Volume 19, Number 16
Submissions
Submission deadline for the next issue is at noon on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
Department Calendar
April 30 WHMIS & Bear Safety Training (9 am)
April 30 Plant Collection Workshop (1 pm)
May 7 Spring Term Classes Begin
May 21 Victoria Day – University Buildings closed
Payroll Deadlines and Information www.biology.ualberta.ca/department/hr/
Please make sure to check the departmental calendar for availability or contact Olga at olga.milligan@ualberta.ca before booking your event/special seminar.
Department News and Notices
Spring/Summer Hours
Effective May 1, 2012, the University of Alberta will revert to Spring/Summer hours. For employees whose regularly scheduled work day is 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Spring/Summer hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please note that the Faculty of Science, including our department of Biological Sciences, remain on the 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. schedule year-round.
Moodle Training at Bio-Sci
We have invited a Moodle trainer from CTL for additional Moodle Training.
Training is available on May 2 for instructors. This session will be held in the morning at the Bio-Sci B108 Computer lab on May 2, 9am - 12pm.
Additional sessions may be scheduled based upon interest.
Please RSVP Kofi at kgarbrah@ualberta.ca for additional details.
Plant Collection Workshop
Plant Collection Workshop: 1:00 pm on Monday April 30th, 2012 in BioSci B319.
A good collection is easier to identify later and could be vouchered in the herbarium for thesis or publication.
The Vascular Plant Herbarium (ALTA) will be offering a plant collection workshop for field workers (faculty, graduate students and summer students) again this year. The purpose of the workshop is to train summer students and graduate students in the best practices including: how to select a good specimen, demonstration of equipment, pressing techniques, data collection and specimen labels. There will be some opportunity to practise the techniques. We will also cover collection ethics and requirements for depositing voucher specimens in ALTA.
There is no fee for this workshop.
For information or to register, contact Dorothy Fabijan (phone: 492-5523 or email: fabijan@ualberta.ca).
WHMIS and Bear Safety Training for the 2012 Research Season
All members of the Department are reminded that WHMIS training is mandatory before starting work as an employee of the University. This includes volunteers, project students, graduate students, support (Trust and continuing) staff, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff.
A Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System session will be held on Monday April 30, 2012, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. in Room BS-M149. There is no formal registration; signing the attendance sheets at the session will entitle you to a form letter indicating that basic WHMIS training was covered. Please note the that information will be generic in scope - more in-depth training must be provided by the supervisor based on the specific parameters of the the work place.
For those involved in field research, a Bear Safety seminar (10:00 - 11:00 a.m.) will follow the WHMIS presentation in the same room.
If you are unable to attend either session, on-line (WHMIS) and DVD (Bear Safety) resources are available.
Contact Tom Hantos (hantos@ualberta.ca) for more information.
Seminars
Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 1:00 p.m., M137 Biological Sciences Building
Sarah Leo, Sperling Lab, Department of Biological Sciences
“GENETIC DIVERSITY AND HOST SPECIFICITY IN THE WINTER TICK – DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS (Acari: Ixodidae)”
MSc Thesis
Monday, April 30, 2012, 9:00 a.m., CW313 Biological Sciences Building
Diane Haughland, Boutin Lab, Department of Biological Sciences
“A MULTIFACETED APPRAISAL OF THE ALBERTA BIODIVERSITY MONITORING INSTITUTE”
PhD Thesis
Friday, May 4, 2012, 2:00 p.m., CW313 Biological Sciences Building
Rajinder Dubb, Szymanski Lab, Department of Biological Sciences
“UNRAVELING THE ROLE OF BACTERIAL N-LINKED PROTEIN GLYCOSYLATION IN CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI”
MSc Thesis
Of Interest
Friday, April 20, 2012, 3:00 p.m., Room 4-70 Medical Sciences Building
Dr. Howard Young
“BLOBOLOGY AT ITS FINEST: SINGLE PARTICLE RECONSTRUCTION BY CRYO-ELECTRON MICROSCOPY”
Biochem 626
Monday, June 12, 2012, 3:00 p.m., The Oborowsky Degener Room, Li Ka Shing Building
Dr. Giovanni Blandino
“MUTANT p53 PROTEINS: BETWEEN LOSS AND GAIN FUNCTION”
Special Seminar
Biochemistry Seminar Schedule 2012
Links to biosci-related seminars on campus:
Anthropology - http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/anthropology/index.html
Cell Biology - http://www.ualberta.ca/CELLBIOLOGY/newsandevents.html
Chemistry - http://www.chem.ualberta.ca/news_seminars/seminars.html
Centre for Neuroscience - http://www.neuroscience.ualberta.ca/Home/NewsEvents/SeminarSeries/
Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Diseases- http://www.prioncentre.ca/news_events/journal_clubs.php
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences - http://easweb.eas.ualberta.ca/page/4
Mathematical Biology - http://www.math.ualberta.ca/~mathbio/seminars.html
News from the Chair
News from the Associate Chair Research
News from the Associate Chair Graduate Studies
Thank You!
