UWO wins three new research chairs

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO - MEDIA RELEASE March 17, 2003 WESTERN WINS THREE NEW CANADA RESEARCH CHAIRS London, ON -- Three researchers at The University of Western Ontario have been named Canada Research Chairs, Industry Minister Allan Rock announced today. The Canada Research Chairs Program is part of an overall Government of Canada plan to encourage Canada's innovation. It promotes leading-edge research and innovation in universities, provides exciting opportunities for Canadian researchers, and attracts the best research minds in the world to Canadian universities. "The Canada Research Chairs Program is one we can be proud of. It will serve three generations of scholars and scientists: the senior researchers, the younger ones, and the graduate students who will benefit greatly by being able to work with world-class researchers in a high-profile environment," says Minister Rock. "Congratulations to all new Chair recipients." Each new Chair will receive $200,000 annually in research funding over seven years: Moira Stewart - Primary Health research - Department of Family Medicine Stewart's research focuses on the development and testing of innovative interventions and new models of health service delivery to strengthen and improve the quality of primary health care. Joy Parr - Interdisciplinary Studies; Technology, Culture and Risk research - Faculty of Information & Media Studies Parr's research will examine life in Canadian communities where large electrical, chemical and biochemical facilities were built after 1950, aiming to increasing our understanding of how people react to social, cultural, environmental and technological change within their community. Robert Young - Multilevel Governance research - Department of Political Science Young's research on Canada's governance and public policies is aimed at identifying the intergovernmental relations and processes that produce the best public policies, providing insight for improving Canada's systems of governance and developing better public policy. "The Canada Research Chairs Program allows Western to maintain a high level of research excellence and represents the innovative research happening here and in Canada," says Nils Petersen, Western's Vice President (Research). "Western congratulates all of our Chair recipients." Each Chair is also eligible for funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation program. There are a total of 31 Canada Research Chairs at Western. Two thousand Chairs will be established in Canada by 2005; Western is projected to receive more than 70 of these. For more information: Dr. Nils Petersen (519) 661-3812 Alison Liversage, Communications and Public Affairs (519) 661-2111, ext. 85165. Information on the Canada Research Chairs Program can be found on the Web at www.chairs.gc.ca.