The AGU, a preeminent scientific society, is dedicated to the furtherance of research in the earth and space sciences by providing forums for scientific meetings and publications.

 “It is very unusual for undergraduate students to have the opportunity to present their work at an AGU meeting,” says Dr. Hugo Beltrami, ESRC researcher and Marielle’s research and honours advisor.

“Generally, presenters at the AGU are top professional scientists and students at graduate or post-doctoral levels and that is why this is a special honour for these two undergraduates. This is becoming a regular occurrence for undergraduates in our centre as we have sent several undergraduates to international conferences during the past three years.”

Dr. Beltrami says both Marielle and Sara have worked very hard and dedicated a lot of time to their research and to furthering the research goals of himself, Earth Sciences professor Dr. Dave Risk and the ESRC. “Although I know they are nervous about presenting at the AGU, I also know that they are also excited about the networking possibilities that may result from this trip.”

Marielle was awarded a NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (URSA) to support her climate research with Dr. Beltrami during the summer of 2009.  She examined how borehole paleoclimatology methods can be applied to infer past ground surface temperature changes and to estimate the heat storage of the subsurface. Marielle used output from the simulations of the last 1,000 years of the Earth’s climate from the general circulation model ECHO-G at the GKSS in Hamburg, and she examined air and soil temperature data to assess how long-term trends in surface air temperature propagate and are recorded in the subsurface. 

“I was really thrilled when I learned that I was awarded an NSERC URSA that would support my thesis research work with Dr. Hugo Beltrami during the summer of 2009,” she says. “It’s just a big bonus that Sara and I will get a trip to San Francisco where we might meet some of the scientists whose work we’ve read.

“I’m excited to be able to see the work of all the top scientists in this field, and the various options available for graduate studies. It is not an opportunity that is presented to most undergraduates, so I feel very privileged that I am able to go.”

Sara concurs.

“Attending AGU is a wonderful opportunity and is a huge accomplishment as an undergrad. I am excited to meet with potential graduate studies supervisors and see first hand the work of many scientists whose papers are integral to my current research!”

Sara held a University Council for Research (UCR) Award that partially supported her summer 2009 work with Dr. Dave Risk. She conducted paired lab-field experiments to explore the effect of changes in the physical environment and respiration of subsoil organic matter (SOM) in mineral soil. Her goal was to better understand how physical factors both affect labile and recalcitrant carbon because this is important for predicting future changes in the soil carbon pool, a pool that contains twice the amount of carbon than that of the atmosphere.

Dr. Robert van den Hoogen, StFX’s interim Dean of Science, who is partially supporting the students’ trip to this conference, is keen to spread the word about these types of opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in and share their research. “Since StFX works hard to offer students a high quality undergraduate education we are excited to be able to point to the hard work of Marielle and Sara and their AGU presentation opportunity as a demonstration of the ‘perks’ available to undergrads,” said the Dean.

“Once again the university is proud to help sponsor undergraduate students in attaining experience in doing and presenting innovative research. Acceptance of papers and posters at a very large international conference such as the AGU is a tremendous achievement and underscores the fact that undergraduate students do play a significant and valuable role within the research program of their supervisors. Having undergraduate students involved in research programs and working closely with faculty is all part of the Xperience,” he says.

Both undergraduate students were able to conduct their research, and are able to travel to the AGU meeting, because of strong research programs existing in the ESRC and Earth Sciences. “The ESRC faculty work hard to develop world-class research programs, and it is through these efforts that we are able to offer opportunities to deserving undergraduate students such as Marielle and Sara. It is fantastic to see the direct results these opportunities have upon the academic quality of the undergraduate student programs,” says Dr. Lisa Kellman, ESRC director. 

Funding awarded to faculty members from the ESRC and Earth Sciences comes from the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS), the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). 

Also participating at this conference are StFX MSc students Adam Jones, Gordon MacArthur, Chance Creelman, and Andrew MacDougall (SFU, BSc 2008 StFX), PhD students Bruce Stevens, Nick Nickerson, and researchers Drs. Gurpreet Matharoo, Hugo Beltrami, Dave Risk and Grant Ferguson.

