Science and Engineering Achievers Honoured

Six university professors to receive major Canadian science prize

Ottawa, Ontario, March 11, 2004 – The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Dr. Tom Brzustowski, President of NSERC, today announced the six winners of the 2004 NSERC Steacie Fellowships – one of Canada’s premier science and engineering prizes.

“NSERC Steacie Fellows are quickly rising to the top of their fields while providing role models for younger scientists and engineers,” said Minister Robillard. “Through their creativity and excellent research, they are helping Canada build the knowledge base needed for a 21^st century economy.”

“These awards are public recognition for outstanding scientific achievement,” said Dr. Brzustowski. “The researchers honoured today have already started their careers in a way that has already earned them an international reputation and I know that they will continue to do great things for science and engineering in Canada.”

Named to the 2004 NSERC Steacie honours list are:

• Dr. Mosto Bousmina – Université Laval
• Dr. Thomas Brabec – University of Ottawa
• Dr. George Eleftheriades – University of Toronto
• Dr. Lisa Jeffrey – University of Toronto
• Dr. Eric Hessels – York University
• Dr. Patrick Keeling – University of British Columbia

The NSERC Steacie Fellowships will be presented at a ceremony in Ottawa later this year.

Contact:

Arnet Sheppard
Tel.: (613) 995-5997
E-mail: arnet.sheppard@nserc.ca

The Prize

NSERC Steacie Fellowships are awarded to outstanding Canadian university scientists or engineers, who have earned their doctorate within the last 12 years, and whose research has already earned them an international reputation. Nominations are received by NSERC from universities across Canada and judged by a distinguished panel of independent experts. The awards include increased research funding from NSERC and payments to the universities to allow the Steacie Fellows to pursue their research full-time. They are also eligible to compete for a special Canada Foundation for Innovation Career Award. The announcement of these awards will be made later.

Dr. Edgar William Richard Steacie, for whom the awards are named, was a physical chemist and President of the National Research Council from 1952 to 1962. He strongly believed that:

• fundamental research is essential to the development of science;
• the individual is key to research, and individual ideas are ultimately responsible for important advances in science;
• there are no national boundaries in science; and
• complete freedom is required for creative work.

Dr. Steacie felt that promising young scientists are our greatest asset and should be given every opportunity to develop their own ideas. Through the NSERC Steacie Fellowships, his philosophy lives on.