Thank you to those that volunteered for the Celebration of Excellence last week –it was a great success! As volunteers, your time and efforts are invaluable and key to ensuring events such as these take off the ground.
Recognition goes out to those who volunteered, and to some individuals that stepped up in numerous capacities! Thank you!
Cecilia Anders
Mark Boyce
Shelagh Campbell
Dana Chamot
Lori Dammann
Maggie Haag
John Locke
Dawn MacRitchie
Heather McDermid
Evie Merrill (for sharing her whistling ability)
Olga Milligan
Charlene Nielsen
Rich Palmer
Tracy Raivio
Bill Samuel
Al Shostak
Bill Tonn
Mark Wolansky
And to my wonderful new co-worker, Melany Rattray, who was by my side from start to finish!
News from the Associate Chair Undergraduate Studies
Training and Workshops
Meditation Workshop
Wednesday April 25
11 AM to 12 noon
Room L1-029 CCIS
Free for all Science students and staff
Confirm attendance at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/meditationworkshops
Walk-ins also welcome.
More information: www.science.ualberta.ca
Lunch and Learn
Sponsored by Health Promotion and WorkLife Services, Lunch & Learn Presentations are free, but seating is limited. Sessions from 12:05 - 12:55 p.m. (Except where noted otherwise). See locations below. Register at: www.learningshop.ualberta.ca
April 26 – Healthy Sleep Habits, presentation by Kristine Aadnerson, Homewood Human Solutions; Education South 113
Enhancing Communication in the Workplace Poster.pdf
Why not consider turning your traditional garden into an edible campus landscape? We are inviting applications for incredible edibles in our gardens and planters as well as traditional flowering plants. Your creativity is encouraged. You could plant herbs like parsley, cilantro, chives, rosemary or oregano. You may even give kale, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, rhubarb or cucumbers a try. Our partner, the Office of Sustainability, will host an event in August where you can showcase your campus crop.
April 2012 Program Schedule
To register for a program offered below, please visit the Learning Shop, www.learningshop.ualberta.ca.
The Following sessions are currently open for registration. Please register early to avoid disappointment.
Advantage Program
The UofA Advantage Program is a professional and personal development program for support staff that provides practical but high level learning experiences leading to enhanced job performance and personal development. The program focuses on a set of abilities and competencies required for any productive work environment, promoting a ‘real world’ sense of application. To learn more about the UofA Advantage program, please visit http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/Learning/Programs/Leadership/Advantage.aspx
This series of one full-day and 8 half day sessions will explore topics relevant to the U of A context in relation to four concepts :
· Awareness
· Appropriateness
· Proactivity
· Internalizing
Date(s): mornings only April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15, May 29, June 5, June 12
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Lister Conference Centre
Fee: $150.00 Payment can be made via department indent, HRDF or personal cheque payable to the University of Alberta. This course is eligible for
HRDF funding. Please register prior to applying for HRDF.
Audience: U of A Support Staff
Facilitators: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
Registration Deadline: April 3. The program will be cancelled by this date if there are not sufficient registrations.
