June 26, 2008

The University of Northern British Columbia has reached a milestone inestablishing itself as a small, research-intensive university. Afterattracting $17.4 million in research funding during the 2007-08 fiscalyear, the University has surpassed the $100 million mark in totalresearch funding to date.

“This is a significant accomplishment for a young and small university;a success that is perhaps unique in the history of Canadianuniversities,” says Jim Randall, Acting UNBC President. “Ultimately,our talented faculty and students are the reasons we have achieved thismilestone and among the greatest beneficiaries of their work are thecommunities of the region.”

Much of UNBC’s research activity focuses on issues related to naturalresources and the environment, rural health, and communitysustainability. Many projects are undertaken in partnership withregional businesses and public organizations including Northern Health,West Fraser Timber, Carrier Sekani Family Services, and governmentministries. The University has seven research institutes, two researchforests, a landscape ecology research centre on the Quesnel River, and13 endowed research chairs who lead research on such diverse topics asforest insects and community development. UNBC has eight, federallyfunded Canada Research Chairs – more than many universities that arelarger than UNBC.

“There are many benefits to research and I have no doubt that we aredoing a better job of managing forests, caring for the sick, realizingthe aspirations of Aboriginal people, planning our communities, andfostering the potential of children because of the research beingundertaken at this university,” adds Dr. Randall. “While many benefits may only beseen in the future, some benefits of research are immediate: more than500 students, for example, were hired this past year alone as researchassistants, providing them with an unparalleled learning opportunity.”

There were 260 investments in research projects in 2007-08, worth atotal of 17.4 million. This is second to UNBC’s record year of 2005-06,when the University attracted $18.8 million for 268 awards.

The following five research projects received the largest amounts of research funding in 2007-08:

National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health - The Public HealthAgency of Canada has created this national centre, led by MargoGreenwood, to help address the gap in aboriginal health status and tosupport Aboriginal communities across Canada in realizing their healthgoals.

Effects of Contaminants on Health - Indian and Northern Affairs Canadais supporting research led by Laurie Chan, the BC Leadership Chair inAboriginal Environmental Health. The research examines the relationshipbetween traditional food consumption and health of the Inuitpopulations in Northern Canada. The project studies both thenutritional benefits of traditional foods as well the risks posed bythe presence of environmental contaminants.

Assessing Rural Acute Care Education - Northern Health and the BCMinistry of Health’s Nursing Directorate have enabled the creation of aresearch team, led by Nursing professor Martha MacLeod, to develop anew certificate program designed to provide nurses with a credential inrural acute care. Implementation of the program is central to aresearch project exploring effective and appropriate educationalprograms that recognize the nature of rural nursing practice.

BC Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network – Thisnetwork is one of eight around the province funded by the Michael SmithFoundation for Health Research. Led by UNBC professor Henry Harder, thenetwork involves more than 700 members who explore broad issues relatedto workplace health and how environmental contaminants affect health.

Western Canadian Cryospheric Network - The Canadian Foundation forClimate and Atmospheric Sciences is providing funding to study theeffects of climate change on glaciers in numerous locations around BCto better predict their futures. The research is being led by Geographyprofessor Brian Menounos.

The total from these five projects is nearly $3.2 million.
* Note that the projects listed above are multi-year projects and thefinancial contribution indicated represents the amount received in the2007-08 fiscal year. While many of these projects have multiplefunders, only the lead funding agency is identified.

“This is just a sample of the hundreds of research projects underway atany given time at UNBC and it is important to note that there is muchresearch being undertaken by faculty and students that requires littleor no funding but still has enormous positive outcomes for communitiesand the economy,” says Dr. Randall. “Thank you to the funding agencies,thank you to the communities and industries that enable research to bedone, and thank you to the people and organizations that implement ourresearch results.”

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622