Students interested in learning more about this, and related types of research at StFX should consult the following: http://esrc.stfx.ca/ and http://earthsciences.stfx.ca/

As friends and family waited with flowers and proud words of congratulations, a celebratory atmosphere once again filled the Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, as StFX graduated 178 students in degrees and diplomas and conferred 46 diplomas to graduates of the Coady International Institute during Fall Convocation 2009.

The Rt. Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer (pictured top photo, centre) and Allan P. Markin (bottom photo, second from left) receive the degree Doctor of Laws honoris causa. Also pictured, l-r, are StFX President Dr. Sean Riley, StFX VP-Academic & Provost Dr. Mary McGillivray and StFX VP and Coady Director Mary Coyle.

During the ceremony, StFX also honoured two outstanding individuals, bestowing the degree Doctor of Laws honoris causa upon the Rt. Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and a graduate of the Coady International Institute, and Canadian businessman and philanthropist Allan P. Markin of Calgary.

L-r, Outreach Award recipient Dr. Nancy Forestell and StFX President Dr. Sean Riley

Dr. Nancy Forestell of the Department of History was honoured with the university’s annual Outreach Award.

“Convocation is one of those great moments in university life. I can sense in the air the innimate transition to new phases of life,” StFX President Dr. Sean Riley said in his opening remarks as he offered his warmest welcome to all those gathered. 

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The day was truly one of celebration.

Among the graduates were 10 Mi’kmaw teachers who have been part of StFX’s off-campus teacher education program offered in Indian Brook First Nation. As the StFX Faculty of Education celebrates 60 years since graduating its first B. Ed. students, these graduates join the 80 StFX B.Ed. alumni of Aboriginal ancestry, who have taken on the professional role of teachers in the past decade. The Indian Brook program was a joint partnership between the StFX Faculty of Education and Mi’kmaw Kina’matewey, as a strategy to prepare teachers for two new band operated schools in We’koqma’q and Indian Brook. They will make “a monumental difference as leaders in shaping their communities,” Dr. Riley noted.

 Louise Burley

Celebrating a special milestone too was Louise Burley, the first non-sighted person to graduate from the Diploma in Adult Education program. William Goggin, the director of the Diploma in Adult Education, perhaps summed it best when during the year he remarked, “I have never seen a person with sight challenges not only present, but work as a team member of three. I think that everyone better bookmark this in their mental log and say wow, I saw something today that was unique.”

Another special joy of Fall Convocation is the graduates of the Coady International Institute, world-renowned for its professional education programming for community leaders working worldwide to build better lives for all people.

“Thank you for bringing your experience and vision to enrich our community, and congratulations,” Dr. Riley told the graduates in this historic 50th anniversary year class. 

Both honorary degree candidates expressed their thanks for the honour bestowed upon them, and urged graduates to go forward with respect and communication with others, and to be conscious citizens.

“I’m proud and humble. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this honour,” said Mr. Spencer, who has long been a champion of the interests of developing countries.

He was elected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda in 2004, and re-elected again in 2009. 

In his remarks, Mr. Spencer said that it was during his time at the Coady Institute that he discovered the value of humility and social leadership for the good of all. “The principles have stayed with me, and fashioned my thinking,” he said as he announced his government’s annual scholarship for an Antigua and Barbuda citizen to attend the Coady.

In his address, Mr. Markin, a distinguished humanitarian, successful businessman in the energy industry in Canada, and co-owner of the Calgary Flames, urged the graduates to combine intelligence and compassion, to listen to others, to build times of silence into their lifes, to be ethical and to be life-long learners. “To fill your mind with everything that is true is not always a smooth ride,” he said. “Remember to listen first.”

“Thank you again for this honorary degree. Know that it means a great deal to me.”

Coady graduate Ann Kargbo of Sierra Leone, who delivered the acknowledgement, said she and her classmates have that good feeling that comes from within. “We have done our best. Congrats to my fellow graduates. It is the beginning of a new journey.”

The loud joyous cheer that filled the Keating Millennium Centre moments after the Class of 2010 received their X-Rings said it all.

Wow.

On Thursday, Dec. 3, the Feast Day of patron saint, St. Francis Xavier, senior students gazed down at their fingers in awe, took pictures holding up their rings, smiled and hugged friends, and when the 976th ring was presented, spontaneously erupted in joy.

“Each year the importance of this event seems to grow,” StFX President Dr. Sean Riley told those gathered to watch the 2009 X-Ring ceremony.

