will be able to work alongside the best and brightest Canada and the world have to offer."

Dr Ackerman's appointment is for $100,000 per year for five years, and it can be renewed once.