Applauding McGill Researchers

Pascal Hubert, Vahid Mirjalili and Loleï Khoun of the Faculty of Engineering with a few of the better-known examples of products made with sophisticated composite materials.
Owen Egan

BY JIM HYNES | Members of Canada's research community and other special guests of the University gathered at the Montreal Science Centre in the city's Old Port for Applause 2008, a gala evening to laud the achievements of McGill researchers in 2007 that also offered a first-hand look at some of the most exciting ongoing or recently completed McGill research projects.

"We are gathered here to celebrate you in particular this evening," McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum told the researchers in the audience. "Your reputation, your commitment to high standards of excellence — everything that you do to bring the product of your scholarship and research to bear in the teaching of our extraordinary students brings luster to McGill."

Vice-Principal, Research and International Relations Denis Thérien lauded McGill’s 2007 major prize and award winners.
Owen Egan

Munroe-Blum highlighted the importance of occasionally calling attention to the accolades the University regularly garners. "We celebrate our successes too rarely," she said.

Vice-Principal, Research and International Relations Denis Thérien concurred, while stressing the fundamental importance of research at McGill.

"It is essential to remind ourselves at regular intervals about the things we have to celebrate," Thérien said. "This is the core business of McGill University... to change the world."

The evening's keynote speaker, McGill professor and former Canadian Prime Minister the Right Honourable Joe Clark, congratulated McGill's researchers on their groundbreaking work while urging them to look beyond their actual accomplishments to the benefits they may bring to people the world over.

"I want to take the opportunity tonight, respectfully, to make the case for working on consequences too, so your discoveries might have the maximum positive impact," he said.

Engineering professor Nathalie Tufenkji (centre) with researchers Robert Delatolla (right) and Irwin Adam Eydelnant (left) and their respective research projects on biofilms and how a cranberry-derived compound can prevent the attachment of bacteria to the surface of biomaterials.
Owen Egan

Honouring McGill's Finest

Applause 2008 honoured the McGill researchers who won prizes and awards in 2007. Vice-Principal, Research and International Relations Denis Thérien, who explained the significance of each honour, lauded the following researchers. Those in attendance were called to the stage, where they were congratulated by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum.

THE KILLAM PRIZE

Professor Patrick Selvadurai (Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics)
Professor Roderick Macdonald (Law)

TEMPLETON PRIZE

Emeritus Professor Charles Taylor (Philosophy)

SLOAN FELLOWSHIPS

Professor Mathieu Blanchette (Computer Science)
Professor Aashish Clerk (Physics)
Professor Patrick Hayden (Computer Science)
Professor Jacques Verstraete (Mathematics)

Peter Lougheed/CIHR New Investigator Award

Professor Michael B. Reed (Medicine)

THE SSHRC GOLD MEDAL FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN RESEARCH

Emeritus Professor Margaret Lock (Social Studies)

Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS)

Professor Victoria Kaspi (Physics)
Professor Don Smith (Plant Science)
Dr. Edith Hamel (Neurology and Neurosurgery)
Marie-Ève Brault (Anatomy and Cell Biology Doctoral Student)

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA MEDALS

Rutherford Memorial Medal:
Professor Victoria Kaspi (Physics)

Sir John William Dawson Medal:
Professor Roderick Macdonald (Law)

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA FELLOWSHIP

Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences:
Professor Hong Guo (Physics)

Division of Life Sciences:
Professor Michael J. Meaney (Psychiatry)
Professor Morag Park (Medicine)

Division of Applied Science and Engineering:
Professor A. Patrick S. Selvadurai (Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics)

Division of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences:
Professor Isztar I. Zawadzki (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)

KNIGHT OF THE NATIONAL ORDER OF QUEBEC

Professor Michael J. Meaney (Psychiatry)

NCE YOUNG INNOVATOR AWARDS

James Ford (Geography)

ORDER OF CANADA

Dr. Margaret Becklake (Medicine)
Professor Armand de Mestral (Law)

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Dr. Michael Petrides (Neurology and Neurosurgery)

Researchers Tamara Bar-Magen and Patricia Ndumbi of the Faculty of Medicine work with Dr. Mark Wainberg on his HIV studies. At Applause, they used coloured balls to indicate virus population variations, including the resistance to drugs, before and after drug treatment.
Owen Egan