Countdowns – including the one on the Students’ Union website – were ticking down to the 1,000th second.

Meanwhile, several thousand proud parents, family and friends gathered in overflow rooms on the StFX campus, as more tuned in worldwide via the web, to watch the Class of 2010 proudly receive their X-Rings.

As Dr. Riley welcomed all to the much-awaited ceremony, he made mention of the charged atmosphere of the room, festively decked with a cascade of sparkling lights. “The true source of electricity in the room comes from our X-Ring students today, to each of the thousand unique and personal journeys coming together in a spectacular and unforgettable moment.”

He told the students their X-Rings shine with academic achievement, with the inspiration and help received along the way, with personal emotions, and the great warmth of friendship stored in their hearts and minds.

While the Class of 2010 cannot know how the future will unfold, he urged those gathered to help others and foster good in the world.

It was a theme echoed by guest speaker Geoff Flood ’76, former StFX Students’ Union president, who is co-founder and president of T4G, a project-based technology services organization.

Mr. Flood’s company has several times appeared on the Globe and Mail’s best workplaces in Canada list.

“Citizenship is our responsibility. What I encourage you to be is better citizens. …I encourage you to voice your opinions and to be passionate about what you believe.

“You don’t hear love and business in the same phrase often, I think the power of that is something we need to hear more of. “

Mr. Flood, whose history with StFX is deep (his father is a graduate and two children are currently enrolled), talked about how he helped build a company on a foundation based in the humanity and social conscience he learned while at StFX.

He also gave current students an engaging and sometimes humorous insight into student life circa the mid-1970s. Back then, those in residence would line up on a Saturday night to use a payphone. Now it’s 24/7 communications. Today, students often arrive with all the bells and whistles. He’d be dropped at the highway to hitchhike, he laughed.

“But the more things change, the more they stay the same. The spirit here is still as incredible as it always was.”

For students it was unquestionably a day of celebration.

A feeling of pride and optimism filled the Keating Millennium Centre as Carolyn Curry’s stirring voice sang out in musical interlude as candle bearers slowly walked the centre aisle to place their individual lights in a symbolic X.

“After 1,190 days, we made it,” said senior class president Kevin Klin. “To the Class of 2010, it has been a joyful 1,190 days. May the journey continue, but from now on in, with your X-Ring.”

Loud applause and a standing ovation greeted the news from Dean of Business Leo Gallant, that former mailroom supervisor Mitch Hudson, a loyal member of the Xaverian community for nearly 40 years, was this year’s honorary X-Ring recipient.

After a rendition of StFX’s school song, Hail and Health, graduates filed out of the KMC, tapping their newly minted X-Rings on a piece of chapel wood, wearing smiles as broad as their futures.
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The long-time StFX chemistry professor was honoured recently at the seventh annual Discovery Awards for Science and Technology, winning the prestigious Science Champion Award at the ceremony held November 26th at The Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax.

Dr. Truis Smith-Palmer 

The awards honour individuals and organizations whose exemplary work in science and technology inspire. In particular, the Science Champion Award recognizes the devotion to the promotion of science and technology to the public. The recipients of the award are role models who make science fascinating and accessible.

Dr. Smith-Palmer’s award is in recognition of her efforts to bring exciting and engaging science educational activities to children and schools all over northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.

“I was very excited and honored to receive the award,” she says. “It recognizes not only the work I have done with outreach, but also all the help and support I have had from faculty and staff in chemistry and the rest of the science faculty. I began visiting schools over 25 years ago in company with the late Dr. David Bunbury to give presentations on chemistry. We also gave presentations in malls and to community groups and at Mayfest. We were part of the opening day presentations at the Museum of Industry.”

Dr. Smith-Palmer has continued this tradition along with other members of the chemistry department. Each presentation involves demonstrations where they explain, and offer hands-on activities to get the audience involved.

For the past seven years, she has organized the hugely popular summer Imperial Oil Science Outreach (formerly X-Chem) science camps on campus. She started by offering three camps, and has now expanded to offer seven camps on campus and one for Pictou Landing First Nations children.

She has also expanded the school visitation program by hiring undergrads to give presentations throughout May and June. This past year, presentations were given to 2,300 school children. She says the program also benefits the undergraduates who are hired to help organize and present the workshops and camps, especially in terms of practical skills and their ability to communicate knowledge as well as enthusiasm.