Supervisory Leadership Program
This nine (9) full-day transformational program engages learners in interactive, experiential workshop sessions that feature relevant U of A workplace case studies, planning exercises, self-assessments, and tools to apply directly to supervising in the workplace. The activities: in-class and online discussions, and a comprehensive project and presentation, gives the learners many opportunities to gain insight about their supervisory and leadership strengths, and to develop strategies for improving their skills. The content is customized to meet the specific needs of supervisors at the UofA. For more information on the Supervisory Leadership Program, please visit: http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/Learning/Programs/Leadership/SupervisoryLeadership.aspx
Date(s): mostly Thursdays: April 12, Fri April 13, April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24, Fri May 25
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Lister Conference Centre
Fee: There is no charge for current NASA supervisors. For non-supervisors or supervisors who are governed by the other agreements, the cost is $750.00
Audience: NASA Supervisors and others in supervisory positions
Facilitators: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
Registration Deadline: April 5. The program will be cancelled by this date if there are not sufficient registrations.
Support Staff Pre-retirement Bulletin
Recognition Awards
President’s Achievement Award - Dare to Discover (March 1st ¨C May 31, 2012)
Excellence in Leadership (March 1st - May 31, 2012)
Excellence in Learning Support (February 1st - April 30th)
For more information please see Recognition Awards Poster
MAY 2012 PROGRAM SCHEDULE
To register for a program offered below, please visit the Learning Shop, www.learningshop.ualberta.ca.
The Following sessions are currently open for registration. Please register early to avoid disappointment.
Cancellation policy: A cancellation fee will be applied for cancellations or no-shows within 5 business days prior to the start date. For ½ day workshops a $25 no-show/cancellation fee will apply and for workshops of one-day or more a $100 no-show/cancellation fee will apply.
Pathways Learning Series – www.hrs.ualberta.ca/learning/pathways
The following sessions are targeted for Support Staff as part the of Pathways Learning Series
May is Thriving as a Team Member month!
Each month we will present a different competency featuring in-class sessions as well as online learning sessions. Skillsoft is the online portal and learning system that makes it possible for you to access information about the competencies and much, much more 24/7!
For more information about Skillsoft, please visit the Skillsoft Online Learning webpage.
Defining Effective Teams
In this half day course learners will explore self-awareness, awareness of others and the elements of high-performing teams. With a focus on personal accountability, participants will consider how they can contribute to their team’s effectiveness. Open to support staff, this course is offered as part of the Pathways Learning Series to build competency in Thriving as a Team Member.
Date(s): 9 May, 2012
Time: 8:30 - 12:00 (half day)
Location: Glacier Room, Lister Conference Centre
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series
Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
MBTI
This half-day workshop will introduce participants to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), a highly respected instrument measuring personality type. Learners will gain insight into more effective communications and relationships in personal and professional life. The MBTI® also provides a positive and constructive way of understanding and valuing differences between people, and how they work together. Open to support staff, this course is offered as part of the Pathways Learning Series to build competency in Thriving as a Team Member.
Date(s): 16 May, 2012
Time: 8:30 - 12:00 (half day)
Location: Prairie Room, Lister Conference Centre
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series
Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
Maximizing Performance
In this half day course learners will integrate theory with action to begin to live into their potential. By engaging in discussions and through self-reflection, participants can understand their motivations, clarify expectations, set goals and achieve success. Open to support staff, this course is offered as part of the Pathways Learning Series to build competency in Thriving as a Team Member.
Date(s): 16 May, 2012
Time: 1:00 - 4:30pm (half day)
Location: Glacier Room, Lister Conference Centre
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series
Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
Building Accountability and Trust
In this half day course participants will dig deeper into the meaning of personal accountability, and how that looks in the workplace. With a focus on their own roles, participants can consider how to build trust with colleagues, what effective and supportive feedback looks like, and how these skills will enhance their experience at work. Open to support staff, this course is offered as part of the Pathways Learning Series to build competency in Thriving as a Team Member.
Date(s): 23 May, 2012
Time: 8:30 - 12:00 (half day)
Location: Glacier Room, Lister Conference Centre
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series
Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
Teams from Good to Great
In this half day course learners will build the skills needed to take their performance from acceptable to exceptional in a team environment. Through the examination of tested and proven group processes, participants can achieve greater team cohesion and perform at a level everyone will feel proud of. Open to support staff, this course is offered as part of the Pathways Learning Series to build competency in Thriving as a Team Member.
