Awards
The Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs (CCUBC) offers several awards each year.
Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs
Graduate Student Research Prize
The CCUBC Prize is available to [a] full-time students registered in M.Sc.
and Ph.D. Biology Programs at Canadian Universities, or [b] recently completed
graduate students (within 2 years of application) . It is awarded annually
to the graduate student who has the best and most innovative refereed journal
article based on their graduate research, published or in press, in any
national or international scientific journal. The article can be in any
sub-discipline of Biology, in French or in English, but the student must
be the senior author. Applications should include four copies of: (1) a
letter of application, (2) a reprint of the refereed journal article, and
(3) a letter of support from the students graduate research supervisor/advisor.
The scholarship is valued at $2,000 and is awarded once a year to a qualified
candidate, as determined by a Selection Committee consisting of up to four
current members of the CCUBC. The winner of the prize will be announced
at the CCUBC Annual Meeting, where reprints and the letters of support for
each applicant will be displayed. The winners of the CCUBC Prize must agree
to have a notification of their award published in a national publication,
such as University Affairs and/or the CAUT Bulletin. The deadline for applications
is October 1st, 2010.
Send application materials to:
Dr. Paul Marino
Dept. of Biology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Science Building, room SN3125
St-John's NL
A1B 3X9
Email: pmarino@mun.ca
2009 CCUBC Graduate Student Research Prize
Shelley Lang, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Dr. Shelley Lang, Dalhousie University is the winner of the 2009 CCUBC Graduate Student Research Prize. Her ground breaking thesis paper has recently been published in Ecology: "Lang, S.L.C., Iverson, S.J. and Bowen, W.D. (2009) Repeatability in components of lactation performance and the consequences for maternal reproductive success in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Ecology 90:2513-2523."
Since it's publication, Shelley has already received uninvited accolades from a number of scientists who truly understand the innovative and extraordinary work and results this represents.
Shelley's results suggest that inherent differences among females in their physiological capacity to deliver milk energy is an important component of variation in individual quality and thus, lifetime reproductive success in capital breeding mammals. Her results also represent the first evidence that variations among females in their physiological capacity to deliver milk energy to their offspring may have significant heritable genetic basis in a free-ranging mammal.
(taken from nomination letter prepared by Sara Iverson, Dalhousie University)
 From right to left: Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, CCUBC President presenting Dr. Thomas MacRae, Dal U. Dept. Chair the award at the meeting on behalf of Shelley. |
 From left to right: Dr. Sara Iverson - Supervisor Dr. Shelley Lang - Recipient Dr. Tom MacRae - Dept. Chair |
Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs
Science Promotion Prize
The CCUBC Prize is available to advocates for science in any branch of
the media. It is awarded annually to honour individuals who make an outstanding
contribution to the promotion of biology in Canada, through activities encouraging
popular interest in science or developing science abilities. The individual
may advocate and popularize biology, in French or in English. Applications
should include four copies of: (1) a letter of nomination from a member
of the CCUBC. The award consists of a plaque, as determined by a Selection
Committee consisting of up to four current members of the CCUBC. The winner
of the prize will be announced at the CCUBC Annual Meeting, where the letter
of nomination for each applicant will be displayed. The winners of the CCUBC
Science Promotion Prize must agree to have a notification of their award
published in a national publication, such as University Affairs and/or the
CAUT Bulletin. The deadline for applications is October 1st, 2010.
The winner of the prize will be invited to present a talk at the CCUBC Annual
Meeting.
Send application materials to:
Dr. Paul Marino
Dept. of Biology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Science Building, room SN3125
St-John's NL
A1B 3X9
Email: pmarino@mun.ca
2009
CCUBC Science Promotion Prize
Dr. Ron O'Dor, Ocean Tracking Network & Census of Marine Life
Dr. Ron O'Dor is the winner of the 2009 CCUBC Science Promotion Prize. The award will be presented to Dr. O'Dor at the CCUBC 2009 Annual Meeting, Calgary, AB during the Annual Banquet. The award presentation will be followed by a talk given by Ron titled: "Transparent Oceans".
Dr. O'Dor is a former Chair of the Department of Biology, Dalhousie's University, Halifax, NS. Ron Currently divides his time between the Department of Biology where he is the Principal Investigator for the Canadian led Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), and the Census of Marine Life (CoML) where he is the Senior Scientist working out of the offices of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in Washington, DC. Ron was named Canada's Environmental Scientist of the Year by Canadian Geographic in 2009, recognition based on his duel roles in OTN and CoML. Ron's CoML role provides him with a platform to speak to the media on a regular basis about a wide array of global marine research projects.