Dr. Smith-Palmer now spends a lot of her time coordinating the program and organizing the funding as well as designing presentations and training undergrads.

She says outreach is important for many reasons, and that they aim to make the workshops and camps as accessible as possible, funding the visits to schools and keeping the camp fees as low as possible.

“It is vital that young people see how important science is in our lives and how fascinating it is and how many questions it can answer, and raise. It is especially important in this rural area of Nova Scotia where there is no Discovery Centre right on our doorstep.”

Dr. Smith-Palmer has taught analytical chemistry at StFX for almost 30 years. She has also conducted research in a variety of areas. For a long time she studied the interactions of polyelectrolytes and particulate matter, and now she is using FTIR and confocal Raman microspectroscopy to study bacterial growth in biofilms. She is also interested in nanoparticles and their use in Raman spectroscopy and as biocides.
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Samantha Marshall of Tottenham, ON received the Fellowship for Studies in the High North, scholarships for Canadian students to study from January to June, 2010 at Bodø University College (BUC) along the western coast of Norway. The fellowship is offered by the Norwegian government, through the Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture at BUC. It covers the cost of travel to and from Bodø, Norway, fees for attending BUC, and student housing while in Norway. Marshall will take courses that will go toward her StFX degree. 

“There were only two fellowships available for Canadian students and we are very pleased that Sam was awarded one of the two,” says Aquatic Resources Program Officer Lynn Patterson. 

“It’s quite a privilege when you think about it,” Marshall says. “On top of the personal development you hope to get out of it, it’s a chance to make a lot of connections with researchers and professors, which may open up opportunities in the future.

“It’s an opportunity to study abroad and I want to do my master’s in aquaculture so it’s a chance to try it out before my master’s.”

Marshall says her studies in Norway will really complement what she’s done at StFX.

She has been a dean’s list student, and has conducted independent research on freshwater mussels, a species at risk in Canada, during her aquatic resources work term with the St. Mary’s River Association in Sherbrooke. She’s also volunteered with the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program, and with biology professor Randy Lauff on his owl monitoring project. In September she spent two weeks aboard a DFO research cruise, counting fish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and Quebec.

Thanks in part to its existing relationship with the TSG, Apple Canada has selected StFX as one of three universities across Canada – the other two are UBC and the OISE-University of Toronto – to participate in this national pilot project.

Apple will provide the faculties of education at each university with equipment and professional development training. At StFX, this means two mobile laptop labs, 40 laptops, and 15 days of professional development.

“We’re pretty excited about it, the real opportunity is that it’s not just equipment, it’s also professional development,” says Rob Proctor, manager of service and support with the TSG. He says technology experts from Apple will be on campus over the coming months to demonstrate ways to use the equipment in the classroom. Mr. Proctor says StFX’s relationship with Apple started over two years ago when chief technology officer Duncan Macpherson approached the company to have StFX officially support and bring Apple technology to campus. “This partnership came because of that relationship,” Mr. Proctor says.

L-r, Colton White and James Stewart, Apple campus reps for StFX, Rob Policicchio, Apple Canada instruction technologist specialist, Faculty of Education Dean Dr. Jeff Orr, Karen Ritcey, Apple marketing manager, Andrew Foran, chair of StFX’s B.Ed program, and Rob Proctor, manager of service and support with TSG. 

Mr. Proctor says as part of the relationship, they also want to bring in local school boards to see how Apple supports teaching and learning in the classroom.

“Apple’s primary market is education. By helping the Faculty of Education, they are preparing the next generation of teachers and master’s students to try to increase their comfort level in laptops and in Apple instruction.” 

Dean of Education Dr. Jeff Orr says they are very excited about the possibilities the partnership opens, for faculty, pre-service teachers, and teachers and staff in schools.

“This straddles the two worlds of the university and school board worlds which we live in. As we get better at using Apple technology, the pedagogy spills both ways in what goes on in schools and universities. We see the possibilities to invite campus to experience professional development opportunities associated with laptops.”

This project helps us support educators as they learn how to use such technological features as voice, video and drag and drop icons. With the ease of rolling the laptops into a classroom on one cart “this shows a very convenient way to integrate laptops into a classroom without people having to own one,” Dr. Orr says.

