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Allan Rock Announces $40,000 in Prizes for Canada’s Top Science Promoters 
Ottawa, Ontario, November 18, 2003 – Industry Minister Allan Rock today named two individuals and three groups as winners of the 2003 Michael Smith Awards – national prizes for outstanding achievement in the promotion of science in Canada. Named after the late Canadian biochemist and Nobel Laureate, the prizes are sponsored annually by Canada’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
Individual winners ($5,000 each) this year are:
- Philip C. Eastman (Waterloo), 519-745-3772
- Scott Mair (Victoria), 250-479-8053
Organizational winners ($10,000 each) are:
“Canada is all the richer for the creativity, dedication and passion that the Michael Smith winners employ,” said Allan Rock. “Their dedication to the world of science will allow the promotion of countless possibilities that this sector offers and will contribute to making Canada a world leader in innovation.”
“The research taking place at institutions across the country is helping Canada achieve its goal of becoming one of the top five countries in the world for research and development performance,” said Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development). “Awards, such as the Michael Smith Awards demonstrate the Government of Canada’s commitment to world-class research.”
On behalf of Minister Rock and the federal government, the Honourable Susan Whelan, Minister of International Cooperation, will present each winner with a medal bearing Dr. Smith’s likeness in a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
“Ours is a fast-moving, technology-led world where the understanding of science and the issues it presents need to be brought within everyone’s reach,” said NSERC president Tom Brzustowski. “This year’s winners have shown extraordinarily diverse and creative ways to do this.”
Michael Smith won a Nobel Prize in 1993 for his breakthrough contribution to genetic research.
NSERC is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. The Council supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.
For further information, contact:
Arnet Sheppard
Communications
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 995-5997
Fax: (613) 943-0742
E-mail: arnet.sheppard@nserc.ca
Background on Winners
For more than 30 years, Philip C. Eastman,
a professor of physics at the University of Waterloo, has brought his
passion for physics to seniors, libraries, scouting groups, children
and church groups through his ‘circus of physics’ presentations.
In 1969 he created the Sir Isaac Newton exam, a mix of challenging physics
questions and offbeat humour. Many of today’s young scientists
and high-tech talent remember the fun of taking the test and it remains
an important legacy of Dr. Phil’s to this day.
Over his 20-year career, Scott Mair has brought
the wonder and fun of science to literally hundreds of thousands of
Canadians. Mr. Mair was a pioneer in bringing theatre and science promotion
together as part of his work with Alberta Parks. He forged
partnerships and founded the Evergreen Co-Op Theatre, which
continues its work today. Building on his early work, he launched into
leadership with the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology and
has most recently taken on the role of Site Manager/Curator at the Craigflower
National Historic Site, a property of The Land Conservancy. His achievements
in building strong educational programming and sharing his expertise
with others have been recognized as best practices by science teachers
and interpreters across Canada.
Based at Concordia University, the Native Access to Engineering
Programme (NAEP) was established in 1993 to encourage more
Aboriginal students to enter the engineering profession in Canada. At
first, NAEP was aimed primarily at Aboriginal students in Québec,
but by promoting an understanding of science, mathematics, engineering
and technology, it has evolved into a service for teachers, parents,
Elders, the engineering profession and academia across Canada.
In 2003, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is
celebrating its Royal Centenary by enticing thousands of people from
all walks of life into exploring the universe and its “astonishing
beauty.” With an imaginative array of activities and resources,
more than 4,600 enthusiastic volunteers in 26 centres across the
country are taking science to parks, community festivals, malls, and
even wineries, sharing their knowledge and passion for astronomy.
Since 1999, Students on Ice has carried out five educational
expeditions and has helped introduce some 250 students, teachers, and
scientists to the polar oceans while aboard icebreakers that have been
converted to provide living quarters, laboratories, and classrooms.
Participants, from Canada and around the world, grapple with the key
environmental issues affecting the planet and learn about scientific
research, guided by some of the world’s top experts in oceanography,
botany, marine biology, environmental sciences, geomorphology, flora
and fauna, history, glaciology, etc.
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