Ron serves as an international spokesperson on the issue of marine biodiversity. His comments have appeared in the press around the world, where he has effectively communicated complex issues in a clear and understandable way. He has also been interviewed extensively on radio and television from the Animal Planet to CNN News, again always getting the point across in an engaging manner. While many people can speak in an intellectual way about science, scientific advances and the like, Ron speaks to these issues with passion, humor, and clarity. Ron’s role of providing quotable, factual quotes has contributed significantly to the success of the Census of Marine Life, which has produced 23 news releases over the past eight years, the most recent of which was reported in 20 languages across 51 countries. This particular story was spread across 19 newswires, 12 broadcast outlets, 74 newspapers and magazines in print form, and more than 450 online stories. This is representative of the quantity and type of exposure the Census receives, in part, because of Ron’s excellent representation of its issues.
The OTN, which is based on Canadian technology, is also rapidly attracting additional media attention. OTN does not yet have the media draw of CoML, but will grow quickly over the next decade as discoveries describing modifications of animal behavior with changing climate accumulate. Ron has done a remarkable job of reaching Canadian media, exposing Canada in the global media and educating people about scientific issues of importance to each of us. Recognition of this role has led to invitations to speak at venues such as Moses Znaimer's ideaCity in Toronto in 2007 and more recently at the Science, Technology and Society Forum in Kyoto this month. His name draws hundreds of thousands of hits on Google.
(taken from nomination letter prepared by Thomas H. MacRae, Dalhousie University)
 From right to left: Dr. Thomas MacRae,CCUBC Executive member presenting Dr. Ron O'Dor with the CCUBC 2009 Science Promotion Prize. |
 Dr. Thomas MacRae, Dalhouise University, nominated Dr. Ron O'Dor for the CCUBC 2009 Science Promotion Prize |
Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs
Career Achievement Award
This award recognizes an individual whose achievements have made a significant
impact in any field of biology. Applications should include four copies
of: (1) a letter of nomination from a member of the CCUBC. The award consists
of a plaque, and travel expenses to the meeting, as determined by a Selection
Committee consisting of up to four current members of the CCUBC. The winner
of the prize will be announced at the CCUBC Annual Meeting, where the letter
of nomination for each applicant will be displayed. The winners of the CCUBC
Career Achievement Award must agree to have a notification of their award
published in a national publication, such as University Affairs and/or the
CAUT Bulletin. The deadline for applications is October 1st, 2010.
The winner of the prize will be invited to present a talk at the CCUBC Annual
Meeting.
Send application materials to:
Dr. Paul Marino
Dept. of Biology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Science Building, room SN3125
St-John's NL
A1B 3X9
Email: pmarino@mun.ca
2009 CCUBC Career Achievement Award
Dr. M. Brock Fenton, University of Western Ontario
Dr. Brock Fenton is the winner of the 2009 CCUBC Career Achievement Award. The award will be presented to Dr. Fenton at the CCUBC 2009 Annual Meeting, Calgary, AB during the Annual Banquet. The award presentation will be followed by a talk given by Dr. Fenton titled: "40 years of diversity: bats, organisms, students, colleagues".
Dr. Fenton has an outstanding contribution to knowledge and understanding of zoology. Brock has had a significant impact in terms of undergraduate and graduate teaching and supervision, research and service to science, zoology and the various university departments he has been associated with over his career. Most recently, he was Head of the Biology Department at the University of Western Ontario. In large part, Brock's ability to influence these areas has been due to his legendary energy and efficiency.
Brock has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and books. His papers have appeared in everything from Nature, and Science, to The Lancet, Paleontology, the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Molecular Ecology and the Wilson Bulletin. He has over 50 publications in the Canadian Journal of Zoology alone. Brock always believed of the importance of supporting Canadian science through Canadian journals. He has also published several books, both of scientific nature and those geared to the interested amateur.
Brock's prolific publication record stems partly from his ability to generate interesting ideas and collaborations with other scientists. He has coauthored papers with scientists from many different countries and has stimulated research in those countries through his research trips. He encouraged graduate students to conduct research overseas and as a consequence he has really had a global impact on zoological research.
Brock's contributions to Canadian science via service and administration have also been remarkable. Whether as editor of CJZ, member of NSERC panels, chair of the departments at York and Western, member of the WWF Canada granting committee, and numerous other contributions, his enthusiasm for science, organizational skills and insight have been invaluable.
One of Brock's most important contributions has been his long standing commitment to Public Awareness of Science activities. He has given many 100's of public talks, created science exercises for school curricula, written popular articles for magazines, and spoken on numerous TV and radio shows. He encouraged his graduate students to get involved, always with the view that if you could make a grade 5 student understand the research you did as a scientist, you probably understood it better yourself. His enthusiasm is infective and through his encouragement, we all participate in this vitally important activity for scientists.
(taken from nomination letter prepared by Robert Barclay, University of Calgary)
 Dr.Brock Fenton, University of Western Ontario receiving the Career Achievement Award at the CCUBC Annual Banquet at the Tyrrell Museum. |
 From right to left: Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, CCUBC President presenting Dr. Brock Fenton with the 2009 CCUBC Career Achievement Award. |
Updated: December 17, 2009