St. Francis Xavier University will honour two outstanding individuals during Fall Convocation 2009, bestowing the degree Doctor of Laws honoris causa upon the Rt. Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and a graduate of the Coady International Institute, and Canadian businessman and philanthropist Allan P. Markin of Calgary.

The ceremonies take place Saturday, December 5 at 3 p.m. at the Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre.

StFX will graduate 178 students in degrees and diplomas, and confer 46 diplomas to graduates of the Coady International Institute. The Coady Institute, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year of igniting global leadership, is world-renowned for its professional education programming for community leaders working worldwide to build better lives for all people.

Honorary degree candidates include:

The Rt. Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer

The Rt. Hon. Baldwin Spencer has long been a champion of the interests of developing countries. In 2004, he was elected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda when over 90 per cent of voters turned out at the polls to elect his United Progressive Party in a landslide victory. He was re-elected again in 2009. From humble beginnings, he combined a strong sense of justice, honed through years of leadership in the labour movement, and a great respect for education. He was only 19 when he left the Caribbean for the first time to study at the Coady International Institute. He had already been involved within the work force and in trade union activities for five years. After graduating from the Coady with a diploma in social leadership, he went on to study at Ruskin College at Oxford University and the University of Oslo. He rose to prominence in the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union where he served for over 25 years. His overarching priorities as prime minister are fiscal responsibility and transparency in government. He has also made education a top priority, and has strengthened Antigua and Barbuda’s international reputation and involvements. Described as a true global leader and a skilled diplomat, his government prioritizes the needs of the people and the special needs of the poor. He is renowned for standing up against the status quo and for defending the sovereignty of his small island state. He is a leader in advancing South-South cooperation in pursuit of the collective development interests of the Global South. Mr. Spencer currently sits as chair of the Group of 77 and China, the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations. He is the first ever recipient of the Excellence Leadership Award for his stewardship of this group. He has also received the highest order of Cote d’Ivoire, the Commander of the National Order, and was recognized by the United Nations for his leadership. In September 2008, he became the first leader to receive the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedicated efforts advancing the cause of development. He has given invaluable assistance to churches, community groups and other voluntary organizations dealing with social and economic issues.

Allan P. Markin

Allan Markin is a distinguished and well-known successful businessman in the energy industry in Canada. He has taken a leadership role supporting higher education, health care and organizations such as the Calgary United Way, where he has been a lead donor for over a decade. Mr. Markin is well-known as a distinguished humanitarian in the broadest sense of the word. He is a man who has great concern for helping to improve the welfare of his fellow citizens and the well-being of people throughout the world. Most of his philanthropy is anonymous. He also has provided great mentorship to younger businessmen and women on the importance of philanthropy. From humble beginnings to today, with nearly 40 years experience in the oil and gas industry, he is a self-made success story. In 1989, he became the chairman of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., and has been credited with building it into one of Canada’s largest oil and gas companies. He is a co-owner of the Calgary Flames, and he is founder and honorary fellow of St. Mary’s University College. He supports numerous educational and health research institutions. One of his major donations funded a new management and health sciences building at the University of Lethbridge, and an $18 million donation helped fund the University of Calgary’s Health Institute. Another major donation funded a new natural resources engineering building at the University of Alberta. He has also shown strong interest in and support for the mission of the Coady Institute, and has been the lead donor in the Coady campaign. His distinguished career has been widely recognized. He was Oilweek’s 1993 Producer of the Year, and a recipient of the Wall Street Journal’s Gold Award for Outstanding Achievement for Canadian Oil Producers. He is a recipient of a Pinnacle Award for Business Excellence, has received several honorary degrees and was chosen in 2004 as Calgary’s Citizen of the Year. His gift-giving has been instrumental in various organization’s ability to leverage funds from other sources and has motivated others to support campaigns. The impacts of his contributions can be felt as far away as the United Kingdom and West Africa.

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Ms. Brunelle, a native of Montreal, brings extensive experience to the position. She holds a Masters degree in law from the Université de Moncton and a Masters in sociology from the Université d’Aix-Marseille. She has been a member of the New Brunswick Bar Association since 2006.

Her prior work experience includes serving as the sexual harassment advisor and employment equity coordinator with the Université de Moncton for eight years, and the regional human rights officer with the Commission des droits de la personne and des droits de la jeunesse du Quebec.

