I visited the Calgary Youth Science Fair (CYSF) this weekend to tour the exhibits and chat with the student participants. This is the fifth year that the University of Calgary has hosted the Fair at the Olympic Oval – a great partnership and a perfect setting. At this afternoon’s Awards Ceremony, I presented the CYSF […]
Last Friday afternoon, three of my colleagues launched from Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station. The launch was successful and their capsule rendezvoused and docked to the Station in the late evening. Amongst the crew was cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin of the Russian Space Agency. This was Alexey’s first spaceflight following several […]
One of my privileges as Chancellor has been getting to know citizens who are passionate about Canada. University of Calgary Senator Colin Jackson is one such person. Outside of Senate, Colin is Chair of imagination 150. imagination 150 is a national, citizen-driven movement that believes that celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 is an […]
I had a wonderful time participating in the National Research Council’s centennial kick-off event last week. The National Research Council (NRC) is Canada’s primary research laboratory. Its purpose is to provide industrial and innovative know-how to help our nation address critical scientific and technical issues. NRC has a distinguished past – some of its earliest […]
I was delighted to read UCalgary’s announcement about new funding for space research. As part of the Canadian Space Agency’s Geospace Observatory Canada initiative, $1.4M has been granted to three universities, including the University of Calgary, for research into space weather. Weather in space! Who knew? There are, of course, no visible clouds or blizzards in […]
I am in Adelaide, Australia this week participating in International Space University’s ‘Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program’ (quite a mouthful!). SH-SSP is a fast-paced, five-week academic experience for senior undergraduates, grad students and young professionals from southern hemisphere nations. The Program curriculum covers the multidisciplinary aspects of space exploration and development. This year’s participants include […]
There is a paragraph in the University of Calgary’s ‘Eyes High’ strategic plan that talks about enriching the quality and breadth of learning: “At the University of Calgary, learning takes place in a research environment. Students will learn research skills through their courses, assignments, fieldwork and as members of research teams. As a result, they […]
It is rewarding for me to serve on the board of directors of LIFT Philanthropy. In addition to pioneering venture philanthropy in Canada, I am privileged through my board membership to work with very accomplished people – people who are making a difference in our nation. Ms. Judy Rogers, for instance, is one of the directors […]
The convocation ceremony for this year’s graduates of the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) nursing program was held last evening at the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha. We conferred 75 Bachelor of Nursing degrees and 9 Masters degrees. As each graduand crossed the stage toward me, I saw the essence of accomplishment in […]
Steve Allan is one of my colleagues on the University of Calgary’s Board of Governors. In his outside life, Steve is a chartered accountant with a distinguished career in the Canadian tourism industry. He also has an admirable spirit of volunteerism that includes service with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and the Rotary Club of […]