Date(s): 30 May, 2012
Time: 8:30 - 12:00(half day)
Location: Glacier Room, Lister Conference Centre
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series
Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness
Other learning opportunities:
(Re)Doing Difference in the Workplace
This hands-on workshop will use a combination of highly interactive approaches and content delivery to build awareness, provide knowledge and skills. The program will engage people in open discussion, personal reflection and a range of experiential activities. Resting on the foundation of safe environment, the session will build on the knowledge and experience that participants bring to the session giving opportunities to create fresh perspectives and build new strategies.
This two-day workshop will explore:
· The differences we bring to the workplace
· How we can work together to create more equitable, inclusive and respectful work environments
· Going beyond colour and culture to include gender, sexual orientation, ability and age
· Barriers to an inclusive workplace, and
· Working together to enhance our own and others’ skills and awareness
Date(s): 16 - 17 May, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Alberta Room, Lister Conference Centre
Fee: There is no cost to register for this workshop, it is funded by the Employment Equity Program
Audience: University employees, especially those who work in or supervise diverse teams
Facilitators: Evelyn Hamdon and Zenobia Jamal
Governance 101 – Collegial Governance at the U of A
Governance 101 has been designed to help you understand how decisions are made at the University of Alberta. What is governance? Who’s who? Who does what? How does it happen? How can I participate in decision-making?
The session offers information on the nature and principles of governance, the important elements of the Post-Secondary Learning Act, the three branches of governance (legislative, executive and judicial), the powers of the Board of Governors and General Faculties Council, and an overview about the history of the University of Alberta. Participants will receive a helpful reference information, useful website addresses and contact information for University Governance Staff.
The session will provide an integrated picture of how things are decided at the University of Alberta. Bring your questions!
Date(s): 30 May, 2012
Time: 12:00 - 1:30pm
Location: Council Chamber, University Hall
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all University employees
Facilitator: Marion Haggarty-France, University Secretary
Register on the Learning Shop or contact University Governance at (780) 492-4262.
Department Classifieds
Room to Sublet June 1- Aug 31 2012
Furnished master bedroom for rent in a fully furnished 3 bedroom house - 15 min walk to the U of A (111st and 80ave). There are 2 other tenants living in the house during this time (1 grad student, 1 working professional). Two story house with large TV room, living room, dining room and kitchen on main floor, bedrooms and bathroom upstairs. Large south facing backyard with patio and BBQ will make for good summer living! Rent is $600/month (including utilities; negotiable). For more information or viewing contact Barry Robinson: 780-217-7650, bgrobins@ualberta.ca
Volunteering for the Snow Goose Chase 2012
Saturday, April 28th
General Introduction
The Edmonton Nature Club has been running the Snow Goose Chase outings for 13 years. Four or five buses for inner-city school children/Uncles at Large/Big Brothers etc, are filled each year. The purpose of the Chase is to enjoy nature with all those taking part. Many of the children have never been outside the city limits so this is a true nature experience! There are two experienced tour leaders on each bus. Volunteers, such as you assist the tour leaders.
The big day is Saturday, April 28th. We are on tour on Briggs school buses from 9:00 a.m. until around 4: 30 p.m. The destination is the Tofield/Beaverhill Lake area to the east of the city (a 40-minute trip).
What’s involved?
To be a valuable asset to the volunteer team you must be able to relate to children, and introduce those taking part to nature as the day progresses. One does not have to have a great deal of nature experience, the basics will work. The volunteers work as a team, are enthusiastic and get involved! We hope that you would enjoy the outing as much as the kids. We supply the volunteers with lunch, snacks, juices and nature packs.
Duties of a volunteer
* Be attentive and aware of the situation and location you are in, i.e. wetlands, traffic, dangerous surroundings, and children that lag behind.
* Have a basic knowledge of nature and the environment. Be able to relate your interests.
* Get participants to say “Wow!!”
* Try to keep things moving along, especially when busing from Point A to Point B.
* There will be a timetable so keep an eye on the clock.
* Find some time to talk and help others.
* Make sure that there are groups of 6-8 children at all times, with at least one adult for each group of 6-8. No child is to be left to his/her own devices; keep them together when they are off the bus.
If you are interested in being a volunteer on the Snow Goose Chase, please contact me with your phone number, email if possible, and how you would like to participate. Be available if possible for a meeting on Wednesday, April 25 at 7 pm.
Thanks for showing an interest in our event!!
Bob Parsons
Edmonton Nature Club
Looking for a Place to Rent
James Stafford has an incoming student from Scotland that is looking for a place to stay on or close to campus for three months over the summer (June to August).
