Finalists Named for Canadian Research Prize Worth up to $1 Million

Award honouring Nobel Prize winner Gerhard Herzberg to be announced Nov. 5, 2001

(Ottawa, Ontario) – Tom Brzustowski, President of NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council), today announced the three finalists for the 2001 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. Each nominee will receive an NSERC Award of Excellence.

"These are individuals who have made exceptional contributions to knowledge and the country," said Dr. Brzustowski. "The finalists have excelled in their research and in their influence in the research community, and one of them will go on to win an award named after one of our greatest science heroes – Dr. Gerhard Herzberg."

The finalists are:

• Donald Mackay of Trent University. Dr. Mackay's application of physical chemistry and chemical engineering principles to create what have become known as "Mackay models" has allowed for the prediction of the long-term behaviour and fate of organic chemicals, such as PCB's, in the environment, and for the assessment of human and wildlife exposure. These models have in turn provided the factual basis for a new era of environmental stewardship.

• Richard Puddephatt of the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Puddephatt's research is in the area of the synthesis and use of organometallics. Through energetic investigations into the fundamental chemistry of gold and the other so-called noble metals, primarily platinum and palladium, he has established a large body of basic understanding that is fuelling novel potential 21st century applications of these metals in fields from chemotherapy to nanotechnology.

• David Schindler of the University of Alberta. The soap with which we wash our dishes and clothes owes much to David Schindler-not for what's in it, but for what's been removed: phosphorus. It's a shining example of how this veteran lake researcher's groundbreaking scientific work has resulted in major public policy changes for the benefit of the environment and people the world over.

The NSERC Herzberg Medal winner will be provided with up to a million dollars for his own research or to direct the use of in some related way (e.g., scholarships or the establishment of a university chair) over five years. If the winner already has an NSERC Research Grant, his grant for each of the five years will be brought up to $200,000. The two other finalists receive $50,000 each.

The 2001 recipient of the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering will be named on November 5 in Ottawa. The medallist and other finalists will be honoured at a ceremony at the National Gallery of Canada that day.

The Medal selection process involves both international peer review of the nominees and adjudication by a distinguished NSERC jury. This year's panel is chaired by Dr. Christopher Beaumont of Dalhousie University and a member of NSERC's Council.

NSERC invests in people, discovery and innovation, and is the national instrument for making strategic investments in Canada's capability in science and technology.

Contacts:

Dr. Donald Mackay, Department of Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University
(705) 748-1011, Ext. 1224
dmackay@trentu.ca

Dr. Richard Puddephatt, Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario
(519) 661-2111, Ext. 86336
pudd@uwo.ca

Dr. David Schindler, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
(780) 492-1291 — Oct. 18 only (403) 761-7000, Room 108
d.schindler@ualberta.ca

Arnet Sheppard, NSERC Newsbureau
(613) 995-5997
axs@nserc.ca