At StFX, she will work with Human Resources and the Equity Advisory Committee to roll out the university’s Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Policy, recently adopted by Senate. She will also work with the Equity Advisory Committee to provide education and awareness programs, and be available to respond to the needs of students, faculty and staff on issues of human rights and equity.

Marie says she will be reaching out to various groups around campus to introduce herself, to explain her office’s mandate and to talk about the new policy. One of the significant changes to the policy is that it’s widened from sexual harassment to include any discriminatory or personal harassment. “The power of the policy is in making it well-known and well spread,” she says.

Services provided by the Human Rights and Equity Advisor include information, advice and assistance to all students, faculty and staff regarding discrimination and harassment; facilitation of informal complaint resolution; education and training for faculty, staff and students; and promotion of a climate on campus that is welcoming of diversity and respectful of difference.

Marie is located in 306B, Bloomfield Centre, and welcomes people to contact her by phone at 867-5306 or email at mbrunell@stfx.ca.

“New Scientist is one of the most widely read popular science publications in the world; providing Dr. Montenegro et al. a global audience for their study which suggests that we could maximize climate benefits by planting trees at mid- to high-latitude areas,” says Dr Hugo Beltrami, chair of the earth sciences department.

Dr. Montenegro says it’s great to see the research appear in such a well-known publication. “I think our study has important policy implications. Being present in a popular science publication such as New Science is a good way to have these results incorporated into the climate mitigation debate.”

The New Scientist article summarizes some findings from a paper he and his colleagues published in Global and Planetary Change and then goes on to add a comment from another researcher that has published on the same theme, “and disagrees with some of my conclusions,” Dr. Montenegro says.

Although it is generally assumed that the tropics are the best place to plant forests in order to sequester carbon and cool the planet, Dr. Montenegro’s study of the effects of tree planting is casting doubt on this idea. “Results show no simple relation between afforestation efficiency and latitude. In our best estimate, the conversion of cropland to forests brings about cooling in all areas of the planet where afforestation is viable, including areas above 50°N.  In fact, many of the areas with the highest afforestation induced carbon drawdown are found at high latitudes.” 

Dr. Montenegro and his colleagues used high-resolution satellite data to work out where new forests would be expected to elicit the biggest benefit. Their calculations took into account both the cooling effect of the trees soaking up CO2 and the heating effect that would result from the trees reflecting less sunlight than the crops they replaced.  To their surprise, Montenegro’s team found that on balance, planting forests in northern Russia, central Canada and Europe would cool the climate more effectively than planting them in India, Brazil and most of China.

Results of this study, focusing on the climatic effects of small-scale afforestation based on the analysis of high-resolution satellite data, are markedly different from previous climate model-based results.  However, this research demonstrates that analyses like the one conducted by Dr. Montenegro and his team can generate reliable, site-specific estimates of this very important but presently ignored process.

Dr. Montenegro’s background is in physical oceanography, but most of his work is based on climate modelling with a concentration on climate-carbon cycle interactions on the global scale. He is from Brazil, and has come to StFX via the University of Victoria, where he did his post-doc, and from Florida State University, where he completed his PhD.
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“I was quite flattered,” Dr. Thompson says. “It’s delightful to be recognized as a volunteer.”

Dr. Thompson is featured on the cover of NSHRF’s annual report, with a profile story inside.

The award recognizes her many contributions, particularly to NSHRF. She first became involved with the organization in 2002, the same year she joined the StFX faculty. At the time, she agreed to join the Health, Policy, Services and Outcomes Peer Review Committee as a scientific officer. She later co-chaired the committee, and for the past three years has served as committee chair.

“It’s a great thing to be involved with,” she says. “I did learn a lot, about the process, about people and working with a diverse group of individuals, and about different approaches to research.”

Dr. Thompson’s main research area is in child physical activity and health promotion. She has been actively involved with the Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth in the Province of Nova Scotia (PACY) study funded by the Nova Scotia Departments of Health and Health Promotion and Protection. She has been actively promoting the benefits of physical actively for children since the PACY study was completed in 2002 and the follow up study: Keeping Pace: Healthy Living in Children and Youth in Nova Scotia 2009-2010. She also traveled to Uganda during her recent sabbatical to teach at eight universities. Her topic: how to teach health promotion. At StFX, she has created and continues to organize the annual Student Research Day.

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