Any replies for potential residence opportunities can be sent to;
Stewart McEwen smcewen89@gmail.com.
Teaching News
University Teaching Services offers a wide range of programs and services to support teaching, learning and scholarship on our campus. For more information and to register for UTS courses and programs, go to http://www.ualberta.ca/UTS
On/Off Campus News and Notices
Fiddle Gala
A great showcase of Canadian fiddling, featuring Calvin and fiddlers from across the country. Canada's fiddling sensation Calvin Vollrath returns to his Morinville roots for a weekend-long fiddle festival!
This musical prodigy has composed over 400 tunes, many of which have become standard contest and dance tunes across North America & Europe. Among his many credits, Calvin was commissioned to compose fiddle music for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and was inducted into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame in New York in July, 2011. Calvin's love for music is contagious and he always brings the audience to their feet.
www.tixonthesquare.ca/event/detail/4103/
Celebration of Excellence in Teaching and Research
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Li Ka Shing Symposium May 31 & June 1, 2012
The Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology together with the Gairdner Foundation of Canada is holding its inaugural symposium “Meeting the Challenge of Emerging, Acute and Persistent Viral Diseases” at the University of Alberta in Edmonton on May 31 and June 1, 2012. The symposium will focus on the viral pathogenesis, immune responses and potential of novel antivirals, and vaccines both prophylactic and therapeutic for these viruses.
We are excited to have a panel of very interesting speakers, many well known internationally. At this point in time confirmed speakers are: John Bell – Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Eric Cohen - University of Montreal; Kevin Coombs – University of Manitoba; Heinz Feldmann - Rocky Mountain Labs Montana; Michael Gale – University of Washington; Don Ganem - Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research; Adolfo Garcia-Sastre – Mount Sinai Medical Centre, New York; Matthias Götte - McGill University; Karen Mossman – McMaster University; Ab Oosterhaus – Erasmus MC, The Netherlands; Charles Rice – Rockefeller University; Chris Richardson– Dalhousie University; Stephen Russell - Mayo Clinic; and Tania Watts – University of Toronto and Daniel Lemarre – University of Montreal.
Patrick Lee from Dalhousie University will present a public keynote lecture on May 31st following a poster and networking session.
Please register to attend the meeting on our website: http://likashingvirology.med.
Banff Conference on Plant Metabolism
The 3rd Banff Conference on Plant Metabolism is being held from June 28 to July 2 2012 at the Banff Centre in Banff Alberta (flyer attached).
Our website is www.ucalgary.ca/plantmetabolism. Please send any inquiries to this address plantmet@ucalgary.ca
Banff 2012 Flyer
The Early Bird Registration Deadline is April 25, 2012. The Abstract submission deadline is May 2, 2012. (abstract submission form is also attached)
GeoAlberta 2012
Registration is now open for the premier geospatial conference in the province!
"Ga3: Geospatial - anywhere, anytime for anyone!"
May 7th-9th, 2012, in Calgary
Faculty of Extension Centenary Research Showcase: Celebrating 100 years of Engaged Research
Friday, May 25, 2012
VISIT US AT: http://www3.extension.ualberta.ca/researchshowcase/
International Symposium of Society & Resource Management
17-21 June 2012
Edmonton, AB
Key Dates:
April 1, 2012: Student papers (for competition) submitted to ISSRM
May 17th, 2012: Last day for early-bird registration
May 25th, 2012: Presentations uploaded to ISSRM 2012 website http://www.issrm2012.iasnr. org/
Please view the Poster
RiboWest 2012 Conference
8th Annual Meeting, June 10th - 13th, 2012
University of Lethbridge, Alberta
See the poster for more information
This Week's Funny
There were two grocers, Smith and Jones, in the same street. Smith had a sign in his window, "Avocados, 20 pence a pound". A woman goes in and asks for some. "Sorry", said Smith, "I haven't got any in just now; come back on Wednesday".
So she goes on up the street to Jones. But his avocados are 2 pounds-fifty a pound! But at least he has them in stock.
"That's a bit steep isn't it? Smith's are only 20 pence a pound".
"Yeah", says Jones, "and when I haven't got any in stock, mine also are only 20 pence a pound!"